The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
19 July 2024
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the United Nations Children’s Fund.
Situation in the Gaza Strip
Jeremy Laurence, for the United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR), stated that, over the previous week, the people of Gaza had been subjected to a renewed wave of deadly Israeli air strikes and ordered to move yet again to supposed ‘safe places’ that were anything but safe. Since 12 July, 503 Palestinians had been killed, mostly in central Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel’s evacuation order on 9 July, one of the largest since 7 October, had forced families into an impossible choice once again: stay amid active hostilities or risk fleeing to areas still subject to attack and with hardly any space or services. Nowhere was safe for people in Gaza: not the roads, not shelters, not hospitals, not the unilaterally declared so-called humanitarian zones.
The outcome was now clear of Israel’s dismantling of local capacity to maintain public order and safety: there was looting, mob justice, extortion of money, family disputes, random shootings, fighting for space and resources, and we see youths armed with sticks manning barricades. The creation of these conditions had led to the predictable and entirely foreseeable unravelling of the fabric of society in Gaza, setting people against one another in a fight for survival and tearing communities apart. The High Commissioner stressed once again that the violence had to end. There had to be a ceasefire, and the hostages had to be released. Reconstruction of Gaza had to begin. The occupation had to end, accountability had to be served and the internationally agreed two-State solution had to become a reality.
Ajith Sunghay, Head of the United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR) for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, speaking from Amman, said that he had returned from Gaza the previous day, after spending a couple of weeks in the area. The people of Gaza were suffering immensely, and the situation was truly desperate. People were on the move from north to south, again, although they were making the journey knowing it was fraught with danger. As people moved from Gaza City to Middle Gaza, Mr. Sunghay had observed several humanitarian responders, including protection actors, provide urgent services to the exhausted and repeatedly traumatized population at reception centres on Al Rasheed Road and Salah Ed Deen Road. Most people had moved on donkey carts and horse carts, holding white flags. Many said that they had lost everything due to Israeli bombing, including their homes. The outcome was becoming obvious of Israel’s dismantling of local capacity to maintain public order and safety in Gaza; anarchy was spreading. The hostile environment due to the war and the breakdown in civil order also raised enormous challenges for any meaningful humanitarian response to the mammoth needs of the people.
Mr. Sunghay explained that humanitarian and human rights entities were doing incredible work under impossible conditions, while trying hard to ensure respect for diversity and inclusion.
Civil society groups had provided frontline protection from day one. They also stressed the need for accountability for the gross human rights violations that had occurred. Women’s rights organizations shared information about sexual and gender-based violence, including in Israeli detention, but stressed that there was no space to talk about this while the war was ongoing. Mr. Sunghay heard accounts of women committing suicide due to their desperate living conditions and the terrible deterioration of mental health.
Responding to questions from the media, Mr. Sunghay said that the inadequate sewage and spillovers were an ongoing challenge. Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that samples collected from the surveillance points in Gaza in June had indicated presence of a polio strain. As part of response efforts, WHO teams were conducting an assessment of the polio virus spread and necessary response. As per data available, the polio vaccine coverage rates in Gaza had been optimal (89 per cent) before the onset of the current war. Currently, reminded Mr. Lindmeier, only 16 out of the 36 hospitals were functional, and the decimation of the health system, cramped living conditions, shortages of medical supplies, poor quality of water and inadequate sanitation increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio. Mr. Lindmeier stressed that a ceasefire was essential to scale up immunization efforts.
The United Nations Secretary-General was disappointed by the decision of the Knesset opposing an establishment of a Palestinian State, added Ms. Vellucci in a response to another question, quoting the Secretary-General’s spokesperson. He had said many times that he believed that a two-state solution, where Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with a secure and recognized border based on 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, was the only viable path to a sustainable peace for the people of Israel and for the people of Palestine.
On another question, Mr. Sunghay stressed that without clear security guarantees and a green light provided by the Israeli side, the UN and partners could not move humanitarian aid within Gaza. An enabling environment had to be established, added Ms. Vellucci. James Elder, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said that the evidence was clear that there were no security conditions on the ground to distribute life-saving aid safely and efficiently. The risk of famine was still at the highest level. Because of the fluid nature of the conflict, populations were on constant move. Mr. Sunghay reiterated that there was no law enforcement in Gaza; there was looting because of the hunger and other factors. Police had to be back on the streets to bring some order. Jeremy Laurence, also for OHCHR, said that a report on Palestinian refugees was expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Flood-hit communities in Afghanistan need urgent humanitarian support
Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that the rainstorms and heavy flooding in the country’s central and eastern regions in Afghanistan had left at least 40 people dead, more than 340 injured and many more displaced. Many roads, bridges, homes, and public buildings had been damaged or destroyed. It was expected that figures would rise when more areas become accessible to rescue and assessment teams. Afghanistan was among the countries most exposed to extreme weather conditions and natural disasters, such as droughts and storms. It was also one of the least prepared to adapt to the impact of climate change, following four decades of conflict, insecurity, and instability. The latest floods followed devastating flash floods in May, which had hit large areas of northern, northeastern, and western Afghanistan, killing and injuring more than 683 people, with widespread damage to infrastructure, homes and agricultural lands.
