um, I'd like to welcome you all to this, uh, press briefing,
this virtual press briefing hosted by the United Nations office at Geneva today,
the ninth of January For those of you joining us for the first time this year,
Uh, happy New Year. Hoping that this year will be,
uh, more peaceful and prosperous.
Um, so I'd like to on this note,
I'd like to immediately turn to our first two briefers.
of the office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs. And Matt, uh, South
Marshall of the UN High Commission for Refugees,
who are going to brief us jointly on an update on the Ukraine crisis
Uh, and an announcement of the joint launch of the 2024 response Plan,
uh, taking place on the 15th of January here in Geneva.
Uh, who wants to start? Maybe yens, uh, over to you.
Thank you very much. Uh, Rolando, uh, for that introduction and from, uh, my side and
Oia side. Happy New Year. Also bean
turning to Ukraine first.
Uh, next Monday, the 15th of January, we, together with UN HCR,
will launch here in the Pale
This year's response plans for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian
refugees and the host communities in the wider region.
People have endured almost two years of relentless
hostilities following the Russian Federation's full scale invasion.
More than 14.6 million people that's 40% of the population in Ukraine
will need humanitarian assistance this year.
The war has also forced some 6.3 million Ukrainians to flee abroad,
HCR will update you on that in a minute.
Civilians are being killed and injured daily
while their homes and critical infrastructure are being destroyed.
The first week of January brought a wave of attacks to Ukraine.
Starting on the 29th of December and continuing to this day,
families across Ukraine were bringing in the new year to the sound
of air raid sirens hunkering down in underground shelters and metro stations
or in the basement of their homes.
On Second of January, humanitarians in the capital Kiev counted
over 30 explosions in that city alone.
in the east was also hit.
C civilian casualties were reported and 130 people were injured. On that day,
region was left without electricity or water as temperatures
dropped far below freezing point last week and they are still this week
on 3rd and 4th of January.
Attacks continued killing and injuring civilians in the Sumi
region in the north, in the Donetsk
in the south, all corners of the country
over the weekend. No respite.
another wave of airstrikes in the Donetsk region killed nearly a dozen civilians,
and yesterday, more hostilities in Donetsk,
killed and injured dozens of civilians, including Children,
and damaged homes and schools.
Ukraine is now in the grip of a deep winter.
A continued large scale humanitarian operation is as urgent
the emergency relief coordinator Marty Griffiths
and the High Commissioner for Refugees,
will present our UN coordinator plans to save lives
and address the suffering caused by this ongoing emergency.
There will be a panel discussion to present
both plans on Monday with Martin Griffiths,
Grandi, the humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine. Denise Brown,
the deputy prime minister of Ukraine, Irina,
and NGO, representatives from Ukraine and Poland.
And you, the press, who are invited to attend the launch. It will be in room
uh, 24 by 9. 30 on Monday.
The event will also be but
Thank you. Uh, Jens for that. Uh, good morning, Rolando. Good morning, everyone.
And and happy New Year from all of us at UN HCR.
I'll just add a few words, uh, on the refugee situation.
among Ukrainians, almost two years after the full scale invasion of Ukraine,
some 6.3 million refugees from Ukraine remain uprooted from their homes.
And the majority, of course, uh, are in Europe.
as we've heard to some 3.7 million internally
displaced people within the country of Ukraine.
And that, of course, makes Ukraine one of the largest refugee producing countries
But it also means around one quarter of
the population is displaced within the country.
As we've just heard, humanitarian needs are growing
as intensifying shelling targets civilians and
civilian infrastructure in the country
as we've seen, particularly in the last couple of weeks.
Temperatures have also dropped to freezing and below,
and millions continue to face insecurity,
particularly in those front line regions.
In terms of the refugees,
we are concerned that many of them may be falling through the cracks.
We, of course, welcome the extension
of the E U's temporary protection,
uh, directive until March 2025. But the focus must remain on fully and practically,
including the most vulnerable in national systems in host countries.
Uh, UN HCR has carried out a series of surveys of refugees.
Uh, and we've been assessing and highlighting the challenges that they face.
Uh, these have shown that the majority, of course, hope to return one day to Ukraine,
but just 14% of them plan to do so in the near future.
Uh, that's because of security concerns,
along with concerns about access to basic services, housing and livelihoods.
The majority of the refugees plan to remain where they are,
but they will require continued support from those host governments
and the international community there to meet their basic needs,
uh, and to access key services
and build their self reliance, uh,
and to achieve inclusion in those host communities,
um, 62% of the refugee population are women and girls and 36% are Children.
highlights the heightened risk of gender
based violence among the refugee population.
only half of school age refugee Children and youths from Ukraine were
enrolled in schools in their host countries at the start of the 2023
to 24 school year. And this,
uh, marks the fourth consecutive year of education disruptions.
According to our analysis, between 40
60% of refugees of a working age are unemployed.
And, of course, access to work is a key need for them.
Access to healthcare is another key concern.
with 25% of the refugee population in need of healthcare
reporting difficulties assessing a sorry accessing their national systems.
Um, the refugee response plan, as we've heard,
will be launched alongside the humanitarian response plan on the 15th of January.
And it will outline those key strategic priorities,
uh, that humanitarian actors will pursue to provide assistance and protection
to those refugees living in the main host country
countries. The plan includes 312 different partners,
uh, supporting the host governments of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
I will leave it there, uh, and hand back to Euro Orlando.
Thanks very much, Matt and Jens.
And thanks also for sharing the Media Advisor,
which provides more details on the event again taking place.
Uh, this coming Monday, the 15th of January
from 9. 30 to 11 in room 24.
Uh, there's a question, actually,
from Christian asking if you can share the surveys with us electronically as well.
So thank you both very much. We have question now from Lisa Schlein
of Voice of America Over to you, Lisa and Happy New Year.
Thank you, Rolando. And Happy New Year to you and to everybody else.
And as you say, a peaceful new year. A lot to hope for, but anyway, there you go.
Uh, I, I do have a question for both of you.
And that is a support, unfortunately, appears to be waning for, uh,
Ukraine. We've seen this in the United States and in the European Union itself.
And so I'm wondering how this is affecting your appeals for money.
The ones leading up to this, uh, uh, well, the, uh,
appeal that you're going to be having next and what the consequences
are for, uh, both the people inside Ukraine and the refugees.
If these appeals are not meant, a are not met,
and you don't get the money that you need in order to support them,
you're going to have to make a lot of draconian
cuts I would imagine and how this will affect you,
as the weather is getting horribly cold. Thank you.
Sorry. You had trouble on meeting. Um, I don't know.
Who wants to tackle that one first? Um,
I don't know. Maybe yens. Uh, is there anything from your side
Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Lisa, For for the question. I
we we struggled with on the funding across across the appeals. Um,
all of them, basically Ukraine is not particularly underfunded in 2023 I.
I was just checking. It's 64%
funded, um, out of an ask of of nearly 4 billion.
