UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 09 June 2020

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UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 09 June 2020

1:02:05

MP4

536.6 MB

09-06-2020

Press Conferences | UNHCR , UNOG , WFP , UNCTAD , ILO

UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 09 June 2020

ENG

Rhéal LeBlanc, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), chaired the virtual briefing, attended by the spokespersons for the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the Human Rights Council (HRC).

COVID-19: impact on the displaced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), stated that massive funding gaps were threatening hundreds of thousands of lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where surging violence and COVID-19 were exacerbating already dire conditions for millions of forcibly displaced people. As of 7 June, DRC had recorded 4,105 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the second largest number in the southern African region. At the same time, surging violence was uprooting hundreds of thousands more people in the east of the country.

UNHCR warned that without an urgent injection of cash, underfunding would have a devastating impact on critical lifesaving humanitarian programmes. Over the past few months, hundreds of thousands more people had been displaced in eastern and northern DRC following brutal attacks by various armed groups, intercommunal violence and natural disasters. DRC also hosted over half a million refugees – mainly from Rwanda, Burundi, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. While the overall humanitarian situation remained alarming, UNHCR was forced to make difficult choices that result in many of those in dire need not getting the assistance they required. The lack of funding also hampered efforts towards finding lasting solutions for Rwandan and other refugees, for whom the Congolese Government had indicated an openness to facilitating long stay permits and local integration.

Full press release can be read here.

Responding to questions, Mr. Baloch said that the UNHCR was working with the authorities to decongest the sites and help build sustainable shelters. The underfunding affected the efforts to move people to accommodation in which they could be safe. Insecurity, COVID-19 and underfunding represented a truly deadly mix.

COVID-19: food security in Nigeria

Elisabeth Byrs, for the World Food Programme (WFP), said there had been a steep drop in international oil prices, Nigeria’s major export commodity, since the outbreak of the virus, which had sparked fears of a recession. Over 3.8 million people, mainly in the informal sector, could lose their jobs temporarily. This figure could rise to 13 million if movement restrictions continued for a longer period. That would add to the almost 20 million already out of work. In a country where about 90 million people (46 percent of the population) lived on less than two dollars per day, the urban poor who depended on a daily wage to feed themselves and their families had been hard-hit by movement restrictions to contain the spread of the virus.

WFP planned to scale up its assistance to reach three million people in Nigeria, including an expansion to support Government social protection systems in the cities of Abuja, Kano and Lagos. WFP was working to assist up to 1.2 million people through a combination of cash-based transfers and in-kind food distributions in Kano, Abuja and Lagos – areas where WFP was not delivering assistance until now, and where it could meaningfully boost Government social protection efforts. WFP was also gearing up to serve an additional 600,000 people - bringing the total to 1.8 million - in the three north eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, where WFP was providing food and nutrition support to women, men and children affected by a decade-long insurgency. WFP urgently required USD 182 million over the next six months to provide crucial assistance in Nigeria, including to people whose livelihoods and incomes had been adversely affected by COVID-19.

COVID-19: other topics

Rhéal LeBlanc, for the UN Information Service, reminded that the UN Secretary-General was issuing today a new policy brief on COVID-19 and food security, which had already been shared with the media.

Discussing COVID-19 in Latin America, several journalists expressed concern that not enough attention was being paid to Latin America in either the biweekly briefings or the briefings organized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Rhéal LeBlanc, for the United Nations Information Service, stressed that the global pandemic was being taken seriously in all areas of the world and information would be shared as it became available.

Responding to questions, Elisabeth Byrs, for the World Food Programme (WFP), said that 340,000 people in El Salvador were prone to hunger as a consequence of COVID-19 and the tropical storm Cristobal.

Geneva announcements

Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), informed that the World Investment Report would be presented at a press conference on Friday, 12 June at 2.30 p.m. The report would be embargoed until 16 June at 7 a.m. CET. The speakers at the press conference would be Mukhisa Kituyi, UNCTAD Secretary-General, and James Zhan, Director, Division on Investment and Enterprise. The press kit, to be distributed on 10 June, would contain eight press releases: one on global trends, one on the theme chapter of the report on international production beyond the pandemic and six press releases on regional trends.

Rosalind Yarde, for the International Labour Organization (ILO), said that Friday, 12 June would be the World Day Against Child Labour. On that occasion, the ILO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) would be issuing a report on the effect of the pandemic on the world’s children. The previous figures indicated that 152 million children had been subjected to child labour around the world. The new report would include a series of recommendations on the measures governments could take to alleviate the consequences of the pandemic on children. The report under embargo would be sent on 11 June; the embargo would be lifted at 2 a.m. CET on 12 June.

Rhéal LeBlanc, for the UN Information Service (UNIS), informed that today, at 3 p.m., there would be a virtual event “Inequalities during & after COVID-19: Moving from crisis to long-term resilience”, organized by the SDG Lab at UN Geneva in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO). Participating, among others, would be the UN Geneva Director-General, the ILO Director-General, and the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. More information is available here.

