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UN Geneva Press Briefing - 03 May 2024
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Press Conferences | WHO , OCHA , UNHCR , IFRC , WMO , FAO
UN Geneva Press Briefing - 03 May 2024
UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
3 May 2024
WHO: Update on Gaza
Dr Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, speaking from Jerusalem, warned about the health consequences of a potential, imminent full-scale operation in Rafah. With more than 1.2 million people crammed in Rafah, such an operation would result in worsening the humanitarian catastrophe. WHO and partners were making contingency plans to ensure the health system was prepared and could continue providing care. Despite these measures, the ailing health system would not be able to withstand the potential scale of devastation that the incursion would cause.
An incursion could render the three hospitals in Rafah inaccessible and non-functional, including the European Gaza Hospital: this would have a knock-on effect on the overall health system, as patients would need to be transferred to other already overcrowded hospitals. Increased insecurity could also severely impede the movement of food, water, and medical supplies into and across Gaza via the border points.
The health system was barely surviving and only 12 out of 36 hospitals and 22 out of 88 primary health care facilities remained partially functional.
As part of contingency efforts, WHO was setting up a new field hospital in Al Mawasi (Rafah). WHO had set up a large warehouse in Deir Al Balah and had moved supplies to ensure rapid access and movement of supplies to Khan Younis, the Middle Area, and north Gaza. Nine out of 10 operating theaters were operational. WHO and partners were also establishing additional primary health centers and medical points in Khan Younis and the Middle Area.
In the north, an expansion of services was being supported at Al-Ahli, Kamal Adwan, and Al-Awda hospitals through emergency medical teams and pre-positioning of supplies. Plans were also being developed to support the restoration of the Patients’ Friendly Hospital, focusing on pediatric services, and expansion of primary health care centers and medical points.
The food situation had somewhat improved. Food was more available and more diverse. However, WHO had observed several cases of severely malnourished small children, with hundreds of other cases reported.
Dr Peeperkorn then discussed the arrangements WHO was making to let medical supplies reach Gaza. He hoped WHO would be also able to rely, soon, on local procurement from Israel and the West Bank.
For his part, Dr Ahmed Dahir, WHO Gaza Sub-Office Team Lead, speaking from Gaza, said the Gaza health system was barely surviving. Any operation against Rafah would block access to the only hospital specialized in kidney dialysis, with potential catastrophic consequences for its more than 700 patients.
Rolando Gómez cited press remarks by the Secretary-General at the end of his visit in Santiago of Chile, in which Mr. Guterres reminded he had “called consistently for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire (…) and a massive surge in humanitarian aid”, and stressed that “a military assault on Rafah would be an unbearable escalation [and] would have a devastating impact on Palestinians in Gaza, with serious repercussions on the occupied West Bank, and across the wider region”. Mr. Gómez also mentioned a report by the United Nations Development Programme, regarding the “Gaza War: Expected Socio-Economic Impacts on the State of Palestine” (2 May).
Responding to questions, Dr Peeperkorn said any contingency plan by WHO could only be “a band-aid”. WHO hoped the military incursion would not happen and a ceasefire would prevail. He added that WHO expected the hospitals would be deconflicted and not attacked or attacked again. Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza was not operational anymore, parts of if having been either heavily damaged or destroyed during military operations: to restore anything there would take years – a process which WHO was already planning, Dr Peeperkorn explained.
Over time, since October, basic food had become more available, and more diverse, too. The risk of famine was not averted, however, and the availability of cash [to buy food] remained an enormous problem, Dr Dahir warned.
Regarding reported mass graves discovered in Gaza hospitals, Dr Peeperkorn explained that WHO had no expertise in investigating crimes. During their visits on the ground, WHO teams had observed makeshift cemeteries in hospitals; one team had helped perform decent burials for several bodies. Public health had to be taken into account. Despite a few incidents, WHO generally found that people in Gaza respected its work and were helping it.
Dr Peeperkorn insisted that malnutrition used to be unheard of in Gaza. Today, more than one million people in Gaza were exposed to acute or catastrophic food insecurity. Twenty-five small children had died due to malnutrition or related conditions; 46 children suffering the same condition were now taken care of in Gaza hospitals. Dr Dahir then described the food stabilization and support system that WHO was setting up in Gaza.
Almost all medical supplies to Gaza were now coming through the Rafah crossing, a concern that WHO had raised at all levels, including with the IDF [Israeli Defence Forces], Dr Peeperkorn further explained.
Jens Laerke, from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), added that Rafah was also the heart of humanitarian operations in Gaza, acting as a transshipment point for the life-saving assistance. From there, several UN programs and their partners were running their services across the whole Gaza Strip. More importantly, the hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza would be at imminent risk of death in case of an assault, he warned.
The UN, Mr. Laerke insisted, was not party to any planning and would not participate in any ordered non voluntary evacuation of people.
UNHCR: On the situation of civilians in Sudan
Olga Sarrado Mur, from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), expressed the UN Refugee Agency’s grave concerns over the situation of civilians cut off from life-saving aid in Sudan. For the first time since the conflict started, a UNHCR team reached Omdurman in Khartoum State, a city severely impacted by the conflict. Omdurman hosted over 12 000 refugees and more than 54 000 internally displaced people. UNHCR had met with local officials and people impacted by the conflict to identify needs and understand the protection risks.
Displaced families, including Sudanese and refugees who were in Sudan before the war, had told UNHCR of their struggles to get enough food due to soaring prices, leading to fears of children becoming malnourished. Children had no access to schools and were distressed by the sounds of clashes. Displaced people did not have adequate shelter, with many living in overcrowded conditions. While two hospitals remained open, there was not enough medicine, especially for those with chronic illnesses. Pregnant women were not able to access prenatal care. People also shared serious concerns for their safety, reporting increasing sexual violence.
Beyond Khartoum State, escalating hostilities in Darfur’s El Fasher city were aggravating the already perilous protection situation for civilians. According to available reports, tens of villages had been targeted, some razed to the ground, killing innocent people and destroying public property and crops. Indiscriminate violence, including sexual violence as well as cases of separated and missing children, were on the rise.
UNHCR called for the safety of civilians, safe access for aid agencies so that support and supplies could be delivered and, above all, for a cessation of hostilities. Humanitarian partners also needed more support to boost their capacity to respond. The funding requirement was not being met to meet needs across Sudan and in neighboring countries, Ms. Sarrado Mur regretted.
(Briefing note: https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/grave-concern-over-civilians-cut-life-saving-aid-sudan.)
Responding to questions, Ms. Sarrado Mur said there were restrictions of movement in key roads out of affected areas, which were inhibiting civilians from fleeing to safer areas; UNHCR was in contact with neighboring countries to assure the safe passage of refugees. Other fears were attacks targeting civilians, the restriction of movements, and reports of sexual violence. All this also meant a risk of a further increase in the prices of goods, Ms. Sarrado Mur pointed out. She confirmed that 1.8 million refugees had been displaced by the current war, as well as more than 6 million persons displaced inside the country.
Despite the security situation hampering the delivery of aid in Khartoum and the Kordofan areas, among others, Ms. Sarrado Mur added, UNHCR was committed to deliver aid as much as it could, in the locations where it could, and maintain its presence in Sudan to support the population. UNHCR called for humanitarian aid to reach the persons in need.
Mr. Gómez said the Secretary-General had been very vocal on the situation, particularly regarding El Fasher, where some 800 000 civilians were in grave danger, according to latest updates from OCHA.
UNHCR: Heavy rainfall in East Africa forcing thousands of refugees from their homes
Ms. Sarrado Mur of UNHCR said that thousands of people, including refugees, were caught up in the El Niño-triggered heavy rains and severe flooding that was sweeping across East Africa.
In Kenya, nearly 20 000 people in the Dadaab refugee camps – which hosted over 380 000 refugees – had been displaced due to the rising water levels. In Burundi, around 32 000 refugees – nearly half of the refugee population in the country – were living in areas affected by the floods, with 500 of them requiring urgent assistance; in the capital, Bujumbura, refugee families, along with many Burundians, had had to relocate multiple times as water levels continued to rise, while access to food and other necessities was increasingly difficult. Beyond Bujumbura, rent prices had reportedly doubled, making it too expensive for many refugee families to relocate. Other countries in the region, such as Somalia and Tanzania, had also seen forced displacement following this heavy rainfall.
UNHCR was working closely with local authorities and partners, rushing aid, and providing protection services to refugees and affected communities living nearby. UNCHR provided, among others, tarpaulins, mosquito nets, dignity kits, soap and jerricans, with special attention to older people and those living with disabilities; it was also helping families relocate to safer locations until the waters recede.
Climate change was making many parts of the world – especially in fragile regions like East Africa and the Horn of Africa – increasingly uninhabitable. Storms were more devastating. Wildfires had become commonplace. Floods and droughts were intensifying. Some of these impacts were irreversible and could worsen.
These floods showed the gaps in preparedness and early action. Funding available to address the impacts of climate change was not reaching those forcibly displaced, nor the communities hosting them. Without help to prepare for, withstand and recover from climate-related shocks, they faced an increased risk of further displacement.
(Briefing note: https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/heavy-rainfall-east-africa-forces-thousands-refugees-their-homes. B-roll: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/nny808bpmxpqi118080lllg28854s253.)
Answering questions, Ms. Sarrado Mur said that despite the early warnings, the preparation had not reached the most vulnerable communities, including refugees or other displaced communities, which were more exposed to the climate hazards. That was why UNHCR was stressing the need to increase funding for the countries most impacted by extreme weather events and by climate change. This funding also had to reach the displaced communities, to equip them so they could adapt to this new situation.
Claire Nullis, from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), stressed that the rains in East Africa had been exceptional this season, with very heavy loss of life among the general population in countries such as the United Republic of Tanzania and Kenya, and with no relief in sight. It was a huge disaster, with 150 people killed, and bridges and roads swept away.
Moreover, a new threat was tropical cyclone Hidaya that had formed in the last two days – the first documented system to have reached tropical cyclone status in this part of the world, low in East Africa.
Climate change was supercharging these events. The El-Niño event we were witnessing was fading, but its impacts were obviously continuing. The cyclone would add still more water to already flooded areas, complicating the aid efforts.
Mr. Gómez said that the Secretary-General had been “deeply distressed to hear of the hundreds of lives lost and many others affected by heavy flooding in Burundi, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania and other parts of East Africa” and had extended his “condolences to the Governments and people of the countries affected, especially the families of those who have died or been injured in this disaster” (see statement).
IFRC: Humanitarian consequences of heatwave in Bangladesh
Speaking from Dhaka, Alberto Bocanegra, International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) Head of Delegation in Bangladesh, briefed on the humanitarian consequences of heatwave in the country and the activities of the Red Cross Red Crescent.
The situation was alarming, with impacts – hydration fever, heat exhaustion, rapid heat rate – on the most vulnerable population, not only children, but also persons with disability, persons with special needs and those with chronic disease, especially those with blood pressure, kidney disease, asthma, and diabetes. It was an exceptional climatic event: this level of temperature had never been seen before in 76 years of records, and were affecting 70 per cent of the population, or some 125 million people.
