Welcome to this press briefing of the UN Information Service here in Geneva.
And I would like to start by introducing you a new colleague
Geneva communication family. Very.
She's the new chief of news and media at the ILO. She's here with me.
I'll give her the floor to introduce herself. As you know,
uh, our friend and good colleague, uh, Rosa
has, uh, retired a few weeks ago, months ago.
And, uh, Zaina is, uh, the new chief,
and I give her the floor for introducing her staff.
conna. It's, uh, nice to meet you.
Um, as Ali Sandra just mentioned I am new in Geneva.
I'm the new chief of, uh, news and, uh, media
Uh, but I'm not new to the UN family.
Uh, in fact, I'm returning to the UN family after a couple of years of, uh, teaching,
uh, journalism at Northwestern University.
I served with UNICEF in Iraq and with the UN Secretariat in Somalia in East Africa.
and I'm a former long time TV journalist. as well.
So it's wonderful to be with you and,
uh I look forward to working with all of you quite closely.
Thank you very much, Zaina.
And, uh, I'm told that as soon as Zaina will have her cell phone and, uh,
other contact details, a LO will inform you.
And we will also include that, of course, in our correspondence.
Thank you very much then.
Good luck with your new tenor.
And I'd like to continue now with
UNICEF and invite Maxi Uh, and her guest
So we have the pleasure to have with us Ted
who is the UNICEF deputy executive director
for humanitarian action and supply operations.
And you're here to tell us more, sir, about the global humanitarian appeal of UNICEF
for Children affected by conflict and disaster. You have the floor.
Thank you very much. Uh, good day.
in my entire 25 year career in UNICEF, it is hard to recall a year
in which the situation facing Children affected by conflict and disaster,
including due to climate,
for humanitarian organisation work has rarely been more
important and and perhaps never more complex.
Uh, the horrendous situation in Gaza, uh, which takes us to the core of our humanity,
Earlier this week, UNICEF launched a 9.3 billion emergency funding appeal to reach
at least 94 million Children in 155 countries.
Yet at a time where humanitarian and protection needs have never been greater,
we are approaching 2024 facing an increasingly bleak funding
Flexible funding, which allows us to respond at speed, scale and nimbleness,
uh, is shrinking, restricting our ability to respond quickly
and ensure principled action based on needs
and humanitarian actors ability to safely reach affected population
where there is, uh, increasingly at risk.
And we continue to see attacks against humanitarian actors around the world.
Children around the world have faced rampant
violations and denials of their rights.
I spent a week in Ukraine where I went to front line areas in Kharkiv and Zapor.
and uh stressed the urgent needs for continued
humanitarian response to conflict affected areas there.
In October, I went into Gaza,
where we have seen an unprecedented number of Children,
reportedly killed in the continuing violence.
I met families in Sudan where millions of Children have
been forced from their homes in what is now the largest
child, uh, displacement crisis in the world.
Beyond these, uh, headline grabbing areas affected by conflict and other crisis,
there are Children suffering elsewhere as well.
Uh, this year I met Children in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Chad and Mali.
Uh, such devastating conflicts,
combined with a rise in climate related disaster disease outbreaks
and displacement mean Children continue to endure the unimaginable threat
and impact of protracted crises and,
uh, climate related, uh, threats
in all of these contexts.
UNICEF is on the ground providing Children and families with
essential life saving aid and exploring innovative solutions to challenge,
uh, and problems that have plagued humanity for centuries.
But at a time when humanitarian protection needs have never been greater,
we are concerned that our ability to meet these needs
is going to come under increasing strain.
Uh, among the most critically underfunded emergencies.
Right now, we have Sudan, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar,
Haiti, Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia, south Sudan, and Bangladesh.
UNICEF and our partners are committed to providing
a comprehensive response to the many humanitarian crises
But these Children should not be paying the price
of our inaction with their lives and their futures.
They need continued access to essential services like health care, safe water,
education and protection.
When I was in Sudan, uh, I met a
12 year old boy called Mahmoud
in a temporary learning centre outside of a
uh, continuing his learning on an E tablet. Um,
but what struck me was the
And it was a really faithful re
replication of his neighbourhood down to the pharmacy
across the street from his house that had been bombed out in the little,
uh, parking lot where he played,
uh, football. And all he wanted was to be able to go back, uh, to that place
And when I was in Gaza with our executive director, uh, Kathy Russell,
we made we met a 16 year old.
she had a brace. She was in bed, Uh, and she had been hit by shrapnel in the back.
And she's never gonna walk again.
Uh, these Children should not be going through this. Uh, we live in a world where
we need to do everything possible,
work with every fibre in our body so that Children like
that don't have to go through these kind of situations.
Absolutely dire situation. So I will open up the floor to questions in the room first
Bruce is our correspondent of the New York Times.
Nick, you have the floor?
Yeah. Good morning. Thank you. Um, could you give us the numbers? I mean,
going down in absolute terms,
or is it rising and justice less in relation to your overall requirement?
what does this tell you really about,
interest in multinational funding
It seems to me that, um, a lot more funding is going through bilateral channels.
And do you feel that essentially, you're losing?
you know, the the plot for that. Thank you.
So, uh, if you look at the
absolute amount of funding, uh, it's it's flat for UNICEF.
