Thank you for joining us here at the UN office at Geneva for this press briefing.
Today, the 6th of February 2024, we have another very packed agenda.
We will start off immediately with a colleague from the World Health Organisation who's joining us from Brazzaville, Dr Fiona Braca, who is WH OS Emergency Operations Manager for WH OS Regional Office for Africa.
And again, she's from Brazzaville, but I think maybe Tarek who's joining us online, I would like to say a few words beforehand.
Thank you very much, Rolando, for having given the opportunity to, to, to WHO to speak about cholera situation in in southern region of Africa.
So I'll give the floor immediately to Doctor Braca, who will tell us about current situation on cholera and her her recent visit to Zambia and WTO response.
Doctor Braca, over to you.
While cholera is surging globally since 2021, Africa, in particular Eastern and Southern Africa, is today the epicentre.
In the first four weeks this year, ten countries in The Who African region have reported over 26,000 cases and 700 deaths, which is almost twice the numbers reported during the same.
The main countries of concern currently are Zambia and Zimbabwe, but in addition we have Mozambique, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Nigeria reporting active outbreaks.
There's a **** risk of further spreads to other countries, especially during this peak transmission season, and climate change and conflicts are adding fuel to the fire.
Floods, cyclones and droughts further reduce access to clean water and create an ideal environment for cholera to thrive.
I've just returned from Zambia where the country is witnessing its worst ever cholera outbreak.
I observed strong commitment at the political level and among frontline workers who are working tirelessly to contain the outbreak.
It was great to see **** acceptance of the cholera vaccine by communities in the most affected areas that have been targeted for vaccination like in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
The capital city Lusaka is the worst affected.
Although now cases have spread to all the 10 provinces in the country and in both countries, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the number of people that have died is particularly concerning.
The majority are dying in the community and not in health facilities, which means that a large proportion of patients are not reaching life saving care in time due to reasons such as stigma.
W2 is working closely with the governments and partners in the affected countries to respond to these outbreaks.
We have over 100 experts, both local and such capacity, deployed in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
They're working closely with the government to improve quality and access to treatment, infection prevention and control, surveillance and engagement with communities to promote hygiene and safe practises.
WTO is also coordinating deployments of international medical teams who have offered their support.
We have sent over 24 tonnes of emergency supplies to Zambia and over 10, seven tonnes to Zimbabwe and we plan to do more.
These emergency supplies include cholera kits and oral rehydration, source for management of cholera cases.
Despite the global shortage of oral cholera vaccines, W2 is supporting countries in the targeted and strategic use of vaccines.
In Zambia, over 1.7 million people have been vaccinated and a similar campaign is underway in Zimbabwe, expecting to cover 2.3 million people.
We are seeing early signs that the outbreak is slowing down in Zambia due to the over the past week, especially in the epicentre Lusaka, with over 30% fewer cases and deaths reported compared to the previous week.
However, we are not out of the woods yet.
While this situation is unprecedented, it's nothing but a continuation of what we saw last year.
This year Zambia is seeing its worst cholera outbreak.
Zimbabwe is seeing its second worst outbreak.
Last year it was Malawi and Mozambique.
We will continue to see records being broken as long as people do not have access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
Given the global shortage of vaccines, now more than ever we need a multi sectoral approach focusing on improving water and sanitation and hygiene, scaling up disease surveillance and quality and timely treatment.
Ending cholera needs investment.
WHO released $10.5 million for cholera from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies last year.
However, the global appeal for cholera remains unfunded.
Cholera is preventable and treatable.
No one no longer should die from it.
Thank you very much, Doctor Braca, for that update.
We have a question to for you from Lisa Shrine of Voice of America.
Good morning to you and good morning to you, Miss Braca.
I let's see, what do I want to want to say here?
Would you talk about, first of all, if you would please send your notes to us by e-mail, That would be very useful in terms of our information.
And I'd like to you mentioned the situation of stigma as being something that discourages people from seeking help for cholera.
I don't quite understand why that should happen in the case of cholera.
Perhaps you could elaborate upon the reasons for this?
And also, do you have information about the situation in Sudan?
Because that has been highlighted recently as a as a big problem, especially as medical help is unable to access the regions where this is occurring.
Thank you Doctor Braca, over to you.
So in in Zambia, we we are seeing that a number of cases and deaths are being concerned.
Of course is deaths happening in, in, in the communities.
In these situations, we want to ensure we reduce mortality, we reduce deaths as quickly as we can.
That means that people need to access services timely and those that are found to be severe cases should be able to receive treatment at a facility where they can receive care.
So we are seeing in the case of of Zambia that majority of the deaths are are happening in the communities and that is a signal that they are not accessing care timely at the facilities.
And one of the reasons that has been put forward by from the analysis that is done, the community engagement that is done through discussions with communities is that is the fear of going to a facility because it will then mean that you would, you know, you would, people would know you have cholera.
And that might create, you know, a stigma around, around you or your, or your household.
So we are working to understand this in, in, in more detail.
And this involves really sitting and and understanding with the communities themselves as to why they would feel that they would be looked at negatively if they have a cholera.
So we're engaging with the communities as part of the community interventions to deep dive into those reasons behind that thinking and so that the messaging can be packaged in a way that addresses those specific concerns for Sudan.
Sudan is one of the countries that is reporting cholera cases.
This is in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
And with the movements of people out of Sudan into neighbouring countries, into the neighbouring countries of Chad, Ethiopia, we are seeing that that movement does create some risks and we need to curtail the outbreaks happening in Sudan.
There is as based on the data we have cumulatively, they've had cases reported from 11 out of the 18 states in Sudan and we have a total of 10,000 cases with 281 deaths reported as of 26 of January.
They had a peak of, of cases and we are seeing that starting to come down.
But as you know, as the access remains a major challenge.
And so even the verification of these numbers is, is, is quite a challenge, a lot of effort going on with our colleagues in The Who Emerald region to try and work with the team there to bring this outbreak under control.
But in the Afro side, we have also seen some of these cases reported from neighbouring areas, South Sudan as well as Ethiopia.
And we tried as much as possible to ensure cross-border collaboration is in place, as well as surveillance to pick up these cases early and provide the necessary treatment on the ground.
