The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Bi-weekly press briefing - 05 December 2023
/
1:13:09
/
MP4
/
4.6 GB
PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
5 December 2023
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
Humanitarian situation in Gaza
Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, speaking from Rafah in Gaza, said that the situation in Gaza was getting worse by the hour, with intensified bombing, including in southern areas. There was an increasing number of internally displaced persons, and people were desperate and in a permanent state of shock. Of the 16,000 people killed, more than 60 per cent were women and children. A child was killed every ten minutes in Gaza. We were close to the humanity’s darkest hour, and a sustained ceasefire was needed, stressed Dr. Peeperkorn.
WHO’s biggest concern was the vulnerability of the health infrastructure in Gaza, which was crippled. There was hardly any functional health facility in the north. What had happened in the north of Gaza ought not be a blueprint for the south, as the health needs were soaring. Dr. Peeperkorn spoke of witnessing horror scenes in hospitals, with patients on the floor not getting the treatments they needed, people yelling and crying. The two major hospitals in the south were severely overburdened. The health infrastructure had to be protected. The European Gaza Hospital had to be protected and its capacity expanded, and more medical supplies ought to be brought in. There were some 86,000 registered cases of diarrhea, as well as cases of chickenpox, skin rash, and meningitis, among other diseases.
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service, reminded of the Secretary-General’s statement from the previous day, in which he reiterated his call for a sustained humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional and immediate release of all remaining hostages. For people ordered to evacuate, there was nowhere safe to go and very little to survive on. According to an update from UNRWA, at least 130 of their staff had been killed in Gaza since 7 October, said Mr. Gómez.
Responding to numerous questions from the media, Dr. Peeperkorn said that the WHO had secured two adjacent warehouses in Khan Younis in the first weeks of the conflict, preparing for the upcoming humanitarian catastrophe. Thanks to those warehouses, the WHO had managed to distribute medical supplies across the Strip. All movements had to be notified. On 4 December in the morning, the WHO had been advised by Israel to move as many of its supplies from the warehouses as possible, because those two warehouses were likely to be in an active combat area in the coming days. WHO had complied because it wanted to make sure that the existing essential medical supplies could be delivered. A smaller warehouse in Rafah had been quickly identified, and almost 90 per cent of WHO’s medical supplies had now been moved to it. Over the coming days, the WHO was planning to distribute the supplies to the medical facilities in the south and was also hoping to take some supplies to the north, conditions allowing. WHO needed both more warehouses and more supplies, he said.
Without UNRWA, the humanitarian situation in Gaza would be so much worse, stressed Dr. Peeperkorn, and UNRWA had to be supported. For this kind of humanitarian disaster, many more medical supplies, food, water, fuel and so much more was needed. What was available inside Gaza was way too little. What had happened in the north could not be allowed to happen in the south; the health system had to be supported as much as possible. Dr. Peeperkorn also spoke about the need to set up a functioning referral system under the current circumstances. Health infrastructure had to be protected. He repeated the concern over the vulnerability of the entire health system. WHO had a team of 26 national and 6 international staff in Gaza, who were all under immense pressure and some of them had lost family members.
Answering questions, James Elder, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), speaking from Cairo, said that the level of destruction and the death of women and children seen in the north was now recurring in the south. Israel had apparently chosen that its precautionary measures meant evacuation to so-called safe zones. Under international humanitarian law, places to which people were evacuated had to have conditions of food, water, medicine, and shelter. Mr. Elder witnessed himself that the evacuation areas in Gaza were woefully inadequate. Critically, there was no sanitation; in some places people had no toilets at all, and diseases were simply waiting to happen. Israel, as the occupying power, was under obligation to provide food, water, and medicine, reminded Mr. Elder. The only way to create truly safe places was to stop hell falling from the sky. A humanitarian ceasefire was the only way to protect civilians in Gaza, he reiterated. The indifference he had witnessed was heartbreaking.
Replying to a question, Tarik Jašarević, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the list of countries which had requested an emergency meeting of the WHO Executive Board on the situation in Gaza would be shared with the public once it had been shared with all Member States. Draft documents could be proposed for discussion until 8 December. The meeting, which would be held in a hybrid format on 10 December, was expected to be livestreamed, unless decided otherwise by the Board.
Human Rights 75: high-level event in Geneva on 11-12 December
Elizabeth Throssell, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), informed that the OHCHR was organising a high-level event in Geneva on 11 and 12 December to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The event would be the culmination of Human Rights 75 – a year-long initiative by the Office to reaffirm the values of the Universal Declaration and recommit to human rights as the pathway to address the challenges of today and the future.
Heads of State and Government, and other high-level State dignitaries would gather with human rights defenders, young people, civil society organisations, business, sportspeople, artists, economists, representatives from UN entities and regional organizations at the Palais des Nations. Among the key moments on 11 December, there would be two pledging sessions where States would announce tangible commitments to advance human rights protection. In two segments entitled Voices in defence of human rights, participants would share their testimonies and perspectives on the impact of the Universal Declaration. Panel discussions would be held with experts looking into challenges and the way forward on the universality and indivisibility of human rights and how to strengthen the human rights system.
Ms. Throssell said that the opening ceremony on 12 December would involve a discussion with Heads of State, moderated by the High Commissioner, which would be followed by four round tables on pressing human rights issues and the future of human rights: peace and security; digital technologies; climate and the environment; and development and the economy. The entire event, which was envisioned to be of global nature, would be accessible through a virtual human rights centre that will enable up to 3,000 people to take part online. All details are available here.
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service, added that a note to correspondents with logistical details had been sent out today.
Responding to a question, Ms. Throssell confirmed that a number of Heads of State, Prime Ministers, and Foreign Ministers would be attending in person. She said that some 120 States were expected to present their pledges in person, in addition to pledges by civil society. Those pledges would cover a wide spectrum of human rights’ examples of pledges could include, for example, increasing budget for human rights, ratifying human rights conventions and their optional protocols, or making donations to the OHCHR. All pledges would be shared on the OHCHR website afterwards.
State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2023
Elisabetta Betulla Morello, Acting Fisheries Team Leader at the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), speaking from Rome, said that the GFCM was a body of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the regional fisheries management organization for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. It consisted of 23 member countries and its main objective was to ensure the conservation and the sustainable use of living marine resources, as well as the sustainable development of aquaculture.
Ms. Betulla Morello informed that the GFCM flagship publication - The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries would be officially launched on 7 December. The Mediterranean and Black Sea was a region with high demand for aquatic foods and a long tradition for fish consumption, both from fisheries and aquaculture. It was characterised by a high diversity in terms of species harvested and in terms of fishing practices. It was also considered a hotspot for climate change impacts and nonindigenous species.
The flagship publication, published since 2016, was able to first identify a reversal in the trend in overexploitation in the region. It had reported the continuous improvement in the percentage of overexploited stocks in line with management efforts. For the first time this year it included an analysis of aquaculture showing the importance of aquaculture and fisheries combined. This year, it would be reporting the advances made from the application of the ten multiannual management plans and ten fisheries restricted areas adopted by the GFCM over the years, confirming that effective management paid off and was the path to secure sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture.
Responding to a question, Ms. Betulla Morello said that the management plans covered in the same way European Union and non-EU countries of the Mediterranean. They were based on scientific advice on what was needed to reach sustainability.
Announcements
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service, reminded of several statements by the Secretary-General at COP28, which had been shared with the media.
He informed that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination would close its 111th session on 8 December, at 4 pm, and issue concluding observations on the six countries reviewed: Bolivia, Morocco, Germany, South Africa, Bulgaria, and Vietnam.