Um, what is rising is needs, And actually,
what we've done this year is taking a really hard look at requirements,
uh, and done our best to prioritise. So the appeal this year of 9.3 billion,
uh is actually, uh uh, a 16% decrease,
uh, over what we appealed for last year.
Not because needs have decreased,
but because we've really tried to focus on how we can be most effective
in responding to those needs
where it's absolutely essential that UNICEF, uh,
is the best place to respond to those needs and
how we can work in in partnership with others,
uh, to, uh, you know, if you will, uh, be more efficient, Uh, in the way we, uh,
in terms of whether or not there's
less funding going through the multilateral system.
Uh, the UN, uh, including UNICEF, continues to be,
uh, one of the major, uh, sources, Uh, and, uh,
conduit through which the world addresses crises.
Um, we stay and deliver, uh, in countries throughout the world, including in Gaza,
as we speak today in Sudan as we speak today,
Um and, uh, I don't think there's been a a market shift,
certainly in humanitarian funding from the
multilateral system to other source of funding
uh, I think what we're seeing is increased need,
uh, in a fiscally tight space,
uh, affected, Uh, by, uh, you know, increasing. Uh,
the instability because of conflict and climate.
Uh, the the overhang of covid.
Uh, and, uh, the economic consequences of covid, if you will.
It's a It's a triple threat that, uh, Children around the world,
Thank you very much. Lisa Schlein, Voice of America.
if you don't have the money, which you apparently don't
to take care of, these many Children, Uh uh, by the way, how many
is the appeal for the $9.3 billion appeal
and in how many countries?
Also, what I was wondering is, what are the programmes that get cut?
Uh, clearly you can't provide, um, the Children with all that they need
also are the funds earmarked for different countries. And if that is the case,
you mentioned countries that are,
uh, the most disfavored, which are the ones that do get the most money.
So, in terms of the number of Children that we are working to reach this year, it's,
Uh, the 94 million Children, uh, are in, uh uh, 30
countries. Uh, and in addition to that, we have five multi country appeals.
so, uh, we work throughout the world.
but those are the countries that are the most
affected where we concentrate the most of our work.
Um, uh, we don't cut programmes, uh, by area.
We continue to work in health, in nutrition, in water, sanitation, hygiene,
in education and in protection.
where is it absolutely necessary that
our interventions reach the most vulnerable,
Uh, and And that means, for example,
Uh, with, uh, what are the essential interventions Ensuring, for example, that,
uh, immunisation, uh, continues to be, uh,
available that primary health care continues to function.
Uh, that Children have access to treatment against severe acute malnutrition.
Um, and that, uh, some of the basics,
uh, around child protection, Psychosocial support, uh, mental health.
Addressing grave violations against Children recruitment, uh,
of of Children by armed groups,
Um, uh, as well as, uh, education, which is a life saving, uh,
intervention and emergency that all those continue,
there's certain activities that that we would like to be able to sustain.
transfers to victims of sexual and
gender based violence in the Democratic Republic
of Congo facing one of the most horrible protection crises in the world.
Uh, we may not be able to sustain such an operation,
so find other ways to provide support,
uh, to the survivors of such horrible crimes.
Um, our funding for last year, uh, we were at roughly 50%.
Uh, for this year, rather, we're at roughly 50% of the total appeal.
Uh, and that's why I did.
We've We've cut down by by 16% what we are focused on, and we're prioritising,
uh, it still makes a huge difference. It still makes a huge difference.
um, and again through this prioritisation through trying to increase efficiency.
Um, we we we are, uh, working on what is most essential for Children.
Thank you very much. Any other question for UNICEF?
I don't see any. So thank you. very much for coming
and for launching this appeal. And we count on our journalists to relate. Of course.
So let me go now to WHO, uh, we have with us, uh,
Tariq and And he has brought Doctor Rosamond Lewis, who is the WHO technical lead
And, um, she's gonna tell us about
ox situation, including current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
You have the floor, Doctor Lewis.
Thank you very much. Uh, you all recall that the global outbreak of
ox, which started in May 2022 affected more than 92,000
people in, uh, in, uh, now 100 and 17 countries.
Uh, Cambodia is the most recent country to report their first case just this week.
Um, we also have, uh, a reported situation on a cruise ship,
outbreak and a cruise ship in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific.
Um, which, uh, we can come back to in in a moment.
Um, for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO has undertaken a mission there.
a joint, uh, multidisciplinary mission with the Ministry of Health and all, uh,
all components Three levels of WHO regional office,
country office and headquarters.
In that mission, uh, we have assessed over several weeks
of the situation regarding
And, um, I've come up with the conclusions that, uh, that are quite concerning.
There is a rapidly expanding outbreak, uh,
in the country that the this year the country has reported over 13,000,
um, clinically compatible suspected cases of
which is more than twice the number previously reported
in any prior year and over 600 deaths.
the uh outbreak is expanding, uh, geograph.
In addition to more numbers of cases in endemic areas,
the outbreak is also expanding geographically into
new provinces that are not previously affected.
that includes, um, for example, three new provinces, uh, Lu
Alaba, Kinshasa province and, uh, South Kivu.
Um and uh, really? That's 23 out of the 26 provinces now reporting in PO
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Um, in addition to this geographic expansion and rising number of cases,
there is also, for the first time,
confirmation of a sexual transmission of this particular plaid of the virus.
You may recall that there are two plaids.
Pla one, which is central African plaid and plaid two,
previously known as West African plaid.
