Good morning. Welcome to the press briefing here in Geneva.
The United Nations Today is Tuesday, ninth of July,
and I'd like to start immediately by giving the floor to Jeremy for OC. HR.
Jeremy, you have two points today
guest who is reaching us from Kiev.
who is the head of mission for the UN Human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine.
And, uh, I don't know you would like to start,
and then we give the floor to Missus Bell.
Yes. Uh, thank you. And Good morning, everyone.
the UN human rights chief Volker Turk described as abominable for
deadly blasts at two Kiev hospitals that treat Children and women.
launched a wave of strikes on densely populated areas of Ukraine,
as well as the hospitals.
We have received reports key energy infrastructure facilities were also hit.
and called on those with influence to do everything
in their power to ensure these attacks stop immediately.
Civilians must be protected
and the laws of war strictly adhered to.
There must be prompt thorough and independent investigations into
these latest grave attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
And those responsible must be held to account.
The High Commissioner will be, uh, addressing the situation on Ukraine.
at the at the Human Rights Council.
And this morning, we, uh we are fortunate to be joined from Kiev by Danielle Bell.
Uh, she's the head of our human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine.
Thank you very much, Jeremy.
just just before I give the floor to Mrs Bell just to remind you that
yesterday we have distributed to you the statement
of the secretary general who also strongly condemned
the missile attack by the Russian Federation
hitting residential and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.
And, um, uh, he extended his deepest condolences to the families of all victims,
but also said that directing attacks
against civilians and civilian objects is prohibited
by international humanitarian law,
and any such attack are unacceptable and must end immediately.
And to hear more about what has happened yesterday in Ukraine,
I have given up the floor to Mrs Bell.
I will begin with the attack on
Edit Children's Hospital because this is one of the most
egregious attacks that we've seen since the onset of um,
Edit is a Children's specialist hospital where
families from across the country bring their
Children for treatment of serious medical conditions
such as cancer and kidney disease.
My team spent most of yesterday at the incident site yesterday,
speaking with medical staff, parents of Children
and residents that live in the area surrounding the hospital.
Analysis of the video footage
and assessment made at the incident site
indicates a high likelihood
that the Children's hospital suffered a direct hit
rather than receiving damages due to an intercepted weapon system.
Of course, as was said earlier, this must be
At the time of the attack,
670 child patients, mainly in patients, were there
more than 1000 medical staff.
At least two Children were killed, including a female doctor,
and at least 50 were injured, including seven Children.
Staff had moved the Children to a bunker yesterday
morning when the air raid sirens first went off.
Otherwise, the casualties would have been much higher.
The explosion destroyed the toxicology department,
where Children were receiving dialysis
The attack also damaged the intensive care
surgical and oncology wards,
and 600 Children, um, have been transferred to other hospitals in Kit
City and areas in in Keith Province.
This terrible attack shows that nowhere is safe in Ukraine.
Yesterday's massive attack across the country
involved at least 38 different cruise
missiles and ballistic rockets of various types
30 of the 38 missiles were reportedly intercepted.
So far, my team has verified at least 38 people, including four Children,
and we've received reports that more than 100 and 90 have been injured,
including at least 10 Children.
Of course, we expect these numbers to rise as verification efforts continue.
Most of the civilian casualties occurred in Kiev city.
as well as other parts of Kiev region.
In addition to the horrific explosion at
Edit, Children's hospital, residential and private houses, kindergarten
medical facility and a business centre were badly damaged and of course,
with terrible civilian casualties.
For example, in Keith City,
nine civilians were killed and five injured after debris
from an intercepted missile hit a medical centre.
three detect transformer substations were damaged or destroyed in Kiev,
which is consistent with the coordinate
attacks that we've documented in recent
months against Ukraine's national power systems.
I'll stop here and, um, welcome questions.
Thank you again for the opportunity to brief.
Thank you very much, Mrs Bell.
And before I give the floor to the journalist, I just would like to leave the floor to,
for UN HCR, who also has a short update
on the situation in Ukraine.
Thanks, Alessandra. And good morning, everyone.
Yeah, just to add to what we've heard,
these big co ordinated attacks that we've seen
across the country and and notably in Kiev,
to the outside world that the tragic war
is very much continuing relentlessly in Ukraine.
Uh, this is the latest big co ordinated attack, but people,
homes and infrastructure are being impacted
almost on a daily basis somewhere
in the country. For example, recently we've seen almost daily attacks in the Soska
petrovska Donetsk and Zapolska,
uh, regions. Uh UN HCR of course, very much stands with the people of Ukraine
and calls for an immediate respect of international humanitarian law
and the protection of civilians.
Um, at the Children's Hospital
in Kiev. Uh, we're working with our local Ukrainian partner,
on the site providing psychosocial support,
uh, legal aid and also emergency shelter materials.