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families would have a public meeting on 7 December, at 3 pm, on the OHCHR Program on the reinforcement of the Treaty bodies capacities devoted to the effects of climate change on the human rights of migrants. It would then close its 37th session on 8 December, at 5:30 pm, and issue concluding observations on the three countries reviewed: Uruguay, Kyrgyzstan, and Sao Tome and Principe.
A high-level pledging event for the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) would be held in New York on 6 December.
Finally, Mr. Gómez reminded that on 6 December at 11 am, the Human Rights High Commissioner, Volker Türk, would hold his end-of-year press conference, which would be webcast live at webtv.un.org.
Teleprompter
very good morning.
Thank you for joining us here at the UN
office at Geneva for this press briefing today.
The fifth of December. We have a few items on the agenda,
including the upcoming high level event for human rights. Uh, 75.
That is the Universal Declaration
75th anniversary events taking place next week. We also have, uh,
our guest from speaking from Gaza Doctor Pieper
Korn
from the W, uh, World Health World Health Organisation.
And we have a briefer from Rome, uh, from FA O.
So we'll start off maybe with Liz Throssell of OHC HR for
just an announcement on the upcoming events next week here in Geneva.
Yes, Uh, thank you very much. Rolando, Um,
you will have seen that we've put out a media advisory, uh, this morning,
uh, detailing, um,
the events that will take place on the 11th and the 12th of December.
So if I may just sort of run through some of the the key points
of that,
um, the event is the culmination of human rights 75
and that's a year long initiative by the UN Human
Rights Office to reaffirm the values of the Universal declaration
and recommit to human rights as the pathway to
addressing the challenges of today and the future.
I
think it's important to to underscore what the
High Commissioner is saying in the advisory.
Um, we are meeting, of course, at a sombre moment.
Um, across the globe, uh, there are levels of violent conflict not seen since 1925.
We're seeing deepening inequalities,
increasing discrimination and hate speech,
impunity, growing divisions and polarisation.
And of course, adding to this, we have the triple planetary crisis.
So for the High Commissioner and for us all, here at the UN human Rights office,
this, uh, really emphasises the need for us to take stock, uh,
to learn lessons and craft a vision for the future based on human rights.
Now to just go into some details, uh, you will see that in the media advisory, uh,
there is a link to a detailed programme
that sets out what is happening on the 11th and then on the 12th, uh, the various, uh,
round tables and panels, which will be taking place.
Um, so So I would encourage you to look at that in detail?
Uh,
we will have heads of state and government and other high level state dignitaries.
Uh, human rights defenders, young people, civil society representatives,
businesses, sports, people, artists.
So, really, a whole array of people attending this event,
um, we will be updating the programme. Of course.
As you can imagine, that there will be updates.
So I would also encourage you to regularly look at it.
Um, just to outline, um, some of the main things, Uh,
that will be happening on the first day, the 11th of December.
Uh,
there will be two pledging sessions where states will
announce tangible commitments to advance human rights protection.
Uh, there are other sections, um, taking place on those days.
There's one called voices in Defence of Human Rights.
And that's where participants will share their stories,
their testimonies and perspectives on the impact of the Universal Declaration
on the 12th of December.
Uh, there will be an opening ceremony, uh,
involving a discussion with heads of state and that will be monitored, uh,
moderated by the High Commissioner.
This will be followed by four round tables on pressing human rights issues.
Uh, the future of human rights.
Uh, peace and security, digital technologies,
climate and the environment and development and the economy.
just to highlight some of the, uh, practical details.
And I know that Orlando, um, is issuing or has issued a detailed note with that.
But to say that it will be an accessible event, uh, with, uh, sign
international sign language interpretation,
real time captioning,
simultaneous interpretation into the six UN official languages.
Um, also important to, uh, stress that this, of course, is taking place in Geneva.
Uh, but we have conceived it as a global event.
So there will be links to, uh, regional hubs in Bangkok, Nairobi and Panama.
And also,
the entire event will be accessible through a virtual human rights centre.
Uh, that will enable up to 3000 people to take part online.
Um, I think I'll leave it there. Um, obviously, we remain at your disposal.
Should you have further questions relating to this
event and we hope to see you there.
Thank you.
Thanks so much, Liz. Indeed.
Lots of interesting things coming up in the next few days. Uh, as noted,
there is a note to correspondence which I see has not just been sent, but, um,
we'll have that it contains all sorts of
logistical information in terms of media accreditation,
which shouldn't affect you, but indeed
for travelling journalists as well as
TV photo radio.
Um, other arrangements that are being put in place specifically for this event
on 11 and 12 December. So you should have that in your inbox soon.
Laurents
has a question. Go ahead.
Yeah. Thanks, Rolando. And thanks. Uh, Liz,
just to be clear on that.
So most of the heads of state and government will speak remotely from this herb
or, uh,
quite a a bunch of them coming as well for the global
Refugee forum and will be able to speak in the room.
Thank you.
Yes, Uh, good question.
Actually, um, there will be, um, an address, uh, remotely by the, uh,
prime minister of Thailand.
Um, but if you consult the agenda, you will see that, um,
there are a number of heads of state listed there,
and, um, the majority of those will indeed, uh, be, uh, be in Geneva,
will be taking part.
Um, you'll see also from the the advisor
and the the first day events take place in room 20.
And then on the second day, uh, we'll have the opening ceremony in room 20
then a couple of round tables in room 20.
But there will also be things happening in room 19.
So, um, there is a very detailed agenda, So so do take a look at that.
But just to say yes, Uh, we do have, um, a number of heads of state.
Um, we have, uh, about four vice presidents, uh, attending,
uh, a number of prime ministers and about 50 ministers of foreign affairs.
But also, as I said, it's also important to to stress that we have a, you know,
a whole array of people attending from civil society, young people, businesses,
et cetera.
So, um,
yeah, I would advise you to look at the agenda. Thank you.
Great. Thanks very much. Liz. Uh, Antonio of FA has a question.
Uh, well, it's about the same thing.
Uh, the head state that are attending are the ones that are talking in the
in in all the panels. Or there will be also some others.
if you look at the agenda and this really primarily relates to the the second day, Uh,
when you do have the opening ceremony with the heads of state,
and it will be opened by the president of the Swiss Confederation, Alain
beset,
Uh, and, uh, the High Commissioner
fto.
you'll see that there will be a discussion with heads of state, uh, in the room,
and then it moves to the round table
that that address these pressing issues as I as I've said,
uh, you will see that there are, uh, panellists taking part.
And then there are people also, uh,
sort of on the agenda as respondents, so they will also be participating.
So there is.
There is quite a detailed list of of people who are in
the room and will be taking part in these very important discussions.
Great.
Uh uh. Question also from Nick, uh, New York Times. Go ahead, Nick.
Yeah. Thank you. And Liz, I just wanted to check.
I mean, there's reference in this note to pledging sessions.
What sort of pledging? Uh, are are you expecting to see there?
And is there any involvement of of of funding for OHC HR in this,
or is this something completely different?
Thank you.
Yeah, the the the word pledge. Obviously. Usually, um, sort of suggests money.
Um but I think it's important.
It's something that the the colleagues have been working, particularly on this I.
I stressed that pledging takes all manner of forms.
Um, it's it's really commitments on a whole array of issues.
Um, there have we're expecting about a 100 and 20 states,
uh, to, uh, present their pledges in person during the two days.
Uh, but also,
there are pledges from civil society and national human rights institutions.
Um, that So? So the pledges, um,
that are coming in.
They cover the entire spectrum of human rights civil and political, economic,
social and cultural.
Um, we really do think this is important.
It's something that the office and our
field officers have been working very closely with
different stakeholders to to highlight the kinds of issues that may be put forward.
