HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 15 JANUARY 2024
ISRAEL/GAZA
On the 100 days, Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) visited Gaza yesterday.
In a statement, he said that the past 100 days had seen the largest displacement of the Palestinian people since 1948. Overcrowded and unsanitary UNRWA shelters have now become “home” to more than 1.4 million people, he added, where they lack everything, from food to hygiene to privacy.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, said that what has been unfolding in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory is a war conducted with almost no regard for the impact on civilians. Mr. Griffiths also noted that the families of the hostages have been waiting for the release of their loved ones for nearly 100 days, or at least for some information about their well-being. Unfortunately, he said, since November, no hostages have been released and no information has been shared with their families and loved ones. He reiterated his call for humane treatment and immediate release of all hostages.
Meanwhile, the heads of the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) today said that getting enough supplies into and across Gaza now depends on more trucks being allowed through border checks each day; fewer restrictions on the movement of humanitarian workers; guarantees of safety for people accessing and distributing aid; and the opening of new entry routes.
The agency heads said that it is critical that Israeli authorities allow aid agencies to use border crossing points into northern Gaza, as well as a working port close to the Gaza Strip.
Access to Ashdod port would enable significantly larger quantities of aid to be shipped in and then trucked directly to the badly affected northern regions of Gaza, which few convoys have managed to reach.
TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
The Secretary-General will leave tonight to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
On Wednesday, he will be delivering a special address on the “State of the World”, where he will highlight two existential threats: the climate crisis and the development of Artificial Intelligence without guard rails.
He will warn leaders that geopolitical divides are preventing us from coming together around global solutions to these threats and causing people to lose faith in governments, institutions, and financial and economic systems.
The Secretary-General will call on leaders to prevent further damage by pushing for reform of our institutions and rebuilding trust to get our world back on track to safety, prosperity, and peace.
While at the Forum, the Secretary-General will also meet with various leaders from governments and the private sector.
On Thursday, he will head to Thun, also in Switzerland, where he will attend a retreat with his Special Representatives.
GUATEMALA
The Secretary-General congratulates President Bernardo Arévalo of Guatemala on his inauguration. He welcomes that the democratic will of voters has been respected and notes the President’s declared commitments to advancing peace, social justice, human development, transparency, and democratic reform. The Secretary-General reaffirms that the United Nations stands ready to accompany Guatemala in these efforts.
UKRAINE
The United Nations and its partners appealed earlier today - at an event in Geneva - for a combined $4.2 billion this year to support war-affected communities in Ukraine, Ukrainian refugees and their host communities in the region.
The UN needs $3.1 billion to help 8.5 million people inside the country and $1.1 billion to support 2.3 million refugees and host communities.
Nearly two years since the war’s rapid escalation, 14.6 million people need humanitarian aid in Ukraine – that’s 40 per cent of the population. Some 6.3 million people have fled the country and remain refugees, mostly in Europe.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, stressed the profound impact of the war on children, saying that this alone should compel a
collective effort to significantly increase humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
He emphasized that, as the war continues unabated, the very fabric of Ukraine society is under attack with devastating consequences.
The High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said that although the plight of millions of Ukrainian refugees is no longer in the headlines, they still need urgent support. He added that host countries continue to extend protection and include them in society, but many vulnerable refugees still need help.
Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that attacks continue across the country. Yesterday alone, more than 40 homes, several education facilities and other civilian infrastructure were reportedly damaged, and several civilians injured in the front-line of the Donetsk and Kherson Regions, according to the national authorities.
The recent wave of attacks underscores the devastating civilian cost of the war, with winter ratcheting up the urgent need for life-saving humanitarian aid.
YEMEN
Over the weekend, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, issued a statement expressing his concern about recent developments involving Yemen.
He noted with serious concern the increasingly precarious regional context, and its adverse impact on peace efforts in Yemen and stability and security in the region.
Mr. Grundberg urged all involved to exercise maximum restraint and to prioritize diplomatic channels over military options and calls for de-escalation.
He reiterated the Secretary-General’s call for all involved to avoid actions that would worsen the situation in Yemen, escalate the threat to maritime trade routes, or further fuel regional tensions at this critical time.
LEBANON
Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix visited the Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in Jerusalem over the weekend.
In meetings with Israeli government and military officials, he discussed the work of the Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and of course the Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). He reaffirmed their commitment to implementing their mandates and their efforts to prevent further escalation.
Before that, on Thursday and Friday, he visited UNIFIL in south Lebanon, after meetings in Beirut earlier in the week with Lebanese political and military leaders, where he discussed the important role of UNIFIL in supporting de-escalation across the Blue Line. In his various engagements, he stressed the need for all actors to cease fire, recommit to resolution 1701, and work toward a durable political and diplomatic solution. He warned that the risk of a larger and more devastating conflict increases with the continuation of exchanges of fire each day. In southern Lebanon, he visited UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, joined peacekeepers on patrol and in positions along the Blue Line.
Mr. Lacroix thanked all the colleagues who are working in these Missions for their service for peace.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) said that on Saturday (13 January), the Head of the peacekeeping mission there, Bintou Keita, held a press conference with the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC, Christophe Lutundula, on the disengagement plan jointly developed and agreed upon with the Congolese Government in November.
Ms. Keita reiterated that we continue to work closely with Congolese authorities to accelerate the progressive and responsible disengagement of MONUSCO from South Kivu while consolidating peace gains. The SRSG informed that the first phase of the disengagement of MONUSCO has begun and will lead to the complete withdrawal of MONUSCO from South Kivu by June 2024, together with the simultaneous strengthening of state authority in the province. During this phase, MONUSCO bases in South Kivu will be handed over to the Government.
The next phases, which will include MONUSCO’s withdrawal from North Kivu and Ituri, will be based on a careful assessment of the situation in these provinces, and together with the Congolese authorities, an evaluation of the first phase.
SOUTH SUDAN
The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, has allocated $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support men, women and children fleeing from Sudan to the neighbouring country, South Sudan.
The funds will be used to build shelters, offer cash assistance, build water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and support onward transportation for new arrivals who are currently staying at overcrowded transit sites.
This comes as the UN is anticipating that thousands of additional people may cross the borders over the next six months.
In just the past month, more than 60,000 people have arrived in South Sudan, following the outbreak of clashes in and around Wad Medani, Sudan’s second-largest city.
As of today, about half a million people have crossed into South Sudan since mid-April.
AFGHANISTAN
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today it is concerned about the survival of 96,000 children in Afghanistan impacted by the earthquakes that struck the country over 3 months ago, and called for greater healthcare, clean water and sanitation services for children, amidst harsh winter conditions.
Although UNICEF has provided as much support in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes, it said that much more is needed.
UNICEF confirmed that the rehabilitation work on destroyed classrooms will begin shortly. In the meantime, it has set up 61 temporary learning spaces and 61 child friendly spaces, where almost 3,400 children, more than half of them girls, were able to continue basic education.
HONOUR ROLL
Armenia has paid its regular budget dues in full for 2024. The Honour Roll has reached ten members.