Thank you very much, Doctor Braca.
Do we have further questions for Doctor Braca?
I don't see that's the case.
Therefore, I'd like to thank you very, very much for the detailed and important briefing.
Continued luck with your important work.
We'll now shift to the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the one year mark of that devastating event, which claimed nearly 56,000 lives.
We have a number of briefers, if I can ask Shabia, Jennifer and Tomasa to join me here on the podium.
And we have also some guests who are joining us online from Ankara and from Damascus.
But first, maybe we'll start with you, Shabya, for an update from UNHCR and then we'll go to Jennifer, then over to Thomas so you can introduce your guests.
So we are briefing today about one year on from the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
So a year after the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria, the plight of millions of displaced people and their hosts has deteriorated.
Many have been thrust further into poverty and desperation, with thousands still homeless and vulnerable.
Turkey is one of the world's largest refugee host countries, while Syria, where millions had been displaced by the 13 year old crisis even before the earthquakes, it is suffering a severe economic crisis.
In Syria, an estimated 90% of the population live in poverty, 12.9 million are food and secure and 7.2 million are internally displaced.
Having to contend with multifaceted crisis, 16.7 million people require humanitarian assistance, up from 15.3 million last year.
The earthquake impacted millions of people across the country, uprooting 10s of thousands, many whom have already been displaced.
In northwest Syria alone, more than 40,000 people remain displaced by the earthquakes and are residing in 70 temporary reception centres.
Turkey hosts 3.4 million refugees and the earthquake impacted a region that is home to some 1.75 million of them.
Despite Turkey's impressive and inclusive humanitarian response supported by NGOs, the UN and international community, the impact of the earthquakes is still being felt by both refugees and their Turkish hosts.
90% of refugees in the country were already unable to cover basic needs prior to the earthquakes, with many reliant on the informal informal employment, social assistance or loans.
Now, in the aftermath, critical needs have intensified around housing, basic utilities, shelter, electricity, healthcare and telecommunications.
With less money and increasing needs, many refugees, Syrians and others are resorting to survival strategies like cutting food spending and boring more.
According to testimonies and a humanitarian assessment, the catastrophe fee has already taken an excruciating toll on the mental and emotional well-being of a long-suffering population.
Many have lost family members and friends.
Almost 60,000 deaths were reported in the two countries as a result result of the earthquakes, with 10s of thousands injured and entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble.
While UNHCR appreciates the timely and generous aid offered by donors, it appeals for continued support to ensure critical humanitarian needs can be met.
In Syria, UNHCR has been delivering protection assistance, including psychosocial support, for more than 311,000 people affected by the earthquakes.
It has also been providing shelter support, cash assistance and other aid to those affected.
UNHCR has also been distributing relief items for those in earthquake earthquake affected areas in Turkey to support the national state LED response.
UNHCR has provided over 3,000,000 relief items at the request of the government, including tents, containers, hygiene kits, bedding and warm clothing for refugees and local residents in temporary accommodation centres.
And it also supported protection activities for more than half a million people, including legal counselling, identification and referrals of people with specific needs, as well as psychosocial support and cash assistance.
So to better facilitate responsibility sharing with Turkey, UNHCR is also calling for an expansion of resettlement opportunities for refugees, some of the most vulnerable, for whom longer term solutions and a fresh start are needed.
We'd also like to honour the memory, commitment and dedication of four colleagues as well as dozens of humanitarian workers who tragically lost their lives or remain unaccounted for because of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
I will now turn to Jennifer of the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria.
Good morning, the UN Special Envoy for Syria.
Mr Patterson released a statement which you should have received a year ago.
Thousands of Syrians in Syria, Syria and Turkey are perished after devastating earthquakes and millions fled their destroyed homes.
This disaster came on top of more than a decade of conflict and suffering, compounding the tragedy of the Syrian people inside and outside, and on both sides of conflict lines.
A year on, we remember those who died and paid tribute to all those, especially Syrians on the ground and aid agencies, who responded in solidarity and who have this past year worked tirelessly in difficult conditions.
The earthquake struck at a time when humanitarian needs were enormous, and they have only grown since.
Continued backing for the humanitarian operation in Syria remains essential, including initiatives for early recovery.
After the earthquakes, we saw the lowest levels of hostilities in a decade and fresh diplomatic attention to the Syrian tragedy.
This, however, did not translate into real progress.
Tragically, 2023 later saw the worst eruptions of violent conflict in years, further exacerbating the worsening humanitarian situation and a lack of meaningful progress on the political process.
Ongoing and alarming spillover from regional developments remind us, just as the earthquakes did a year ago, that Syrians are acutely vulnerable.
The Special Envoy urges all parties to take concrete measures to lower tensions and consider the human and economic cost of a broader conflict in an already volatile region.
The Syrian people need the hope and protection that can be provided by de escalation from all key actors.
Calm on the ground, genuine assistance to all in need and a political platform to restore their unity and meet their aspirations in line with Security Council Resolution 2254.
Thanks, Jennifer, and thanks also for sharing that with us.
Before we turn to you, Tomasa, let's just, I think Tarek also wanted to add something from on behalf of WHO on this anniversary.
Yes, thank you, thank you, Thank you very much, Rolanda.
I mean colleagues explained that the consequences are still felt and and I'm sending the note, it has been already sent with lots of details and numbers of WTO response.
But again, it just like to remind that consequences of of a disaster of this scale will last for many years to come.
And one year on the suffering of the people is still going on.
Many people continue to live in temporary shelters dealing with loss and mental health trauma.
For example, in Turkey, the earthquake created new and urgent health needs in the communities affected, including both host and refugee populations.
The disaster disrupted access to health services including maternal and newborn healthcare, vaccination, non communicable disease management, mental health support, disability and rehabilitation services.
In Syria, the earthquake earthquakes hit communities that had already been deeply affected during the 13 year long conflict, as Jennifer just said, and this conflict was characterised by repeated displacement leading to food insecurity, disease outbreaks and a severely weakened health system.
The disaster resulted in massive infrastructure damage, displacement and wrecked havoc on the economy.
Increasing tensions within the country and the region continue to exacerbate the already precarious health situation of nearly 15,000,000 people across the.
