HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 14 AUGUST 2024
 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY  
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that ongoing bombardment and hostilities in Gaza continue to kill, injure and displace Palestinians – as well as damage and destroy the homes and infrastructure they rely on. Rockets have also reportedly been launched from Gaza to Israel. 
Yesterday, the Israeli military issued a new evacuation order for people living in two areas of eastern Khan Younis – the neighbourhoods of Makhta and Beni Suhaila - to immediately move to the so-called ‘safe zone’.  
According to the UN’s humanitarian partners, more than 5,200 people are staying in these two areas. This order has impacted essential services, including eight water and sanitation facilities, as well as two primary health care centres, disrupting medical services in the area. 
Additionally, in Deir Al Balah, in the Zawayda area, residents were instructed to evacuate through phone calls, which were followed by a targeted attack on an open site with tents that had already been evacuated. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident. Emergency response teams and humanitarian agencies are working to assist the displaced people and address the disruptions to essential services. 
Once again, the UN calls for all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by taking constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects. This includes allowing civilians to leave for safer areas and allowing their return as soon as circumstances allow. People must be able to receive humanitarian assistance, whether they move or stay. 
Moving to the West Bank, OCHA’s latest report says the killing and displacement of Palestinians continues. Between 6 and 12 August, five Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and Israeli settlers across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Another 54 Palestinians, including 11 children, were also injured during the same period. 
During that same period, Israeli settlers also perpetrated more than 25 attacks against Palestinians, causing injuries and damage to property. There were also three attacks by Palestinians against settlers. 

MIDDLE EAST 
Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, spoke to the Security Council yesterday about the Israeli attack on the al-Tabeen school in Gaza City. 
She said that the attack points once again to the desperate need to reach a ceasefire, free the hostages and scale up humanitarian aid to Gaza.  
She recalled that the Secretary-General condemned the continued loss of life in Gaza following another attack on a school sheltering hundreds of displaced Palestinian families. 
Ms. DiCarlo reiterated the Secretary General’s call for all to work vigorously towards regional de-escalation in the interest of long-term peace and stability. And she welcomed efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to bring both sides to conclude a deal to bring about a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and scale up desperately needed humanitarian relief. 
Lisa Doughten, OCHA’s Director for Financing and Partnerships, spoke to the Council on behalf of the Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator.  She noted the recent attacks on schools in Gaza. The most recent incidents, she said, include three schools hit within 48 hours between 3 and 4 August and two schools hit on 8 August, all in Gaza city, with Al Tabi’een on Saturday the latest such attack.  
According to the Human Rights Office, she said, this is at least the 21st strike on a school that has been serving as a shelter recorded since 4 July this year. Scores of people have been killed in these strikes, among them women and children. 

SOUTH SUDAN 
This morning, the Security Council was briefed on the situation in South Sudan.  
Nicholas Haysom, the Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), told the Council members that UNMISS continues to support the creation of an enabling environment for elections in South Sudan. 
For her part, Edem Wosornu, OCHA’s Director of Operations and Advocacy, said that South Sudan is in the grips of a growing food insecurity crisis, a climate crisis and an economic crisis, all while suffering the impact of the conflict in Sudan and dwindling financial support for the humanitarian response.   
She warned that the heavy rains since May, as well as the calculated release of water from Lake Victoria, have led to increased Nile River levels, with floods so far impacting up to 300,000 people. However, underfunding continues to hamper an adequate response. 
 
LIBYA 
The UN Mission in Libya, UNSMIL, has expressed its concern at the recent unilateral acts by Libyan political actors and institutions, in the East, West and South. In the current climate, these unilateral acts serve to increase tension, undermine trust and further entrench institutional divisions and discord among Libyans.  
UNSMIL reminds all political leaders and institutions of their commitments and obligations under the Libyan Political Agreement and its amendments, in line with all relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly resolution 2702 (2023). 
The UN Mission’s recent consultations with Libyan leaders and regional stakeholders will continue. The Mission is committed to facilitating an inclusive political process leading to credible presidential and parliamentary elections. 
Given the numerous challenges Libya faces, the Mission calls on all Libyan parties to embrace dialogue and compromise, in a way that serves the interests of all Libyans. 
 
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) reports that a joint delegation that included government ministers and the head of the Mission, Valentine Rugwabiza, launched the construction of the first multi-service border post in Bembéré, in Lim Pende prefecture, situated on the CAR-Chad border. 
The border post aims to improve security and streamline and control the movement of goods and people and is a concrete step in the implementation of the National Border Management Policy. 
Speaking at the event, Ms. Rugwabiza recalled that these border areas - often perceived as hotbeds of insecurity - must be transformed into areas of stabilization, prosperity and opportunity. 
 
VENEZUELA 
The interim report of the UN Panel of Electoral Experts on Venezuela, which was shared with the National Electoral Council. 
The panel of experts will also present a final report to the Secretary-General in due course. 

CHILDREN 
The UN Children’s Fund today said that one in five children – or 466 million – live in areas that experience at least double the number of extremely hot days every year compared to just six decades ago. 
Using a comparison between a 1960s and a 2020-2024 average, the UNICEF analysis released today issued a stark warning about the speed and scale at which extremely hot days – measured as more than 35 degrees Celsius or 95 degrees Fahrenheit – are increasing for almost half a billion children worldwide, many without the infrastructure or services to endure it. 
In addition, UNICEF found that eight countries, including Mali, Niger, Senegal, South Sudan and Sudan, are home to children who spend more than half the year in temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.