IFRC was providing first aid and referring severe cases to hospitals, in urban and rural area, with the help of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, which had around 700 000 volunteers, all of them trained. IFRC was also preparing for an imminent threat of flash floods, mainly in the northeastern part of the country.
This crisis showed the harsh reality of climate change. The response showed what [could be done] in coordination with the International Federation of the Red Cross and its member Societies.
FAO Food Price Index: monthly update
Presenting the FAO Food Price Index for April 2024, Monika Tothova, Senior Economist at the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), said the Index had increased marginally (1.3 per cent) in April, for the second month in a row following a seven-month long declining trend, and down 9.6 per cent from its corresponding level one year ago. The increase in the Index had been led by increases in the price for meats and modest upticks for vegetable oils and cereals which more than offset decreases in the sugar and dairy prices.
That was generally good news for the importing countries: except for vegetable oils, which were on a similar level as one year ago, prices of all other basic commodities were below their levels [in 2023], including sugar (14.7 per cent) and cereals (18.3 per cent). However, global commodity prices being denominated in the United States dollar, a strengthening USD did not necessarily translate into lower food import bills for many countries.
Announcements
Tommaso Dellalonga, of the International Federation of the Red Cross, said IFRC would celebrate the anniversary of its foundation next Sunday, 5 May; and, on 8 May, the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, on the theme “Keeping Humanity Alive”. Activities would include interviews with volunteers (Monday); Red Cross / Red Crescent weekly spaces on X (Wednesday, 9.30 a.m. Geneva time); assets and stories on IFRC social media and website; and a “Red Cross Village” at Place du Rhône, Geneva (May 8-12). Also in Geneva, on 8 May, the Jet d'eau would turn red as a tribute to this special day.
Claire Nullis, from World Meteorological Organization, said WMO would issue, on Wednesday 8 May, its report on the State of the Climate in Latin America and predictions for temperatures over the next 5 years. A virtual launch event would be hosted by WMO Secretary-General, Celeste Saulo.
Mr. Gómez said the Committee against Torture was concluding, this morning, its review of the reports of North Macedonia and, at 3 p.m., of Finland. Next Monday at 10 a.m., the Committee on the Rights of the Child would open its 96th session, during which it would review reports from Namibia, Guatemala, Georgia, Mali, Panama, Egypt, Bhutan, Estonia and Paraguay.
As for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council, the human rights record of Comoros was being reviewed today; Slovakia and Eritrea would follow on Monday, 6 May.
Mr. Gómez finally reminded that today was World Press Freedom Day, its theme this year being “Press for the Planet, Journalism in the Face of an Environmental Crisis”. In a message on this occasion, Mr. Guterres stressed that “the world was going through an unprecedented environmental emergency which posed an existential threat to this and future generations”. The Secretary-General also expressed his shock at the high number of journalists killed in various crises, including in the operations in Gaza.
On the same subject, UNESCO, UNEP, WHO, OHCHR, the Permanent Missions of Austria and Chile, and the Geneva Press Club, would organize a World Press Freedom Day event in-person and broadcasted on UNTV on 7 May (3-5 p.m., Palais des Nations, Room XXIII). The event would focus on the protection of journalists and scientists in defense of the environment.
Teleprompter
a very good morning.
Thank you for joining us here at the UN office at Geneva for this press briefing
today. The third of May. We have a busy agenda for you. Today.
We have an update on the situation in Gaza.
We have updates on Sudan as well
and including an update on the heat wave
in Bangladesh.
Uh, we also have some announcements for you.
So we'll turn over immediately to our colleagues who join us,
uh, from Jerusalem and from Gaza.
Doctor Rick Rick Peppercorn of the World Health Organisation, Who is,
uh,
a regular, um, briefer here, who is joining us from Jerusalem.
And then we'll turn immediately to Doctor Ahmed Dahir,
Uh, who is, uh, speaking to us from WH OS Gaza sub office, Uh, from Gaza.
So, uh, Rick over to you.
Thank you very much. Um
so good morning to all of you. I hope you can hear me loud and clear.
Uh, I just came back from another, uh, lengthy mission in, um, in Gaza.
Uh, from, uh, the the seventh or the 23rd of April,
and I want to say something about that, but I want to start.
Of course, what I think all of us are most concerned about,
uh
is
a potential and imminent full scale operation, a military operation in Rafah.
And I want to explain very much from the health side from the
health pers perspective why WHO and partners are so concerned about that.
Well, of course, the the the the 1.2 million, 1.5 million people cramped in Rafa
and and any operation will result
in
an additional humanitarian disaster on top of
what it already
is.
Uh,
we
as WHO and and and also when I was in in in Gaza and
visiting all those hospitals and places both in the south and the North,
I will get back to that later,
uh, with partners
and with hospital staff. We are, of course, making contingency
plan
to to help ensure that the health system is as good as possible,
prepared and and and can continue to provide care some care.
But I wanna,
uh, really point out why, Why? This is so complex.
In Rafah, there are three functional hospitals at the moment. Small hospitals.
There's Al
Najar,
Emirati,
which is an MC H hospital.
A Moran child hospital in Kuwaiti, which is a very small hospital now,
every time when we have seen when there's a military incursion, if it is in the north,
without the city or
in
Haas,
these hospitals very quickly become not reachable. Stock cannot go.
Patients cannot come and go et cetera.
So they be they become from partly functional very quickly, nonfunctional.
In worst cases, what we have seen in the north and and and
kunas, et cetera. Hospitals get damaged or even partly destroyed.
Another problem is that,
uh, because the the escalation will come from the east to the West
that patients cannot be referred
or cannot be referred anymore to, uh
to, uh, the European Gaza Hospital,
which is the referral hospital for for the for current patients,
that road will be blocked
and that hospital will be kind isolated.
So then we only have a few field hospitals along Rafa
Mawasi,
and there's plans to get a field hospital in Dalla
Um
and that's it. So what's,
um
what's, uh, the health workers from National Medical Complex, which was
the most important hospital actually in
in south of Ari Gaza, uh, most important hospital next to Shea
in the past we all.
And it became, as we all know,
it became nonfunctional after the last siege in February.
Uh, so
the hospital director, health workers,
WHO and partners and I want to mention specifically that MS F UK met and
map UK.
So they
they've been clearing and cleaning this hospital
and restoring it for some functions. The emergency ward maternity ward and the the
the the the the neonatal IC US, some IC US operation theatres and OPD.
So to have a referral place because not a medical complex and Al
Aqsa Hospital in the middle area will be only two be two places as
a referral potential.
I wanna really say that
this is this contingency plan
is mandate.
It will absolutely not prevent
the expected substantial additional mortality and
morbidity caused by a military operation.
Also, of course, a military operation will lead to a new wave of displacement,
more overcrowding, less access to essential food, water, sanitation, et cetera,
and definitely more outbreaks.
Uh uh, what we already
have, including, of course,
and a security situation which is already very volatile,
uh, which will, uh, well will will worsen.
So there's plans also to have an additional field hospital,
uh, set up as WHO. We also shifted that for ourselves
directly.
We have, as you might remember,
we we quickly set of warehouses from the start of this crisis in the south, in Khanun,
those warehouses are destroyed.
Then we set up quickly warehouses in
Raja.
So
now we set up a used warehouse in dab
Bela, and we're shifting supplies there as well to spread the risk. We don't want to
make those plans. I want to make it very clear we don't want to make this plan.
We all, of course, hope
and expect that this military incursion will not happen
and that we will move towards a sustained cease fire.
I just want to add one other
on on on health system health services in the north.
There's an expansion of services, uh,
with the HR partner support in Al
Ali
in Kamala
one
A.
We try to look, if anything possible as well from sh
a
but also extension of primary health care.
Uh,
patient friendly hospital with support. I MC
they are actually currently only, uh,
trying to renovate, rehabilitate some of that
and get paediatric services and primary,
more primary healthcare services and medical points.
One small point I want to ask.
So when I was there over two years, we did many missions to the North,
and it's always the same pattern.
What we do, we bring in medical supplies. Few
Now we also bring in emergency medical teams. We bring them in or we get them
and we take patients out
when it is needed, et cetera. We did a couple,
uh, quite a few of those missions,
and at one point I want to say de confliction
improved a little bit, but we still have massive issues.
We often have delays,
so we are prepared with this whole group emissions trucks that have fuel truck me
supply truck already 430 in the morning,
630. Everybody is ready
to go.
Often they get delayed, delayed, delayed,
and we can only leave at one or two in the afternoon.
That means we cannot take the
the fuel truck with us in the medical supply truck, and we can only, for example,
get that the emerging medical team in
and and the patients out. So sometimes we we what we could do in one mission
we have to do it for.
It's incredibly labour intensive and also incredibly costly and which,
and of course, is shifting us from all our priorities.
What we have
a small point also, malnutrition.
When I saw the North compared to when I was there in February and and and in
and in December on long missions so that the
food situation has
a little bit of, uh, improves, there's a bit more food.
There's more diverse food, et cetera. People tell estates as well.
However,
I wanna make the point when I wasn't come out at
one and then bringing this medication and getting people out.
So the
the the director
Sam the paediatrician showed me around
this, uh,
therapeutic feeding unit supported by WHO and
and UNICEF,
and he showed me a couple of kids of two years,
which were four KGS of Children from two years.
Kids from two years. They should be between 10 and 14 KGS and then
so they were severely. Ms.
He told me that he had seen hundreds of this type of kids,
and he he said,
I asked him over the last week. He saw a little bit of salt going down.
But of course, the effects this has had for hundreds of Children,
we don't even know how.
How, how how many that would the effects will be then
for
potentially a lifetime.
And and and also
Gaza health workers were never used to actually treat malnutrition, et cetera,
because there was no malnutrition
in in Gaza
last point
opening of
I think that's good news. The more, uh, openings there are,
uh
it is mainly for food. We we hope to also in future get through our stock board and a
S.
Are we planning to also get medical supplies? Uh, through that,
uh, we also actually raising the bar. But we, of course, really would like to see that
we go back in the near future, that we will be allowed to tend to do local
procs
both in Israel and West Bank.
And there will be entering
of, uh, UN and humanitarians through
Kerri
Shalom
or her
that would really, I think, facilitate, uh, the humanitarian support. Also
considerably.
I think that's all from my side on on on there. Maybe
Ahmed wants. You want to add something from your point?
Uh,
as
Ahmed is
the WHO team leader and and incident manager
in Gaza permanently.
Ahmed. All
team.
Thanks. Thanks for,
uh, Doctor Dair,
please.
Oh, we do have a lot of questions already, but, um, let's let's hear from you first,
Doctor.
Deer.
Uh, good morning. Uh, colleagues, Uh, thanks, Rick. Um, I will be very quick.
Um, so as rick mentioned, uh, the health system is barely surviving in, uh,
in in in Gaza Strip.
So 12 out of, uh,
36 hospitals and a 22 out of 88
primary health care facilities remain partially sections.
