HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

THURSDAY, 20 JULY 2023

UKRAINE
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the Russian attacks against port facilities in Odesa, and other Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
The attacks contradict the Russian Federation’s commitments under the Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations, which states that “the Russian Federation will facilitate the unimpeded export of food, sunflower oil and fertilizers from Ukrainian controlled Black Sea ports.”
The Secretary-General also recalls that the destruction of civilian infrastructure may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.
These attacks are having an impact well beyond Ukraine. We are already seeing the negative impact on global wheat and corn prices, which hurts everyone, but especially vulnerable people in the global south.
For his part, the Secretary-General will not relent in his efforts to ensure that Ukrainian and Russian food and fertilizer are available on international markets as part of his ongoing efforts to fight global hunger and ensure stable food prices for consumers everywhere.

UKRAINE 
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it is extremely worried about the apparent escalation of attacks directly impacting civilians and civilian infrastructure in the south of the country. The attack on Odesa, which I just mentioned, was not the only incident reported in the last few hours. In Mykolaiv, not far from Odesa, an airstrike damaged homes and a nursery in the city centre.  
Our humanitarian partners immediately mobilized emergency assistance in Mykolaiv, including cash for families whose homes were damaged.  
OCHA is working with the local authorities to determine additional needs.  
Elsewhere in Ukraine, our humanitarian colleagues continue to support civilians impacted by the war, particularly people near the front line. In the past week alone, we dispatched two inter-agency convoys to front-line communities in the Donetsk region.  
We also continue to help people impacted by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, particularly in the Dnipro region, where more than 200,000 people in more than 60 towns and villages are having challenges accessing fresh drinking water. 
  
NEW AGENDA FOR PEACE 
At 3 pm this afternoon, the Secretary-General will present to Member States his Policy Brief on a New Agenda for Peace, which outlines his vision for multilateral efforts for peace and security, based on international law, for a world in transition. 
The Secretary-General will say that the new era is already marked by the highest level of geopolitical tensions and major power competition in decades, with many Member States growing skeptical of whether the multilateral system is working for them.  
The Secretary-General’s Policy Brief on the New Agenda for Peace outlines an extensive and ambitious set of recommendations that recognize the inter-linked nature of many of the challenges we face.  It is framed around the core principles of trust, solidarity, and universality that are foundations of the Charter and of a stable world. 
 
NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY      
Earlier this morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly event to mark Nelson Mandela Day.  
He reiterated that the best way to honour the late Nelson Mandela is through action to expel the poison of racism, discrimination and hate; and action to promote equality, human rights and justice.    
The Secretary-General said that almost thirty years ago, here at the UN, Mr. Mandela argued against what he called the “maldistribution of resources… [and] decision-making power…”   
The world is still waiting for that change, Mr. Guterres said, and we must also support developing countries with concrete steps we can take today – like overhauling the business models of Multilateral Development Banks, providing an SDG Stimulus, establishing debt relief mechanisms, and providing the finance that has been promised to help countries reduce emissions, adapt to climate change, and address loss and damage.   
  
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL 
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is now back in New York. 
She was in Chad yesterday, where she met with Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo.  She also spoke to the press in a joint press conference with him.  
In meetings with the Prime Minister and other senior government officials, Ms. Mohammed reiterated her solidarity, as the country faces a growing humanitarian crisis in the East. They discussed efforts to mobilize more international support for Chad to step up the humanitarian response and to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.  They also discussed the transition process in the country and the Deputy Secretary-General reiteration of the UN’s commitment to support an inclusive process.  
Ms. Mohammed also went to Bol, in the Lake Chad region, where she underscored the UN’s commitment to work with local and provincial authorities to increase investment in sustainable peace and development.  
  
SYRIA  
Quick note on Syria, from our humanitarian colleagues at OCHA, who said that earlier today, 17 trucks carrying humanitarian assistance from UNICEF and the World Health Organization crossed into north-west Syria from Türkiye through the Bab al-Salam crossing. The trucks were carrying essential medicines and other health and nutrition supplies.   
In the coming days, additional truck movements and UN staff missions are planned through the Bab al-Salam and al-Ra’ee crossings.  

TRUST FUND IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE  
Today, the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, otherwise known as DMSPC, released the annual report of the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, covering the activities of 2022. You can find it on the UN website on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse. 
The report provides details about six projects implemented in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Liberia and South Sudan, and positively impacting the lives of victims of sexual misconduct. 
Since its establishment in 2016, the Trust Fund has received $4.8 million in contributions from 24 Member States and from payments withheld from personnel against whom sexual exploitation and abuse cases have been substantiated.  
This has helped fund assistance and support services to victims and children born of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN and related personnel. So far, over 43,000 affected victims and community members have participated in income-generating activities or received various forms of support. Additional funding will help victims and their children rebuild their lives, break stigma, and facilitate reintegration within their communities.

MALAWI 
US$6.3 million. That’s what the World Food Programme needs to reinstate rations to 75 percent for the coming year until June 2024 in Malawi. WFP is facing a critical funding shortage there that is forcing them to implement deeper cuts in food rations for 51,000 refugees living in the Dzaleka refugee Camp. 
The cuts come amid a dire and worrying food security situation in the camp.  Some 87 percent of the refugees surveyed – or 45,000 people - are food insecure and need urgent assistance. 
The cuts will reduce the cash allowance for refugees, starting in July.  The new cash allowance will be US$ 5.90 per person per month, down from US$ 8.50.   
Similarly, a family of five will now receive US$ 29.63 in local currency, down from US$ 42.50.   
These reduced allowances are barely enough to meet the monthly food requirements for refugees. 
   
INTERNATIONAL DAYS  
Today is International Moon Day, which marks the anniversary of the first moon landing by humans, as part of the Apollo 11.
And today is also World Chess Day.