UNOG Bi-Weekly Press Briefing 21 January 2022
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Press Conferences | UNHCR , OCHA , WHO , UNOG , UNITED NATIONS , WFP

UNOG Bi-Weekly Press Briefing 21 January 2022

PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE

 

21 January 2022

 

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the World Food Programme.

Conditions faced by Eritrean refugees in the camps in the Tigray region, Ethiopia

Boris Cheshirkov, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said the Refugee Agency was deeply alarmed at the deteriorating conditions faced by Eritrean refugees in the camps in Tigray. After three weeks with no access due to the security situation, UNHCR staff had managed to reach Mai Aini and Adi Harush refugee camps in the Tigray region of Ethiopia earlier this week for the first time since the recent air strikes in and near the camps. The team had found refugees scared and struggling to get enough to eat, lacking medicine and with little or no access to clean water. 

Refugees had told UNHCR of increasing preventable deaths linked to the decline in conditions and in particular the lack of medicine and health services. Also, the lack of fuel meant that clean water could neither be pumped nor trucked to the camps, with refugees resorting to collecting water from streams, leading to a severe risk of water borne diseases. The complete inability to move supplies into the region meant that extreme hunger was an increasing concern. Refugees had resorted to selling their clothes and few belongings to try to get food.

UNHCR had been calling on all parties for a cease fire and guarantee of safe passage that would allow the Refugee Agency to relocate the more than 25,000 refugees remaining in the camps to the new site provided by the Government of Ethiopia in Dabat, in neighbouring Amhara region. If food, medicine, fuel, and other supplies could not be immediately brought in, and if UNHRC continued to be unable to relocate refugees out of harm's way, more refugees would die.

Taking questions from journalists, Mr. Cheshirkov said UNHCR and its partners faced great difficulties in delivering assistance across the region, especially in the two camps of Mai Aini and Adi Harush, which together held some 25,000 refugees. For three weeks, UNHCR had been unable to access them at all; there had been an effective blockade on humanitarian aid reaching the area since mid-December 2021. Mr. Cheshirkov, noting he could not comment on the involvement of other parties to the conflict, said that for the Refugee Agency, it was important for all parties in Ethiopia to protect civilians, as well as to respect and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people, including refugees.

Full press release available here.

Confirming Mr. Cheshirkov’s statement, Ms. Vellucci added that there were information that no humanitarian aid supplies had entered Tigray through the Semera-Abala-Mekelle corridor since 14 December 2021; as well, no fuel for humanitarian operations had been allowed to Tigray through this route since 2 August 2021.

Situation in Tonga

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), introduced Dr Yutora Seotya, WHO Country Liaison Officer in the Kingdom of Tonga. Speaking by satellite phone from the capital of Tonga, Dr Seotya told of important destructions in the wake of the volcano explosion and the ensuing tsunami. Half of the houses had been damaged and there were also difficulties of communication. The human toll however stood at only three deceased, with a limited number of injured persons

Apart from the tsunami, Tonga had subjected to heavy ash-fall, with 2 or 3 centimeters of very fine ash contaminating the water sources as well as the air – WHO had asked people to wear masks to prevent damages to the lungs. Tonga was facing a lack of drinking water; food supply was an issue in the Ha’apai island, where many houses and shops had been washed away; finally, a fuel shortage had been reported in Vava’u and Ha’apai islands.

Given the devastating damages, and the fact that many people had seen their houses washed away by the tsunami, the psychological impact on the population stood to be huge, Dr Seotya added. The government had already deployed medical staff in affected villages.

Dr Seotya stressed that the people of Tonga were helping each other, were resilient and were working together to overcome the crisis.

Tomson Phiri, for the World Food Programme (WFP), said that it was difficult to get a full picture of the extent of the damage as most parts of the island nation were without communication and internet access. WFP teams were supporting the re-establishment of communications, telephone, and internet, in Tonga, and partial communication had been restored.

WFP was supporting the assessment of needs and priorities regarding food security. It appeared all agricultural sectors – crops, livestock, and fisheries – had been badly affected. Initial estimates showed up to 12,000 agricultural families being affected, as well as 60 to 70 percent of livestock-rearing families. Given the enormity of the volcano eruption, it was likely most families could have done nothing to protect or save their livestock from perishing; and for those that had survived, there may be very little grazing pasture and uncontaminated water supplies left.

WFP had been monitoring the food security situation in Tonga in the past year: even before the volcano eruption, 20 percent of Tongan families were already food insecure. While the extent of the damage was yet to be fully understood, it was clear that Tonga would need assistance in both the short-term and the long-term.

Jens Laerke, for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), remarked that the volcano was still active and that “we were not out of the wood yet”. UN staff was already in country and assessments were trickling in. Two big issues were the re-establishment of communications and the availability of clean water. But it was not fully clear what other kind of aid would be needed. According to assessments, some 50,000 persons (or half the Tongan population) may need safe water.

The good news was that countries in the region had stepped up immediately and that the airport and the ports were now operational.

There was a very strong message from the government that they would not have COVID-19 come in the country. OCHA fully agreed and was applying a “do no harm” policy. Mr. Laerke described “no-contact delivery” modalities that could be used to bring in aid without risking contamination by the coronavirus.

Answering questions from journalists, Mr. Phiri added that WFP already had engineers and programme teams in the region, as well as “stand-by arrangements” with private sector companies that provide logistical, telecom and other services. If requested, other resources could be found – there were enough “boots on the ground”.

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), noted that casualties were few, health installations were operational, and people were able to work. Most needed were, as had already been pointed out, drinking water, food and apparently also fuel. As long as those could be brought in through the “contactless efforts” already in place, emergency teams – such as those deployed during an earthquake, for instance – were not necessary at this point.