So, for instance, if I just give an example being here in Raza,
um and and Rick mentioned and emphasise on on on the catastrophic if rafa
operations, uh, will happen by by by, uh, by the, uh, the Israeli military,
for instance, in Rafah, we have Najar
Hospital.
Najar Hospital is it's one of the main hospitals currently serving, um, for, uh,
specifically for kidney dialysis.
Uh, and it has, uh, more than 700 kidney failure Patients required.
Um uh, kidney dialysis.
So? So So, For instance, if if if any operation will happen, which means
the populations and and the patients
will not be able to access these hospitals.
So there will be a question.
What? What is going to happen to to to to to to to to these patients
and and and ultimately that would be catastrophic.
So, uh, um, it's it's it's It's just, uh, with, um, our, uh, contingency plan,
et cetera
is still required that hospitals to be accessed, uh,
to the to the patients and and and and and and and populations.
And that's why we are now as well, uh,
focusing on NASA hospitals for restorations along, uh, along with the partners,
that's all from my side.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. Uh,
me.
Before we take questions,
let me just recall colleagues that we shared with you late early this morning.
In fact,
it occurred late last night. Our time.
A press?
Um well,
it was a press remarks that was delivered by the Secretary General in Santiago,
Chile, at
the tail end of, uh, meetings that he had there in which he, of course, uh repeats
his calls for a humanitarian ceasefire,
immediate unconditional release of all hostages and
a massive surge in humanitarian aid.
In that statement, he also says that a military assault on Rafah
would be an unbearable escalation,
killing thousands more civilians and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee.
And it would have a devastating impact on Palestinians in Gaza
with serious repercussions on the occupied West Bank and across the wider region.
These are contained in the statement we shared with you early this morning.
OK, let's take questions. Starting in the room. We have Ben from RT S. Ben over to you?
Yes. Thanks.
Thanks. Doctors.
Doc
Peppercorn.
To what extent are the Israeli authorities
involved in building your contingency plan?
And
well, I mean, it's linked. Uh,
what is the feedback you get from them?
Uh,
if you have some when you explain to them exactly what
you just told US that it will not be enough.
It will be only band A Thank you,
Rick.
Yeah, thank you very much for the question. Um,
Well, first of all, I think the the plans are made by the the Gaza Health workers.
Respective. Uh um
uh, hospital managers and directors, together with WHOWHO very much
involved in all of this.
And and partners. So that's the approach.
But of course, the we, uh, not so many complex and and and
which would be key as a referral centre,
which I just discussed in for contingency plan.
And, uh, it's, by the way, amazing.
Because when I was there but the in in in
this time in in April the first couple of weeks,
Uh, the hospital was an incredible mass nonfunctional and and,
uh,
most blood rooms smashed, destroyed, partly destroyed.
The whole, um, warehouse actually burned, burned out, etcetera.
And in such a short time, and I think it's she
resilience of the health workers
at the
partners, et cetera.
The hospital is now
made partly operational again. As I've said, it's also the only place
close by where there's oxygen, and and so that's why it's so important to have that,
Uh,
of course, we, uh, this is communicated as well, uh, to co
including the confliction.
The infliction of all those hospitals is very well known. I mean, like, that's
and we expect,
of course, that these hospitals
are will not be attacks and will not be attacked again.
That is the level of this, because everywhere what we do, we have to.
If it is establishment or field hospital. If it isn't if it
is, uh, expansion of service, etcetera.
This is definitely communicated. And, of course, with a request.
I like that this area is deconflict
and will not be attacked
over to
thank you very much. OK, we have an
from
Agen France Presse.
In the room.
Yes. Thank you. Um, this is a question on the food situation.
Uh, you mentioned that, uh, it has improved in some way. Um,
in the north.
I would like to ask you if you could elaborate. What do you mean, exactly?
Uh, earlier this week, Mr. Lazzarini here in Geneva
said that there was, uh there is more food on the markets, but there is no cash,
so people can't buy the the food.
So what do you mean when you say that the food situation has improved?
Is it, uh, about the L? Is it about the
quantity of food?
Uh, you could say that.
And then a question to you and maybe
can give.
Say that, uh, if you could give US what is your last, uh,
UN updated figure on the number of people?
Who a REIN. Uh, Rafa,
You mentioned 1.21 0.5 million. But
maybe this has
increased.
Good.
OK,
yes, thank you very much.
Um, so again, on the
direct.
So let's say I, I do want to say that the WHO represents it. And of course, we observe.
We discuss also with very much with the key partners in this area UN,
R A and WFP.
So you should also raise your specific questions.
Uh, to them I think that you have a discussion.
But what we
what What I observed over the time
over the time and looking back in in in December, January, February. And now
definitely there is more, more basic food, more wheat,
but also a little bit more diversified foods on the market, not just in the South,
Also in the
even with our staff in the north in Gaza City. And I think that's
a
good
he He actually took me around and he showed me that as well,
including that he then raised.
And that was just before they opened the second bakery in in Gaza
that he actually said Also,
the prices have come come down somewhat and more in line with the South.
Now you mentioned the key issue cash
is an enormous problem,
the availability of cash and for everyone and
and and the banking system.
So that is definitely a problem.
But there is.
There is more foods, which is, I think, provided there is definitely a lot
of cash for people to buy, So that's a serious problem.
Still,
when I compare that even with missions and Ahmed
can be even more specific on that, uh,
but in missions, for example, in in in January and February to the north
Uh,
it was very difficult to take food and a lot of those food missions.
And And you heard about that
they
well,
they could take it by by by sometimes by
desperate people and and and angry people Very angry,
understandably angry people.
They
they felt they had just left. And there was an
lack of even the basic food stuff.
That's where we saw this increase
in, In, In, In malnourished kids. Surveys have been done.
One out of six kids under two
malnourished that
figures we have never seen
in Gaza.
Never,
like we talk about,
uh uh about 10 15%
of the other two that
we
figures we've never seen. We talk about 0.5%.
We saw some of this hospital flooded by malnourished kids.
We got figures, uh, a report that, like, almost 30 kids I mean,
malnutrition is never deposed, but it contributes
to to actually the mortality. So we all saw that.
Now, now, uh, definitely more.
Um
So a little more food on the market
and more access to food. So small improvements
also the,
uh, a little bit more diverse. And
what the When I was visiting that hospital, et cetera,
the
the the also the health workers.
They told me that they saw a slight decline in number of kids which were brought Now,
that hospital, of course.
Then it's like the end of
a you get a severely malnourished kids. But they saw a slight decline, a
number of kids being brought to the hospital.
So that's
a good side. The cash issues are completely different and completely
It's a massive problem for everyone,
including for humanitarian organisations and and and and and
workers
now, on the number of people in in Rafah.
If I'm correct, we talk about 1.2 million people. So sorry that
I have confusion
of
you.
Maybe Ahmed wants to add something on on because he was on many of these mission
missions. And at the moment, a lot of these food missions. They
they are. They are just going and they are there. A number of them are implemented.
Not enough,
but they are implemented without
three problems.
O
you.
Thanks, Ahmed.
Yeah, uh, thanks, uh, for the for the questions.
So, um, what we've observed and comparing to a few months, uh, ago, Uh, when, uh,
the people in in the northern Gaza
were, uh, desperate. Um uh um uh uh. Getting food and and and and
And what was happening that, uh, a few months ago, whenever we go for missions
immediately. Um, And if we cross, um, the the the waddi
Raza to the north, we would see thousands of of people uh, coming, uh, to
us and and as WH for,
um, our supplies. We are all the major.
Uh um
uh, uh, medical supplies.
So they would think that this is what we are bringing a food,
and and And we were really having very, very difficult,
um, to to to try to convince them and telling them this is not a food.
This is, uh, a medical supplies,
but this has changed in in in the last few weeks.
And as Rick, uh, mentioned that, um, now there are more, more more foods coming, uh,
and and and going to to to to to the to the to the to the north.
And,
uh, but I would emphasise and and say, um,
that malnutrition is not only about lack of food,
but it's it's more on multi,
uh, sector
it. It's quite a lot. Uh,
approach,
uh, reach
out to food availability, health availability and
and and and and was.
Thank
you.
Thanks to you.
Ok, we'll take a question now, from Jamie Keaton of the Associated Press.
Jamie.
Thank you, Orlando. And, uh, thank you for the, uh, for the intervention today.
Um, I had, uh, two quick questions, um, one for Dr
Peppercorn
who opened his remarks about talking about
the, uh, possibility of, uh,
I
imminent, Uh
uh, uh, military operation in Rafa.
We've of course, been hearing about that for many weeks.
and there's obviously now talk of a cease fire, so I'm just wondering what in
inside information.
What makes you think right now,
the information that you have that the operation may well be imminent.
Um, given the, uh, geopolitical context right now,
um, my second question just, uh, wants to follow up on, um, on Anne's
question.
Um, just pretty broadly, um, you're talking about the overall An improving, uh,
food situation.
Can you now say that the risk of famine is now declining?
Thanks.
So we'll start, you know, maybe. And, uh, of course, we have to,
uh,
talking about this, this this possible military,
um, operations and incursion in Rafa,
I think.
No, I don't have any more inside information, uh,
than than you probably have anyone.
I said
we Of course. Everyone is following.
And we get information from all sources, et cetera,
And,
uh, for a long time,
it looked like this was the plan,
and it was going to happen.
So we hope
that with all the discussions and pressures and the discussions about
a cease fire, even a temporary cease fire,
we, of course, hope this will not happen.
We
we need to be. However, we need to be
prepared
for that as soon as possible.
And I just described how difficult is you don't want to make those plans.
You don't want to make this whatever you call them. Preparation plan, contingency
plans, et cetera. You don't want to make them because you know that this
is going to be for and I'm only talking about health now it's going to be bandaids.
It's going to be very limited. What we can do
that we have to do.
And not only for the sectors, of course, also, for
for the humanitarian operations. Like, how are we going to, uh,
how we going to adapt? How are we going to To To to adjust,
on your second point?
No, absolutely not. I didn't show it. So please don't take me wrong on this.
What Ahmed and myself
have seen over the months,
we see a slight,
a slight improvement in the available availability of food
and a little bit more diverse.
We all know, for example, that local food production,
which was very important in Gaza, is all destroyed. There was a huge poultry.
There was a huge fishery
was vegetable fruits, et cetera. It's all not there
anymore.
So for months
that whatever food came in was also the quality was very limited.
I mean, like, it's not what you expect from a rich, uh, food baskets, which,
which is needed, Which is needed specifically for for for Children,
pregnant women, etcetera.
So absolutely No, it's not.
We still and I know this is actually the more nutrition aspect is absolutely not
over. It is much broader
and and also the that this has lasted for months to
to to even start addressing this in a proper way.
We will see the effects I'm afraid for years to come,
So absolutely not. I don't want to say, Oh, this is over,
Ahmed. Maybe you want to add something on that one?
Yep. Over to you off.
Ahmed. If you wanted to add something, please feel free.
Yes, yes. Uh, thanks. Uh, thanks for, uh, for the questions.
