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UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 21 April 2020
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Press Conferences | UNHCR , OCHA , WHO , UNCTAD , ILO
UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 21 April 2020
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), chaired the virtual briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The topics addressed were: COVID-19; floods in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and the World Immunization Week.
COVID-19
Responding to questions, Fadéla Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the WHO was combatting both the pandemics and the “infodemics” at the same time. All available evidence suggested that the virus had animal origin; it most probably had its ecological reservoir in bats, but it was still not clear how it might have moved from bats to humans. Several working groups were currently looking for a source of the virus, which was still not confirmed with absolute certainty. The collective focus should be on facts, not fear, stressed Ms. Chaib, who also emphasized the connection between animal health and human health; some 70 percent of all human diseases had animal origin, she explained. There was no proof whatsoever that the virus had originated in a lab, as some media outlets were claiming.
In response to another question, Ms. Chaib said that on 12 January 2020, China had shared the sequencing of the virus with the WHO and the international scientific community, which was available on the web. There was an open platform on which countries could share data and information about the virus. WHO always asked all countries to openly and without delay share the information they had about the virus.
Ms. Chaib stressed that Dr. Tedros and the WHO were fully engaged on combating the virus and saving lives, and were working ceaselessly to coordinate and provide the best possible response to the pandemic. Focus ought to remain on science and take into consideration only scientific evidence. International solidarity and the mobilization of all resources were necessary.
Ms. Chaib confirmed that the United States, with 11 percent of the total funding for the WHO for the ongoing biennium, was the largest single donor of the Organization. The WHO budget for this biennium was currently funded at 81 percent. For the last biennium, some 23 percent of the budget had gone for emergency situations and preparedness, she said. A fact sheet on WHO financial issues had been prepared at the request of the journalists and will be shared with them soon.
COVID-19: funding of the Global Humanitarian Response Plan
Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), informed about the open letter sent out by the humanitarian agencies to the international donor community asking for urgent support for the global emergency supply system. The letter asked support for an initial USD 350 million to enable the World Food Programme to rapidly scale up its logistics common services with transport hubs, vessels and aircrafts for cargo, health workers and other essential staff. The letter also stressed that the USD 2 billion Global Humanitarian Response Plan was currently 30 percent funded; some USD 600 million were currently in the bank. A lot more was expected to be in the pipeline. Mr. Laerke also said that over USD 90 million of that funding was for the World Food Programme’s emergency logistics system. Responding to a question, Mr. Laerke said that donors understood that supporting the global response was both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do, because the virus anywhere was a threat to the whole world.
COVID-19: annual monsoon response in Bangladesh
Andrej Mahecic, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), warned of life-threatening consequences if annual monsoon preparations could not be completed on time in both Bangladesh and Myanmar amid the global outbreak of COVID-19. The coming of the monsoon rains risked worsening the already difficult situation of refugees in Bangladesh and internally displaced people in Myanmar. In Bangladesh, so far there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection among the Rohingya refugee population. Despite that, both host communities and refugees in Cox’s Bazar, with a population density one and a half times higher than New York City, were considered to be among the most at risk globally in this pandemic.
To address the risks of a potential outbreak of coronavirus in the camps, the Government of Bangladesh, together with the UNHCR and partners, had ensured the inclusion of Rohingya refugees in its national response. UNHCR and partners had launched construction of isolation and treatment facilities, with the goal of ensuring the availability of 1,900 beds to serve both refugees and host communities in the District in the coming weeks.
Full briefing note can be found here.
COVID-19: impact on specific economic factors
Rosalind Yarde, for the International Labour Organization (ILO) reminded about a virtual press briefing with five experts, which would take place at 2 pm today, on the ILO’s preliminary assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on specific economic sectors. ILO had carried out a number of analyses on the impact of COVID-19 pandemics on tourism, car, agriculture and food industry, health sector, education, retail and other industries, threatening the livelihoods of millions of workers. The report featured recommendations on how to lessen such impact.
COVID-19: impact statistics
Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said that 36 international agencies had responded positively to UNCTAD’s call to their statistics offices, and at the end of April, UNCTAD would publish a report on the impacts of COVID-19 across the different fields in which those agencies were active.
COVID-19 among UN staff in Geneva
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that as of 20 April, there were 14 confirmed COVID-19 cases among the staff of the UN Secretariat in Geneva.
Floods in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Andrej Mahecic, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), stated that the UNHCR was working with local authorities and partners to immediately assist some 80,000 people affected by heavy floods in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Significant rainfall in South Kivu’s Uvira town and its surroundings between previous Thursday and Saturday, had led to heavy floods hitting densely populated areas of the town and surrounding villages hosting displaced people, including refugees. Floodwaters had damaged more than 15,000 homes. The developing situation would compound the fears of the residents who are bracing to face another enemy on the horizon – the coronavirus pandemic. Initial reports suggested that more than 25 people had died because of the floods and more than 40 had been injured, with fears of many others swept away by the flood waters.
Full statement can be read here.
World Immunization Week
Fadéla Chaib, for the World health Organization (WHO), said that the WHO would publish a press release on 22 April on the subject on the 2020 World Immunization Week, which would last from 24 to 30 April. Vaccines saved lives, and at the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was important that regular immunization services did not stop so that the progress would not be lost. In 2018, some 20 million children had been missing on their vaccinations. Responding to a question, Ms. Chaib said that Latin America was among the most active regions when it came to immunization. The challenge with access to immunizations due to COVID-19 was world-wide.
Geneva announcements
Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), informed about a press briefing on 22 April at 10:30 a.m. on the upcoming eWeek, which would be the first-ever online version of the UNCTAD eCommerce Week (UNCTAD eWeek), and it would take place from 27 April to 1 May, with 14 eventsreplacing the 80 sessions originally planned. The online webinars would cover some of the hotly debated issues, including how to navigate a digital economy, ecommerce and the digital divide in a post COVID-19 world. The programme is available here.