So still, a lot of money is going in and a lot of humanitarian,
uh, work is happening, actually, on new year's Eve.
We had the we had convoy number 105
for going in. So that's in 2023 105
aid convoys, many, many of them
as a mad mentor to really the front line, uh, communities. So a lot is is happening
um, or if the the money does not come in,
of course, there it's the usual.
Either ongoing programmes will have to be, uh, adjusted.
Uh, maybe downwards some programmes that may be new may never take off.
Uh, this kind of of of issues we have in Ukraine and and everywhere else.
So So that is of course, Um, that would, of course, be be a tragedy on Monday.
Uh, given the history of generosity from the donors in Ukraine, Uh uh, a
key message is very much stay the course, stay the course.
the refugees themselves are not really coming back.
The situation on the ground, as I briefed about is horrific. They
they run in the new year in a rain of bombardments.
Um, so, uh, there's a strong call to the donors to stay the course and keep up, Uh,
the funding levels even, uh, getting it up a bit would be nice to see.
Thanks very much, Jens. OK, we have a question. Now, from Nick of The New York Times.
Uh, happy New Year, Nick. And
right? Yeah. And, uh, likewise. Happy New Year to you too.
Um, and to everybody else. Um,
yeah. Can I just check with Jen?
I didn't see in your notes. Uh, any reference to the, uh,
targeted amount of money that you,
uh we just lost your audio, Nick,
did you maybe try connecting again or
Yes. His mic is open, and somehow we just lost him. We just lost you, Nick.
Sorry for that. Let's see, then what we can do. Do you want to, um,
we don't have further questions. So
unless Nick can manage to reconnect in a matter of, um,
we may need to go to our next briefer, but let's just give it OK.
Well, let's take a follow up from Lisa, and then let's see if Nick can reconnect.
So, uh, Lisa, back to you.
Uh, this may be cheeky of me. But maybe Nick was asking for how much.
Uh, maybe Nick, Uh, it may be cheeky of me to re
this this, but how much money are you going to be asking for?
I think that may have been the question. Maybe not.
But anyway, how much money will you
are you looking for? Thank you.
Yeah. Thank you. May maybe I could take that I. I think that was also what, um,
when we launched the global humanitarian overview in December.
We have placeholder figures in that,
um, for the Ukraine Humanitarian response plan. We are asking for 3.1
Ok, thanks very much for that 1. 3.1 billion. Ok,
um and I believe that was the question Nick wanted to pose
because he had his hand up and he put it back down.
So I think with that, I don't see further questions for either of you,
am I? Double check. Yes. So in that case, I'd like to thank you both very, very much.
and we'll all be tuned in. Oh, wait a minute. Apologies.
There is, uh, another question from Nina Larson of a FP.
And there'll be another one afterwards. So Nina first, go ahead. Yeah. Sorry.
I just wanted to check on the on that figure, Uh, from yen.
If, um, if that's the total figure, if it's, uh, for both, uh, appeals,
or if it's just the just the internal figure.
I was just mentioning the humanitarian response plan inside inside Ukraine.
Uh, from the global humanitarian overview, we have the
placeholder number for the, uh, regional response plan as well. And that is, uh,
So those two should be added.
Thanks for that clarification. OK, it's still a couple more questions.
and then we'll go back to Nick again.
Yeah. Yeah, I see you have a 10 day Rolando.
Yes. Uh, can you hear me,
Um, I. I see Matthew. Uh, Brown is, uh, listening in. I was
I was wondering if there's any special session of the Human Rights Council plan
for the war in Gaza number one. And secondly, if
yesterday the US Secretary of State Tony Blinken had
a phone call with the new new UN humanitarian coordinator
on the OPT. And I'm wondering if any developments overnight on that issue. Thanks.
OK, let's take the second question. We can turn to, uh, OPT, uh, afterwards, But, um,
the first question or a second question Rather,
Um, who wants to take that?
So sorry. The the second question on, um, on the on the secret tags, um,
activities yesterday from global blinking. Was that it?
Yeah. I. I got confused. Thank you, John. Yes, indeed.
She she she had a number of of of meetings.
Uh, in New York yesterday,
Uh, we have shared with all of you the what?
We have, uh, last night in terms of of readout of that, um,
in our lines, and I have no further to that.
Jen. Uh, OK. Back to you, Nick.
Oh, yeah. Great. Um, sorry. I've had a bit of laptop trouble today. Um
um but yeah, Li got my part of my question. Right.
And I just wanted to check with you again.
You said 64% of the 2023 appeal was funded,
and I just wanted to check what the number was,
how much was requested and how much was received.
Yes. Uh, thanks, Nick. So for 2023 64% funded out of,
uh, requirements of exactly, uh, 3.95 billion. Uh, US dollars.
Ok, thanks again for the clarification of, uh, Christian of DP. A.
I also need to clarify on these numbers because it gets very tricky.
These 3.95 that you just mentioned. Does that compare to 3.1
or do we have to add the 1 billion there?
are you saying that the humanitarian response plan is smaller than it was last year?
Yes, Thank you, Christiane. Yes. The the 3.9 for 2023 compares to the 3.1 for 2024.
excuse me. It is a slightly smaller appeal.
when we launched the GHO,
I think we we get quite an elaborate explanation for why is that
why that is happening not only in Ukraine, but across the appeals,
uh, to really focus on those most urgently, uh, in need, uh, across, uh, the world.
So, given that we for a number of years have seen this, uh,
growing gap between the requirements and the funding coming in,
we from the humanitarian community have really
you know, our level best to be as focused as we possibly could be. Really?
Do doing our side, um, of the job.
Uh, before we went out this year, uh, and presented these plans, uh, to the donors.
Great. Thanks very much. Jens. Uh, one additional question from John. Go ahead.
Yes. Yes, that's a clarification. Actually, I,
uh, to Jens. Uh, what I was asking was, uh,
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had a phone call with the new, uh,
humanitarian coordinator on the OPT yesterday.
And I was wondering if there's any development overnight following that call.
Uh, given that she's had problems of access, like her predecessor,
Uh, thank you, John I, I at this point in time, I do not have any further updates, uh,
OK, thanks. Thanks, Jens.
Um, of course, if there are any updates on that, we'll we'll certainly inform you.
right, OK. I don't see any other hands.
thank you both very much for joining us.
And, um, good luck with the meeting on Monday the 15th,
Um, I just I think there was a question for you, John, about a special session on OPT,
which is our next subject.
I believe we have Matt Brown on the call from the Human Rights Council.
Um, welcome back, Matt. Uh, nice to have you joining us.
I don't know if there's any happy new year
to you If there's any update on that particular,
now I can answer John, um, that there are.
I've heard nothing about the special session planned.
Um, but as as you know, member states can organise a special session at any time.
Um, but there isn't one in the works on that,
Um, but also the the council addresses matters of Gaza.
uh, in many ways, and, uh,
just keep, uh, keep your eyes open For what we're planning on that
for the next, uh, the next session.