So on, uh, on the food, uh, the situation is is is still fragile.
and access to food now, uh, has to be, uh, sustained And more diverse food.
Uh, needed E. Exactly. That's what uh, uh, Ricky mentioned.
And we cannot say a risk of pain
is fast. Uh, so So we need, you know, to be very, very helpful on on on on this Thank you.
Ok, thanks very much.
Uh, maybe just to point out that there, I know Sarah is online,
and maybe some other humanitarian colleagues are here.
There was a launch of a report
by U NDP yesterday entitled The War in Gaza.
Talks about the socio-economic impacts.
Important. Read. Uh, we had a briefer at the the new briefer in New York
yesterday who spoke of, uh, increasing poverty rates, Uh,
the years that it'll take to rebuild Gaza, et cetera. So that's, uh
that's a very important read for those of you who might not have seen that.
OK, we'll turn now to Emma Farage of Reuters.
Good morning. Um, I, I wanted to ask about the mass graves at hospitals. Please.
Nasser and Al
Shifa.
Did either of you, um, bear witness to the bodies being placed there or how they died?
Do you have any reason to believe that any of the missing medics in Gaza
are in there?
And and can the WHO corroborate any of the allegations from the Palestinian side
that the people inside were executed?
Um, buried alive, um, Found with bits of medical equipment like caps
still on their bodies.
Do you know anything about this? Thank you.
Shall I start? Ok,
um so thanks for the question. So
again,
WHOT today
we have visit this, uh, and and I supplied, uh, supplies and
patients
out and transfer patients et cetera
to
Shifa and Nasser. Uh, many times, Many times during this crisis,
including myself, including
Ahmed. Uh, my my colleague, We have been on
on numerous missions like that.
Let me be very clear.
So we are the World Health Organisation.
We don't have any expertise, you know, the crime investigating organisation,
et cetera.
What we observed. I mean, like what I also observed. I observed cemeteries, uh, in in
in Shifa
I. I
observed makeshift cemeteries, including in, uh, in in
NASA
For the rest. We heard the story.
One of our teams also went, and that was, I think, widely, we reported on that. Uh
uh, I think, uh, very clearly,
uh,
was present and and and and together with
colleagues and other UAN
colleagues
in the in the burial of a I DS
a I DS dead bodies said
to
help and make it a more dignified, uh, because they were very superficial.
Uh, and and I would say in the ground
to help make it a more dignified burial.
Also, of course,
uh, we have to think about public health risks.
And also, uh, if you
at least people are buried properly,
that in future, when forensic forensic investigations can take place,
they can take place.
And last but not least, it's a very important thing.
The families that
can somehow,
uh well,
you know, organise their goodbyes. I mean, like in this
kind of set, uh,
environment.
Uh,
and I think I we've seen the the the the the
remarks of the Secretary General as well on on all this,
I like to refer to that,
uh, what I would expect
and hope because we get also these reports about mass
graves
that proper investigations proper investigations by by organisations,
uh, who are mandated to do that who are specialised to do that will happen
in the in the near future
and that proper forensic investigations take place. That
will be definitely needed
over to
indeed. Thanks very much. Rick. Ok, we still have a few hands up. Christian
from German news Agency.
Ok,
thank you.
Um, my question, uh, also refer to something Rick mentioned about the, uh, four.
No, The two year olds, uh,
who are only four kilogrammes and should be 10 or more.
Can you give us a bit more context? How many of the two year olds are in that category?
And do you think they were 10 kg or whatever was age appropriate?
Uh, in October and have actually lost so much weight over the last six months?
Can you give us a bit of context and
maybe how big the problem is? How many two year olds are actually in this category?
Thank you.
Yeah. I
think maybe
Ahmed would like to add in this Well, later. But let me say this.
I think it's we have also reported, and otherwise we will do that later in our,
uh,
in, in, in in and maybe some original remarks and send it to you as well.
Uh,
there has to be done. An assessment and and and malnutrition assessment.
That was done in, uh,
over december and January, et cetera. Where we where we of course saw
Not only And then, of course you have to
the I BC reports. I mean, like, we all
much better describes the malnutrition situation all over
G,
and
they were very graphic. And specifically when I look for a health perspective,
that's,
you know, I know Gaza. Well, I know the West Bank. Well, there was no mal
administration in Gaza,
so it's an, um
uh, before this, uh,
this crisis we talked about 0.6 0.5% 0.7% of Children under five years,
which were acutely malnourished, et cetera.
And then,
in the northern
Governors,
the figure rose to 12.4 to 16.5%.
So
that's all coming. And then the
the I BC report was very clear and and and and
and and warrant for the risk, uh, by the end of May of of Gaza and that,
um
that
what was the personage? That, uh, more than, uh, acute
food and security. Classified. I BC three
was half the population in Gaza,
1.1 million people
experience catas
catastrophic food insecurity.
So
now when you talk about, uh, the number of of of
what has been reported at 29 I believe now 30
kids
have died.
Uh, 25.
Uh, sorry.
25. Uh, Children have died
partly caused by malnutrition
because you often don't die from malnutrition.
You die from an infection and and and and related to that.
And if you're malnourished, you will have. We
have. And this is what also these hospitals paediatric hospitals.
So they saw a lot of pneumonia among kids.
Well, that's typical sign that these kind of inections
people
are very, very vulnerable.
Uh,
and
I have to go, of course, to the health workers and visited that come
out of one hospital, uh,
frequently helping to establish a therapeutic feeding unit which was never there
to assist those malnourish kids.
So if you ask me, Oh,
were those kids were they not already underweight and then roll in?
No, this is not what we hear.
We heard that and often, by the way, there are kids, for example, single parents
and and and often the most vulnerable as from the most vulnerable families.
Well, what you see in every crisis and all over the world,
those are often the goods which are most most at risk. That's what you see in that
too.
So yes, a
serious problem,
A serious problem which we hope
it should never have been. A problem.
Never, ever should have been a problem in Gaza.
A place which is so easily to be reached and so easily to be accessed
everything to do with excess,
everything to do with food and food diversification.
So we should never have
any level of malnutrition in
this place.
So it it has happened. Figures are there.
And and we hope that the trends are now going to be reversed. Maybe.
Ahmed, you want to say something specific Because you visited those
article
more often.
Uh, thanks, uh, for, uh, for the questions.
So if I, um, add to to what Rick mentioned, um, the
HO. Is is leading the inpatient management
of severe
acute malnutrition with complications. So what we did, Um uh, with support of
battle, we have established, uh, two stabilisation centres, uh,
in Rafa
and one and and no
man
like one.
We also plan to support and establishing two more, Uh uh,
Centres
one in Gaza City and and and the other one in in in middle area.
Uh, we've also the BHO trained more than 40
healthcare providers on the BHO guidelines for management of se
elective malnutrition complications
as well on how to set up, uh, out,
Uh uh feeding. Uh uh uh. Programme.
Um So, for instance,
in tamal
Advance. Since, um, uh, we've opened dilation centres.
Uh, the hospital itself admitted, uh, 40 severely acute malnourished Children.
Uh, with, uh, uh, complications. Uh, thank you.
Thank you both. OK, we still have a few hands up, I think.
Christian, did you have a quick follow up on your question?
So your hand is still up.
Thank you, Rolando. Yeah, that was my question. Uh, what? Uh, uh, Dr.
Pepper
just repeated was from January and December and February. And I was I thought
there were, um, two year olds in this state in the hospitals. Now, that's what
I understood from his previous remarks.
And I think Dr
Ahmed just confirmed that there are 40 Children in who
are severely malnourished and have complications in these units.
If you could just confirm that I got that right. Thank you.
If if you could, uh, confirm that, uh, those details, that would be great.
Uh,
Yeah. So, um uh uh uh What?
I, um uh, I mentioned that these 40 Children less than five years old
they have been admitted to the hospital since, um since, uh, since march
Uh uh of this year. Um, so So it's it's it's accumulative. Uh uh, A number
since, uh, since we've opened the
centres
and a
thank you.
Yeah, and I just want to stress as well that we, um we we, of course,
hope
that those trends will be reversed.
And And I PC will come also with with new figures over over time, etcetera.
And And
we are part of that. And and and together with UNICEF,
etcetera, we will We will look at that again like OK,
Are those trends really reversing?
Are we really on the on on the right track?
And and can we provide? Uh
uh better So we saw to date as of 20 April.
So this is the latest figures that you have
46 cases of severe acute malnutrition with complications.
So they have been admitted to the so called Severe Acute Mulder
Stabilisation Centre. So you find in Kamal at one
and seven in Tal
Al
Sultan
in Rafah and
four
at the I MC Field Hospital. The Stabilisation centre
overdue.
Thanks both again. Ok, we Now we have Satoko
from Yoi Yoi
Shimon
Soko
Hello?
Can you hear me?
Yes, we can.
Great. Thank you very much. Uh,
if, uh, lava operation happened, what's going to happen?
Um, to the lava crossing point.
Will it be closed or kept open?
Um, what has ID F said about
in terms of, uh, humanitarian aid delivery
during the operation? And
will lava crossing point be replaced by the US floating pier and asto
point
and as the port? Thank you.
Uh, yes. It's a very good question, actually. And And,
um So let me say what we are trying to raise on this, uh, this aspect
and I want to say specifically from the health side, because at the moment,
all the medical supplies, almost all the medical supplies
come through the rough
crossing
a
Rafa
crossing.
So you raised the point, actually part also from the contingency plan
which we are extremely concerned about if the military operation that that Rafa
crossing
will be closed off.
So we've already raised that and at all levels and including in the UN,
the higher levels and discussions with the KO
a and
and ID F.
That's
we specifically for medical supplies and a lot of that.
Even so, medical supplies, trauma supplies, uh, medical consumables,
essential medicine, some of them temperature sensitive
that that that crossing needs to remain open. Even if that crossing would go to,
uh directly to nts,
Sana, Karen
Shalom,
and along the fence roads, for example along the fence road,
and then actually go into
We have a warehouse in DBA.
So we are actually conscious of what you actually raised. We are lobbying for that.
Something like that, and
and raising that
now on the on on on the
here in the maritime,
we're not just sure how that will operate, and and and And if we can also get the
like, the temperature sensitive, essential medicines through that
will require
other operations. We also try We trying out the the
the the route from Jordan,
etcetera.
What we hope, of course. What? What? What I mentioned in the beginning
that when is opening up and and, uh, our stock
sport
that
this is still now it starts and it will be for bulk F, uh,
bulky items and food etcetera, Hopefully for this kind of items.
But we hope that very quickly that We can also use this for medical supplies,
essential medicines.
And again, my real wish is that we can go back to also local procurement
and make sure that we get a date
that would.
So we need all the roots at the moment. And and
And I think your point is completely right about Rafa.
We are extremely concerned about that.
And I should have mentioned that as part of the contingency plan.
And, um, yeah, we are pushing and lobbying Whatever happens that that's
remains open, even if those supplies will go directly. Keram
Shalom
and
Sala Karam,
Shalom
and
Suan.
How
you
Thanks, Rick. Uh, Yen says something to her.
