HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 15 MAY 2023
SECRETARY-GENERAL/JAMAICA
The Secretary-General is in Kingston, Jamaica, where today he had meeting with the Prime Minister, Andrew Holness. They discuss several important issues, including the efforts to reform the global financial architecture, climate and Haiti. Immediately after their meeting, the Prime Minister and the Secretary-General will hold a joint press conference.
SECURITY COUNCIL/UKRAINE
This morning, the Security Council held a meeting on Ukraine. Briefing Council members by videoconference, the Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, noted that the humanitarian operating environment in Ukraine remains complex and dangerous. Nonetheless, he said, thanks to the courage of humanitarian workers, particularly and mostly local workers, the UN and its partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance to front line areas and wherever they are needed across the country.
Mr. Griffiths also emphasized that food exported under the Black Sea initiative – and food and fertilizer exports from the Russian Federation – continue to make a crucial contribution to global food security. Over the past month, he said, we have unfortunately seen a significant reduction in volumes of exports moving out of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, due to challenging dynamics within the Joint Coordination Centre and a related slowdown in operations.
Mr. Griffiths noted that in recent weeks, we have engaged in intensive discussions with the parties on the Black Sea Initiative, to secure agreement on its extension and the improvements needed for it to operate effectively and predictably, and that we will continue over the coming days. In parallel, he said that Rebeca Grynspan and her team have continued to deliver a wide range of support with concrete results under the Memorandum of Understanding on the facilitation of export of Russian food and fertilizer. He stressed that the continuation of the Black Sea initiative is critical, as is the recommitment by the parties to its smooth and efficient operation, and we call on all parties to meet their responsibilities in this regard. The world is watching, he said.
UKRAINE
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has received reports of deadly attacks across the country over the weekend. In addition to civilian casualties, there was damage to schools, hospitals and other critical facilities on both sides of the front line in eastern and southern Ukraine.
In the city of Mykolaiv, an attack on Saturday damaged a bakery contracted by the World Food Programme (WFP) to supply bread to communities there and in the neighbouring city of Kherson. The vehicles used to store and transport bread were also damaged. Thankfully, the staff were safe and able to return to work.
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, said that the humanitarian community will continue to support their courageous work being done by the staff working in that bakery in efforts to bring bread to front-line communities.
Once again, the UN calls on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
75TH COMMEMORATION OF THE NAKBA
Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, spoke at this morning’s High-Level Special Meeting on the 75th Commemoration of the Nakba. She expressed deep concern - as we see the prospects for restarting a political process towards a two-State solution based on UN resolutions, international law, and previous agreements - continue to diminish.
She noted that only last week, in yet another dangerous escalation in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes led to the loss of 33 Palestinian lives, including women and children. One Israeli civilian was also killed by Palestinian rocket fire. Ms. DiCarlo echoed the Secretary-General’s words in his statement issued yesterday, welcoming the ceasefire and calling on everyone to observe it.
She said that the UN position is clear: The occupation must end. A two-State solution that will bring lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike must be achieved in line with international law, UN resolutions and previous agreements.
SUDAN
In Sudan, the World Food Programme (WFP) is ramping up food assistance to people fleeing the violence, including to those newly displaced from fighting in the capital. WFP has also started its first-ever distributions in the state of Al-Jazirah.
This life-saving aid is critical, given the heightened risk of food insecurity in the coming weeks. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that the prices of staple goods have risen dramatically, and the conflict is threatening the main planting season.
In light of surging needs in Sudan, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the High Commissioner for Refugees will jointly launch a Revised Humanitarian Response Plan and Regional Refugee Response Plan for Sudan, which will take place on Wednesday.
SOMALIA
In Somalia, floods caused by the annual rains have left a trail of destruction across the country. Homes and farmland have been inundated, livestock have been washed away and school and health facilities have temporarily shut down.
With the authorities, we will conduct a rapid needs assessment tomorrow. According to early estimates by our partners, more than 460,000 people have been impacted, including nearly 219,000 men, women and children who have been displaced due to these floods.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) notes that in Hirshabelle State, one of the most affected areas, the Shabelle river overflowed its banks, forcing thousands of people to move to higher ground.