Great. Thanks very much, Matt. Uh, of course.
Uh, we'll make sure to communicate any any movement,
uh, from the council, Um, through matt and colleagues at the council.
Very good. OK, on this note, maybe, uh, we'll have to come back to you, Matt.
A bit later for your update.
But let's turn quickly to, uh, doctor Rick Peppercorn,
who we all well know WHO is representative for the occupied Palestinian territory.
Who's joining us from Jerusalem.
Uh, and and joining him is Sean Casey, who you also know.
Well, uh, WH OS, emergency medical teams coordinator
who is joining us from Gaza. We'll start maybe with, uh, Rick
and then over to you. Sean.
Rick, go ahead. And, uh, Happy New Year to you both.
Thank you very much, Rolando. And happy New Year to all of you.
And and Greetings from Jerusalem,
say I was in Gaza a couple of weeks ago, and Sean is there currently,
including with another colleague, Dr
Let me give you some some general, uh,
key issues from Gaza and then Sean will focus
on some more specifics and more recent visits,
hospitals, specifically in the middle area.
uh, based on on on the the latest figures from the Ministry of Health.
So we are currently talking about more than
23,000 fatalities with 70% women and Children,
that is actually 1%. You talked about 1% of the population in Gaza.
We also talk about almost 59,000 people injured, which is
close to 2.2 0.7% of the total population. So then
you're talking about 3.5% of the population
affected, directly affected. I want to say also something about the injured
because having been there and moving around the sea
will probably be even more specific on this as well.
You talk about multiple trauma and trauma cases
and patients with multiple trauma and spinal trauma
crush injuries, severe burns,
empties. I've never seen so many empties in in my life, including among Children,
which, if you think about not only
the patients themselves, but the family and the communities, this will
This will have such a long term impacts for for everything.
I mean, I just want to raise that
a couple of other things, I think where we and concerns we want to raise first of all,
the shrinking humanitarian space
and and the lack of access.
And we're not just talking about humanitarian supplies into Gaza,
but also the humanitarian aid and the workers within Gaza so that that
that the AIDS can be delivered to people in need wherever they are in the north,
in the middle or in the south area,
and and if there is, as long as there's no cease fire,
humanitarian corridors are required within Gaza to make sure that this can happen.
And more recently we've seen the hostilities and evacuation orders
in the neighbourhoods of what we call the middle area
was called the middle area
and affecting access to hospitals for
looking now again at health patients and ambulances and making it
incredibly complex for WHO to reach those hospitals to provide supplies and fuel.
And the three most important referral hospital in the in
the middle and South area are the European Gaza Hospital and
NASA Medical complex and Al Aqsa,
and they are all near evacuation zones and and these three hospitals are
the lifeline for the South, which is currently hosting 2 million people.
So what, we actually see that a constricted flow of supplies and access,
but also very important an evacuation of medical staff
from the many hospitals due to fears of safety,
they and their family leave leave.
It's a recipe of further disaster and and makes the hospital more nonfunctional.
So they they come from functional, partly functional, very functional,
and that we witness this in the north and we want
to add people again and also to the international community.
This must not be allowed to happen,
so we have not. As WHO not been able to reach the North for two weeks,
will refer to that more specifically. Actually, since 26 December,
we have cancelled almost six planned missions
and and our team is ready to deliver.
We've not been able to receive the necessary permission to proceed safely and
be the ability to support and sustain the alien hospital.
intensifying hostility is also hindering the operations in the South
and to move staff and supplies quickly and safely, and and because every nation.
Now, any moves across Gaza, including the South, needs to be de conflicted,
So if you if you actually summarise it from the
and and look at the systems health systems on his knees and
the functionality you talk about 15 hospitals which are partially functioning,
functional nine in the cells and six in the nose, of which two barely.
And you talk about three field hospitals, which are, uh, functional.
And from the primary health care centres, only 19 from the 72 are partly functional.
And that's all in the South.
Another huge concern for WHO
is the detainment of health worker.
actually registered now that,
that there is approximately 66 health workers who are remain detained
and often that their that their organisations, uh, Ministry of Health,
but also PO CS that they don't have any information of their whereabouts,
The last two points I want to raise is that medical referrals.
We have struggled with this medical referral, medical referral
and I would say medical referral into Egypt.
There's some good news. We know that Egypt and many other countries
in the region and outside the region.
They have offered support to receive this critical patience.
But if it is not working, it's ad hoc. And we hope
that this can really, uh, uh progressively improve over the over the coming weeks,
all the displacement, we've said a
lot, and maybe we'll get some questions about that 1.9 million people displaced
and and and also a lot of people severely food insecure.
water and sanitary conditions. Uh uh, completely below par
and increase in in infectious diseases, et cetera.
My last point I want to make and and And and
it's we shouldn't only talk about humanitarian
We should also talk about the private sector which
needs to get going again into in Gaza.
A private sector is always the lifeline, and we cannot have it that Gaza will be.
The Gaza populations will be dependent on just humanitarian sports.
That's all from me. Thank you very much.
There we go. Uh, thanks very much, Rick. And maybe just before we turn the show.
And just to note, in terms of putting things more in perspective, the 1.9 million
people this place you just heard, uh,
according to un road, that's 85% of the total population is staggering. 85%
of the population and on 1.4 million of them
R facilities, which, of course, are exceeding, uh, their intended capacity.
Uh, Sean, uh, over to you and thanks.
to echo a bit what Rick has already said. I mean, we're seeing a
humanitarian catastrophe unfold before our eyes here across the Gaza Strip.
It's not just that there's 85% of the population that has been displaced.
Many of them have been displaced multiple times.
Uh, here in Rafa, where I am, there's
shelters, spontaneous shelters everywhere.
Uh, people are sleeping under tarpaulins under makeshift tents,
um, in very crowded shelters.
And at the same time, we're seeing this humanitarian catastrophe unfold
before our eyes. We're seeing the health system collapse
uh, patients lacking access to health facilities,
health workers being forced to flee as Rick alluded to.
I've been here for the last five weeks,
uh, go to hospitals frequently, and
just two days ago, I was at Alexa
Hospital in the middle area.
Um, when when I arrived there,
the hospital director told us that just in the three or four days
before our arrival, he had lost 70% of his staff.
They had fled with their families, uh,
because they were afraid there were evacuation orders in the area,
intensification of hostilities in the area.
there was an intensification around the hospital in hostilities and
hundreds of patients those who were well enough to flee or who
had caregivers who could help them to leave left and fled south.
And many of the staff also left.
So what's left? Actually, it was already a skeleton staff at that hospital.
When I visited and walked through the emergency department,
I saw once again, as I've seen in hospitals across Gaza over the last five weeks,
patients being cared for on the floor.
Actually, when I was there on Sunday,
with gunshot wounds with shrapnel injuries,
Children who have been playing in the streets
when the building next to them exploded,
in some cases, an hour or more, just to be initially seen,
uh, with serious injuries, bleeding on the floor.