Yes, thank you very much. Good morning, everyone. I just wanted to
re emphasise
what we're saying about Rafa.
You will have seen the statement that
came out from emergency Relief co ordinator Griffiths
just a couple of days ago,
where he stressed
the importance of not having
an attack
on Rafah.
But just to give you an idea of what is at stake.
Rafah is at the heart of the humanitarian operation in Gaza.
It is the transshipment point for the
life saving assistance that arrived in the strip
via
via the two crossings, Rafa
and
Karem
Shalom.
It is where dozens of aid organisations store their life saving supplies
they deliver to civilians across the Gaza Strip across the Gaza Strip,
Rafah
is central to the UN and partners' ongoing efforts to provide food, water, health,
sanitation, hygiene and other critical support to people.
For example, the UN Population Fund
operates clinics for sexual and reproductive health at field hospitals in
Rafah. UNICEF
and partners
provide outpatient treatment for acutely malnourished Children
at more than 50 sites in Rafah.
The World Food Programme and its partners are distributing nutrition
supplements to Children
under five as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women in
Rafah.
Three of the eight health centres run by
UN
in Gaza are in Rafah and
they provide primary health care, medication, vaccination
and so on and so forth. But most importantly,
the hundreds of thousands of people who are there would be
at imminent risk of death if there is an assault.
So we are looking at.
If this happens
both
what the emergency relief coordinator has warned
about could be a slaughter of civilians,
but also at the same time,
an incredible blow
to the humanitarian operation in the entire strip
because it is run primarily out of Rafah.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Jens.
And just to remind you,
that statement of Martin Griffiths was shared with you earlier this week on Tuesday
You have that in your inbox.
Can we still have a couple of questions? Maybe if you can stay here with us. Jens?
Uh, Lisa Rather. We'll go to Yuri first.
Ria novosti.
Yuri?
Yes. Thank you. Rolando. My first question is not a question. This is just a request.
Because one more time we have a briefing on a
lot of topics, but we are still about one hour speaking only about Gaza.
I'm pretty sure that we
and Ahmed have other possibilities, uh, to speak to us.
I mean, a briefing only on Gaza would be really great.
Uh, so we have we can all ask questions and not during this briefing,
but a separate briefing
with you So we can cover all the subjects because,
as we know we have now. After that, we have to speak about Sudan.
We have to speak about other topics.
And for journalists, this is really hard to cover it.
So, please, uh I don't know. WHO Eunice. Ahmad.
Richard, If you can just organise a separate briefing for journalist in Geneva,
it would be really great.
Uh, then I have two questions on Gaza. Of course.
Uh, the first one is What about the public order, uh, in Gaza?
Because, uh, the public order, uh, Richard,
the fact that, uh,
I remember about one month ago or two months ago it was really difficult for WHO
to bring supplies to Gaza because some young people were trying to
steal what they think that was food. But in fact, it was medical supplies.
Is this still the case right now? I mean, is the public order better now than it was
a
few months ago?
And
my second question, uh, was about the fact that we had a briefing with, uh,
Lazzarini,
um, this week, and he he said that, uh,
in fact, nobody can take the place of UN
R a in Gaza.
It is the same thing that was told by the new Director General of the
ICRC that
ICRC, for example, can't do the work of UN R
a in Gaza.
Do you have the same point of view. Does that mean that, for example, who
can't take the mandate of UN R
A. If this kind of decision will happen. Thank you,
Rick. We'll start off with you, maybe.
Yeah, OK, thank
so the public order that's again. Not
not my my specialisation. But let me say that
as WHO, uh,
Y we from the start.
So we focus on the areas where I say medical supplies, uh, patients, uh,
transfer later.
EMG fuel and a little bit of food. And and? And what for patients and and and for staff
Now it definitely And, uh,
we all have been on missions when? Every time When we have the food and water
included in that specifically when I talk December, January, February.
Yeah, we had sometimes, uh, some issues. I mean, and and
people also being upset that it was,
uh, only metal supplies on the other end.
We also had some fantastic.
I mean, in general, fantastic receptions everywhere in the north,
in the middle and the South
people really respect what humanitarians are helping and trying to do et cetera.
We do it
together, of course, with the
Palestinian and Palestinian stuff.
And so every time when we announce when there was a crowd coming,
this is medical supplies for this hospital and that hospital,
Uh, in general, people were facilitating,
and they were actually helping
to make sure that that happened. So we have had a few, uh,
incidents, and I think that we are.
But I think
nothing compared with, I think, colleagues from an R.
And and
we have P has for a while with food. And I think they have been report.
I think in general this is much better now, and Ahmed
can confirm that. I mean, even
when when I was there on the last my last three weeks, there it was
what I thought, Um,
yeah, much, much better.
Uh,
on And
I think
not only the SG
my boss
Doctor T
Ross.
Everyone has said NR is absolutely essential,
absolutely essential for services,
but not only for services, it's the it's part of the humanitarian engine
and that
so without unwrap,
it will be really
virtually impossible
to deliver and do what we do. And we all agree we don't do enough.
And that's not because of the UN we can and we want to do much more.
But UN W
A
is absolutely essential
and right is even hosting us
in the so called, uh, join
in in in the South. It's the same thing.
We do this also at one UN when we didn't have a security officer.
We we go to security officer from UN
R A and vice versa, etcetera. So we are
secondly,
so UN
R a is in logistics and everything
related to that
and rise the san
the number of staff
that war any other UN agency, any humanitarian.
So in all kinds of areas, including in my own area, health
and
a
century,
and specifically on primary health care.
They were next to the the box next to the Ministry of Health,
by far the largest provider of primary health care
in in Gaza.
They're still
They're still doing that in many of the primary healthcare centres, which was,
I think, very well summarised by E es
uh, just before me.
So absolutely. We work with a NR a. We support Enron. We will continue.
Uh,
no.
The HO will not replace a NR
a
like oh, we going to provide services
in 11
and
one should continue to do that. And
and and and I really hope and expect that a NW is It is essential for
everything that is done.
You return services, and they should be properly supported as well.
Over to you.
Thank you, Rick. OK, we'll take the last question from Lisa. A Voice of America.
Lisa.
Thanks. Rolando. Yes. Good morning. Um,
uh, at first I, I would,
um, just housekeeping, please. Uh, doctor Pieper
Korn and then send us your notes
as soon as possible. Would be very practical and helpful.
Uh, I have a question first for you, Doctor Peeper.
Korn. You early said that, uh, you
expect that, Uh, uh,
Nasar and she for the hospitals will not be
attacked.
Now, do you have, uh, presumably because the alleged terrorist threat is over?
Correct.
And have you got actually guarantees from the Israeli authorities that
that is a fact that those hospitals will not be attacked.
Also, how soon will it be before?
Uh, these hospitals, it could be at least functionally, uh, partially functional.
And then, uh, Jens, uh, for you. I'd like to ask, um,
whether you think it is actually practically possible
that 1.2 million. 1.5 million, whatever the, uh, large population of Rafa
is can be physically
moved away from the site
that they could actually,
uh,
be,
well, somewhat safe.
And then, um what about the Rafah crossing?
The the good questions were asked about that earlier by my colleague.
Um, but do you believe that the crossing
to Egypt will be closed to Palestinians who might want to flee
from Rafah to Egypt And, uh
uh, your fears about that? Thank you.
We will start with your Rick, and then we'll go over to the ends. Thanks.
Thank you very much. Uh,
so let me start to try to address your, uh, first, uh, question.
So Shea
is nonfunctional, by the way. It's nonfunctional.
And and And let me start with Shiva.
Been here many times. I said
so. Shiva was, uh
there were a lot of siege around
shifa from the start of the crisis.
It was heavily damaged and and and partly destroyed. Then, actually, uh
uh,
we were actually requested to
to help make it work again. And that, uh, not only WHO and Partners made chief a
work again as a
I would not say as a as a third referral hospital?
No, as a maybe 1st, 1st level referral hospital. But it became again the the
the Trauma centre for the for the north.
I mean, the lost siege the lost siege was happened.
most of
Shiva is is either heavily, heavily damaged or destroyed. So
I watched that recently, and,
uh,
some of the health workers and I would say
reflects a bit of the the the incredible resilience.
They
they would like to have at least Shea
working as what we call a trauma stabilisation, uh, centre.
And
but at the moment, even that is not possible.
When the trauma war, some of the buildings are completely burned out,
not only destroyed, burned out.
I'm not an an an an
engineer,
but
the structural in
trey of a number of these buildings is questionable,
and it's probably very dangerous. Uh,
so not
more.
Sh I
A to restore anything in sh
a.
I'm afraid it will take years.
I mean, like, and first of all, you need the battery of,
um and we we are planning already for the
medical water electricity engineers
to come in and not just for sh
for the whole I mean, only talking about health and the health sector
for the whole sector
to see to get a proper assessment of the damage. What can be rehabilitated?
What can be renovated? What could be should be completely actually flattened and
and rebuilt. And how will that be? Rebuilt?
Uh, that's one. And and And you have to look at a much larger items, of course.
Water, electricity,
solar.
Uh, most of the most of the hospital had extensive solar parks, et cetera.
Then you talk about, uh the equipment
and a lot of equipment is damaged or destroyed
and you talk about medical imaging equipment and and
and, of course, all the X ray CT scans, ultrasounds, et cetera,
and so that also if you look already future
hopefully have sustained ceasefire early recovery,
you have to completely rethink that approach.
Before the crisis, one of it was
incredibly difficult to get some of those supplies in.
It took the HO almost two years to get a few
mobile X rays into Gaza Mobile X rays in any hospital,
any
road for hospitals, they have 1015 mobile X rays.
Nothing special about that.
So
I hope we have to clearly completely rethink
that those approaches as well.
So with sheer,
that will take
a
long time, I would say, not a
complex.
During the last siege,
some parts were destroyed. What I said to the the the the
uh, the warehouse
and a lot of the supplies also WHOM partners, uh,
destroyed. But the building itself stood
a lot of damages, et cetera,
and
by the health workers again, extreme resilience by the health workers
instead of W
partners
cleaned up the most important wards,
especially the the the emergency Ward maternity ward
IC
oxygen plant.
And so the hospital starts partially functional, functioning again.
And it's extremely important because it will be a referral place for whenever
it buffers for everyone, but also for whenever there would be an an an incursion.
Uh,
this all of this, of course, in hospitals, and the details of that is communicated.
And and we expect that the confliction part of the confliction
that they will not be attacked and not be will not be attacked again.
That's all what I can say on the early recovery.
Maybe Jens want to say something about that
there's, of course, all kinds of plans and discussions already made.
Maybe you saw the initial report from the World Bank, the UN and the EU.
That was an assessment only done up to,
actually late January early February.
And that assessment only assess
the structural damages. The structural damages, uh,
buildings, et cetera.
So nothing about equipment, nothing about staff and new resources, et cetera,
which is
finally the most important.
That came already to 18.5 billion.
And that is seen by many as a gross under
and grows under estimation.
So yeah, that process will will, of course, take for years. I hope it will start.