Country so WHO had teams who were already working in Syria and Turkey before the earthquakes and then they turned to to to to support the health response and they still continue to do so a year later.
In the first days after the earthquakes, WHO mobilised support to life saving trauma care for hundreds of casualties.
WHO supported both Turkey and Syria by delivering health supplies, deploying experts jointly coordinating the deployment of emergency medical teams to affected parts of Turkey, re establishing and strengthening disease surveillance and outbreak response and addressing mental health psychosocial needs.
Now just like to give you an example, you know that in northwest Syria which is is a conflict area, there are around 40,000 displaced person that are still residing in reception centres.
Now lack of funding for the response in northwest Syria has serious consequences for the provision of basic and emergency health services, including cancer treatment, vaccination, maternal and child health care and chronic disease management.
9 hospitals were suspended in 2023 due to funding shortages with more at risk to close this year.
That can leave 2 million people without life saving emergency health services.
Now we there's more information in in the in the notes that that I have sent and we are happy to take any question and provide A1 on one interviews with our teams in in Turkey and and Syria if needed.
I'll, I'll stop here, Rolando and over, back over to you.
Thanks very much, Tarek, and thanks for sharing your notes.
We'll now turn it Tommaso of the International Federation of the Red Cross, who has two guests joining us online, who we thank from the affected two countries, in fact.
Yeah, thank you very much, Roland, and thank you very much, colleagues.
Yesterday we're with us, our two heads of delegation, Jesse Thompson from Ankara in Turkey and Manse Bridge Hansen, our head of delegation in Syria, now in Damascus.
We already circulated the press release yesterday.
We said it last year that this humanitarian response would have been a marathon and not a Sprint.
We sadly see, we are sadly seeing needs still there, but also a huge gap in term of funding.
So I will leave to our two colleagues to brief from Turkey and Syria.
Thanks, Tomaso, and thanks for having me today.
Today, as we're marking this one year since the catastrophic earthquakes shook trachea as head of IFRC, I'm really here with a sense of urgency and a plea for renewed solidarity that we don't forget that there continues to be very important needs in Trachea to address this recovery effort that needs to continue in the months ahead.
The earthquakes, as we've heard, claim the lives of 55,000 people, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless individuals.
With the tireless emergency response efforts of the Turkish Red Crescent who mobilised 76,000 volunteers and more than 2400 staff, reaching 10.5 million people across the affected area, the Turkish Red Crescent has played a pivotal role in providing those necessities to people who are affected by these earthquakes.
Over 426 hot meals were provided since the very first hours of the disaster and free medical services were delivered by a mobile health clinics.
A cash relief programme supported by the IFRC network and international partners supported over 460,000 families with cash support to meet their basic needs.
More recently, we've provided support to small businesses and farmers and in addition to all of this, more than 200,000 people have received psychosocial support.
When you're on, the needs of those affected by the century's deadliest natural disaster, disaster remain.
Despite this amazing progress and the scale of the response to date, there is still so much work to be done to help communities rebuild their lives and their livelihoods, and to begin that slow journey back to normalcy.
Our appeals for Turkia and Syria, totaling 500 million CHF, are still significantly underfunded.
For Turkia, that gap stands at 65%.
Now is not the time to scale down.
We really need to redouble our efforts to support communities to make a significant impact on their lives and to empower people to rebuild their lives and really to help restart and reinforce those local economies.
We really must ensure that the passage of time does not diminish our attention or our commitment to these communities.
The IFRC remains steadfast in its dedication, dedication to making a lasting impact on the lives of those affected.
But we can't do it alone.
We need the continued support of the international community to bridge funding gaps and to provide the necessary resources for the ongoing recovery.
Now is the time for solidarity with the people of Tricia.
And as we'll hear shortly from Mads for Syria as well.
Let us come together to address these critical funding and shortfalls to ensure that these communities not only have their basic needs met, but also are able to restart their lives, restorable and build for the future.
Thank you, Miss Thompson.
And thanks for inviting me to speak.
Thanks to you Thomas and Jessie as well very thoughtful words.
The picture in Syria is quite dire.
In Syria, 10s of thousands of people are already affected by 13 years of crisis, lost their family members, their homes, their livelihoods and many saw themselves displaced once again.
Now, since then, the Syrian NOW Red Crescent, Sark and the International Federation Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the IFRC and its membership have provided 3.5 million people with humanitarian assistance.
We have delivered over 23 million communitarian services and continue to distribute relief items and strengthen the resilience of families in the earthquake hidden areas to those displaced throughout the country and their host communities.
Now these families that also receive support through livelihoods interventions, psychosocial support and legal services and cash and voucher assistance has ensured flexible and dignified support to persons affected.
Now the immediate earthquake response may have concluded but the emergency still persists and the communitarian needs Syria and India earthquake areas they do tend to grow.
Sock staff and volunteers continue to be a lifeline for hundreds of thousands and there are tireless efforts provide people with food, water, basic relief items, healthcare, psychosocial support in their communities and cities.
Now, one year on, we're deeply concerned about the humilitarian situation in Syria that is rapidly deteriorating.
We're concerned for the victims of the earthquake, but we're equally concerned for the rest of the population throughout the country.
In 2020, four 16.7 million people will need humanitarian assistance across Syria.
This is up from 15.3 million in 2023.
Today, most cities in Syria are still lying ruins with very limited functioning infrastructure and no resources to rebuild.
Years have gone by without reconstruction and very few rehabilitation efforts due to limited funding and lack of political will.
At the height of disaster, we were lacking both heavy machinery and fuel.
One year later, neither is available and the rubble still remains.
Basic factors to drive the economy such as electricity, fuel, infrastructure, access to raw materials have been greatly depleted.
The Syrian economy is currently in a downward spiral with massive inflation, weakened currency and massive increases on normal consumer goods.
In Syria Today, most people would get by with only one hour of electricity a day.
In Syria, there's still a need for relief, recovery and longer term development interventions to run in parallel.
However, it is painful to note that the preconditions are simply not there.
There's a lack of international funding and the Syrian economy is quickly declining and falling apart.