100,000 displaced persons in Cameroon

Boris Cheshirkov, for UNHCR, said the Refugee Agency had released a supplementary appeal seeking USD 59.6 million for 100,000 persons displaced by intercommunal violence in Cameroon's Far North region. The monies would help UNHCR and its humanitarian and government partners provide vital protection and assistance to those displaced by the crisis, to cover their dire humanitarian needs over the next six months.

Clashes had started on 5 December 2021 in the border village of Ouloumsa (Far North Cameroon) following a dispute between herders, fishermen and farmers over water resources that had been dwindling because of the climate crisis. Violence had then spread to neighbouring villages, resulting in 44 people being killed, over 100 injured, and 112 villages burned to the ground.

With USD 59.6 million, UNHCR could deliver urgently needed shelter and core relief items, such as blankets, mats, and mosquito nets. Funds would also cover growing water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. Child protection; prevention and response to gender-based violence; documentation; as well as education, were also urgent priorities. UNHCR estimated that 9 out of 10 Cameroonian refugees in Chad as a result of this crises were women and children.

UNHCR would continue to work with the authorities in leading peace and reconciliation efforts in the Far North region – however, urgent action was needed to address the root causes of the conflict. Funds to support displaced people in Chad and Cameroon were now critically low and were under severe pressure due to the rapidly rising needs.

Taking questions, Mr. Cheshirkov explained that the tensions were not linked to other situations that may be continuing in Cameroon: they were intercommunal violence that had begun along the Logone river (running along the border between Cameroon and Chad) over water resources, with the surface waters of lake Chad shrinking.

The last few weeks had been much calmer, security forces having been reinforced in the area. But the tensions were still there. UNHCR had been leading peace and reconciliation efforts in Cameroon. These efforts, as well as those toward social cohesion, needed to be renewed. The Agency hoped to fund these activities with the appeal.

WHO Announcements

Christian Lindmeier, for the WHO, announced that the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts would hold a briefing, today at 2 p.m., focusing on the meeting that had taken place two days ago.

Mr. Lindmeier also said the WHO Executive Board (EB) session would begin next Monday, 24 January, at 10 a.m. All sessions would be public and live streamed. WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros, would address the Board on Monday at 10 a.m.

Also of note, on Tuesday, statements would be made by candidates for the post of Director-General – the only candidate, in this case, being Dr Tedros. The Board would then meet in private (that would be the only private meeting of the EB) and later make its recommendation to the World Health Assembly.

Answering questions, Mr. Lindmeier said that the Chair of the Executive Board was looking in the matter of the inquiry on Dr Tedros that had been requested by Ethiopia.

Other announcements

Ms. Vellucci then announced that the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group would open its 40th session also on Monday, 24 January. The same day, the Working Group would review the human rights record of Togo (9 a.m.) as well as the human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic (2:30 p.m.) The session would last until 3 February, with the human rights situation in 12 States reviewed.

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) would hold the first public plenary meeting of its 2022 session on Tuesday, 25 January, at 10 a.m. in room XIX. The Conference would hear a statement by Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva and Secretary-General of the CD. The Conference would be meeting under the presidency of Ambassador Li Song, of China.

Ms. Vellucci also announced that today at 10 a.m. New York time (6 p.m. in Geneva), the General Assembly would hold a formal meeting to hear a briefing by the Secretary-General on his priorities for 2022. Later, the Secretary-General would give a press conference in New York on the same subject (1-1:30 p.m. New York time). Both events would be broadcast live on UN Web TV.

Ms. Vellucci reminded that 24 January was International Education Day; and 27 January International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Concerning the latter, an official ceremony would take place, as was customary, at the Palais des Nations, at which journalists were welcome, Ms. Vellucci said. CinéONU would show Les derniers (The Last Ones), a movie in which three of the last survivors of the Holocaust are interviewed.

Finally, Ms. Vellucci said the President of the General Assembly had made, yesterday, a solemn appeal to Member States for the observance of the Olympic truce before the winter Games in Beijing. The truce would last from 27 January to 20 March 2022 – seven days before the beginning of the Olympic Games, and seven days after the end of the Paralympic Games.

 