Uh, but to just give you an example of the kinds of pledges that we may see,
um, it could be, um, a sort of a promise to review or introduce key legislation.
Um, it could be increasing budgets for human rights, and and that means, you know,
within within a country, for example,
uh, it could be ratifying, uh, human rights conventions and optional protocols,
and that is obviously really important.
Uh, we're really talking about the treaty body system there.
Um, it could, uh, of course,
mean making a financial contribution to the UN human rights office.
And of course, that would be that would be welcome.
we are gathering that there are a huge number.
Um, and I if I can just make it clear that the the pledges that are made by states, um,
will be made public on our human rights 75
website.
Um but this will only happen after the event.
And I think, you know,
this is really sort of logistics because the colleagues working
on this will have to collect them and upload them.
Uh,
but there will be a public record of the pledges,
and I think this is important because these are pledges that that are not just made,
and they should just lie there in a in a sort of a virtual draw, as it were.
But they should be used by civil society in a particular country,
all kinds of representatives to really go back and and and push the advocacy.
Thank you.
Great. Thanks to you, Liz? Much appreciated, Of course. Lots of possibilities.
Lots of important stories coming out of these two days next week.
So due to an end, and, of course, Liz and ourselves will keep you informed on
both practical and substantive information.
Thanks again, Liz.
OK, we'll turn now to our colleague, uh, who you know.
Well, and we thank you again for joining us, Dr.
Peppercorn.
Uh, we have also Tarik on the line from WHO.
Uh, maybe Tarik, do you want to start or?
Hm. Thank you very much, Rolando. No, not really.
Uh, I think the reporters have received, uh, yesterday the statement, uh, issue.
Uh,
there was
a press briefing, uh, last, uh, evening.
If you have not followed, uh, let us know, and we can send the the recording of that.
And now I will give the floor immediately to Doctor.
People are going to tell us about the current health situation in Gaza.
Thank you very much. Uh, Tariq. Um, So, greetings from, uh, Gaza.
Just let me explain. I'm here since, uh, last thursday. And
we, of course, had hoped that, uh,
that, uh,
that you return Paul
would be extended. And unfortunately, not.
And I can tell you that the situation now in Rafah
visit the, uh, hospitals,
uh, move around, et cetera. I'm working with my team on medical, uh,
distribution of most of the essential medical supplies,
uh,
working on trying to set up an an and kind of referral system, uh,
working with the emerging medical teams, et cetera.
And the situation is is getting worse by the by the hour.
I mean, like this intensified bombing, uh,
going on all around including here in certain areas.
Khan Y.
Uh um
and even in Rafa,
uh, even what I've seen over the last couple of days that we see an increase in
Vly increasing number of ID BS
coming from the so-called middle area and and even now, the southern areas. Uh
uh, to
furthermore, to the to the south
and
and a
lot of people I mean,
desperate and and and I
in in permanent state of, uh of shock, uh,
in in in less than 60 days. What are you talking now?
We're talking almost about 16,000 people. Uh, killed
of which more than 60% women and Children, Uh,
and and more than 42,000 people injured, et cetera, and and,
uh,
we we know the statistics.
On average, a child is killed every 10 minutes in Gaza, and and I think in that sense,
we
we and and and
I think we are close by it's, uh yeah, humanity's darkest hour.
And and this is has been the message, I think from, uh, WHO the UN. In general,
these
bombings and I would say, and sense of most lives must stop now.
I mean, we we need a sustained,
uh, cease fire.
Uh, maybe I wanna say something about, um
maybe our biggest, uh, concern. And that is, um,
the
the vulnerability,
the vulnerability of and looking at for a health perspective,
the vulnerability of the health infrastructure.
So the health infrastructure
in Gaza, the health system is crippled. As we all know,
there's hardly There's actually hardly any functional
health facility in the north.
There's
a,
uh, there's Al
Ahli
Arabi Hospital, which is completely overcrowded and is is working as a as a
as a trauma stabilisation or as a trauma centre and the the
grave of the reports we get from that hospital are deeply concerning.
With hundreds of, uh, patients flocking to that hospital.
Multiple trauma cases as such. A lack of supplies, uh,
lack of support, uh, and everything.
Uh, we hear about, uh, very concerns. And And we prefer to verify about,
uh, uh, situation about Kamal, Uh, Kamal Al Jan
of
hospital. And if you look around,
there's hardly any hospital there are left.
So
we
we've seen
what happened in northern Gaza and and
and of course, we deeply concerned that this cannot be
There should not be a blueprint. Uh, for the South.
I mean,
we went from 3500 beds in Gaza to less than 1500 probably way less. Now,
we cannot afford
any other loss of hospital beds. I mean, in the health needs are are soaring.
I mean, I was myself in in national
complex,
and I can tell you, and that is supposed to be
better than the European Gaza Hospital. Those are the two.
I would say key hospitals from the 12 hospitals in southern Gaza
the
the the department, the approach university ward was completely congested.
And and and people screaming and and and and
and and yelling Uh,
yeah, for me, it was
a
kind of horror zone where you walked in
and over. Wars
under capacitated health working workers Doing what? They, uh what? What?
What they do patients on the floor,
Uh, not getting the treatment. Uh, they should get et
cetera. I mean, it's
it was beyond, uh, belief.
And then the hospital grounds were also full with, uh, with I ID PS
that,
uh uh, back
CC rates. I mean, they they're all over 200%.
And
maybe
if you look at the two major hospitals in the south the 350 bed no
medical hospital, uh, get close to 1000 patients, 1000 people sheltering,
and then the European Gaza Hospital
again, 370 best um, hospital, which included, actually a covid, um, uh,
field hospital from a couple of years ago.
And also 1000 patients and and an estimated 70,000 people, uh, sheltering there.
The last point I want to raise is all linked to this vulnerability.
So the key message is
this. Health infrastructure need to be protected.
We are extremely concerned
about the European Gaza Hospital, uh,
which
we cannot afford to lose. In contrary, we need to add that.
That's why emergency medical teams are very slowly
coming in.
We have to expand the that capacity from 1500 or less
than 1500 back in 2000 back to 2500 et cetera,
and and and get more, uh,
supplies, medical supplies in
and, of course, related displacements.
And let me then actually finish the whole thing with the displacement.
And and we see the crowds,
uh, moving,
uh, moving from the middle area and from the southern area now as well.
Uh, going back, uh, further south, down south.
We we already we can counter that.
We already see many infectious diseases and and and some of the numbers we
see close to what we have recorded up to now 120,000 acute respiratory infections.
Uh, over 20 close to 26,000. Uh uh. People with CE a
L.
Uh
uh, 86,000 cases of diarrhoea specifically under under under 5 to 43 44,000,
which is
much? 20 to 30 times higher than you would expect on on average,
I think very concerning we see cases of jaundice. 11,
1150. They are all syndromic
management. So we have to check. What exactly is this?
Uh,
chickenpox skin rash, etcetera. And and
And even, um,
meningitis. All based on one of the 11 case, all based on on clinical diagnosis.
Because lab facilities are not functional.
We trying to get we will try to get a mobile, uh,
lab in and and also trying to export samples to, uh, to Egypt.
Uh, I wanna leave it there in a moment over to you.
Thank you very much. Richard. Um,
another sober update, but very important
for important messages there.
Uh, I should mention that James Elder of UNICEF is online.
Uh, he is currently in Cairo, and he perhaps can explain why he's there.
Uh, but I before we take questions and there are a few hands going up here,
I just wanted to remind you of the statement that we issued late last night
from the secretary General and of which he, of course, echoes the need very much.
