Thank you very much for joining us at this
press briefing at the UN office at Geneva today.
The first of December, We have another very packed agenda. We have
Gaza on the agenda in Ukraine
and we'll have an announcement from
CTE. Towards the end of this briefing,
we have a number of briefers.
Um, on Gaza, we start off immediately with James Elder of UNICEF,
And then we'll move on to, uh, doctor Richard Peppercorn of WHO, who's also in Gaza.
So we'll start off with James over to you. James.
Hi. Thanks so much. Hi, everyone. Um,
There's a lot of there's a lot of bombardments nearby
Those in power decided that the killing of Children in Gaza would recommence,
if you'll just allow me one minute to
say what I'd prepared before these attacks started.
is what I was going to say. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is so perilous
that anything other than sustained peace and and emergency aid at
a scale will mean catastrophe for the Children of Gaza.
I was then going to speak to the dire
situation in health and nutrition in water and sanitation
disaster of unparalleled magnitude for Children of Gaza,
such as the enormity of need That
and because of the blocks on aid for so, so long here.
And despite huge efforts this last week from WHO UN
the biggest agency from UNICEF, all of the United Nations
yeah, the health, the nutrition sanitation situation.
It has been worsening by the day.
a lasting ceasefire must be implemented.
The alternative is unthinkable for people who are, as a Palestinian,
said to be already living in a nightmare.
at its core is an approval of the killing of Children.
The bombs started just a few seconds after the ceasefire.
Immediately, I went to NASA Hospital. That's why I have this on.
Of course, the Children and women at NASA Hospital do not have these,
uh, as we approach nasa hospital.
Uh, there'd been a hit, Uh, a missile, a rocket, something. I'm not a military person
Important to note that NASA is the largest functioning hospital in Gaza.
OK, now it's at around 200% capacity.
Rob, from WHO will give you, you know, granular and expertise in just a moment.
Children with the wounds of war are everywhere.
Children with the wounds of war are still in corridors.
Hundreds of women and Children take refuge in the air. You walk out of IC U.
There are families, families of five on a mattress. For for two.
This is the place they seek refuge from the cold. As we've learned from Shifa,
nowhere is safe from the attacks
Now I've been going to NASA all NASA Hospital all week. I would go,
to see the brave and tireless Palestinian health workers to talk to them,
Part of what I would do is just play with Children
to try and get that moment to see if I could
ever so gently see a glimpse of childhood return
and it had start started to happen.
Um, fear most certainly now has returned.
So of the wounded As I was there, ambulances came.
People ran with bloody bodies on stretchers.
It is reckless to think, um, more attacks on the people of Gaza
There were four blasts nearby the hospital very close whilst I was there.
There have been many more in the last 30 minutes.
I. I finish by almost an appeal. It's what we've all been doing.
Aid is an appeal and then hoping in the corridors of power those who have influence.
Surely any conversation around Gaza
around the Children of Gaza has to begin with empathy
deeply unsettling to hear how some have been able to overlook the
tragic deaths of thousands and thousands of boys and girls in Gaza
seemingly comfortable with the horrors. The attacks, starting again
to accept the sacrifice of the Children in Gaza is
is humanity giving up? This is our last chance. This is our last chance.
Before we delve into yet again
another entirely avoidable tragedy was not stopped
noone sought to stop. What is a war on Children?
James. Thanks to you. Listen, um
do stay safe. I think we'll go. Right. Uh, if you can stay with us for a few minutes.
James, we're going to take questions immediately for you
so we can relieve you, and you can get to a safe place if if that's ok,
hands, uh, for questions to James. And then we'll continue with the other briefers,
porn, who is also in in Gaza.
Uh, but let's let's take questions, uh, for UNICEF. Uh, James, uh, for the moment.
OK, we have a question for you from Catherine of Frans Van
Thank you, Rolando. Uh, thank you, James, uh, for briefing us. Uh, from there.
Uh, I did catch the briefing a bit late, but I'd like to know if, um,
the the trucks that entered,
uh, was there equipment from UNICEF, and I suppose that it's not enough.
What are the, uh, urgent needs?
Yes, it's been a really good seven days of aid. Um,
it's been the three thing.
There are four things people ask for here,
but let me address the three of them that are aid related
water, food and medicines.
I've been on two convoys with UNICEF, uh, and WFP going north.
I know WHO has has been supplying everything they possibly can and UN R
is, is getting fuel. Fuel, of course, is water.
Fuel is desalination plant, so we know it's the right type of aid.
It's emergency medical kits.
It's kits, uh, for midwives, Cos women are giving birth in this war zone.
It's it's it's nutrients for Children because
obviously there's not nearly enough food.
Katherine that people drink immediately because they simply don't have enough.
It's blankets. It's tents. It's cold.
Families who were sitting in their couches watching television,
Children on on computers on beds are now on a mattress with four or five
people out outside in the cold with everything
they've got and 30,000 people around them.
It's the right type of aid.
and it was never going to be nearly enough in seven days,
such as being the ferocity of these attacks,
such as being the restrictions on aid um, north to south of Gaza.
well aware of what is required,
but for so many reasons, we needed this pause to continue to a ceasefire, obviously,
because we cannot possibly endure more child casualties.
Mothers and fathers cannot.
But also because so much more aid is required. Katherine, to give you a number,
around 500 trucks, commercial and United Nations were coming in
That went to zero on certain days. Now we are back to 100. 200.
So yes, the right types of aid. Not nearly enough.
And of course, now, now we have chaos again.
Thanks very much. We have a question from, uh, Nina a FP in the room here, Nina.
Thank you. And hi, James. Um,
I was wondering if you could say a little bit about what the,
uh what the impact is for kids, uh,
who have had a week of of some respite from from bombing and then to just have
the bombs falling again in terms of the
trauma that you're you're expecting to see here.
Yeah. Thanks, Nina. Unfortunately, that's what I see.
I mean, first hand in NASA hospital again. If you imagine a waiting room, it's now got
And because I've gone every day,
I now know the Children we know each other.
Yeah, teaching kids to juggle, and they're teaching me basic words in Arabic.
And slowly, slowly, as I say,
glimpses of childhood have started to come back.
Children who wouldn't say a word who wouldn't come near me will
now rab and run and grab my arm and we'll we'll we'll play
in an instant this morning at 20 minutes past seven,
that's 20 minutes after the attack started.
you saw Fear return and childhood retreat.
it some some Children would not even look,
were just nestled into their into their mother's chest.
There's a lot of crying. They know the sounds. The
the sounds are very clear,
particularly because there were so many strikes so clear to NASA Hospital.
There's a little girl, Shaima who I ha, I think it's SHA.
I MA who I've been seeing each day
in, uh, in an attack a few weeks ago, Um, on her family home,
she lost her right leg and her right arm.
Now she's barely spoken for weeks. You can imagine
this is a girl who apparently was quite cheeky,
always the one asking too many questions.
She has not spoken in the last couple of days. Um, her sister said.
She's just starting to talk When I saw her, it it's just a
It's a fear and a trauma. And these are Children in hospital with wounds of war.
The Children of the camps will not be terribly different.
you know, go somewhere safe, I.
