The United Nations Office at Geneva
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Bi-Weekly Press Briefing 11 November 2022
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1:19:20
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PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
11 November 2022
Update on Ebola in Uganda
[On 20 September 2022, Uganda has declared an Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Sudan ebolavirus species, after the confirmation of a case in Mubende district in the central part of Uganda.]
Dr Janet Diaz, Head of Clinical Management at the World Health Organization (WHO), said she had just returned from a visit in Uganda, where she had taken stock of the current situation, assessed the needs of the health facilities in affected areas and provided support to health authorities and partners. Ms. Diaz had evaluated, in particular, the availability of staff, supplies, structures, systems of referral, and safety – the “Five S” that permit optimized supportive care, and therefore the saving of lives, even without a proven vaccine, or therapeutics, against the Sudan Ebola virus.
As part of the ministry-led coordinated response, the national clinical management (CM) pillar had set up Ebola care facilities in affected districts with the support of operational partners and WHO: there were about 300 beds available for surge response in affected areas. WHO and operational partners were working to support the Ministry of Health to establish more bed capacity; at least 3 new facilities were in construction. WHO hoped that a decentralized approach with the local authorities in the lead would be more acceptable to the community and at the same time preserve essential services, which was key.
Furthermore, over 80 WHO experts were on the ground, including three international Ebola virus disease clinical experts who had been providing clinical mentorship to the clinical staff. WHO was also supporting the national authorities to ensure that, in case of more surges, adequate supplies and medicines would be readily available.
Ebola responses were complex but with good coordination and collaboration, strategic objectives could be met, including stopping the outbreak and ensuring patients with suspected or confirmed with Ebola virus disease received safe and quality care.
Answering questions from journalists, Dr Diaz said the most recent figures were 136 confirmed cases, 21 probable cases, and 53 deaths, the fatality ratio standing therefore at 38.9%. Fadela Chaib, also for the World Health Organization, explained that in the absence of therapeutics against the Sudan ebolavirus, early detection of cases greatly enhanced survival rates. Three vaccine candidates were under consideration. WHO was assessing the propagation risk to neighbouring countries. Ugandan authorities would have to decide whether to close schools, taking a risk-based approach.
Funds Drying Up as Hunger Looms in Mozambique’s North
Tomson Phiri, the World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Communications Officer for Southern Africa, introduced Antonella d’Aprile, WFP Country Director and Representative in Mozambique. Ms. d’Aprile warned that the Programme would be forced to suspend its life-saving assistance to one million people in Northern Mozambique by next February, at the peak of the lean season, unless additional funding was urgently received. WFP needed USD 51 million.
The funding situation had been worrying for some time: since past April, WFP had been forced to halve the food rations to families due to limited funding and increasing needs. Families were now receiving less than 40 percent of their minimum caloric needs, and recent data indicated a further aggravation of food insecurity and hunger. To make matters worse, attacks had intensified in the recent months, spreading to neighbouring provinces, pushing more people to flee their villages. These people had been displaced and traumatized multiple times.
In times of COP27, WFP reminded that Mozambique was one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Only this year, tropical storms and cyclones had hit the north and center of Mozambique, affecting 900,000 people. Croplands had been inundated, condemning communities to further food insecurity and malnutrition.
Despite the widespread violence and the funding situation, WFP had managed to expand the delivery of food and nutrition to remote areas, reaching people in desperate need. WFP needed funding now to avert not only hunger in the short-term, but also to address the root causes of chronic food insecurity in Mozambique.
Answering questions from journalists, Ms. d’Aprile stressed that 50% of the people displaced had children, who would be the first to suffer in case of a worsening food situation. Regarding security conditions, there was no UN peacekeeping mission in Mozambique. The Southern African Development Community had, however, deployed military forces, in addition to national ones, and they were supporting the humanitarian efforts.
Food Outlook: Biannual Report on Global Food Markets
Boubaker Ben Belhassen, Director of the Markets and Trade Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said that, according to the latest Biannual Report on Global Food Markets (to be published today), market conditions for major food commodities could ease somewhat in 2022-2023; that food import bills were expected to reach now record highs in 2022; and that import bills for agricultural inputs – energy, fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds – would also see a sharp increase.
While basic food stuffs could benefit from easing market conditions, many factors – including conflicts, bleak economic prospects and sudden changes in trade policies – were causing uncertainties to the stability of the global food markets. The easing was due to a forecast growth in cereal production which should lead to a buildup in inventories. For rice, global production should drop this year due to unfavorable weather and hikes in input prices; however, supplies were forecast to remain abundant un 2022-2023 thanks to large stocks. Global trade in sugar was expected to rise thanks to large quantities available compared to last year. Global trade dairy product would likely drop in 2022, for the first time in twenty years.
Global food import bills were expected to reach new highs in 2022, rising to nearly USD 2 trillion, up USD 180 billion from 2021, the bulk of the increase driven by higher cost of the imports. Economically vulnerable countries were finding it increasingly difficult to finance their food imports, which could in turn have serious consequences for food security. At the same time, the prices of agricultural inputs were augmenting in an alarming manner, with bills having increased by nearly 50% in 2022; higher prices of energy and fertilizers were the main factors (90%) explaining this increase.
According to the data on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, 10.2 million tons of grain and other food products had been exported from Ukraine from the beginning of the Initiative until 10 November, which had improved food availability; it could be complemented by other measures to improve food access, Mr. Ben Belhassen noted.
Answering questions, M. Ben Belhassen added that FAO also compiled data on food and fertilizer exports from Russia. FAO also was looking into the effect of “excessive speculative behavior” on food prices: experience from 2007-2008 suggested that this impact would be transitory; and, at the same time, present changes in prices could still be explained by demand and supply, as witnessed by the effect of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
The possible termination of that deal at the end of November, Mr. Ben Belhassen added, could have very serious implications on prices and availability. The impact would be immediately felt by countries that depend on import from the Black Sea region, such as countries in the MENA region. The impact would also be felt in Ukraine, since the Initiative had had a stabilizing effect for the farmers there.
Also on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), also indicated that the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Martin Griffiths, would be meeting with a high-level delegation from the Russian Federation, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Sergey Vershinin, today in Geneva, and that they would continue consultations in support of the efforts by the Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres on the full implementation of the two agreements signed on 22 July in Istanbul. It was hoped that the discussions would advance progress made in facilitating the unimpeded export of food and fertilizers originating from the Russian Federation to the global markets. No media opportunities were foreseen.
Extreme hardship for forcibly displaced families this winter
Olga Sarrado, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), warned that this coming winter would be far more challenging than in recent years, and that many displaced families would have no option but to choose between food and warmth.
UNHCR estimated that 3.4 million Syrian and Iraqi refugees and internally displaced people in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt would need critical assistance to prepare for and cope with winter. Millions of Ukrainians uprooted from their homes by the current war were facing winter in displacement or were living in damaged homes or in buildings ill-suited to protect them from the biting cold, with disrupted energy, heating and water supplies and lost livelihoods. In Afghanistan, where winter temperatures can easily plunge to -25 degrees Celsius across parts of the country, many displaced and conflict-affected families would be left exposed to the elements.
Despite worsening humanitarian needs, the funding outlook for life-saving aid programmes and assistance remained bleak. Owing to funding shortfalls, UNHCR had recently been forced to scale back essential programmes in several countries. The Agency was therefore launching a global winter fundraising campaign to help forcibly displaced families, in the above-mentioned countries, meet their most urgent needs during the coldest months of the year.