Uh,
the need for a sustained humanitarian cease fire
expresses his deep alarm at the resumption of hostilities
and calls on all parties to respect
their obligations under international humanitarian law.
So that statement is in your inbox.
We'll take a question right away from Nina Larson of a FP in the room.
Yes. Hi. Thank you for taking my question.
I was wondering there was an issue yesterday of, um, Doctor Tedros who
sent out a message on X.
Uh, about, uh, the Israelis having, uh,
ordered or asked the WHO to empty the warehouses,
Um, in the south. Something that the Israelis have, uh, have denied.
Um, could you, uh, tell us where you you are? You are with that. What kind?
In what form did you receive this? This order.
And, um, are you actually, uh, in the process of emptying the warehouses? Thank you.
Ok,
uh, so let me explain,
This is a bit of a background so that from the start of this crisis, uh
uh,
as W as
we wanted to be as operational as possible. So
we we secured, uh,
two warehouses in Khan units directly almost off the first week to be sure that OK, we
we realise this is going to be an an a
ma, uh, humanitarian,
initiative.
And make sure that we have warehouse because we
couldn't use our warehouse in the north in Gaza City
anymore.
So we, uh, straight away identified two adjacent warehouse in in
Khan units together.
And that's how we got, uh, very quickly. The supplies in and and And
you've seen this,
Uh, I think WHL was the first to to substantially distribute
medical supplies, uh,
to the north, to
Shifa and and to all los, uh,
twice, but also to, uh, uh,
the hospitals in the south. I mean,
almost nine times now. And And that was the reason.
Of course you need these warehouses. We have a small team which did
incredibly magic things
and being operational and incredible, unsafe
and and environment. So that's how we how we work now,
uh,
for movements
at, uh, currently this unsafe, uh, movements.
Uh, movements have to be, uh, notified. So,
uh,
the day before yesterday,
we notified that we wanted to bring some supplies from our warehouse,
uh, to assist an MS F team
and to assist some andro facilities. And then yesterday morning,
we were,
uh
we were informed,
like, Well, you better uh uh, remove as much as
as possible.
Uh, then we clarified. And then we were,
uh, advised and asked,
uh Yeah, Your warehouses are in an area
where
the population
was was well, was told to evacuate
and,
uh, would most likely become an area of active combat in the coming days.
So when you are, of course, asked for advice
by any
harming to
to OK, this is your time. You have 24 hours and and and after that
you will not be.
It's very unlikely you can reach your warehouse anymore.
So of course, you comply,
and you comply. We comply, because also, we wanna
we wanna make sure that we can actually deliver,
uh, essential medical supplies
so immediately we, uh
we we look around for another place, which is very difficult.
We first thinking about,
you know, getting a tent, et cetera. It was impossible.
Uh, fortunately, we identified in smaller warehouse in, in, in Rafa.
And then we immediately worked on on
the plans in again in pretty unsafe environments
to get almost 90% of our medical supplies out
of our, uh,
of our much better. I would say much more professional warehouses. We had,
uh, there. So we removed them to the,
uh to to the smaller warehouse.
And that is now the only warehouse we have.
And yesterday,
another truck with medical supplies session medical travel supplies came in.
So we straight.
We also, of course, make sure that truck went to the
to our new warehouse. We have to reorganise that new warehouse.
We have to not such an easy thing with with a small team.
And we have to make sure that we start going again,
that we we we get our supplies in, get new supplies in, and we work from that, uh,
rewind
house as
good as possible.
So, really, unfortunately, the
the the supplies we were intended to distribute to
to the MS F team and to the UN W, a team that had to be aborted.
and we are reorganising and trying to work as quickly as possible.
I also want to make where we remove 90% including a small
cosign from UN FB A. We were managed to get that out as well. They are all there,
and
over the coming days,
we are planning to
to to to distribute some of those supplies to a number of hospitals in the south.
We also hope that we can,
um, bring some supplies in in into the north, in
our and in Al
Ali Hospital, where it's so much, uh,
needed. Of course, it all will depends on the on the security issues.
And if we are able to do that
over to you.
Thanks, Richard.
Uh, just take this opportunity to remind you also, in case you haven't seen it,
the update
as well as a statement from our colleagues from UNRWA on the bombardment in
southern Gaza and the increased mass displacement
which we shared with you last night.
Nina, did you have a follow up before, uh, we turn to Emma afterwards? Go ahead, Nina.
All right. Thank you very much. Uh, for clarifying that.
But, um, could could you say, um, how you received the message?
Um, from the Israelis. And
And why would they be denying the fact that they they asked you to
to empty this warehouse?
Thank you.
well,
I would not go into those details, but I think that you you know,
maybe you should not ask me, but I think it's
this is the issue how it works. If you get advised or asked. I mean, like, like that.
What do you do.
I mean, you wanna use
the medical supplies
you wanna? Because the medical supplies is the essential lifeline
for hospitals and for patients.
This is what we are.
This should be our top priority to get a sustained,
sustained line of the most essential medical supplies trauma supplies,
essential drugs, et cetera, into Gaza.
And then when in Gaza that we are able to distribute
it to the to the hospitals and maybe even in future,
some of the fields, uh, or the the EMTS and related field hospitals, et cetera.
That is our role. And
I would argue not only to southern Gaza. I would also hope that the few
barely remaining, uh, hospitals are functioning in in in northern Gaza.
So
that is, of course, Then, uh, you get the information,
you do what you have to do.
You
there's no choice.
You remove that immediately,
and you make sure that you can start working from the other side.
What We, of course, hope
that we will be able to the future use
our more professional warehouses again,
uh, and that we can start operating again on a much bigger scale over to you.
Thanks, Richard. Uh, Emma Farge. Reuters.
two questions for you, please.
Uh, Richard, um, how critical is the supply situation?
Now, I know you've got some stocks, but,
uh, how long will they last and is any aid coming? INAT all from the outside.
Medical aid
since, um, fighting resumed.
And, uh, also about, uh, foreign doctors and health care workers.
Um, do you need them? Um, has there been any requests to get them in?
Um, would this be helpful?
Ah, may I ask one for James? Or is that for later?
Why don't you go ahead and pose your question to James Now?
Then we'll start off with, uh, Richard, though. Go ahead.
Thanks. Uh,
James, Um, thanks for joining us again. Um, I wanted to ask about
the ID F safe zones. Uh, how safe are they? Really? Thank you.
Thanks. Go ahead, Richard.
Yeah, I think your your question about is, of
course, a very good question. And I, I just want to say WHO is is
is among the one UN, uh, leading in coordinating health.
We do, of course, with partners, and and James will be talking, uh uh
from UNICEF
and of course, UNICEF is one of the key partner. Also UN FP a
UN
R.
I wanna say
please support UNRWA. Because without UNRWA,
I think the
the
the the humanitarian situation would be so much, uh, worse. And And
they need to be supported in all way possible to
make make sure that they can maintain an operation.
So are we. So are the other ones.
But I want to also make a strong plea for a RWB et cetera. Now,
and and other part. So we work together on this, uh, on this supplies,
Uh, there is definitely our supplies. They are coming in,
but we have more in the pipeline,
and
that has been discussed many times.
Uh,
for this kind of humanitarian disaster where we
are in and an increasing and increasing disaster,
we need much more supplies and equipment.
And not just medical supplies, essential supplies, food supplies, water, fuel,
et cetera.
We know that. And also non food items. I mean, like, you can see that,
uh, I think it has been shared.
So we coordinate with with all the other key partners, uh, and
and and try to make sure we get it in as much as possible. It's too little.
It's way too little
and
that your your your question this relates to, um
there has been, of course, a flash appeal,
um, for 1.2 billion WHO
letter, the health part for 220 million and then was asked to also
come with their own plan.