I was said someone said that to me in an interview at, um NASA Hospital.
It's not a cliche to say Nowhere is safe. There are no bunkers.
The Children in that hospital, as we've known from
The the the aid workers delivering aid somewhere are not safe.
The health workers are not the mum and child
trying to cook some breakfast somewhere over over.
Firewood now are not safe. Where I stand with a glass window, there is not safe.
There is nowhere safe in Gaza under the ferocity of these attacks.
Thanks very much, James. Um,
let's just take maybe one K.
Is that a follow up question that you had? You have No, Your hand is not open. OK?
you You're talking about trauma and these horrific things that you you.
uh, and mothers need to be evacuated and have any been able to be sent to Egypt?
Can you tell us more about the situation? Thank you.
Yes. II, I would have to ask.
And again WHO I defer Defer to them, Uh, on some of these Katherine anecdotally I.
I've seen I've helped carry a child from a
bus who had not received attention for several days.
And whose who, who whose leg was starting to decompose?
most of the Children with amputations are not most some of the Children
with amputations doctors have told me have gone for medical care in Egypt.
There's no doubt that has been happening.
obviously not to the number
I ha. I did my best to get from the Ministry of Health here.
It's around. 1000 Children have had, uh uh, an upper or lower limb or both amputated,
um, these past weeks, around 1000
it's callous to think that we are now to
know that we are now apparently returning to that.
So, yes, Children are being evacuated.
Um, maybe Rob does um, but most Children are very much,
very much in the eye of the storm.
James, if we can stay, we have one more question, uh, for you from Yuri of RIA Novosti.
Yes. Thank you, Rolando. It's just
really quick question. And thank you, James, for being here with us.
Can you send please your notes? Because you told a lot of, uh, powerful things.
And I think it would be great if we can
it as you told it. Thank you.
Yes, of course. And and then I will try to add a link there because I know UNICEF
has a lot of footage, and some of the people I've been
speaking about have been good enough to do photos and videos. So there is.
There is content for broadcasters as well, Of course.
Thank you so much, James. Uh, Katherine, is this, uh, specific for James?
If so, could you keep it short? Because, uh, we II
I I'm sorry. I I'm taking the opportunity to have him there.
Um uh, James, what about the place where you are? Um, regarding narcosis.
We know that they ran out of narcosis.
Um did they get, um, all the
emergency? The most important, um, medicine that they needed in order,
uh, to To to to undergo those amp
amputations And other very,
um, you know, very, uh, grave. Um
uh, operations, um, not only on kids, but adults.
What is the situation? And
we heard that bombing is starting again. What? Do you know where you are?
Will trucks be able to reach the hospital today or the region?
Will there be deliveries today or everything has been stopped.
Yeah. IGO on the medical supplies.
The specifics, I'd I'd refer to the good doctor from WHO who I know is about to speak.
Um, yes. At the start of the BRI we mentioned, Yeah. The attacks have started.
very intensely. They started seconds after the ceasefire ended.
Uh, as I mentioned, there was an attack where I saw very near the hospital and then
several certainly within a hu within 100 metres. That's in the first two hours.
Uh, it's it's been It's been unabated since then.
Thanks for James. Um, can't thank you enough. This is, uh, your Your intervention
from where you are is supremely important for us. Here to get a
better sense of how grave the situation truly is. Um,
of course, if you can stay on, please do. But safety first. Really? Um,
we do have a number of other brief areas, so we have WHO who we're going to turn to now.
We also have Jens and Ravina.
We will speak to the human rights situation, so thank you. Once again, uh, James,
uh, we turn maybe to Margaret to introduce, uh, Richard
Hello, everybody. Uh, yes. We have Doctor Richard
Peppercorn, our representative
in the occupied Palestinian territories,
and I think he's joined with by a couple of our other team
Um, I also want to mention before, but I think we'll turn to them.
So because we never know how long the link will last.
I want to draw your attention to some information about
mortality. Statistics. Uh, I'll talk about those after they've briefed
Yeah. Good morning. Can I go in? Can you hear me?
Yes. We can hear you. Go ahead, Richard.
Yeah. So my name is Doctor Rick Beer.
I'm the WHO representative
of the occupying Palestinian territory. I'm joined here by Doctor
Ahman Dyer, who is the WHO team lead in Gaza,
Holland, which is WHO senior emergency officer.
First of all, I wanna underline everything. What, uh,
what my UNICEF colleague, uh, just mentioned.
And and so I think everywhere in Gaza, unfortunately, it's unsafe. Uh,
violence resumes, and and And we could hear the bomb, Martin, that's very close by,
I want to focus. So I'm not going to repeat everything you say.
I really, uh I really underline and score that.
I wanna say something about the data. So may look at this gruesome data.
And that's the data from two days ago. We talk about over 15,000 fatalities,
I wanna underline Margaret might refer to that later in the lenses.
Uh, last Monday, they did an analysis on that,
and they confirmed the the mortality statistics.
you know, being brought to us by the Ministry of Health.
So if you think about it, you think about that.
The Children over 6, 6200 Children died
and and and over 4000 females
and roughly 4850 males. I'm not even talking about the the more than 36,000 injuries
And I think our artist, what we are really concerned about
is about what we call hospital functionality.
has been crippled by the ongoing
hostilities, and I wanna stress that
it cannot afford to lose any more hospitals or hospital beds.
And we are extremely concerned about the
resumption of violence that might might have damaged
destroyed health facilities, et cetera, as it did in the North.
Because we cannot afford to lose that. Let me give some data.
there are 18 out of 36 hospitals are what we call partially functional,
and some of them are minimum functional.
Uh, the for example, the three in the North. Relatively small hospitals.
We can only say they are very functional.
almost like first aid centres.
Before the war, we talked about 3500 deaths and currently we talk about 1500 deaths.
Now, given the needs and this what this whole,
uh, conflict has brought us, we probably would need 5000 deaths.
including that the functional hospitals, they
they still, yes, a lot of things have happened, but they still lack supplies, fuel,
water and food, et cetera,
And I want to go a little further part of the trauma care, which we, of course,
always initially focus on.
There's a complete need to to restore the primary healthcare functions,
to make sure that reproductive, maternal and child health,
care but also the treatment of
diseases and mental health and psycho social support can start.
when you look at primary health care, 51
out of 72 primary care centres are
and the other ones, they are partly functional.
And I just wanna give you a few, uh, data and um,
and specifically where we are now on the on the on on the south
in the south. And I think it was also described by J that
yeah, with 1.7 million people displaced. There's 12 hospital space for
party function, and they are the backbone of the current system,
extremely overwhelmed, just to mention European Gaza
Hospital. One of the larger hospitals
SC is currently 370 beds, which already included
the so called Covid Field Hospital, which was established a couple of years ago
have received substantial number of transfers from from the north, Shifa
Ali and other places it's currently operating with 900
capacity triple its capacity. 900 patients. Al
200 Death capacity Currently 600 patients National
colleague was reported from 350 deaths now, over 700 patients in extra tents,
for WHL. What we, of course, have been focusing on is actually threefold.