Teleprompter
Good morning, welcome.
To the press briefing of the information.
Service in Geneva today is Friday 21st of January.
We have the great privilege.
Today to bring to you a colleague of The Who who is currently in Tonga, Dr Utora Seotia.
We are trying to.
Establish the connection.
We'll try to.
Do it as clearly as possible in the meantime.
I have the pleasure to.
Give the floor to Boris Cheskov for UNHCR.
Boris, you have a point on.
Eritrean refugees in Tigre.
In indeed we do have an update.
For you from from Tigre.
Thank you, Alessandro.
Good morning to everyone.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply.
Alarmed at the.
Deteriorating conditions faced by Eritrean refugees in the camps in Tigre.
After three weeks with no access due to the security situation, UNHCR staff members managed to reach Mayani and Adi Karush refugee camps in the Tigray.
Region.
Of Ethiopia earlier this week for the first time since the recent airstrikes.
In and near the camps.
Our team found refugees scared and struggling to get enough to eat, lacking medicine and with little or no access to clean.
Water.
Refugees told UNHCR of increasing preventable deaths more than 20.
Over the last 6.
Weeks linked to the overall decline in conditions and in particular the lack of medicine and health services, the.
Clinics in the camps.
Have been essentially closed since early January when they finally completely ran out of medicine.
The lack of fuel means the clean water can neither be.
Pumped.
Nor trucked in the camps with refugees resorting to collecting water from streams that are rapidly drying up, leading to severe risk of waterborne disease despite concerted efforts.
The complete inability to move.
Supplies into the region means that extreme hunger is an increasing concern with food running out in the camp.
And no additional.
Stocks available for distribution Refugees tell us that they have resorted to selling their clothes and few.
Belongings to try to get.
Food basic services for Eritrean refugees in the two camps have been severely compromised for many months due to the security situation.
The desperate situation in these camps is a stark example of the impact of the lack of access and supplies affecting millions of displaced people and other civilians throughout the region.
UNHCR has been calling on all parties for a ceasefire.
And guarantee of safe passage.
That would allow us to voluntarily relocate the more than 25,000.
Refugees remaining in the camps.
To the new site provided by the Government of Ethiopia in Dadaab, in the nearby region of Amhana, but without much progress, unfortunately, if food, medicine, fuel and other supplies cannot be immediately brought in, and if we continue to be unable to relocate refugees.
Out of harm's.
Way to where we can provide them with life saving assistance.
More refugees will die.
We echo the UN wide call for all parties in Ethiopia to protect civilians and to respect and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people, including refugees.
Refugees must not be held.
Hostage to this conflict.
Thank you.
Thank you very much indeed.
Boris and I see Lisa has a question for you.
Can we unmute Lisa, please?
Yeah, OK, I'm unmuted.
Hi.
Hi, Boris.
Nice to see you there and your voice sounds great.
I have a couple of questions for you.
Who is blocking access to of of humanitarian aid to the refugees?
The government, the rebels, both of them?
I don't know.
Can you explain please?
And are the Eritrean forces, which are in Ethiopia and doing their own fighting, are, do they pose a ****** to the refugees in the camp?
Are there abductions going on?
We've heard of that happening in the past.
Is this something that really concerns you?
And then how many people are actually in the camp?
I think this is one of several refugee camps that you are managing.
Is this the?
Only.
One that is in danger or the only one that you've been able to access?
I'm sorry I littered you with a lot of questions.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Lisa, good morning to.
You and I hope.
I'll be able to respond.
To all of your questions.
Firstly, on the delivery of humanitarian assistance into into the region.
UNHCR and our partners have continued to face severe challenges that are negatively impacting our ability to deliver assistance across the region, but also in the last three weeks especially.
In the.
Two refugee camps in southern Tigray for Eritrean refugees these are.
Mayani and Adi Karush, 2 of them combined.
Hold 25,000 refugees for three weeks we.
Were unable.
To reach them at all, but effectively there's been a.
Blockade on humanitarian.
Aid reaching the area since mid-december, I think maybe colleagues will be able.
To to add more on this.
In.
In on your question on.
The involvement of of other.
Parties to the conflict.
I I don't have an.
Update for you on that.
But what is important for us is that and we, we have, we have stated this again and again and we echo calls that.
The UN system has been making.
For all parties that are parties to the conflict in Ethiopia, to protect civilians, to respect and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people, including refugees.
Yeah, in indeed.
And to confirm what Boris just said, indeed we are told that still no humanitarian supplies have entered Tigray through this Mira Abala Michalik corridor since 14th of December.
Indeed.
And no fuel for humanitarian operation has been allowed into.
Tigray.
Along this route since 2nd of.
August 2021.
The spokesperson Secretary General yesterday.
Gave a very detailed picture of the situation of humanitarian.
Aid, if you're interested, I can send it to you by e-mail.
Thank you very much, Boris.
I don't see other questions for you.
You have.
Another point on Cameroon.
So I would like to ask you to.
Stay on the podium.
And I'd like to ask.
Christian to come and join.
Me on the podium, we.
Have on the line.
As I said, Doctor Tora Seotia, who is the.
WHO country liaison officer in Tonga now?
Doctor Seotia, as you may understand, doesn't have an easy way of connecting to us, so he's on the.
Phone with Christian and.
We hope you'll be able to hear what he he's going to tell us.
Doctor Seotia, I know you can hear me.
Thank you very much for being with us this morning.
Please go ahead.
I would just like to start this briefing by saying that as.
You all know the government of Tonga has asked us the UN.
For urgent.
Assistance The resident coordinator, Senaka Samara Senior has responded and remains in close contact with the Tongan authorities.
And.
WHO is on the ground?
So I will give you the floor now.
Christian and.
The Doctor, go ahead, please.
Doctor, do you hear us?
There is, there are 4.
Seconds of delay with the satellite phone, so we will have to be patient when we want to hear from him.
We just had a great communication.
Just yes, here you go.
All over to you, please.
Hello.
Hi, this is I'm calling from a satellite phone so sorry if we cannot clear.
Hope you can hear me calling another beautiful star in the capital of Tonga.
This is basics after the tsunami hit working eruption and following tsunami hit Tonga.
So for after the loud sound, they say in 10 or 15 minutes tsunami has hit the main island of Kongasaku, especially at the social area, especially in the western side of Kongasaku island.