The UN, along with its partners, is implementing a national Flood Preparedness and Response Plan, but we will need funding to meet these increasing needs. The nearly $2.6 billion Humanitarian Response Plan is only 25 per cent funded so far.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have sent early warning text messages to 5,000 farmers across that state. FAO and its partners have also providedsandbags, shovels and other supplies to help clear drains and mitigate flooding. WFP is also sending 17 tons of high-energy biscuits and has provided boats to reach people in flooded areas.
Should the rains continue in Somalia and in the Ethiopian highlands, we estimate that up to 1.6 million people could be impacted, with more than 600,000 displaced. The rains also increase the risk of outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
CYCLONE MOCHA
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that cyclone Mocha made landfall in Rakhine State in Myanmar yesterday. The cyclone has brought heavy rains, floodingand strong winds across coastal and low-lying areas in Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Poor weather conditions and telecommunications interruptions have made it difficult for our colleagues to assess the full extent of the damage, but early reports indicate that the destruction has been extensive and that already vulnerable people will need humanitarian support.
Ahead of the cyclone’s arrival, the UN pre-positioned supplies and personnel to assess and respond to needs. The UN continues to see what the situation is like while making sure they can also sustain the ongoing programmes to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crises in both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
MALAWI
Two months after Tropical Cyclone Freddy devastated the country, UN agencies and its partners continue to support the Government-led response in Malawi.
Through the end of April, the UN provided supplies – including food and shelter – to more than 570,000 people in the hardest-hit areas.
When the cyclone made landfall, Malawi was already facing its worst cholera outbreak in two decades. In response, we ensured access to clean water for nearly 660,000 people – and more than 270,000 school children received water, sanitation and hygiene supplies.
Altogether, we’ve reached 1.4 million people with humanitarian assistance. But to continue this work we will need more funding.
So far, the flash appeal is just 21 per cent funded. It asks for $116 million.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has completed a joint reconnaissance mission with the Administrator of Kalehe Territory to Bushushu, in South Kivu, which has, as you will recall, been severely impacted by flooding and landslides.
In addition to donating food and other items to help meet the immediate needs of the community, the MONUSCO plans to rebuild a bridge across the Luvira river to allow humanitarian access to the most impacted areas.
The UN Mission also continues to protect civilians in Ituri province, where the security situation remains volatile due to the activities of the CODECO armed group. MONUSCO established a temporary presence in Bokuku and continues to engage with the population to facilitate inter-community dialogue.
SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
The Secretary-General is appointing Major General Humphrey Nyone of Zambia as the Force Commander of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.
The Major General Nyone succeeds Lieutenant General Daniel Sidiki Traoré of Burkina Faso, who completed his assignment earlier this year. The Secretary-General is grateful for his tireless dedication, invaluable serviceand leadership.
Major General Nyone joined the Zambia army in 1994 and served most recently as Commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College of Zambia.
SYRIA RESIDENT COORDINATOR
Today, the Development Coordination Office (DCO) said that Adam Abdelmoula of Sudan is taking up his new post as the UN Resident Coordinator in Syria, following his appointment bythe Secretary-General. He will also serve as Humanitarian Coordinator.
Mr. Abdelmoula brings more than 35 years of experience in development, rule of law, human rights and humanitarian work. He has served the UN for the last 24 years.
INTERNATIONAL DAYS
Today is the International Day of Families. This day is a reminder that demographic change is one of the most important megatrends impacting our world and the life and well-being of families worldwide.
Also today, the UN Global Road Safety Week starts. Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, that’s why there is a desperate need for governments and their partners to rethink mobility.
NOON BRIEFING GUESTS TOMORROW
Tomorrow, the noon briefing guests will be from the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, who will brief on the World Economic Situation and Prospects mid-year report.
The guests will be Shantanu Mukherjee, DESA’s Director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division, and Hamid Rashid, the lead author of the report, who is also the Chief of the Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division in DESA.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
The Dominican Republic made payments to the regular budget, this brings us to 106 fully paid-up nations.
