The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
30 July 2024
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons of the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization.
Situation in Gaza
Answering questions from the media, James Elder, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), stated that the blowing up of a large water facility in Rafah was yet another reminder of a blatant disregard for children’s rights. Without it, vulnerable children and their families would be forced once again to resort to consuming unsafe water. The range of water availability in Gaza had been reduced, and it was now of two to nine liters per person while the humanitarian minimum standard was 15 liters. Mr. Elder reminded of sweltering heat in Gaza right now. Civilian infrastructure had to be protected, he reiterated.
Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that environmental samples of polio had been tested, and the Health Ministry in Ramallah would like to test them again to confirm the outcome. If the cases were confirmed, the situation would be very worrisome. The virus was likely present in the population, but that did not mean that there would necessarily be a broader outbreak, he explained. Not many people showed symptoms; only heavy forms of polio could be mortal. Aid – food, medical assistance, and vaccines – needed to reach people, for which a ceasefire was necessary so that humanitarian agencies could deliver it safely. A proper polio vaccination campaign could only be conducted under safe circumstances. Before the war, Gaza had had very high vaccination rates. Mr. Lindmeier said that the world had been very close to eradicating polio completely, and it was hoped that Gaza would not turn into a pocket of polio. No cases of polio paralysis had been reported so far, added Mr. Elder, for UNICEF. There were tremendous challenges getting food in, including therapeutic food, said Mr. Elder. Children were very malnourished, there was a lack of clean water and sanitation, and Gaza was experiencing extreme heat, which all together created a very dire situation.
On another question, Mr. Lindmeier said that four children and their families had been medically evacuated from Egypt to Belgium; more children were now being evacuated towards the United Arab Emirates. Some ten thousand more medical cases needed to be evacuated.
Election in Venezuela
Replying to a question on the presidential election in Venezuela, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), stated that the Secretary-General had called for a peaceful resolution of the electoral dispute. He recalled that electoral authorities should undertake their work independently and without interference to guarantee the free expression of the will of the electorate.
Sudan talks
Answering a question, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), explained that according to the latest information, the next Sudan talks, expected to be held in Switzerland in mid-August, should not be UN-led, although the UN would be represented in the talks. All these efforts had the same aim: to lead to a peaceful solution to the conflict in Sudan. As soon as there was more information about the UN’s participation, it would be shared with the media, while the details on the talks should be sought from the Swiss Permanent Mission, said Ms. Vellucci.
Announcements
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the third and last part of the 2024 session of the Conference on Disarmament was being held from 29 July to 13 September. Ireland was holding the presidency of the Conference until 16 August, after which Israel would take over from 19 August until 13 September.
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination would hold its one hundred and thirteenth session from 5 to 23 August, during which it would review the reports of Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, United Kingdom, and Belarus.
On 1 August, the National Day of Switzerland, the United Nations Office at Geneva would be closed, informed Ms. Vellucci. It was planned not to hold a press briefing on 2 August.
Finally, Ms. Vellucci said that the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) would close at the Palais des Nations on 2 August.
Similar Stories
1
1
2
Press Conferences | WHO , OCHA , WMO , IOM , UNHCR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons of the World Health Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration.
1
2
3
Statements , Press Conferences | WHO
World Health Organization (WHO) statement on United States announcement of intent to withdraw
The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , UNCTAD , WHO , UNHCR , OHCHR , ICRC , UNICEF
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations Trade and Development.
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | OCHA , UNHCR
UN stands with people of Ukraine for the long term insists UN aid chief at humanitarian appeal launch in Kyiv
The embattled people of Ukraine and those forced abroad need $3.32 billion in lifesaving and sustained humanitarian assistance to help them cope as a fourth year of war looms after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, UN aid chiefs said on Thursday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IOM , UNICEF , UNHCR , WHO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons of the United Nations Children’s Fund, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization and the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , WMO , WHO
Michele Zaccheo, Chief of the TV, Radio and Webcast Section of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons of the Human Rights Council, the World Meteorological Organization, and the World Health Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | ILO , OHCHR , WHO , WMO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, and the World Meteorological Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNHCR , WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA , OHCHR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, representatives and spokespersons of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Human Rights, the United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the International Labour Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IOM
Amy Pope, IOM Director General, briefs the Geneva press corps on her recent mission to Syria.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | FAO , UNHCR , WHO , WOAH
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism Investigating Serious Crimes in Syria, representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Meteorological Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IIIM
Robert Petit, Head of IIIM: opportunities and challenges for justice in Syria in the wake of current events.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OSE , UNHCR , ICRC , UNRWA , HRC , ILO , WHO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization, the Human Rights Council, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.