Thank you very much for being with us this morning.
I have quite a long list of speakers today, so let's start immediately with our colleagues from the Inter Parliamentarian Union.
Thomas Fitzsimmons should be, I can see Thomas, he is connected with us together with his colleague Roger Huizenga.
Huizenga, if I pronounce well, who is the manager of the IPU Human Rights programme?
Thomas, you are here to briefly tell us about your latest data on human rights violation against parliamentarians.
Thank you very much, Alessandra.
Actually, Roger is having a few problems connecting, so perhaps we can skip the first slot reluctantly whilst he tries to get connected and perhaps we can come back to you later.
So I'll go to straight to Catherine with Sue who is connected.
She also has a few short announcements from Actad.
Catherine you have to be unmuted just one second, or maybe accept to be unmuted.
The problem to collect setany or proportion analyst the production international Pondo like Chris the explore evolution, the impact.
AP doci press de Freya trope just per macro de swar EOPTARJE matter don't use room online and don't actually document the DOC press LO rapport for I don't like conference the press so I bought per metroc de metron perspective.
I told you you called la proche de la ponde de gron tondorski pre existe SLC for example LA revolution industrial lamperative, the durability economic immersion on perspective.
I'm enough do you enough do this would do enough would do this pardon.
Organise annual dollar commissions like technology development and politics Technology the technology.
Elmo commonly Technology special Development International domain the technology special The the cosmonaut pass developers as you see the beneficiary Tusk technology permit on term gesture development the meteorology may we see the gesture of the the products you had recall API dot parmi le le santer venon Dorsett Commission on overha le pioneer de levolution Don edition Don a genetic crisp Kasnoff Feng Zhang by chunni president like.
World Environment all the Environment Day the message of the secretary general for this very important day, whose team this year is time for nature has been distributed to you.
And I remind you that you have until this afternoon to watch the film's shark water extinction that senior UN Brussels, Vienna and Geneva are offering to you for for watching and then participate in the a debate that will take place at 5:00, of course, virtually with Sandy Campbell, who was the producer of the movie, Susan Garner, director of the Ecosystems division of UNET and Jessica Battle from the World Wildlife Fund.
All this moderated by our colleague Deborah Stewart, Director of the UN Information Centre in Brussels.
So this is for World Environment Day and I'll go now to Liz who also would like to tell us a few words about the launch of the OHCHR Annual Report today, please.
Yes, as I'm speaking to you, the **** Commissioner is launching the UN Human Rights Report 2019 to states.
It presents the results achieved last year by the UN Human Rights Office through the extensive work of its 1400 plus staff based here in Geneva and in 84 field presences all over the world.
These results were achieved under significant funding constraints.
The cash flow crisis that the UN faces led to further cuts in our regular budget in 2019 and that was a cut of around 16% compared to 2018.
This situation has made it impossible for the office to honour all its mandated activities and has made us more dependent on voluntary contributions.
Unfortunately, our voluntary income in 2019 also decreased by 4.3% compared to a 2018.
As the UN financial crisis continues in 2020 and as the demands for our expertise and support keep growing, we are asking states for more flexible, timely and predictable voluntary contributions in order to deliver what is expected of us.
So that's our UN Human Rights report 2019.
It is available on our website and obviously it has has many detailed figures relating to that.
And since you have the floor, would you like also to do your briefing on DRC and then we'll see if there are questions for you?
As you will have seen, we've issued a press release this morning relating to 1300 civilians killed in the DLC in the past eight months.
I'd just like to present some details of that press release to you.
So the 1300 civilians have been killed in a number of conflicts involving armed groups and government forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Some of the incidents involving killings and other abuses and violations may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The number of victims has soared in recent weeks and separate conflicts in three eastern provinces.
That's it to Re N Kivu and S Kivu have spread.
The **** Commissioner has said that she's appalled by the increase in brutal attacks on innocent civilians by armed groups and also the grave violations by military and security forces.
These are not only reprehensible and criminal acts, but they also break the trust between people and the state representatives, both security and political.
In Ituri province, the violence has spread into new areas as armed groups have multiplied.
The principal armed group there continues to be CADECO, comprised mainly of fighters from the Lendu community.
As we've documented, Kodako and other Lindu fighters have pursued a strategy of slaughtering local residents, mainly the HEMA, but also the Allure, since 2017, and that's in order to control natural resources in the region.
The **** Commissioner said that so far, to their credit, the targeted communities have refrained from retaliating.
The **** Commissioner visitor detouring in January and she met people who were maimed and displaced during the brutal attacks by Cadecka.
And what she's saying is that in the absence of effective protection by state security forces, there is a serious risk that these communities will feel compelled to form self defence groups, which would most likely exacerbate an already dire situation.
So just to give you a few more details on that is in Ituri, between the 1st of October last year, 2019 and the 31st of May this year, at least 531 civilians were killed by armed troops in Zurich and 375 of those were since March.
Congolese armed forces and police have also allegedly killed 17 civilians during the same in North Kivu.
The launch of military operations by the government forces in November 2019 led to retaliatory attacks against civilians by the main armed group, the ADF.
And by the 31st of May this year, the ADF had killed at least 514 civilians using machetes, axes and heavy weapons, and it's been abducting children and attacking schools and hospitals.
State defence forces have also been heavily implicated, with the FARDC reported to have killed 59 civilians and the police, the PNC to have killed 24.
Now more than 400,000 people have been displaced in North Kevon.
The **** Commissioner is calling on the Congolese authorities to do the utmost to establish the state's authority in both these conflict areas, including by introducing or expanding the presence of security forces, and to ensure such forces protect civilians rather than prey on them.
Protection of civilians is the responsibility of the state and when the state leaves a vacuum, others tend to fill it.
In DRC past experience shows this can have catastrophic results.
The generalised and systematic nature of some of the attacks on civilians in both the Tory and N Kivu may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.
So those are some of the details in the press release.
In some other areas that we detail in South Kivu, at least 74 people have been killed since October, and there's also been serious violence and killings taking place in Congo Central and Kinshasa.
Thank you very much, Liz.
OK, so up here, sorry, let me open the floor to the journalists.
We've got questions for HCHR as you already Lisa's asking for the floor.
I hope you're all doing well.