Mr. LeBlanc also stated that on 12 June, at 11:30 a.m., Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director, would address the media for the first time since taking over.

On questions related to the Human Rights Council (HRC), Rolando Gomez said various proposals had been put forth to resume the forty-third session of the HRC on 15 June. While no definite decision had been yet made, it seemed likely that the session would resume in a so-called hybrid format, with some physical presence and some virtual participation. No formal decision had yet been taken either on the forty-fourth session, which was also supposed to start this month. More information was expected this afternoon.

Teleprompter

[Other language spoken]

Good morning everyone.

Do you hear me properly this time?

Everyone seems to be nodding yes.

[Other language spoken]

So good morning and welcome to this press briefing of Tuesday the 9th of June.

We are going to go right into some announcements and with us this morning we have Catherine Riesu from the from Ungtad and Roslyn Yard from ILO.

Let me go first maybe to Katherine Misu who wants to share something about the World Investment Report 2020 which will be coming out this Friday.

So, Katherine, you have the floor.

The.

[Other language spoken]

Let's go to Rosalyn Yard from the ILO.

Good morning everyone.

As you probably know, this Friday 12th of June is World Day Against Child Labour and with poverty levels predicted to fall substantially due to COVID-19, the ILO and UNICEF will be launching a joint paper examining possible the possible impact of the pandemic on child labour globally.

If you remember at the latest count pre COVID-19.

There are 152 million.

Children in in child labour around the world.

The paper will outline trends that are already emerging since the start of the pandemic, and it makes a series of recommendations that governments can take to lessen its possible impact.

We'll be sending you the report and press release under embargo by Thursday, the 11th and possibly earlier.

And the embargo lifts at one minute past midnight GMT on the 12th.

So please contact me if you wish to do any interviews.

And these interviews can be carried out under embargo.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Rose Lynn.

We'll be looking forward to seeing copies of that report and what it has to say on that very serious topic while we're announcing some press conference.

Katherine mentioned her press conference this coming Friday at 2:30.

We've just heard, and this will be sent to all of you very, very shortly by Eunice.

But there is another press conference that is now scheduled on Friday right after the briefing.

It's someone you've been waiting to hear from, Winnie Biannima, the Executive Director of UN AIDS.

We'll Meet the Press here in Geneva at 11:30 this coming Friday.

So it will be an opportunity for her to present herself and tell you a little bit about what she has been doing since she's taken over her functions at UN AIDS.

So 11:30 this coming Friday on the 12th of June.

And we will be announcing it formally in a few minutes.

A couple of hands I see John Zaracosta from The Lancet.

[Other language spoken]

Can we unmute John, please?

[Other language spoken]

Yes, apparently it doesn't work for John.

[Other language spoken]

What do you recommend, Enrico?

Maybe you can ask to Lionel to ask.

[Other language spoken]

There's a question from you.

We're having some difficulty giving you the floor, John.

We'll we'll look into this.

[Other language spoken]

There we go.

I see that your mic is open.

So, yeah, it was just to to make sure about the embargo.

Rosalyn, can you repeat, please, the embargo of the report?

Certainly.

[Other language spoken]

There we go.

[Other language spoken]

So the the embargo lifts at one minute past midnight GMT on the 12th of June, which is 2O clock in the morning, a minute past 2O clock in the morning.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much for that clarification, Roselyn.

And OK, I see that we've now been able to open John Zaracosta's mic.

[Other language spoken]

How are you?

[Other language spoken]

Yes, my question is to Roslyn, you mentioned 152 million, did I hear correct Charlie Abres, that's quite a a, a, a, an old figure.

Do you have more up to date estimates by the ILO on the current number?

And of those, how many are in hazardous work and in dangerous?

[Other language spoken]

Oh, just a moment, Roselyn.

[Other language spoken]

Could we unmute Roselyn, please?

There we go.

[Other language spoken]

These these are the less latest estimates.

If you remember, we had a series of reports, it's some 18 months ago.

And these were the figures which were the latest essence 152,000,000 victims of child labour and then almost half of them, 73,000,000 work in hazardous child labour.

But we don't have an update.

[Other language spoken]

Not on, not on those.

[Other language spoken]

This report will look at the trends though you know that that we that are emerging since the pandemic started.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Rosalind and John for that question.

Let's move on right into COVID-19.

We have Baba Balash from the UNHCR who's here to talk about a topic on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Maybe before you.

I give you the floor, Baba.

I'll just announce in today there will be also a discussion on inequalities during and after COVID-19, moving from crisis to long term resilience.

This is today as you should receive the note to correspondence yesterday about it.

[Other language spoken]

It's a virtual event.