The real planning is Al has already started.
But I hope that the real process and implementation can start very soon.
Quickly, as there is an, uh, sustained cease fire.
I mean, implementation on the ground,
over to you. Uh, yes,
thank you very much,
Lisa.
We can always count on you for the big, difficult questions
to take them in turn. You asked about
whether you can move 1.2 million people and I assume kind of overnight
out of that area.
I have no idea
the United Nations is not part of any planning and will not participate
in any ordered non voluntary evacuation of people.
That is not what we do.
I have not, in my experience, limited as it is
Ever seen this amount of people voluntarily move
overnight.
So there is that
in terms of the Rafah
crossing
again,
it's impossible. I don't have a crystal ball to say whether
what the impact on that crossing will be.
We all know the importance of that crossing not only for
Rafah, but for aid across the Gaza Strip.
So it is, of course, important that it remains operational.
We will,
of course,
do what we can to ensure
that
the humanitarian operation continues
under any and all circumstances. That's
our pledge
as humanitarians, that we will do our utmost to continue
the operation.
And, of course,
we are looking at internally various scenarios for how we may do that.
Uh, Jens, thank you very much. And as always, uh, Rick and
Ahmed, Uh, your your points taken, Uh,
this obviously gauging from all the questions we received.
We've just, uh, met the one hour mark.
So we'll discuss, uh, with colleagues on how we could
better uh uh,
arrange these briefings, but immensely important to hear your voices.
Thank you again.
Uh, Rick and
Ahmed,
we're now going to shift to the situation in Sudan and I think Olga,
who we're very happy to have back here
from UN HCR also has an update on the heavy rainfall in East Africa.
But first on Sudan.
Good morning, everyone.
So over a year since the start of the war in Sudan, UNHCR,
the UN refugee agency,
remains extremely concerned about the shocking levels of violence
and devastating humanitarian and protection risks in many areas,
As in many areas across the country,
civilians continue to be cut off from life saving aid.
For the first time since since the conflict started, a UN HR team reached
Urman
in
in Khartoum State, a city severely impacted by the conflict.
U HR staff saw the massive distraction caused
by the war with vast needs and high levels
of suffering among a population which has been out
of reach of humanitarians to humanitarians for months.
During the two day mission,
Turman,
which hosts over 12,000 refugees and
more than 54,000 internally displaced people un
are met with local officials,
partners on the ground and also people impacted by the conflict
to identify their main needs and understand the protection risk risks.
Displaced families,
including both Sudanese people but also which have been displaced but
also refugees who were in Sudan before the war broke out.
Told you
teams of their struggles to get in a food due to the soaring price
of available goods, leading to fears of Children becoming malnourished.
Children have no access to schooling or places to play,
and they are distressed by the sounds of armed clashes.
Displaced people do not have adequate shelter,
with many living in overcrowded conditions
in some of the gathering sites, located mainly in schools,
while two hospitals remain open,
there are not enough medicines, they told our teams,
especially for those with chronic illnesses.
Pregnant women are not able to access prenatal care.
People also share serious concerns for their safety reporting,
increasing sexual violence as well as limited legal support,
and many are severely traumatised.
Beyond harum
state skeleton hostilities in that force,
El Fasher
City are aggravating the already
difficult protection situation for civilians
in the area,
according to available reports. Tens of villages have been targeted.
Some race to the ground,
killing innocent people and destroying public property and crops.
Indiscriminate violence,
including sexual violence as well as cases of separated and missing Children,
are on the rise.
Movement restrictions on key roads are preventing
people from fleeing to safer areas,
forcing them to shelter
in already severely overcrowded displacement sites or in open spaces,
putting them at further risk.
UN HTR continues to call for the safety of civilians safe access for aid agencies
so that support and supplies can be delivered
and but all for a cessation of hostilities.
Humanitarian partners also need more support to boost their
capacity to respond to the crisis safely and effectively.
And we have explained several times that
actually the funding requirements are not being met not for south Sudan,
but also for the response in neighbouring countries.
Back to your
phone.
Thank you very much. Olga,
do we have questions for Olga
and Sudan?
Emma Farage of Reuters.
Hi, Olga. Great to see you back from leave. Um,
I wanted to ask a a sort of related question on, uh, Sudanese refugees.
There was an investigation by the new humanitarian on, um,
Sudanese refugees being detained in a large number in Egypt
in kind of secret detention centres and then sent
back over the border where they came from.
Um, can UN HCR confirm this?
And how concerned are you about this trend
and his grande raised it with Egyptian authorities.
Thank you.
So, uh thanks, Emma.
So we understand the heavy toll that the
situation is taken in in in neighbouring countries,
including Egypt and UNHCR,
is in conversations with
all the countries, including Egypt,
to ensure that those that are being forced to flee Sudan can do it in safety
and that they have access to safety in Egypt and also in neighbouring countries.
Thank you very much. Uh, Jan Oh, sorry. Lisa. Lisa SVO
A,
uh thanks again. Good morning. Um,
I have a few questions for you. First,
uh, there are reports, uh, that, uh, an attack on Al Fasher is imminent.
And,
uh uh uh I'm wondering whether there have been any
refugees that have been fleeing from the area across the border
to, uh, to Chad, whether they are even able
to leave or if there are barriers to this.
And, um uh,
are you able, uh as as an organisation to have cross border,
uh, food
going from Chad into Darfur? Or has that, uh,
E
essentially dried up
And, uh, then, uh, let's see, I had one more thing. Yeah,
and I I'm I'm wondering whether you think that, uh uh, Sudan is on the brink of famine.
Whether, uh, it seems as if very little food is getting in.
And is this a concern of yours? Are you able to do anything in this regard? Thank you.
So first on the cross border movements to Chad,
we were discussing with our colleagues
in Chad while preparing this note.
And at the moment, we have not observed major changes on arrivals.
But it's something that we continue to monitor because, as you
mentioned,
Lisa, this may have an impact on cross border movements,
especially if the situation gets worse.
Uh, but in the note that that you just received as well on your emails,
there is a link to a protection report from from Darfur,
and and there you can you can read what our colleagues know from inside. And they
they say that there are restrictions of movement in key roads out of El
Fasher, which are inhibiting civilians from fleeing to safer areas.
So this is something, as I mentioned, that we continue to monitor because,
of course, people
maybe face challenges to actually seek safety
Cross border as well.
Then, on your question on on famine, I think maybe colleagues from the
or
would have a better understanding of the situation inside.
But of course, as the escalation continues
and the prices are increasing and there is less access to humanitarian supplies,
the situation may get worse.
We have foreign
and,
uh,
some, uh, some, uh, trucks with relief items
that are ready to get to Al
Fasher.
But at the moment,
they are not able to cross because of the of the situation with relief items, Uh,
and and
such as sharp, sharp tarpaulin
shelters,
kids, etcetera. So it's it's a risk. And Lisa,
what? What was your second question? Sorry about
that.
Yeah, Ashley, you have your hands still.
So maybe if you can repose that and add any quick follow up. Lisa.
Yeah. Uh, OK.
It's interesting that you say that there is a
protection report about what is happening in Al Fasher.
Uh, doing radio. I'd like to hear you. Actually, Verbalise that,
uh, could could you, uh, elaborate upon what is happening? You say that
there, uh, that people are being prevented from going across.
I mean, what are your your big fears
in that regard?
And then also, uh, are
Sudanese fleeing from the country to other areas to other countries, not just from
other parts of the country, not just from Darfur.
Thank you.
So our biggest fears, Lisa,
are the attacks targeting civilians continue, especially in Al Fashir
And this restriction of movements which
include paying fees for movement, it includes attacks.
Reports of sexual violence, as we have been repeating,
are preventing civilians from fleeing to safer areas.
And of course, this is something that we are observing
and keeping an eye on because if people cannot move to safer areas,
then of course they will get trapped in an area in the middle of the hostilities.
If there is an imminent attack taking place.
And of course, I mean, this will further increase prices of goods.
It will further damage infrastructure which is already heavily impacted
by the conflict which has lasted already over a year.
Thank you very much.
Go. We still have a couple of hands up. Uh, Jan Herberman.
Uh, yes. Good morning. Um
uh, many. Thanks for giving me the floor. Um, good morning, Olga.
Um, I was wondering, uh, have, uh,
you mentioned that there are nearly 6.7 million ID PS plus 1.8
a million refugees, and I was wondering, have all of them been displaced
due to the current conflict in Sudan?
And secondly,
I suppose that Sudan is still the biggest displacement crisis globally.
Can you confirm that? Thanks.
Uh, first regarding 6.7 million people internally displaced.
These are people, uh, newly displaced by this conflict. These are the data that
UNHCR
is managing You.
You, you You can also look at the detailed information on on the data portal,
but I can confirm that this is newly displaced by the
by the war and the same for the 1.8 million refugees.
So this has been in the period in a period of a year.
And your second question Sorry. My brain, my
brain as well.
Let's see, Jan, please repose That second part of your question, if you would
Yes, sure.
Um I was wondering whether this is still the biggest displacement crisis globally.
Yes, so I am.
So, uh, we are, as you know, UNH
publishes its global Trends report in June, just before World Refugee Day.
But still,
the Syria crisis remains the largest in terms of displacement at the moment.
We are We are trying to
to put together all the final data and you'll have
a final confirmation in just a few weeks time.
But
the Syria crisis, the numbers continue to be larger.
Ok, thank you. I'll go. One last question on Sudan. From Yuri Ria
Novosti.
Yuri.
Yes. Thank you. And good morning, Olga. Yesterday, the ICRC
announced the death of two of its drivers
in South and
Darfur.
Uh,
three other employees were injured. What is the situation of your employees there,
and will they continue to work?
And what situation would push you to stop your activities?
For security reasons? Thank you.
So, um,
you
But
I
so So we have at the moment 300
let me give you the exact figure.
360 16 staff members in the country and we are working with 40 partners.
We have activities in 15 out of 18 states in Sudan.
However, of course the war and the ongoing fighting and the security situation
uh, it's hampering the delivery of aid in some locations,
especially that for Khartoum
and the
cordovan
areas.
We have increased our presence in some states where before we were not present,
because now they are hosting ID, PS and also refugees that have moved to other areas,
especially in the east and the north of the country.
We are committed to continue present in Sudan and delivering aid as much as we can,
because it's crucial to support the Sudanese people
and those displaced and refugees inside the country.
And it's for that that we continue calling
for safety for civilians and to allow humanitarian
aid to reach those in need.
Thank you very, very much.
Uh, Olga, Um,
just to remind you that the SECRETARY-GENERAL has been very vocal on the situation,
particularly in El Fasher,
where, uh,
some 800,000 civilians are in grave danger according to the latest updates from
OCHA,
200,000 of which are internally displaced people.
So
with that, let's turn.
I'm sorry,
Yuri, Did you have a quick follow up on this before we turn to the next subject.
This is really a quick follow up. So I
understand
there is no condition, no security reasons that would
push you back from the country.
I mean,
you can move your stuff from a region
to another because the situation there is worsened,
but you will not leave the country.