Answering journalists, Ms. Sarrado explained that UNHRC needed USD 700 million until the end of the year. The funding would help provide those uprooted with warm winter clothing, thermal blankets, home repairs, solar panels and lamps, gas cylinders and cash assistance to cover other essential winter needs, including heating.
UNHCR teams were at work inside Ukraine in favor of displaced persons in the country. In Afghanistan, the refugee agency was planning to support 400 000 persons with financial assistance to cope with winter-related expenses.
More information about the campaign is available here: https://donate.unhcr.org/winter.
UNHCR had also called on Dominican Republic authorities, on 3 November, to refrain from forced returns of Haitians until the situation in Haiti had stabilized, Ms. Sarrado reminded in answer to another question.
Announcements
Rolando Gomez, for the Human Rights Council, informed that the Universal Periodic Review Working Group would today examine the human rights records of Algeria; on Monday, it would review the human rights records of the Philippines (in the morning) and Brazil (in the afternoon).
Mr. Gomez added that the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, would conclude, this afternoon, its first round of public hearings, with the two last testimonies. A closing statement by the President of the Commission, summarizing the proceedings, would be sent to journalists as soon as possible. The Commission of Inquiry intended to hold further public hearings in the near future to hear the first-hand experiences of Israeli and Palestinian witnesses and victims.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service, informed that the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) would hold a press conference on Thursday, 17 November, 10 a.m., to launch its Landmine Monitor 2022 report. Speakers would be Hardy Giezendanner, UNIDIR Conventional Arms & Ammunition Senior Researcher, with colleagues.
Ms. Vellucci also informed that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) would open its 108th session next Monday, during which it would review the reports of France, Brazil, Bahrain, Botswana, Jamaica and Georgia. As for the Committee Against Torture (CAT), it would review of the report of Australia starting next Tuesday morning.
Teleprompter
Good morning.
Welcome.
Today is Friday, 11th of November here in Geneva for the UN press briefing.
I will start immediately by giving the floor to Rolando, who was on the grill for the Uprs but has managed to come and talk to us so very quickly.
Rolando has an announcement.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, Alessandra.
I will just spell out a couple of meetings going on today under the auspices of the Human Rights Council.
As mentioned just now, the Universal Periodic Review Working Group is continuing its session today and is examining the human rights records of Algeria this morning.
This afternoon, the UPR Working Group will adopt its reports for reviews it conducted earlier this week, namely for Bahrain, Ecuador, Tunisia, Morocco and Indonesia.
On Monday, the UPR Working Group will review the human rights records of the Philippines in the morning and Brazil in the afternoon.
On a separate note, the Human Rights Council Mandated Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory in Israel will conclude its five days of public hearings this afternoon after it hears the last two witnessed testimonies.
I shared with you the details on those who will be providing testimonies this afternoon.
Just to note that the Commission will have heard 13 testimonies in all over the course of this first round of public hearings.
As mentioned previously, the Commission of Inquiry intends to hold public hearings in the near future in order to hear Israeli and Palestinian witnesses and victims from first hand of their first hand experiences and they will will announce those next hearings as soon as they are confirmed.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Rolando.
Any question to Rolando for the Council?
I don't.
They won't be doing any press encounter at the end of the public hearings, Musa.
However, there will be a closing statement delivered by Commissioner Chris Sidoti that we will share with you, which will summarise the five days of hearings.
So we'll share that with you as soon as possible.
I should just note that the commissioners, of course, are available to do interviews should you want to pursue that.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Rolando.
Thanks for this update and good luck with the rest of the work.
And let me go now online.
We have the great pleasure to have with us today Doctor Janet Diaz.
I don't think she needs any presentation, but I still remind you that she is The Who Head of Clinical Management.
Doctor Diaz, you are just back from Uganda and you have an update for us on the situation of Ebola.
There you have the floor.
Thank you.
Thank you so much and good morning, colleagues.
Thank you for this opportunity to brief you on my recent visit to Uganda.
I've just been back a couple of days ago, so everything is quite fresh in my mind.
I was there for a total of seven days.
As you know, I'm the clinical lead in the Health Emergencies programme responsible for readiness and response.
And you've seen me recently for COVID-19, but prior to that, we do quite a bit of work on viral hemorrhagic fevers.
And I spent quite a bit of time at the large at the last large Ebola virus disease outbreak in the DRC during 2018 and 2019.
The main objective of my visit to Uganda was to take stock of the current situation and assess the needs of the health facilities in the affected areas and to provide support, Technical Support, operational support to the health authorities and the partners.
I did a lot of visits throughout the affected regions during my time there.
So I visited the Kampala Regional Referral Hospital and the nearby national isolation unit.
I went to the Entebbe treatment unit as well.
I went to Movende, which is, you know, one of the hotspots, visited the regional referral hospital and it's Ebola treatment facility and it's isolation areas and the new Movende treatment unit that just opened there a couple of days ago.
I also had the opportunity to participate in a joint visit to Masaka, which is one of the newer affected districts regions.
And I went that visit alongside national, regional and local counterparts and operational partners, specifically MSF and Alima to establish their early case management activity response plans at Masaka.
So in general, as part of the ministry LED coordinated response, the national Case Management pillar has set up and continues to establish Ebola care facilities in affected districts and it's also primarily with the support of WHO and operational partners.
To date, there are about 300 beds available for surge response in these affected areas.
When I did my visit, I wanted to make sure that each of these beds has the five SS and we do these assessments in order to ensure that these beds are fully operational, especially in the case of another surge.
Did these beds all have sufficient number of trained staff?
So the adequate number of staff is really key.
And this includes not just clinical staff, but also hygienists, supply chain managers, logisticians, administrators.
For those of you who, who've been aware of Ebola for, for, you know, the different outbreaks, the moment you start to develop or have big Ebola training centres, they become quite complicated to manage.
So, so really important to have the right number of staff at these centres.
The other thing to to assess is the supplies, make sure that there's enough equipment, medicines to deliver safe and optimal quality, optimise supportive care to patients and equally important that there is enough PPE to protect the health workers.
So, so good supply chain management is key.
Then comes the structures.
Are the structures safe and well designed where the patient circuits are clear?
Because that's the most important thing to avoid cross contamination between patients within a unit.
And of course, any contamination of healthcare workers, but at the same time, the structures of the patients are being cared for.
Ebola need to be able to see your patients even from the Green Zone, which is important for the provision of intensive care.
The 4th our system systems are referrals and ambulance systems in place for directing movement of suspected and confirmed patients to the right destination.
And finally, safety and security for the health workers and the patients during their stay.
So even though we do not have proven vaccines and therapeutics for Ebola virus disease from Sudan, Ebola virus, we do know that when all these five SS are in place, we can save lives from Ebola disease by giving optimised supportive care.
So what does this what, what does this package include?
This includes early diagnosing of monitoring of patients.
So health workers can give patients immediate care for dehydration with IV fluids, they can correct glucose levels or electrolyte levels if they are low.
They can ensure that patients get good nutrition and that if they develop any Co infection such as malaria that that's treated appropriately.
But early diagnosis depends on really strong case investigation and contact, follow up and rapid turn around time of PCR testing.
In cases where diagnosis is made early from symptom onset, we do see better outcomes as well as containing the spread of infection.