Um, just a handful of doctors and nurses and volunteers there to to care for them.
And then that was before many of these
staff these health workers were forced to flee.
which is one of the few remaining trauma centres major
hospitals in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
when we visited there, about 70% of the staff were also gone.
Uh, they had fled farther south to Rafa, where almost everybody is,
uh is now, um, sheltering, uh, fleeing for safety.
I visited the burn unit where they have over 100 patients
I visited the intensive care unit with 40 patients,
three doctors and 12 nurses working 24 hour shifts.
Um, and what we continue to see is
the health system suffering health workers unable to go to the
workplace to care for patients because they fear for their lives.
They fear for their safety,
patients who fear and their families who fear going to
the hospital because they may die on the way.
And actually, we heard that this morning because of hostilities around a
ho as governor that patients and their families
are risking their lives to just seek care.
And so these these numbers that, um, represented the 22,000
plus who have been killed, the 58,000 who were injured,
many of them, uh, are treatable. If they're if they have access to care,
they have injuries that are treatable.
They have limbs that unfortunately are being amputated
because they don't have access to surgery because
the health workers have been forced to flee
because the hospitals have been forced to close
because they don't have safe transport to reach health facilities.
So we're seeing a dramatic,
um, interruption in health services,
a dramatic loss of access to health care.
Um, health workers, of which there are many in Gaza.
Gaza has no shortage of healthcare workers,
but they are victims of this situation and have been forced to flee themselves.
And as a consequence of that, patients can't go to hospitals.
They can't seek the care that they need.
There's hundreds or thousands of patients awaiting surgery.
and it continues to be a shrinking
and shrinking humanitarian space and a shrinking,
uh, of the access to health services across the Gaza Strip.
The last thing I'll say is we're We're seeing this
to the south, so people continue to flee to the south every every evening
from the joint Humanitarian Operation Centre where I am today,
I drive past buses and vans that are chock full of
people just filled to the brim with people in their belongings,
mattresses on top of their vans. This place is being becoming incredibly crowded.
it's so crowded. You you can you can barely move around in Rafa anymore.
It takes hours to go a few kilometres,
Um, and these are people who now lack access to primary health care,
But there is no tertiary hospital close by that's accessible.
There is no capacity in Rafa. Rafa
a town of 270 or 280,000 people just a few months a few weeks ago,
and it now has a million plus people
and the key hospitals are, uh, in evacuation zones or close to evacuation zones.
And so people have no way to access those hospitals and to access care.
So it's a dramatic situation in terms of the living conditions that people are in
the overcrowding, the lack of water and sanitation, the high risk of outbreaks.
And we're seeing that with dramatic increases in diarrheal disease,
upper respiratory infections and other kinds of
infections that are related to the water,
lack of access to to treatment for those
diseases which could normally easily be treated.
Injuries which could normally be cared for in the hospitals, uh, across Gaza,
which are now inaccessible.
Uh, I'll stop there and have to do with your questions. Thank you.
Yeah, There we go. Thanks very much, Sean.
Indeed, that's a very, very dramatic situation.
And I just take note that Christian of WHO
has shared some additional notes in the chat,
which we'll make sure to include in the, uh,
the summary of this briefing.
Lots of hands up. I'll start with Emma of Reuters. Go ahead, Emma.
Good morning. One question for, uh, Dr
Peppercorn and one for, uh, Sean Casey, please.
Um how much of a risk, Dr
Peppercorn is it that the three hospitals around
given the hostilities and what would be the significance of their closure.
and, um, Sean Casey, please. Um, could you comment on the hunger crisis?
What signs are you seeing of this?
And is there a link with the types of diseases that you're seeing in hospitals?
wasting, uh, jaundice, other diseases. Is there a link? Thank you.
Go ahead. Then it will go to you. Sean.
thank you very much. Let me take it first. And I'm sure Sean will like to add
and I just want to mention like
I was in Gaza. Let's say two now, three weeks ago for a number of weeks.
And so I visit all those hospitals in the South and a few in the north and in the north.
What's happened in the North and we describe to them like
that hospital becomes from functional, partly functional,
barely functional to nonfunctional.
That's I think, is what we fear now what's happening in the
in the middle and the and the south area.
And I remember that when I visited a
That was actually one of the better functional hospitals.
When I was there, it was crowded. That's three times the capacity of patients.
Normally 200 deaths more than 600.
But it's crowded with ID PS within the hospital grounds and and and outside.
and emergency department was was also overwhelmed and crowded.
But it was still functional, and it had a
functional IC, U, et cetera, And within a couple of weeks,
does described very well. I mean, like it becomes from, uh,
partly functional like, almost like,
barely functional where it is now with with
not only staff moving out because of evacuation orders
and overload of patients, the lack of specific, uh, supplies,
et cetera. And and and, uh, actually, overall the insecurity.
And and that's of course, how this hospital changed.
Now the question is, what would that mean?
we've seen what it meant in the North.
Now we're talking now about 2 million people in the middle of the southern area,
and 3 to 400,000 still north of Hawari,
now in the south, we we talked about nine hospitals, Partly function.
The three most supported one is NASA
Medical Complex, by far the most important European Gaza
They are what we say. Third level referral hospitals.
They have a lot of the special,
had a lot of specialisations Now that is already reduced.
we have before this crisis in Gaza, there were,
3500 hospital beds. Then every time we reduce 2002.5
I think we should make a new assessment now.
It's actually less now, probably in 1400.
What we look when we look at the injuries and the type of injuries,
we would actually need 5000 deaths,
We like we're trying to extend that with emergency medical teams,
uh, located to these hospitals, etc.
But that, of course, it all depends on the on the security around that.
the I think the the announcement from MS F and from Met UK who were both EMT in
hospital. And they had to Really they did fantastic work.
They did fantastic work with a lot of interaction with them,
and they had to withdrew their their staff,
their medical specialists, their their their
international and national staff withdrew the staff
because of the insecurity levels of insecurity.
So we just say This should not happen. It should not happen
and international community should also raise it much more strong, stronger.
We cannot afford to lose any hospital, health facility or hospital. B
Now on the number of diseases etcetera. I think I want to
It's complex. I want to make that also that point. It's an in in
um, I think Roland also described a little bit the UN
facilities, the old crowded
facilities, the multiple,
and and and the displacement, et cetera. So
and and and together with W,
the lace figures we talk about 200,000 respiratory infections,
years and almost 40,000 lice and
a syndromic diagnostics. So we
we call testing kids in now,
but it's we don't know if this is hepatitis A or a more dangerous Hepatis E.
What's really concerning? We see more than 81,000 cases of diarrhoea, and
normally the average is like
2000 cases and and per month.
So we see 20 falls increase per month of diarrhoea, Diarrheal diseases.
Well, that's of course is a serious. Should we cover the outbreak? I don't know.
We have We need We need more information, actually, on this and more follow up,
Sean, do you want to add something on this?
