Noon briefing of 14 December 2023

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2023

GAZA
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that heavy rains fell on Gaza yesterday, flooding many of the areas and worsening the struggle of displaced Palestinians.
The rains, coupled with the absence of effective waste management, are significantly elevating the risk of spreading disease.
The ability of the United Nations to receive incoming aid is being significantly undermined by a shortage of trucks within Gaza; the continuing lack of fuel; and telecommunications blackouts; and the increasing number of staff unable to reach the Rafah crossing safely, due to the intensity of the hostilities. More aid and fuel are needed to enter Gaza, but equally, more capacity is needed in Gaza to handle incoming aid.
Also yesterday, an UNRWA school which was sheltering internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jabalya Refugee Camp was hit, with casualties reported. The same school had been hit several times previously.
UNRWA is verifying recent reports of incidents at UNRWA facilities. Since 7 October, 156 incidents affecting UNRWA premises have been reported.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that there is a surge in security incidents targeting humanitarian workers in Djugu territory, in the Ituri Province.
Yesterday, armed assailants intercepted a truck belonging to a national NGO and robbed its passengers. This happened near the town of Djugu on a route that is considered dangerous by humanitarian workers due to the presence of armed groups. Heavy rains further delayed humanitarian operations until late at night, exposing them to attacks.
Despite the security situation, our humanitarian partners continue to provide assistance. In November, some 125,000 displaced people in Djugu territory received emergency food assistance.
OCHA stresses the need to ensure humanitarian access to vulnerable people in Djugu territory, which is home to over 686,000 displaced people.

SOUTH SUDAN
This morning, Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and Head of the Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan, told Security Council members that the dire economic situation of the country, together with the influx of returnees from Sudan, climate shocks and a fragile political environment, suggest that the December 2024 elections would take place in an environment of elevated tensions.
He underscored that the Mission is implementing proactive measures aimed at mitigating the risks of pre-electoral, electoral, and post-elections violence. However, with the necessary political will and a sense of urgency and compromise, the South Sudanese could indeed establish the conditions for the elections.

UKRAINE
In Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it is concerned about the plight of civilians during the winter as, yet again today, there was another wave of attacks in the Kherson and Odesa Regions, in the south of the country.
These attacks damaged critical civilian infrastructure, including homes, a hospital and a school. Our humanitarian colleagues on the ground also report that the attacks killed and injured civilians.
Also today, but this time closer to the front line - in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Dnipro Regions - attacks have destroyed and damaged homes, adding new challenges for people who are already dealing with limited access to electricity, water and gas. This is according to local authorities.
These attacks are happening as temperatures are dropping below zero in many parts of the country.
The United Nations, and humanitarian organizations, are mobilized and providing support to people impacted by today’s attacks in Odesa and Kherson. People whose homes were destroyed or damaged have received temporary accommodation and emergency shelter kits, as well as legal aid. Since early this morning, our colleagues on the ground have been providing psychological support to people impacted and registering them for cash assistance, complementing the Government's efforts.
Across Ukraine, in October and November, humanitarian workers reached 800,000 people with specific assistance to cope with the winter. More than 100,000 people were supported with heating, and the same number of people with winter clothing. Additionally, more than 80,000 people received critical household items including blankets, mattresses, bed linen and thermos flasks.

LEBANON
New analysis from the Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Lebanon reveals further deterioration in almost every aspect of children’s lives, as the four-year-long crisis shows no sign of abating. The emotional burden is particularly heavy in conflict-impacted southern Lebanon and among Palestinian children.
According to the analysis, 26 per cent of households said they had school-aged children not attending school, up from 18 per cent in April 2023, when a similar assessment was conducted. Several dozen schools in southern Lebanon have been closed since October 2023, due to an intensification of hostilities, affecting more than 6,000 students.
UNICEF is urging the Government to show a clear commitment to children's rights and take strong action to support, protect, and ensure essential services for all children in Lebanon.

GUESTS TODAY/TOMORROW
Noon briefing guest today is Carl Skau, the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme's (WFP), he will speak about his recent visit to Gaza, and the WFP's latest assessment on the humanitarian situation there.
Tomorrow, the guest will be Ugochi Daniels, who is the Deputy Director General of Operations for the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
She will be briefing on the occasion of International Migrants Day, which is observed on 18 December.