First, to get supplies in, we have had nine.
let's say distributions all over
and initially over the last, uh, number of weeks over the last 67 weeks to the north,
That's why we also assisted with the transfer of patients, uh,
from a number of hospitals in the North to the south,
and my colleagues who may refer to that and speak a little bit, uh, to to
uh, we are busy in organising a more organised medical evacuation.
to make sure. And of course, we we we we reports
as good as possible on the, uh, on what's happening on the grounds, uh,
provided situation, uh, reports including attacks on health care.
Last point I want to raise as part of my briefing.
We are also extremely concerned from disease outbreak
Um um, a massive overcrowding in the shelters,
un rush shelters and all the makeshift shelters
we have seen, Um, acute respiratory infections
of over close to 120,000 cases. Uh
uh, diarrhoea over 85,000, uh, cases and 20 fold higher in.
Let's say, in the months of November what we've seen,
we've seen cases of jaundice which we we have to examine better what exactly,
meningitis. So the whole combination
Again. We cannot afford to lose any more hospital beds,
and we cannot afford any more displacement of people.
It will only increase the
disaster. I wanna ask my colleagues, uh, maybe ro or
ane to come in with a few de details on their recent missions. Uh,
Thanks, sir. If you could.
Uh, gentlemen, if you could introduce yourselves in your in your title, I think, uh,
we have, um, Mr Rob Holland.
Uh, good morning or good afternoon, colleagues.
you know, give a little bit of a bit more detail, uh, to both What, uh,
Rick has outlined in terms of the
the devastation that has been heaped upon
the healthcare sector and and highlighted.
uh, passionately, uh, and, uh, with detail from James this morning,
Hali Hospital, uh, in Gaza City over the last couple of days,
we were up there three times.
This is a a relatively small hospital.
It's not a major receiving, uh, centre for trauma
yet now it finds itself as the only receiving centre for trauma for a large part of,
uh, of, um, Gaza City or north of Wadi Gaza.
Uh, currently, it has 30 beds that, uh, are available.
It has over 100 patients on that, and,
you know, the the only way to describe it. It's like a horror movie
when you walk in there and there are patients on the floor
uh, with the most traumatic injuries that you can imagine.
Essentially battlefield trauma.
Um, uh, you know, the patients are given the best possible care,
but the number of staff available
Many of the staff have fleed with they fled with their families or have been killed.
Uh, the supplies are just not enough.
And there have been major problems of getting supplies to the
north of Wadi Gaza as well, you know.
So when you go in and you know, you're you're You know, as you drive into the hospital,
and bodies deceased who've who've died either on arrival at
the hospital or or during their stay at the hospital,
lined up outside, waiting for family members
to come and identify them.
It is done with the best possible dignity,
but still, the, uh, the bodies are lined up in the car park outside.
As you go into the hospital,
there is no standing room. The floor is just, um, awash with blood.
Um, and patients lying waiting to receive, um, life saving care and the, you know,
the doctors, the nurses, the lab technicians, uh,
the engineers who keep the the machinery running.
Uh, the generator running,
uh, are working essentially 22 hours a day
just to give the most basic level of service.
the the polls. Uh, there was a, um a huge amount of work done by the United Nations,
uh, led by WHO, supported by UNICEF,
Supported by WFP the security teams. UN
want help with the Palestinian Mid Crescent Society to,
um, uh, relocate, uh, or transfer some of the more critically ill patients,
uh, from the hospital to to take some pressure off the beds.
Uh, so that, um you know, more patients could actually be seen and given a better
standard of care in beds.
But at the same time, UNICEF, the World Food Programme.
Uh, UN R A, we delivered an integrated Pakistan.
Not only did we help transfer the patients to the south of Wadi Gaza
into an already overflowing system, as Rick has outlined,
but we were able to put some food, some water,
some medical supplies and some fuel in
You know, I woke up this morning and at, uh,
just after seven o'clock when the bomb started again, my mind turned to the doctors.
I spent the last three or four days with
knowing full well what they will face this morning,
which will be the most horrific scene as casualties, probably in their tens.
If not hundreds turn up at that hospital today
knowing that they will do everything they can
but knowing that it will not be enough.
And so I think, you know, the
The bombs have got to stop. I mean, that's the simple message.
You know, we you know, the the the the healthcare Service is on its knees.
Um, it's struggling to cope.
Uh, it will continue to struggle to cope. No matter what we do here.
Now, it will continue to struggle to cope.
Uh, and the situation will only get worse on a daily basis.
Rick has clearly out O outlined.
You know, the big capacity situation,
the vulnerability of the healthcare system in in south of Wadi Gaza.
you know, that's only gonna get worse every day that the bombs fall.
Uh, and our ability to be able to provide a level of support that we need,
um, is is getting further and further stretched on a daily basis as the supplies
Uh, and the and the access that we have is is fragile, uh, and compromised at best.
Thank you very much. Uh, just, uh, to inform everyone.
That's doctor Mr Rob Holden, who's WHO senior emergency coordinator.
I think we'll we'll go just to take questions from WHO before we turn to yans. Just to
go into that before before we do. So, though, I just wanted to, uh, recite, uh, post
that the Secretary General just posted on X.
Uh, Antonio Guterres said, um, in terms of the resumption of of of bombing, he says,
I deeply regret that military operations
have started again in Gaza.
I still hope that it will be possible to renew the pause that was established
to return the return to hostilities only shows how important it is
to have a true humanitarian ceasefire. That's the Secretary General
in a post on X just moments ago.
Questions for WHO. We have Yuri a pale
of Rio Novosti over to you.
Yes, thank you, Rolando. I have questions about Gaza and a question.
What is not about Gaza? Can I ask all or I just can.
Let's let's stay on the subject of Gaza for
the moment before we turn to another subject.
So my first question Are there still amputations and births
without anaesthesia or this practise is no longer prevalent.
And my second question is, have you got discussions with Israel to guarantee
that the hospitals and the medicine will not
be targeted when the military operations will restart?
OK, who wants to take that? Um,
So on the on your first question,
let's say WHO and artist we brought supplies in.
So I think at at the moment, uh, minimum level of, uh, health services, uh,
is definitely, uh, being implemented.
I I would expect and hope that this kind of situation,
like the lack of anaesthesia WHO brought in anaesthesia drugs
and and to make sure that that
that well, it can function in a better way
on your your Your second point was on the, um
if you can repeat that Yuri, I missed it myself. Go ahead.
During this humanitarian polls that we had,
did you speak with Israeli authorities to guarantee that
hospitals will not be targeted one more time?
As it was the case before the humanitarian polls? I'm thinking about Al
hospitals and and and And everything was not targeted
And I think, of course, we've raised this and we've been raising this in all for
now the hostilities. Unfortunately, the violence as
the whole system, as we I think all of us have described
is on the knees. It's cripples.
what I would say, poorly functioning health system
under capacitated. Overwhelmed.
few hospitals, four hospitals. Uh, what I
would say barely barely functional in the north.
And what we, of course, as WHO stress
this health system needs to be maintained
and needs to be expanded.
So we are incredibly concerned about the vulnerability
So we cannot afford that this health system, any hospital get damaged or worse,
would become dysfunctional.
the current system catering for 1500 hospital beds. We need to expand it.