In addition, good care, access to mental health and psychosocial support is key, as well as care after discharge for those that survive.
During my visit, I was pleased to see the case management pillar advancing on key activities to address the five SS and to ensure each patient, suspect or confirmed, has access to optimise supportive care.
I just want to highlight three main case management activities on ground.
One is the Ebola care and isolation facilities.
WTO and operational partners have been working to support the Ministry of Health establish more bed capacity and currently there are at least three new facilities in construction, one in Kasanda, one in Kampala and one in Masaka.
These facilities will all have the most modern designs to give best optimal safe care.
A decentralised approach is also in place and we hope that will remain acceptable to the communities and at the same time be able to preserve essential health services, which is key.
A second major activity is training of health workers.
So far, there are over 80 WTO experts on the ground and of these, we've been able to send international clinical Ebola experts from our clinical network that have been able to provide direct mentorship to the clinical staff in the ET use of Rubande and Entebbe and also work alongside the national Case Management pillar lead to implement expanded access protocol under the Miri framework.
There is also on a daily basis large scale trainings ongoing around infection prevention and control, clinical care for Ebola and concerted efforts to train more and more hygienists, which are so key to keep facilities safe.
And the third main activity is around a dynamic supply chain management, WHO is supporting the national authorities to ensure in case of more surge that adequate supplies and medicines are readily available, that we avoid any stock outs.
WTO has just delivered 15,000 PP ES coveralls for use in the Ebola treatment units or for patients who are taking care of direct care of Ebola suspect and confirmed patients, which is enough for health workers caring for patients admitted to the current ET US and be protected for the next 30 days.
But we must consider **** utilisation rates of PPE that can be seen if there are more cases and that's a steady supply needs to ensure that that PPE reaches the reaches the last mile to the ET, US and isolation facilities.
So in conclusion, Ebola responses are complex, but with good coordination and collaboration, strategic objectives can be met and that includes stopping the outbreak and ensuring patients with suspected or confirmed EVD receive safe and quality of care.
To do so, scalable clinical pathways are needed.
And that is what I was able to observe was the focus of the work for the case management pillar in Uganda.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Doctor Diaz.
I see already some questions online, but I'll start with the room.
Emma Forge, good morning.
Could you please tell us the latest on the vaccines?
When are they going to be arriving and why the delay?
Thanks.
You're on the Todias.
Go ahead.
Thank you for that question.
I'm going to actually I I don't work on the vaccine, the vaccine activity.
So I'm going to have Padela, I think address those Padela, you're online.
I saw your name.
Emma.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Thank you, Emma.
I will send you, I will send to the entire group the information I have about the the vaccines for this Ebola in Uganda in a chat.
I think it will be important for everyone.
I will send them straight away.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Are there questions in the room?
No.
So let's go online.
Lisa.
Lisa Schlein, Voice of America.
Yes.
Good morning, Alessandra.
Hello, Doctor Diaz.
I have a few bread and butter questions.
I hope you can answer them and also please send us your notes as you, you said a lot.
First, do you have the latest figures in terms of the number of cases both confirmed, suspected and those who have died?
Apropos of the question that Emma asked regarding vaccines and Fidela says she's going to send us something.
I mean, have have that, I'm a little confused.
I thought have they has a vaccine?
Have a some vaccines actually been approved?
I thought they were going into for clinical trials.
So I may be a little behind the ball on this one.
And then what is actually happening in terms of contacts?
Are you getting the kind of community support that has proved to be essential in all Ebola outbreaks, or are you meeting resistance and having to deal with that?
And is that something that might, in fact, ****** stopping the spread of this disease?
Thank you.
Doctor Diaz, you want to start and then maybe.
I see Fidelis looks worried their hand.
Sure thank you.
So so the latest numbers I have are from the Ministry of Health reported on the 7th of November which reports a total of 136 confirmed cases, 21 probable cases and 53 confirmed deaths.
That leads to ACFR case fatality ratio of 38.9.
So those are the numbers.
In regards to vaccines, it is true, yes.
Pinella may elaborate on this more, but there are no proven vaccines for Ebola virus to prevent Ebola virus disease due to Sudan Ebola virus.
And I think that's where we have to be very clear because we don't have any proven therapeutics either for Sudan Ebola virus.
So there are research study protocols.
The research on vaccines is, is what is prioritised right now and advancing through our WHORND Blueprints group.
And then in regards to community engagement, that's a really key in any Ebola outbreak.
Community engagement is the most probably the most important thing because to stop Ebola outbreaks, you need the community to believe and engage and be part of that response.
So there are concerted efforts by the ministry and by many different partners who are on ground in and communicating messages to the community to, to, you know, to seek care if they have symptoms, that if they are a contact to, you know, go to make sure that they are followed up through contact tracing and that if any symptom occurs, you know, that they report it right away so they can get tested and treated.
And I think if we can message around the treatment and safe care and good care in Ebola care facilities, then that we hope and that these facilities, you know, are inviting to, to to patients and communities that that, that there we would avoid any stigma or fear in if someone gets diagnosed over Fidela.
You would like to add something?
We can't see you here.
Go ahead.
Yeah, As there's an interest among journalists about the vaccine issue for Uganda, I would like maybe to give them publicly the information that they have.
As you know, there is no specific therapeutics for to treat the Sudan Ebola species.
What is very important is the early identification of cases and treatment of symptoms.
This will increase greatly the chances of survival.
This being said, W2 has initiated international consultation with vaccine developers to identify vaccine candidate that could be tested in a randomised clinical studies.
In Uganda.
We have three candidate vaccine under consideration.
The clinical study protocols are under way review by the ethical and regulatory or committees in Uganda and the research will be led by a National University in Uganda.
At its stage of the clinical study, WHO Prioritisations Committee will be reviewing evidence collected on the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine candidate to inform response activities.
What I can maybe tell you on the I think it's important to stress at this stage, successful Ebola outbreak control relies on applying all of the following steps.
Clinical management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, implementation of IPC meaning infection prevention and control measures in healthcare and community sitting, safe and dignified barriers and very important community engagement and social mobilisation.
I think it was also clear in Doctor John's intervention.
Thank you.
I will send my notes up to that.
Nina Larsson is our AFP correspondent.
Dr Diaz.
Hi, thanks for taking my question.
I actually have a few questions just to follow up quickly on the the vaccine issue.
Do you know when those trials are expected to start?
And then I was wondering on whether this Sudan strain is considered more or less deadly than the other, the other strain for which there are vaccines.
And I was also wondering, I see that Uganda is planning to close the schools nationwide.
I'm wondering if you think that is a an appropriate response and if you think that neighbouring of what the danger is for neighbouring countries at this point when it comes to internationals?
Thank you.
Thanks so much for the questions.
I will defer on the the vaccine start dates of the trial.
Maybe Fidela, I can get us more information on that.
In regards to the severity of disease associated with the Sudan Ebola virus strain, I don't think there's, we don't have sufficient information on the clinical characterization to say either it is the same.
It seems, it appears to me that it's likely to be similar to what we've seen with the CIA or Ebola virus, but we haven't done a deep analysis to look at that.
Right now, as I reported, there's about a 40% or 38% case fatality ratio.
That's, you know, we've seen that in other outbreaks.
Sometimes we see higher CFRS, but you know, the, the cause of that sometimes it's complex.