Ms. Huissoud also spoke about a new analysis on debt, with a press conference with Richard Kozul-Wright, Director of the Division on Globalization and Development Strategies, on 23 April at 2 p.m., under embargo until 5 pm GMT on 23 April. The previous week the rich countries had talked a lot on international solidarity but had delivered little in the way of tangible support for developing countries. UNCTAD’s new report was looking at what was on the table for debt, and suggested a series of bold measures as an urgent priority.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that on Friday, 24 April there would be a virtual conversation on multilateralism at the time of COVID-19, from 10:30 to 12:30, which would include several prominent speakers, including the UN Under Secretary-General for the UN75 anniversary and the heads of the United Nations Office at Geneva, the International Labour Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, the International Parliamentary Union, the European Organization for Nuclear Research and the European Broadcasting Union. The event was organized jointly with the Graduate Institute, the University of Geneva and Foraus, and could be watched live at webtv.un.org.
Ms. Vellucci also informed about the first UN75 Update Report, which presented preliminary findings, based on data collected between 1 January and 24 March 2020. Data from 186 countries indicated overwhelming public support for international cooperation. Collected through hundreds of conversations and an online survey, the data was part of the United Nations’ 75th anniversary initiative (#UN75). More information can be found here and the full report is here.
Responding to a question, Fadéla Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the WHO was very keen to hold its governing body meetings planned for this spring, and was currently discussing with the Member States on how to conduct the next World Health Assembly. Concrete questions, such as the exact format and the duration, were now under discussion; it was likely that the WHA would take place in virtual format.
Teleprompter
OK, let's go then.
First of all, let me say hello to everybody.
Thank you very much for joining us for this regular press briefing in Geneva.
I will first of all apologise because there is little change in the programme which has been announced.
Jens Larke from OSHA is with us this wanting to update us on the issue of the COVID.
The funding for the humanitarian appeal are related to the COVID pandemic.
So I will start by giving him the floor straight away.
Yens, you have the floor.
Sandra and good morning, everyone.
Brief update on on that.
Humanitarian agencies yesterday issued an open letter to the donor community asking them to urgently support the global emergency supply system so that we can deliver COVID-19 and other relief as the world's regular transport systems have been shutting down.
The letter asks support for an initial 350 million to enable the World Food Programme to rapidly scale up it's logistics, common services with transport hubs, vessels and aircrafts for cargo, health workers and other essential staff.
The open letter is signed by principals of the interagency Standing Committee that is the world's most senior forum for humanitarian coordination, and signatories include nine heads of United Nations agencies, the Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and representatives of the largest NGO umbrella forums in the world.
The letter stresses that all elements of the 2 billion Global Humanitarian Response Plan, which was launched by the UN Secretary General nearly a month ago, are crucial and need continued funding.
But without these logistics common services, the global response could start to a halt.
This Global Management response plan is as of today of the $2 billion that we are asking funded about 30%.
We have received $600 million in funding, but we know that much more is in the pipeline but not recorded yet.
Over 90 million of that funding of the 600 million is for the WF PS Emergency Logistics System.
We thank the donors so far for their generosity and we again encourage them to report their funding and pledges to the Orchard Managed Financial Tracking Service.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
And I'll give us a few seconds to colleagues who would like to ask you questions about that to our journalists before going to the next speaker.
I don't see any.
Let's wait one more second because in the beginning it's obviously a little bit complicated.
Now I don't see any particular question on that.
But you stay with us in case there are more questions later on.
And it gives me also the opportunity to remind the journalist that we have quite a few colleagues who are on on the line also available to answer your questions.
I think you've received the list, but we can announce them.
Why we go ahead with the briefing.
Let me go to now.
Now to Andrei Mehitic for the refugee agencies.
He will brief us first on a COVID-19 points.
Andrei, you want to start with that.
Yes.
Good morning.
Can you hear me?
Very well, you're on.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen.
We are briefing this morning an update on the situation in Bangladesh.
We are warning today of a life threatening consequences if annual monsoon preparations cannot be completed on time in Bangladesh amid the global outbreak of COVID-19.
As countries around the world fight the pandemic, the coming of the monsoons, rains and cyclones risks worsening of the already difficult situation of refugees in Bangladesh.
In Bangladesh, so far, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection among the Rohingya refugee population.
Despite this, both host communities and refugees in Cox's Bazaar, with a population density 1 1/2 times higher than that of the New York City, are considered to be among the most at risk globally in this pandemic.
The area is also seasonally prone to both landslides and flash flooding.
In 2019, during the heaviest monsoon downpours in September, over 4000 households were temporarily displaced in the camps in Cox's Bazaar and more than 16,000 people affected.
Thanks to mitigation measures that were put in place, the damage was far less than the previous year.
Refugees remain at the centre of preparedness, planning and response through the teams of some 3000 trained volunteers, first responders, leading their own communities and these in these life and these life saving measures.
The annual monsoon preparations, however, have been impacted by the suspension of the Disaster Risk Reduction efforts, including improvements to drainage systems and slope stabilisation work.
Similarly, the relocation of refugees living in areas at **** risk of flooding and landslides have also been delayed.
Delivery of supply of supplies has also been challenging as the COVID-19 related lockdown has impacted Rd transport, while humanitarian operations in the camps have been scaled back to only the most critical activities.
The distribution of tie down kits that reinforce refugee shelters against **** winds continues.
Post disaster kits and emergency relief items have been pre positioned in case of an emergency.
The Emergency preparedness and response teams are also on standby to mobilise and deploy as necessary and permitted to operate in case of extreme weather.
To address the risks of the potential outbreak of coronavirus in the camps, the Government of Bangladesh together with UNHCR and partners has ensured the inclusion of the Rohingya refugees in its national response.
UNHCR and partners have launched construction of isolation and treatment facilities with the goal of ensuring the availability of 1900 beds to serve both refugees and host communities in the district in the coming weeks.
Information sharing has also been expanded through a work of network of more than 2000 community volunteers, religious leaders and humanitarian workers.
While it is vital to prioritise public health related preparations in the camps at this time, cyclone and monsoon preparedness activities must also continue.
Both together will ensure that refugees have safe and sanitary living conditions in an additional potential public health emergency.
To ensure preparedness measures proceed safely, personal protective equipment is desperately needed.
Given the magnitude of the increased demands, the large scale procurement and distribution of PPE is vital to ensure that COVID-19 does not take hold and spread rapidly.