The cost of living nearly doubled in the 1st 10 months of 2023 and it continues to rise with the dramatic reduction in funding among major donors.
They're very limited resources left for the very basic needs of the population, not to mention recovery and reconstruction, with nearly 90% of the population living below the poverty line, among which over 30% are below the extreme poverty line.
The Syrian people will have increasingly difficulties in getting their next meal on the table and will continue to have no possibilities to organise themselves for a better future.
Now, in face of the overwhelming humanitarian needs, complex fragmented environment where access it's a constant challenge, the work of SARC, the Red Cross and the present movement remains critical.
The term forgotten prices is sometimes used for Syria, but it is a gruesome reality for the people who are struggling every day to get by.
Syria cannot be forgotten.
The situation now is more dire than ever before.
One year on, millions of people in Syria are still struggling to rebuild their lives, having lost their homes, livelihoods and belongings.
And I just take this opportunity to point out that we also have a statement at the end circulated earlier from Martin Griffiths on this very grim anniversary.
And then, of course, I take this opportunity to repeat the strong appeal from the Secretary General to the international community to show the people of Turkey and Syria support, generosity and of course, to join in solidarity.
OK, we'll take questions.
We have a question from Moussa, Asif Al Mayaddin.
Gomez, I have a question about the reconstruction in Syria.
the United States suspended sanctions on Syria for a period of six months or more.
Did this help bring in equipment for reconstruction or at least repair of water and electricity?
I suppose that question for me.
Well, we have to remind ourselves that sanctions are not intended to compromise humanitarian efforts.
Most sanctions are directed at persons.
They're directed at entities.
Exceptions to these sanctions in Syria were granted early on.
We very much appreciate that.
But they can have very indirect in our efforts on numerous occasions we have seen that suppliers of relief goods didn't and suppliers of relief goods did not want to participate in tenders and often banks didn't want to transfer funds to Syria because they were freighted breaching sanctions.
So although we saw exceptions to the sanctions, a lot of of people involved in the supply chain did simply not understand with these these exemptions and and we felt the problems on our side in delays with regard to maybe a caveat to that one, maybe a comment on the reconstruction.
I think reconstruction is not so much part of the exemptions as it is part of political will or lack of political will to, to, to venture into to reconstruction per SE.
Attempts are are made to go into recovery, early recovery and that is we very much appreciate.
But the brunt of the funding that comes in is for relief at the moment.
I think Jennifer wanted to add one comment.
I'll just note what Mr Peterson has stressed to the Security Council on frequent occasion, noting verbatim what he said in December to the Council, noting that he said the economy is increasingly dire straits in Syria due to a wide range of factors that he has outlined on many occasions and critical infrastructure, including electricity, is under major strain.
It is vital to ensure that any adverse effects of sanctions on ordinary Syrians be avoided and mitigated, including continuous and active efforts by sanctioning states to counter over compliance.
Thank you very much, Jennifer.
I'll take the question up from Lisa of Voice of America.
First, at the risk of sounding like a broken record with the agencies that have not sent their notes, please do so.
Then I would like to have your reaction to the reports that we hear about the shoddy construction that is going on, particularly in Turkey.
I mean, no construction seems to be going on in Syria.
So I think this is really a political problem in Turkey or corruption problem there.
I mean, are you concerned that the kind, the the devastating earthquake which had occurred and largely due to the shoddy construction and that that was at fault will recur again in the future?
Because, in fact, the buildings that have gone up have gone up quickly and without the kind of inspection that needed to be done?
Perhaps I don't know if Miss Thompson or either view from the IFRC if you wanted to tackle that question.
What I can say from an IFRC perspective is that Disaster Risk Reduction is fundamental to saving lives.
And that in the context of earthquakes is about how we build buildings to withstand shocks and where we build buildings to ensure that they stand in times of earthquakes, as well as investments in emergency preparedness to enable a swift response.
So that's a key priority for us as IFRC, as we think about not just the recovery from this earthquake, but also as we reflect on how to prepare for future emergencies, knowing that Trukia remains a very **** risk country for earthquakes and everyone has Istanbul top of mind as well.
I can't speak specifically to the ongoing reconstruction efforts, but certainly from our perspective, we continue to call for careful attention to those best practises to ensure that we are building back better, that we are building back strong and that we are ensuring that communities are safe both now and in the future.
Great, thank you very much.
I think we have a question Kazmira over to you.
Hello Kazmira Jefford from Geneva Solutions.
I have a question for Shabia on the funding requests, where are levels at the moment?
And then for the IFRC, what does that the funding gap mean in terms of what you're not able to deliver?
Which areas are are taking the the hit?
Thank you for the question.
So UNHI issued a Syria and Turkey emergency appeal in February, which was actually, you know, very generously received by donors and we did receive that was significantly funded.
However, the ongoing, the issues, the ongoing situation requires urgent attention.
There are worsening humanitarian needs as we outlined and that's where we are means we're streamlining the the support for that into our regular programmes.
So if we look at the, the funding levels for both the Syria operation and the Turkey operation, Unhcr's work there in both countries, they're around the range of about 31 and 37% funded respectively for as of December 2023.
I can go back and check if there's anything further than that, but I think, you know, we, we saw support, overwhelming support after the earthquake happened for the initial emergency phase.
But I think now as the needs are prolonging and accruing, it's really important that that support is sustained and that we're not seeing the, the levels that we're we're looking at today.
But in addition to humanitarian support and funding, it's also crucial that there is international support and solidarity sharing.
And as I mentioned, Turkey is one of the world's largest refugee host countries.
So with millions of refugees there, it's important that humanitarian assistance is sustained.
But then also opportunities like resettlement or third country pathways to ensure that other refugees who have critical needs and who may need a fresh start, as we mentioned, can move as well elsewhere.
So those schemes such as resettlement and complementary pathways are crucial.
Shabia, if anyone want to add on that, no.
Then we'll take a question from Jamie of AP.
My question is for Masbridge Hansen, if you don't mind.
I wanted to just follow up a little bit on Moussa's question about reconstruction and the sanctions, but not specifically about the sanctions.
I was just hoping that you'd be able to give us sort of an overview about the prospects for post earthquake reconstruction.