I'd like, I'd like to know whether these these armed forces which seem to be proliferating and the atrocities as well, whether they are aware of COVID-19 or whether they don't care.
And how, how is it that the fighting in these these troubled areas is impacting upon humanitarian aid efforts?
There seems to be, again, unfortunately, a rise of Ebola and Dettori, as you mentioned, is one of the areas which is under particular stress.
So if you could mention that and you did mention something about that.
There seems to be a vacuum in the government security in the area.
Yeah, thank you very much, Lisa.
I'm not in a position to say whether these armed groups are aware of COVID-19 or or what they think about it.
What is clear is that there has been a proliferation of these armed groups with regard to Co deco that has splintered since its main leader was killed on the 25th of March.
So therefore all adding to an already very complex and dangerous situation in terms of affecting humanitarian work.
Well, I'm sure that that colleagues from other agencies will be able to detail more how that has impacted it, but it's clearly generating a sense of insecurity and violence.
I spoke of the **** Commissioner visiting Utori back in in January, where she met some of the victims and was really appalled and shocked by the testimonies that she heard of people describing how their families had been basically butchered and they'd had to flee for their lives.
So I think the whole sense that we have got these incidents of violence spreading, we're focusing on on the three provinces in the press release primarily, but we do mention violence elsewhere.
That is terribly concerning.
What we're calling for is that we have seen that when there is a vacuum, other people tend to fill it.
What we are stressing is that to date, it is incredibly important that some of the targeted communities have not retaliated, but there is the tremendous risk that they may decide that they have no other choice.
And that is why the **** Commissioner is calling on the state, calling on the DRC government to make sure that security forces move into these areas and are able to take control in order to protect people and not to prey on them.
Is that you Have a follow up and then I'll go to Jamia.
No, OK, this is it's fine.
So then Jamil, can Jamil be unmuted please?
Hi, Liz, good to see you.
Question on Brazil, President Bolsonaro qualified the demonstrators as terrorists demonstrators in Brazil.
I'm not talking about the US.
Thank you to comment on that.
Are demonstrators terrorists?
What we would always_is that people have the right of peaceful protest and that the secure forces forces, that are deployed should should be able to to facilitate people's right to peaceful assembly to, expression of opinions it.
Is not helpful to qualify people as terrorists I.
CAN'T go into detail on what what scenario may have said about particular groups but, what we would always say is it is incredibly important to uphold the right of peaceful protest thank.
OK, so since we are on human rights and I don't see any other question for you.
I should never say never.
Gabriella, you have you have the floor.
And then we will go to IP.
Thank you very much, Alessandra.
In Mexico, the construction worker named Giovanni was killed because of the beating of the police because he wasn't wearing a mask.
This this is not the first time that a person dies under the the custody of the police or so do you have a comment on that?
We are aware of of the incident and I understand that our office in Mexico is planning to to issue a press release with regard to that incident.
We will see the press release and let's stay on human rights issues and go back to the Inter Parliamentarian Union with Thomas Fitzsimmons and his colleague Roger Huizenga, who I understand is now connected.
So Thomas, you want to say a few words at the beginning and then we let Roger give a short briefing on your data.
Thank you very much, Alessandro.
And apologies for the the slight technical hitch this morning.
It's great to be here again and to see to see you all at least virtually.
Just to say that during the pandemic, the IPU has continued its work of strengthening parliaments and defending parliamentarians.
And we're here today because to tell you about the latest actions of the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians that had its first virtual meeting last week, and which is paying particular attention to parliamentarians who are in detention because of the potential increased vulnerability and increased risk of infection during the pandemic.
There is a press release which we sent out this morning, which you should have in 4 languages, and I will now pass on to my colleague Roger Huzenga, who's in charge of human rights at the IPU.
Thank you, Roger, thank you and a good morning to to everyone.
As Thomas just mentioned, the committee met for the very first time virtually and focused in particular on the situation of members of Parliament who are in detention across the world.
So this day #43 All in all, and in doing so, the committee looked at the specific situation of parliamentarians in three particular countries, which are a big concern to the committee.
And I would like to briefly mention those three countries, which are Venezuela, Cote d'Ivoire, and Turkey.
So in Venezuela, the committee is increasingly concerned about the intimidation to which members of the opposition.
We're now looking at the cases of 139 MPs of the opposition, all kinds of intimidation that these members have been subject to since.
January 2016 But much of this intimidation is getting worse and worse as we speak, and right now four members of Parliament are in detention.
One of them is on a house arrest and one of the four who is in detention has been in detention since August 2018.
And we are deeply worried about their conditions of detention and also about the accusations that have been levelled against them because we have no indication whatsoever that due process is being followed here.
And it's also a reason why the IPU has called on the authorities to release these persons immediately.
As part of this wider set of intimidation, these MPs have been subject to attacks during rallies.
They have their had their houses covered with graffiti, with menacing messages.
And as a result, many of these MPs have felt obliged to go into hiding, to actually leave the country or to seek some kind of protection at foreign embassies.
And as you may have read, the latest development there is that former Speaker Guaido is actually now gone to the French embassy in Caracas to seek protection.
The latest development in the case of Venezuela is a decision that was adopted only days ago by the Supreme Court, which will make it even further more difficult for members of the opposition to do their work freely as they now be might might be facing reprisals for for carrying out the parliamentary mandate as they're no longer considered to be working within the confines of the laws were simply doing their work.
The second country situation that I would like to mention is the situation in in Cote d'Ivoire where the committee examines the cases of 10 MPs.
Five of them are in detention right now and there as well the committee is very concerned about their situation.
They are being accused of having spread fake news, of having challenged the authority of the States.
And as a result of that, even though there are no clear material indications that they were involved in any of that, they are now in detention.
And we're particularly concerned about the health situation of one of them, Mr Laconia, who seems to be in very poor health and absolutely needs medical attention as quickly as possible.
The third situation that I would like to mention to you is the situation in Turkey, which has been a country of long concern to the Committee on Human Rights, because it has always been looking at a significant number of MPs from the opposition who are facing difficulties.
And right now we're looking at the situation of 57 members of the opposition of the HDP party, which is pro Kurdish and opposes the president after Turkey today, many of these MPs have been charged or sentenced.