The recent flooding incidents were exacerbating the vulnerabilities faced by communities already struggling to access basic services. Afghanistan remained one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with 23.7 million people estimated to need aid in 2024 according to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. Since the start of the year, the UN estimated more than 145,000 people had been affected by natural disasters throughout Afghanistan, with 33 out of the 34 provinces experiencing some kind of natural disaster during this period. Afghanistan needed continued attention and support from the international community. UNHCR and other humanitarian operations in the country remained severely underfunded. Currently, UNHCR’s operation in Afghanistan was only 44 per cent funded.
Full statement is available here.
Answering questions from the journalists, Mr. Baloch informed that out of the USD 215 million needed for Afghanistan for this year, only 44 per cent was currently funded. UNHCR had maintained its presence in the country over the past four decades, reminded Mr. Baloch. Since the Taliban’s takeover, the violent conflict had diminished, but at the same time, the humanitarian situation had worsened, so humanitarian help was as needed as ever. High Commissioner Filippo Grandi had recently visited Afghanistan and met with a number of stakeholders, including Afghan returnees from Pakistan. Refugees wanted to return home when it was possible; they should not be pushed or pressured to return, however. There were currently three million internally displaced Afghans now. The total humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan for 2024 stood at USD 3 billion, out of which USD 720 million was received, added Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS).
Sudan talks
Responding to a question on the Sudan talks in Geneva, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), stated that the discussions were concluding today. From 11 to 19 July, Ramtane Lamamra, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, and his team had held some 20 sessions with both parties in the format of parallel talks. The Personal Envoy was encouraged by the readiness of the parties to engage with him on critical issues, and he now counted on them to translate that good will into tangible efforts on the ground. The Geneva discussions were an encouraging step in a long process, and the Personal Envoy would remain in contact with both parties. If there was a written statement at the end of the talks tonight, it would be promptly shared with the media.
Announcements
Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that on the World Brain Day, 22 July, WHO would launch a new report on “Improving Access to Medicines for Neurological Disorders”. Neurological conditions were a leading cause of disability worldwide despite the development of medicines, which unfortunately remained largely unaffordable, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The advanced copy of the report was available.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee on the elaboration of complementary standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination would hold its 14th session from 22 July to 2 August in Room XX. During the two-week session, the Ad Hoc Committee would pursue its work towards the elaboration of a draft protocol criminalizing acts of racist and xenophobic nature as mandated by the Human Rights Council. The Ad Hoc Committee would also examine closely issues and elements under paragraph 101 of the report of its 13th session (A/HRC/54/65), exchange views, discuss the Chairperson’s draft document, and adopt conclusions and recommendations.
Ms. Vellucci reminded that the second meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) would be held in Room XIX from 22 July to 2 August. The Chair-designate of the second session, Akan Rakhmetullin, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, would hold a press conference on 22 July at 1:15 pm.
On 22 June at 11 am, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) would do a media launch of the 2024 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report, which would be under embargo until 24 July at 2 pm. Maximo Torero, FAO Chief Economist, would present the report in a virtual press conference.
Ms. Vellucci said that on 23 July at 10 am, the Committee against Torture would hold a public meeting with Suzanne Jabbour, President of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture.
The Human Rights Committee would end its session on 23 July. It would then publish its concluding observations on countries examined during the session: Croatia, Malta, Honduras, Maldives, Suriname, Syria, and India.
***
The webcast for this briefing is available here: https://www.unognewsroom.org/story/en/2269 /un-geneva-press-briefing-19-july-2024/0/WjnegYbwZ1
The audio for this briefing is available here: https://www.unognewsroom.org/share/YRdG5oyaDz
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNHCR , WHO
Yemen's health system nears collapse amid conflict, causing rising casualties and medicine shortages.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Update by the Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WIPO , WHO , UNICEF , UNHCR , IOM , WFP , FAO
WIPO Global Innovation Index 2026 launch and press conference, WHO Composition of influenza vaccines for the 2027 Southern Hemisphere flu season, UNICEF Yemen hunger and malnutrition; UNHCR Sudan displacement into Chad; IOM Ebola and population movements in DRC; WFP emergency food assistance in Nepal; and FAO food loss and waste.
2
1
2
Press Conferences | UNCTAD
Gaza reconstruction needs reach $71.5 billion as Palestinian economy and public finances face severe strain. Latest UNCTAD report documents the loss of decades of development gains, economic collapse in Gaza and tightening economic constraints in the West Bank.