There's also damage in many other districts
of Kiev beyond the Children's hospital.
Uh, reportedly, at least 30 multistory buildings with apartments and homes,
as well as power stations,
factory schools and kindergartens have been
Residential buildings, a medical facility and infrastructure were damaged.
Information on other damaging casualties is currently being clarified there.
in nepro with our partners
uh, providing, uh, construction materials,
psy psychological support and legal advice.
Uh, we've also started, um,
to provide emergency shelter materials in other parts of
the country that are needed after this attack,
uh, and are ramping up our cash enrollment programme.
I think in general terms, though,
this is a reminder that the full scale war is continuing relentlessly.
Uh, and the people of Ukraine must not be forgotten.
More support is urgently needed immediately,
especially in view of the upcoming winter,
which will make the situation so much worse for those who have already endured,
and just a reminder that our Ukrainian, uh, response situation Response appeal,
which covers refugees, is only one third funded.
And for the humanitarian response plan, which covers inside Ukraine.
Uh, the 3 billion appeal is also only around one third covered.
Thank you, Alexandra. I'll hand it back to you.
Thank you very much, Matt. And just as a quick reminder that Tariq
is also online if you have questions for who
Ukraine, in addition to the briefing on
Sudan that they will give later on.
So let's open now. The floor to questions. I'll start with Nina. Nina Larsson. Ms.
Nina is our correspondent for the French News Agency.
thank you very much, uh, for taking my question for the briefing, I was wondering,
uh, when it comes to the, uh, Children's hospital,
um uh, you said Miss Bell that you thought,
uh or that it seemed clear that there it was a direct hit.
Can you determine who was responsible for that direct hit?
Uh, and anything where you can say around around that attack would be helpful.
We've assessed the factors that suggest the likelihood that it was a direct hit.
Um, of a KH 101 missile launched by the Russian Federation.
are based on video footage,
which shows the technical specification of the type of weapon that was used.
It shows the weapon directly impacting the hospital
rather than being intercepted in the air.
And thirdly, my military, our our military expert visited the site yesterday
and observed damages at the site that were consistent with a direct hit.
No, it's OK. OK, so Emma Farge Reuters.
we we you answer two questions. One,
other questions from the room.
I don't see any, So let's go to the platform.
Bruce, the correspondent of The New York Times
and then Lisa Schlein, Voice of America.
you say it requires an investigation.
I'm just wondering if you are aware of of of what arrangements are
being made to to do that investigation and who's gonna do it.
Investigations are ongoing both by the key authorities and from the OHC HR side.
We will continue, um, looking at the evidence and information
available, and we will be including findings in our next periodic report.
Schlein. Most of America.
Uh, thanks. Uh, Alessandra. Good morning, everybody. Uh, Danielle, I'd like to,
uh, just on the aspect of, uh, the direct hit on the hospital.
Uh, Russia is saying that, uh,
the hospital. Would you say that this is credible or not credible?
And, um, I've heard that Russia has throughout this war, hit a number of hospitals.
How would you rate this particular attack against the Children's hospital?
gross, cruel, horrible event? Uh, yeah. How would you rate that?
And also, if everyone would please send their notes as soon as possible.
Thank you for your question, Lisa.
I mean, as you said. This is a horrific attack.
It's a hit on a hospital, serving
or treating Ukraine's most vulnerable.
You know, Children with cancer, kidney disease.
We do not have the competence to make a determination on
with 100% certainty whether it was a direct hit or not.
What we aren't saying is based on the facts that we've received so far,
that shows this type of weapon or the missile
to the structure being consistent with a direct hit.
And before giving the floor to Jamie, uh, who has also questioning Christian,
uh, I like to ask Tariq, uh, thank you for putting the, uh, the figures in the chat,
but the people in the room cannot read it.
So if you could just read what you've just put in the chat for everyone to know
Uh, yes, sir. Thank you. I said, can you hear me? Well,
Uh, so basically, I was just putting in a chat, Uh,
just giving the overall figures from our
WHO surveillance system for attacks on health.
we are mandated by the World Health Assembly to, uh
uh to, uh verify and to report attacks on health worldwide.
So when it comes to Ukraine, uh,
including those attacks from yesterday we have verified 1882 attacks.
150 deaths, 379 injuries. And 1624
impacted health facilities since the beginning of
Sorry. Sorry. Uh, people here are saying it's much too fast. Can you please repeat?
as of as of today, WHO has verified 1882 attacks
uh, resulting in 150 deaths.
impacted health facilities.
Primary health care was affected by 40% of these attacks,
and this obviously impedes
the access to basic health services.