We need to expand it to 2000 deaths. We want to expand to 2.5 1000 to 3000. That's why
maybe there's a little bit of Guti.
That's why some of the the emergency medical teams,
they are linked to certain to these to these hospitals,
and they will help to expand the bad capacity of these hospitals and
they work in close co-ordination.
So we need to rapidly expand the what we call the emergency medical teams
and and and make sure they're coordinating.
And that we go from 1500 that 2002.5 1000 back to 3000 and and
another thing that we really have to get going at the moment,
a lot of the medical referrals have been brought up a
uh well, the the the 31 DNA S, for example,
and other other, uh, patients.
We know that in in in Gaza, but
first of all there's, there's,
there's critical injured patient with multiple multiple traumas, uh,
and spinal injuries, et cetera, et cetera, which
So we need to get a system to build up, uh, in into Egypt and what we also know.
I mean, the WHO working here for decades. That's That's, um
before the war, any given day,
50 to 100 patients would be referred to East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
we actually 40% of them related to oncology,
Uh, for example, that needs to be restored as well.
Uh, currently the WHO we we also working together with, uh, the UAE to help.
evacuation of Children, specifically oncology oncology
But that first and foremost,
they need to get to Egypt. So we need a system
the violence has resumed,
and it's it's it's even impossible for us to carry out any mission.
actually discuss and help to coordinate the
American medical team to go outside
me. Coming here, arriving here yesterday night.
and I want to meet my staff and to to discuss and see how how are they?
How can we better support them, et cetera.
Half of them are still fully operational, uh, for the HL
in in in this incredible averse circumstances.
as has been said before, also, by my UNICEF code link, et cetera,
this has to stop bombardment.
Needs to stop et cetera. We need to get back to, uh, to a cease fire.
cetera, to assist the system
to assist a a crippling, uh, health system, which is still
operational to a certain level
Thanks very much. Rick. Um, I think we had a question in the room.
No. OK, yes. Uh, Gabrielle of Reuters. Go ahead.
We'll come back to you, Yuri. In a minute.
Just we'll take a question from you know, Gabrielle.
Peppercorn, you've pointed to a lot of elements of this, but I I'm just wondering. Um
you know how Whether the the six hospitals that are currently operating in Gaza
in actually any shape to handle the uptake of the wounded right now.
I mean, we had the descriptions from Mr Holden.
if you could sum it up and and is there any
way that they can handle anything that's coming their way?
Well, I actually, um I said to you, there were 36 hospitals in Gaza,
is what we call. They are functional. But I would say
all of them are partially functional and and four are barely functional,
Barely functional out of four in the in the north.
in the south? Definitely.
I mean, like in those hospitals that they are functioning,
including including for trauma related cases, et cetera.
But they are completely overwhelmed. And I just mentioned some.
I gave you some some details. That, for example, the European Gaza
which is actually the largest hospital is at
the moment, has more than 900 patients. And and the medicine is 370.
two of the patients, they have 600 et cetera.
They have 350 beds. They have more than seven other patients.
There are patients in the corridors,
and and my colleagues can describe that Maybe Ahmed's, uh, uh, Doctor
Ahmed wants to describe a little bit on their visits to these hospitals and
and discussing with the medical teams, et cetera, So
additional beds and inpatient beds are needed.
And And that's why, for example, in in when we had covid,
we established some of those, uh uh, additional, uh, hospital beds
and and and and tent hospitals et cetera.
Now the That's why this emergency medical teams are important
that they help to expand a number of deaths, and they relieve
I would like to hand out to to Doctor
We can describe a little bit better the situation in
the hospitals because he can visit them very regularly.
I, I just arrived yesterday, uh,
thanks. Uh, and, uh, good morning, colleagues. Um,
So, um, I've been visiting with my colleagues, uh, Rob, uh, for the last, uh,
weeks and and this uh, the the the the hospitals.
I appreciated those, um, which are in in below of
So we have three main, um, tertiary hospitals in, in, in, in, in, in the south.
Nasir, uh, medical, uh, complex. Which, uh, the actual capacity is 350
but due to the influx of of patients, um,
which we received is is from the medical staff.
Now, they have 700 patients admitted Right now.
Um, and then the second is al
uh, which the actual capacity is 200 beds. And and And currently,
uh, the hospitals has, uh, 600 patients.
The third, uh, main hospitals. It's It's the
Raza hospitals, which the actual capacity is 370.
Its, um and and the the the the the admitted patients Uh,
um up to up to yesterday are are 900.
So when you go and see this
hospitals, they are filled with patients and and and patients are everywhere.
It's it's it's it's it's I would I would I
would I would describe it as as as catastrophic and and
very difficult for the medical staff to to to
to manage such huge number of of patients.
Uh, you will find patients on the floor.
it is very difficult for the for the medical
staff even to charge them and even to provide
the quality care which, uh which, uh, which they which, uh, they, uh, they,
uh they deserve So So So the situation is really in in, in, in, in dire way.
And And we are currently,
Um, uh, just to see how how we could expand, um, these hospitals bring more,
the the the actual, uh, figures, uh, which, um, we are we are discussing. It is we?
We required more than 707 100 additional bed, uh,
just to just just to start, you know, like, uh,
taking some some influx of of the of patients from from from these, uh, hospitals.
So we are working very hard, but it's it's really really, really very, very,
very challenging and and, uh, in in in a complex, uh, emergency,
Thank you very much. Uh, just for the record. That's Doctor
OS. Team leader in in Gaza.
We have a question from Nina of a FP.
Yes, Uh, thank you for taking my question. I,
uh I'm sorry the sun wasn't, uh wasn't great.
So I'm not sure you may have already addressed this, but I was wondering on the, uh,
the need for transfers outside of Gaza
if there are any agreements or if you how hopeful you are, uh,
to be able to to transfer the patients that
actually need to get out for oncology reasons,
or or or also for trauma.
I think it's, um it's a good question.
It's It's definitely part of the of the WHO operational plan, which is actually
four areas first. And we need to get to to
to strengthen and make sure the existing system becomes operational there,
expand the number of deaths,
including with, uh, emergency medical teams, et cetera. And if you strategically
locate it, uh, field hospitals.
The second one, of course, is outbreak everything rate outbreak response.
The third one is a consistent
uh, and further discoordination.
Uh, I mentioned like you have seen, I think, over the past
couple of weeks. Where do
Uh, assisted in in in the
in the transfer of, uh, patients first
from the north to the south to save the place, including,
uh, this 31 DNA, which were then evacuated almost all of them 28 to Egypt.
Now, we we have seen an an an
a number of patients being referred into Egypt as well.
So we, of course SWHO have raised
this as well. With the hospitals and hospital directors here.
The technical people from the Ministry of Health, Uh, including
with, uh, with with with Israeli authorities that we need a
for referral of patients. We need an organised, uh, system.
so we have definitely a plan for For that?
Those are negotiations, actually, since the since the
And I said bilateral discussion with with the various, uh, authorities,
regional office and country office who actually
worked very closely together with the,
uh, Egyptian Red Crescent
and the Ministry of Health and and from the Egyptian site.
