GAZA CONFERENCE
Good afternoon everyone. The Secretary-General spoke earlier today at the High-Level Meeting on Gaza that is taking place in Jordan.
He highlighted the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza and said that at least half of all humanitarian aid missions are denied access, impeded, or cancelled due to operational or security reasons.
He told leaders attending the conference that it is high time for a ceasefire, along with the unconditional release of the hostages.
The Secretary-General underscored that the only way forward is through a political solution that opens a path to sustained peace, based on two states, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines and the relevant United Nations resolutions, previous agreements and international law, with Jerusalem as capital of both states.
Martin Griffiths, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, also spoke in Amman and he said that all crossings must be open and functioning at full capacity. Entry requirements for humanitarian supplies and personnel must be streamlined.
Safe, conducive and enabling conditions for humanitarian aid workers have to be ensured for the effective reception and provision of aid to civilians in need throughout Gaza, and the UN Flash Appeal for Gaza must be fully funded, he added.
After Jordan, the Secretary-General is scheduled to be in Geneva where he will attend meetings this week to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). While in Geneva, he will also address the Council of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
YEMEN
While in Amman, the Secretary-General called for the immediate release of all United Nations staff held in Yemen by the de facto Houthi authorities, following the detention of 13 of the Organization’s personnel.
He said that this is an alarming development that raises serious concerns about the Houthis’ commitment to a negotiated solution to the conflict. The United Nations condemns all arbitrary detention of civilians, he added.
He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained UN personnel.
The Secretary-General’s call came as he met with his Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in Jordan. They discussed recent developments in Yemen, including an escalating crackdown on civic space by the de facto authorities.
Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, today also urged the de facto authorities in Sana’a to immediately and unconditionally release the detained staff, as well as other individuals detained in relation to their affiliation with the UN, international NGOs or other actors supporting humanitarian activities.
He categorically rejected the outrageous allegations against UN staff and said he is deeply worried about the conditions in which they are being held. He added that it is crucial that the de facto authorities ensure that those detained are treated with full respect for their human rights and dignity and that they can contact their families. Access to the detained colleagues by the United Nations must be granted as soon as possible.
YEMEN / MIGRATION
The International Organization for Migration today said that at least 49 migrants have died, and 140 others remain missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen. IOM notes that the vessel carrying 260 migrants capsized yesterday near Alghareef Point in Shabwah governorate.
Among those that lost their lives in this devastating tragedy are 31 women and six children.
The International Organization for Migration said that search and rescue operations are ongoing despite significant challenges due to a shortage of operational patrol boats, a situation further complicated by the recent conflict. IOM has mobilized two mobile medical teams to provide immediate assistance to the survivors.
SUDAN
Turning to Sudan and the escalating violence in El Fasher, in North Darfur State. Our colleagues at UNICEF have received harrowing reports that at least six children have been killed and many more injured in the city since 7 June. Thousands of children, including those living in large displacement camps, are trapped in the middle of the increased fighting and are not able to reach safety.
UNICEF urges all parties to immediately deescalate the situation, allow the safe and voluntary movement of civilians, and ensure the protection of civilians, including children and women, and civilian objects.
Our humanitarian colleagues warn that the ongoing clashes in and around El Fasher are taking a grim toll on humanitarian workers and operations. Yesterday, an aid worker for the NGO Relief International in Darfur died due to complications from a bullet wound sustained on 1 June. The staff member was shot while returning to the Zamzam displacement camp, after transporting a patient to El Fasher Maternity Hospital.
He was the sixth aid worker killed in Sudan in the past six weeks. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs underscores yet again that in Sudan and in conflicts everywhere else in the world, humanitarians must be protected.
Despite these dangers, humanitarians continue to deliver life-saving assistance to people in need. The UN Refugee Agency tells us that three trucks carrying core relief items have reached North Darfur from Chad via the Tine crossing. Those supplies are being distributed to more than 1,100 families in two localities near the border.
Elsewhere in Sudan, the World Health Organization distributed nearly 20 metric tonnes of emergency health supplies to 18 health facilities and 5 stabilization centres in North Kordofan State.
This vital assistance will meet the emergency and primary healthcare needs of displaced people and host communities. WHO has also managed to reach South Kordofan’s Abu Jubayhah Region for the first time this year to deliver emergency health supplies.