It depends on patients accessing care time from symptom onset when they get into care and the type of supportive care that they're receiving.
So there's a lot of things to kind of sort out in order to see if it's what aspect is maybe leading to higher or lower CFR.
So, so we are, you know, encouraging in the Ministry of Health, I know is collecting standardised, you know, patient data from the patients admitted who have confirmed Ebola and they'll be able to do hopefully a good analysis on the clinical characterization of these patients.
And we're open to support them in those analysis through our WHO clinical data platform.
In regret on this call on the school's closure.
Sure.
So in regards to the the school closures, I'm not sure if Fidela has some comments potentially about W chose perspectives on on that.
Fidela to you.
Yes, thank you.
Thank you, Janet.
Thank you, Nina, to answer your question about closing early school in Uganda, I think the Ugandan health authorities are best placed to determine whether school closure will help control the outbreak.
As you know, since the beginning of this outbreak in 20 September, many children were affected or died from the disease.
So the decision to close school needs to be really a risk based and to have support in place.
For the affected children who have already lost out of their schooling during the closures that took place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
So it's up to the Ugandan authorities to take such a decision and to take a risk based approach and also to discuss with communities because it's very important to have the buying of communities when such decisions are taken.
Because as I said, also many children, children were affected or lost their lives during this outbreak of Ebola in Uganda.
Thank you and sorry for that.
Maybe I think Nina asked when the trials were starting.
You will have to come to you, Nina, on this question.
I, I don't know if there is a date already put to start the clinical trial on this candidate vaccines.
I will have to come to you later on maybe during this pressure on.
Thank you.
Thank you for that.
I have to follow up one for me and one from Lisa and then we will stop because I know doctor DSS to leave.
So Nina, you have a follow up and then I'll give the floor to Lisa and then we will go to the next speaker.
Yes, sorry, I know I asked a lot of questions earlier.
There was one more which was on the danger of international spread and what the countries should be doing.
And and just on the the children, I was just wondering if you have numbers for how many children have been infected and have died in this outbreak?
Thank you.
Thanks for the question.
Just for the the readiness activities there are for the surrounding countries, there is multiple activities ongoing to improve readiness at each of these countries.
And it's as, as you know, the, the response to Ebola needs readiness and, and many different aspects, including surveillance capacities, diagnostic capacities, case management capacities like I've described today, supply chain capacities and, and community engagement and risk communications.
So, so all those are being assessed and, and, and activities and trainings ongoing and also distribution of PPE to at risk countries as well for part of readiness.
So, so a lot of work being done by WHO and also by partners to support the ministries, the respective ministries of health in that.
In regards to children, I don't have the the the exact number, but we can get that for you.
Exactly.
But I just don't have it.
I don't have the statistics in front of me at this moment.
I see.
For the renauding.
Yeah.
So just maybe to add to what Doctor Dia said, W2 is assessing the risk for this event from **** to very **** at the national level and from low to **** at the regional level, while the risk remain low at the global level.
I think you have all the details in the disease outbreak news that we sent to you last night with also a lot of, you know, details about what WHO and the health authorities are in Uganda are going to help neighbouring country, namely 6 neighbouring countries.
We're on the, the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and the United Republic of Tanzania.
Get ready and prepared for any, you know, Ebola cases coming from Uganda to the neighbouring countries.
But you have all these details in the dawn we sent you last night.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Lisa, your follow up, yeah, it's for you.
Fidela, you, you seem to indicate about the school closures for kids who are missing out on education because of COVID and now the Ebola.
You seem to indicate that perhaps the communities have something to say about whether the school should be closed or not.
Perhaps I heard this in correctly, but is there some flexibility or is the decision by the government authorities a universal one and no communities have a safe?
So for that?
Thank you.
Lisa.
What I think the main message here is that it's the decision by the Ugandan authorities to close early or not schools take by taking a risk based, a risk based approach.
And every time when we have an Ebola outbreak or any other outbreak of of an important disease, a serious disease, it's very important also to explain what the authorities, what the international community is doing to control it by talking to the local communities, to the local leaders to explain the decision.
When you have the approval of communities, it's always easier for to control a disease and to get, you know, the, the, the mobilisation you need to end an outbreak of any nature.
I don't know if Doctor Janet Diaz has anything to add.
Thank you.
Now I see her say no.
So thank you very much.
We'll let you come.
Doctor Diaz, thank you very much for this update.
And.
Yeah, thank you.
Wait a second.
Let me let is it from it's for Doctor Diaz.
OK, no one second.
So thank you very much for that.
Do you want to say just a few words about the Thursday press conference or we'll we'll close with WHO we we will inform them via media advisory today.
OK, fantastic.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
So if there are no other questions for Fidela, thank you.
I give the floor to Musa and then we go to our guests.
We have quite a few guests from outside today, so let's try to go to them quickly.
Musa.
So the only thing I can confirm about this meeting is that the Secretary General of the Ankta, the Rebecca Greenspan and the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths are meeting with a **** level delegation from the Russian Federation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sergei Verchinin today in Geneva.
And they will continue ongoing consultation in support of the efforts by the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres on the full implementation of the two agreements signed on the 22nd July in Istanbul.
This discussion is hoped should advance progress made in facilitating the unimpeded export of food and fertilising originating from the Russian Federation to the global markets.
There are no media opportunity Mosa, about this event.
So if there is more during the day, we will update you.
But for the moment, there are no media opportunities available.
Thank you.
I've got on the OK.
I've got Emma, DPA and Nina on the line.
And Jamie, I'm, I'm very sorry, we try to be brief because we've got all these people.
There's a lady calling in from Mozambique.
I would really like to go to our external guest.
I'll start with Emma.
And if it's for asking more question on that, I don't have more information to give, but please go ahead.
Can you just say whether the talks have started and where they are at the Paladine and they have started?
Jamie.
Thanks.
Alessandra, following up on that, could you please explain why there's no press access to it?
I mean, this was announced by your own deputy spokesperson in New York by Stephanie Tremblay.
My colleague wrote a 400 word story about it.
He was on the radio and international radio this morning.
What's the harm in allowing a few cameras to see people walking into the building to illustrate the fact that these talks are going on?
Could you please?
This is a question of press freedom.
Thank you.
No, it's not.
I mean, we haven't received no requests for for covering the arrival.
So we we didn't cover the arrivals.
So people came in.
And if this is an informal meeting, it's happening at the Paladin as you want.
It's discussion.
And if, as I said, there are media opportunities, we will make them available to everyone.
I'm sorry, Can we?
Yeah, I called you yesterday.
Yeah.
I called 3 agencies.
I called diplomats to try to find out I was requesting access.
Maybe it wasn't clear, but I would like that that was clearly a request for access to be able to cover it yesterday.
Yeah.
No, maybe I explained in I I wasn't correct.
You call me, probably called other people and you were asking for information about the meeting.
We gave you what we had, but we whereas specifically for media opportunities, the, the, the arrival was not mentioned.
But in any case, this is as I said again is an informal discussion.
It's it's talks, it's not a public meeting and the arrivals were not covered.
We don't even covered with UNTV images.
So it was just an arrival.
No, I'm sorry.
I really want to go to our guests, please.
No, we don't have UNTV images.
We don't have images of the arrival.
Christian and Nina, could you be please brief with Christian?
Yes, yes.
Alexandra, very briefly.
We need to know at some point today what happened at these talks.