I mean presumably some of the same factors that have prevented post war reconstruction are also preventing post earthquake reconstruction.
So do you see any way forward on that?
Well, to to be very blunt, if we look at the current funding to Syria, it has over the past five years been declining the funding we have we have received now for for the earthquake.
Of course, we are extremely happy for that, but it is a residual due to a very concrete situation.
But generally funding has declined and we are expecting it to continue to decline given that there are many other issues in the world at that at this given time and that Syria has become a little bit of forgotten crisis and and also maybe the lack of political will under the current political circumstances.
So what we do see is that the first priorities will be the distribution of relief, relief items, food, water and non food items, the recovery initiative, the strengthening of resilience, providing families with new livelihoods, their health care, hospital care, health centres, emergency medical clinics, psychosocial support, legal services.
We have initiative, water, water and sanitation facilities.
That is what we're going to prioritise as an institution.
We don't have funding to even think of going into larger scale rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Miss Thompson, you wanted to add.
I wanted to jump in on the question around the funding gaps and what that means for our operations.
And much like Mads has rightly pointed out, it really prevents us from properly responding at scale to the the needs in this recovery phase.
We've been able to do some support, provide some support to small and medium enterprises and to farmers who've lost assets.
Who's who's livelihoods were impacted, but we know that 25% of the affected population had lost their income generating activities.
So we've reached 1500 households so far, but that's just a drop in the bucket in terms of the scale of the need.
So we really, we know that without more funding, we won't be able to scale up those recovery efforts with leaving too many people still very much dependent on aid and in in a situation of crisis.
And we also know that there are households, single female headed households, elderly or people with disabilities who are in temporary accommodation, who, who will continue to need basic assistance in the form of cash support.
And our our cash programme is also facing significant limitations and will struggle to continue beyond beyond the spring without additional resources channelled in response to the recovery efforts here in IKEA.
Thank you very much, Miss Miss Thompson.
I think Jamie, you have a follow up.
Thank you for for both of your answers.
I just wanted to somehow even broaden it beyond IFRC if I could.
And just in terms of the overall picture for reconstruction, I mean, you're obviously mentioning the lack of funding, humanitarian funding from some of the major donors that support your work.
But I'm just wondering, the overall picture does that the fact that you're getting nothing or the UN agencies are getting less or whatever, does that also mean that reconstruction is just not happening at all at all, all from other sources, whether it be from own state funds in places like Turkey and Syria or from outside donors that are outside the normal remit?
Obviously Russia has a presence, for example, and military and and connection to, to the Syrian government.
Are there any other possible sources for for support for reconstruction?
Well, at least in Syria, it's, and I don't want to speak on behalf of of any bank owner or the government, but it's very clear to see that that there are in Syria that the economy is as weak as it probably can be, as as weak as it has been for for many, many, many decades.
And, and that the, the economy in Syria doesn't allow for the government to say to engage in, in reconstruction.
And with the crisis around the world, we've also seen many donors re prioritising their funding.
And, and we don't at the moment see major reconstruction efforts in Syria at at this point of time.
I think I would would add that the situation is, is different in Turkey in the sense that there is a large scale government reconstruction effort under way.
The conditions are of course quite different in terms of both the economic reality, but also the reality of of the contacts and and the international financial institutions such as the World Bank are also scaling up their reconstruction recovery efforts.
Where I think so there is I think there is hope, there is optimism and I don't want to to ignore those important efforts.
Where I think that I see the gaps is that that reconstruction act will take time.
The scale of this disaster was massive in terms of both the the level of destruction in Trukia as well as the geographical spread of the affected area.
And while you have full cities now that have been cleared in terms of the rubble, that's still a long way from people being back in their homes and, you know, resuming normalcy.
And where I I am concerned is, is that period now in the next year, year and a half?
Well, that recovery and reconstruction is ongoing, particularly for the most vulnerable in the affected area who don't have family members or savings to rely on and who, who've already lost so much and, and for whom they're just, you know, one, one or two days away from crisis.
And so that's where where I think the IFRC and the Turkish Red Crescents continued support and accompaniment of communities is so critical alongside those bigger efforts by government, by the IF is and of course by UN partners and ING O partners that are all working, working together.
There's no, this is not a 11 agency or one government that can solve this.
And the scale of the crisis alone and in terms of that recovery effort, it will take everyone in it, it is not insignificant.
Do we have further questions on the Turkey Syria earthquake?
I don't see that's the case.
So I'd like to thank you very much our colleagues, especially from Ankara and Damascus for joining us here at this press briefing.
And of course, to our colleagues here on the podium, We're going to shift to Pakistan.
But I think maybe there was a question.
No, beforehand, it depends when you want to take a Gaza question.
Maybe we'll take advantage of our colleagues who are on the podium at least.
Tomaso, I think maybe we'll turn maybe just quickly, if you could.
Don't mind, Liz, we have a question on Gaza, I believe from Emma of Reuters.
I was just hoping for an update on the hospital situation around central Gaza and how much longer you think the hospitals there can continue to function in the current circumstances and the consequences of their collapse, given that they've already started absorbing all of the most of Northern Gaza's hospital capacity and more broadly.
I don't know if this is the moment maybe for Yens Israel has threatened to move into Rafa and I'm wondering what the scenario would look like from a humanitarian point of view and how to protect people.
Let's start with Tomaso and let's see if maybe if you answer something to add on this second point.
Thanks, Emma for for the question.
Well, what I can say that of course the health situation, but I would say the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is beyond catastrophic and literally desperate.
I want to take this opportunity to tell you a story of our head of U10 volunteers of Palestine Crescent in Gaza.
Her name was Hedaya Ahmad.
She was killed last Friday in the Palestine Crescent premises while she was doing what she was doing every day, supporting wounded people, internal displaced people, her own communities and of course the supporting the work of Palestine Crescent.
And this is sadly the 14th time that we have to denounce something that is unacceptable.
That Red Cross Crescent staffing volunteers ended up in a line of fire 11 times in Palestine and three times in Israel.
And what were colleagues Zoda Maguen de Vida Dom?
Now I think that is the icon of the level of violence and where the situation has gone, where humanitarian workers have no protection, hospitals are hit.