Yeah. I'll just add two things. One on on, uh, the protection of health facilities.
Actually, when I met with the director of Al aa
is despite having lost a huge number of the staff,
despite all the hardships and the the fear, uh,
of the intensification of hostilities right down the road.
Um, his one request was, Please protect our hospital.
He said, we want you to come more often.
We want the international community to take action to make sure
that this hospital and the other hospitals that are still functioning
can continue to function. And that evening
his staff and patients fled.
Um because of hostilities and because of fear.
So what we're seeing is really,
Aqsa Hospital and intensification of hostilities very close to
European Gaza Hospital and very close to Nasser.
We cannot lose these health facilities.
They absolutely must be protected. This is the last line
of secondary tertiary health care that Gaza has from the north to the south.
hospital after hospital. Some of them have gradually reopened.
But the single strongest request that I've heard
from any hospital director was protect our health facility
you know, they said, actually, can you do it? Can you protect us? And I said, We can't
we can ask for protection.
We can tell the international community that
this health facility needs to be protected,
But that's the responsibility of the international
community and the parties to this conflict
on the question of, um, hunger in particular.
the the food situation has improved slightly.
food distributions have occurred. Small markets have popped up.
People don't have a lot of money to buy food,
and a lot of those rations are for a number of days,
and we'll need to continue for people to be able to eat
the areas farther north. Because we have had so many constraints to access
food deliveries have not been possible
in the North, there has not been food deliveries.
There have been very limited food deliveries, and everybody we talked to
says that they're hungry, that they need food.
the extent to which that can be linked to specific deaths related to starvation
or levels of acute malnutrition.
We're not in a position to say right now, because we have
in some cases, no communication with hospitals.
We have no communication with entire areas,
so we can't say specifically that, um, you know, people are dying of hunger,
but it's it's indicative when
and see a patient who's just had a double amputation and
they ask me for food or they ask me for water.
But they're not getting their basic needs met and their caregivers aren't
and those are. Those are the people who need it the most.
Uh so the small amounts of food that are getting in
are are not reaching the people who need it the most,
and I think we are very close to seeing a severe food security,
food security situation, food insecurity, situation and hunger situation
right. It it's linked with the lack of safe water.
It's linked with the poor living conditions that all of
this contributes to the spread of infectious diseases and spreads.
um, morbidity and mortality related to these diseases,
which should otherwise be preventable or treatable.
Uh, both of you, uh, we'll take a question now from Imogen, Folks of the BBC Imogen
Hi. Thanks for taking my question. Um,
given what you you've said about the the insecurity and so on around hospitals,
we have heard that the conflict
is supposed to be becoming more targeted. Have you seen any evidence of that?
I can take that one work. Um
have I've been in Gaza for five weeks.
Um, I have not seen an, uh, a lowering of the intensity of the conflict.
you know, just as I was saying earlier, I was I went to
Medical Complex just, uh, a few days ago
and saw multiple explosions just in the few minutes that I was driving down the road.
who were fleeing have been in a in a in an area of war for 90 days,
these are not people who are fleeing because they
hear a couple of gunshots down the road.
They're fleeing because they're really afraid for their lives. So
I have not seen, uh, a lowering of the intensification.
Um, and we're still seeing, uh, you know, the indicators that we have,
which are from hospitals, is that the patients continue to come
every time I'm in a hospital. Over the last few weeks,
the emergency departments are still seeing a steady stream of trauma,
a steady stream of trauma among Children
who were playing in the street among, uh,
people who were in their homes.
Um, so from our side, it's difficult to see that,
um, we we we are still seeing. And I can say this with certainty is,
uh, a huge number of casualties and a huge number of casualties related to,
So shrapnel injuries, gunshot wounds,
crush injuries from buildings that have collapsed.
That's still happening every single day.
Great. Thanks very much. Sean. Uh, Nick New York Times.
Oh, yeah. Good morning. Um,
my understanding is that there were around 600 patients in Al
Hospital. Um, what information do you have on what has happened to them
since the instruction came to kind of evacuate that area?
if you have, uh, an update on the number of medical personnel Who, um, you have lost,
who have been killed in the conflict so far.
And thirdly, one last question.
I mean, we've had an endless deluge of of terrible detail about what's going on,
um, in Gaza over recent weeks. Um,
I think it was December the 23rd.
There was a Security Council resolution that was
supposed to improve humanitarian supplies to the strip
since December 23rd. Or since that resolution.
How How would you assess what has happened in Gaza? I mean,
it has a deterioration accelerated since that resolution. Thank you.
yeah. I mean, there's a couple of things first.
I think I want to add to what Sean said in his former question and and,
some people might argue that the rate
of fatalities and casualties has slightly decreased.
It's still enormous. I mean, I just want to make that point and what Sean also
and sometimes in literally in areas which are civilly
areas which we which they witnessed themselves I mean,
The question on where these patients went with what we get from the hospital.
from the most of 600 patients who left the hospital. They moved to NASA
medical complex in Khan you
And currently what we get is the latest like this one in the 45 patients and
and one in the 22 medical staff present at the hospital out of a total of
so that's actually his, uh uh, reflection.
We don't have, uh let's say you ask about, um
the details. I think on the on the
on on the house, work kills,
we are unable to to to desegregate that number of of of health workers, uh, killed
and on your last question. I mean, I think it's more for
I say, for the people on the team in Gaza, etcetera.
So since the resolution, I think I described already.
I think in in the start that for us it's what we witness is
and shrinking unit return space
because of the also the hostility moving, moving south
and the lack of access. And And we mentioned that that since
WHO itself forced to cancel six planned missions to the north,
and those were medical supplies and and and and and equipment and fuel, et cetera.
why is it important to also have there? And I think everybody agreed that
there, you know, there needs to be at least a number of hospitals, and
to remain there operational,
including, for example, uh sh
a becomes again at least a functional first level referral hospital.
they based on the latest information,
they get one Operation Theatre running again.
So you want to make sure that this is that this is supported
and this is sustained and this we we help to expand that,
and there's a number of other hospitals. And what for me is maybe the the
don't have the right word for it. Not interesting. But what is,
uh, incredible? That situation changed so quickly. I mean,
when I visit some of this, for example, this Al
Ain hospital in the north it was functional
two weeks later. It was actually not functional anymore.
There was only some junior staff, and a week later, there again
medical specialist that and it is still
what we call barely slash partly functional.
So it's totally changing, but
At least a number of those hospitals are working
in the northern areas and in the southern area,
in southern and middle area that we don't lose any of them.
And what we have seen up to this
that resolution, we unfortunately didn't see much of an improvement,
at least not in the in the health area.
phrase also here the house works in Gaza is incredible resilience.
like people moving back and are willing to move back to to the hospitals in the north.
And even talking can be facilitated it
and the same what Shan said. We work very closely with the director and the team in Al
Aa were part of WHO in the past trainings, et cetera,
reaches out and tells Please WHO continue to visit us,
bring the supplies that we need this kind of protection.