Uh, and, uh, PLA two is the one that went around the world.
So now, in Central Africa, we are for the first time seeing sexual transmission, uh,
patients who are having played one,
of the monkeypox virus, or
ox due to play one of the virus.
Um, this is, uh, of course,
very concerning because of the accelerated transmission
when when transmitted through sexual networks.
In the case of the DRC, the networks most affected involve, um,
sex workers and notably female sex workers.
So the, uh, demographic, uh,
picture of the outbreak in the DRC in the newly affected areas is concerning.
It's the first time we have seen
ox being reported in more women than in men.
ku, for example, it's exclusively among adults,
whereas in the endemic areas we still see the classic picture of
ox with large numbers of Children affected.
70% of the cases in the endemic areas remain in Children under, um 15,
and mostly in Children under five.
Likewise, for the deaths reported the case
in the country is much higher than anywhere else in the world.
You might recall that in the global outbreak it
was under 1% 0.18% to be precise and still,
uh, matches that figure today.
Um, but in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
with the 600 deaths reported this year,
we're looking at a case fatality ratio of around 5%
so much, much higher and in the most endemic areas. Or it's over 8% almost 9%.
So we're looking at a very high case fatality ratio for a virus. This
trade is already known to be more virulent than the one that went around the world.
So we can appreciate that this represents a public health risk
for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For neighbouring countries including, for example, Burundi, Rwanda, Angola,
where there's a lot of population movements over the borders,
including sex workers themselves, are also very mobile.
Um, when when they need to seek work and and so there is concern of, um,
possible transmission, uh, in in other countries in the neighbouring uh, area
Congo including Congo Brazzaville across the river.
This also represents a risk for the rest of
the world because we've already seen what can happen.
Ox, Uh, when it when it enters networks that have a ra, um frequent, uh,
and close contact physical contact.
And we're seeing this also in the DRC.
There are some cases among men who have sex
with men in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
also contributing to the outbreak.
But primarily we're concerned about the major increase
in cases in the endemic area as well
as well as, um, among sex workers in previously unaffected areas.
Kinshasa, the capital, um, also has had an outbreak.
And there is concern that there may
also be continuing low-level transmission there.
because work needs to be done to raise the awareness
and understanding of health workers who have not previously,
um, had to deal with or consider, um, mbox as a sexually transmissible infection.
So there's a lot of work ongoing already in the country
to to train health workers and to raise awareness of communities.
As you know, sexual transmission was already documented in Nigeria and, of course,
So this is the latest evolution of this of this concerning feature of this, uh,
emerging Orthodox virus, Um, which was similar, um, to smallpox, Uh, in the past.
And part of the concern that we have here
is is that the virus may continue to evolve, as we have seen with clade two.
if that were to happen with clade one, we're not really sure
yet, Um, what that would look like.
So there is an urgent need in this country to invest in survey
laboratory testing, laboratory capacity, uh, development of rapid tests.
Um, also risk communication community engagement is critically important.
It's a complex situation complex outbreak.
And therefore, uh, there needs to be engagement of the different communities.
Uh, men who have sex with men, sex workers, uh,
people working in areas where where they go to to seek, uh, employment,
and don't realise that there may be a new risk
facing them as well as those who are in the,
Um, mostly Children. Very much at risk in those areas.
so WHO has continued to work with the Ministry of Health in all areas of the response.
Um, including, uh, working towards access to countermeasures.
ox vaccines and therapeutics.
There are trials for therapeutics ongoing around the world.
Um, but they have slowed down.
Uh, because, thankfully, the number of cases have slowed down.
The one child that is really continuing to,
uh, recruit patients faster than expected is, in fact,
the trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
So we're looking forward to seeing receiving results
on the effectiveness of the therapeutic called techno
from the DRC early in the new year.
Um, and finally, vaccines, of course, um,
have been made available to other populations around the world.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo does not have access to these vaccines yet.
Uh, just like many other countries, don't yet have access.
And so work is being done with the
regulatory authorities and with the Ministry of Health,
Um, towards developing an immunisation strategy, uh,
and approving importation of products,
Um, I think that's what I have for you now, um,
really important to continue engaging with the country and, uh,
with the communities affected in the country.
any questions that you like.
Thank you very much, Doctor Lewis. Indeed. I open the floor to question,
uh, first to the journalist here.
I don't see any, so I'll go to the, um,
platform. Elaine Fletcher.
Hi, Rosamund. Elaine Fletcher from Health Policy Watch.
Last year, when we we were dealing with this issue, the main, um,
producer of the vaccine of the most effective vaccine, Bavarian Nordic,
It had stopped production altogether because of the renovations in its plant.
What's and it didn't seem to be interested in giving out a licence to anybody else.
Uh, what's happening with that
Thank you for the question.
So the, um, manufacturer is very interested in engaging with WHO, uh,
to continue to make vaccines more available. So production capacity,
and they found a way to to increase production capacity fivefold.
And so they are working on that,
and we'll we'll also secure licencing for that new process.
Um, so that is a development that we're actively looking forward to, obviously,
um, as well as, uh, increasing access,
as I mentioned through regulatory procedures as Well, as, uh,
many countries around the world that did procure the vaccine are,
in fact now also ready to offer vaccine to low middle income countries.
We're also working with Gabby, uh, on their assessment of the situation.