These are official UN talks.
This is not a private informal meeting.
These are heads of agencies.
We must know at some point today when these meetings finished and what was discussed and what was suggested.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I'll be happy to report your question to to to bring your question to our colleagues for dealing with these discussions.
And I have, we have the possibility to have something at the end of the day.
But as I said, for the moment, I have no information about that.
So, but I'll be happy to report this to the colleagues who are in charge of the communication for this for the agencies involved.
Thank you, Nina.
Yeah, thanks.
I, I just wanted to to say that we also asked specifically yesterday about covering the arrivals and about access and media opportunities.
And so it would have been good to have some sort of access to that and we would and it would be good to have a readout of what happens at this meeting and also information about when the meeting ends.
Thank you.
Yeah, absolutely.
Point well taken.
You didn't talk to me, so I don't know exactly what you've asked to the agencies, but yes, point well taken.
And as I said, we will try to see what we can do for the end of the meeting.
I'm sorry, John, I, I'm not giving more question on this subject because we can talk about it at the end of the of the briefing.
But I see Thompson is with us and I would really like to first of all, welcome him again at the briefing.
It's such a pleasure to see you, Thompson.
As we all know, you are in Johannesburg at the moment and you've worked with us, a colleague, Antonella Daprile, who is on Zoom, I think from Maputo to tell us about the situation of hunger in Mozambique.
Antonella is the WFP country director and representative in Mozambique.
I don't know, Thompson, you would like to start and then we go to to your colleague and John, I promise the floor is if it's on the same subject after that, we have heard about our guests.
Go ahead, Thompson, it's good to be with you all bourgeoisie.
I will not take a lot of your time just to say that I couldn't wait to get back to Geneva, that it is good to be here.
I'm very close to operations and to the people we serve.
But we do need your help in amplifying the situation that we have here.
So with that, I would like to introduce you to Antonella Debru, our country Director in Mozambique, who will brief you.
In addition to English, she speaks Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.
Thank you so much.
Thank you very much, Antonella.
You have the floor.
Thank you, Alexandra.
Thank you, Thompson.
Good morning, Geneva.
Thank you for the opportunity to brief you all on Mozambique hunger and extreme poverty concerns.
WP is delivering food assistance to 1,000,000 people affected by the conflict in northern Mozambique.
But unfortunately we have a very serious funding shortage.
So if WP will be forced to suspend life saving assistance to 1,000,000 people by February if we don't receive funds now As I speak, February in Mozambique is also the peak of the lean season.
This means that food is more expensive because farmers are waiting for their harvest.
Unfortunately, February is also our agitated cycling season, so without WP the systems 1,000,000 vulnerable uprooted people will be on the verge of hunger in Mozambique.
We need that 550.
Sorry, we need $51 million to continue delivering the life saving assistance to people who are affected by a conflict.
So I wanted also to highlight that this worrisome family situation is is being there for sometimes.
We've been delivering half Russians since April 2022 because of limited funding and increasing increased needs.
So this means that this affected families by the conflict received or have been receiving less than 40% of their minimum calorie needs.
The situation is dire and these are people who are suffering.
The attacks started five years ago in Cabo de Legado, which is the most good, insecure, malnourished and extremely poor provinces in province in Mozambique.
In 2019, the same province was hit by Cyclone Kennedy.
So just a few details or information to let you all understand that these people come from an extreme vulnerable background.
Some recent data that have been collected indicate that the food insecurity and hunger in the in the in the area in the province is further aggravated.
So, and to make all these even, you know, worse, the attacks have been, have intensified, I would say, not not only over the last months, but over the last weeks.
And this is the pushing, spreading the violence also towards the neighbouring countries.
This means that people are fleeing their villages, leaving absolutely everything behind.
Something important.
I want you all to, you know, keep in your mind and in your heart that these people are displaced and traumatised multiple times.
I must say that despite, you know, this widespread violence and insecurity and the funding situation that the P has managed to expand the delivery of food assistance and nutrition basically to all remote areas.
And we are really reaching the most vulnerable, the most in need.
So in times of COP 27 just wrapped up the Shaman Sheikh and I also would like to remind you all that Mozambique is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change.
So only this year we had we were hit by 4 tropical storms and one cyclone again displacement in used by climate change events.
900,000 people who were basically pushed away from their land from with the home destroyed and croplands are completely washed away.
Lastly, I wanted to say that in in order to continue also supporting the same people affected by weather and natural disaster or conflict in the north of the country and to support them to get back on their feet and on their livelihoods.
WP is also working a lot on our changing lives agenda and I would add the Changing Lives agenda that brings hope to the people we serve.
So we are implementing building resilience projects in many communities through also school feeding programmes, social protection, support to smaller farmers.
And I would like to take the opportunity to really say thank you to all the donor partners who have allowed the WP, you know, to reach all these people.
But I'm also here to appeal, appeal to the international community, not to forget Mozambique, because we need to continue supporting the most vulnerable in the north of the country.
And in general in, in Mozambique.
We need, you know, the, we need the funding now to avert not only hunger in the short term, but also to tackle the root causes of chronic food insecurity in the country.
So we work very hard, me and the team everywhere in the country, but also we need your financial support.
So Muito Brigada Voya, I I stop it here and Sandra and open to questions.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Antonella Muto Brigada to you.
Lisa Schlein was from America.
Yes, hello.
Thank you for this terrible briefing.
I would, I have a few questions for you.
One if you could.
And you may have mentioned it, but I didn't hear it or went by fast.
How much money do you actually need?
How much have you received then?
Do you have figures on malnutrition, whether the malnutrition rates have been elevated, gone up a lot, whether a lot of children have died, are dying as a consequence of this, this hunger?
And you mentioned that they're on the half rations already for many months.
So this must be terrible.
And you say that?
There are a lot of displaced people.
How many, how many displaced are there and how many have been newly displaced by the uptick in the fighting that you just mentioned over the past week?
Was it or weeks?
And lastly, on security itself, is the government, government incapable of doing anything?
Is the, are there any UN peacekeepers in the region?
I don't know about that.
And are they helping?
Seems not.
I mean, what does it take?
Thank you, Antonella.
Thank you.
Thank you, Lisa.
Yes, the the funding short shortfall is of $51 million.
So we need that, we need to mobilise that in a joint effort as soon as possible to get these people through the lean season.
As I was mentioning in my opening remarks, what we can say on malnutrition rates is that, you know, we work very closely with the UNICEF to monitor the situation on the ground that the, the, you know, the indications are not good.
But then I wanted also to, to mention that the half of the people displaced, more than half, the 60%, sorry, 50% of the people that displaced are children.
So of course, if the food insecurity gets worse than the first ones to suffer are children and women.
Overall the people displaced us are.
As for IO, Ms, the latest data are 945,000 people.
We do support a bit more than 1,000,000 because we do bring that, we do deliver food and humanitarian response not only to displaced people but also to host communities I think that are on security.
Yes, these are, yeah.
No, there's no UN peacekeeping mission, but there is the Sadaka, you know, the Southern Africa, I would say, how do I put it, Southern Africa Development Group that have deployed different military forces and there is, there are military forces under the SAMIM on the ground.
There are, there is also of course the Mozambique military force and also the one this military force.
They, of course, support the humanitarian efforts, but it's a quite widespread conflict with the scattered all over a very huge, you know, I would say, geographical area.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Antonella.
Peter.