It's organised by the SDG Lab here in at UN Geneva in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation, looking at how COVID-19 is impacting progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and what actors are doing to address the immediate needs of their citizens while keeping the 2030 agenda in Clearview.

This is going to be about 90 minutes and participating will be our Director General, Miss Tatiana Valovaya, Mr Guy Ryder, the Director General of the International Labour Organisation, and Miss Alicia Barthena, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

And there are other guests that will be giving country perspective.

So just a reminder, sounds like a very interesting event discussion taking place today at 3:00.

We sent you the note to correspondent.

Please follow the link to register and take part in this event.

Baba, I'll turn it over to you.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, perfectly.

[Other language spoken]

As you mentioned, we're trying to highlight the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Massive underfunding gaps are threatening hundreds of thousands of lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

[Other language spoken]

Violence and COVID-19 are worsening an already dire condition for millions of forcibly displaced people.

As of June 7, DRC has recorded more than 4000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

This is the second largest in the Southern African region and at the same time, surging violence is uprooting hundreds of thousands of more people in the east of the country.

Unit CR, the UN Refugee Agency, is warning that without an urgent injection of cash, underfunding will have a devastating impact on critical life saving humanitarian programmes.

Our activities to assess and protect the refugees and displaced people are only 20% funded out of the 168,000,000 U.S.

[Other language spoken]

The gap is seriously undermining our response to bring it to multiple humanitarian emergencies in the country, leaving many vulnerable without food, water, shelter, health and hygiene facilities.

Amid the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the country.

People uprooted India Congo by are uprooted in India Congo by repeated cycles of conflict and this represents Africa's largest internally displaced situation with 10% of the global numbers of the internally displaced people.

Over the past few months, hundreds of thousands more have been displaced in eastern and northern DRC following brutal attacks by various armed groups, inter communal violence and the effort to to have get access to natural and and and and by natural disasters.

The country also hosts over half a million refugees, mainly from Rwanda, Burundi and Central African Republic and South Sudan.

While the overall humanitarian situation remains alarming, Unicia is forced to make difficult choices that result many of those in dire need of not getting the assistance they require.

We're working to help the most vulnerable to the extent possible with minimum standards in health, water, sanitation, education and other basic needs are often hard to meet with limited resources for all populations.

And also, I mean, the examples reach range from not being able to provide displaced and refugees with shelter.

It's about food, it's about education, it's about health, it's about water.

In this era of COVID-19, the outbreak of COVID-19 further relates the risks faced by displaced people who are unable to return home due to the ongoing violence and who often live in overcrowded displacement sites or with impoverished host families.

Their circumstances do no do not allow for distant social distancing, while there's also limited access to water, sanitation and other health facility.

There's some other details in the note as well as stop here.

Thank you, Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

There we go.

[Other language spoken]

No, I thought we had a question.

Are there any questions for Lala?

[Other language spoken]

Lisa Schleines from Voice of America.

[Other language spoken]

Lisa, you have the floor.

[Other language spoken]

How are you?

I'm very well, thank you.

I hope you're well too.

[Other language spoken]

First wondering whether you have any information on how many of the displaced are infected.

You mentioned they were over 4000, I believe reported infections of COVID-19 in the country.

And then is it possible to take any actions among the displaced in terms of while you well social distancing, I guess that that's not possible.

So that I mean, is there anything that can be done?

Are there any health facilities there to take care of any of these people?

I don't know whether you have any information about deaths that may have occurred.

And lastly, what if any protections are being taken for the staff that is in the area and the people, of course, they displace themselves.

[Other language spoken]

1st in terms of how many among the 4000 are displaced population, I'll have to go back and check with my colleagues and also other details as as as well in terms of what we can do trying to help the displaced and also the the refugees.

Half a million refugees and DRC is a picture of more than 5 million displaced people and with hundreds of thousands on the run in the eastern parts.

Remember we have been briefing on, on that all the time in, in theory in, in the eastern parts, in, in the kibboos where people are on the run, it is very, very difficult.

So one thing we are trying to do with the local authorities is try to decongest the sights, try to help people build shelters, appropriate shelters which can accommodate a family and and they can do the required social distancing.

But currently many of the displaced are living with host communities in overcrowded sites.

So what underfunding is doing is impacting our work in terms of trying to move people out to accommodations where they could be safe.

So that's why the urge there for for more resources to be a able to do that.

But also insecurity is, is is an issue with the repeated cycles of violence, which has been affecting hundreds of thousands of people in the DRC in many parts.

[Other language spoken]

You have insecurity, you have COVID, and then this chronic underfunding as we keep saying that this is a deadly mix.

This is also a reality for the millions of people who one don't have any resources have been been chased out by many factors from their homes and uprooted and they end up in impoverished neighbourhoods or sites with other hosting communities with who even don't have anything.

I mean they want to share but with very limited resources.

So that's why this appeal we are bringing today is we need urgent resources.