The report identifies three immediate priorities: transferring withheld Palestinian revenues, safeguarding the banking system and aligning reconstruction support with the documented scale of damage and economic losses.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Press conference on the situation of human rights in Nicaragua by the UN Group of Human Rights Experts
1
1
1
Press Conferences | ITU , UNHCR , WHO , WMO
YEMEN - UNHCR: Escalating conflict in Yemen could fuel more displacement, refugee movement
CLIMATE - WHO / WMO: Health and Climate impact of El Niño
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR
Mariana Katzarova discusses human rights in Russia as a UN Special Rapporteur.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IOM , OHCHR , UN WOMEN , UNFPA , UNHCR , UNOPS , WHO
UN Geneva briefing: Yemen crisis worsens, urgent aid needed across multiple sectors.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Press conference on the latest report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the UN Human Rights Council
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
Victims Still Waiting: A Global Briefing on Transitional Justice Around the World
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | WMO
As world’s water reserves change, countries must prepare for a new reality: WMO
New data showing that rivers were at their lowest level for decades last year provides further evidence that the climate crisis is real and countries must act immediately to protect themselves from the increasing threat to communities and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.
The key findings from WMO’s State of Global Water Resources 2025 report covering the hydrological cycle and extreme events in the five-year period to last year:
- 2025 was one of driest years for river discharge in 35 years
- Past seven years have seen abnorfmal river flows
- Water storage on Earth’s land surface has decreased in past decade
- Widespread glacier loss across all regions for fourth consecutive year
- Asia and Africa are regions most affected by water-related disasters
- Water data availability has improved, but gaps remain in hard-hit areas
Highlighting the long-term decline in the Earth’s freshwater storage and glacier melt, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo explained that the planet’s water reserves used to act as a planetary “savings account” that absorbed the occasional dry season, avoiding a water crisis. “One of the central stories of the 2025 report is what is happening to that savings account? And the simple answer is that we are depleting it,” she told journalists in Geneva.
Groundwater reserves are equally stretched and have been in decline since 2014, WMO’s report states, with nearly two-thirds of monitored wells worldwide showing levels lower than the historical norm and indicating a shift “further toward deficit…not recovery”.
“At the same time, we are seeing more water-related disasters,” Ms. Saulo said, while also stressing that the currently strengthening El Niño “will increase the risk of drought in some areas, and flooding in others”.
Glaciers disappearing
In 2025, for the fourth consecutive year, every major glaciated region on Earth lost ice mass, leading to short-term hazards including floods and long-term water insecurity, according to WMO.
Responding to a question about whether the changing global water cycle might have contributed to the deadly Nepal-China flooding disaster, Ms. Saulo explained that melting ice and rock was just one factor in the chain of events that ultimately sent a massive and deadly wall of water and debris downstream on 26 August, killing at least 1,367 people.
“You asked if it could happen again? Absolutely; the problem in this region is that there’s 63,700 glaciers at the last count,” she told a Press Conference in Geneva. “Even if you’re looking with remote sensing with satellites at these glaciers, you might see some faults, you might see some slight shifting, that does not mean necessarily catastrophic collapse. So, in order to plan for this, it’s very, very difficult. But the international community is looking very hard at ways in which we can bring people together to solve some of these monitoring issues.”
Data indicates that glaciers shrank between 2023 and 2025 with cumulative losses of 1,400 gigatonnes of water – or about one third of annual fresh water needs.
Every major glacier region on Earth lost ice for the fourth consecutive year.
“All 19 glacier regions around the globe lost ice; in Central Asia, Iceland, the Russian Arctic and western Canada and the United States, it was among the three worst years on record,” said Wayne Jenkinson, WMO’s Director of Hydrology and Cryosphere.
Some regions with smaller glaciers such as Central Europe, the Caucasus, the western Canada and the United States may already have reached “peak water”, Mr. Jenkinson warned.
“After this point, the glacier gives less meltwater each year simply because there is less ice left to melt. That matters for every community downstream that relies on water during hot, dry summers,” he explained.
Narelle van der Wel, WMO’s Head of Cryosphere Monitoring, Predictions and Services, stressed that while some further glacier loss is unavoidable, the eventual scale of the decline is not predetermined.
“Some glacier loss is inevitable, but total loss of glaciers is not yet inevitable,” she said, pointing to emissions reductions as central to limiting future losses.
Preparing for moving baselines
The report does not attribute every observed change to climate change alone. WMO says pressure on water resources and natural variability also contribute.
Mr. Jenkinson said governments need to prepare for “moving baselines” as historical patterns become less reliable.
“The situation 30 years ago is not where we are today,” he said. Countries, he added, need to prepare “for those changes that have really already arrived”.
ends
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WMO , OCHA , WHO , UNICEF , UN WOMEN , OHCHR , IOM , UNHCR
Update on Ebola from WHO and OCHA, update on the situation of children with the beginning of school in Ukraine from UNICEF, UN Women on the impact of the settlers and restrictions on women and girls in West Bank, OHCHR on the recovery of extensive human remains in Gaza, IOM and UNHCR on the new wave of displacement in Yemen