Peter Kenny.
Yeah.
Now we can hear you.
OK, yeah, sorry, but the the voice doesn't really come through clear.
Can you maybe raise your volume or get closer to your mic, please?
OK.
OK.
Yeah, OK.
I'm afraid.
Hello.
Yeah, you're not.
You're coming a little bit broken.
Try again.
Otherwise, maybe we can send the question to Antonella in writing afterwards, because we can't hear you.
Go ahead.
Let's try again.
OK.
Yeah.
I'm just wondering, is 51 million.
Peter, I'm, I'm very sorry, but we can't hear your question.
It's it's impossible.
Sorry for that.
Maybe you can just send the question to Thompson or to Antonella directly or to us and we will forward it to to them.
I'm very sorry, but we can't really hear you Any other question to WFPI?
Don't see any.
So thank you very much Antonella.
We'll make sure that you get the question from Peter through us or through Thompson.
So let me now go to our next guest also from outside Geneva.
We have on Zoom from Rome, Bubakke, Ben Berhassen, who's the FAO Director of the Markets and Trade Division.
Bubakke, you have an update on the biannual report on global food markets of FAO, which you are publishing now.
You're wishing now.
So you have the floor.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Greetings from Rome.
I'm happy to be with you of course, today.
And then as you mentioned, my briefing would be about the new FAO food outlook report, which we released at about 10:00 AM this morning and you can access it through our website.
Just a brief mention that the food outlook is produced.
We produce it twice a year, usually around June and the second edition about in November to provide assessment of the latest market development and forecasters for cereals covering wheat, coarse grains and rice, also oil crops, sugar, meat and dairy products and also fish and aquaculture products.
The the report also analysis the import bills for food and agricultural inputs.
I will start probably with the three main messages that I would like to to to put for up for the briefing.
The first one is that we see that market conditions for the major food commodities could ease somewhat in 20/22/23.
Then the second message is that the food import bills, we expect them to reach new record highs in 2020, in 2022, this year and to be driven mostly by higher prices.
The Third Point is that the import bills for agricultural inputs and here we cover energy, fertiliser, pesticides and seeds, we also see them increasing sharply actually in 2022 also due to soaring prices for these inputs.
Now I will try to go to provide a little bit more detailed information about these three points.
FA US latest forecast point to somewhat easing of market condition for basic foodstuffs.
However, we also see that increased climate variability, conflicts and geopolitical tensions, bleak economic prospects, soaring agriculture input costs and sudden changes in trade policies continue to to pose uncertainties and challenges to the stability of a global food commodity market.
So while we see some some easing in in the market, that's that that what our forecasts are pointed at.
Nevertheless, we continue to be and they're increasing uncertainties for global cereal markets.
The latest FEOS figures show that wheat production growth is forecast to exceed the growth in utilisation, which should lead to unlikely build up of inventories.
Trade in wheat could contract costly due to export disruption and expectation of lower import demand in some countries due to rising domestic production.
For rice, global production is forecast to to drop this year compared to the previous year due to unfavourable weather and hikes in input prices.
However, supplies are forecast to remain abandoned in 20/22/23 thanks to large carry in stocks and also an overall adequate global harvest.
Despite the the the decrease that we we we are foreseeing.
By contrast, for global course grain markets, we see that there could be some tightening in 20/22/23 due to unexpected drop in production, driving a possible contraction in global utilisation and stocks.
While trade in coarse grain will likely also decline on expectation of a weaker global import demand and also lower export supplies for all seeds and derived products.
The same we see that somewhat easing market condition are likely mainly on account of expectation of production recoveries in a number of countries.
However, also the outlook remains tight.
Global sugar market is also likely to see some easing, mainly on account of unanticipated increase in production and the slow increase in utilisation, and probably will register a surplus, whereas global trade in sugar is predicted to rise in 20/22/23, spurred by large export availabilities compared to to last year.
Moving to to livestock, global milk and meat meat outputs are forecast to expand, but only moderately and to be impacted by a combination of extreme weather events, rising input costs and also animal diseases, reflecting low import imports for pig meat as well As for dairy products, especially by China.
Global trade in both meat and dairy products will likely fall in 2022 and if the drop in dairy trade is realised, it would be the first actually decline to to be resisted in nearly 2 decades.
Now looking at the import bill.
So the global food import bill is forecast to reach a record **** in 2022, rising to nearly 2 trillion U.S.
dollar, which would be up 180 million billion, sorry $180 billion from 2021, with the bulk of the increase driven by higher import courses rather than larger volumes.
The higher world prices and depreciating currencies are having an impact on the purchasing power of importing countries and that's on the volume of food imports.
Economically vulnerable countries are finding it increasingly difficult to finance the food their food imports, which could have serious implication for food securities.
If we look now at agricultural inputs and as I said before, we cover four major inputs which are fertiliser, energy, seeds and pesticides, the situation is even more alarming.
The global agricultural input import bill is forecast to increase by nearly 50% in 2022 to reach 424 billion U.S.
dollar, the same As for the global food import bill.
The sharp increase in the import bill for inputs is mostly driven by higher prices.
In particular, higher import courses of energy and fertiliser are the main factors behind the expected growth in the import bill for inputs in 2022, which account for over 90% of the estimated increase.
Of course, when we put together these two things, there are reasons for serious concerns.
From a food security perspective, higher import bills for agricultural inputs add to the rising import bills for foodstuffs, particularly for countries in the lower income categories, which together with the stronger U.S.
dollar, are putting a lot of additional fiscal pressure on these countries.
I should also say that we also monitor of course the Black Sea Grain Initiative and according to the data you by very right, we have seen provided by the Joint Coordination Centre up to yesterday, the 10th of eight, the 10th of November, a total of 10.2 million tonnes of drainage and other foodstuffs were exported from Ukraine.
For us, we see it as an important initiative that has improved food availability.
And however, it would be complemented by other measures to improve also food access, especially for those countries that fall in the low income categories.
Thank you very much and I'll be happy to address question and comments.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Sir.
I would like now to turn to our journalists, see if there's any question in the room.
But I don't see hands up, John, I see your hand up.
Is that a question for go back here?
Yes.
Good morning, Sir.
I was wondering if you also have data on the volume of grain exports and fertiliser from Russia.
There's a lot of details on what's coming out of Ukraine, but is FAO monitoring closely also grain exports from Russia, which is a major supplier?
Thank you.
Thank you for the question.
Of course, we do as part of our market intelligence service.
So we monitor for, for, for all the countries as a matter of fact, including for the major food commodities and fertiliser.
So we have data for, for exporters for both of course grainage and fertiliser for Russia, we will be happy to provide it.
They don't have a 10D now, but we'll be happy to provide it through through through the office in Geneva.
And in which you use different sources also to gather the data.
And we do a lot of validation and that will compare of course, including comparison to historical level and, and, but we do have data on both grain exports and fertiliser exports.
John, your hand is still up.
You have a follow up.
Yes, I do.
Yes.
Coming back to the the increase in in cost globally, from your market analysis and monitoring the commodity markets, how much of the increase is due to speculative behaviour and also to the situation where you have Agri business groups that are involved in the in the trading of grains and also fertiliser.
What what is your analysis showing how much of the spike in prices is due to speculative behaviour either either by conglomerates, commodity conglomerates or by financial institutions?