Because the damage was more than six houses was damaged in Kongasaku alone and at the same time we lost communication into international call and also domestically we couldn't call the northern part of the island Island Island.
We were not able to connect.
So we didn't know about the damage of the which is the volcano is between the Hawaii islands and the.
So we were very worried about outside for the government spensorship to do the initial assessment and for those by the emergency medical team, which three weeks ago and trained but for the first time to provide necessary healthcare.
And they found that the thousand parts island in Mamuka, about half of the houses was damaged and smaller islands of Mango and Hanoi.
Most of the house was was away this bike patch and the the the disease was only three and not so many security injured person.
So today for the providing provided care in the that's health care in not a far from the tsunami there was a heavy asphalt like one or two different of very fine ash came to and the halfway island it's covered everywhere.
So it's contaminated the water source, it contaminated the air.
So that was the main concern for the couple of first few so that we show and provided some and the UN agencies and the partners and the support to the government for the responses, providing Technical Support, consolidating information to convey to the necessary partners etcetera, etcetera.
So, yeah, the air quality here is very bad because the very fast cash, we asked people of from that to wear masks when they're outside because they came into the lungs.
And so actually in Tonga we were called extreme.
You didn't need to wear mask, but because now people are starting to wear mask.
Also, the water was contaminated, especially in the Northern Ireland with asphalt and water is mainly rainwater.
So the the lack of creating drinking water and lack of food was becoming especially in the Hawker Islands out of here.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
And we'll try to take a couple of questions and I think you can hear them pretty well.
Let's go ahead.
Indeed.
Doctor, thank you very much for this assessment and I will now turn to our colleague, the journalist, if they have any.
Question for you.
So I sorry I.
Recognise Lisa Schlein, Dr.
Lisa is our correspondent for Voice of America.
Lisa, yes, thank you.
Thank you very much Doctor for sharing this information on perhaps Christian you can elaborate a little later.
We have was somewhat difficult to hear things.
But anyway, a couple of questions for you.
I I didn't get do do you have a figure on how extensive the injuries are and of what nature they are?
I think that the reports still say that three people have been killed.
I don't know whether you have confirmed any more than that.
And media is reporting that aid is finally coming into Tonga.
A couple of big vessels from New Zealand have made the journey.
What sort of aid do you do you have?
It does WHO have any aid coming in there?
You mentioned that water is of great importance, so do you have all that you need in terms of helping the people who are injured or have have serious health problems?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Lisa, give the doctor one minute, because there is a gap in the voices.
Sorry, I couldn't hear the question clearly.
Can you repeat?
So let me try to repeat SO.
Basically figures of casualties.
And and victims in general And 2nd, what are the most?
Urgent needs, especially as we have media.
Reporting the flights and ships coming from Australia but with.
The COVID problems combined over sure.
So the as I said, the number of casualty was 3/1 and two in Hawaii, one from Island and one from Mongo Island.
The number of injuries, I mean, I don't have the, the figure does not raise the figure.
I hear from the there was no not much increase in the ER on Saturday and Sunday.
And from Nomuta I hear one severely injured transfer to and also there was 7 injured that could be treated.
So the discount is only three.
And also the injured number of injured is the heavy damage.
It's because some of the people they were very vigilant about the condition and also the water was and people shouted to each other and it together to a higher ground.
So I think that it's the injury about the urgent need is well, first of all, of course, communication.
So we want to be asking the partners to send supposed to reestablish the Internet communication including the under photo cable.
What we want is to create air.
So we were actually really wanting to have the rainfall because people are waiting for the rain to come.
It has been a very dry 5/16 related to that you have a limited to clean water is an issue.
Most of we have bottled water and also water is drinkable and the government has done water quality test of random sample of the the tanks, rain water tanks, anything it's there is no harm for substance in that.
So if it's not certainly contaminated, we can still drink rainbow tank.
So but still there's a lot of shortage about water, especially for the island.
The food of course is an issue, especially in the Hawaii islands where many shops in the the house was away and also the because of I hear that and because of the the supply is there may become more shortage even from the and also there's a few shortage happening already in the and also.
Did I answer the question?
Do you have a third question or?
I think very good.
Maybe you could elaborate for a moment on the mental?
Health needs because it was established that this was also.
Not unimportant.
Thanks.
The damage of tsunami was devastating.
Many people saw the waves coming and forcing their houses away.
The psychosocial impact will be very huge.
So the the government already deployed a doctor to the affected village within and started to provide psychosocial support.
We are also thinking of going doing some kind of information session about the possible mental health impact going to the affected area and the emergency medical team included included one mental health doctor in the in the emergency the the treatment to Hapai and she the the doctor is still there to provide support to those affected people.
Doctor Uttara, thank you very much for this information, but on the.
Question of.
Food I'd like to give the.
Floor now to our.
Colleague Thompson Erie, who's here with us.
For the World Food Programme.
And also has an update on Tonga and the situation.
Of the food, the Thompson, Can I add one thing?
You.
Yes, go ahead, go ahead.
And then we go to.
Thompson Exactly.
Let me add you and then maybe we can release.
You so you can get off the satellite phone?
Thank you.
Yes.
Please for you to add Utah.
Yeah, yes, so, So yeah, I want to ask that it's very good.
We have a very good vibe in Tonga.
People are, you know, helping each other between the ashes to get, you know, get it out of their doorways and even they're starting to get ashes away from the roof.
And I also heard that there was a.
The runway was all covered by ash, but the Ghana National Frontiers and a lot of people went to clean out the runway for the so that the bank and land.
So there's a lot of good, you know, strong, resilient resilience and common people, and we are taking hands in hands to combat crisis and this very great be that and WHO together with you went to help me to support the people of contest.