The last update that I got from Palestinian Crescent colleagues yesterday is the 8000 internal displaced people who sought refuge in our Palestinian Crescent hospital in Kanyunis called Alamal, left the hospital yesterday.
The hospital was, I mean, in the last more than two weeks, the hospital was surrounded by heavy shelling, fighting no way in, no way out hit several times.
And the last time suddenly was last Friday when this colleague was killed.
So there was big issues in term of medicine.
Replenishing stocks was almost impossible, access of ambulances, lack of food and lack of water.
And This is why, I mean, I would say that it is a nightmare that we already experienced a couple of months ago in our Palestine Crescent hospital in Gaza City called Al Quds.
We were kind of celebrating when we were able to evacuate safely displaced people, patients, volunteers, staff members.
But this is a paradox because when from one side we're celebrating from and on the other side, the sad reality is that that hospital was closed.
So of course I'm not hoping and I'm not even, I don't want even to think about the possibility of having Alamala Hospital closed in the next coming days.
But the reality here is that if the situation will not change, it will be very difficult to continue the activities in the hospital.
At the moment there are an 100 almost of elderly people and people with disabilities that were not able to move out from the hospital, 80 patients and an 100 between staff and volunteers of the hospital still inside the still inside the mahalamal.
So yeah, I would say that this is what I can tell you in term in term of update, the situation is simply deteriorating every other minute.
And yeah, we said it many times that we don't have any more words and and I'm a bit frustrated even to keep repeating the same, but this is exactly what what is happening.
Meanwhile, of course, I don't want to underestimate the importance of having humanitarian aiders still entering inside the Gaza Strip, but still it's a drop in the ocean.
So from one side we thank the great effort of colleagues of the Egyptian regression together with all the stakeholders who made it possible.
But then on the other side needs a really enormous and this number of humanitarian aid and tracks is not enough.
Tommaso Yens on Emma's second question, please.
Thank you, Rolando, and thank you, Emma.
Let me say a few points about the the situation in Rafa.
The population in Rafa has increased fivefold in the almost five months of of war.
Rafa is unbelievably overcrowded and the public health crisis is looming.
The mental health emergency is already an established fact.
Every single child suffer from some kind of trauma.
We, as the UN and member states of the UN can bear witness.
We can warn what might unfold with a ground invasion and we can make clear what the law says.
And the law says the following.
Under international humanitarian law, indiscriminate bombing of densely populated areas may amount to war crimes.
So to be clear, intensified hostilities in Rafa in this situation could lead to large scale loss of civilian lives, and we must do everything possible within our power to avoid that.
Thank you very much, Jens, for that.
On this note, I just wanted to mention we have our briefer from FAO joining us from Port Sudan, who unfortunately has to leave in a few minutes.
So I've asked Liz if we can just switch the order a little bit.
So we'll go immediately to Adam Yao, who is the Deputy FAO representative in Sudan, who is speaking to the looming Desert Locust crisis, the situation in Sudan and food insecurity as well.
Mr Yao, thanks for being patient and over to you.
Yes, thank you very much.
I want to brief quickly on three issues and the routine of the gene bank in what Madani, which is important for security and also provide a quick update on the food security.
So the desert locals, a local situation in Sudan has significantly worsened since the mid 2023.
Our big deterioration can be attributed to the absence of surveillance and during December 2023, the decent local situation, which a treated level precipitation in the winter breeding zone during December created favourable ecological condition for local breeding and the formation of local swarm.
In addition, most are expected to invade that from neighbouring country in early 2020, grow and destroy crops and pasture, particularly in the eastern states which are already facing IPC phase three which is crisis or IPC scale 4 which is the emergency food and security.
And from mid-december up to date with the Technical Support provided by FOUL, the locals control department has has managed to control around 23,000 acres of infected area.
But this is not enough and the situation remain critical.
Unless sustained control operation are taken to control the data locals invasion, significant agricultural losses are inevitable posing in grainy credit to the food security and largely especially other countries from West Africa in the Gulf States.
So between now and the upcoming planting season starting from June is a crucial opportunity to implement action to curb the spread of the locust and safeguard the food production of the most vulnerable population.
And on another note, I would like to also to be from the on the current risk to lose the genetic material which are the C very valuable C in what Madam is is saying the fact fighting started there.
So recently, if I was informed that the gene bank located in what Madani with unique collection of C consisting of 15,000 assertion of seed collected from different region of Sudan over the last 40 years was looted and the plant material store in the deep freezers are now at risk of being lost completely if not already damaged far.
In coordination of the Office of the Monitoring Coordinator, OCHA and the Ministry of Agriculture is urgently working to secure immediate access to work by the need and facilitate the transportation of seed collection collection to a safer location.
The collection include indigenous wild relative of crops such as sango, pyramid, sesame, eggplant and others which originated from Sudan and are highly important for food security in the region and globally.
The loss of this collection will not be just for Sudan but for the entire humanity.
So there is a need to frequently organise and and ourself and save the the the remaining of what we still can save in one Badani.
On the food security situation, The food security situation in the country is extremely concerning and demand urgent intervention has 17.7 million people in progress with that accounting for 27% of the analysed population are facing **** level of acute food security classified on IPC phase three or a both.
Currently, FILE is conducting the post distribution monitoring and proper and full supply assessment to provide critical evidence on the performance of the proper and the production estimate as as well as the full balance sheet to inform actors about the need of affected population and the appropriate response.
For the first quarter of 2024, FILE is focused on 4 main activity to support key serial and visual production, vegetable production, protection of livestock assets and control of this at locos outbreak to protect food and nutrition security in of Sudanese people and on the the the need are tragically growing while resources remain scarce.
It is imperative that resources align with the escalating need.
Found is urgently seeking 104 million U.S.
dollars to reach 9 million people across all states of Sudan to strengthen the food and nutrition security in 2024.
These funds are pretty sure to address escalating need and then look at food production and improve the accessibility across the country.
File call upon all party of the conflict to cease hostility immediately and to enable aid worker to reach out all region of Sudan and deliver the much needed humanitarian assistance.
File call for urgent and unified action before it is too late.
Be ready to take your question.
Thank you very much, Mr Yao.
Yes, urgent and unified action is very much needed.