Cash is needed to help those to prevent them from from the ****** of COVID, but also to make sure that they are looked after as human beings.

[Other language spoken]

Just following up on what you just said, Baba, in terms of if you don't get the money, if you could spell out the consequences the the sort of operations that you will be forced to cut.

And do you anticipate that many people are likely to die as a consequence of not having this money in order to treat them?

Already we have to make very, very difficult decisions with underfunding.

We say we are helping the most vulnerable, but a country which has more than 5 million displaced people, people on the run every day, the consequences could be tragic and heartbreaking.

And our colleagues on the ground who are seeing all this unfolding, they're trying to do as much as possible with with the limited resources.

But the consequence is not having resources.

For example, food, water, shelter, many of these people being left on their own in the open spaces.

Many are living in the congested sites.

It could be devastating for all these people.

[Other language spoken]

I see we have a question from Freddie.

[Other language spoken]

If you can help with that, Freddie was asking.

You said 2 days ago there was a delegation from the Ministries of Foreign affairs from France and Belgium that went to the Democratic Republic, apparently to offer assistance with COVID-19.

Was the UN aware of this?

Were you in particular aware of this?

I have to leave it to my colleagues in WHO in case they have any information about that.

Hello Freddie Jean Pena formation of Suzlon May on collect the low Ms the the the the the contacted director.

[Other language spoken]

Real very nice to see you.

Hi Babar, I have a question if you, if you, if you can give us an update on refugees in Latin America, if you have something to say about their situation, especially millions of Venezuelans in in the region and also people in the north of Mexico who are waiting, who were waiting for asylum in USA.

If you have a situation or an update on on them.

[Other language spoken]

I don't have an update on with me right now, but I can try to reach out to colleagues and see what we can bring.

[Other language spoken]

There we go.

[Other language spoken]

Just to make it clear, Double Show is not today with you.

No, I don't have them on my list and I don't see them present today here with us.

Well then, because we, we have, we had a request already from last week, some of us at least.

Latin America is the epicentre of the pandemic.

And as soon as the pandemic reached Latin America, it disappeared from the priority of WHO and other institutions regarding information towards us.

While it was in Asia, it was a priority.

And we got a large number of press releases of data, of indicators of everything that you can imagine when it was in Europe.

I don't even have to tell you how much was important.

When it reached Latin America, it disappeared.

Even in terms of presence of WHO in your briefings, we would like once again to request that as as they say, the pandemic is not over until everyone is safe.

Well, in Latin America is not the case and they still disappear.

So we had requested last week data on where WTO is helping exactly in the region and we have not received that.

So we need this information.

We need and we need to understand why is it that once issues not only the pandemic, when issues arrive in Latin America.

[Other language spoken]

Of your agenda in a very consistent and systematic way.

[Other language spoken]

Jamal, thank you for that observation.

I mean, I think the, the, the pandemic is global and, and I don't think there is anyone region that is more favoured than another in terms of, you know, showing concerns where that favour that region.

Why our colleagues from WHO are not here today, I, I, I don't know.

They probably have very good reasons.

I, I'm sure they remain available to, to try to help you with your questions as much as possible.

And they have very regular press briefings.

I mean, we, we also look at the situation very much from from UN headquarters and there are daily updates on the situation in, in Latin America or Central America.

But I'll, I'll convey your concerns to WHO and see if they can provide any further information on this situation over there in that particular region.

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, I want to 2nd Jamil and everything, he said.

And I, I sent an e-mail to Margaret Harris because she promised to give us a list about Latin America, about which countries are are asking for help and nothing, there's nothing.

So no, no answer at all.

And then in the other hand, on the humanitarian side, we don't know anything as well because there's a lot of indigenous people in, in the region.

There's a lot of poor people in the, in the, in the region and they don't have access to health, to equipment, to anything.

So we would like to have your point of view from here in, in Geneva.

So I, I, I, I ask for that as well.

[Other language spoken]

The only thing I can tell you is, is of course I will convey your concerns and your questions to our colleagues.

I'm sure that they, I mean, we, we know our colleagues, they, I'm sure they're trying as best as they can to, to respond to all media enquiries.

And obviously maybe sometimes it's not doable on the minute, but keep, keep contacting them.

They, they, I'm sure they will provide the information if they have it.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, sorry, real.

Again, as far as I see in your briefing today, there's not a single topic related to Latin America, despite the fact that we have requested already we are some OK, we're not.

And as again, as I said, it's true that the pandemic is global.

You're right.

However, we even got data on what would be the, the scenario for Africa.

We got information, very detailed information from Asia for weeks and weeks and weeks.

When it got to Europe, it was a major crisis in the world.

When it gets to Latin America, disappears from your agenda, again, it disappears from your agenda.

Where's it?

Look, again, I will contact WHO and discuss with them whether they have, there's a possibility of doing a specific briefing on Latin America.