Seven of them are still in detention today.
And what sort of is the red thread in all of these cases is that they have been prosecuted on the basis of terrorism related terrorism related charges with the IPU and the committee and the rights of parliamentarians fundamentally believes that in many of these situations, these MPs have in fact been prosecuted for merely having done their work and for having have exercised their parliamentary duties, having exercised their freedom of expression, if obeyed in a very critical manner of the Turkish authorities.
But it's as a result of that that they are now facing these charges and seven of them are still today in prison.
Here too, as the same for Cote d'Ivoire, but also for Venezuela that I started off with.
We are really pushing the authorities to free these people as soon as possible.
Thank you very much, Roger.
Thank you very much for this briefing.
I'll now turn to the journalist.
The first question is again from Lisa.
Lisa, you have the floor.
Thank you for that briefing.
You, you mentioned at the very last that you, you are pushing the government.
I mean, does the IPU have a, a line to the, the three governments that you're discussing in regard to these MPs?
When you talk to them, what do they tell you?
What do they give you any excuses or do they just, you know, not say anything?
Rashid we we have contact with all three countries, with the authorities of all three countries, the parliamentary authorities first and foremost, but also often with other authorities who may be more relevant in helping produce a satisfactory solution, which is after all, what the committee is, is after.
But this, the kind of cooperation that we enjoy differs.
I mean, I must say it's been very challenging for us to work with respect to the situation in Venezuela.
The Committee on Human Rights and Parliamentarians has wanted to go to Venezuela already for a long time to see for itself or what the situation is of these is of these different MPs.
So this idea is still there and the government of Venezuela simply hasn't okayed this mission.
So, I mean, there we're really facing a significant challenge.
But in the cases of Turkey, we have a very regular contact with the Turkish authorities.
I think although there is this regular contact, we just don't see eye to eye on some of the underlying issues, which is the which are the issues related to freedom of expression.
The Turkish authorities are quick to respond that the HDP opposition MPs are working in tandem with the PKK and what they see as the terrorist organisation, whereas the information that we have clearly shows that these MPs are in fact being prosecuted for having exercised their freedom of expression.
Thank you, Reggie for this answer.
Lisa, you have a follow up.
Can you unmute visa please?
Just very quickly regarding Venezuela, I think you said that the the government has not charged or said what these people who are imprisoned are accused of.
I mean, have you asked them about them and why not?
And what is your belief why they are being charged simply because they don't like the president, Reggie?
Well, I mean, obviously the the idea for the Committee on Human Rights Parliamentarians is to get the different perspectives on the table and then for itself to come to its own conclusions.
We have a lot of information from complainants and we have a lot of information from international bodies and regional bodies on what is happening in Venezuela.
We have asked time and time again the Venezuelan authorities to provide us with details on the facts that would support the charges that have been brought against these MPs and these details are still surely lacking.
So there is nothing right now that can dispel our concerns that these MPs are in fact being prosecuted here too for having exercised their political mandate.
Rosie, I don't see any other hand up from the journalist, so maybe if you have follow up questions they will go through Thomas for you.
Thank you very much for being with us this morning to brief us on this new data.
I would like just to tell our journalists that Rolando Gomez is online with us, but he has to leave in a few minutes.
So is there any question to Rolando before he leaves?
You have seen the message that he has sent out yesterday about the fact that we don't know yet about the Human Rights Council.
But if there is any specific question, as you had asked last time to have him online, he is online now.
So if you have any specific question for him, I'm giving you a few seconds for raising your hands.
You will have to leave us in 10 minutes.
So I'll continue with the briefing and we'll go now to Jens.
Like for a briefing on Cameroon.
Jens, if Jens can be unmuted, please.
I think he's still muted.
If my colleagues could try.
All right, now you get this.
Yes, we can hear you well.
OK, another goal now will sound.
Thanks, Alexandra, and good morning, everyone.
8 Deliveries have been scaled back in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon because of increased harassment, tax abductions and extortion of humanitarian workers.
There is an increasingly widespread practise by non state armed groups of setting up illegal checkpoints along the main supply routes and abducting aid workers.
Over the past two months we have seen a significant increase in attacks with six aid agencies reporting having had their workers kidnapped or illegally detained in life threatening incidents.
All staff involved in these incidents have been released but traumatised because of threats of being killed and some reports of them being beaten.
Motives for these kidnappings are mostly predatory kidnapping for ransom or theft.
Armed elements have also enforced so-called ghost towns which is days where they prohibit people from venturing out.
They have used improvised explosive devices in populated areas and closed transport routes between cities for several days.
Cameroon security forces have also reportedly delayed the movement of humanitarian cargo.
All this, of course constrained the operation of humanitarian organisations and that has consequences for the people that they help.
The situation in the Northwest and Southwest regions of of Cameroon, which started as a political crisis, is marked by violent clashes and has led to a complex humanitarian emergency.
With 1.7 million people in need in the region, 450,000 of those in need are displaced.
600,000 have already fled the violence to other parts of the country.
Now, in total, we have 2.3 million people in need of aid in Cameroon.
The Humanitarian Coordinator there has called on all actors to protect civilians and ensure the safety of aid workers and the unimpeded delivery of assistance to the most vulnerable women, children and men.
She said that the increase of attacks is very troubling as it comes at a time when efforts are actually focused on scaling up in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Humanitarian Coordinator has reiterated the UN Secretary General's call for a global ceasefire to also apply in Cameroon.
Thank you very much, Jens.
Anybody has questions for Archer?
Oh, Lisa, seems like I'm the only show in town.
You are you saying essentially that these Cameroonian security forces are complicit in this criminality that's going on?
I mean, are or are they just being passive?
Or are they actively involved in kidnappings, ransom, all of this good stuff?
Yence no, that's not what I'm saying.
The the the report, it's not reports, it's actual fact of of harassment, attacks and abductions and extortion.
Are the armed groups, the non state armed groups operating in in these areas.
So typically what what they do is that they they, they kidnap aid workers from anywhere from between a few hours to a few days.
They hold them for ransom until somebody pays the money to release these aid workers or they steal whatever they are they are transporting.
But there's also an issue with the regular armed forces there and ruling an armed forces which have withheld and stopped trucks, particularly with with aid.