This Schlein versus America.
monkeypox doesn't stay where it is in the country that it represents
a risk to the rest of the world. Would you elaborate upon this? Is this a situation
if it is allowed to spread from one country
to another that it could pose an international,
uh, public health risk as,
uh, other diseases have been designated most recently covid.
Uh, Lisa, you may recall that there was, in fact,
a public health emergency of international concern declared also for
mbox last year in 2022 from, uh, June or July of that year through to, um, May of 2023.
That was the status as the capacity to respond to that outbreak improved,
and the number of cases declined
that that capacity was lifted.
the MO global outbreak is still considered an ongoing
emergency and this new situation with this new,
This new situation in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo is therefore very concerning in that regard,
um, what MO can do. And so, uh, I can't I don't have a crystal ball.
Um, but, uh, but, yes, we are concerned, um, that this that this outbreak in the DRC,
um, may, uh, eventually behave the same way.
Um, we don't know exactly what transpired, um,
in the five years prior to the global outbreak of plague two.
But we do know that there was ongoing transmission, new
emerging, ongoing transmission in Nigeria since 2017,
And so the outbreak in 2022.
While it came as a surprise,
the format in which it came the way in which it transmitted,
at the end was surprising that it emerged, uh, globally.
And so, um, we are concerned that there may be, uh, further, um,
international transmission of this clay one, also from the, uh,
from the country where it is most commonly reported.
Thank you very much, Doctor Luis.
Any other question to WHO.
I don't see other hands. Oh, sorry. Um DP a, uh, Dutch
I'm sorry if you may be answered in French already,
but I'm I'm gonna ask anyway because you mentioned the cruise ship.
Uh, could you, um, explain what? Uh, can you tell us more? What cruise is that?
How it what is the mode of transmission on that cruise? How many people
Um, yes, we have, uh, information, but it's not complete information.
Uh, that there was an outbreak of
anthrax on a cruise liner,
um, which, uh, visited, uh, five countries in the month of November.
Uh, a patient, uh, returned home to a country in Europe and, uh, tested
ox, for which symptoms had developed on the ship.
That same person also reported being aware of quite
a number of other patients on the ship.
However, we don't have a report,
neither from the cruise liner nor from the countries in which
and and so we don't have a lot of
information about what transpired on the ship itself.
However, this serves as a warning
that, um, events and gatherings, uh, still represent risk.
That was a themed cruise, uh, primarily men who have sex with men, uh, on that ship,
And and so this represents a risk that gatherings, events,
lead to outbreaks and and amplifying events.
Um, as people from many countries were on that ship,
we don't have the nationalities of the folks that were on that ship,
but the report was that there were people from all over the world,
so vigilance must be maintained both for, uh, clade
two as well as, uh, clade one.
Um, because, uh, the virus, both viruses are now circulating.
Uh, so far, PLA one is is that remains in Central Africa. We hope it will.
Um but PLA two is definitely still causing outbreaks in specific circumstances.
Um, and in newly reporting countries,
however many countries have stopped reporting.
You might recall that the director general issued standing recommendations
in August of 2023 asking all member states to continue
surveillance and reporting of MO cases.
However, many countries around the world do not report or have ceased reporting.
So our visibility on the outbreak, uh, is less than it was a year ago.
Um, but we still have these red flags, um,
and outbreaks reported that are served as a reminder
that we all need to remain vigilant.
Questions, Other questions to WH two I don't see any.
So I would like to thank you very much, Doctor Louis,
for being with us for this update.
And I'll go now to our colleagues of FA
O and World Food Programme.
Deputy FA O, representative for Sudan.
and also Lenny Kensley, who is the WFP spokesperson for Sudan.
And I think you are in Nairobi.
Uh, and you are going to brief us on the food security situation in Sudan.
I think maybe we start with, uh, Mr
Yes, Uh, thank you very much. Good morning, everybody
go ahead. Go ahead. Now we can hear and we can see you. Go ahead.
good morning, everybody. Uh uh do mark
since the escalating violence that broke out in Sudan,
the food security situation in the country is dire and
has a surge to extremely alarming level requiring our immediate,
According to the newly released integrated
food security phase classification projection,
17.57 million people across the Sudan accounting
for 37% of the analysed population,
are facing high level of acute food insecurity.
uh, in R PC phase three or above
between October 2023 and February 2024.
Uh, compared to the previous second projection analysis, uh, in in June 2023.
Around 1.7 million people,
uh, has shift from R PC Phase
the estimated population facing high level of acute food insecurity.
a PC uh phase three and above increased
from 15 million people to 17.7 million people.
The most acutely food insecure population are located
in states affected by high level of violence,
including greater Darfur,
and especially in the three city area of Kato
people over half of the population face high level of acute food insecurity.
about 500 million people almost half of the total population in Darfur
on a PC, uh, scale three or above.
farm, about two point 7,000,044% of the total population in Ko
are in I PC. Uh, Phase three and above
this figure are the highest
ever recorded that coincide with, uh, Sudan having
The food crisis is exacerbated by ongoing conflict,
low agricultural production, high food
climate shock and displacement,
uh, factors such as the unstable rain for condition, the widespread
of plant pests, the unavailability and accessibility of agricultural input,
in the process are collectively contributing to
the decline of the seasonal agricultural performance,
Faus, recently released rapid assessment
The assessment also indicated that
the production of key staple cereal, sorghum and millet
is projected to decline by 24%
and 50% respectively, compared to the previous season,
while Sudan possess uh sufficient land and water resources.