Overall, 2020 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian crisis sought some $877,000,000 to meet the most critical needs before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
To date, the GRP is only 16% funded.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Andrei.
And I will again ask our correspondent if anybody wants to ask a question on this subject.
Let's give them a couple of minutes.
Anybody who would like to ask Andre a question on this briefing, I don't see any request for answer for questions.
So Andre, you had another point you wanted to brief upon.
Yes, we are also facing massive floods in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and we are working with local authorities and partners to immediately assist some 80,000 people affected by heavy floods in the South Kivu province of the DRC of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Significant rainfall in South Kivu's Uvira town and its surroundings between last Thursday and this Saturday lead to heavy floods hitting densely populated areas of the town and surrounding villages that are hosting also displaced people, including refugees.
Floodwaters have damaged more than 15,000 homes, with a full scale assessment under way by authorities and humanitarians.
Reports of more devastation are still coming in from this region, already the hardest hit by years of insecurity and conflict.
The developing situation will compound the fears of the residents who are bracing to face another enemy on the horizon, the coronavirus pandemic.
Initial reports suggest that more than 25 people have died because of the floods and more than 40 injured, with fears of many others swept away by the flood waters.
A health clinic in one of Uvira's poorer neighbourhoods was destroyed and water and sanitation facilities in the overcrowded town are also damaged.
We are rushing initial supplies of relief items to local warehouses in Novita, including badly needed shelter materials to provide immediate shelter, as well as mats, kitchen sets, buckets and mosquito Nets.
We will be providing more shelter kits in the coming days to help alleviate the suffering of some of the people whose names whose homes have been swept away.
And the local and provincial authorities are leading the response with the help of the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that is MONUSCO.
UNHC is concerned over a large number of people left homeless by the flooding and exposed to sickness and disease.
While no cases of COVID-19 have reached Uvira so far, the risk of cholera has heightened as it is endemic to this area.
Local authorities are making land available for suitable location at suitable locations for shelter and our experts are working with partners to build shelters, latrines, water and sanitation facilities to help prevent cholera and seize the opportunity to heighten awareness and preparedness against COVID-19.
We are also identifying individuals and communities who are particularly at risk and may also need psychosocial response.
There are a bit more details also in the briefing note.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Andre.
I will also ask for eventual questions, possible questions on this issue.
And I see Paula has asked for the floor.
Paula Dupraz.
Yeah, Hi, good morning.
I, I just wanted to ask it's, it doesn't have to do with this, but it has to do with Venezuela.
Just just one second.
Let me see if there's any other question on these two issues that Andre has briefed us upon when I don't see any.
So maybe you can ask your question.
Is that for Andre?
Yes, yes it is.
Go ahead then.
Hi, good morning.
So the question is actually well last week I was asking about the return of Venezuelans from Colombia as well as other countries and Colombia has set up a number of so-called humanitarian corridors to the border.
I'm wondering, I was, I was asking last week about whether you may be present on the other side of the border in Venezuela and also whether UNHCR may be facilitating the, the return of these, these Venezuelans into back to their country, Andre.
Very quickly we we have seen the reports, but obviously we are not supporting the returns to Venezuela.
The borders all over South America are closed and your UNHC respects the difficult decisions that states have had to take in to contain the epidemic.
Right now, we we are are not supporting activities that would contribute to the dissemination of the pandemic itself.
In addition, conditions inside Venezuela do not allow for for a large scale dignified returns.
As to the the the situation vis A vis Colombia, we we are obviously part of the regional response in Colombia and across the region.
We have activated critical revision of all operations to prioritise essential protection and life saving actions such as shelter interventions or multi purpose cash interventions transfers and we work with the national authorities on inclusion of refugees and migrants in the national public health and social safety net programmes that are basically being put in place to respond to the COVID, COVID-19 pandemic.
Very good.
Thank you very much.
Andrea, I don't see other requests for the floor for you.
So that's perfect.
We go to the next point.
Also staining on the COVID issue.
Rosalinda has an announcement.
Rosalyn, do you have the floor?
Good morning.
Yeah, this is a reminder of the virtual press briefing that we'll be holding this afternoon at 1400 hours Geneva time on the Ilo's preliminary assessment of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on specific social and economic sectors and industries.
And these assessments covered tourism, agriculture and food security, the automotive industry, textiles, clothing, leather and footwear, maritime, shipping and fishing, Civil Aviation, health services, education, food, retail, public emergency services and public services.
And these briefs, they give the latest data and trends for each sector and it also, they also detail the responses taken in countries and also feature recommendations on how to lessen the impact.
So today, we'll have 5 experts on hand to answer your questions.
And these include the Director of our sectoral Policies department, Elect Van Lew.
So you should have received the media advisory with a link to the briefs as well as the Zoom login details.
So please let me know if you haven't and we'll send them to you.
And we're also aiming to send you a press release summarising the main findings before the start of the press conference.
And Please note that there there's no embargo and if you have any questions, you can contact me on YARD at ilo.orgornewsroom@ilo.org.
Thank you.
Thank you, Rosaline.
And I see that Catherine has a question, I think for you.
Just raise your hand, Catherine.
Good morning, Alessandra.
Good morning, Rosaline.
I have two, I would say remarks.
The first one is having five experts.
Won't it be too difficult for a virtual press conference reference to have 5 experts?
That's number one because we know analysts and who knows that it's already very difficult to to handle it when you have a bunch of journalists and expert speakers.
And the second thing is concerning that press conference, is it going to be a worldwide open conference?
Because Akanu felt very concerned last time that the conference was open for questions for people that were not Geneva based.
Because usually ILO is allowing I would say is giving their press conference live through UNTV.
But usually the the journalists that are not Geneva based are not able to ask question.
Will this time be the same?
OK, I'll answer.
I'll answer the second question first.
So the first one is that no, this is only open to Geneva based journalists.
Great.
Thank you.
OK.
And your first question the.
First one on the experts, Yeah, I mean ideally we would, we would have had a kind of a smaller number of experts.
It's, it's to do with logistics and, and trying to get these briefs out so that we have, you know, as much information as possible across the sectors.