In any case, this is that I understand
we are going to continue in Sudan
to deliver aid as much as we can and to the locations where we can.
I mean, of course, as I was mentioning, the security situation
has a AAA extreme impact in in our presence in certain locations,
like our colleagues in El Fasher.
And some of our partners were moved to a safer location just a
few days ago for, uh for for for the ongoing fighting and and the and the fear of of, uh,
increased hostilities in the coming in the coming days.
Uh, but but we are present, as I mentioned
in several parts of the country. And we will continue to do so
Thank you very much for that. Ok, we will stay with you. Olga.
We have an update on the heavy rainfall in East Africa,
forcing thousands of refugees from their homes over to you.
Thank you.
So thousands of people, including refugees,
continue to be caught up in the ongoing El Nino
triggered heavy rains and serious flooding sweeping across East Africa.
UN HCR, the UN refugee
agency,
is particularly concerned about thousands of refugees
and other displaced being forced to run
once again for their lives after their homes were destroyed and taken by water.
For instance, in Kenya, nearly 20,000 people in
Dadaab
refugee camps, which host over 380,000 refugees,
have been displaced due to the rising water levels.
Many of them are among those who recently arrived in the
past couple of years after fleeing severe drought in Somalia.
Some 4000 people are currently sheltering in six schools with facilities that
have been extensively damaged and others are staying with friends and relatives.
Several latrines have collapsed,
putting refugees at risk of deadly waterborne diseases.
And in Burundi, around 32,000 refugees,
which is nearly half of the refugee population in the country,
are living in areas affected by the floods
in the capital, Bujumbura.
Refugee families, along with many Burundians including elderly people,
have had to relocate already multiple times as water levels continue to rise.
Access to food and other necessities is increasingly
difficult due to the high fees uh,
of the canoes that people have to use now to move around.
Education has ground to a halt as
classrooms are flooded and learning materials are destroyed
and beyond
bonura rent prices have doubled,
making it too expensive for many families to afford,
leaving them with little choice but to remain in their water locked homes.
Other countries in the region, like Somalia and Tanzania,
have also seen forced displacement.
Following this heavy rainfall and unit
is working closely with local authorities and partners, rushing aid
and providing protection services to refugees and affected communities.
I'm not going to go into
but you have the note with the items we are delivering, which include
relief items such as Torin,
mosquito nets, dignity,
soap,
Jerry
Cans.
We are putting special attention to elderly and people
with disability which have more difficulties in moving,
and we are helping families to relocate to safer locations.
climate change is making many parts of the world, uh,
especially in fragile regions like East Africa and the Horn of Africa.
Increasingly
and
uninhabitable
storms are more devastating.
Wildfires have become a common place, and floods and droughts are intensifying.
And some of these impacts are irreversible and displaced
people are bearing the brunt of these impacts.
These floods
show the gaps in prepare
nets and early action
and funding available to address.
Uh,
the impacts of climate change is not always reaching
those forcibly displaced and not the communities hosting them.
And without this help,
to prepare for it to withstand and recover from the climate related shocks,
they face increased risks of becoming displaced once again.
All right.
Thank you. Olga.
Uh, Claire has her hand up Clara of the World Meteorological Organisation.
I think she wanted to chime in on this point. Claire, over to you?
Yes. Can you
hear me?
Ok, good. All right. Um, start my
Thank you.
Yes, Um, thank you for the opportunity to to join you. Um, as
Olga just said, the you know, the most vulnerable in the world
are hit hardest by the effects of
climate change. Um,
the rains in East Africa this rainy season have been absolutely exceptional.
Um, the
ongoing flooding, Um in in Kenya, you know, as as as we're seeing is, you know, it's
it's really off, you know, off of off the scale.
Um, we've seen, you know, very heavy loss of life. Um,
not, you know,
threats not just to the displaced but heavy
loss of life among the general population in
countries such as the United Republic of Tanzania
in Kenya. And unfortunately, there is no relief in in sight.
Um, now, hard on the heels of the existing heavy rainfall, we have a new threat.
Um, and that is in the form of tropical Cyclone
Hedaya,
Um, which has, you know, formed in the past couple of days.
Um, now, according to WM OS regional specialised meteorological centre in LA
Reunion,
um, this Cyclone Hedaya,
it's the first documented system
to have reached tropical cyclone status in this part of the world.
We're not talking about Sudan. We're talking about
lower in East Africa.
Um, it's so it is, you know, historically significant,
but it's also going to have a very big impact.
And specifically on Tanzania,
Um, which you know, the ra you know, the the the grounds already absolutely sodden.
Um, you know, Tanzania has suffered flooding.
It's about to get hit by even more heavy rainfall in the next couple of days. From
this, uh, from this system, Um,
And the
the moisture in this tropical cyclone, you know, will also impact to impact Kenya,
Kenya, where, you know, there is also very, very, very bad
flooding. Um,
what's blame? Yes. Uh,
uh. Climate change
is sort of super charging extreme extreme weather. Um,
we have, um, a El Nino event.
It's It's fading, but the impacts are obviously continuing.
That does lead to more heavy rainfall in
East Africa. And we have very, very, very warm
ocean waters. And so, you know, a warmer
atmosphere holds more moisture.
When it rains, that rain is heavier, so that's, uh that's all.
Oh, just to say that,
you know, the meteorological authorities in the country is concerned.
You know, they are issuing numerous alerts, numerous warnings, um, and it you know,
it really does go to show that, you know, we do need
early warnings. We need
early action. Um,
you know, against against a crisis of this of this nature. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Claire. And I know we're gonna go back to you in a bit.
You have another announcement for us.
But just maybe, to mention on the East African floods,
Uh, we did share with you, uh, another statement from the Secretary general,
which he ex, uh, expresses, uh,
that he is deeply distressed to hear about the thousands,
hundreds of lives lost and many others,
uh, affected by the heavy flooding in the country Burundi, Kenya, Somalia,
and Tanzania as just mentioned.
So that statement was shared with her yesterday.
We have one question from Maya blintz of the UN brief.
Thank you very much for taking my question.
My question is for Claire, if we can have the, um, report before, uh, this weekend,
if possible.
I don't know if they're ready
so we can look into it to prepare questions for interviews.
And also, if there you have already also a Spanish version.
Thank you very much. OK, right.
We're We're going slightly off subject here, but I can deal with it quickly.
Yes, I can send. I can send you the English version.
This is of a report, a climate report on, uh, Latin America.
I can send that to you later today in English. We'll have the Spanish version next.
Uh, next week.
OK, Got you. Thank you, Claire.
Uh, actually, I missed that Ben from RT S as a question.
Yes.
Just a quick suggestion because Claire mentioned the
early warning system and all the campaign.
I guess we never had any briefing from UN
RR.
And that would be very interesting, I think, especially in the region that
you mentioned.
And also, we have the
centre here,
and I know they're active also in monitoring what's happening there.
So maybe both would like to come one day. That would be very interesting. Thanks.
These are these are good suggestions.
Uh, Ben, indeed,
we'll reach out to our colleagues there and and see if we could arrange something.
An ad hoc briefing for you.
Um, we have one last question. Hopefully from Lisa. Um, this is VO A.
We have another subject as well. So Lisa
Thank you.
Uh, first Claire, please send us your your notes. The ones you have now not
not talking about the upcoming report. Thank you.
And and then I'd like to know what kind of preparations can actually be made
for,
uh, for a cyclone. When When do you anticipate that it will
make landfall? And do you and perhaps Olga
as well have any information on the number of people, Uh, that have died
as a consequence? I mean, throughout the region as a consequence of this, uh,
uh, enormous rainfall and, uh, also on damages and destruction.
I don't know whether this is
too premature, but if you have that information would be interesting. Thank you.
Yeah. Do you want me to take this? Perhaps, um,
so on tropical
cyclones, Um, you know, we do have very,
very good warnings these days in most parts of the of of the world.
Um, that does enable,
you know, evacuations to take place. It enables what we call
anticipatory action, which is sort of prepositioning, um,
by humanitarian agencies of,
you know, of, of relief, uh, of relief supplies.
Um, And so,
thanks to a combination of the early warnings of the anticipatory action,
you know, we have
prevented
great loss of life in in many regions of the world.
the problem with this is in coming tropical cyclone
and it it's not necessarily a very strong one.
but it will bring more rainfall to already, you know, completely waterlogged,
completely flooded
areas. Um, so that does make you know the aid effort.
Much more, Much more complicated
in terms of loss of life. Um,
I think we ta I don't have
precise figures. I can I can check. We are
talking about.
I think there was about 100 and 50 people killed last week in,
um flash floods in the United Republic of Tanzania
and the Kenyan floods. You know, the loss of life there is
is ongoing. I think there's also been loss of life in in Burundi in, um
in in Uganda. And as Rolando said, you know, the UN secretary general has, um,
has, you know, voiced his his condolence.
Uh, we we share that condolence in terms of economic losses.
It's still it's too still too early to say when you when you look at the images of,
you know,
bridges, roads being being swept away, Um,
it's it's going to be immense. It's, you know, it's really gonna be immense.
You know, the loss of livestock, uh, the these disruptions in agriculture,
it's It's a huge, huge, huge disaster
and just just, uh, Lisa,
I wanted to stress that despite the despite the early warnings, uh, sometimes
the the preparation is not reaching those most vulnerable communities.
And this include refugees or other displaced communities,
which are often in areas that are more exposed to these climate hazards.
And that's why we we we continue to stress the need
to increase funding for the host countries,
the most impacted countries by these extreme weather events and climate change.
And also for this funding to reach those displaced communities so
we can equip them and
so they can be prepared.
They can adapt to this new situation, which is, unfortunately, their new reality.
And they can also recover when actually they are hit by by by events
like like the ones the flooding we are seeing now in East Africa.
And just to mention that we have
bro available, it's in the note that we sent via email in case uh,
you you want special broadcasters to use it.
Bye bye.
That would That would be great. Thank you very much. Olga.
Maybe Claire,
since you've already delved into the announcement you were to make later,
maybe if you can just
we'll use, um this opportunity for you to
add to that. Thank you.
Please go ahead.
Yes, Uh, thank you. Thank you very much.
Um uh, just very briefly on Wednesday, the eighth of May, um,
WMO will be releasing its state of the climate in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Report to 2023.
Uh, we're not having a press conference as such, but there will be, um
uh, virtual launch event hosted by our Secretary General, Celeste
Saulo.
Um, and I will send you the details of that link. Um
afterwards,
we will be sending out materials on Monday under embargo in English and hopefully in
in Spanish. Um, and those who need the report already today.
In fact, I can I can send you the report, Um, today, Maya and, uh, and other people.
So thank you.
Thanks to you.
Gracias. OK, we'll stay on the subject of climate
and, uh, thank you very much. Uh, Mr Boca
Negra of Alberto Boca Negra is IFR CS, head of delegation in Bangladesh.
Who is joining us from Dhaka once again. Thank you very much.
He's addressing the humanitarian consequences
of the heat wave in Bangladesh.
Alberto
or
I
don't know, Tomaso
did you want to start off in and
add something at the onset?