There have been some reports of them detaining protective equipment that was to be used for humanitarian workers.
So it is all sides of the of the conflict there that are imposing these these constraints on on aid workers.
The questions, I don't see any.
Thank you very much, Jens.
Let's go to Paul for IOM.
You wanted to brief the journalist on migrants from Niger, Niger to Mali.
I just want to indeed I wanted to talk to you a little bit about the return of migrants, Malayan migrants from Niger, part of a a broader case of the roughly 30,000 migrants stranded migrants that we've identified in West and Central Africa.
The International Organisation for Migration yesterday assisted 179 Malayan nationals stranded in Niger with their voluntary return home.
The migrants have been waiting at Iowans transit centres in Yami and Agadez for almost 3 months due to COVID-19 related border closures.
This first air movement was made possible by an agreement between the governments of Niger and Mali.
In the past two weeks, IOM Niger has organised land movements that saw the return of 43 migrants to Burkina Faso and 58 migrants to Benin.
IOM has documented roughly 30,000 stranded migrants in West and Central Africa.
This figure includes nearly 18,000 foreigners unable to cross borders to return home and people like Mauritanian herders who need to cross into neighbouring countries to graze their cattle.
The establishment of humanitarian corridors is essential to ensure that people are able to cross international borders in a timely and dignified manner, with their rights respected and public health issues addressed.
IOM stands ready to help governments increase disease surveillance at their borders, train and equip border officials, and assist with quarantine measures for those who return.
An additional 1400 migrants from several mainly W African countries remain in six IOM transit centres and quarantine sites in Niger, waiting for travel restrictions to lift that they too can return to their countries of origin.
Now, IOM remains deeply concerned about the plight of stranded migrants.
The organisation is providing a wide range of direct support services to migrants across the Americas, Africa and Asia, including financial support, food, clothing, shelter, psychosocial and health services.
If you're interested, there's some more information about the plight of stranded migrants in 17 countries around the world that we published on Wednesday.
In addition, I've included a copy of a recent issue brief on this issue of Stranded Migrants and COVID-19.
Thank you very much, Paul.
Thanks for this briefing.
Let's wait a few seconds.
I don't see any hands up, so thank you very much.
Just for housekeeping, we still have Claire and Elizabeth to brief us.
And Margaret Harris is also connected from WHOI know that some of you wanted to ask her questions, so I'll ask Margaret if she can be with us.
We have still 2 briefings and then we I will ask the journalist if there's any question for WHO.
So I'll go now to Claire.
Claire, you wanted to talk to us about carbon dioxide levels?
As as we all know, the global community is coming together today to celebrate World Environment Day.
Unfortunately, coinciding with World Environment Day, we have important new data which shows that the causes and the indicators of climate change have again reached new heights.
May 2020 was the warmest May on record according to one European data set and carbon dioxide levels at a benchmark observing station also set a new record.
This will have a major impact on biodiversity in nature, which is the theme of World Environment Day and obviously as we know on socio economic development and human well-being.
WMO Secondary General Petrie Tallis and other UN and world leaders have repeatedly stressed that the industrial and economic slowdown from COVID-19 is not a substitute for sustained and coordinated climate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
And as I said, unfortunately, carbon dioxide concentrations measured at a the Mona Laura observing station in Hawaii reached a new record in May.
So, but we're not saying this is going to be the the global average figure for the whole year, but the, the this one particular observing station reached a seasonal peak of 417.1 parts per million of carbon dioxide in May.
This is the highest monthly reading ever recorded, and it was taken by scientists from the US National and Oceanic Atmospheric National, sorry, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
It's not a global average, but it is indicative of the continuing rise in CO2 concentrations.
Mauna Loa is important because it's the longest established observing station.
It's a benchmark in, it's a benchmark station in WM OS global atmosphere watch programme and obviously we will be monitoring the trends at other stations in this network around the world.
From what we know so far is they are following the trend seen at Mona Lower.
There's been a lot of talk about COVID-19 leading to a fall in emissions.
And I would say, you know, once again, emissions and concentrations are two different things.
Concentrations are what remains in the atmosphere after CO2 has been absorbed by the ocean and by the biosphere and it stays in the atmosphere for hundreds of years.
We do see a seasonal peak every year.
So normally in April, May, before vegetation has grown back to absorb CO2 in the northern, in the northern hemisphere.
But as I said, it is, you know, it's, it's, it's, it's not good news what we, what we are, what we are reporting in consequence because of rising constant CO2 concentrations.
May was the warmest May on record.
This is according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, which is operated for the European Union.
It was not .63°C warmer than the average May from 1981 to 210.
The most above average temperatures were recorded over parts of Siberia, where they were up to 10°C above average.
And that is, that is absolutely huge.
You know, it's shattered.
Alaska and Antarctica were also warm.
The, you know, the consequences of this.
It's not just temperatures.
Temperatures are part of the story, but you know, as we know, climate change has a major impact on biodiversity and on the oceans which are absorbing the vast majority of carbon dioxide.
Oceans Day, World Oceans Day follows World Environment Day.
It's on Monday on the 8th of June.
The theme is innovation for a sustainable ocean.
And again, unfortunately, we are seeing ocean heat, is it record, record, record levels.
We're seeing very, very **** levels of deoxygenation of acidification and sea level, right.
And sea level rises continuing unabated.
With those cheerful words, I will close and happy World Environment Day.
Thank you to you, Claire.
I have a question from Paula.
Recently, a few weeks ago, you said that COVID was having an impact on data collection and I was wondering how that may potentially affect the collection of this particular data, whether you have fewer data points right now, you know, for you know, that's that's that you've used for this this particular these particular reports that you just announced.
So the, the data that I've just talked about, it's not, you know, it's not generated by the WMO Secretariat.
It comes from, you know, from our members.
So it's the data on the CO2 concentrations is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which is still conducting daily CO2 readings at Mauna Loa Observatory.
To the best of my knowledge.
Other stations in the Global Atmosphere Watch network are also carrying on their activities.
So even at the at the height of the pandemic in Italy, we have one observing station, Monte Simone it's called and they were they were carrying on their work.
So collection of CO2 data, as far as I know is, is, is, is continuing.