We also know that first responders and ambulances
and ambulance workers are three times more likely to suffer harm from attacks
compared to the rest of the healthcare
since the start of the Russian Federation's full scale invasion of Ukraine.
ambulances per year are damaged or destroyed in shelling attacks.
And just to remind everyone, what is the impact of of of of these attacks,
but also attacks on, uh, on infrastructure.
Uh, attacks on civil civil infrastructure,
particularly on energy sources and transmission centres are
causing power outages and disruptions in water supply.
This increases the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks
and puts at risk the surveillance system ability to detect and respond
uh, outbreaks of waterborne food born and other infectious
You have seen you have seen the video.
that was posted by our country office. Our representative Dr
Yarno habit that you know very well was also,
uh, at the site of, uh of Children Hospital.
Uh, and, uh, and and he was, uh, he was witnessing,
talk of everyone, but also what he was telling me when I was chatting with him is that
uh by the number of volunteers who were on the spot who were ready to clean,
uh, that there was AAA relocation of patients,
uh, and and that, uh, health workers were calm and and trying to do their best over
Tariq, Thank you very much.
I just wanted to ask you if you could please put these figures in as Penny as Peter.
Kenny put it in the in in the chat.
Old fashioned emails that would be useful for everyone.
OK, so let me go. Sorry, Christian.
Jamie has been waiting, Jamie, And then I've got more few more questions.
Jamie Keaton, our correspondent of the Associated Press.
Um, I have a question for Ms Bell and for Tariq. Um, my question for Ms Bell is
given the current state of international investigations that are taking place,
what is the prospect that Russia, if it turns out the Russia, uh,
or Russian forces were responsible for this attack?
What is the prospect that those forces will be
held to account and not just for this attack,
but for any attack over the
course of the the the conflict on both sides on both sides.
That's my question for you. My question for Tarik is Tarik.
You mentioned, um, 100 and 50 deaths in the various attacks on health care.
Um, as Ms Bell mentioned, um, 38 up to the
point. Um, uh, based, uh, directly,
uh, attributable to the attack yesterday.
Just to be clear on that, um, would those 38
qualify as victims of an attack on health care?
And if so, um, would that, uh, make this one of the most deadly attacks on health care
over the course of the conflict? Given that it's 38 is what, roughly about
a quarter of the total that you have now. Um,
um, so thank you very much.
Thank you. Uh, let's start with Miss Bell.
Thanks for the question, Jamie. And
more importantly, thank you for highlighting the criticality of accountability.
And we know accountability takes a long time.
It can take many years as we've seen in other contexts.
So what's absolutely crucial is that we keep attention on the situation in Ukraine
on the terrible attacks that are taking place across the country every day.
And we will continue from our side the meticulous documentation that we are doing
to ensure that accountability one day
will be a reality. But as you said, it's extremely difficult. It will take a long time
Thank you for your answer. And I'll go to Tariq.
Uh, yes, Uh, according to the to the, uh, Jamie, according to the Ministry of Health,
the the the information we had, uh
uh, there were reports of two deaths
that was a health worker and a relative of one of the hospital patients
Uh, and, uh, WHO has, uh, yesterday verified in total free attacks.
So this one and two other attacks
Uh, and, uh, with two deaths, Those so from the from the Children's hospital and,
uh, and others being injured when we talk about deaths from these attacks.
That includes patients, health workers, uh,
caregivers and all those who are the site.
Thank you. I see Jamie has a follow up.
Yes, just from Ms Bell. Thank you very much for that.
I guess what I was trying to get at also was just if you could help us recap the
different types of investigations that are going the various
prosecutorial mechanisms that are in place that could possibly,
um, get to the bottom of this and bring justice to the victims and and again,
uh, you know, mention that
I mean, on both sides, there are people are are there who's looking into the
the the, uh, possible justice on for for victims on both sides of this call.
Of course, the office of the Prosecutor General,
as it does with all war crimes and crimes related
carried out since the full scale invasion,
has responsibility and is continuing to investigate.
There are other international accountability bodies
working on the ground in Ukraine,
such as the Commission of Inquiry,
which has been doing fact finding across the country since the full scale invasion.
The IC C is also present in country
our role is fact finding on the ground and the
work that we do with our daily monitoring and reporting
ideally supports these other mechanisms that are taking place and in some cases,
triggers further investigation and attention.
Thank you very much. Christian
uh, German news agency. Sorry.
Hello? Um, my question, um, is either to Miss Bell or to Tariq.
Can you tell us a little bit about the the how the hospital is now functioning.
If you say that the, um intensive care was hit, the oncology ward was hit.
What's gonna happen to the Children who were in a bunker and come back out now?
maybe I'll start, and maybe people can can add on.
we interviewed the chief of the chief medical officer
yesterday and again this morning to find out what?
What happened to the 670 Children?