I see that you have a lot of interest for that.

I don't agree with you that it, you know, we, you know, once it gets to a certain region of the world that we, we, we let it go.

We, I think the pandemic, as I said is global and it, we, it is a concern for all the people that it is affecting or contaminating.

And we'll try to provide you an update on this.

Can we go to John, please?

[Other language spoken]

Yes, it's a follow up to Gabriella and Jamil's observations on information in Latin America.

I've just got a suggestion since I've just had my coffee that could help many times in in many countries, the the coordination for the UN is not necessarily it's either done by UNDP or Archer.

So perhaps it's just a suggestion the country coordinating cell in the countries could help us get the information that Jamil and others are looking for.

Because with my experience working on Venezuela, for instance, a lot of the information came from 1:00 organisation coordinating on behalf of all the others and pulling the information and then going to the government.

So perhaps Yens or the Rep for UNDP or others could help in this.

Whoever is the lead in the various countries, it's just a suggestion, but that's the way out of the bottleneck sometimes.

No, it's a very good suggestion, John.

Look, I, I'm, I'm sorry that some of our colleagues from OG and WHO are not here today, I will definitely give, take this back to them.

Try to have a discussion with all of them, see whether there's a possibility of, of doing a specific briefing on this region for, because of the interests I see for it.

A reminder also, we have UN information centres in, in these, in this region as well.

And they may be able to provide some some assistance in, you know, with specific numbers as they must be following the the situation very closely in the countries that they that they serve or the regions that they serve.

But I hear you all very well and I will definitely take this back to them.

Bianca Hotsy from Global T Global TV, can we unmute?

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, just to say, I cover the UN and of course all UN agencies for Brazil.

[Other language spoken]

TV and Global News Brazil, and I'm with Gabrielle and Jamil and I would like to highlight that it's really important to have more information regarding Latin America, please, OK.

It's well noted.

I will definitely take this back to WHO and see what we can get out of them for you, Jamil.

[Other language spoken]

When it was in Europe, we got people from, if I'm not wrong, the Red Cross coming to your briefing.

We got calls with Africa during your briefing in Asia, we got calls in your briefing.

So don't tell us to go to the regional offices because when it was in these other places of the world, we got calls during your briefing about these features of the world.

So why is it that we cannot get the same thing when it comes to Latin America?

This is a request that I've been doing for years on many of the issues.

And once again, and you can see the briefings by Tedros, when it was a ****** to Africa, he would start the briefing with that.

When it was in Europe, he would start the briefing with that.

So, so far, since Latin America became this epicentre, he has not given a single statement in the beginning of the of of his statements.

We firm exclusively exclusively to Latin America.

It's always in the questions.

[Other language spoken]

It becomes a story.

Why it simply disappears?

OK, Again, as I said, I think The Who is not favouring any region.

I think the pandemic is affecting people worldwide and we are giving as much attention to any region that the pandemic is affecting.

This may not be your analysis, but I can assure you that we don't try to discriminate in terms of who is being contaminated or affected by this this this disease.

I will definitely look into it with WHO and OCHA and see whether there is anything that we can arrange for you in the coming days on this.

Let's move on to Elizabeth Beers, who is here with us to talk about the impact of COVID-19 on food security in Nigeria.

And I use this opportunity to remind you, you should have received the information this morning under embargo.

It's under embargo until six O 1 this afternoon, Geneva time, or 12 O1 noon, New York time.

The secretary general once again will be issuing a new policy brief today and it deals with the impact of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition.

So you have gotten his brief and I invite you to take a look at that and what he has to say.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, good morning to all.

I will give you an update on Nigeria and the impact of the COVID-19 social economic impact on this Africa biggest economy and most populous country.

We have seen a steep drop in international oil prices and this is Nigeria major export commodity since the outbreak of the virus and as sparked this phenomenon has sparked fears of a recession.

Over 3.8 million people mainly in the informal sector could lose their job temporarily and this could rise to 13 million people if movement restriction continue for a longer period.

This number would add to the almost 20 million people, 23% of the labour force already out of work in Nigeria.

In a country where about 90 million people, 46% of the population live on less than $2.00 a day, this is a real concern.

The urban poor would depends on the daily wage to feed themselves and their families have been very hit by a movement restriction to contain the spread of the virus.

The FP plans to scale up its assistance to reach 3 million people in Nigeria and including an expansion to support the government social protection systems in the cities of Abuja, Kano and Lagos.

WFP is working to assist up to 1.2 million people through a combination of cash transfer assistance and of course of in kind food distribution in Kano, Abuja and Lagos where in this area where WFP was not delivering assistance until now.

We are also gearing up to serve an additional 600,000 people bringing the total to 1.8 million in the three northeastern states of Borno, Adawama and Yobe where WFP is providing food and nutrition support to women children affected by a decade long insurgency.