There may be some stations which are, which are having problems.
But globally the, the globally recognised stations that the work there is, is continuing when it comes to temperatures.
So the European data set that I, that I just talked, talked about that is based on computer models, satellite data more than on readings from, you know, from, from surface, surface stations.
Where we are seeing the impact is on manually operated weather stations in certain parts of the world, Africa in particular, and parts of South America.
But the, you know, the global figures on temperature that we, that we are, you know, that we are reporting shouldn't be, shouldn't be unduly affected by, by by those problems.
Thank you very much, Claire.
OK, since I don't see any other requests for the briefing, as you said, for environment good World Environment Day and Ocean Day on the 8th.
And thank you very much for briefing us today.
Our last speaker is Elizabeth Pierce.
Elizabeth, you would like to talk to us about the Tropical Storm Amanda?
Stay on meteorological disasters.
Tropical Storm Amanda hit El Salvador on May 31st, causing considerable damage to main roads and infrastructure in the Old country.
While search and rescue operation continue.
20 deaths and several missing people have been reported so far.
34 major floods and 154 landslides have been reported, with three major bridges have collapsed and more than 490 houses damaged.
At least 125,000 people have been directly affected.
Tropical Storm Amanda is estimated to be the most devastating weather disaster in El Salvador in 22 years since Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
At this moment, Tropical Storm Amanda has accumulated over 600 millimetres of rainfall, 800 millimetres in certain location when you compare to Mitch which accumulated a maximum of 400 millimetres of rain.
A new Tropical Storm Cristobal in the Gulf of Mexico has formed and is expected to bring more rains over El Salvador in the next days.
WFP needs $8 million urgently for emergency food assistance to 153 food insecure people and storm affected people over the next two months to support the emergency efforts of the government.
This is in addition to the $19 million required for the COVID-19 response.
WFP estimates that 333 people located in the most affected areas by the storm are severely food insecure.
The preliminary impact is concentrated in the Occidental and Central zone, affecting both urban and rural areas.
It is estimated also that 56,000 hectares of maize are flooded with severe losses in vegetable production.
Landslides and floods caused by the storm forced 11 / 11,000 people to be evacuated in 210 shelters.
In May 2020, with the significant deterioration of food security due to restriction caused to contain the spread of COVID-19, WFP started to assist 4000 vulnerable people with food and cash.
WFP estimate that the COVID-19 emergency in El Salvador will further aggravate due to also the damage due caused by Tropical Storm Amanda, increasing the number of families already in food insecurity and dire condition.
As a result, WFP is preparing to further scale up its emergency operation to reach an additional 150 people over the next two months.
If you version TA more Francais poorly collect the UN radio la tropical Amanda Kia tuche Salvador le tante a ma considerable OPI the SA SA counte GIS montera A suno le government play the savant Samuel Pearson, QA tuche director.
Tropical ITA appeared the pivendo Mitch.
The Samsung person on neta security element there nudevon or reunion plus disnef million poor Eddie Eagle Molly person key sue for the impact socio economic dukovic disnev enudevon porcella augmentinos operacion retravit poraten.
Si person Don la merci beaucoup Elizabeth GE regards si ya de question portoi E Jean wapa Don que si celica je pardon melle de merci beaucoup Elizabeth.
I will switch back to English to ask my colleagues to if if Margaret Harris can be unmuted because I see Jamil has a question for her.
Yeah, I see you are with us.
If you could put your camera on, we will listen to the question that Jamil would like to ask you.
Good morning, Jamil, you have a question.
Hi, Margaret, good to see you.
Brazil is still registering over 1300 deaths every single day and at the same time opening up the economy and ending quarantines around the country.
Is this the right moment to end quarantines?
So as we've said before, there are really 6 big criteria we put for easing down your lockdown.
And one of them is, is knowing what that ideally having your transmission declining, but also knowing where your transmission is.
So really having the testing, tracking, tracing, isolating, quarantining, all in place and all working well, but also having your workplaces, your schools, your systems in place so that people can socially distance and they can take all the precautions that will prevent further transmission.
Next question is from Christian.
Eric, you have the floor.
Christian, we can't hear you.
I'll go to the next one and maybe we'll come back to you afterwards, if you can maybe solve the problem with the mic.
John Zaracostas, can he be muted, please?
Good morning, Margaret, can you hear me?
Well, John, nice to hear you.
I was wondering if there's any comment from WHO on the announcement by the CEO of AstraZeneca that they will be in a position to produce up to 2 billion vaccines of the vaccine that's in human trials at the moment, AZD 122.
There are many, many candidates vaccines and there are many different groups doing a lot of work.
And, you know, we thank all groups for the enormous efforts they've made to try to accelerate and, and test and, and find a vaccine.
Can we try again, Christian?
If she can be unmuted, maybe this time we can hear you.
Christian, I think the problem is on your side because we had unmuted you and still not hear you.
Or you can SMS me your question for for Margaret.
Next speaker is Robin from AFP.
Just a general question, what is the the general guidance on how a country can leave the organisation with?
I really can't make a comment.
I don't have that information.
That's a strange sound on your line, Peter.
We have line problems, Peter.
We can't understand what you're saying.
We hear you, but there's a strange sound.
I'm afraid we can't hear you again.
For those who have connection problems, I have my phone in front of me.
Christiana's just sent me her question to you, Margaret, so I will read it to you.
Could Margaret say when the information on how to leave The Who comes forward?
She promised that at the last briefing.
So can she updated us on this?
Yeah, I promised to look into it and I don't have it yet.
OK, So she's asking when and you don't know when I don't have a deadline, no data.
I'm interested more specific about quarantines.
I know you don't want to take specific countries, but at the moment the UK is is introduced to quarantine for people coming in and for Europe.
All of the European countries as far as I can see have a much lower transmission rate daily caseload than the UK.
So could you just outline for us in the WH OS point of view, what is a sensible point and grounds for introducing a quarantine?
So this has been widely practised in a lot of countries.
And, and one of the six criteria we've laid we've set out as important when you ease your lockdown is to have a strategy for how you will manage movement across your borders.
So how you will screen people, how you will follow them.
And, and that is 1 procedure that countries have used as a strategy.
All right, Lisa, yes, good morning.