Our own plan is for 108 million for, um for 90 days,
and and our plan focuses very much on three areas.
And And the first focus is, of course, that
we have to make sure
that's a current system, that the existing system, the crippled system,
the system on its knees,
that it
that it works, that it becomes vital again and that it's
weak that it can expense but that it keeps working
without
the existing system. I wanna make this, uh, point very clear, et cetera.
We are looking at an increasing humanitarian disaster, so we cannot
We cannot afford
what had happened in the North.
The
the one by one nonfunctionality of hospital
is absolutely cannot happen in the
in the south.
So strengthening the system and making sure
there's a sustained supplies coming in,
making sure that, um
uh
we,
we we support the system as good as possible and that we
expand the number of deaths from the 14 hundreds that are now
going to 2002.5 1000 for the
situation we are in. We actually need 5000 deaths. We will not get that.
That's over ambitious,
but get back to 3003.5 1000 hospitals are already doing that.
NASA medical also Gaza They They have erected tents next to the hospitals in NASA.
You see two
from, uh, 25 deaths. So an extra 50 deaths as well.
Besides this emergency medical teams, there's a few inside, uh, the Jordan, uh,
from the Jordan government close to NASA
Medical Hospital.
the
the IC C. They work from the European,
uh, European Gaza Hospital. A small MS F,
uh,
is,
uh, also the Emirati came in. I was at the opening of the hospital in in Rafah and and
and
very advanced, uh, type of hospitals, uh, in,
uh, in in Rafah,
which should help,
uh, also, uh, should help that
the
number of most critical patients can hopefully be referred to those hospitals.
So that's a component.
So yes, we need more medical emergency medical teams in a coordinate sessions,
and the emergency medical teams should be linked to those
existing 12 hospitals and maybe even to some primary healthcare.
the the International Medi Medical Corps is setting up an and
a
small hospital linked to a primary healthcare facilities
at WHO.
We try to also help coordinate that and focus that the third part is, of course,
the referral.
And I want to get back to the services. We have to make sure that we restore
service and we should not think only a trauma and a multiple trauma cases,
but also make sure that primary health care level and the
the NRA facilities, the government facilities, they start operating again.
Uh, think about, uh, think about vaccinations, modern child health,
emergency obstetric care, non
colonal disease, diabetes, et cetera.
Linked to that, we have to think about referral internal referral within Gaza.
Uh, that's why we want to help again with, for example,
referring more critical patients from Al
Ahli to some hospitals in the south.
But al, also the second part, is outside
Gaza into Egypt
to set up a system
uh, based, of course,
on priority where hospitals can be relieved and and
patients really in need get the care they deserve.
So being,
uh, being referred to in Egypt,
there's some, uh,
other third countries who have reached out and they say
we are willing to take up some patients from there,
et cetera.
Well, that should be, uh, quickly sorted out. Uh uh. As well.
I think this is, I think, for me I, I think. Was there any other question?
No, I think I think that covers it. Richard, um,
we do have a question for for James, though, Um, but thank you very much.
Well, I'm sure we'll be coming back to you soon,
James.
Hi, there.
Thank
you.
Thanks for joining us.
Pleasure. Hi, everyone. Thank you. Yeah, it's a really important question, Emma.
I think there's
the first part, of course, is
the first promise that's been made. And and the the the guarantee that
that we heard, uh, from those with the influence around this was
that we would not see the level of death and destruction of women and
Children and and and homes that in the south that we saw in the North
now, unfortunately, as I have borne witness to and that is continuing today,
that is absolutely not the case.
The the This war on Children has resumed with a ferocity
at scale beyond anything we've seen in the South,
and certainly at a horrendous part of anything in the North.
Now that then, of course, leads us to
to your question on on so called safe zones.
Now Israel has an obligation, of course,
to take all feasible measures to protect the civilian population.
And they have apparently chosen that their pre
precaution will be evacuation.
Moving to these so called safe zones now first,
as the United Nations has said a couple of weeks ago,
these zones cannot be safe nor humanitarian when unilaterally declared.
But let's look at where we are now because it's a critical message that we are hearing
that Gazans are hearing that leaflets are hearing and that we
are being told it's the answer to safe zones under IHL,
when the place you evacuate people to must have sufficient resources for survival,
that's medical facilities, water and food.
So that is that it's not a safe zone if it's
only free from bombardment as some zones have not been.
It's a safe zone
when you can guarantee the conditions of food, water, medicine and shelter.
OK, now I've seen for myself. These are entirely entirely absent.
Um, OK, you cannot overstate this.
These are tiny patches of barren land or they're street corners.
They're sidewalks. They're half built buildings.
There is no water, not a little bit.
There's no water, no facilities, no shelter from the cold and the rain.
You will turn around one morning, too.
Hours later, there was 5000 people where they weren't
there. Where? There where there was no one previously
and critically in these places. Emma,
there's no sanitation.
So currently in a shelter in Gaza, for example, with 30,000 people,
there's around one toilet
for 400 people, so adolescence girls will queue for four or five hours.
Now remove those, remove those people and put them in one of the places I mentioned.
The so called safe places. It's tens of thousands of people without a single toilet.
Not one. No clean water, nothing to drink now.
So of course, without water, without sanitation
without shelter, these so-called safe zones risk becoming zones of disease.
Um uh, WHO just expressed there.
The the 3040 times we're already seeing of diarrheal diseases.
And certainly the war zone that is hospital
does not allow Children to seek attention there.
So we have the perfect storm for disea disease outbreak.
Remembering of course, in this specific case
of Gaza, Israel as the occupying power, it's they who have to provide food, water,
medicine.
So now,
given we're talking about hundreds of thousands of people right now this minute
who are moving somewhere with bombardments at scale 200 a day yesterday,
a bombardments
as we speak, the only possible way to create safe spaces
in Gaza that are truly safe that protect human life is
for the hell to stop raining down from the sky.
Only a ceasefire, only a ceasefire is going to save the Children of Gaza right now.
So to be clear,
in the current context of the so called safe zones,
they are not scientific, they are not rational, they are not possible.
And I think the authorities are aware are aware of this. I think it's callous.
I think it's cold and I think it reinforces
the indifference towards Children and women in Gaza.
And I've seen in hospitals from the South
to the North that that indifference is lethal.
It's heartbreaking,
and it's confounding.
Thank you.
Thank you very, very much.
Uh, James and, uh, just to recite one line from the Secretary
General's statement which again was shared with you last night.
At present, he says,
for the people ordered to evacuate,
there is nowhere safe to go and very little to survive on.
That's in the statement of the secretary-general.
OK, we have quite a number of, uh, questions.
Still, uh, we have Nick of The New York Times Online. Go ahead, Nick.
Thank you. Yeah, thanks.
Um, Richard, I'm sorry to to labour the point,
but coming back to what the Israelis did or didn't say, I mean, in their tweets,
they said,
uh, the, um
the UN authorities were advised explicitly and in writing, uh,
it wasn't clear from what they put online. What? It It was what they made clear. But
the inference was that there had been explicit advice
that you didn't need to evacuate the warehouse,
and I just want to come back and be sure.
Um, if you could That What? What?
The situation was in respect to the advice that they provided in writing.
And secondly, I just also wanted to ask what kind of, uh,
medical supplies are reaching the north at this point,
have you been able to get any deliveries of medicine to the hospitals in the north?
Uh, since hostilities resumed. Thank you,
Richard. Over to you. Thanks.
Thank you very much. Well, you know,
let me again, uh, make make this point. I mean, like,
uh uh,
we So when you are, uh
uh, when you make a movement and I think I, I already you
notify
you notify every moment
and you do that the day before,
as we did.