We are also providing Technical Support to strengthen Nigerians government LED social protection system including readjusting school feeding programmes to support children during school closure through take home ration.

I would like to say that we aim to reach 9 million children in three million homes across the country through a programme together with the government and in particular in the floating slum, a community of Makoko, which is home to 10s of thousands of people who live chick by jaws on stilt houses nestled in the deep black waters of the village on the outskirts of Lagos.

To scale up our operation, WFP needs urgently $182 million over the next amounts to provide crucial assistance to these people and including people who have been affected by COVID-19.

We are concerned about conflict affected communities in the Northeast Nigeria who already face extreme anger and who are especially vulnerable.

They are on life support and need assistance to survive.

That's why WFP is distributing now two months worth of food and Nutrition Assistance in IDP camps and among vulnerable community to ensure that people have enough food while they are on full or partial lockdown.

[Other language spoken]

I see that Jamil has his hands up.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, thank you, real Elizabeth, since commodity prices also found in Latin America.

[Other language spoken]

Ask you what are the social economic impacts of this situation in Latin America and the situation in camps with refugees also in that region of the world?

If you have some kind of follow up to the data that you have given already last week, which was not about the entire Latin American continent, was about only about a couple, I would say less than 10 countries in the region.

Could you tell us what is the social economic impact of this pandemic in the region?

[Other language spoken]

Yes, Jamil, unfortunately I have no other figure than the one that I share the other day with you on on the country WFP assist in Latin America.

We are very concerned by the situation in Latin America.

It's a dramatic situation for the most vulnerable families as everywhere else in the world and the the most, the poorest, the country is the most dire.

The situation is for them.

It's not because of the COVID itself, but we are concerned because of the social economic impact, because people if they do not die from the COVID, they, they can die from hunger.

And it's a silent pandemic.

We are trying to do our best in those country.

And I will have by the end of the week, I suppose, more information about the logistic effort WFP is doing to provide assistance through it's flight, air bridge and also providing medical support and medical equipment in addition to the food assistance.

I will come back to you with more details on the refugee camps and I can assure you that I insisted several time to our Panama office to provide me with more information and more details on the country in which we have programmed and they promise to come back to me with more information.

And today I just would like to also flag again the situation in El Salvador because of not only the impact of COVID-19, but the impact of the tropical storms, the tropical storm season that's started.

And we have in in El Salvador because of this situation, 340,000 people who can fall into anger because of the impact of the storm and also the consequences of the the COVID-19 and.

That's what I wanted to flag and to say that we are doing our best.

And for El Salvador, WFP urgently needs $8 million for to provide urgent food assistance for two months to the people in El Salvador.

And this request of fund is in addition to the $19 million we need to support the government in El Salvador only to respond to the COVID-19.

Thank you very much, Elizabeth.

I see there's a question from Gabriella, Gabriella Sotomayor.

[Other language spoken]

Real.

Yes, Elizabeth, I would like also if you can send me this information that you are talking about because I have the impression that you and humanitarian agencies have well established chain of assistance in African countries, but it's not the case in Latin America.

So I don't know if you if you are finding problems what are those and also if you can, if you are thinking on scale up operations, if you can give me more details or send us more details, I would appreciate that.

[Other language spoken]

I can assure you that there is no difference between the the way WFP staff works in Latin America and the Panama office is doing.

Of course, it's best with the colleagues in the field to provide assistance in 11 countries.

Latin America, of course, we do not provide, we do not have programming big countries like Brazil or we, we, we concentrate on the small countries.

But there is absolutely no difference.

And I will read ask again for more detailed information and I can assure you I'm doing my best.

[Other language spoken]

I hope you are well.

[Other language spoken]

I'd like you to flesh out the situation in El Salvador a bit more than you have.

I I hear very little about it.

Like, for instance, is it still raining there are people getting enough shelter.

Do you have any information about how many have been killed or how many currently are homeless?

And if, if aid, sufficient aid is getting to these people?

I mean you're you're begging for money of course, but but I'm but I'm wondering you know what what their condition is and in particular that of the women and and the children who are usually the most vulnerable.

Thank you yes, I briefed the last Friday in details about the situation in El Salvador.

I can tell you that these tropical storm Armanda and the rain following that tropical storm is the worst since 22 years.

And it trained an average of 600 millimetres in in one day.

And to compare with Meech, hurricane Meech, it rained only 400 millimetres.

So you can see the difference.

[Other language spoken]

And you have also now another storm called Cristobal affecting also El Salvador with rain, heavy rains.

So the situation is is of concern and in particular for the most vulnerable population according to the government.

[Other language spoken]

But so far we have, as I said, we have, we have many people affected.

According to the government, it's 125,000 directly affected.

But regarding the food security and the impact of the people there, we have this figure of 340,000.

Of course you have children and, and, and women, many children, many women, they are the first to to suffer the most.

We provide food assistance to 5500 in 73 shelters, but there are many more shelters.