And we need these emergency medical teams to assist us in this in these hospitals,
they are not planning to leave, they are planning to stay and serve.
And I think we should really take note of that.
Maybe Sean, you want to add something to this?
Just, uh, two brief points.
One is it's, I think it's important to highlight those 600
patients who left. Um, Alexa.
They went to other hospitals that are already bursting at the seams.
So, you know, they're they're they moved to
which has a very limited staff left and was already very full way over capacity.
And on the Jar Hospital, which is a small hospital here in Rafa.
It's not a large referral facility.
Um, and it's now bursting at the seam.
So they're moving from one bad situation to another.
Um, there's no good place to go in Gaza now.
There's no hospital that you can go to and expect to get,
and the other thing that I'll say is
just related to the Security Council resolution.
I have not. Basically, as Rick said, we've seen humanitarian access strength.
It's not. It has not gotten better. It has gotten more limited.
There are fewer places that we can go
if we can't go to hospitals, the health workers and the patients definitely can't.
you know, we're we're seeing as Rick said, we we plan missions almost every day
to go to the middle area and to the north,
and we continuously struggle to get those missions cleared.
Um, and and that has a huge consequence. It means that hospitals don't have fuel.
It means that patients don't have food.
It means that, um, there aren't supplies to care for the patients. And so
not being able to move to some of these, um, most desperate situation.
Most desperate hospitals in the north,
and, um, we we continue to to supply the South. But as I As I said,
uh, the few hospitals that are remaining are really bursting.
They're bursting with patients. They're bursting with ID PS
and the health workers are barely keeping up.
They really are heroes, not only for their bravery, but they're working
Um, they're they're dealing with
with many, many, many more patients than they should ever have to see.
Um, and jumping from one critical trauma to another, Uh,
and and just barely trying to to keep pace.
they are doing incredible work under the most difficult circumstances.
Absolutely ditto. Um, amazing work they're doing. They are indeed heroes.
Um, hard to imagine situation there. John Zar
Costas and then Nina Larson. John, go ahead.
Good morning. Thank you for the update. Uh, question to Rick.
And also, I want to Sean,
uh, Rick, What's the latest in the
emergency appeal? Just the WHO appeal for funds for the situation in the OPT.
Especially Gaza. How much are you funded?
And secondly, Sean, you mentioned because of the lack of surgeons, many
limbs of Children are not saved. And,
uh, how many Children are losing their limbs.
Be, uh, in excess because of the lack of surgeons.
And how many surgeons would you need?
And if you have the number, Uh, about a month ago, I think, uh,
UNICEF told us there were just over 1000 Children that had lost their limbs.
I was wondering what the situation is today. Thank you.
Let me start the first question from John on the on the plans and on the funding.
So thanks for the question, John.
Because I think we sometimes forget that, you know,
we we make a lot of comments and analysis, etcetera.
But finally, it's all about being operational and being able to support
you remember there was a flash appeal from
the one UN and all partners said it was 1.2 billion. That was for 90 days, then
for health that was narrowed down WHO we coordinate health for 212 million. And then
WHO was asked by partners also to
what can you specifically do? WHO. And so?
So we came to a plan with from October till January. So
actually, until the end of this month with a total budget of 110
um, 49.5 million, with an additional potentially 40 million in plus
funds. So we still I want to say
we've used and and the focus of the
plan was restoring and strengthening the health sector.
The health sector on the news, including primary care, secondary care, referral,
position the emerging medical teams Sean was referring at
and a few complimentary field hospitals. Uh,
the second component was, of course, public health surveillance, early warning,
disease prevention, control.
Everything underpins with a sustained supply line of supplies
and and and logistic support and the coordinations activity.
flexible funding. What now WHO is we are redoing and and and and
an appeal for 2024 because we are still, of course, in
emergency C humanitarian situation. As long as the war is ongoing
and I think that appeal will be at least even only
for WHO in the areas of two and a million plus,
I mean like, we are actually making the plans currently,
and we will have to update our operational plan, which will end by the end of, uh,
So that's, uh, over to, uh, Sean
Thanks. Thanks, John, for the question.
So on the on the amputations, I mean, I, I don't have a a figure to give you,
um, UNICEF and save the Children and published some some estimates.
But actually, what's really important about this is not, uh,
necessarily the figure, but the story behind it.
So these amputations are happening
One because of delayed access to care.
people a long time to get to the hospital if they get there
when they reach the hospital.
there's delayed care because there's so few providers and there
are so many casualties that the health workers are focusing on
damage control and life saving work. So they are triaging.
trying to save a lot of lives at the same time and and and struggling to do that
limb limb saving surgery. There is a lack of surgeons.
There's also a lack of operating theatre space. Um, doing
surgery to save limbs takes time It requires a vascular surgeon,
orthopaedic surgeon, in some cases multiple specialists,
and it takes an operating theatre for hours.
Um, and so these hospitals are actually focused
on saving as many lives as they can.
And so their initial focus is damage control,
uh, which is keeping people alive doing initial surgeries, and then,
if they have an opportunity to do
follow on surgery later, they do that. But we we've heard about many cases
Just because there is a surgeon missing,
but because there isn't adequate operating theatre space
because, uh, there there isn't
the specific specialists that they need who are available at that time.
Uh, and because they just have such an overflow of patients
awaiting surgery, they can't keep up. So even at Alexa,
When I visited on Christmas Day on December 25th,
they had 100 and 20 patients awaiting surgery, and that's when
doctors Without Borders was still there.
That's when most of the staff were still there.
Uh, so this is happening. It's It's not just a story about
the injuries, but it's about the health
to keep pace with these injuries and the complexity of saving limbs.
Uh, and the the focus is on saving lives.
We we would love to be able to save lives and save limbs.
Uh, but with these very limited resources,
doctors and nurses are having to make impossible choices, uh,
and focus on saving as many lives as they
can with the limited resources that they have.
Thanks very much. Both of you. Um,
actually, Rick, you wanted to add something on that point before we go to you.
I think, uh, WH also I think shared in an audio of a
doctor in I think it was a a
and he was making the same point, but Sean was making that, uh uh,
they're doing at the moment a lot of what we call
above the knee amputations instead of under the knee amputations.
Because patients come too late, they don't write,
And and that has also, by the way, a huge impact on the patients. When, when
Anyhow, it, of course, horrific. And
but under the knee amputation and and for prosthetics and and for the
is relatively easier than
above knee amputation, so they constantly have to make this kind of choices.
a hospital, the two medical specialists,
fantastic and an orthopaedic surgeon and a general surgeon they
they they greatly admitted that they missed a vascular surgeon as
what Sean was referring to. So they sometimes had to do amputations,
which they said in normal cases they would not
You know, did they have an an an vascular surgery there?
So it's, I think it's an, uh and
Also, I think it requires an an an an whole system and not just supplies.
the physiotherapy, rehabilitation, the nursing care and everything along
food, mental health, et cetera.