I'm afraid that your intervention was a bit garbled.
The audio quality wasn't great.
So if you could kindly share your notes or maybe if I can ask key to do so, that would be much appreciated.
We have a question for you from Lisa Schlein, the Voice of America.
Miss Dale, I'd like to 1st know, is the $104 million that you're asking for, for just for seed protection and food for the people or does it, is that also for the active action that you need to take in order to control the locust infestation?
And I'm wondering whether if you have enough money to control the locust infestation, then I mean, would is that really what what it comes down to a lack of money in order to do that?
And then also regarding Sudan, is the current situation with locust enough to push the country over into famine, which is something that WFP and other agencies are warning about?
Thank you very much Lisa for your question.
I mean the other 4 medium are for the full security that is not taking into account the, the, the resources that we will need to save the gene bank in work Madani and the the desert locals control that is that's not included in the 104 million.
And as you said, we we need really to actively for the desert locals control otherwise we know that the drug costs will be affected area that are already classified on IPC scale 3 as crisis situation and four as emergency just to avoid to to dissent to to family.
Thanks very much, Mr Yao.
Appreciate that for the we have a question from Kazmir Jefford of the New Humanitarian from Geneva Solutions.
Pardon me, Geneva Solutions over to your Casmira.
Thanks for taking my question.
Just a question about the gene bank.
So the the fact that you're still trying to secure access means that at the moment you don't know the extent of the damage and from the looting.
So for the gene bank, so we, we actually we have a good idea on the level of damage because the gene bank was stored in the freezer when -20° and with the fighting, I think the, those fighters have removed all the drift freezers and all they put the material on the floor under, you know, room, room temperature.
And we, if we raise quickly, we still can see some of the material and bring them and quickly to plant them in situ and execute so that to, to increase the chance to have a germination rate of those, those material that are remaining there.
That's why we, we're really appealing to all those who support us to, to, to provide resources in a way that we can plan and secure what we see can secure in, in, in one.
But what, Madam, Thank you very much, Mr Yao, for the questions for our colleague from FAO.
No, I don't see this case.
So thank you very much once again for joining us at this briefing in Geneva, and thank you, Liz, for your patience.
Liz from the Office of the **** Commissioner for Human Rights has an update on the upcoming elections in Pakistan this week.
Ahead of Thursday's parliamentary election in Pakistan, we deplore all acts of violence against political parties and candidates and urge the authorities to uphold the fundamental freedoms necessary for an inclusive and meaningful democratic process.
In the lead up to the vote, there have been no less than 24 reported instances in which armed groups have staged attacks against members of political parties.
Pakistan's democratic gains over the past 15 years have been hard won in the face of many security and economic challenges.
Elections are an important moment to reaffirm the country's commitment to human rights and democracy and ensure the right to participation of all its people, including women and minorities.
We're disturbed, therefore, by the pattern of harassment, arrests and prolonged detentions of leaders of the Pakistan Tariq E Insaf party, the PTI and their supporters, which has continued during the election.
Multiple legal cases have been brought against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, which have disqualified him as a candidate and sentenced him to long prison terms.
We expect the higher courts will carefully review these conclusions in line with applicable due process and fair trial rights and Pakistan's wider international human rights obligations.
All eligible parties must be able to compete fairly.
Additionally, the election is a reminder of the barriers faced by women and minority communities in Pakistan, particularly the Ahmadis.
Despite 22% of seats in the National Assembly being reserved for women, some political parties appear to have not met the legal quota of having 5% women candidates on their party lists.
Separate voter lists, as is the case for the Ahmadis, expose them to harassment and violence despite the equal rights guaranteed to minorities in Pakistan's constitution.
Mindful of Pakistan's political journey, the UN **** Commissioner for Human Rights for Katuk appeals to authorities to ensure a fully free and fair vote and to recommit to the democratic process and an environment that promotes and protects the full range of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights which are clearly interconnected.
Questions for Liz, Gabriela Sotomayor of El Proceso Gabby.
Yes, thank you very much.
But I have a questions on another issue if it's possible.
Let's just make sure there are no questions on Pakistan.
Maybe Moussa has also has his hand up.
So Moussa, is this on Pakistan?
No, not about Pakistan, about occupied territory, OK, If it's for Liz and on other issues, OK, then I see no questions on Pakistan.
Let's take your question.
Yes, thank you very much.
So the President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, presented initiatives that threaten the independence of the judiciary.
He also aims to eliminate the National Electoral Institute responsible of organising and validating elections.
So this undermines democracy.
So I would like to know your opinion if you are looking at this situation in Mexico, especially this year's election in Mexico for President.
And then I have another question it may I on Mexico as well.
Well, Gabriella, I'll, I'll respond to your first question on Mexico.
You're highlighting what is what is happening with regard to initiatives and and and moves that are being undertaken.
It it will not surprise you to to know that we are indeed analysing and not monitoring that.
In particular our office in Mexico which obviously follows developments in Mexico extremely carefully is analysing.
So we are aware and we are following.
Gabby, your second question, yes, on the other hand, personal data of over 200 journalists covering the presidency were leaked.
The government was in possession of this information, so including their addresses, passports, phones and all personal details.
So this occurs in a country where more than 43 journalists have been killed during this administration.
So how, how, how dangerous is this for journalists?
I mean, to, to, you know, to have all their information over there and someone can take advantage of this, of this data.
Thank you for that, Gabriella.
When I'm not aware of of the details of of what you're setting out, which do as, as you describe them appear to, to indeed be worrying.
I think we would be concerned over any leak of, of personal data.
There clearly are concerns, human rights concerns with regard to to personal data and to privacy.
But in order to give you a more considered response, I think it's best that we consult with colleagues and then we will get back to you.
OK, Moussa, we'll go back to you.
Last week, an Israeli commando force stoned a hospital in Jenin and killed 3 Palestinians, including one wounded.
What is your comment about that, especially regarding the international law?
Mosa, I didn't quite hear you.
I think you talked about a hospital in Jenin, Is that correct?
With regard to that, I would need to to double check with regard to this specific incident in order to get back to you.
Yeah, we'll, we'll need to get back to you on that Musa.
And thanks for understanding.