I think there are over 120 shelters in in the country right now.

And it is crucial to support the government because it's a drama situation for these people who have lost their livelihood.

And that's why we call on to the international community to to support in I say we.

It's the worst rain we have seen since hurricane in 1998.

And of of course, children and women pay the heavy toll to this situation.

But I can come back to you with more details about the number of children and women that are affected by by the situation.

I do not have the figure in my mind.

Thank you very much, Elizabeth.

I think we've gone through all of our agenda items.

I know that with joining us also this morning, but not presenting, but available for questions if you have any, are Paul Dillon from the IOM and Orlando Gomez from the Human Rights Council, Tamir Tamir from KUNA News Agency.

[Other language spoken]

Hope that they're.

[Other language spoken]

Rolando about the Human Rights Council when it will.

[Other language spoken]

Will will it start at Monday and what will what will be the agenda if he has information about that?

Thank you very.

[Other language spoken]

We're connecting Rolando in a minute.

Orlando, good morning.

[Other language spoken]

I have a problem with my camera guys.

[Other language spoken]

Anyway, thanks for your question, Tomer.

Yeah, I was, I'm glad you asked the question because I have been getting lots of calls and frankly I don't have confirmation yet, but I hope to be able to confirm this afternoon.

There are various proposals that are bid put forth by the President of the Council to resume the 43rd session this coming Monday, 15 June.

I'll be in a position to confirm that this afternoon, I hope.

I should note that the session would be conducted in what I would call a hybrid manner, that is, whereby A reduced number of delegates would be present in a meeting room to allow obviously for the social distancing.

Vis A vis the.

COVID-19 measures and others would be able to participate through video messages, video teleconferencing, but.

Again, I'll be able to.

Confirm that this afternoon.

And on that note, maybe just to talk about the 44th session, which was to have started next week for three weeks.

In fact, with everything being shuffled down, there are discussions under way to to start that at the towards the end of the month, but no formal decision has been taken on the start date for that.

But a similar format would be in place with social distancing.

And of course, just to note that we're looking after the media arrangements to find the best possible solution for you and your colleagues to.

Carry out your work.

Efficiently and of course in a safe manner.

So more to come hopefully this afternoon.

[Other language spoken]

I think Tamil may have a follow up question.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, yes, it is a follow up regarding the start, if it will start on Monday, at which time?

Exactly.

Do you expect it will?

[Other language spoken]

The proposal is for it to start at 10:00 AM, but with the confirmation, I hope to be able to circulate to you a draught, a programme of work which would always be subject to little changes, but I really hope to do that as soon as possible so that you can plan accordingly.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you, Rolando.

Lionel Faton, can we unmute Lionel, please?

There is, yes.

[Other language spoken]

OHL is providing a lot of release today that are.

Of my.

Interest and 1 is on DPRK just arrived and I was basically mentioned about the the operations of humanitarian agencies in the country that should be.

[Other language spoken]

Promoted.

So I was wondering if any of the humanitarian organisation here have an update on their operations in the country, whether they have access, whether they still have stuff on the ground actually, because as you know, the country is closing January 21st.

Any anything that could help me, you know, I would say make a story.

I will have a bit more of humanitarian flavour.

[Other language spoken]

OK, unfortunately Yen's is not here and neither of our colleagues from Human Rights, but I will contact them right after the briefing to see if they can respond to you.

But maybe there we go Elizabeth.

Bills from WFP may have a little bit of information to share with you.

[Other language spoken]

Just to start, my Lionel, yes, I can give you some information that I just received.

Of course, 4 million people in DPRK.

The humanitarian situation remains bleak.

At this time of great need, the international community must not look away.

DPRK there are over 10 million people, nearly 40% of the country population which who needs humanitarian assistance and even a larger number, 10.4 million people, lack access to essential health, clean water, sanitation and hygiene services.

There are also 1.7 million children and they're under 5 who are also living under the ****** of recurrent natural disasters and now the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Malnutrition has been persistent and white spray causing long term damage to the health and development of children as well as pregnant and nursing mother.

Nearly one in 10 children under 5 are underweight and one in five children is stunted.

Against the immense and complex challenges facing the country, progress has been made in food security, child health and nutrition.

Over the past decade, there have been real progress in reducing infant and under 5 mortality and malnutrition, alongside advances in primary education and healthcare services.

This means many children in DPRK are now getting a better start in life.

WFP in DPRK has been working since 1995, providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable women, children and working to build resilience of community to climate related risk.

In 2019, WFP provided nutritious food to nearly 900,000 people.

This includes children in nurseries, kindergarten, boarding schools, pregnant and nursing mother and people involved in our Disaster Risk Reduction activity.

So we, I what I can tell you is the number of beneficiary WFP hopes to reach in 2020.

We hope to reach 1.2 million beneficiary in DPRK.