But yes, of course we will try and manage it so that we will get all of your questions to the various experts.
I mean, there may well be sectors that you're less interested in, but we wanted to make sure that that, you know, in case you did have a question for those sectors that somebody was available to answer your questions.
And this give me also the opportunity to tell the journalists that we have been listening to the remarks that were made after the last regular press briefing that lasted if you remember well more than two hours was really very, very long.
So we are trying to divert the possible guests who have very big items to have a separate press briefing.
That's that was the case this morning, for example, with the report from FAO and WFP who image made the object of a separate press briefing and trying to shorten the the regular ones to less speakers in on on more focused issues.
But that doesn't stop me from reminding you that we have a number of colleagues on the line.
We're also happy to answer your question.
I mentioned FAU FAO, sorry.
Adriano Tomos is on the line.
Also Rolando Gomez is here with us until 11 O clock.
Paul Dylan from OI from IOM, Sarah Bell for UNDP, Mariks in Mercado for UNICEF and Elizabeth Beers for WFP.
So in case you want to ask questions, you know that these people are on the line and we're trying to make this briefing shorter.
OK, Thank you very much, Rosalind.
I don't see any other question for you.
Stay with us if you can.
Otherwise, good luck for this afternoon.
My next speaker is Catherine also on COVID-19.
She has an announcement Frank that's Catherine is still if she can be unmuted.
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Katrina, is there any question for Antet?
I don't see any hand raised.
So thank you very much, Katrina.
And before going to to Fidela, I would just like to tell you 2 last things about COVID-19, which are which we have already announced.
Just to remind you that as promised, we keep updating you on the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the staff of the UN Secretariat in Geneva.
As we reported on the 20th of April, we confirmed that there were 14 UN Secretariat staff in Geneva which had been tested positive for COVID-19, 2 of which whom are enacted, 2 at UNAP, one at the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, 1 case for at the Office of Internal Oversight Services, 2 cases at OHCH, R1 case at UNIDIR and five cases at the UN Office at Geneva.
So this is the announcement we give you at the beginning of each week.
And last announcement on the COVID-19.
I would like to remind you we've already sent out, I think, a save the date, but just to remind you that on the occasion of the International Day of Multilateralism and as part of the UN75 Global Initiative of the Secretary General, the Unob is is very pleased to invite you all to join a virtual conversation on multilateralism in the time of COVID-19, which will take place virtually on 24th of April starting at 10:30 until 12/12/30.
This is organised in cooperation with the Graduate Institute of International Development Studies, the University of Geneva, and for Rouse it will be an occasion to discuss the impact of the pandemic on various aspects of multilateralism.
We have a panel of very, very prestigious speakers, including IPU Secretary General Martin Chung Kong, CERN Director General of Fabiola Gianotti I Hello Director General Guy Ryder, UNOCH Director General Tatiana Bolovaya, ITU secretary general Wailing Zhao, EBU director general Noel Curran and Under Secretary general and special advisor.
On preparation for the 75th anniversary, Fabricio auctioned.
This event will be streamed live on webtv.un.org.
You will be able to ask questions through Slido, the online platform, but that means also that we will not have, we will not run live streaming of the press briefing, which will be moderated by Real on web TV dot un.org.
So if you want to connect to the press briefing, you will have to do it on the Zoom platform.
And so that is what we had today for COVID.
Of course, that you, I'm sure you would have questions for Fidela who has another briefing to share with you, but I'm sure you have questions on COVID too.
But before I give up the floor, since we've spoken about the 75th initiative, I would just like to remind you that yesterday the UN75 office has released the preliminary findings from the first batch of data from 186 countries, providing an insight into people's hopes and fears for humanity's future in a time of of the pandemic, with some 95% of those who have responded agreeing on the need for global cooperation to manage global challenges, including COVID.
We have about 760 thousand people who have completed the one minute survey that we keep asking people to to encouraging people to fill and about 330 future focus dialogue, which have been held in 87 countries.
These data have been collected from 1st of January to 24th of March 2020.
We already have an update and Fabricio Auxiliary and the Secretary General for the and Special Advisor for the preparation of the anniversary is available for interviews.
Please let me know if any of you would like to interview him on this and on multilateralism and also COVID issues as he will participate in the event on Friday.
And with that, I don't see any question for me on this.
So I will go to Fidela, who has the last announcement and then she will answer your question.
Fidela, you have the floor now.
So I will make an announcement about the word immunisation week but also happy to answer any question on COVID-19 as much as I can.
If not being with me, I will make sure you have the answers in the course of the day.
Just starting with the word Immunisation Week.
You know that every year WHO and its partner are celebrating the word Immunisation Week.
This year it will be from 24th to 30 April.
It's very important to remind the word that vaccine save lives and it's important that is in in these times of COVID-19, routine immunisation services as are not disturbed too much because there is a risk that the progress made against vaccine preventable diseases like measles, rubella, pertussis, polio are not lost.
Just reminding you that for 2018 we have still 20 million children that are that are missing vaccination worldwide.
These children are usually are mainly from poor settings and from countries with the weak health system.
Tomorrow we will be sending you a press release about this Word Immunisation Week and also what WTO is doing to help countries resume immunisation, routine immunisation programmes and how important is it not to lose the progress made in vaccinating children, especially children under 5.
So you will have this press release tomorrow.
We have also quite a lot of information on the website under Word Immunisation Week that I advise you to to check.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Fidela.
I will now give a chance to.
OK.
I've got a few already listed.
So the first correspondent is Gabriella.
I would like to ask you a question.
Gabriella Sotomayor.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Go ahead.
You're now muted.
Thank you.
Fidela, hi.
Hello, hello.
Do you have plans of immunisation in, in Latin America from this campaign that you're you're mentioning?
And then, yeah, because there's a lot of problems to to for the children to have.
Vaccines in, for example, in Mexico.
Because there are no safe places to go.
You know that they are not COVID related hospitals.
So it's it's kind of a lot of cows in that in that sense.
And then if you have on COVID, if you have any advance on medication against the, the, the virus, I mean, what are the, the update on these medical trials, not on the vaccine, but on.
Medication and that's it.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Gabriella Fidella.
Hi Gabriella.