Margaret, could, could you clarify the situation with hydroxychloroquine?
I, I'm, I'm totally confused.
Lancet at one point said, no, let's not do any more research.
People are dying and then WHOI think has said it's going to be doing more research on it.
I mean, what what is happening?
Is it still a viable possible candidate, therapeutic candidate for COVID-19?
Hydroxychloroquine, like a number of other therapeutics, has showed potential.
So we have put them on a trial, the Solidarity trial, which has a uniform protocol to assess a a, a range of different medications to compare their use and within a large number of people in many countries.
But having a uniform protocol means you can genuinely compare one with the other.
Now when there was reports not just in The Lancet but elsewhere raising some concerns about the safety of hydroxychloroquine, the trial, and this is something that's built into the trial, wherever there are safety concerns, they put a pause on.
Now that pause simply meant that any new person entering the trial that may have been randomised to hydroxychloroquine wasn't randomised during those days when the safety data was being assessed.
And as you know, that safety data was assessed over just a matter of a few days.
And then by the middle of the week it was it was decided by the Data Safety Monitoring Board that there were not concerns and that we could continue with the trial.
So now anybody entering the trial could be randomised to hydroxychloroquine or to the other 4 medications that are under under assessment.
Thank you Baron, one second we are muting you.
Thank you very much for giving me a chance.
Miss Harris, my question about Brazil.
We are just receiving perfect numbers of COVID-19 death from Brazil and what went wrong, what went wrong in Brazil?
Because I am checking now the number of tests in Brazil 986,000 by today and the number of confirmed cases 6615 thousand and the number of dead is 34,000.
So what we clearly see here that the number of tests is too low.
On the other hand, we know that WHO is sending APP to the to the whole world, especially the countries needs test.
My question is how many tests have you sent Brazil and on and another worrying reports coming from also Mexico, similar situation in Mexico, less test, more cases, more deaths.
So how how are you going to have those, these Latin American countries, especially Brazil and Mexico?
There are a few questions there and I will yes, reiterate that for us, testing is absolutely crucial.
Being able to test, find where the virus is, find the other people potentially infected is the way you can stop transmission and bring those case numbers down.
As for support, that was asked actually on Tuesday and I've been asking and searching with my logistics colleagues and indeed we have supported the laboratories in a number of countries, quite a lot of countries in South and Central America.
It will be easier if I could just send it to you.
And if the whole group on that list, I'm happy to send that to all.
I'm sure everybody is interested in that, Margaret for sure.
My, my question is similar to Byron's regarding support.
And it's, it's not just test, but I mean the, you know, now that Latin America is the epicentre for the pandemic, there are communities that where basically they don't have practically anything PPE or anything.
And, and actually the, so I'd be interested in, in, in also knowing what your, how your support is going and whether you know now that the WHS budgets is under stress, whether that may be an issue for delivery of support to, to this region.
So without going into detail about the money, simply because I don't have it, the, the funding for things like supplies does come from different pots.
So we have things like the solidarity fund that has been used very much to pay for all the huge amounts of PPE, laboratory supplies, all sorts of things.
Again, to get a breakdown on that.
I probably don't, I probably can't.
So I'm not going to make a promise that I can't deliver.
But indeed we are providing enormous levels of supplies and when we look at the ask gets greater and greater.
And of course, wherever the outbreak moves, wherever the virus transmission moves, there is indeed an acute need for suppliers of all kinds.
PPE certainly, but also laboratory supplies and other things and even expertise to help people set up the hospitals needed.
We have a whole network of architects who are expert in providing the kind of hospital you need to deal with with this.
And so all manner of support is being asked for and is being provided.
Yes, Doctor Tedros spoke at the World the Global Vaccine Summit yesterday and he was, you know, very thankful that there's been resources put towards the investigation of vaccines.
But he said that many of the gains that have been made are unravelling in terms of polio, cholera, measles, diphtheria and meningitis.
Does this mean that The Who is is is dependent on Gavi and it needs other sources of funding to fight these diseases?
So there are a number of elements of the reasons why that work is, is not going as you know is being done in a great deal as some of it being countries focusing on COVID, cancelling vaccination programmes, mass vaccination programmes because they're dealing with COVID.
So there are many reasons, but certainly Gavi is an absolutely crucial partner.
We work very, very closely on all vaccination programmes and funding is always an issue.
We are always needing more funding for the huge programmes that need to be done and need to be increased to ensure that children and adults, but children particularly, get the vaccinations that protect and save lives.
And I would like to add to that that yesterday, the Secretary General, in his video message to the Global Vaccine Summit spoke about that.
And he said that 20 million children are missing their full complement of vaccines at the moment, and one in five have received no vaccine at all.
Under the shadow of cutting COVID-19, their plight is even more desperate.
And so he asked for three commitments, the first of which was to find safe ways to continue delivering vaccination even as COVID-19 spreads.
And you have received the full statement of the Secretary General.
I have a question from Jamil.
Yeah, sorry, Margaret, but but because of the situation, this is really dramatic.
There's one death per minute this week in Brazil.
My question basically is what do you recommend the country today to do?
And this is my question, but I would also like to make a point here.
When the, when the, the epidemic was in Asia, we had lots of information about the situation in Asia per country.
Basically when it was in Europe, we had the same thing when there was a ****** in Africa.
We had a very extensive briefings on Africa when it was in the US as well.
And now that it's in Latin America, there's a lack of, let's say, information.
Please don't tell me to listen to Pajo, their political institution.
We would like you to talk a little bit more.
I think my colleagues, Paola, Gabriela, FA, etcetera, would also support me on that.
We need more information on the epicentre of the pandemic, which is Latin America.
Certainly, you're quite right.
The epidemic, the outbreak in Latin America is deeply, deeply concerning that the main drivers of the outbreak for the world are the countries of Latin South, Central America and North America, and particularly the USA.
Find everybody who has potentially got the virus.
If you've got huge widespread community transmission which makes you think it it, it's difficult to to test everyone, target, work out where you've got closed settings, where you've got people, areas where it's going to move very quickly through.
Test their track, find the people who are exposed, find ways to assist people to do the things they need to protect themselves.
The hand washing, the social distancing if possible.
That is difficult when people live so closely together, but find other ways and assist them and partner with your communities.