I have a lot of story.
I went to one of the area in from the island area and to see the expense, expense of damage.
And I was looking to going to the, you know, the area with my car and I came across one house.
The house was damaged and there's, you know, a lot of beverage everywhere on the garden.
But there the the family was having a lot of music and doing Roomba in that middle of devastation.
And so that's what kind of spirit some people have, even this, this, this, this crisis, people are very strong and try to be resilient to help.
Thank you so much for.
This insight and it's.
Good to hear that resilience.
And and strong will I think we will relief you now to.
Get off the the the satellite.
Phone thank you so much, hope you all still healthy.
And stay resilient and and strong there and that.
COVID does not become an issue now on top of everything.
Else.
Thank you very much.
For your participation.
Thank you very much that to you Torah and good luck with your important work in Tonga.
And we hope to hear you maybe in better communication conditions when things will go.
Better.
And thank you for reminding.
Us of this positive note.
Of resilience and solidarity among the people.
And Thompson, you also have an.
Update on this list.
I see you are in a better maybe communication condition.
We can see you and hear.
You well, go ahead.
I hope so.
I hope so, Alessandra.
Very good.
Morning and it's great.
To have that colleague from Tonga very briefly look.
It has been incredibly difficult even for us to get a full.
Picture of the extent.
Of the damage.
As most parts of the island nation are without communication and Internet access so kudos to the colleague was able to.
Join.
Via site.
Phone.
Just to say that through the emergency telecommunications cluster.
As well as the logistics cluster.
We do.
Have teams that are supporting.
The re establishment of communications, telephone and Internet partial communication has.
Been restored, as you saw, although there are challenges that remain.
Some of the.
Solutions.
That we're looking for looking at include the deployment of equipment out of Fiji via a.
Landing stage that is hosted in Brisbane, Australia and this was.
Set up as part of the regional preparedness actions that we've done to bridge the connectivity gap while the submarine.
Kabul is being repaired.
Now the ash on the runway of Tongas International Airport.
Remains a concern to.
The re.
Establishment of flights to the.
Country through the food security class.
The World Food Programme is.
Supporting the assessment of needs and.
Priorities.
And while those results have not been finalised, it would appear all.
Agricultural sectors, by all I mean crops, livestocks, fisheries, they have been badly affected.
Initial estimates coming from that particular cluster.
Show up to 12,000 agricultural.
Families have been affected.
Roughly 60 to 70%.
Of livestock rearing, families are estimated to have been affected given the enormity.
Of eruption.
It is likely most families could do nothing to protect or serve their livestock.
From perishing and for those that survived, there may be very little grazing.
Pasture and uncontaminated water.
Supplies left WFP has been monitoring the food security situation in Tonga.
And in the in.
The past year before the even.
Before the eruption of the.
Volcano.
20% of Tongan families.
Were food insecure while the extent of the damage.
Again, is yet to be fully.
Understood.
What is?
Clear right now is that Tonga will need assistance both in the short.
Term and in the long term we are about.
To restart remote food assessments that we are doing as part of the mobile vulnerability and assessment monitoring as soon as we've restored, as soon as we've restored communications across the country.
But as things stand, what?
We can.
See in terms of food security is that there is.
Likely to be.
To be to be more and more people who?
May need.
Assistance.
I'll, I'll leave it there because.
Some of the things have.
Already been mentioned, Alexander and see if there are any questions over.
Thank you very much, Thompson.
Any further question on the issue of Tonga to WFP?
Or to Christian here, Katrina, Yes, good morning to all.
Just to ask.
Thompson to send his notes, please.
Thank you.
Sure, sure, sure.
This is something everybody knows now, Lisa.
Yeah.
I was wondering whether Yance is is there.
I'd like to know.
He's.
Oh, he is.
Oh good.
He's.
Hi, Yance.
Then I can speak to you directly even though I don't see you when will the assessment be completed?
You mentioned last last time on Tuesday that it was ongoing and I'd like you to explain what the main findings so far have been in terms of the priority needs.
And now that you know, I'd like to get a sense of the magnitude of the UN operation that you are planning to mount in, in Tongo once you Get full access to the areas and the, the, the aid is coming through and it seems to be coming through now.
Thank you.
Give him one minute to come to the.
Podium.
Thank you, Yanks.
Thank you, Lisa.
Good morning.
Everyone, let me try.
And say a few things.
Here the the National.
Tongan emergency authorities have done.
A tremendous job in.
First of all, making sure that.
Warning systems and and so on were up to speed and and.
Utilised bearing in mind that.
Volcano is still active and we're not out of the woods yet.
Things may, may still happen.
So that that's one critical factor.
They have also been in the lead on the assessments and reaching.
The the, the the.
Islands where they come with the support of the UN.
Staff that were already in country, but they're clearly and strongly in the lead.
Of this so the assessments are.
Trickling in.
Little by little, as we just heard.
From from from WHO colleague there on on the ground some of the.
The big issue is really communications to get that, that, that that established.
Secondly, there's no doubt that the contamination of of.
Drinking water sources is a.
Critical critical issue for for.
Everyone now what?
Other kinds.
Of.
Material assistance.
Will be needed.
It's not fully clear yet.
To be honest, we still.
Don't have the the full overview of that because of the lack of communication, because of the logistical challenges getting everywhere in in the.
Area we've also seen.
That countries in the region have stepped up immediately to the plate and offering and delivering the assistance.
The good news is, of course, that we heard from yesterday that the.
The airport is operational and planes can land.
We know that the posts are also operational.
We also know that there is a very strong.
Message from the government that.
They will not have COVID.
Coming into the country in.
This in this response as I mentioned Tuesday, we're.
Fully on board on that.
This is.
About do no harm and they do have a.
History.
Historically of getting diseases into these Pacific.
Islands so the modalities once the the the material humanitarian.
Response kicks in and that pertains to everybody involved.
Really is what?
We call a no contact delivery because there is a number.
Of days, I believe.
It's 21 days of quarantine.
If you are going into into Tonga, that means if you land.
People there well for three.
Weeks they won't be able to.
Work.
So that's not very helpful honestly in the first emergency.
Response.
So it's a no contact delivery and that can be for.