Do we have further questions for Liz before?
Did you have a follow up or do you want to clarify something?
We asked last week about this matter and somebody from **** Commissioner tell us they didn't have any news about that.
And we see the video in the news and all channels about in the in the world, we see this this attack, how you can not see this attack from your side.
Yeah, as I said, Mr we'll, we'll double check and we'll get back to you.
I mean, given that you've already raised it with us, we'll, we'll prioritise and get back to you.
OK, Gabby, you have a follow up, I suppose.
Well, yes, not, not a follow up, but you know, with this subject of elections.
So in Venezuela, Maduro's government disqualified the main opposition candidate, Maria Corina Machado for 30 years or something like that.
What are your reactions to this?
Yeah, I think, I think clearly there will there will be lots of issues with regard to to elections because there are so many taking place this year around the world.
We are really concerned by the fact that, that candidates are disqualified because as as we're reiterating that it is very important that elections are, are free and fair.
And that includes, of course, the, the right to participate, the right to stand for election and the right to to vote for people.
So there are many human rights concerns.
So I would certainly stress that that it is very concerning when we we sort of see this kind of thing.
I think what would be important to stress is that the **** Commissioner has has voiced and has reiterated his support for credible elections in Venezuela.
He calls on all parties to uphold the Barbados agreement.
You may recall that was signed in 2023.
Back in July last year, the **** Commissioner stressed, and he reiterates, that reports of obstacles to the free participation in political affairs, including administrative disqualification of members of the opposition from holding office, need to be addressed.
So that really underscores one of the key fundamentals with regard to elections and human rights is the right to participation indeed.
OK, I think Jamie, you have a question as well for Liz.
I just wanted to ask Liz, going back to Pakistan, has the human rights office said anything about the conviction of Imran Khan?
Have you, do you have any doubts about whether or not that was a fair process?
Well, I think as as we highlighted in the note, we, we, we, we point out that multiple legal cases have indeed been brought against Imran Khan and these have disqualified him and also they, they may lead to long prison sentences.
Now we do expect that the higher courts will carefully review these conclusions that they have done in in other cases.
I think again, it just goes back to to what we're saying is really stressing the the right to participation and and therefore we are concerned when we see this happening.
Thank you very much, Liz.
I don't see there any further questions for you.
So thanks again for joining us here at this press briefing.
Just wanted to highlight a few things.
Just wanted to make sure that you're, you saw the statement that we shared with you yesterday on behalf of the Secretary General concerning the appointment of this independent review group pertaining to UNRWA.
This we shared with you around 5:00 PM our time yesterday.
In terms of meetings here we have the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, C da reviewing Greece Today and press conferences tomorrow we have at 12:30.
In this room we have Martin Griffiths and Filippo Grandi.
Martin Griffiths, Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Martin and Filippo Grandi, the UN **** Commissioner for Refugees, who will be speaking with you on the joint launch of the Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan in the Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan for 2024.
So it's 12:30 in this room tomorrow, Thursday, the 8th of February at 1:30.
Also here, the rights, the Child Rights Committee will be addressing you here to present its findings at the classic closure session this week on Bulgaria, Congo, Lithuania, the Russian Federation, Senegal and South Africa.
So that's 1:30 on Thursday and today, you know, I realise that now that I have skipped over my colleague from WHO, who also wanted to say something about today's observance, which is International Day of 0 Tolerance for Female genital mutilation.
So before I can't refer to the SG statement, I'll go back to Tarek who also wanted to highlight this important day.
Tarek, apologies, over to you.
No, no problems, Orlando.
And I know that there was, there was a statement from Secretary General.
So this is something that we we mark every every year, our International Day of 0 Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM and this year nearly 4.4 million girls will be at risk of this harmful practise in the 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where female genital mutilation is practised.
FGM comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non medical reasons.
The practise can lead to a number of major health consequences, including severe bleeding and problems urinating and later cyst infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths.
Treatment of the health complications of FGM cost health systems an estimated 1.4 billion per year, the figure that will arise in the coming decades unless urgent action is taken to abandon the practise.
The practise of FGM is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
It reflects deep rooted inequality between sexes and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against girls and women in several settings.
There is evidence suggesting great involvement of healthcare providers in performing FGM due to the belief that the procedure is safer than medicalised.
WHO strongly urges healthcare providers not to perform FGM and has developed a global strategy and specific material to support healthcare providers against medicalisation.
The theme of this year is Her Voice, Her Future, investing in survival LED movements to end female genital mutilation, noting the central Rd role of survivors in a ganging communities and bringing about change to raise awareness and galvanised action.
WHN Partners will be championing the role of survivors in helping to end FGM, advocating for protection in policies and laws, as well as transformative changes to social and gender norms.
This year we will have from WHO updated guidelines to support prevention and response to MGM.
So we will be obviously promoting these guidelines when when they are ready this year.
In the meantime, we have experts at WHO available for one-on-one interviews on this topic.
Don't hesitate to contact us.
There's also a very good fact sheet on our website giving more details.
That's a very useful thank you, Tarek, for the guidelines and the fact sheet.
And just echoing much of what you just heard from Tarek.
The Secretary General, of course, calls an international community to redouble its efforts and investments to uphold the rights of women and girls and put a decisive end to female genital mutilation once and for all.
That message we shared with you earlier this week, I see that Lisa has her hand up.
Is that a question for me, Lisa?
Yes, as a matter of fact, either you or yes, if he is still around, Yeah, regarding the appeal tomorrow for Sudan in the morning, your web casting the appeal at 10:30 and besides Griffiths and Grande who will be speaking there.
And I was wondering whether you would be sending please the statements of both Griffiths and Grande, some of the participants.
I'm afraid that Jens has left.
However, if you look at the media advisor he shared with you last week, it does give some details indeed.
It will be webcast live as from 10:30.
For those of you at the Palais, it's in room 26, roughly from 10:30 to noon.
And then afterwards, as I mentioned, the two principals will be speaking here to you at 12:30.
It doesn't give more details on the other speakers.
Perhaps you can reach out to Jens bilaterally, but of course, I can speak on his behalf and promise you that he will share the statements.
Any other questions before we wrap up?
OK then, have a good afternoon.