I think that
OK,
very good. Thank you very much. And thanks again for your patience, Alberto.
Thank you very much.
And thank you, Uh, for all the colleagues Uh, here from the press,
international organisations UN and
my colleagues from the Red Cross for Crescent Societies are very
happy to be here today and be able to share a little bit
of more information about the heat heat wave here in the Bangladesh.
And probably I would like to begin by, uh uh, sharing some observations that, uh, I
witnessed, uh, during, uh, my recent visit to the affective areas
in Bangladesh more precisely
to the affected areas in Dhaka
with the severity of the current heat wave is really very probable.
A couple of days ago, I was, uh, together with the Secretary General of Red Crescent,
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and the head of
a
response.
We were visiting some of the services that were
providing in the current context of heat wave,
and we're seeing hundreds of thousands of people that have been affected, Um,
by this heat wave, especially those outside workers, these are ritual pullers,
street hawkers,
construction workers
and the situation is really, really alarming.
We can see, especially the impact on the most vulnerable population,
primarily Children,
but also persons with disability persons with
special needs and those with chronic disease,
especially those with blood pressure, kidney disease, asthma, diabetes
and the consequences that we see
are probably no.
The, uh, dehydration, fever, heat exhaustion,
uh, rapid heat rates.
So we visited some of the cooling stations that we have set
in.
Dan. We saw hundreds of people that were receiving
services mainly control of pleasure, distribution of water
to also have pet for those that need to recover from the heat.
Um, and what we're witnessing, in general is an exceptional thematic event.
That's, uh,
undoubtedly a situation that is new, uh, here in the extension
and the level of, uh, rising of temperature,
something that we have never witnessed in the past 76 years.
Almost since we, uh uh,
records here.
And so what is happening is that we have alerts in around 57 out of 64 districts,
and this is affecting more or less around 70% of the population.
So we're talking about 121 125 million people.
In response to this situation,
we are together with Bangladesh for Crescent Society activating our, uh,
early action protocol that was on back on 21st of April.
And we have, uh, activated also our volunteers in 57 branches
and we have here in Dhaka approximately around 250 volunteers
supporting the communities and providing different types of services.
Most of these services are related to distribution of drinking water.
Not all the people have access to potable water, distribution of cups,
distribution of umbrellas.
So we're distributing packs packets of saline
and we're also providing first aid.
And for the severe cases, we're referring those to hospitals. Of course,
all this is being done not only in urban areas, but also in rural
areas.
I would like to mention also how critical is the role of youth and volunteers.
In the case of, uh, Bangladesh, we count with, uh, Bangladesh represent society.
Uh, that has around 700,000 volunteers, all of them train and very,
very positive in supporting and providing
assistance to the communities. They are part of the community themselves.
So they're able also
to be front liners in the assistance that we're providing the current heat wave
in our auxiliary road. We're coordinating very closely with the line ministries.
So we're working, uh, together, uh, hand by hand with the Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
And, of course, with the Ministry of Environment,
we are coordinating with the Bangladesh Meteorological
Meteorological Department and, of course, also with diversity Climate Centre.
Besides the heat wave, we also preparing for an imminent threat of flash floods.
This is mainly in the northeastern part of the country.
Uh, but this shows the reality.
And it was been mentioned in the in the last, uh, presentation,
the harsh reality of this, uh, climate change.
We have to say, um, that this response, uh, that we have a grade
Red Cross and society is doing
is being done in full coordinations with, of course,
International Federation of the Red Cross.
But we're getting also the support of American Red Cross, Swiss, Red Cross, Danish,
Red Cross, Swedish and British Red Cross.
So this is a collective action
that is supporting our national society in this response,
we committed, of course, to continue the efforts.
Uh, moving towards, uh, providing the services to the community.
But we're also very committed Also in
the preparedness for the future thematic challenges.
That's, uh,
that's a reality.
And it's something we're working on together with the with
the governmental authorities and we we hope to be able to
in the near future have some more impact, Uh,
in the way we're preparing ourselves for the future.
Thank you very much. Thank you for your attention. Ready if there's any questions.
And,
thank you for inviting me for this session over.
Thank you. Uh, very much. Alberto,
do we have questions for a caller from IFRC
on Bangladesh?
OK, I see. That's, uh, there are no hands up.
I think you were very, very comprehensive. And I
think Tomaso will be sharing the notes with all of you. So
thank you very much. And thanks for your patience as well.
Uh, Tomaso, maybe before we go to our last briefer just briefly since we, uh,
have you on screen as well.
I think you had a very quick announcement before we go to our final briefer, Tomaso.
Yes,
Absolutely.
Thanks.
Uh, Roland,
I just would like to brief on two upcoming days that
we celebrate and share all the resources available for media.
The first one is next Sunday, the fifth of May,
which is the anniversary of the foundation of the IFRC.
And the second one is the eighth of May next Wednesday,
which is the World Cross Centre Question Day.
This year's team would be, uh, keeping humanity alive.
Uh, in a word marred by unprecedented crisis and emergency. This team serves
as a reminder of the enduring commitment of the international cross
and Christian movement, uh,
to uphold the human dignity,
alleviate suffering and extent of assistance
to people facing dire circumstances.
And I mean, today we already
spoke about some of these, uh, very challenging conflict from Gaza to Sudan and, uh,
Arabs affected by economic crisis.
What? It is important today.
The resources available are, uh, on Monday,
we will share a package of stories of volunteers,
and it will also be available for follow up interviews.
On Wednesday, we'll have our usual, uh, live on X for
Twitter, our circus
and weekly space. And of course, you are all welcome to tune in.
And we'll have, uh, stories of volunteers from different countries.
that are at the moment, uh, facing different emergencies.
There are, of course, assets and stories on social Media Website.
Our joint movement statement will come and will
be shared with media from our leadership.
And then, of course, we'll have spokespeople available to talk about, uh,
different emergencies. And finally, for the people who are in Geneva,
Uh, the Geneva Red Cross will run several activities and among others,
volunteers will run a Red Cross village
of plus
Duon for five days from May 8 to 12.
And on the eighth of May on what? The cross,
the
day. As soon as night falls,
the
jeddo will turn red as a tribute to the special day.
And, of course, for any information, you can
come to us on the website of the
Geneva
Cross.
Thank you, Orlando. Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Tomos.
So we'll look out for the red Jade.
Of course. And thanks very much for that announcement.
I'll turn now to our colleague in Rome, Monica Toto,
who is a senior economist at FA O who is going to brief us on,
uh, the monthly update on global food commodity prices.
The FA O food price index and thank you very much. And apologies for the
the delay over to you, Monica.
Thank you.
Good morning. At this point, Good afternoon from
home. For the sake of time, I will keep my marks very concise.
The press release was distributed and, uh, so
by the notes.
So the Sao food price index was released this morning.
It edged up a little bit marginally 0.3%
in April,
which was the second month in a row following a seven month long declining trend.
The good news is it was down 9.6% from its corresponding value one year ago.
This increase was led primarily by increases in the prices of
meat and some modest increases for the vegetable oils and cereals V
and more
off
decreases in the sugar and dairy prices.
So what? What does this mean overall?
And other than going to details on individual commodities,
first of all,
it is generally good news for the importing countries With the
exceptions of the vegetable oils which are on the similar level,
as they were one year ago,
prices of all other basic food commodities are now below the levels
that they were one year ago, right,
so sugar is down almost 15% and Syria as a group as an aggregate and down more than 18%.
However,
the global commodity prices aren't denominated in the United States dollars,
and that means that the strengthening US
dollar does not necessarily translate this,
easing global commodity prices into a lot of food imported from many countries.
FA O also released its monthly cereal supply and Demand brief
affirming comfortable supply for the current marketing year for cereals.
All
fertiliser prices
have eased compared to the past and thus improved profitability.
Farmers tend to respond to the lower
prices, which are good news from the for the consumers
by planting glass
now.
Assuming that weather conditions remain favourable,
yields could make up for smaller weed plantings
for the coarse grain crops. The main harms
will begin soon in the southern hemisphere,
where the recent adverse weather conditions have curbed the the yield
for the major producers, notably Brazil and South Africa.
And the last point I would like to make is about South Africa in particular
when the
union
drought has caused a widespread uh
crop damages. With the 24 harvest expected at the below
level.
This means that the import requirements for the region,
which traditionally has been trading,
is using a lot of white maize.
And they have been trading in Zambia, South Africa, for supplying the region.
These supplies will have to be sourced from outside the South African region.
And this could have also implications for
acute food insecurity in the upcoming year.
I would leave it there,
at least in case there are any questions. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Monica, for that uh, very thorough update.
Um, do we have questions
for a colleague from FA O?
No, I don't see that's the case. So thank you. Once again, apologies for the delay.
Um, I trust key. You'll be sending these notes,
so thank you. Once again, Mr Tova
OK, before we wrap up just very briefly.
Just a couple of announcements, as usual from me,
just to highlight a few things happening here in Geneva.
As I mentioned, we shared with you the remarks of the Secretary General.
His press remarks
out of Santiago last night. Uh, so do take a look at that.
Lots of important messages there, in
as well as the statement that I referred to briefly about the East Africa floods.
Uh, so do take a look at those in terms of meetings.
Here we have the Committee Against Torture
is wrapping up, um This morning its report is review of its report of North Macedonia
and this afternoon it will review the report Its report on Finland.
Next week,
the Committee on the Rights of the Child kicks off
its 96 session a number of countries to be reviewed,
including Namibia, Guatemala, Georgia,
Mali, Panama, Egypt, Bhutan,
Estonia and Paraguay in that order.
And then, as you know, the universal periodic review, A working group,
the the body under the Human Rights Council is meeting this week.
And next, uh, today, uh, it was Comoros
being reviewed the human rights record in
Comoros
on Monday. It's Slovakia and Eritrea in the Monday in the morning and afternoon.
And
today is
which observance
World Press Freedom Day.
Ok, well, I thought you would know this, but, uh, it
is indeed a day to obviously highlight the critical work that you do.
What's that?
No pressure. OK,
critical critical work that you do obviously to inform and educate about,
uh in this particular theme this year is about the
press for the planet journalism in the face of the environmental crisis.
So this this year,
we're highlighting the important work that you do colleagues in the media
to highlight this important discourage
the unprecedented environmental emergency which
poses an existential threat to this and future generations.
Uh, among other things, the secretary general and his message for the year,
uh, also addresses.
Uh, rather he expresses his shock and, uh,
how how appalled he is by the high number of journalists killed,
of course, um,
in various crises, including in the, uh, operations in Gaza.
So this is a message we shared with you
in connection with World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday.
This coming Tuesday, the seventh of May.
We have an event taking place here at the Palais
um, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in room 23 hosted by
UNESCO
UE World Health Organisation and the Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
together with the permanent missions of Austria and Chile.
To mark this important event and mark this important observance rather
with some panel discussions on the important work that you're doing
to highlight this important issue.
That's all I have. Uh, if you have questions for me
No, In that case, uh, have a good afternoon. Nice weekend in Bon Appetit.