Example.
Planes arriving landing on the.
Tarmac The.
Pilot staying in the cockpit.
A ground crew of local.
Folks unloading the plane.
And the titles taking off without exiting the plane.
It can also be ships.
Going to port and being.
Offloading offloaded by cranes so also so that the ship crew do not.
Actually get into the island.
I've heard of other modalities such as helicopters flying out, in and out.
Between ships that do not dock in the port.
But actually just, you know, off the coast and then emergency supplies are being flown in.
So these are these.
These are.
Options that are that are all.
Being.
Looked at to.
Ensure that we adhere fully and straightly to the protocols.
That they have.
Lisa, you have a follow up.
Yeah, a quick follow up.
Yes, I believe the population of Tonga is about 100,000.
Are they all?
Implicated in.
This Do you believe that all of them will be in need of some form of humanitarian assistance and are you planning to launch an appeal of some kind?
I think Alessandra earlier mentioned that the government had had asked the.
UN for for help.
So I was wondering if you were planning an appeal soon and how much?
I don't know if you have that figure yet, but anyway.
Yeah, Thank you.
Just to take.
That last one.
1st.
Of course that's that's always.
An option, so it's not something that is ruled out.
But it's not something.
That I can announce that this is coming.
In your appeal it may.
Happen and it may not happen.
It of course depends on what other responders are doing.
We also have the International Federation of the Red.
Cross, which of course has.
A branch in Tonga.
The Tonga.
Red Cross.
Who are responding to this and as I mentioned, we have the countries in the region, who in the region who are, you know, stepping up and providing.
So we will see whether this will be necessary.
In terms of numbers.
We.
Our our assessment up.
Up to now.
Is that access?
For to safe water for 50.
1000 people throughout the island remains a serious concern.
So that is the number, so approximately half of the population.
May need safe water we have also.
Heard that an estimated 60.
1000 people have been affected.
By the damage to the.
Agricultural sector, which of course.
Is an issue both in the in the short and the medium term food security situation, the 50.
1000 and the 60,000.
You cannot just add 1.
Number to the other because.
There may be.
Overlaps people who both need.
Water but also need support to getting their agriculture up again we initially heard about the ash layer being a couple of centimetres now with the.
Reports that we are that we are getting.
Is that is actually thicker?
It's about 1010 centimetres.
As we just heard from from Tonga.
Itself.
People are getting together.
They are.
Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.
Ash away.
So that is of course something that's necessary for them.
We also know there are health concerns.
With that.
Because some of that.
May be, may be toxic.
So that is something that.
We need.
To to look at.
I think that is what I can say for now.
Thank you.
Yes.
And then I have a last question from Robin.
Thank you.
For.
For against.
Could you give us a picture of of?
What sort of resources you have in the region which are ready to deploy?
And secondly on.
On COVID if you if you do actually.
Need to get.
More.
Staff.
On the ground.
Is that right that they they would be facing 3 weeks?
Of quarantine before they could sort of start working.
Thank you.
Tom Centre.
Yeah, double F PS Multi country Pacific office has been operational since 2000 and.
15 It has been operating out of Suva in Fiji mostly.
At least sort of working.
On anticipated disasters in the.
Pacific region, we do have engineers on the ground.
By on the ground, I mean out of Egypt.
We do have logisticians there.
We do have.
Programmes team.
That are there so the.
Office works.
Remotely, whilst covering the the region we are working with IT professionals.
We also have.
What are called standby arrangements with other with?
With other private sector companies.
That provide.
Logistics.
That.
Provide telecoms that provide IT.
Services and we've activated.
That in trying to identify resources that are available.
In the region, for example, I spoke of how we are we're having to to provide Internet remotely.
Via.
A staging.
Area that is out of.
Brisbane, Australia.
Those are some of the resources that we.
Have.
In the Pacific.
As well we.
Have.
In the past we have.
In the.
Past we've had a multi country passenger flights, a humanitarian and passenger flight.
Of course.
This has not yet.
Been requested.
But if requested this this, these are all resources.
That could be availed to the response.
So in terms of boots in the ground, I think we are semi ready in terms of.
Resources we also appear to be.
Already and we are in the process of.
Launching a report a remote.
Monitoring assessment in terms of food security as.
Part of the food security cluster.
I'll leave it there and see if.
If see if Yan.
'S can add.
Who would like to say something on COVID?
I think.
You you explained.
That yan's about the.
Three weeks, yeah, just on the on the support, Thomson mentioned Suba that is that is.
One hub, Fiji is another hub.
We are deploying some additional search capacity.
There as well to make sure that you know all the kind of like the technical backstop for such an operation is in place and that we can support the Tongan authorities in their response.
We also have what we call the Pacific Humanitarian Team.
Which is where?
Where Orchard of course is is part of of that coordination.
Group which is which is very strong and they are coordinating.
Efforts across the agencies.
Thank you very much.
I think.
There are no other questions.
On Tonga, thank all the colleagues.
Thank you all colleagues that have provided us information on the subject.
And yes, please send your.
Briefing notes to the journalist as soon as possible.
And I'll turn again to.
Boris, Boris, you have another item on Cameroon refugee in the Cameroons Far North region indeed.
Alessandra, we do have a.
Second item on a supplementary supplementary appeal UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today released a supplementary appeal seeking 59.6 million United States dollars to provide emergency support.
To 100,000 refugees.
Internally displaced people and host communities in Chad and Cameroon following intercommunal violence in Cameroon's Far North Region.
The appeal will help UNHCR and its humanitarian and government partners to provide vital.
Protection and assistance.
To those displaced by.
The crisis who have dire humanitarian needs and this.
Will cover a period.
In the next 6 months.
The clashes which started on the 5th of December last year 2021 in the border village of Woolumsa in far north Cameroon.
Following a dispute between herders.
Farmers and fishermen over scarce water resources that have been dwindling as a result.
Of the climate crisis.
When the violence spread, it engulfed neighbouring villages, resulting in 44 people being killed, over 100 injured and 112 villages that were burned to the ground.
With the 59.6 million U.S.
dollars, we can deliver urgently needed shelter and core relief such as blankets, mats, mosquito Nets.
The funds will also grow cover growing water, sanitation and hygiene needs.