The ongoing conflict in paid farmer access, uh, physically,
uh, due to security threat.
But, uh, because of the lack of, uh, fin uh, financial resources
to access agricultural input to resume with
the farming activity to produce enough food,
the Sudanese people require more support.
our immediate action to preserve the life
and livelihood of rural Sudanese community is absolutely crucial.
The longer we take to respond,
the more life we expose to the imminent threat of family
the essence, and swift action is our only shield against this looming danger.
stand, the result in its support for Sudanese rural community
between July and September 2023 ahead of the critical planting season,
far reached over 1 million farming households,
5 million people, to support local food production and sustain a rural livelihood.
instability and access challenges continue to threaten, uh,
as we speak. I'm currently in koi,
and, uh, I was planning to travel to, uh, a sa
Madani. But we are told that there is some fighting in wad madani
then preventing us for, uh uh for travelling at the moment.
So and security is still ongoing, and we are monitoring the situation,
and we will continue to update
the, uh, all the stakeholders on the food security situation in
the Sudan. Thank you very much for your attention.
Thank you very much. Lenny,
thank you so much for having me.
Uh, so as my colleague Adam mentioned today, we mark a grim milestone.
Eight months since a horrific war erupted across Sudan,
which is showing no sign of abating
and continues to have spread as we have just heard from Adam into Jazeera state,
which is Sudan's breadbasket.
That's eight months of terror, violence,
displacement and is measurable suffering
that the Sudanese people have had to endure
in what is becoming one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
The suffering is unimaginable
Yet the crisis has not been getting the international focus and attention
We are warning of a looming hunger catastrophe by next year's lean season
if we are unable to expand access and regularly deliver food
assistance to people trapped in conflict hotspots such as Khartoum,
the Darfur region in the west and the south central cordon
I was speaking to one of my colleagues the
other day whose family can't escape the capital,
unable to get past checkpoints to flee the violence
amid ongoing airstrikes and shelling,
they're risking their lives just to go outside to purchase basic goods.
they are struggling to put food on their plates.
Yet when the lean season hits in May
and food becomes less available,
they may be out of options
unless WFP can get through and regularly deliver assistance.
As my colleague Adam mentioned, the hunger crisis is deepening at an alarming rate
as the new I PC food security analysis shows the highest
levels of hunger ever recorded during the current harvest season.
there is more food available.
If there's no significant increase in food assistance
by the time the lean season arrives in about six months,
conflict hotspots could see the emergence of catastrophic hunger
or level five out of five, the highest on the I PC scale.
Again, as my colleague mentioned,
nearly 18 million people across Sudan are facing acute hunger right now.
Now that is equivalent to the entire population of the Netherlands,
the entire population of the Netherlands
and more than double the number at the same time a year ago.
This figure is also higher than the initial projection,
which was made for this time period
which again just demonstrates how rapidly the food security situation
Close to 5 million people are in emergency levels
of food insecurity or level four out of five.
What is most concerning about that is that over three quarters
of these people in that high level of emergency levels of hunger
are cornered in areas where humanitarian access has been intermittent
and in some areas impossible due to ongoing fighting.
Since the start of the conflict,
WFP has provided life saving assistance to over 5 million people,
preventing an even worse deterioration of food security,
especially in eastern and northern Sudan.
Yet this is only scratching the surface compared to
the immense needs that we are seeing on ground.
My colleagues in Jazeera state,
where many people from Khartoum fled to say they see crowds of people lining up.
But there's not enough assistance on hand to support everyone.
Only those in the highest levels of hunger,
meaning that others could also slip into deeper levels of hunger come may
regular and safe humanitarian access to civilians in areas worst hit by violence
has, quite frankly, been inadequate.
WFP has been able to take advantage of momentary lulls in fighting
to reach families in greater Khartoum,
but has only managed to reach the Capitol one time in the last three months.
Only one in five people who WFP has identified as most urgently in need of
food assistance in the Khartoum area has
received food aid since the conflict started.
Only one in five of the people who need it
in Sudan's capital have received support because of access issues.
Regular convoys of food assistance
have travelled from Chad to west and central Darfur
where we have opened up a humanitarian corridor,
a cross border humanitarian corridor
there, we've been able to provide a million people a five Sorry,
a half a million people with food assistance.
However, people in other parts of the Darfur region like South Darfur,
have not received any assistance at all since June,
despite WFPS repeated attempts to obtain safe access.
The picture I'm painting here today is extremely dire,
and as WFP, we are alarmed of what will happen
to the millions of people who are looking to us and other aid organisations
in their greatest hour of need.
That is why WFP is urgently calling on all parties
to the conflict for a humanitarian ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access
to avert a hunger catastrophe in the upcoming Le
Lives are depending on it.
indeed. Thank you very much.
ask the journalist if they have any question on this matter.
this is for a P or Al Jazeera.
Yesterday I called some families, uh, from
and they said, uh, there is a lot of there is a lack of, uh
of foods. A lack of there is a lack of food
they they don't have enough food and they don't have enough water.
Are you able to reach these people in,
I don't know. Who would like to take this? Maybe a WFP.
For Adam. Okay. For Adam, maybe.
Lenny can add something. So let's start with Adam.
Yes, I know. I mean, thank you for this question.