And then if the next morning.
And that was actually to bring supplies as I,
as I informed already to the MS F and to Enron.
then
when you get informed,
like,
you better remove. I mean, as much as possible. And then further clarify etcetera.
OK. The two,
the two,
warehouses. They are in the location
kunas,
uh,
where people were
forced to evacuate
and
very likely military fifties will take place.
So,
uh,
the issue that we advise ask you to
take as much supplies as possible.
when Of course, when? When?
When the army ask you that?
I mean, that is, uh
you have to comply.
I mean, you have to comply for the reasons that we want to be able to serve the people.
We want to be able to make sure that we can
deliver the supplies to the place where it is needed.
And
then when you hear you,
you have to spend for 24 hours to do that because
the hostilities in that area active military MI might starts in,
uh, within a day.
And then you will not be able to reach
your warehouse,
your warehouses to
make your movement from there.
So that's how it works. And then, of course, we,
uh, we we took out and we took out almost 90% of the supplies
and really had to work hard to do that. It's a
panic movement. It's not a nice movement.
And we we had to abort the mission we were planning to do to bring supplies to the
to the hospitals where it was, uh, where it was needed.
Uh,
and
first,
that we have to find a new place which we which we which
we were lucky to to get so not as good as we have.
We get new goods in there as well. We have to completely reorganise.
It was just dumps.
We had had very little time to do that
in an incredibly unsafe environment to get them out.
So we managed to do that,
etcetera.
And from there we are now reorganising that debt warehouse
and we will move on What I want to stress.
The sad thing is like we were open, rational from the start,
we had these two really good warehouse.
That's where we want to work from.
That's where we should be able to work from.
That's where we should be able to distribute to the people who need it.
And the hospitals, Uh, who who need it?
And,
uh, So we want to go back as quickly as possible and use the warehouses.
Uh,
although that's possible. We, uh we need to continue. We need more warehouse.
We need more supplies and all your questions, Like when facilities resumed.
Uh,
we are planning.
We are planning to assist
Al
Ali. We have not yet been able to do so. So we are planning for that.
That, of course, needs careful planning. And we can only do that.
When?
When? When it is notified. And when we are sure that we can go there.
We are not only we not only want to bring the medical supplies to that area,
which is absolutely needless because, uh, we
with information from people inside Al
Ali and from outside who visited the
situation is incredibly grim.
Over the last couple of days, hundreds of trauma patients came in, and
I'm not even sure from this morning
we also need to We are also asked to
to get patients out to get some of the most,
uh, complex, uh, trauma case in all the cases out to places in the in, in in the south.
Uh,
so
we are planning for that? We have. It hasn't happened yet
now. And also I wanna
I think James, um,
just before me
made it very clear and I I don't I don't think I have anything to add to.
You know how we discuss the safe zone
and safe
zones?
We are. I'm in completely agreement with them and and,
uh I say I know Gaza quite well.
I've been here almost three years as
W a show we have two years and nine months. I come in Gaza every month. A week?
I know that area.
I said absolutely not fit as he, uh described. But even everything he describes
was right.
So I don't want to go, uh, go in details.
But I think the the the UN and the humanitarian organisations have been pretty clear
on on on this as well. Over to you.
Thanks, Richard. Ok, we have a few more questions.
Antonio from Spanish News Agency Antonio.
Thank you.
Uh, a question also for you, Mr
Peppercorn. And now that the situation is deteriorating in the south of Gaza,
are you afraid that hospitals in cities like
Kunis could be an objective of attacks
And it could, uh, it may have to be evacuated like, uh,
the ones in the north have have to be in the recent weeks.
Thank you.
Um
uh, I think, of course, we are all concerned,
and and I'm not even I don't even want to talk about the tax
because that's, you know, like it's a pattern. I mean like it's more like,
Why doesn't hospital become dysfunctional?
And hospital becomes dysfunctional
because, first of all, patients cannot reach it anymore.
Health workers cannot properly work from a hospital
because there's a,
uh,
because it's too insecure, the environment becomes too insecure.
There's a lot of active military actions around that.
It's because there is a
combination of, uh, the lack of supplies, the lack of fuel,
Uh, for those hospitals, uh,
exhausted stock
overflow of patients. That's how hospitals become slowly dysfunctional.
And we have seen a pattern in the North.
And yes, I think WHL came out with a statement on on On
On, specifically on the protection the need for protection of health facilities,
health facilities and health infrastructure with all his knees,
which needs to be protected.
And and I think, referring to what also, Jay was saying about
what we need to protect. We need to protect those,
uh, sensitive infrastructure if this helps if this in,
uh, of course education and and all kinds of other infrastructure,
which is needed
for the population.
It's a desperate and and completely desperate situation,
and
moreover,
uh, so, yeah, we are concerned that hospitals will become,
uh, partly dysfunctional.
What we've seen in pa
in the North, they are already partly functional,
that they will become more partly dysfunctional
and slowly become then, um, dysfunctional.
And with almost 2 million people on an incredibly small place, et cetera,
we cannot
afford to lose
any health facility,
any functional health facility, any hospital that in
contrary, we need to expand.
We need to, uh we need to assist.
Expand the number of deaths,
assist with emergency medical teams in in combination.
Uh, on that.
And make sure that this
cripples health infrastructure on the knees will be slowly standing up
again and provides basic services to a population in need.
And I'm not even talking about
we We hardly talk, for example, on other topics like that,
the whole area of reproduction, maternal and child health,
the area of mental health, psychosocial support.
You're not even addressing that which already was
a huge,
uh uh a
huge area of under surfaces in, in, in, in Gaza,
with everything what's happening here.
We talked about, uh, the the risk of, uh, of infectious diseases and epidemics.
I think we we alluded to that.
We don't even talk about the risk. So we have to restore an update.
And, yes, we are very,
very deeply concerned about the vulnerability of the system
and that we will, uh we will. We will witness a pattern
of what happened in the North that cannot happen. It should be protected
over to you.
Thanks, Richard. OK, two more questions. Uh, Christian of German news Agency.
Go ahead, Christiane.
Thank you, Rolando. Mr. Pepper
Khan. Uh, probably a very short one. Can you
tell us how the supply side has changed
since the resumption of hostilities?
Are you getting the same amount of trucks with supplies in?
And I presume it's easier to get it to
the warehouse because it's closer to the border.
Or, uh, is the supply disrupted by the, um, uh,
resumption of hostilities supply across the border.
Thank you.
Yeah. Uh, I don't have the full details on that one.
I should also check with my and Ryan or
colleagues who actually are in NWFP with more overview.
Uh, during the pause, we definitely saw more trucks coming in.
And I think after the pause, we saw less drugs, and also the
the fuel was actually halved. Uh, uh, from 120,000 litres to 60,000. Uh uh, litres.
So which is, uh, uh,
I would say absolutely a critical issue that that is restored
to levels which we which which is needed.
So we
definitely when hostilities started, we have seen again and and, uh,
kind of a reduction in the number of drugs
I need to get the full details on that, uh, specifically, over to you.
Thanks, Richard.
Uh, there, uh, Christian, there are some, uh, details in the latest, um,
update flash update from
OCHA,
which you have, uh, at your disposable. You can always liaise with yens here.
Should you have specific questions?
John Zar Costas,
Go ahead.
Yes. Can you hear me there? Yes, Go ahead. Yep.
Yes. Uh, good morning. Uh, Dr
Peppercorn,
uh, I was wondering, sir,
just to follow up on Nina and Nick's questions.