We continue our programme and we need the WFP funding needs in 2020 are $54,000,000.

That the information I can give you and I can assure you that the the WFP is still working and works continues to work in DPRK and I can send you more details in writing.

[Other language spoken]

I see that Lionel still has his hand up, so maybe there's a follow up question.

[Other language spoken]

Your your profit, the set opportunity.

[Other language spoken]

Orlando, you would like to add something on the Human Rights Council?

Thanks, Ray Leonel, maybe just for the benefit of.

You and your.

Colleagues, to remind you that among the pending business at hand, during the resume, the 43rd session of the Council is to adopt A host of draught resolutions.

There are nearly forty of these draught resolutions.

Among them is 1 on the DPRK, which would, among other things, extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation.

Of human rights in the.

DPRK It also requests the **** Commissioner provide an update on the progress human rights situation at a forthcoming session.

So there's that resolution.

Draught resolution, rather, is available online and would in theory be.

Adopted.

Towards the end of next week once the session is resumed.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for adding that information.

Rolando, Peter, Kenny, you have the floor.

Oh, goodness, Peter, we continue have to have this little problem with your audio.

One more try.

If not, we'll go to Lisa.

No, we're going to mute you again.

We're going to try to see what the problem is.

[Other language spoken]

Hi from past experience with Peter Kenny and his problems.

[Other language spoken]

Lengthy process.

Sorry I meant to be flip.

[Other language spoken]

I gather you will send us your notes.

So just to say that, yes, I'd appreciate them, but it appears that North Korea still has not acknowledged the presence or at least the extent of COVID-19 in the country.

You did make one little mention of COVID-19 and your operations.

So I'm wondering, are there any operations afoot in in to to try to contain the spread of the virus in any way?

Do you have any sort of information or any picture as to whether social distancing is occurring?

There.

There's not much, you know, work activity going on in any way.

So maybe lock downs wouldn't wouldn't mean anything, I don't know.

But is is there any information about that And is there any problem with your staff in terms of following through on your operation and providing the food needs to the population?

[Other language spoken]

Lisa, what I can tell you, I have no information precisely because we have no information about potential cases or about this issue.

But what I can tell you it's in, in any case, around the world right now, WFP staff has put in place protection, strict protection measures for the staff itself of course.

And of course, when we do food distribution or when we have programmes in communities, physical distancing, sanitation and washing station, all the temperature checking, all this kind of measure are strictly followed by WFP staff.

And in particular when we, we have the logistic, the logistic side of our our mandate.

And I can assure you that in every country those measure are strictly followed.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you, Peter.

Let's try Peter again.

[Other language spoken]

Do you hear me this time, Leon?

[Other language spoken]

This is the best formula.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for rebooting.

[Other language spoken]

I know I just wanted to add my voice to those who are requesting that who can brief us at at these briefings.

I think it's very important in these times that they do brief us.

[Other language spoken]

Very good, Peter.

It's it's it's noted.

I've noted it fully.

You, you've expressed this very, very clearly.

And I will transmit the message.

Catherine Yes.

[Other language spoken]

My question is regarding the elections, the future elections and and choices and nominations for WTO and ITC.

Regarding ITC, it seems that there is a list of candidates that already went through some interviews.

It would be interesting to know what the process is, what's who are the candidates, how many they are.

And regarding WTO, we are receiving since yesterday a couple mails that are indicating the countries that are in fact proposing and supporting some candidates to replace Miss Mr Azevedo.

[Other language spoken]

It would be also interesting.

To.

To know a little bit more about what's going on at WTO and ITC regarding the the heads.

[Other language spoken]

I don't know if Yale is around.

Unfortunately, I do not see him online.

I do not see him online.

So I think it would be best for you to try to contact him directly.

I've also seen the, the news reports about around the, the, the upcoming elections for these organisations, in particular the WTO.

But I think their spokespeople will be in the best position to, to answer your specific questions on the processes and how, how you know any deadlines that are around these processes.

But if you want, I will, yes.

[Other language spoken]

Excuse me regarding ITC mail schools and all kind of messages have already been sent and no feedback.

[Other language spoken]

I will contact Victorio, Victorio Camarotta, who's the Head of Communication there and see if he can bring bring some clarity to this.

[Other language spoken]

If there are no other questions, again, as I mentioned at the beginning, invite you to take part, if you can, in this discussion this afternoon on inequalities during and after COVID-19.

That will be with our Director General, Tatiana Valovaya, Guy Ryder from the ILO, and Alicia Barcena from the United Nations Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean.

And there will be also country perspectives from Jordan, Portugal and South Africa.

So it could be a very interesting discussion moderated by Nadia Isler from the SDG Lab.

That's at 3:00 this afternoon and you have the link in the note to correspondence we've sent yesterday.

If there are no other questions, then I wish you all a very good day and we will see you again on Friday.

[Other language spoken]