I think, uh, the we have to put it that way.
the crisis is deepening. That's true.
But at the same time, uh,
the support that, for example, F
provided, uh, we reach, uh, uh, over, uh, 1 million farmers
who, uh, were able to produce, uh,
between two and 3 million tonnes of cereal.
Those food are local food that are available
in the country that are even contribute to reduce
the the food prices. Uh uh,
if, uh if, uh if you you do the the analysis correctly
problem that we're mentioning here is that some of the hard to reach areas like
farm where we cannot even reach as my colleague from WFT said
there is no way you can reach people even if the food is there.
The logistic is not, uh they're not.
There is no humanitarian access we cannot reach.
So that is really where we are appealing for, uh, uh,
a ceasefire to allow humanitarian corridor to be opened so that, uh uh, those, uh,
are distributing food item can have access.
As for us, for FA O, our appeal
is to continue to support the farming community
to produce enough food in areas that are accessible
in the great area of production. Like sa
uh, coasty White Nile and and and and other area where we still have access
to ensure that the local food is available.
And, uh uh, and also where food is not available,
Uh, or where we cannot access. Sorry.
We could also then imagine, uh, doing some cash transfer
in a way that people can buy, uh, locally.
Uh, if there are, there are food in those in those markets, but the issue really,
We really need a humanitarian
access. We need the humanitarian corridor in a way that, uh, convoy can move
and and access those people in the hard to reach area. That is really critical.
As my colleagues, uh, Lani also said,
uh, lady, maybe you want to add something?
Yes. Thank you so much for your question.
Uh, and as as you said, there's,
uh you're hearing reports of lack of food in Khartoum.
that's what is extremely concerning is because right now is the harvest season.
There are more crops available, there is more food availability.
And, uh, we're looking at six months down the line
when crops become less available when stocks run out,
we could be looking at a at a complete lack of food in Khartoum.
Now, in terms of accessing Khartoum,
this has been one of the greatest challenges for WFP.
Uh, so just at the end of November, we managed to break through and, uh,
reach into karate area of
Khartoum, where we did distributions for 100,000 people.
But as I said, that was the first time we were able to reach Khartoum.
and it's been we also tried to break through and push access through to De
uh, where fighting has been ongoing and and was it was too intense to actually, uh,
So we weren't able to reach De
Um, but we're doing everything possible to try to,
uh, deliver aid when and where feasible.
this is why we are also calling on all parties for a
cease fire so that these people who are trapped in conflict hotspots,
especially in the greater Khartoum area, can get the help they need.
Thank you very much. Any other question?
I see Lisa Schlein. Lisa, I saw your message on the chat
that you really need the, um, the notes of our colleagues immediately.
um call. And I hope that, uh, yeah, she said just sent before the briefing.
So you should have it already, but go ahead, Lisa, if you have a question.
Uh, yes, you're right. I received it, so thank you very much. Very helpful.
Um, you're calling for a humanitarian corridor. I may have my,
I'm getting confused by all of these crises that are bedevilling us.
But I believe that recently,
um, WFP was caught in some kind of a,
uh, some some of your aid workers, uh, were wounded.
I'm not sure whether this happened in Sudan,
uh, while delivering aid, even though they had been promised. Uh uh,
guarantees of safety. E. Essentially, my question is,
uh, you seem to have difficulty
in, uh, getting agreement by the warring parties
for the delivery safe delivery of aid.
their words? Uh, uh uh, that
if they do allow you to deliver aid that in fact,
your aid workers will be safe. Thank you.
And and and And this must be really kind of very concerning to you.
yeah. I want to start. Yeah, go ahead.
Uh, yeah. OK, now you're on.
Yeah, There we go. Now I'm unmuted.
This is one of our greatest concerns is the safety and security of our staff.
Uh, and as we have seen in the past,
there have been humanitarian ceasefires announced,
uh, that were broken sometimes within minutes, sometimes within hours.
And so we haven't seen any reliable, uh,
actual cease fire in the active fighting zones.
is concerning for us. However, we will continue to push,
uh, and and call on all parties for that humanitarian access and for that cease fire,
but we know that we're operating in one
of the most complex environments in the world.
Um, but that is what we do as WFP is work in these very tough
um, and and get a where get aid through
to where it's feasible while ensuring the safety and security
of our staff and our convoys and the food assistance.
Thank you very much. I don't know if Adam wants to add anything.
No. OK, any other question to our colleagues?
No, I just wanted to add that Yes, the situation is complex, as my colleagues,
But we also have to recognise the tremendous work that
to allow the humanitarian actor to access to, uh,
those have to reach some of those have to reach area
because we, for example, were able to access with our our seed distribution.
in, in in, uh, in the Sudan.
But after, uh, mainly due to the the the conflicting in the Juba,
the Jeda platform that was put in place to, uh, to negotiate with
allow those actors to to stop fighting and allow us to reach.
We really will, uh, will again appeal to to all actors to to to provide support
we we can do our our our work and and reach
those people who are trapped in the hard to reach areas.
Thank you very much. Nika. M.
Um, I just wanted I mean, given the scale, the the the the huge size of the of the
numbers of people that are in need of food assistance. Um,
how much food do you need and do? Is there are there food stocks?
Where would this come from? Is there sufficient sourcing
of supplies of of food available to you, um, to to address these needs. Thank you.