Yes, in fact one of the most active region of WHO in this world Demonisation week is really Latin America.
Our office in Washington is very active in in during this week and they are doing a lot.
So let me check with our office in Pajo.
I am sure they will be happy to send me some information in relation to Latin America.
What I can tell you it's worldwide programme.
It's not only to the the the problem of Latin America not having access to routine immunisation programmes because of COVID.
As I told you, we have already 20 million children missing immunisation in normal times.
We are just concerned that because of COVID many vaccination programme are disturbed and we we are concerned that maybe the progress made will be lost.
So WTO has made guidance to countries how to resume vaccination programme or how to think in the future to have some catch up campaigns against some disease, disease that are vaccine preventable.
As I told you, measles for example, if you remember last year only we had 6000 deaths in DRC due to measles.
And we have also many other vaccine preventable disease like cholera, polio, rubella, that it's very important not to, to lose all the the progress made in the last decades.
But for Latin America, I'm very confident that I will have for you a lot of information because as I told you, PAHO is one of the most active region of WHO in this regard.
Thank you so much.
OK, for the, for the, I guess you say medication, you mean therapeutic for, for, for, Yeah, for COVID-19.
You know that as part of the response to the outbreak Research and Development Blueprint has been activated to accelerate the development of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutic for coronavirus.
WT is called rating dozens and dozens of working groups.
Every researcher, scientist in the world is looking at finding vaccine or vaccines, but also therapeutics for general use.
As you know, in the interim, we have several therapeutics that are in clinical trials.
I will try to be more precise in the course of the day, but several therapeutics are under clinical trials and and there is an unprecedented worldwide collaboration to to rush to find therapeutics for general use.
In the meantime, who is recommending to, to, to still follow to implement the precautionary measures that can reduce the spread of the virus and protect people.
We, we have also as I said various working groups to accelerate various aspects of of the development of products.
Just for you to know what we have more than 77 zero vaccines in are in development and globally several therapeutics are in clinical trials.
And what is very important that WG is working on that is working with several partners, UN pharmaceuticals manufacturers to make sure that when we find a vaccine or vaccines, when we find a therapeutic or several therapeutics that these products are equitably shared with all people with the all countries regardless of their income or economic situation.
So it is very important and it's one of the W2 Monday to make sure one we have this product to make sure that they are equitably accessible, distributed to everyone that needs them.
Merci boku fidela.
The next question is from Shane CCTV.
OK, Thank you.
So Fidela, this is Shane from China Central Television, CCTV.
My question is about the virus origin because there have been some misinformation and reports from certain media saying that the virus came from Wuhan Institute of Virology.
So from on behalf of WHO, could you clarify that and what do you think of such kind of misinformation?
Thank you.
Fidela.
Yes, yes, yes.
Let me just find my, my, my notes on this.
We, we I have some in maybe information.
Yeah, of course, Shane, we have W2 is combating 2 pandemic.
We have the pandemic with the virus, but we are also combating an emphodemic, and when you have a new virus like this one, it is to be expected that a lot of spurious theories about the origin of the virus be relayed in the media and social media.
What I can tell you is all available evidence suggests the virus has an animal origin and is not a manipulated or constructed virus in a lab or someone else.
It it's most probably has its ecological reservoir in bats.
But how the virus came from bats to human is still to be seen to be discovered.
We don't know how the the species.
I mean, the virus came from bats to humans.
There is certainly an intermediary host and other animal that transmitted the disease from bats to this animal to humans.
We W2 is welcoming all countries to support to find the origin of the virus.
There are several working groups.
I know that the Chinese are very active also trying to find the the the source of this virus.
At this stage we don't know the origin of the virus, As I said, probably from bats to human, but the intermittentary host is still to be seen.
Our collective focus should be on fact not fear.
Part of the emphadenic was the multiplication, as I said of this various theories about the origin.
WTO is a science based organisation and we are joining forces with a lot of experts to find the origin of the virus in Wuhan or in another place.
But it's very important to find the origin of the virus and the source of this virus.
But for now, WHO is, as I said, a science based organisation and we think the origin is animal.
Thank you very much for that very clear next question, Paula.
Yes, hi.
So actually I just would it be possible to share the information on Latin America with the the whole group?
First of all that you yeah.
And and then secondly, just just on the the impact of COVID on vaccination, you did mention the 20 million children that are missing out on vaccination, but do you have any idea as to how many children may now be missing out on the vaccine following the the outbreak of COVID-19?
Fadela.
Yes, yeah.
Thank you, Paula.
Just maybe to come back a little bit to Shane's question, just to remind journalists that 70% of all zoonotic diseases, I mean diseases that that have that can cross from animals to humans are from an animal origin.
So it's very important that there is this link between animal Health and Human health.
And we are working very closely with the International Organisation for Animal Health based in Paris, Huawei and FO to work on the origin and the animal origin of the virus.
Paula, Very.
Good.
Just Fadella.
Sorry, just to clarify, 70 you said 70.
77 zero percent of all you know diseases have an animal origin like plague, like other Ebola, Marburg etcetera.
For your question, Paula, I, I believe we will have some indication in the press release of tomorrow about the impact of COVID, recent impact of COVID on immunisation programme worldwide and happy to share with you everything I will find on PAJO involvement in this word immunisation Week.
Thank you.
Yes, maybe it's your interest to all journalists.
And the next speaker, the next request for question is from John Zaracostas.
John, you have the floor.
Yes, good morning.
Fidela.
I was wondering, firstly, it's a follow up to the question I asked at the briefing on Friday.
I've got no response as of Tuesday morning.
So I'll repeat it and perhaps you might have some talking points.
I'd like to know which WHO Member States have provided COVID virus samples, COVID-19 virus samples to WHO, reference laboratories around the world don't have that information.
And secondly, whether Taiwan is part of the Who's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Response Network or gone.
That's the initial question.
And secondly, with reference to Doctor Tedros's remarks yesterday, very passionate comments in his briefing that The Who is an open institution and it has no secrets.
How does that square up that on the 11th and 12th of February you held a meeting with scientists behind closed doors at The Who and the scientists participating had to sign non disclosure forms?
OK, let's start with the first one.