There's a principle of 15,000 deaths available,
uh, ambulances available to to transfer for the patients.
I know that a number of third countries have offered also their service.
As for referral from Egypt, that should, of course, be discussed
with, um, Egyptian authorities. And that
first thing, what we get needs to have that
the the top priority patients
the one most in need for referral.
And we do not only talk about, uh, uh, complex trauma, uh,
patient birds, et cetera, but also,
uh, when I said that the the cancer patients will need to be,
yes, the process is ongoing.
Uh, very Russian co ordination with with, I think,
our great partner at the Palestinian Redes
a big partner in this in this process. But before that
We also need to save passengers need to be able to be done,
and and we would really look into this that over the next month
that hundreds of patients
and their families and companions can be referred
to Egypt or maybe from Egypt to other
and they will indeed get the the care they
Thanks, Rick. OK, if you could stay with me, we have one last question from John Zara.
Uh, thank you. I would like, uh, if it's possible, Doctor plen
and your staff if you bring us up to date, give us an idea. What is the situation
with mental hair care and psychosocial support? Especially for Children
that have, uh, lived, uh, a horror for now, seven weeks.
And what are the shortfalls in the needs?
And secondly, if it's possible, I don't know if I came a bit late in this briefing.
I had asked the other day if you have any information on
a number of Children who've had their limbs amputated due to,
OK, let me first your last question on on on on.
How many Children have a live
ad? We do. We don't have that over you.
I mean, like, specifically at the injuries.
And and we will look into that to get better data on on on all what type of injuries?
Uh, on your first point on mental health and psychosocial support,
I wanna actually start it from a different
I want to stress this again.
Gaza, West bank, East Jerusalem. OPT
produced health indicators which were at par
with the neighbouring countries.
So people always think, Oh, health system was very poor and very bad.
I mean, if you look, for example, on child vaccination. I mean,
that was fine because it was one of the best figures in the whole region.
Actually, in the world, close to 100% child. Uh, vaccination.
now, when it comes to, of course, there were areas concerned
before specifically the areas of
non colonal diseases, et cetera, and
mental health, psychosocial support.
We were already talking about close to 5000 patients, uh, 5000
and and and related to mental health, psychosocial support in Gaza,
uh, mental health hospital
is dysfunctional, is close.
So that's another serious issue.
haven't gone to to multiple escalations war.
probably the most horrific one
Of course, it's a huge impact, so it always has a
number of mental health psychosocial support issues in
both in Gaza and West by Israel Islam.
uh, that sparsely increased because of the
the war and the and those hostilities. And we see this everywhere.
I think it was reflected by my own excuses for colleagues and Children.
Also by by by adolescents that women men, I mean families, et cetera,
that very close to us, my own staff.
they are all deeply affected.
And then you cannot just say, Oh, that is a mental health issue. No,
but people, of course, are tremendously affected.
And I said people who lost family members, they lost their neighbours.
they see the house was destroyed. They had to be evacuated. Uh uh.
They were relocated. Their I DS et cetera. I mean, like, and
as I said, I mean, like, including very close to us. Uh, in in in my own style
29 year old, uh, professional, which, uh,
was killed, including her baby boy,
and and almost 50 people from extended families
who were actually living in that house.
Only survived by father and mother.
I mean, like, can you imagine what kind of impact it has on anyone?
So, yeah, mental health cycle, social support? Definitely. And if
if the conflict would stop and we can resume activities,
it will be a huge component, I think for for all for Children, adolescents,
women, men, families, et cetera.
And I want to say there's some actually
some excellence that Palestinian NGO S who are working
who worked in this area, and we want to get them going as quickly as possible,
whether it's feasible but
to to to ensure it's feasible. We, of course, need a cease fire, a
and a ceasefire with progresses to
thanks so very much Rick. Of course.
And we express our condolences to the WHO family for your losses.
And, uh, I should note John that James did
discuss the issue of Children.
Uh, when speaking to us earlier at this briefing as well as amputees and
painting a very, very grim picture as,
um as we just heard from our colleagues at WHO
who I thank very much for joining us again.
Uh, gentlemen, and thanks again, Um, I'm going to now turn to Margaret,
who has got an announcement from here.
I didn't want to do it before because I wanted to make
sure that my colleagues could finish and get to a safe place.
we just wanted to draw your attention to an
important paper that was published in The Lancet.
It was an analysis conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
But the reason we consider it important is because they
analysed a list of 7028 people reported dead released by the
Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Because, as you will recall, there was a lot of questioning of those statistics,
Um, a couple of weeks ago,
and they concluded that the assessments of the Palestinian
Ministry of Health data validity in the 2014 in the conflict. Sorry, not 2014
in the conflict had shown them to be accurate.
We saw no obvious reason to doubt the validity of the data.
And in fact, they said, it's plausible that the current,
data actually under reports mortality because the direct
effects of the war on the data,
the ability to capture the data and reporting, for example by
missing people whose bodies could not be recovered,
for instance are still under the rubble, rubble
or or could not be brought to the morgues.
And we're seeing this more and more with the disruption of the hospital system.
The people who are dying are not dying necessarily
in hospital or not being brought to hospital.
and the disruption of reporting it's the Ministry
of Health is is struggling now to report.
now, uh, the data we're probably getting is more likely to be
but it's very important to raise that paper,
and I'll send you the link so you can look at it
much appreciated. Margaret,
we'll turn out to Jens, uh, via
who's got a statement to read out.
these testimonies from from Gaza
on this devastating morning, after
just one week of respite, fighting has
Hell on earth has returned to Gaza.
I want to reiterate what our humanitarian co ordinator, Lynne Hastings,
just tweeted a short while ago,
she said. Today, Children, women and men in Gaza and Israel woke up to war again.
Parties to this conflict must protect civilians and provide access to
humanitarian actors to deliver across Gaza and according to needs.
As per international humanitarian law,
humanitarian aid must continue unconditionally.
Hostages must be released unconditionally.
The UN will continue to stay and deliver food, water,
medical and other critical supplies
that yesterday the 30 November, as in previous days,
significantly larger convoys than prior to the port entered Gaza from Egypt.
Carrying a variety of humanitarian supplies, fuel and cooking gas.
These convoys also reached areas north of
which prior to the pause, had received almost no supplies.
thousands of metric tonnes
of food, blankets and mattresses, bottled water, medical supplies and fuel
shelters, hospitals and warehouses in the north. This is a lifeline.
About 88% of this assistance, important to say, was delivered by
the Palestine Red Crescent
Society in co ordination and facilitation of the United Nations
With the resumption of war,
of course, we fear that the continuation of this is now in doubt.
leans I couldn't, um and of course, we echo that very much need for a pause.
I think, um, we have a question.
I don't know if it's for you or for Margaret from John Zar
uh, maybe let's find out. Go ahead, John.
Yes. Uh, good morning, Jens. Um,
it's related to the aid. Uh,
I was wondering, uh, if you
data on how much of the I think If I recall, rightly, it was 1.2 billion
slash appeal for three months
for this emergency. How much? Uh, funds have been, uh,
provided by, uh, donor countries.
And if I recall rightly, Margaret, I think the ask for the WHO.
Was around of this appeal was around 200 million
just to have a perspective.