Child protection prevention and.
Response to gender based violence documentation, education all of these are urgent priorities.
We estimate that 9.
Out of 10 of the Cameroonian refugees.
That are now in Chad as a result of this crisis are women and children.
With these additional.
Resources We are able to expand registration, profiling, protection and monitoring activities in both countries to better assess the needs of those that are affected by the crisis.
We're of course grateful to donors who have been providing our support so far, particularly those that have given us flexible funding.
But funds to support displaced people in Chad and Cameroon are now running critically low and under severe pressure due to the rapidly rising needs we are.
Urgently appealing to the International.
Community to mobilise the resources which will allow UNHCR and its partners to mount an effective and life saving response.
I'll end it there.
There's some more details.
In the note.
Of course, we're linking to the appeal document, and there's also B.
Roll and a photo.
Package and I'm happy to take questions if there are any.
Thank you very much.
Boris, this is an important appeal indeed.
But I don't see any question.
Oh, yes, Lisa, hi.
Is the fighting still going on?
Are these clashes still occurring?
Are people still fleeing and crossing borders you So that's adding to to the situation.
And I'm wondering whether this is a part of this particular appeal of this particular terrible issue is apart from the the linguistic problems that that that are occurring in in Cameroon, they seem not to have gone away or is there some sort of overlap?
Thanks.
Thank you indeed, Lisa, just to start with.
Your last question this is.
Not linked to other situations.
That that may be continuing in Cameroon, this is.
Intercommunal violence that began over water resources in Cameroon's.
Far north between herders.
And on the other side, fishermen and farmers.
Both using these dwindling resources and this has become a severe crisis because of the climate.
Emergency and the surface waters of Lake Chad.
Shrinking and the long gone.
River, which runs along the border between Cameroon and Chad.
It demarks the border and this is where the tensions began.
What we we've seen in the last few weeks is relative calm and this follows and this links up to your next question.
So it's been much calmer in the last few weeks.
We've seen that security forces have.
Been reinforced in the area in far north Cameroon, but the tensions are still there.
The what?
What is extremely important for us and we're.
Going to continue the work.
With authorities.
But.
We we need to be.
Leading.
Peace and reconciliation efforts, we have been doing so in in Cameroon while the the the tensions.
Were coming to a head.
But we need to renew these efforts that we need to be working towards social cohesion.
These are some of the activities that we hope.
To fund.
With with the appeal.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Let me see if there's any other question there is none or is.
Thank you very much.
And I'll go back to to Christian who?
Had an announcement, but before that maybe you wanted to add something to the situation of COVID and Tonga.
Yeah, thank you.
Just because.
Before the the part about what the.
The the the precautions for COVID.
On the island are just to mention.
It's not that because of COVID, crucial help would be would be held out.
I think the islands.
Are in the situation where.
As we heard so far, casualties are.
Few and the health installations are and the health.
Facilities are operational and working and people.
Can work so the most.
Important health needs, as, as colleagues pointed out, and as.
Again, just mentioned again is of course the drinking water, food and.
Apparently also fuel to get.
Everything rolling so as long as this can be brought.
In.
With the contactless efforts that are being made, this seems.
To be fine, so it.
Looks right now that emergency teams to support.
Which you would need for example in an earthquake when you need teams supporting the digging for for survivors.
And others like this.
This is not necessary at this.
Point so it looks the the.
Contactless.
Efforts as they are being made are.
Sufficient.
But again, this is as as.
Everybody pointed out and and Thompson.
Also, it's an ongoing assessment and ongoing contact with the local authorities.
To hear what the UN what the.
Colleagues, what WFP, what W Joe and the others can be doing to assist?
That's on the COVID situation.
Now and just two general.
Quick announcements, as you know.
Today we have the briefing by the Strategic Advisory Group of experts on their meeting they held.
2 days ago and that's this afternoon at.
2:00 I understand there might be a bit of trouble with other.
Important briefings in the area going on today.
But we, we can see how much flexibility we have there, but not more than than 15 minutes.
But we'll we'll see what the needs are.
Secondly, of course, Monday starts the Executive board meeting and just to flag 2 important parts here.
May maybe?
Three, The first important for the dashai will be your.
Your contact for any specific needs the media.
Advisory should have gone out with the most important details.
As you know, the executive board sessions are all public and will be.
Live streamed Monday 10:00.
We expect the the speech by Doctor Tedros, the Director General, to address the executive board and Tuesday is.
Also an interesting day maybe.
Because it will be the statements before the EB and by the candidates for the post of Director General which in this.
Case as you know is.
The only candidate is the the sitting.
Candidate Doctor Tedros he will.
Be giving his presentation to the board and the Board would then procedural rise nominate.
Or give their recommendations.
To the World Health Assembly.
So that's what's happening on Tuesday.
But again, details in the media advisory and our other colleagues to to comment.
Yeah.
We will have to actually.
Choose in following Doctor Tadros and or.
The briefing because it will happen at the same time, I understand there won't be much flexibility.
To change the time, I've got a series of questions for you.
Christian and I'll start with Jamil.
Yes, good morning.
Very, very quick question, not question but request for many of us Christian with no price agencies and many people working around it will be a very important decision.
If you could delay a bit the.
Sage press conference.
Today, I know you mentioned, just just to remind that for many, many months now we have been sometimes waiting for one hour for your press conferences and it would be at least some kind of retribution if you could also delay this time for one hour in the press conference.
Thank you very much.
Point taken.
I thought this is a different briefing.
And it's.
And there's something at the.
Back end of it, but yeah, as.
I indicated before we'll we'll try our best to to.
Push as good as we.
Can but.
It won't be, won't be.
Long.
Visa Hi Christian.
Yeah, another request similar to this, however maybe more user friendly.
Would you please, please send us the audio of the press conference whenever that occurs?
Because otherwise we're, we're all kind of schizophrenic about this issue.
OK, Could could you send the audio to to us?
You.
You.
Mean the one we're having this afternoon, yes.