You want to take that?
On, if I am not mistaken, on the 12th of January, China shared the sequencing of the virus with WHO and with the international scientific community.
It's, it's, it's open, it's on the web.
John, I can send you a link.
I don't have it now in my notes where you can find every country that is sharing the virus with the international community.
That is a kind of platform, an open platform where countries can share data about the virus on this platform in an open manner.
Let me send you the link to this platform and you will see that dozens and dozens and dozens of countries are putting the information they have on the virus on this platform.
Maybe this would be of interest towards the rest.
Of the journal.
If you could share it with everybody maybe.
Yeah, it's a, it's a public domain and W2 was always asking every country to share the information they have about the virus openly, not only the sequencing, but also anything to to do with the behaviour the virus, data on the clinical feature of the virus etcetera.
So we have several platform open accessible to everyone to share what they have.
Your question about Taiwan, let me come back to you in a written form because I would need also to read my notes.
I, I have the answer for you.
The third question, I know that you asked about WH OS, you know that many WH O meetings are open.
The meeting you are referring happened I think in February and we discussed it at that time.
So you are still interested by the answer, John?
So we, we, we did a press conference at the end of the of the meeting to inform you about the outcome.
And I believe at that time I told you it's very important for scientists to speak between themselves as expert to exchange information.
And you were able to follow the press conference at the end and to ask all the questions you wanted to the experts.
And we facilitate, we facilitated a lot the interaction between the media and the expert that were present.
For the yes, I think John has maybe something to add.
John Zaracostas, I'll give you the floor again for a brief follow up.
Hello.
Can you hear me now?
Yes, my question.
Was with reference to virus samples that have been sent to WHO reference.
Can we lose you, John?
We have lost you.
Can you repeat?
Yes, John, can you repeat your question?
We lost you.
Yes, I will repeat it.
My question was to virus samples that have been sent to WHO reference labs by Member States.
OK, understood.
But John, I will come back to you with an answer about the virus sample search with reference lab W2 worldwide.
Thank you very much.
Next question is from Yuki NHK.
Hello Fadera, Regarding WHAI have heard this morning that WHA will be held as virtual, but could you confirm that it will be held as Thank you.
Yeah, thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you for this question.
You know, with the current COVID-19 pandemic and related public health restrictions, it's making it difficult to hold the governing body meeting as scheduled in May, the Assembly and just after that the EB in the traditional format.
And as you know, also several or most or all of the health ministers of health are fully focused on the response to the pandemic in their own countries.
At the same time, W2 is very keen to hold its governing body meetings because it's also a forum, one where we can discuss COVID-19 and other health related issues.
So This is why W2 is discussing with its Member States and also with the EB officers and the WHA officers to discuss how best to conduct the word help assembly.
Most probably they will come up with a decision to hold it online, in which format, for how long?
This also needs to be discussed between the WTO Secretariat, Dr Tedros Member States in a in a consultation with Member States and also the responsible for WHA and the EB.
In due course we will inform you about the decision, but most probably it will be a virtual WHA.
But when it's confirmed, I will let you know.
Thank you very much for that.
And obviously, this is of interest for everybody, so I'm sure you'll inform everybody.
Next question from Jan Eberman.
Yes, good morning.
I have two questions, one for WFP and one for OCHA.
OK, just one second, Ian, if it's for Ochain WFP, I'm I have to check if they are on the line still.
Have you got any question for Fidela anyway?
No, not at the moment.
OK, so let's I ask you to be patient one second.
I'll finish with Fidela and then in the meantime we'll check that WFP and Archer still on the line.
Nina, Nina Larson, you have a question for Fidela?
Yeah, hi.
Thank you for taking my question.
I had one follow up and then a question.
So Fidela, I had a follow up to Shane's question earlier.
I understand that The Who is insisting the origin of the virus is animal, but I know that what the US is actually has said it's investigating is whether a lab in Wuhan.
That works with bats may have inadvertently released the virus.
I was just wondering if that's something The Who thinks is a possibility or if it's been written off and I'll just do my initial my question at the same time since I know it's difficult to come back.
We were.
Wondering about Madagascar because the president there said yesterday that there's a, the country has created a remedy based on the plant Artemisia for COVID-19 that they say has been successfully tested and they're they're going to begin giving it to all the school children in the country.
Just wondering what who knows about the testing of this remedy, if it's seen as safe or efficient.
Thank you.
Hi, Nina.
I know that you asked this question yesterday and we tried to get some more clarity from our office.
So I, I mean the short answer is I don't know.
And I think at this stage, I will let our office in Madagascar come back to us and then from us to you about an answer about this remedy.
As you know, Nina, we, we receive hundreds of emails about remedies and herbal medicines or people who have found a vaccine or a remedy to to COVID-19.
For now, we know that there is no cure for COVID, there is no vaccine, there is no therapeutic that is working.
This is why every scientist in this planet is rushing to, to, to find a remedy to COVID-19 for Madagascar.
Let me check again with our office because here in Geneva we don't have an answer for you on the origin of the of the virus.
Of course, I read all the media reports about it.
As I as I said, there are several experts working on the origin of the of the virus.
We don't know yet the source.
We don't know yet the origin of it.
What we are sure is it's certainly come from an animal origin and there is no manipulation in a lab.
This is the position of W2 as a science evidence based organisation.
It is likely of an animal origin.
Which animal, how it crosses species we still don't know.
This is why it's very important to have investigation going on to find out the origin and the source of this virus.
OK.
Thank you very much.
I have Isabel Sacco, Freddie, Mulongo, Gabriela and John again.
I, no, John is gone.
OK for you, Fidela.
And then I, Jan, I see that Jens and Elizabeth are still on the line.
So if you bear with us, I'll ask the three to ask questions to Fidela and then we will go back to your question for the other two.
So now let's go to Isabel Sacco.
Isabel, you have a question for Fidela.
You're on Isabelle, you are muted.
You can ask your question.
OK, We can't hear Isabelle, but she's connected.
Well.
OK, now let's go to the next one is Freddy.
Bonjour.
Freddy was having question for Fidela.
Bonjour, Alexandra.
Bonjour Fadella.