Uh, if, uh, you're getting the funds to have this, uh, pipeline continuing.
Indeed, the revised flash appeal for Gaza and the West Bank
is, as of this morning, 29% funded, which means that it has received $353 million.
You know, I note your question there,
but perhaps let's just hear from Ravina of the office of the
High Commission for Human Rights and then we'll take a few more questions
overall. Uh, Ravina, please.
I must echo loud and clear what our colleagues in Gaza have just stressed.
The bombs have got to stop
again. Civilians are living a nightmare again.
We are receiving reports of bombings in northern Gaza and Middle Gaza.
Reports of leaflets being dropped on Khan Yunis telling civilians to flee
to evacuate. But nowhere is safe
You've just received a statement from the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights that I'll read out Now
The resumption of hostilities in Gaza is catastrophic.
We urge all parties and states with influence over them to redouble
efforts immediately to ensure a ceasefire
on humanitarian and human rights grounds.
Recent comments by Israeli political and military leaders
indicating that they are planning to expand and intensify
the military offensive are very troubling.
Since the seventh of October,
thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Gaza,
according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza,
more now face the same fate.
Others risk being forcibly displaced to already
severely overcrowded and unsanitary parts of Gaza.
The situation is beyond crisis point.
Under international humanitarian law, Israel, as the occupying power,
is required to ensure that the basic needs of the population in Gaza, such as food,
water and medical care are met.
We remind all parties of their obligation
to ensure to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage
of humanitarian relief for civilians in need throughout Gaza.
The way forward must be through an immediate end to the violence,
the prompt and unconditional release of all remaining hostages,
the cessation of firing of indiscriminate rockets and use of
explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas,
humanitarian aid commensurate to the immense need
and rapid unimpeded access,
an end to practises of arbitrary detention by Israel,
and concrete steps to avert further disaster founded on full respect
and protection of the human rights of Palestinians and Israelis.
Thank you very much, Ravina. OK, I think we'll go back to Nina for a question.
Yes. Thank you. Uh, my question was, uh, first for yens.
I was wondering if, uh, you have an overview of how much, uh,
aid made it in during the pause.
Uh, and how much aid is, uh, perhaps still waiting
by the the border crossings. Um, waiting to go in. Um,
and any indication, um, from your discussions, if aid will actually go through.
I mean, there was aid going through prior to the pause.
So do you have any word from the Israelis on that?
Uh, on whether aid will be allowed in. Thank you.
Um Thanks, Nina. We have an update that we
shared with you overnight, and I'm happy to send it to you again.
An update on how many metric to
went in of various commodities.
So I will not read all those numbers out here, but refers to that,
but I can pull it out as well and share with you
and and about the amounts that might be waiting on the other side
of the border and our agreements to let some of that through.
Peppercorn has wants to chime in on this point. I think. Go ahead, Rick.
Now I want to comment on one other thing before actually we leave.
That's actually on the the question, which was racial, mental health.
much as we want to be as correct as possible on the figures. And
when you look at, uh, the
mental health factors in in Gaza Uh, so before the war, we were talking about
over 485,000, uh, people with, uh, with mental health disorders
and that seems like a high number.
You know, when you talk about
population of 2.2 and it's a reflection, it's a reflection, which you see,
what? Gaza have gone through over
over decades now, many years.
so it makes it even worse that the only mental health hospital actually
And then, indeed, of course, this, uh,
this current conflict current crisis, I should call it
which, of course, will have a huge detrimental effects, Uh, on mental health,
psychosocial support, which we'll be needing,
and and that on all levels.
So we already been talking on a relatively high level, and it was I wanna stress
that was one of the areas of concern
It's one of the areas, uh, together with it's with some of the noncom
And and let me tell you that, and we finish up with
some of the figures on long term conditions in Gaza.
over 2000 people diagnosed with cancer,
including one of the 22 Children. And this was what I said and
referred. They need to get the care.
We talk about over 225,000 people with high blood pressure,
over 1000 patients in need of kidney dialysis to maintain life,
over 60,000 patients with diabetes
drugs and 45,000 patients with cardiovascular disease and last but not least,
Over 485,000 people with a
mental health disorders Uh,
and I think we often forget this group what we call noncom
diseases and mental health cycle, mental health
and and critically important. So I thought that questions were really important.
And this is one of the areas we
we all will have to be working on that hopefully very soon
in a better environment and without, uh, ongoing violence. So over to you.
And I wanna just make sure that I got the figures right before I check out.
Great. Thanks very much, Rick. That's That's, uh, very clear.
I appreciate, uh, that, uh, that addition
do we have, uh, further questions for any of our briefers? Ok, Nina, go ahead. A FP
Sorry. Yeah, I meant also to ask a question of Ravina. Um,
I was wondering if there's been any progress.
I know that, um uh, the High Commissioner has asked for access, um,
to both to Israel and to to Gaza.
Um, has he received any response? And I?
I wonder if this resumption in, uh, in hostilities may
increase the urgency urgency of that. Thank you.
Now, unfortunately, Nina,
we have not yet received a response to the High Commissioner's
request for access to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.
And you're absolutely right.
This resumption of hostilities makes it even more
important that we are on the ground.
There is so much information circulating around the
what happened on the 7th and 8 October.
um, there's a real need for independent verification,
a real need for objective verification and analysis of the information on
the ground also to combat the the disinformation that is being spread.
So we again reiterate, uh,
how crucial it is for human rights officers to have access.
Um, And for the high Commissioner to also be granted access.
Yes, indeed. OK, thank you very much. Rovina for that. Uh, we have a quote, Mustafa.
my question for ah, Ravina or ah maybe.
Ah. Also can answer Ah, if you prefer. Ah, Israel had ah previously declared the
south part of Gaza Ah, as a safe zone and ah forced ah,
many Palestinian people to move there.
but now Israel preparing to attack
declared the largest settlement, which is? Ah Khan. Ah ah!
will bring a greater disaster for the region. Thank you,
I could start and then perhaps Jens might want to come in on the safe zones.
Let's be clear. Nowhere in Gaza is safe.
As I mentioned, there have been leaflets dropped in
Kunis asking civilians to evacuate. Where will they evacuate? Nowhere is safe.
The south is being bombed. Middle Gaza is being bombed.
It's also very important to note that under international humanitarian law,
Israel has an obligation to respect the principles of distinction,
and precaution and attack, and to ensure the protection of civilians.
Warning them to leave a particular area or to move to another area does
not absolve them of the responsibility to ensure for the protection of civilians.
They still need to comply
by the principles of international humanitarian law.
And even if there are reports or allegations that
other armed actors that Palestinian armed groups are locating
military objectives in certain facilities,
it still does not absolve the other
side of their responsibility to protect civilians
You'll have seen the statement of 16
November by the Inter agency Standing Committee,
which the heads of the United Nations
agencies working in humanitarian affairs,
where they stated very clearly as humanitarian leaders.
We will not participate in the establishment of any safe
zone in Gaza that is not set up without the agreement
of all the parties and unless fundamental conditions are in
place to ensure safety and other essential needs are met,
and that a mechanism is in place to supervise its implementation.