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Actually, I mean what what we are, what we do, of course, I mean there is now the issue of speculation or probably we should call it more of excessive speculation because otherwise there is speculation and any types of of markets.
In fact, now we are looking into that.
I, I don't have the answer to to for that.
We are looking at speculative activity.
We are trying to to to to monitor that and trying to do the analysis.
However, I would should also say based on experience that analysis that we did backwards, so in 2007, 2008, that was somewhat similar or even worse price, worse situation when it comes for example to the level of stocks we have seen at the time, for example.
Yes, successive speculation can have an impact of course centrally on prices.
However, the impact is transitory does not last.
It's usually one to two weeks.
Now if we, we look at the situation, the current situation as as I said, we don't have the analysis, we are only actually trying to, we are starting to, to, to look into that.
But at the same time we are finding that the, the, the, the, the, the, we, we are being able to explain the, the change in prices by the market fundamentals, in other words by the demand and supply factors.
So, but we are not suspecting usually we suspect other, other factors where we are not able to, to, to to explain the changes and the movement in prices by the supply and demand factors that that come into play.
But for now they are we are succeeding in basically explaining that.
So the major parts really are due to supply and demand movement of course, from the COVID-19 after that, all the disruption that has caused it and, and then the measures that were taken and, and since February or the late February, the, the war in Ukraine.
So we are, we are, we are explaining and then we, we have the, the explanation for how prices are moving and responding.
In fact, even when we after following the agreement for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, how prices have moved compared, you know, to to March or April.
But again, I mean, on on the speculation, I think it's an important question we are looking into that we should, I hope we'll come back to you with, with more answer because it, it needs a little bit of, of in depth analysis.
You know, that really to, to, to to ascertain or otherwise the impact of speculation and to measure how much that's contributes to the changes of the volatility in prices.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Sir.
Robin, Robin Miller, AFP.
Thank you.
Good morning.
You spoke about the importance of the Black Sea grain deal for food availability.
I'd just like to ask you if if you could tell us what it would mean for food availability if that deal was to come to an end in a week's time.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Now that's an important question that's of concern not to, to to all of us because the deal as you know it was signed on the 22nd of July for 120 days.
So basically that initial agreement is due for for expiration on the 19th of November.
And as we had we have here earlier, there is a lot of of course intensive discussion with the hope that the deal continues.
However, should should we be in a scenario that nobody I think wants to see that there is a determination of the deal?
I think the, the, the situation could be really difficult and the implication could be very serious.
And, and this is for a, a different level.
No, for one, I mean in terms of the, the, the prices, we, we see that in the short term at least, certainly prices will have to respond and then they will increase, especially for example, for, for wheat, for maize and also for sunflower seed oil that that will happen, availability will go down.
And we are estimating actually that there is a, a response in terms of OF1A4A4 of 1,000,000 tonne of of grain in the world market.
Usually the response is about an increase of 0.5% in in world prices.
So there is a direct relationship there.
Of course the impact also could be especially for those countries that depend on on the imports from from Ukraine or from the taxi region that could be affected mainly the for example, the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region then to look for other sources.
So that that's something.
The other thing, of course, we have also to look at, at the inside of the country in Ukraine, because what, what this, what, what this initiative has has done actually many positive, many positive outcomes in the sense for one, to release the, the, the, the stocks, the, the, the storage, storage storage capacity in the country, especially with the harvest of the water crop was coming in.
So that, that, that alleviated the pressure on, on, on the, on the storage.
2 Of course, farmers are selling their products.
So they, they, they make, they make, they make revenues, they, they send their product.
This has an impact of course on their future, on their investment, on their farming, on their, on their planting decision.
So in other words, again, which end their line, we hope we do not see that scenario of course happen.
I think the implication could be seen especially in the short term for global food security, for prices for availability, especially for food staple and, and cocon oil and and and and also some inputs and in terms of the implication for the prices for energy, fuel and and fertiliser.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Let me see if there are other questions.
I don't see any.
So thank you very much for this update.
Rebecca and I will now go to our last speaker on my left.
All welcome.
And you have an update on the situation of refugees this winter?
Good morning everyone.
So millions of people from Ukraine, Afghanistan and across the Middle East displaced by conflict or persecution could now face a life threatening winter as freezing temperatures add to the misery already induced by inspiring prices, the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather linked to the climate crisis.
In HER, the UN refugee agency warns that for many of the world's forcibly displaced, this coming winter will be far more challenging than in recent years.
Many displaced families will have no option but to choose between food and warmth as they strike, struggle to hit their shelters, source warm clothing and cook hot meals.
Across the Middle East, many displaced Syrian and Iraqis will have to condemn contend with extreme cold and snowstorms once again.
This will be the 12th consecutive winter in displacement for many.
UNHCR estimates that 3.4 million Syrian and Iraqi refugees and those internally displaced people in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt will need critical assistance to prepare for and cope with winter.
Millions of Ukrainians uprooted from their homes by the Carbon war are facing winter in displacement or are living in extreme poverty, or are living in damaged homes or or in buildings.
I'll suited to protect them from the beating call with disrupted energy, heating and water supplies and lost livelihoods in Afghanistan, where winter temperatures can easily plunge to below 25°C across parts of the country, many displays and conflict affected families will be left exposed to the elements.
The harsh winter arrives amid a steep economic decline and only months after June's earthquake in southeastern Patica and host provinces in which thousands of people in the country experience devastating loss and damage to their homes.
Despite worsening humanitarian needs, the funding outlook for life saving aid programmes and assistance remains bleak.
Owing to to funding shortfalls, UNITR has recently been forced to scale up scale back essential programmes in several countries.
UNHCR has launched a global winter fundraising campaign to help forcibly displaced families in meeting the most urgent needs during the coldest months of the year in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Funding will help provide those approaches with warm winter clothing, thermal blankets, home repairs, solar panels and lamps, gas cylinders and cash assistance to cover other essential winter needs, including heating.
Thank you very much Olga for this.
Heads up for the next winter for the most vulnerable mongas.
Any question to HCR, Lisa?
Yeah.
Hi, Olga.
I mean, you, everybody's going to suffer, but you say there's a global funding campaign.
Could you elaborate a bit upon this?
I mean, you don't have the money clearly to take care of how many millions of people who are like and how many of them are likely to freeze to death.
I imagine some will.
So if you give some more information about how the campaign's going to be run, what it is your hopes are, how much you hope to get money and where will the campaign kind of be be be more efficacious than all the appeals that you have been having throughout the year to international communities.
I mean, this is still the same international community that you have to reach.
Thanks.
Thank you, Lisa for your question.
So yes, indeed, we have been raising our concerns about the funding situation of the organisation in the past weeks.
We mentioned that we need to 700 million U.S.
dollars urgently to cover the very minimum before the end of the year.
And, and this is because the funding needs, because of the situation that we've been presenting and we've been hearing even today, it's making the funding, it's making the needs of those displaced increase, especially for winter.
We estimate that at least initially to cover and to start delivering the initial assistance for the families, the most vulnerable families in these regions, in Afghanistan, in, in Ukraine and also across the Middle East.
The, the, the, the funding needs that we are estimate at the moment is of about 400 million U.S.
dollars.
The campaign, it's, it's just raising awareness about the hardship situation in winter and, and it's intended to reach everyone, public, government, donors, but also individuals, citizens and and private sectors and and corporations that can support those forcefully displaced to cope with the with the free scene temperatures, we see already night temperatures dropping to 2 to 4° in All in all these regions.