Thanks so much for your question.
we have just over 30,000 metric tonnes of food stocks in Port Sudan.
Uh, which is enough for the food assistance that we have planned for this month.
and I just want to go into a little bit how difficult the access is on that question.
So we have our food stocks
in Port Sudan, which is 8850 kilometres away from
Khartoum. So we're sending convoys through, uh, eastern Sudan, trying to get into
Khartoum. Um, and that's this is one of the things that makes it difficult.
Um, To reach people in these
places is that we're coming in from an area that's controlled by, uh,
the army going into different lines of control,
and that's what makes it extremely difficult.
Then, um, on the sorry back to the stocks issue, uh, for example, for next month,
we actually only so far have 50% of the stocks in
the country for what we have planned for next month.
one of the issues is funding.
Uh, so we're calling, um, on on, uh, our partners and donors to step up. We need
million over the next six months,
um, to provide assistance,
to around 6 to 7 million people we have planned for those
next six months that are in the highest levels of food insecurity.
Uh, so right Now, At the moment for the next, let's say 23 weeks.
We have enough stocks in country.
Um, but starting in the next year, uh,
those stocks may not be enough unless we are able to get additional shipments.
And if we get additional funding,
I, uh, Nick, you have a follow up.
Alright, let me start again. Just follow up on that.
I mean is is there sufficient grain available in
world markets for you to find what you need?
Uh, so sourcing, sourcing, sourcing at
the moment has not really been an operational issue for us.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's pretty clear. Lisa,
Uh, yeah, as a follow up. You you you mentioned that,
uh, you or maybe your FA O colleague mentioned that,
uh, no food was getting into Darfur.
Does that mean that no food has been able to be delivered from Chad into Darfur,
which has been the case previously?
And why is that? And then also, uh,
Because they're so hungry and they're in danger.
Are many people still fleeing Sudan?
Are they even able to flee Sudan because of the two neighbouring countries
because of the instability and violence. Thank you,
Then you go ahead. Thanks. Thanks so much, Lisa. Yeah,
Let's start with Laney and then go to Adam.
Thanks so much, Lisa, for your question.
So we actually have been able to get food assistance, uh, into the Darfur region.
Uh, at the beginning of the conflict, we actually had, uh,
food stocks still available, Uh, in the Darfur region.
Uh, but then most recently, actually, in the last
we had a breakthrough where we were able
to open up a humanitarian corridor from Chad Absa
Chana That's going into West Star four.
So we've had 10 different convoys of food assistance going through. So
since that uh, humanitarian corridor opened up,
we've been able to support around half
a million people and then putting together that
the pre-existing stocks that we already had and distributed
when the conflict started.
We've reached over 1 million people in the Darfur region.
but it still isn't enough because we're not
able to reach certain parts of the Darfur.
So there are five different states in the Darfur right now,
we've only been able to reach west and east.
Uh, we haven't been able to provide any support in South Darfur.
this is the challenge that we're trying to expand and build
on this humanitarian corridor in a very complex operating environment where
you're not just looking at the two main parties to the conflict,
but also different armed groups that are control
of different areas in different parts of the
Darfur. So it's a lot of nuanced negotiation
cations that go on and and and a wide
array of actors that need to be communicated to and
make sure that that line of communication is clear
that the command and control in different areas is clear
for us to be able to move those trucks to different areas.
Yes. No, just regarding that
I was mentioning that, uh, uh from June to, uh, um uh, August during the the the
the agricultural campaign, the planting time
that it was difficult to, uh,
provide agricultural input to the to the farmers in the Darfur
and the Cordo farm so that they can produce enough local, uh, cereal
and and and support the food and nutrition security.
That was I was, uh, I was referring to.
So, uh, but well, now, with the establishment of the, uh,
the cross-border operation,
I'm pretty sure that some, uh, food item are coming from from, uh, from cross border.
And people can, uh, certainly, uh uh have, uh, more access.
But we need really to bear in mind that, uh,
one of the the the the key strategy should be to allow because, uh, Sudan has, uh,
sufficient, uh, land and water,
to provide assistance in a way that people can produce enough local cereal and be,
uh, to strengthen their their food and security and resilience.
And, uh, this is what, uh, F
And it will really be appealing for, uh, donor to to support those initiatives.
Lisa, you have another follow.
Uh uh uh uh. You didn't answer my question as to whether people were,
were fleeing from Sudan whether they were even able to flee. And also,
uh, the, uh uh uh Mr Yao, Uh, how much money does
Uh, WFP told us but I don't believe you did. Thank you.
Actually, I had written down to follow up on your on the second part of your question.
Um, so thanks for reminding me.
Uh, yeah. So people are still fleeing Sudan.
Um, right now, there's around 6.7 million people who have been displaced.
Uh, since the conflict started,
that's both internally and to neighbouring countries.
Of those, 1.4 million people have crossed borders.
Uh, there's around half a million refugees Sudanese refugees on the chad border
who also are not receiving the support that they need because
our Chad operation is also facing extreme funding shortfalls around $185
rations, uh, for refugees across the entire country,
which would also affect the Sudanese refugees that are on that border.
Uh, so to your question, yes. People are still fleeing,
and people still are on the move. And, uh, like my colleague Adam mentioned
the conflict continues to spread to different areas.
So, uh, people have maybe fled once might be forced to flee again,
whether inside or outside the borders.
Um, but it's a very, very.