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Preeme, don't call la Isabel de Nuvola esque on a river Tavoir Isabel on the line.
You are unmuted.
Isabel.
You want to try again to ask your question to Fidela?
Isabel Sacco.
I don't know if you're trying to speak, but you are a muted.
We can't hear you.
Oh.
Or maybe now.
Oh, no, that was Fidela.
OK, so, Isabel, we have a problem.
We can't hear you.
Sorry for that.
Let's go to the next one, Gabriella.
Yes, thank you very much.
I want.
To know if the.
US funding freeze already is already implemented.
If I mean or, when do you expect that or?
If you if you have more.
Details on that and then on the, on the virus, on the origin of the virus.
So all the evidence goes to the to the animals, but it's a Luke Mountaineer, the Nobel Prize, the Nobel Prize winner who discovered AIDS, argues that the virus accidentally escaped from Wuhan's laboratory where they were looking for the AIDS vaccine.
So it could be interesting to to go into one of these theories and try to investigate, no?
Adela.
For yeah, of course I saw the the report of Professor Luke Montanier.
As I told you, it is probable, it's likely that the virus is of animal origin.
This being said, I mean there are several experts working on this issue and we welcome all research on the virus, what we, what we want, in fact, as WHO we want to know what is the origin of this virus like everyone on this Earth.
So for the time being, as a science based organisation, it's probable it's.
Fidela, you may have lost her.
Fidela.
I see you're still.
Oh, no, sorry.
But Fidela, we have lost you for a few seconds.
Can you repeat your last sentence?
We couldn't hear you.
I think she has a connection problem, Fidela.
There is.
I think we've lost her, OK, maybe why we try to recuperate to, to recover the line with Fidela.
Jan, let me come to you.
Gabriella, I'll ask Fidela to re formulate what she was saying as soon as we can get her on the line again.
But can we now go to Jan Heberman who had the question for Jens and for Elizabeth Beers?
Jan, ask your question please.
There are many.
Thanks, Alessandro.
Yes, a question from WFP and a question for OCHA.
The question for WFP would be, are you saying that the number of people facing acute food security will rise by?
Insecurity.
Sorry, insecurity will rise by 130 million as a result of the as a result of COVID-19, the pandemic.
How does this number translate into the overall number of 821 million people suffering from hunger?
Do you want to ask?
This is Yeah, well, it's, it's the number going to rise as well.
This 820, one, 820 million number.
Is this going to rise as as well?
Or is it just a sort of a shift in your different categories?
And the the question to Archer would be you're saying in your briefing notes as of today we have recorded some 600 million U.S.
dollars in funding or 30%.
Does it mean received and pledged or just received the 600 million U.S.
dollars?
And how would you judge from your experience this outcome or this preliminary result after one month after the appeal has been has been launched?
Is it disappointing?
Is it OK or how would you judge it?
Thanks.
OK, so let's start with the first question.
Elizabeth Beers, you're connected.
Go ahead.
OK, Yeah, the the the number of 265 million people in low and middle income countries to be in under civil ******.
It's a projection and.
We have already in 2019, 135 million people already in acute anger.
So this projection shows that more people could fall into severe acute anger or even moderate anger.
That's why we said that we are concerned about the middle class people who might fall into we might become angry because of the COVID.
So actually WFP maintains its food assistance programme for almost 100 million vulnerable people around the world in 50 nine countries.
And we say that this is only a projection, this figure of 265,000,000.
It's, it's coming from this global food crisis report, which is a report from many partners, not only WFP, not only FAO, but many other partners.
And this is to 1 and to alert.
That's why we urgently need the funding to be able to preposition the three month stock food assistance in the countries which are the most at risk, the most affected.
And that's why we also need the badly this funding for the logistic division of WFP in order to move a medical equipment and medical staff to the people most the country most in need.
Thank you very much, Elizabeth, and I'll give the floor now to Yens so that he can answer the second question that Yan asked.
Yeah, hi again and thank you for the question.
Yan, the the 600 million that is recorded is if you like money in the bank.
So This is Money that has been received and can be that we can start spending right now.
So it's not promises, it's money that we have received.
Having said that, I also mentioned that we know that a lot more is in the pipeline.
We're in constant contact with the donors.
They are really stepping up to this to find the money that that we are asking for.
So we are very encouraged by the response and by the messages that that we get from the donors.
It's difficult to compare to, to, to other crises.
This is really a, a unique moment.
I think we can, we can all agree on that.
But our analysis is that donors are, they do understand that this is both the right thing to do, but it's also the smart thing to do.
It's smart because if we do not eradicate COVID everywhere, then it will be a risk to people everywhere, right?
So we need to have a global approach, global solidarity of what we hear all the time to get to grips on this.
So it's very important, of course, that countries around the world, donor countries in any country, take care of their own communities and try to help them.
But it's also important that we support those those countries and and and communities who do not have the same capacity as others.
Again, solidarity is the keyword.
OK, so let's try and see if we can get to Fidel again, if we can retrieve fidela fidella.
Can you?
Yeah.
You're back.
You're back.
OK, so we lost you while you were answering Gabriella's question.
I don't know if you can repeat the last thing you said.
And Gabriella was pressing also saying that in fact she was waiting for their answer on the US funds freeze.
That's where she SMS me.
So I don't know if you can just pick up on where you left for Gabriella.
Yeah.
Can you hear me?
Yes, very well, yeah.
At the request of several journalists, we prepared a very short document about the status of funding of WHO for the current biennium this year and next year.
So we have a budget of two years calculated for two years.
What I can tell you is the US government is the top donor to WHO both in what we call the assessed and voluntary contribution.
At the first quarter of this year, WHO the US government funding represent 11% of WH OS total available funding for this current B&M.
The Who budget for this pianium is overall 81% funded as of end of March.
Every quarter of the year we update the information about WHO budget on The Who portal budget.
So usually it's January, February, February, March, April and in April.
In May, we passed the information about the first quarter.
What I can tell tell you is the W2W2 budget for this BNM is overall funded 81%.
And in this document that we prepared for journalists, we have put the top 20 donors for WHO, as I told you US first position, UK, Gates, European Commission, Germany, Japan, etcetera.