Great. Thanks very much. Jens,
Do we have further questions on Gaza for any of our briefers?
I don't see. That's the case.
Yes. Go ahead, Margaret. Just to add to John, John asked for who's
ask as well for our operational response plan, which goes from October
Our ask is US 110 million. Uh, we've it's we've still got a 92% funding gap, but
my team tells me that in fact, so we so far we have received 12.5 million.
But there is a lot more in the pipeline and
we are expecting to sign agreements for considerably more.
that's the situation right now we have, uh, 50 million in the pipeline, apparently
Thank you very much. Margaret. Of course. Uh, colleagues, We continue to update you
as soon as we get fresh information.
Uh, don't hesitate to reach out to us as well. So thank you all
for briefing us here and in Gaza.
We'll turn now to our colleagues at the UN refugee agency. We have Shabaa
online. Who's going to introduce a colleague, Philippe
waiting patiently in the cold Kiev as snow falls, Um, shaa
Thank you. And, um Good morning, everyone.
Um, I do have the honour of introducing you to our UN HC I UN refugee agency, uh,
bureau director for Europe Uh, Philippe Lele,
who is in Ukraine and who has been there,
Um, given the humanitarian situation in the country, um,
so Philip is actually briefing, um, outside, uh, in the cold today.
So thanks, uh, for Philippe's patience,
but on, uh, the humanitarian needs, especially as a winter,
Um, given the onset of winter rather so over to Philippe. Thanks.
I have all the patience necessary with and the
empathy that we share with the situation in Gaza.
Of course. I'm in Ukraine
yanka 50 kilometres away from Kiev,
a place which saw a very heavy fighting and see
still the consequences of that fighting in March 2022.
A sense of normalcy is slowly getting back to this area
with a lot of repairs taking place around this place.
5000 houses and apartments who have been supported with
shelter and enable people to return to their houses,
mostly people who are displaced to other parts of Ukraine.
I started my journey to Ukraine Sunday last
week in the middle of a snowstorm in Odessa
meeting people who have been benefiting from shelter support, enabling them,
including in places like Viso
to get back to places which were occupied
by the Russian armed forces for seven months.
And thanks to the support women that I saw have their houses
back at least parts of their houses so that they can live again
and be home again. And I'm
pleasantly surprised and shocked by
the willingness and the determination of people to go back to their homes,
often close to still the front lines in front lines in Kan
City. So what is important right now? As you see,
to make sure that vulnerable people have the place
in their homes to live and to be warm
and to. And this is why we have begun our winter programmes.
Of course, we are targeting 900,000 people who should benefit from
winter assistance. 460,000
of them are already receiving cash assistance so that they
can prepare by themselves for the winter through clothes,
through energy bills that they have to pay.
And all this sense of normalcy and bringing people
to lead their lives is extremely important in Odessa,
I have also seen some huge
a humanitarian hub of serving more than 500 families, which is led by
communities of IDPs, including Tatars from Crimea, for example,
are there with their communities and who leading the response,
The solidarity response with the support that UNHCR,
our partners and other UN agencies can provide
always with the leadership of the government of
the various ministries and the governors that were accompanying
to together and of course, under their leadership,
support and identify the most vulnerable families so
that they can be supported through the winter.
It is also important that we continue providing legal support.
It may sound as something not as important
in the circumstances where a war is still taking place,
but access to documentation access to legal aid,
which will enable people to be compensated for the loss of
property or to have access to services is also key.
In addition of course, to the multi
service centres that we are supporting throughout the provinces so that
individual cash assistance
be provided to the most vulnerable psychosocial support.
as well as we see more and more the
consequences of the ongoing war on Children on elderly,
even in the context of more increased gender based violence,
in as a consequence of the prolonged war that is
taking place almost two years after the 24th February 2022.
So it is essential for me as new director of
the regional bureau for Europe to make sure that the
UNHCR is on the track is advocating for the necessary funds to be provided to
enable people to go back home
A to for them to be to stay in the homes where they want to stay.
And we have seen both internally displaced people going back to,
you know, front line zones as well as some refugees also returning from various
It is estimated that up to 900,000 refugees have been going back and
forth and for some of them returning in particular to the centre west
and of the country. So again, at this time, the our appeal, our joint
UN appeal will be launched most probably end of January or beginning of February.
It is important to sustain that relief effort in
a country still very much affected by war,
in particular in the various
oblast that I visited just last well this week
And you see, just behind me, I have seen while waiting girls in the middle of of this,
uh, devastated area uh, playing and, uh, with the snow.
So there is a very strange mix of
normalcy, but one should not be
a one should always be ready to know that missiles can fall,
that attacks can take place.
Even in Kiev this morning,
we were in the bunker because of the possibility of missile attacks.
So it's a very strange feeling to be in Ukraine with this mixed mixed situations
Also in the front line areas as well as in the region of Kiev.
So I'll stop here for if you have,
uh, questions for for me here in near Kiev.
Thank you very much. Uh, Mr Le Clerc. Um, much appreciated.
We do have a question for you from Antonio Broto
because I don't hear you.
I hope you can hear me. I
One moment. Antonio, I just want to make sure that Mr Le
Clerc can hear you. Could you hear
you can give us a few more details about this
last figure that you told us 900,000 refugees coming back?
In which period, Uh, this has happened,
uh, from which countries are they coming in?
And, uh, is still many, uh, uh, trends of displacement inside. Uh, Ukraine.
Yes, well, you know, these these figures are figures of both back and forth.
this refugee situation has been characterised by the fact
that people mostly women and Children and elderly have been
seeking refuge and benefiting from asylum in
of Europe, mostly from the European Union but also in Moldova,
where I was just recently.
So there's a lot of this back and forth movement.
At the same time, 900,000 people have asked for temporary protection
So that's why I was referring to a strange situation where
you have people still seeking international protection outside of their country.
But at the same time, others are returning to places where it is safe for them,
as they believe for them to temporarily or definitely return.
most of the people who have returned also IDPs who
have returned to their places are mostly in the west,
the central part of Ukraine,
and we still see as you were mentioning displacement within Ukraine.
We also see that particularly in the conflict line provinces that many people I have
met in these provinces do not want to go too far away from Donetsk,
provinces that are under temporary occupation of the Russian armed forces so that
that they could return at one stage to their provinces, which
I have met many people whose family is on the other side,
with whom they have very many difficulties to communicate with,
but with the hope that they will be able to live together again.
So again, this very sense of
of a of hope, of determination, but at the same time,
very dire consequences of the ongoing war.
Thank you very much. Felipa Yuri from Rio Novosti has a question for you.
Mr Leclerc, do we have further questions? Uh, for our colleague from
No, I don't see that's the case.
I would only add that, of course,
as winter approaches and temperatures are dropping
in Ukraine and in northern Europe, Of course.
So the humanitarian needs will be magnified. So we much
greatly appreciate you briefing us. Uh, here,
stay, uh, safe. And of course, stay warm.
That's it for the subjects. We do have an announcement from Catherine
about E week taking place next week. Yes, thank you very much.
It's very difficult to follow up now with
some logistical details because you had a lot of questions.
So I'm going to come back to the agenda. The programme of the
starting on Monday at the CIC.