Help them to understand how to help themselves.
The countries that have really been successful are all different, but they've got one thing in common.
They have really partnered with the the people, the people.
It's the people who are affected.
It's the people who are who are getting ill.
It's the people who are dying.
They need to understand what it is, what the ****** is, and what they can do to protect themselves from being infected by the virus.
And yes, I, I take your point and I will reflect it back that you need more information on Latin America.
And Gabriella is on the line maybe to also reinforce that.
Yes, thank you very much.
Hi, Margaret, nice to see you again.
Yes, I would like if you can send us that list that you mentioned on Latin America.
And also, if you can send us how many countries from Latin America had officially asked for help to WHO?
And also I would like to ask you the the person in charge of handling the pandemia in Mexico says that there is no case on testing that they are not going to invest in testing, not not laboratory, not serological tests.
So what can you say to a person that doesn't understand what you just said about testing?
So the problem in Mexico, maybe we don't know how many cases are around there and the government already open.
So this is really concerning.
What what can you say about that?
I can only repeat, this is what my director general said and you've heard him say over and over again, test, test, track, trace, isolate.
These things work and partner with your community.
Many countries have shown that they work.
There are countries now not recording cases that had outbreaks.
So we know what can work.
Katrina, Yes, good morning.
Hi, Margaret, nice seeing you.
I would like to come back on, on what you just said.
How can you had some guests and doctors as guests and European ones and they said that at the time that the epidemic arrived in Europe.
I mean, we knew a little about it about, I mean, we knew a bit from China, but China knew a bit of it because of course it was new.
Now, as my colleagues said, I think that we, we had the epidemic that went to Europe, to the Americas.
Now it's a bit in, in Africa, Latin America.
So how is, does it exist?
Does a platform exist for the people in Latin America to share the information or to take the the advices of their colleagues, health workers or medical doctors, or WHO, of course, to know how to handle that?
My second question is also regarding the eventual second wave in Europe.
We've seen that with the measures of confinement that are in fact lifted, many people are behaving like we never had COVID.
So they're not respecting social distancing.
So are you scared also with all the demonstrations that you see in the streets nowadays against racism that it will also be a vector of infection?
Thank you, Margaret, and then I have another thing to say, but that's two questions.
So the first question, yes, we have expert networks that meet all the time.
So they meet virtually just as we are now and they meet very regularly to share information country to country and and ask.
So it's an ask and share.
This is what didn't work, might work with you, this might will not work with you.
And those networks, they're very large.
They're run by our clinical people.
One of these days, I'd like to bring Janet Diaz who runs it to come and speak to you because she's brilliant.
Second, your second question on optics.
Yes, we have seen in countries around the world, I'm not talking specifically about Europe, when the lockdowns ease, when the when the social distancing measures ease, people sometimes interpret this as OK, it's over, it's not over.
It's not over until there's no virus anywhere in the world.
So all the things we have been saying apply, your best protection is to be able to stay at least one metre away from each other, being able to wash your hands, being able to ensure that you don't touch your mouth, nose and eyes, all those things apply.
So we have certainly seen a lot of passion this week.
We've seen people who have felt the need to be out and to to express their feelings, but we ask them to remember still.
Protect yourself and others.
The coronavirus is all around.
Protect yourselves and others while expressing yourselves.
And thank you Margaret and Katherine, you had another point to Margaret.
My other point is regarding the organisation of WHO press conferences that are taking place Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.
Not only we've noticed, as you know, APES did send letters to the DG about that, that we're not able anymore to see who is participating.
But now we assist and particularly last time that some questions asked by journalists are simply refused.
And I mean, it's not acceptable that's someone a moderator decides to refuse the question of journalists.
And as you know, last time it was 2 questions in a row that the moderator said, no, we've, we've already answered to that next question.
So I think that if Doctor Tedros, Doctor Ryan and Doctor Maya from Kerkova make the effort to Meet the Press and take the time to ask, to listen to our questions and and answer, I mean give them the opportunity at least to answer.
We need to have information.
And as Akanu said 1000 times already before, we feel very, very, very concerned about that narrowness, I would say, of the access of information.
The right to access of information is, is a right that I mean, everybody has.
And it's not normal that we see a decrease of access to information.
I think we got the point.
Just to tell you, Margaret, this is the question that also Christian wanted to ask you if her mic was working.
She said specifically exactly what Catherine said, that these questions were refused.
The moderator, your colleague spokesperson said we've talked about that.
And so unless anyone on the podium wants to add anything, we will go to the next question.
And of course, the question was not answered.
So that is exactly what Katrine Christian also wanted to ask you.
So I, I think this is more a complaint rather than a question.
Yes, and I will pass that on and make sure that that that those organising the press conferences understand that this this concern has been very, very strongly raised.
Margaret, I have a question about New Russia.
Last this Tuesday, you actually said that numbers, cases, numbers of cases in Russia are raising despite the fact the actual factor and the information from official information from the Russian government, that's numbers are declining slowly but declining.
So in on the 24th of June, Russia is going to host the parade.
The it's a huge event regarding like about the Victory Day.
So do you think that's in, you know, taking into account your information that numbers are rising, do you think it will be OK for Russia specifically to lift the restrictions for the parade and to host such a big events?
Thanks for your question because it gives me a chance to clarify.
What I was trying to say was that there were some rises in East Europe and I misspoke because Russia, you're quite right, is on A at the moment showing a plateau, not not an upward tick, but a plateau.
So it's important to correct that.
However, it has large number of cases like any country with large number of cases.
Of course it's, it's important to take all the measures when you have just a few cases, it's important to take all the measures we know protect.
Now Russia's doing a lot of testing, which is great.
And that's one reason, of course they're finding a lot of cases and that is really good.
So finding the cases is excellent.
But also it's very important to find all the people that are potentially exposed, as I mentioned before.
And it's very important to to apply the social distancing measures when anybody plans mass gathering.
We do not say you can't have mass gathering.
We say do a risk assessment, work out what you we can do safely to prevent transmission.
Miss Margaret, you said that you are you are very worried about the situation in Brazil, what could be worse in this country and there is a winter time in Brazil, when will we see the peak of pandemic in pandemic in Brazil.