So I'm, I'm happy to share this with the journalists.
We are still assessing the situation about the announcement by President of the US, United States.
And we will assess the situation and we will work with our partners to fill in any gaps because it's very important that we continue what we are doing, not only for COVID, but for many, many, many, many other health programmes, especially for the most vulnerable on polio, on HIV, malaria, TB vaccine, preventable diseases, emergencies, etcetera.
So we are still assessing the situation and we will be working with our partners if there is a need to fill in any gap.
Thank you very much, Fidela.
Yes, that document was asked also at the last briefing.
So thank you very much for sharing it with all the journalists as soon as you can.
I've got the last question from John Zarro Costas and then we'll wrap up.
John.
Yes, Fidela, thank you for the outline on on the budget issue.
I was wondering if it's possible when you return to, to your office to e-mail to us how much of this biennium budget for 2/22/21 funds were earmarked for pandemic preparedness before the COVID outbreak took over at the end of December, sorry, early January 2020?
And how much was allocated in the previous biennium for pandemic preparedness?
And I have a, a, a, a query with reference to my colleagues questions earlier about the Nobel laureate's allegations about the a Wuhan laboratory that is a a biosafety level 4 laboratory.
Has the WH OS regional office been invited by the Chinese authorities to go and see that everything is above board in the Wuhan level 4 biosafety virology lab?
And if the team that visited in mid February, China, if they visited the laboratory being a a world class centre for virology.
Thank you.
Fidela.
Thank you, John for the for the question about the funding, I let me check for the share of funds with the with the emergency.
What I can tell you is for the last biennium 2018-2019, 23% of all funds went through the emergencies, emergencies in pro role that W2 is is dealing with.
23% to 3% of W2 funds for the last biennium went to programmes aimed at responding to health emergencies.
But for the current beginning, I will need to check with our department, budget department for the Yuhan lab.
Let me come back to you if you can send me a question, detailed questions.
I will make sure that you, your question are sent to our office in China.
Thank you.
Thank you, Fidel.
And I never have to say last question because there's always somebody who wakes up and here is Jamie asking for hopefully the last question.
Jamie, you have the floor.
Well, can you hear me?
Yes.
I'm not waking up.
I was paying.
I just, I had a question based on what Fidel had just said in response.
To to Fidela.
Yes.
OK, go ahead, Fidela.
You just mentioned that the biennium is 81% funded.
Does that account for both assessed and voluntary contributions?
Because my understanding is that countries, particularly the United States, voluntary contributions come in over the course of the year.
They're not pre pre baked or pre pre promised.
Yeah, pre announced.
So I just want to make sure what numbers you're talking about when you say that the biennium is 81% funded already.
Thank you.
Fadela.
So let me just check once again, but in my notes, I can see that W2 budget for this BNM is overall 81% funded as of end of March.
Let me check if it is both voluntary and assessed contribution.
This is a good question.
I will.
I will make sure that the information is sent to you, Jamie.
OK.
So are you still there for that?
Yeah, I.
Just OK.
I just wanted to add that I heard our office in Paho will be holding probably a virtual press conference today.
So if I if the information is accurate, I will send you the invitation by our office in Paho.
Maybe some of you will be interested to listen to the virtual press conference, but this is to be checked.
It's the information I got yesterday.
I would need to check if there is a virtual press conference from our PAHO office.
Let them know.
And Jamie, Yeah, you're not waking up.
I know you were following.
So you have now an equal question.
Yes, I just.
Wanted to make sure.
Fedela, can you tell us what the total, if it's 81%, then what was the total budget for the biennium?
I mean, what 81% of what total figure it is?
Let me just check.
It's 4 billion.
So Cat Cat Familiar 4 million 4,800,000,000.
U.S.
dollar you want to repeat this so.
4,817,000,000 U.S.
dollar.
OK.
Cat million with some mil.
Cat million with some diset mil.
OK, I think it's clear for everybody.
Thank you.
Isabel.
I see you have put your hair, your hand up again, but I don't know if we can try again to catch your voice.
You want to try now?
You are a muted.
I don't know what happens Isabel, but we can't hear you.
Sorry for that, John.
You have the last follow up and then I close.
Really.
Thank you, Fidela.
This figure that you mentioned, the 4.8, when you look at the budget presented to Member States, there's another figure added that probably happens or doesn't happen.
You allocate $1 billion for emergencies blanket.
When you add that, doesn't that take it to around 558?
It's, it's possible because usually the budget is without the fund allocated to emergencies.
Exactly the the the document is as you rightly noticed is public.
So and it's the budget that has been decided at the word of the assembly last year.
So it's you can totally take from it, it's accurate and correct.
So the I know there are information about allocation of budget to the different programmes including the emergency programme.
OK.
Thank you very much to everybody.
Thank you, Fidella for this extensive briefing.
This leaves me with a couple of last announcements.
We have a number of international days in the next days.
For example, tomorrow, 22nd of April, the international community celebrates international Mother Earth Day.
We have sent you the remarks of the Secretary General on that, where he says that we must act decisively to protect our planet from both the coronavirus and the existential ****** of climate disruption.
We need to turn the recovery into a real opportunity to do things right for the future.
And he is proposing a six step climate related action to ask all the decision maker of the world the healthy and resilient future for people and planets alike.
And then my last point is that on the 24th of April, the UN Geneva is going to unveil a new website.
This is going to be, I think, a very good new tool for us all, journalists and, and, and us alike.
And for all the visitors of this of the website.
We will send you a note to correspondent about that.
But just to let you know that in the new website there will be a news centre which will highlight the latest developments and multimedia content coming out of Geneva.
And you will have, I think, a much more prominent place for information that should help us all in informing you and you informing the world about what happens in you and Geneva.
The two websites, the new website and the current website will work in parallel for a few weeks.
You will have all the details in the Note 2 correspondent we are going to send you soon.
But just to let you know, this is going to be live on Friday.
We will inaugurated with the event on multilateralism and COVID-19 that I announced to you before.
This is all I had for you today.
I would like to thank everybody for being with us and also for our team and Michaela's team who is so valiantly supporting this virtual press briefing.
Thank you very much and have a nice afternoon.