I mean, it's an it's an active war zone,
and people are trying to find whatever way they can to survive.
Yes. I mean, uh, urgently, if I would require, we'll need, uh uh, $75
to support the local food production.
And then we have to get ready because the planting season is coming
We need to get prepared now If, uh, uh, the resources are available,
we'll be able to put, uh, people the farmers to produce enough.
Uh, which will also then contribute to build synergy with our colleagues from, uh,
While they're distributing food.
We are supporting those, uh, uh, household to produce their own food in a way that,
uh, they they can better.
They can be building their resiliency and be better off even during the lean season.
Thank you very much. Oh, John John. Zaro
From the room. Yes. My question is to the World Food Programme representative.
I was wondering if you could
give us an overview. You mentioned the shortfalls both in
Sudan and in neighbouring Chad
in the recent global appeal. How much is the World Food Programme asking,
uh, from donors globally.
And where are your biggest shortfalls besides Sudan and Chad?
Just to put a perspective on the needs and the shortfalls.
How much have you received so far this year?
And what are you asking for for next year?
Yes. So, uh, I would need to get back to you on the exact global figure.
Uh, because I'm specifically focused on Sudan. Um, the spokesperson for WFP Sudan.
Um, so we'll get back to you with that exact global figure.
Um, but, uh, for the regional response from the Sudan crisis,
because this conflict is spilling over into, not the conflict is spilling over,
uh, the countries around Sudan. So Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia.
And for that entire regional response, it's around $650
million. But we'll get back to you with an exact figure on the on the global needs.
Sorry. Thank you very much.
I think that was the last question for our colleagues of FA, U and WFP.
I have looked at the chat. And, uh, apparently
um, the note have been sent.
And I see that James Belgrave is asking John to if you can send your email.
If you can put your email so that I can send it to you,
I'll I. I will do it. We'll put you in contact. Uh, Solange
OK, so thank you very much to, uh, our colleagues, uh, for this extensive
briefing. I've got a few of
this afternoon, we expect
to have a stick out. Uh, by, uh, High Commissioner Grandi.
Uh, by High Commissioner Grande
I still don't have exactly the confirmation of the and and the timing,
but we will let you know as soon as possible.
Uh, that would be at Public
in person as last time, but you would be able also to follow it on on Web TV.
Um, we have a, uh, press conference that I think has been announced for Tuesday
19 December at 9. 30. So just before the briefing, And that's on Ukraine's
And the, um, theme is also health system challenges and the way forward.
the the British representative in Ukraine. We've heard several times,
uh, here at the briefing.
I also wanted to remind you that there are
arrangements in place for next week just for your,
um uh, just to recall that,
uh, starting the Wednesday 20th
And, uh, this will be the case until the eighth of January, when we will reopen.
So basically the fifth Friday, the fifth, Um,
if we look at working days and on the Monday eighth of January, the Palais will re
open. As we have told you already,
the Palais will be closed, but the journalists will be able to access building S two,
which will function normally, which means also heating.
But the rest of the Palais will be closed,
except for one building which will be reserved to staff that really needs to come in.
Uh, so don't expect services. That's what it means.
if there are and we hope not important events happening in this period, we will,
of course, reopen our facility, including the press room, et cetera,
will be on the 22nd of December. As usual, we will make a post during
the, uh, season holidays and the 22nd of December's briefing.
Because the palace cruise will be virtual as will be the briefing, Uh,
the first briefing of the New Year on the fifth of January.
If you have any question on these matters, please don't hesitate to ask.
Um yeah, I think that this is what I wanted to say.
And I see there is a question from Isabel.
Yes, thank you, Alexandra. Just on the, um, statement by Mr Grandi.
Uh, are we sure that we could follow it by, uh, Webcast?
Because yesterday, in with talking with our colleagues of the AC R,
it was not clear at all. It it was technically possible,
uh, to the best of my knowledge. And I think I'm pretty correct here.
The the the problem is that you don't
have a virtual or hybrid press conference from Pao
That means it's not like here you have a zoom link to
which you can connect and ask question to the High Commissioner.
But the, uh, stick out, I think it will be not a full fledged press conference,
but a quite a more rapid,
uh, stick out will be, um, uh covered live by our colleagues at Public Expo
and will be put on UN web TV The usual address UN, Web TV, uh,
where we put all our press conference so we won't be able to ask questions,
But you will be able to listen
to what the High Commissioner has to say.
And this was the case also for Mr Grande's, uh, first, uh, um uh,
press conference on the 13th.
And it was the case with Mr Lazzarini yesterday,
uh, for his, um, conference on the situation in Gaza.
It was available, and he's still, uh, by the way, available on on Web TV
Uh, yeah, I I'm a technical idiot, but I am unable to open
uh, uh notes, Which is a shame because I really need them.
It's sent as a download, and it keeps asking me or whoever to go to an APP store,
and I can't do it, and it's horrible.
it as a real word processing,
you know? Don't worry, Lisa.
Don't worry I see the answer. He says we'll send you again.
Uh, and I guess it will be in a clearer way. No I, I believe. Yeah. In in in a normal way.
whatever is normal these days, as you say
the 2000. Uh, in any case, we we still have in in person.
Next, uh, briefing, Uh, on Tuesday.
Uh, I wish you a very good, uh, weekend.
we'll give you more information on the stakeout
of High Commissioner Grandi of this afternoon.