So what is your estimation on that based your experience on other countries such Italy, Spain and England previously?
So our experience is that every country does it differently actually that if you compared all everybody's epidemic curve, they're a bit different.
But the one thing they've got in common is when they take the measures that I keep describing, when they put in the social distancing, when they do all the testing, when they do all the tracking, they flatten their curve, they they slow down transmission.
And once you start to slow down transmission, once you've began to really see where your virus is being transmitted and where you can break the chains of transmission by identifying all the people who are potentially exposed and getting those people to self isolate, putting in the measures that make it possible for everyone to protect themselves, then your outbreak begins to decline.
Thank you very much, Katrina.
My question is, is regarding the testing.
If I recall well, in China at the end of of the outbreak, they decided to test as many people as possible, but all the people were tested twice.
They had the the the tests, the normal test through the nose of the throat.
And they had also the serologic one to make sure that if you were negative by testing that they could also make sure that you already had the antibodies, you know.
So I would like to know if who advises, for instance, Europe, European countries to, to, to proceed like that too, that it's not enough to be tested today negative, maybe tomorrow I can be positive.
Well, certainly, Ian, you are talking about two different tests.
So the one through the nose that you describe is called the antigen test.
That's you've got the virus in your body.
It tells you that you've got the virus there.
It picks up RNA, the genetic material from the virus, and that means you've got currently got virus in your body.
The antibody test says at some stage you've been exposed to the virus.
It can't tell you exactly when.
And the other thing it can't tell you is whether or not you are fully immune to the virus.
But it gives us very important information because it gives us a sense of how many people have been infected, what we'd call the level of penetration of the virus into the different populations.
So it's extremely important information for understanding the behaviour of the virus and for being able to plan and to strategize.
So yes, we do encourage this testing, but to understand that this is for for getting a clearer picture of what's going on.
One with the virus and currently that serological testing has shown us that that there has not been that much penetration of populations by the virus.
You know that only about I think 10% of people are showing these antibodies at this stage.
And and what about the use of lung scans?
Because if I understood well, it's one of the, the, the sure way to know if the person got is it correct or not?
Well, that's really for a clinical case definition.
So what was going on in China when the lung scans were used was they just didn't have enough capacity, laboratory capacity to be doing the testing.
So, you know, a lot of countries have struggled with getting either the reagent or the materials or the laboratory.
And they were at that stage of their outbreak when they were overwhelmed.
So they used the clinical diagnosis, they used the lung scan, which showed that people who had moderate to severe COVID-19 showed the changes on their lungs.
But if you or I had a mild case, we may not, it may not ever get to our lungs.
So if if we did a scan of somebody who just had a mild case, who had it simply in their nose, they would not have those changes.
So it's not what you'd call something that would would apply to everybody.
And yes, one second, please.
It's a question to to Margaret part a question about affirmation on the procedures for a country to leave the blade show.
So I'm talking in general ways, just found strange that the Double HO doesn't know already how it works.
I'm sure you have a lot of lawyers and every experts that that can explain that.
So I don't think it should be so difficult for Double HO to, to explain that, but I don't have the information.
So I apologise, but I simply don't have the information.
Yes, yes, I, I, I know that you don't have the information.
I have already listened that several briefings.
My question is more how, how is it that you don't have that information because you have lawyers, you have experts.
I mean, they certainly know if I rent a flat, I know how to leave the flat.
If I have a bank account, I know how to leave the bank account.
Uh, unless it means that the WTO is really messy.
I don't know, but I, I don't think it's the case.
So my question, we got the point.
I guess you would have to go back to the history and the legal situation.
And I think when it was constituted, these things were different from how they are now.
And again, I am not an expert.
So if I, if I said what anything on this subject, I would definitely get it wrong.
Yes, of course, you know, I know you are, you don't know that now, but we have asked that's and I pass it on.
I did pass that on last last Tuesday as well.
And you know, I have, I keep on saying I'm passed.
I'm becoming obnoxious to many of my colleagues.
It happens to many of us, Margaret, don't worry.
OK, so that generated more questions because now I have John, who asked for the floor again with one of his questions.
I'm following up on an yes question.
And my question is to Alessandra, given the the difficulties of WHO to tell us on the reasons or how our country terminates its membership.
Can you get us an opinion from the UN Legal Council in New York since the UN is a depository for all the international treaties, including members to The Who, I think, John, they would be more efficient and more comprehensive to get this answer directly from now I would like to having Margaret and no, no, no, I would like it from the Legal Counsel's office in New York.
I can pass on the question, but I think we will have a, a, a, a straighter and, and, and, and more efficient procedure because Margaret, as she said, she's going to pass this on again and we will try to get you an answer.
Peter, maybe your mic works now again, you want Yes, go ahead.
It's actually follows up from the last two questions.
Margaret, I was just wondering, has The Who contacted the US officially for any clarification on these reports that Mister Donald Trump has said that the United States is going to leave the WHOI don't have any information on that.
OK, that comes to that brings us to the end of our request for the floor.
Margaret, thank you very much for answering all these questions.
And as we said, you follow up and also send the information about Latin America to all the journalists.
We have deserved our weekend, I think.
And I wish you not only a very good World Environment Day, but also a very good International Day for the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated.
Unregulated fishing, which is also important and which is also commemorated today.
Thank you very much to you all.
Byram, you have raised your hand again.
Yes, I have a question on Libya.
As you aware through the week, Libyan United Nations Sport mission in Libya announced that 5 + 5 talks will resume.
We don't know any details on that, how that we start.
OK, so first of all, as I told you last time I spoke with the our, you remember John Elalam, our colleague who is in charge of communication for UNS meal and he told me I'm looking for the information.
He said that the talks were actually happening as they had mentioned in the statement and because of the COVID-19, the talks are virtual.
They started on the 3rd of June with the LNA delegation and they will try to give us information about how this is going on.
But that is what I have from him.
Byram, I don't know if I will try to get, I'll, I'll go back to to Jean to ask him for an update for you and maybe we can get something from him for the journalist in Geneva.
I don't see anything else here.
So thank you very much for this.
Thank you very much for this last question.
Thanks to you all for being with us today.
Have a nice weekend and we'll see you on Tuesday again on virtual for the briefing next week.
