HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 30 JULY 2024
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that an estimated 250,000 people have been internally displaced since 22 July, following the latest Israeli evacuation orders. This is more than 11 per cent of Gaza's population. Just a reminder that since October, 90 per cent of Gaza’s population has been displaced, often many times.
OCHA said it had observed the return of thousands of people into parts of Khan Younis today. This includes central and eastern neighbourhoods in the city, as well as the adjacent area of Bani Suhaila. Their return follows the announced completion of ground operations by Israeli forces in those areas overnight.
OCHA is concerned about the impact that repeated evacuation orders are having on civilians in Gaza.
Families often must move under fire, with only what they can carry. Each time their lives are upended, they are forced to start over again in areas that lack basic services. They must seek out new sources of water, food and health care; identify safe places to sleep; and locate facilities to attend to their hygiene needs.
Many displaced families are staying in overcrowded makeshift shelters or tents in urgent need of repair. Others have returned to destroyed buildings, where they are sleeping amid trash and debris.
The UN Development Programme warns that Gaza’s solid waste management system has collapsed. In a new assessment, UNDP says there is no access to major landfills, and waste is accumulating at more than 140 temporary dumping sites. This is causing serious environmental and health risks, including a spike in diarrheal illness and acute respiratory infections.
Meanwhile, UNRWA says that between 800 to 1,000 new hepatitis A cases are being reported weekly from the agency’s health centres and shelters across Gaza. The lack of water, sanitation and hygiene is speeding the spread of diseases.
HAITI
From Haiti, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and its humanitarian partners are concerned about the impact of persisting insecurity on access to education, with the school year set to start in September.
Over 900 schools are closed in the Ouest and Artibonite departments, impacting some 156,000 students. In the Ouest Department, which includes the capital Port-au-Prince, 39 schools are currently being used as sites for displaced people, while at least 20 other schools are occupied by armed groups.
Education Cannot Wait, the UN’s fund for education in emergency and crisis situations, has allocated $ 2.5 million to support schooling efforts in the country, notably in the Ouest and Artibonite departments.
The UN continues to call for support to address the ongoing crisis in Haiti. Seven months into the year, the $674 million Humanitarian Response Plan is only 25 percent funded, with $170 million received.
LIBYA / SUDAN
On Sudan, Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya has allocated $5.3 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support some 195,000 vulnerable refugees and host communities in Libya. The number of Sudanese refugees in Libya has increased significantly since the start of the conflict in April of 2023. This allocation will support urgent assistance and kick-start humanitarian response while further resources are being mobilized.
The funding is part of the broader Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Sudan crisis coordinated by the UN Refugee Agency, now including Libya and Uganda, with aid partners seeking $1.5 billion to support those affected by the conflict. This plan remains very underfunded: So far, only $313 million has been received, just 21 per cent of the total amount requested.
More than 15 months of conflict has forced a fifth of Sudan’s population to flee. This includes more than 2.1 million people who have crossed into neighbouring countries.
MALI
Turning to Mali, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that floods have affected the central part of the country.
Last week, torrential rains hit the Bla area of Segou Region. Over 8,000 people were impacted by the rains and flooding, which also caused substantial material damage.
Local authorities have activated an emergency relief plan and started registering affected families to receive assistance from the Government.
The UN’s humanitarian partners are working to support the Government-led response and are mobilizing to provide food assistance and cash transfers. They are also distributing tents, blankets, mosquito nets, and hygiene and sanitation products. A Government-led mission with the UN’s partners to the affected area is under way now to assess the damage and the needs.
RWANDA
The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu, has concluded a visit to Rwanda, during which she marked the end of 100 days of Remembrance of the Genocide which, as you will recall, took place 30 years ago.
She held meetings focused on the importance of learning from Rwanda's experience in rebuilding following genocide, on raising awareness about the risk factors, causes, and consequences of genocide, countering hate speech and addressing genocide denial in Rwanda and in the wider region.
INTERNATIONAL DAYS
Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. In a message, the Secretary-General says that on this day we focus on children - who account for one-third of trafficking victims.
They suffer unspeakable abuse – whether they are forced into labour, sold off as brides, recruited as soldiers, or coerced into criminal activities.
Today is also the International Day of Friendship. It is a reminder that through friendship we can generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.