The movement that you described,
uh, was the paperwork cleared through the political military liaison unit of
AA in Jerusalem rather than WHO.
And secondly, with reference to,
uh, one child being killed every 10 minutes.
Can you give us the latest figures on how many Children
have been killed and injured since the resumption of hostilities.
Uh, after the end of the pause. Thank you.
So I think on your first question,
there's
no paperwork on this.
I mean, like, it's and And No, this was in direct contact with, uh,
with WHO here in, uh, in Gaza
with my team and my and myself.
Um
uh,
on the
on the on the number of people killed, I think I mentioned, uh, that
so we close to 16,000 people killed of 60% is women and Children.
You asked about the resumption?
I have to guess those say I should have these details.
I don't have them actually in front of me. But we will. If needed.
We will get back to you. And you.
Maybe you send me a text and I will get back to that, uh, details as well.
It's by the way, difficult to estimate. I mean, as
as we all know, that's, uh,
the,
uh
normally, you get these figures from the Ministry of Health and and
and and
already for a number of days,
it's much more based on on on
on estimates. It's much more difficult for them. And we get those figures.
Also ourselves later.
Uh, but
if needed, why don't you contact me directly and I will try to follow up that one
over to you.
Thanks very much for that. Uh, Richard,
Further questions before we close this.
OK, we have one additional question from a FP. And yes, in the room here.
Yes, thank you.
But this would be a question for Tariq, so I don't know if I can ask it now. Yes.
So it's not exactly on what is going on now in in Gaza,
but more on what is scheduled for Sunday, I think Sunday in Geneva,
there is a special session of the executive committee of the HO.
So we would like to know, um, if you could give us the list of the
If we can If we can just finish with Dr
Peppercorn
questions for him. And
I think we've Tarek, I think we might have exhausted questions for Dr
Peppercorn.
So, um, yeah,
if you wouldn't mind maybe answering that question on the Sunday meeting.
Go ahead and sorry, please.
Yes.
So the so My my question was to know if you could give us the the
list of the 15 give us the the list of the 15 countries that that,
uh, have requested that session.
And if you have any information of what kind of informa um,
decision they are going to to talk about,
uh, if you have, uh, any information about that if there is a,
um, draught, um,
decision or anything about what they want to discuss.
Um, I know they will discuss the humanitarian situation,
but if if they want to take any more step, any decision.
Thank you.
Uh, thank you. Thank you. Uh, So, uh,
so the the the the, uh, the list of, uh, member states that have proposed, uh, this,
uh,
special media or executive board has been shared with the executive board members,
but not yet with the, uh, with all the member states of WHO.
Uh, so we can make public this list only once all member states
are informed. So, uh, once that happens, uh, we will, uh, we'll make that list. Uh uh,
uh, public now, when it comes to the to the outcome. Uh, no.
We don't know what will be the outcome if there is, uh, any document
that is being proposed for discussion. This will.
This will be posted on our website.
Uh, and the the rule is that this has to be, uh, uh, 48 hours, Uh,
at least before the meeting.
So? So there is still time until Friday to see if any document will be proposed.
Uh, for, uh, for executive board members to to discuss.
That's very helpful. Thank you, Tarek. Uh, I take this opportunity, maybe.
Well, um, we have a couple of questions.
I was going to thank Doctor Peppercorn,
but maybe a couple of questions if you're still online, Uh, from
Katherine. Maybe this has to do with the Sunday meeting. Katherine. Uh, Franz Van
Kat.
Yes. Uh, thank you. Uh, Rolando? Yes. It's a follow up, Uh, on the question of and yes,
Uh good morning, Tariq.
Uh, my question is, who is going to be, um, or contact point from WHO.
Is it you or someone else? Because
will there be a, um, a kind of briefing after the meeting,
as we don't know when it will exactly end?
Or are you going to issue a document?
It would be very helpful to know in advance what's,
um what the process is gonna be Thank you.
Uh, well, what I what I can say, uh, is that, uh,
the the the session of the executive board will be live stream.
So, uh, unless decided otherwise by, uh, uh,
by executive board, Uh, members,
uh, you can just contact, uh, any of us, uh, from the media team.
Uh, and, uh, we will, uh, We will be, uh we will be happy to
To assist, uh, this. As we said in the Media Advisor, it's a hybrid format. And,
uh, uh,
members of the executive board will decide, uh,
whether they what kind of presence they will have.
And it will be, uh, virtual presence or or in person presence.
Uh, when it comes again to the to the to the outcome, we still don't know.
Uh, what, uh what?
Uh, the outcome will be, uh, But whatever it is,
we'll make sure it's communicated to To To journalists.
Thanks, Tarik. Uh, Nick, New York Times. Same subject.
No, Uh, this is for doctor. People
go.
And it's just a very quick one.
I wonder if you could just tell us exactly where you're briefing us from
and how what kind of a team you've got with you there. Thank you.
Thank you for that question. So
I'm in Gaza, I, I I'm in Gaza and I I'm in Rafah,
actually, at the moment at the the the UN
R, where the centre of UN R
and most UN and even some NGO S, uh,
are operating for it was actually it still is a primary healthcare clinic,
and and we are all actually operating from the top.
Um, from there, Yeah, I have a A team, and and And in Gaza,
WHO is a team of 2627 actually, national staff.
Uh,
we have, uh, six internationals here, um,
logistics person and one person on emerging medical teams.
Uh, a team lead for Gaza, a public health physician, a trauma surgeon,
a trauma surgeon, also deputy and incident manager and myself as, um,
as a rep.
Uh,
we we will we, of course. We set up the rotation scheme for the international. We are
the I think for my
I just want to make a point as well, because it's affecting everyone. This crisis.
And I think,
uh,
James, I think, described as very uh
uh graphically and
well, I hope myself as well.
I know this place too well.
With specifically all the the health sector, health infrastructure,
Uh,
for my national staff from the 27 I think that
we have at least I think 10 who are amazingly,
they were operational from the start.
I mean, like, I wanna
give them even the most credit when we were working
to get supplies and supplies and constant this endless planning,
Uh,
they were the ones,
uh, who were
hiring us, uh, and and and ensuring that we got this war
so that we were operational, making sure that those goods and supplies went
to to the to all the, uh, the hospitals in, uh, in need, including the
CIA and all the
ALS et cetera.
And
so they are. They are the, I would say, the backbone
to get its operation
for
a number of the, uh, our nationals. Actually, all of our national staff
are of course, they are
just like any guys. And
they are scarce.
They are devastated. What's happening?
Some of our staff have been already they have been moved already four or five times
45 times moving from the north to Gaza City to to to the middle area,
to the south area to another place, et cetera.
They
They have been surrounded, uh,
by by constant military activity and and and and bombing et cetera.
So people are, of course, everyone is devastated, in fact, I mean,
for your information, we lost a staff member.
We lost a staff member a week ago.
Her the house. She was 29 years old,
a really fantastic professional.
And
and and working in in in in the trauma scene and and
and and
future,
and moving with her young husband and her young baby boy from six months from
the north of Gaza to her parent home in the middle and middle area,
the whole house
has been
passed.
She was killed.
Mm
Oh,
two
baby boy was killed. Her husband was killed.
I'm sorry, Richard. Your your connection is is, um not terribly good. I'm afraid
I couldn't.
Hello.
Yeah, I think I think we're losing you, Richard I.
I apologise for the There's a poor connection here.
Maybe maybe I should mention it would be perhaps remiss of me if I didn't
cite a very grim statistic that is contained in the UN R a update.
Um, as of today, a total of 130
UNRWA colleagues have been killed. And that's since the seventh of October.
Uh, there were 19 additional colleagues killed, uh, recently from UNRWA.