You have to register on the website on the
ambassadors, ministers, whoever is going to come to the CG needs to be registered.
administrative work, but you are used to that.
And I'm sure you can do that very quickly. If you need any help, I'm happy
I'm available. I'm happy to help. And I'm available in my office
Um, I wanted to highlight, too, that the opening ceremony will be public and will be,
So it's open to everybody.
The rest of the special sessions there are three or four per days.
Um, during the week, those will be, um,
made available on the on the website of the ewe.
and only for people who have registered. So
if you want to follow from your desk,
you need to register, too.
otherwise, I'm available.
If you need to meet any of the participant speakers, uh, of course.
we manage to work over the
issues and ecommerce and a I and so on.
Thanks to you, Katherine.
And, of course, uh, we at the UN Information Service World Resort.
We can expedite your registrations
I don't see any questions for you, so that was very clear.
And thank you very much for that update. Uh, before we close just a few updates from me
I didn't mention the Secretary General is currently in Dubai where
he is taking part in the UN climate Action Summit.
which, as you know, got underway yesterday.
We shared with you a short while ago. The remarks that Mr Guterres
delivered at the summit. That was just about, uh, two hours ago from now.
Uh, the secretary general notes, among other things,
how quote Earth's vital signs are failing
record emissions, ferocious fires, deadly droughts in the hottest year ever.
when we're still in November.
We are miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement
in minutes to midnight of the 1.5 degree limit.
We can you can prevent planetary crash and burn. He states,
secretary-general goes on to highlight three areas which
could lead to success of the cop.
Uh, first, Dr drastically cutting emissions
Second, accelerating a just equitable transition to renewables.
And third, more financing on climate action, including for adaptation
Those are the points, uh, contained in his message,
which we shared with you a couple of hours ago.
We have as well I should mention a few meetings taking place here.
We have the committee on the elimination of racial discrimination that, uh,
started, uh, last week. Uh, they are currently
on this coming Monday at 10 a.m. The committee will actually,
uh, have a public meeting with state parties.
And at the end of the week, a week from today, In fact, Friday, uh,
they will the eighth of of, uh, December,
they will conclude its session, at
which point they will issue these concluding observations for the report.
It, uh, reviewed this session on Bolivia, Morocco, Germany, South Africa,
The Committee on the Protection of Rights of
all migrant workers and members of their families,
uh, opened its 37 session
and, uh, today it's concluding the review of its, uh,
I should also mention a rather flag that yesterday we shared with you
a nice lengthy calendar of meetings taking place in 2024 the various treaty bodies
that will be meeting throughout the year.
This may be revised over the course should the schedule
the Human Rights Council, I should say that, uh, this coming Monday,
uh, the Fourth of December,
the council will hold an inter sessional meeting to mark the 75th anniversary
of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
and to discuss the role of social media there. On
that's taking place Monday in room 20 starting at 10 o'clock.
It's a full day meeting 10 o'clock to six o'clock.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker
Turk, will deliver opening remarks,
as will the special advisor on the prevention of Genocide, Alice Nader
uh, more information is available on the HR CX
press conferences. We have, uh, Mr Turk, Volker
Turk, the high commissioner for human Rights. Who is going to be joining
us here in this room on Wednesday, 6th December at 11 a.m. for a press conference.
that is just less than a week from now.
And, uh, we have a few observances before we close. Uh, today is world A I DS day.
Secretary General's message, which was shared with you, speaks to the fact that,
a I DS related deaths have fallen by almost 70% since their peak in 2004,
are at the lowest point since the 19 eighties.
But a I DS still takes a life every minute. The secretary of general mentions,
uh, this must include, uh,
the response to a I DS must include scaled up
funding for local programmes led by people living with HIV
and prevention initiatives led by communities
the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery in the SGS message,
which we also shared with you speaks to, uh, re
remembers the various victims of the past, particularly millions of Africans,
uh, ripped from their homes. And he notes that there are some 50 million people
trapped in modern slavery today.
Uh, we and this is a quote. We must also move faster to stop this terrible crime.
Today, countries must legislate,
protect the rights of victims and eradicate the practises
and conditions that allow modern slavery to flourish
from trafficking to debt bondage and economic marginalisation.
Lastly, on Sunday, the third of December is another observance.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities and this year's
International Day of Persons with Disabilities reminds us that
achieving the sustainable development goals the SDGS requires living
up to the promise to leave no one behind,
especially the 1.3 billion persons with disabilities worldwide.
So you have those messages at your disposal?
I don't have any further announcements. Are there any questions?
Yes, go ahead. Of course. Yes. Sorry. I just wanted to add that on Monday at the
Fourth of December will be the first trade day
in the history of the cop.
be present during that day with a lot
of activities under the leadership of Rebecca Greenspan.
boost the development but also fight climate change. There are ways to
for trade to play a key role in the future of the planet.
I just wanted to highlight this.
It's a very important point. Thank you very much. Uh, for that Katherine.
I see there's a Yuri. Is that a question for me?
No, it was a question, uh, for Margaret. Uh, but not on Gaza. And I just want to
You did say you had a follow up. Sorry for that.
Uh, Margaret is still in the room,
and she's slowly making her way up to this podium if you bear with us for a minute.
OK, Yuri, please go ahead.
Yes, it is about pneumonia.
the French authorities are also noticing an unusual epidemic of
pneumonia in the country.
For its part, the Taiwanese media indicates that the Iceland authorities
are starting to check passengers coming
from mainland China for respiratory diseases.
are we talking about the same symptoms and diseases in France and in China?
Are you monitoring this situation
and at What level do you assess? The risk that these
pneumonia epidemics will spread geographically and cause a pandemic?
Because this is not only one country now, but thank you.
Thanks, Yuri. That's a lot of questions.
some of those things I can't comment on
because they're simply reports that we haven't seen.
uh, mycoplasma pneumonia is a normal mycoplasma is a well known cause of pneumonia.
Now we are seeing more cases, uh, either being reported,
uh, because more people are seeing them. It's not clear whether that's because
those who are getting them have what we call immunological naivety
that they were not exposed to the circulating viruses and bacterias because the
world's been through a period where we've been very isolated from each other.
we are monitoring the situation now. Mycoplasma pneumonia
is not a notifiable disease because it is, as I said,
something that we do normally see during the winter.
Uh, it's it's treatable. Um, it's treated with, uh, an antibiotics.
it's often a something that looks a lot worse on
the x-ray than it does in the physical symptoms,
it's clearly being picked up in a lot of different countries.
Um, And again, we are a monitoring situation, and we're also providing advice,
of course, on treatment and and other issues.
uh, I. I think that the the
as with all respiratory infections, we monitor all of them.
But we're not looking at this at the moment as something that's of, uh,
Great. Thanks very much, Margaret. And thanks. Uh,
sorry about that, Yuri. I'm glad you have a very good answer to your question.
Are there any further questions before we wrap up?
I don't see. That's the case. It's been a very long briefing.
So I'd like to just, uh, wish you a nice weekend.
And, of course, thank you very much for your reporting
on the issues which we're spotlighting here at this briefing. Have a good weekend.