Sure, sure.
We we normally always do.
There's always the media package.
Coming afterwards.
All right.
Thank you.
Confirm Katrina yes, hi.
Good morning, Christian.
Always also a very kind.
Request for Monday, would it be please possible to get?
In advance under embargo the speech of Doctor Tedros we respect.
Embargo.
So please send it under embargo and the same for.
Tuesday, when it will be the statement.
Of the unique candidates meaning doctor.
Tedros, it would be really helpful if.
If you could.
Send that under embargo or as soon as possible, not hours after please.
It helps a lot.
Thank you.
Yeah, you know, with our, with our team, you, you know how it is.
You're you're running into open doors.
There's, as they say.
We'll try our best for Della is your point of contact.
For this and she's she's since days working on getting it all as early as possible and being able to send it out.
Yes, thank you.
And finally, Anyez bonjour, anyez, we bonjour rescue model day.
We OK, we we busy, we Christian they put it question for last minute question esque Mardi la presentation.
If we contest the consent executive proposal, don't ask the men don't call unless men.
If you don't get party 2 P yes, because the team don't get to exist.
So I must admit I didn't audio wise get get part of it.
So the part.
Of Executive Board, Yes, the recommendations will be made on Tuesday.
When when are they being officially made?
I will refer to Fidela to this and this under.
Maybe you can help the team.
Just wanted to know after having heard from him, is that immediate that they recommend?
Yeah, that's exactly what I'm just referring to.
The the timeline I'm not.
Sure, as much as I know they go.
Into a closed.
Session at some point after this.
This is the only private session of the whole.
Executive Board which is not open to public.
And I assume afterwards.
Immediately is the announcement coming out of that.
Private session but please contact.
For the Lashaib for for the details.
Everything is live streamed.
But the private session of the deliberations of the executive board members to vote on this, everything else throughout the whole week is live streamed.
And thirdly, the inquiry on the Tetris was brought by Ethiopia is happening and if it's going to be on the table of the executive?
Board The chair of the executive board is.
Looking into this this matter but say it's on the mic which.
Matter it's it's open.
The mic is open.
All right.
I think we got all the answers we needed from you.
And yes.
Monday is going to be.
Very busy because we don't only only have the executive board of WHO in Geneva, but we.
Also have the.
Opening of the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review.
This is the working.
Group 40th session that.
Is is opening on Monday.
And on Monday morning, the group will.
Review The Human.
Rights record of Togo.
This will start at 9:00.
And then in the afternoon, the right situation in the Syrian.
Arab Republic.
That's going to start at 2:30 PM.
Please consult the media advisory in.
Background.
Press release shared with you by the media team of the.
Council earlier this week.
This is going to give you more information about the reviews and the overall session.
That will review 12 states human rights situation in total and.
Last until the 3rd of.
February also next week, and this is.
Also going to be on.
Tuesday 25th of January at 10 AM.
As we have already announced in Room 19, we will have the the first public plenary of the 2022 session.
Of the Conference on Disarmament.
Our Director General Tatiana Valovaya.
Who is?
Also as you know.
Secretary General.
Of the CD is.
Going to give a statement at this session which will open under the.
Presidency of Ambassador Li Song.
Of China.
And then my last but very.
Important announcement.
Not not.
It's not the last.
One of the last important announcement is to remind you that today at 10 AM New York time, so from around six O clock Geneva time, we will have the formal meeting of the General Assembly.
That will hear.
The briefing by the Secretary.
General of the UN.
On the 2022.
Priorities.
So this is the.
Briefing to the General Assembly.
To the Member States and then immediately.
After we expect.
Between 1:00 and 1:30, the secretary.
General will give a media.
Will will give a press.
Conference in new.
York also, so this is 1/1.
30 New York time on his priority.
We'll discuss them with the press.
Both of these events are on the UN Web TV so you can follow.
Them live.
I would just like to also remind you 2 international days.
The 24th of January is the International Day of.
Education and the 27th.
Of January is the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victim of the Holocaust.
Both days have made the object of a message of the Secretary General.
We've sent you the message.
Text and I believe.
Also, the video links.
If you haven't received the video links yet, you're going to get.
Them we are holding our own.
Press Sorry our own event.
To.
Commemorate the International Day in memory of the victims.
Of the Holocaust.
We've sent you a.
Programme and.
We will do a as.
Usual.
An official ceremony here at the Paladinacion.
Which you are welcome to attend.
COVID wise there will be some.
Restrictions and also a cine onu with the with the movie called Le Dernier.
The last ones interviewing 3 of the last survivor of the Holocaust and 1 is very interesting.
Because.
One of these ladies.
Is also telling about hate.
Speech that she's rehearing in the.
Streets of France at this.
Very moment.
So it's very interesting to hear how hate speech is coming back.
Or if he's ever.
Gone away and we have to find ways, efficient ways to to fight it very very last point I.
Remind you that yesterday the.
President of the UN General.
Assembly has made a solemn appeal to the UN member states.
For the observance of the.
Olympic Truce for the Olympic Winter Games that are going to.
Be held in Beijing now.
Very soon this is going to be.
Starting the the truce requested.
Is going to be starting on the 27th of January to the 20th.
Of March.
Seven days before the start of the Olympic winter game and.
Until 7 days.
After the Para Olympic Games.
This solemn appeal has.
Been is following the resolution adopted in December by the Member States.
He has been welcomed also by the IOC, and they are.
Joining us to hope that.
This truce will be respected.
I think I have given you all the points.
I had on my announcement.
List I see a yes is asking for the floor yes Alessandra is Christian still here?
I see is yes.
OK.
So it's just a detail I'm not sure to have understand everything for Tuesday.
He he talked about a vote.
Could it be also a decision taken by consensus given it's only one candidate And then if I understand well the presentation and the Q&A will be live streamed but not the deliberations, is that correct?
Thank you.
So yes, everything.
But the private session of the deliberations after the DG statement or presentation will be live.
Streamed the exact procedures of how.
The vote will be.
Passed I'm not aware of so please contact Fidela as mentioned.
Thank you very much.
Christian.
I don't see any other.
Question.
Give me a second.
No, I don't.
OK, so.
I thank you all very.
Much good luck.
For next week and for today, busy days and have a very nice weekend and see.
You on Tuesday.
Thank you.