Meanwhile, I’d like to point out that this year’s humanitarian appeal for Sudan is just 16 per cent funded, with less than $441 million received of the $2.7 billion required.
ABYEI
Turning to Abyei.
Our peacekeeping colleagues report that as part of their efforts to strengthen security and enhance the protection of civilians in the southern part of Abyei, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei – or UNISFA - mission has completed the establishment of a year-round base in Rumamier. The camp will enable the Mission to maintain a continuous presence in the area, with the goal of enhancing security for the local community.
Rumamier has faced attacks in the past, but impassable roads during the rainy season had previously limited operations to the dry season. The area is along the eastern migration corridor accessed by cattle rustlers.
The presence of peacekeepers, because of this base, will enhance the Mission’s ability to address security challenges, including making efforts to deter activities by armed people in the area.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
From the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Humanitarian Coordinator there, Bruno Lemarquis, is concerned about the persistence of violence and the alarming deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the east of the country.
In a statement issued yesterday, Mr. Lemarquis condemned the deadly attacks by non-state armed groups, which have targeted civilians in the territory of Beni, in North Kivu province, killing at least 41 civilians on June 7th, according to the national authorities. This brings the death toll to at least 57 since June 3rd.
Still in the East, violence targeting civilians also continues in Ituri Province, with an average of 100 people killed monthly between January and May by armed groups in the Djugu, Irumu and Mambasa territories.
Over the past two weeks, the violence in the East of the country has forced more than 67,000 people to flee to safer areas in Beni in North Kivu. Our partners have deployed teams to assess needs.
Mr. Lemarquis called on all armed groups and their supporters to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights, to protect civilians, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, and enable humanitarian operations.
Between January and April, more than 900,000 newly displaced people were registered in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, bringing the total number of displaced people in the eastern DRC to more than 7.3 million.
The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan for DRC is currently less than a quarter funded, with $593 million received of the $2.6 billion requested.
Despite these constraints, more than 3.5 million people in the Congo received humanitarian assistance between January and April of this year.
HAITI
From Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the volatile situation there continues to displace thousands of people across the country.
According to the International Organization for Migration, between March and June this year, the number of people displaced across the country increased by 60 per cent, from 362,000 to more than 578,000 people. The Ouest Department, which includes the capital, Port-au-Prince, accounts for more than a third of all displaced people. More than half of all people uprooted from their homes are children.
In the past months, people have continued to flee Port-au-Prince towards the provinces, increasing the humanitarian burden for already vulnerable communities.
The UN and our partners continue to support people in the capital and across the country.
Last week, the World Food Programme distributed more than 43,000 hot meals to nearly 13,500 people displaced in nine sites in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. Since March, as you heard last week, WFP has provided more than one million hot meals.
On 7 June, a cargo flight operated by WFP landed in the northern city of Cap-Haïtien, carrying more than 11 metric tonnes of products for water, hygiene and sanitation activities, as well as educational materials for our partner Save the Children.
The Pan-American Health Organization and World Health Organization continue to support health care in Haiti, recently distributing nearly 4 tonnes of medicine and supplies to health centers in the Port-au-Prince area.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This afternoon, at 3:00 p.m., the Security Council will hold a meeting on Syria.
The High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, is expected to brief Council members.
CHILDREN
UNICEF today released new estimates that say nearly 400 million children under five years of age regularly endure psychological aggression or physical punishment at home.
Of them, around 330 million are punished by physical means.
The findings also emphasize the crucial role of play in children’s development and the mental health of children, parents, and caregivers in response to data that highlights the prevalence of inadequate caregiving, including stimulation and interaction at home.
The data also show that around 1 in 5 children aged 2-4 years do not play with their caregivers at home, while roughly 1 in 8 under age 5 do not have toys or playthings at home.
You can find more online.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PLAY
Incidentally, today is the International Day of Play, and is being observed for the first time.
The Day creates a unifying moment at global, national, and local levels to elevate the importance of play. It signals a call for policies, training, and funding to get play integrated into education and community settings worldwide.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
At last, thanks to our friends in a high-altitude, landlocked Member State in Africa, we have reached a lofty 114 fully paid-up Member States. Any guesses which nation could it be? That would be Lesotho, which is surrounded by South Africa.