So WHO is actually supporting
reconstruction unit for over a decade now.
I mean, like, it's part of National medical Complex. I mean, like
we should continue to support that and make sure that
unfortunately for the future,
they will have a massive amount of work
OK, thanks very much, uh, for adding that uh, very important point.
Uh, the points, Rick. Uh, Nina Larson, a FP. I think this is the last question.
Yes. Uh, thank you for taking my questions, I. I wanted to ask, um,
about the shrinking humanitarian space, uh, that you both mentioned.
Uh, Israel has criticised
the UN or aid agencies for for not moving fast enough, uh, and for not doing enough.
And I was wondering if you could sort of explain
what it is that's contributing to this shrinking humanitarian.
Um, if it's, uh, if you're,
uh if you see any validity in those cri that criticism or if you could explain
I was wonder, or the middle area. I was wondering if you're also seeing,
uh, people, uh, going hungry like you're seeing in the north.
If you could say if that's also something a problem in the
middle or or the South. Thank you.
Um, maybe I would like to suggest to,
uh that Sean actually starts because he's been living through this planning for
for, uh, for missions over the last 56 weeks. He's been there.
I mean, and constantly I want to make one general comment on that. After Sean Shan,
so the the shrinking humanitarian space
we see evacuation orders in new areas every couple of days.
that means that those those are areas that
are unsafe where the hostilities are actively underway.
We request coordinations.
We coordinate with the parties to the conflict, that we can move safely.
for the last few days been denied.
constantly trying to reach the most the areas in greatest need.
Every single day we make a plan. Every day we line up our convoy,
we wait for clearance and we don't get it.
And then we come back and we do it again the next day.
between the the the the the
real risk, the actual risk of, um, danger to
aid workers and teams going into an area of active hostilities
the efforts made to coordinate movements that are not,
We have far fewer areas in the Gaza Strip where we can access
where we can deliver supplies or we can take emergency medical teams.
We have them ready to go.
We have the supplies here. We have the trucks loaded.
We have the people who are ready to go into the hospitals.
We cannot move. So it's not for lack of, um,
WHO or UN effort to reach a lot of these areas. It's lack of access.
Yeah, I, I thought just to add. And I've seen this as well in the past.
it's unfortunate maybe that there are so few journalists you know,
present in Gaza because you
assess that for yourself. I think it's a real would be a real unfair
statement, I think not just WHO but many other parts in the UN they're planning.
I say every day, every day for actually missions and trip,
uh, for deliveries, if it is medical supplies or fuel for WHO for others, foods,
water, etcetera, uh, non food items, shelter items, etcetera.
And and as Sean was saying, they get delayed or or or
not approved or denied, et cetera for all kinds of reasons.
I also want to stress the point
that even if there's no cease fire,
you would expect humanitarian corridors to operate. If you see that
that humanitarian space is shrinking,
you know all parts to the conflict, they work towards humanitarian corridors.
And to make sure that this humanitarian deliveries can take place
in a much more sustained way than what's happening now,
It's too little. It's too late and
and specifically in the North, and also because there is no safe space. So for the UN.
And I think, as was described by Shan
and myself now, even for the what we call the cells in the middle area,
uh, missions have to be positively, uh, plans and be conflicted everywhere.
So everything takes time and everything is complex,
and then things get delayed and denied, et cetera, et cetera.
and and and among all of that, of course, there's, of course, also concerns about,
uh, law and order among population among the population shown
To hear that now see the food a little bit better in
in in the situation a little bit better in the South,
going to the middle and the northern area, and that's of course. Also
But I think I really want to stress the UN,
They're completely ready for this humanitarian transport everywhere in Gaza.
It needs to be facilitated.
It needs to be happening,
but they are very, very good. Ready
Thanks very much for adding that incredibly important point, Rick.
And to you, Sean, for your comments. Of course. This is what the
Secretary General has been echoing from day one.
Um, maybe just to say that, of course. Thank you again for printing this. Um
oh, Nina, I'm sorry. Before I make a comment, uh, Nina, um, you have a follow up.
I just wanted to on the second part of my question, which was about, uh, hunger in
in the hospitals that you're seeing in the middle and the South.
If you could just say a little bit more about what the situation
is is like there compared to obviously the horrific situation in the north.
If it's if it's better in the middle and the South. Thank you.
I can take that. Um, better. Better than horrific is is not much better.
So it's the food situation in the North is absolutely horrific.
There's almost no food available and everybody we talk to,
um begs for food, um, and and comes to us and ask Where where's the food?
Um, we bring in medical supplies. People help us get our medical supplies through.
But they are constantly telling us that we need to come back with food and and and
that's not possible for a number of reasons, including
coordinations security concern
in the middle area, we are seeing, um, lack of access to food as well.
There's not enough coming in.
Um, and there's not enough to feed the 2 million people, uh,
who were in the Gaza Strip and and it's,
uh, there's been, you know,
distributions in the South in Rafah and some commercial activity in the south.
but in the middle area, people are still hungry,
including patients in the hospital, including the health workers.
Um, because we don't have consistent access
food deliveries to the middle area don't happen and and we work with partners like
the World Central Kitchen
to arrange food delivery specifically for patients and health workers,
but they are not able to access these hospitals consistently.
And so, yes, there is a hunger situation across the Gaza Strip, even here in Rafa,
when I say that there's some food on the market.
But that doesn't mean that
there's not a huge number of people here who are eating one meal a day
or who don't have the money to buy the food that's on the market.
So it's a It's a horrific situation across the board, slightly less bad in Rafa,
but dramatically bad across the GSA
Uh, Sean, um, and Nina for those questions, Um, I was just going to say, Well,
ask Christian there are some comments and I
see that Christian has responded to say that
he will be sharing these notes by email in addition to the chat is very important.
We get this information correct
Uh, as you pointed out, Rick, um, the situation where journalists in in Gaza is is
is also very, very difficult. Uh, that's why it's supremely important to have
both of you reporting to us from the region, um, to our journalists here, uh,
to make sure the message gets out and and thank you again very much for
painting this very broad picture. Uh, very comprehensive.
As dire as it is, as horrific as it is. So thank you once again
and as always, um, you're welcome back.
end uh, this portion of the briefing.
Um, maybe just to stick on the subject of, uh, the OPT.
We heard a little bit about the Security Council, Um,
decision last month. I should note that, uh, the General Assembly at
10 a.m. New York time. So that's, uh, 4 p.m. our time in about 4.5 hours from now,
will hold a debate on the situation as to which a veto
was cast during the Security Council's meeting on the 22nd of December.
And this is under the title of the situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian question.
So this is taking place 4 p.m. our time,
Uh, now, maybe just, uh, the few announcers we have Matt Brown and Zaina Awad are
patiently waiting with us. Matt back to you.
Um, I think you have an update on the Human Rights Council
Thank you. Thank you, Rolando.