So, as always, our deepest condolences go to all our colleagues
at WHO
at UNRWA and and, of course, throughout, uh, the Gaza Strip.
I.
I apologise, Richard, if you can hear me,
I just wanted to thank you once again for joining us, briefing our journalists here.
It's supremely important. You do?
So so of course you're welcome to come back at any point in time.
I think on that note, uh, we'll move on to the next subject, which is a
update.
Or rather, uh,
announcement from a colleague from the
Food and Agricultural Organisation in Rome.
Elisabetta Betula Morello, who's a fishery officer at the FA O General Commission
for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Miss Mala,
over to you.
Good morning. Can you Can you hear me?
Yes, we can.
Yes, indeed.
Thank you.
I must say I'm extremely humbled by the previous interventions,
but, uh, I
go ahead. So Good morning. My name is
Betula.
Blo and UM
I'm,
fishery resources officer at the General
Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean.
The GFCM
the GFCM is the regional Fisheries Management
organisation for the Mediterranean and the Black
Sea and also a body of the of the Food and Agriculture Organisation.
And it has the objective of federating
the efforts of 23 member countries towards ensuring
the conservation and the sustainable use of marine living resources as well as, um,
the development of sustainable aquaculture.
As you
or you all know,
the men in the Black Sea is a region where there
is a high demand for aquatic foods and a long,
very long tradition for fish consumption both
from fisheries and agriculture points of views.
And it's characterised by an incredible diversity in terms of traditions,
cultures, uh, but also fish species harvested in fishing practises.
And it's importantly, uh,
considered a hotspot for for climate change impacts for
the arrival of non indigenous species from elsewhere.
Uh, so the GFCM, um, has a flagship publication. And on Thursday, 7 December at 10,
uh, at 10 in the morning room time,
we will be presenting a special edition of this flagship publication,
um which is entitled The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries.
Sofi
So what is so
so
is a strategic, uh,
key report for fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea
and a tool for policy making in fisheries and aquaculture.
Well, fisheries up until now,
uh so
is published in 2016 and was able to identify
a reversal in the trend in overexploitation of fisheries
resources in the med and Black Sea region.
And since then,
it has reported a continuous improvement in the percentage of, uh,
of stocks fishery stocks that are,
uh, overexploited.
And this was going to be in line with the efforts, uh, for managing the stocks
for the first time this year. It will include an analysis of aquaculture,
uh, as well as fisheries showing the importance of the two sectors, uh, combined.
So we will be reporting on the advances
made from the application of 10 multi-annual management
plans and 10 fisheries restricted areas that have
been adopted by GFCM over the years.
Uh, confirming that effective management,
uh, does pay off and is the path towards securing,
uh, sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture?
So, please, uh, join us at the launch of of
Sofi
on Thursday
at, uh,
10 a.m.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. We do have a question for you from, uh, Ravi
Kant.
Uh, thank you, Rolando.
Thank you, Rolando.
Uh, madam, my question is about the RFM. Was, uh,
you know, categorization of, uh,
uh, fishing activities of European Union,
which has a lot of access agreements with several Mediterranean
countries.
Now,
does the European Union's fishing activities beyond its EZ
constitute some kind of, uh, uh,
problem in terms of the depletion of global fish stocks?
Because the European Union also gives a lot of subsidies
for more capacity and more fishing subsidies.
So, I, I just would like to know whether you have some, uh,
uh information on this E U's, uh, activities in mediterrean, uh, sea with, uh,
because it has access agreements with several countries.
Uh, so these are
subsidies contingent upon fishing.
So how would you characterise them?
So in in terms. Thank you for the question. In terms of of how we how we address, um,
let's say fisheries and fisheries management as an RFMO we We are, um,
overarching.
The all all the countries in the in, in the Mediterranean,
and the management that is carried out, um,
is carried out at the level of specific fisheries.
Uh, and usually it's It's fisheries that, uh,
involve trans boundary or or fish stocks that that, um, go from one
country to the other.
So, um, management plans that cover, for example, uh,
fisheries for bottom resources,
the massive resources in the Strait of Sicily that manage fisheries equally
between EU countries involved and other non EU countries such as Tunisia.
And the same applies to to, for example,
the porter fisheries for shrimps and and fisheries for, uh, for, um, black spot sea
between Morocco and EU waters.
So we we manage, um,
we we are there to ensure that there is correct management and
and provide the scientific basis for coming up with
appropriate management plans to manage these shared fish stocks.
Thank you very much, Ravi. Is that a follow up? Is that
old
hand
a
follow
up to
Madam?
I just would like to know that Does EU take
appropriate management measures to ensure the bios Stocks of the fisheries
are again, uh, you know,
uh, growing in a healthy state
as I as I mentioned before um
So the management plans that we adopt, which are, uh,
at the centre of this publication that will be, um, will be launched on Thursday,
uh, cover in the same way, uh,
EU and non EU countries in all countries in
the Mediterranean according to the fishery specific stock.
And according to this,
management plans are built based on scientific advice and based on what is actually
required for a stock that is managed
under a management plan to obtain sustainability.
So the the
the let's say the rules and the measures that are contained
in these in these plans are the same for all and,
uh, decided based on scientific advice. So
yes,
great. Thanks very much, Miss Morello. And thank you very much for joining us.
Good luck. With the launch
on Thursday, the seventh of December on your report,
I have a few announcements as usual before we wrap up just to point
you to the various statements that we
have shared with you pertaining to the Secretary
General's interventions at the cop
in, uh, Dubai. We he spoke at the Mr Guetta,
spoke at various events and we shared statements with you, including,
uh,
an event on early warning systems and a high level expert group of net zero emissions
at the Group of 77 plus China Meeting,
as well as a meeting of the group of landlocked developing states.
So all those statements are in your inbox.
Uh, the secretary general is currently back in New York
here. Meetings. We have the treaty bodies underway.
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Will this coming Friday conclude its session, at which point it will
issue its concluding observations for the countries it reviewed,
including Bolivia, Morocco, Germany, South Africa,
Bulgaria and Vietnam.
And the Committee on the Protection of the Rights
of All Migrant Workers and members of their families
is meeting this coming Thursday,
holding a meeting on the effects of climate change on the human rights of migrants.
So that's this Thursday at, I Believe, 3 p.m.
And then on Friday it will conclude its session, at
which point it will issue its concluding observations for Uruguay,
Kyrgyzstan and South Tome.
In principle,
maybe just to flag that, uh, in New York tomorrow,
there is a high level pledging event
for the Central Emergency Response Fund, the so-called serf,
which we've heard a lot about at these briefings
coming back here to Geneva tomorrow in this room at 11 o'clock, Volker Turk,
the high commissioner for Human Rights, will brief you here,
Mr Turk at 11 a.m. here, press conference.
And
that is it from me
if you have any questions.
Otherwise,
I wish you a good afternoon and see you on Otaha. Yep.
Uh,
OK.
A
OK, I. I will call Catherine and come up to give you some details.
But as you know, uh, we are responsible.
That is, the information service responsible overall,
for the accreditation of journalists.
There is a special arrangement that has been put in place
for ewe,
which is currently underway at the SE
SE.
But Catherine can expand on that.
Yes, Uh,
the
security.
Well, now,
mercy.
Just a quick announcement.
I've just learned on my computer in the room that we may be
able to issue a document a short report by the IMF World Bank
WTO
and
on digital trade and development. I will give you more information.
It will be like a seminar presentation, and we will invite you all
more details, uh, in, uh, in the coming hours. Thank you.
Thank you, Catherine.
If there are no further questions, we can conclude this briefing today.
And I wish you a good afternoon. See you Friday.