But this is just the beginning.
So origin support is needed to to be able to start delivering cash assistance, thermal blankets, work clothing, repairing the houses as as soon as possible before the winter becomes even harsh.
Thank you.
I see Emma as a question.
I'm not sure to what extent UNHCR is actually active within Ukraine with the displaced or it's mostly refugees outside of the country, but obviously it's the first winter of this war.
Can you give us an idea of the scale of of the operation to prepare for this and to what extent has it been disrupted by the ongoing fighting?
So we have we have teams inside the country and we have a scale up our programmes to support about 1,000,000 ID PS Especially at at this moment as as the temperatures fall, providing safe, warm and dignified accommodation during the freezing months, especially repairing houses and buildings, collective buildings where where those internally displays are hosted before before the situation worsens and and winter arrives.
Indeed, with the latest fighting, our teams continue there.
But of course, they have to be aware of the security indications that are provided by the authorities to make sure that we can continue delivery this assistance.
Thank you, Isabel.
Good morning.
Thank you.
I would like to ask on another issue.
Is it possible?
Let me see if there are no other question on this subject.
Lisa has a follow up.
Yeah, On take, take Afghanistan for instance, what is it that you practically are able to do there?
Do you have any connections with the Taliban?
Are they allowing you to work there?
And then there are so many sanctions against the country that it must be very difficult to get any sort of aid into the region.
Hi, Lisa.
So yes, indeed we have teams in Afghanistan and we continue supporting the most vulnerable families.
And specifically for winter what we are being providing a way of planning to support is about 50,500 families, which is about 400,000 people with cash assistance.
This, this cash assistance allows people to purchase those they need, those things that they need to, to cope with the winter, mainly warm clothing, but also also winter and also heat the, the heating and, and and the gas cylinders etcetera.
And we are also prepositioning blankets across, across the country in the main regions where we are acting.
So indeed we continue supporting in Afghanistan those, those displaced.
OK.
So let's go back to Isabel.
Yes, thank you.
My question is on the the very strong reaction by the President of Dominican Republic yesterday to your call to stop the forcibly return of Hagens.
And he has said that your statement has been irresponsible and unacceptable and that the the deportations will will will be going on anyway.
So what would be your comment on this reaction?
Thank you.
Thank you, Sir.
So I will not comment on, on the reactions because I would leave our colleagues from OHR to comment on those specific reactions as they as, as it was an issue and statement issued by the UN Human Rights Office and, and not by UNITR.
But indeed, last last week, we issued a statement calling states in the region and beyond to suspend the forced return of Asians to their country until this situation is improved.
And, and this is what, what I would say, I mean, we stand with that.
The situation is very dire in the country.
So it's important to to make sure that that those that may need protection or whose lives may be at risk if they are returned can be protected and unitary stands ready to support all the governments in the region and UN agencies and partners to ensure defer an efficient access to asylum systems for those that need it.
Thank you very much.
I don't see other questions.
So thank you very much Olga for the Isabel, sorry you have an you have a follow up.
Yes, yes, thank you.
Last moment is a yes on the UN agencies including UNHCR have always called on political leaders to to stand with the international humanitarian law and the international law.
So in this issue where it's clear that there is a crisis unfolding, very, very serious crisis unfolding in Haiti and that the people are at risk, their life are at risk.
What about political leader just saying something that go goes currently against the international humanitarian law and saying that it's his government will continue to do so even if that if this is not correct.
So I started as I was mentioning, the situation in 80 remains very volatile and and it remains uncertain and there is an unfolding humanitarian emergency as well.
And this means that that people that are returned could be, could be at risk.
I mean, we mentioned in our last week statement that Asian women, children and men, what outside the country and returned to ATM may face life threatening security and health risks situation is in and, and further displacement.
So it's important that in this context, we, we are, we are calling to suspend these forced returns to the country because those people may be at risk.
And this moratorium on forced return, we need to stay in, in in place.
This is what we, we are calling until the situation in the country is stabilised.
And just Isabel, for your information, I don't know if you saw the office of the spokesperson of the Secretary General give you an update on IET 2 days ago.
If you haven't, I can send you the message.
Message the, the information that they shared on behalf of the UN community in Haiti.
Just just drop me a, a line, Allah, I'll send it to you.
I don't see other questions for you, Olga.
Thank you very much.
If you just turn off your mic.
Thank you very much.
So I have a couple of announcements, but I wanted to give a chance to John to ask this question.
I haven't forgotten you, John, please, if you can unmute John.
Tara Costas.
Yes.
Can you hear me?
Yeah.
John, you're on.
Yeah, Yeah, right.
I coming back to what my colleagues said at the beginning of the briefing, I was just interested how much of a heads up we might be given if there is a possibility of some stakeout or some comments by Mr Griffith or Miss Greenspan, That's all.
We're not going to be in a situation like the signing of the Libya accords where we're given like 2 minutes.
Hopefully not, John, hopefully not.
But I, I take note of your comment because I frankly cannot tell you anything about that.
I don't even know if there will be a stick out.
We are, I'm, I'm going to be bringing back to the colleagues who are in charge of the talks your request for a readout or some kind of statement or declaration.
What's going to happen?
I don't know.
But we will be here and we will inform you as soon as possible of any possible development from this.
Thank you for your patience.
Any other question for me?
Yes please body quite the same question.
Thank you for I we will well receive the UAE mail but I surprised how UNTV does not cover this event.
Where can we get any image resources?
But that actually the fact that we don't have UNTV images shows otherwise we would have had them, that this is really a discussion which has happened here.
There were no media opportunities, so we didn't even take images from for UNTV.
It was an arrival.
They came in, they went to the meeting room and they started discussing.
There were no media coverage, just the meeting and otherwise frankly body.
I mean, if we would have had even TV images, we would have shared them with you for sure.
It shows what what I said before, this is a discussion that is happening and and it's happening at the Parliament and there is no conversation well known the worldwide.
But how could you resolve these problems that everybody knows?
It's happened in January in the Yeah, we have confirmed that.
We have confirmed that it started.
You have heard me before, but there are no images.
There are no images.
So we will try to get something at the end if there is a possibility to get it.
And frankly, I'm not in position to confirm.
So I can only be your, your voice with my colleagues and I will do it with pleasure.
I just have a last announcement for you.
It's about the Committee against sorry too, the Committee Against Torture.
Today they are reviewing the report of Australia.
I also wanted to inform you that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will open next Monday.
This is the 108 session.
Countries to be reviewed are France, Brazil, Bahrain, Botswana, Jamaica and Georgia.
So these are the list of the countries that are going to be scrutinised by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
And this is all I had, I think, for you today.
And I'm sorry, there is one announcement of press conference.
If I can find it, give me one second here.
So on Thursday 17th of November at 10 AM, Unity will hold here an hybridly a press conference on the launch of the Landmine Monitor 2022 report.
The researcher of unit year on conventional arms and ammunition.
The senior researcher Hardy Giesendanner will give this press conference together with other colleagues.
And as I said, this is a hybrid press conference.
We'll send you the invitation.
That's about it for me.
Thank you very much.
And Lisa, yes, I saw your, your question in the chat and I don't know if everybody would be interested in in the update on IET, but we'll send it out just after the briefing.
Thank you very much and Bon appetit and it's here on Tuesday.
Thank you.