Um, yes. This is to announce that, uh, tomorrow,
uh, the Human Rights Council will, uh, elect its, uh, president for 2024.
the, uh the meeting will take place in room 20
Um, this is unaffected by the closure of the Palais.
Uh, that you may have heard about,
and, uh, also, of course, it will be webcast
for, uh, people who may not want to go to the Palais,
can see from the weather. Maybe that's a good option.
there are two candidates, uh, standing for president of the Human Rights Council,
uh, from the African group, which holds the presidency of the council this year.
These are the permanent representative of Morocco.
uh, Ambassador Omar Sniber
and, uh, the, uh, PR of South Africa. Uh,
the 47 members of the council for 2024 will vote
for either of those two candidates in a secret ballot.
Uh, that will take place in the room,
and, uh after the votes are counted, a simple majority will, uh,
And this will be announced
And, uh, the the newly elected president will take office immediately
will possibly speak, uh, to the to the council, Um,
And, uh, then the meeting will close.
So that's 10 o'clock. Uh, tomorrow morning in room 20
I will send, um, a note to this effect to you
Um, later in the afternoon, just while we're on the subject.
The there will be the, uh, second meeting.
And this is the what we call the, uh, the selection of the troika,
uh, panels of of 33 member states who are involved in the U PR process.
It's a It's a bit of a technical thing, but it's happening
at, uh, between three and six, in room 20 tomorrow afternoon.
And just to remind you all that the 45th session of the U PR,
uh, is set to begin on the 22nd of this month
so that that's my announcement. Thank you all and hope to see you soon.
Thanks to you, Matt. Um, I don't see any questions. I think it was very, very clear.
Um, we'll see you tomorrow in room 20
again. Welcome back. Thank you.
OK, now I will mention um well, concerning the closure,
I I'll mention something maybe at the end.
But before that, I'd like to turn now to Zaina Awad who? I thank for your patience.
Uh, Zaina, uh, of the ILO who has an announcement as well. Over to you, Zaina.
Thank you very much. And, uh, no worries. Good morning. Uh, everyone,
many of you have probably already received an
email about the fact that we are publishing
our annual World Employment and Social Outlook trends
2024 or the We A report tomorrow,
we This is when we annually go beyond the headlines and
look at what the data is telling us about the,
the, uh the health of the labour market and what that means for the economy
in general. Um, we're also going to be holding a press release at 12 local tomorrow,
and we've got embargoed copies of the report and of the
press release that are available and ready to be made.
uh, to to be shared with the accredited P
Uh, so if you would like to join us,
please drop us a line and and let us know we can share.
Um, you know, all relevant links with you.
What we What the report overall will be revealing is it's going to be looking
at at at key numbers that show that
the labour markets have recovered since COVID-19.
But once we dig deeper, uh, we will see that there are some structural
balances, um, and and structural issues, uh, that go to the core of, uh,
and, uh, raise potential.
Potentially raise questions about a sustainable global recovery,
especially within the context of the many crises, some of which we have.
Some of my colleagues have already discussed or touched on today.
So, uh, thank you very much.
And, uh, do get in touch with us if you would like any further information or or links.
Very much. Uh, and do stay tuned for that, uh, colleagues. Uh, I appreciate that.
I don't see any questions.
If you do have any questions for Sena,
Uh, please do connect with her. Um, I'm sure she'll be able to provide more details.
Um, before we wrap up, just maybe, as alluded to as as
this briefing, as you know, is virtual.
And the reason being is that we have extended
the closure of the building here at the Palais
for one additional week. However, it's not totally closed.
There are a few activities going on, as indicated by Matt.
The Human Rights Council is meeting tomorrow.
We also have an event, uh, which is actually a model UN event.
Uh, it's a fair moon event. The fair Neel, uh,
model UN event, which is taking place in room 19 tomorrow.
Uh, at 10 a.m. It's an hour and a half. 10 to 1130.
Uh, this is just a note that, uh,
this is a meeting that was scheduled several months ago.
uh, their closure was announced.
Um, I should also note that there are a host of ambassadors who will be speaking.
It's an important event there. Director General Tatiana Valo
via The director general of the UN office at Geneva will also address,
uh, the event at the open at 10 a.m. tomorrow in room 19.
Um, so I just wanted to mention that
So I see a question from Nick New York Times. Go ahead, Nick.
Yeah, Rolanda. Thanks. Um, I'm just curious.
How much money did the UN expect to save by prolonging this closure by a week?
you can give us a new year gift,
which is a date that you will commit a a week's
salary to to get us into our new press room.
Well, uh, it's if it was up to me, Nick, you know,
I would be happy to wrap it and put a bow on it.
Uh, but, uh, it's not up to me, But I can tell you,
in terms of your first part of your question,
um, the initially, as as we had announced earlier, the
the the original closure, the full closure, uh,
took place between the 20th of December to the seventh of January.
So last Friday or until Sunday, Rather, uh, the day before yesterday,
with the idea was that this 19 day closure of most of
the Palais was estimated to have saved 100 and 33,500 francs.
Uh, which is about 100 and $41,000.
Um, and this is primarily from reduced requirements for utilities, et cetera.
This is a cost saving measure. Um,
there are, um, budget shortfalls, which we're contending with high energy prices,
which we're contending with.
So we're doing everything we can while trying to maintain business continuity.
Uh, again, the extension, uh, this week is meant to sort of,
perhaps save a little bit more money,
even though there are a few meetings taking place.
Uh, we are on path to, uh,
to reduce our footprint and to save as much as we can.
So I would be happy to provide more details. Um, if you, uh, wish
Y? Yes, Uh, happily, a bit more details.
Could you tell us, uh, what is the reason why there's not enough money?
Is that countries not paying their dues, and if so, which ones?
Yeah, this is, uh, indeed it's part of. It's part of a liquidity crisis.
due to a lack of dues being paid. Uh, I think maybe I would defer.
I'd recommend that you contact our colleagues in New York to get the details.
They provide updates. A lot of this information is available online.
I should point out it's very public. We're very transparent about, uh,
regular budget assessment. Who's paying up and who's not paying up.
Um, but of course, Um, it's, um
it's it's a business, you know, it's it's a very expensive, uh,
operation that we run here.
I should note that, uh, of the Geneva,
uh, Geneva is about 2.2% of the UN S regular budget.
Uh, the UN S Regular budget overall is just under 3.4 billion,
and about 77 million for the UN og operational cost.
That's about 2.2% of the overall regular budget. Just to give you
Um, but there are some details which I cannot perhaps recite just here.
I'd need to dig a little further,
but I'd be happy to share this with you if you want to reach out to me afterwards.
But indeed, in terms of, uh,
membership members who are not paying their full dues.
it best if you contact our colleagues in New York who are have
their finger more closely on the pulse on that in that regard.
No, I don't see that's the case. So on that note, I'd like to thank you very much.
Happy New Year to all of you, Bane. Uh,
let's hope for a more peaceful 2024.