600 Children have been transferred to other health
care facilities in different parts of Kev City
and the other 70 were, um, outpatients.
But of course, what the issue is is these Children required specialised care,
and it may be a challenge to provide it.
We have heard from the medical authorities that the
Children that have been transferred do have medical treatment.
They have their medicine now.
Um, but perhaps the colleagues might have some more to add on.
I don't know if Tariq wants to add something on this I I
was going to I was trying to see if UNICEF was connected,
but I don't think it's the case,
so I don't know if, uh, Tariq you want to add something on that? No. No. It's a
clear information II I received from our representative doctor
habit who was on the scene that, uh,
that there was a quick relocation,
Uh, and efficient relocation of, uh, of patient. We have offered together with data
with UNICEF and, uh, and others to provide assistance If, uh,
if assistance is is is required by the by the hospital,
entire hospital is out of action now.
Is that Do I understand that correctly, If 600 patients were moved elsewhere or
is it so damaged that it can't be used anymore?
Or are these 600 Children gonna come back? Thank you.
Uh, no. Please, Danielle.
You You were You were You were on the spot, so maybe you have more information.
we've heard that all of the Children have
been transferred because the ho the hospital,
it's just been hit with, um, a
very large weapon. There's extensive damage. There's debris.
Um, there's so much damage. Um, the Children have been transferred. Of course.
I'm sure there will be efforts on the ground to quickly repair it as soon as possible,
but, um, I'll leave that to WHO and the experts to speak to in more detail.
Thank you very much. Uh, Jeremy
Radio France International.
That was the same question. Oh, OK. OK, so we have an answer here.
Uh, Antonio Broto, Spanish news agency.
Yes, my question is for Tariq. I would like to know, uh,
if, uh, the statistics you mentioned about the 1800 attacks all these attacks are,
nor we have expertise to determine the the the the cause or the perpetrator.
So the the what WHO is doing is is verifying that, actually, there was,
uh, attack on a health care whether it's a ambulance, whether it's a health centre,
uh, whether it's a health health workers.
But we do not, uh, investigate, uh, Who is a perpetrator,
Mrs. But you wanna add something on that?
the numbers that have been shared with by WHO are entirely
consistent with the information that we've documented and been reporting on.
When it comes to these types of attacks it's It's
very difficult to determine exactly what where they came from.
What we do document is where the attacks take place.
And the vast majority of the attacks
have taken place in government controlled territory.
Although there has been some damage on
health facilities also recorded in occupied territory.
I don't see other questions.
Ms. Bella, I would like to thank you very, very much for for this important update.
Tariq. Thank you. Tariq stays with us.
Because, as I said before, we have an item to discuss with him.
I don't know if your colleague is already connected, but maybe not yet, Tarik,
but we still have one other from
hi. Hi. Hi, Alessandra. And, uh, hello to everyone you have seen in the preview.
We wanted to have Doctor Rick Brennan,
our regional emergency director for Eastern Mediterranean region.
Uh, he is currently in Doha. I was just chatting with him.
Unfortunately, he's meeting the minister.
So he is, uh he is not. He will not be able to
to join today, So we will, uh we I will share his notes with all of you.
And we promise that we will have Dr
because there might be more questions for you. I don't know
I don't know if it's your computer,
No, we do still have any.
no. I just put it on now and then turned it off.
Yes, we are on. Thank you very much.
Ok, so, um uh, thank you very much for your patience. Sorry for this.
Uh, sometimes we have these issues. It's it's a little bit complicated.
Jeremy is also with us to tell us about the situation in Yemen, in particular,
I would just like to remind you that
yesterday we got some positive news from Yemen,
where the office of the Secretary General's Special envoy for Yemen,
said that the negotiations held in Oman over the weekend led to a significant
breakthrough where the Yemeni parties
reached an understanding on releasing Mohammed
a prominent politician who has been held incommunicado by the Houthis in
There were other also agreements about names of detainees to be
let go and arrangements pertaining to the release of Mr Kan.
Mr Greenberg called on the parties to agree on more release operations
and repeated the demand for the
immediate and unconditional release of UN personnel
and aid and civil society workers who were arbitrarily detained in Sana'a
and continue to be held incommunicado. And on this Jeremy has more
We remain extremely worried about the well-being of 11
UN staff and the number of NGO employees who
have been detained for over a month now by
the Ansar Allah de facto authorities in Yemen.
We continue to be refused access to them.
We also remain particularly concerned by the situation
of two other UN staff members who were already
one since November 2021 and the other since August 2023.
We emphatically reject the shocking allegations
publicly broadcast levelled against our staff,
and we urge the de facto authorities in
Sanaa to immediately and unconditionally release them.
Our office calls on those states and entities with influence over Ansar Allah
to use it to secure the safe and prompt release of all detained UN
We are also deeply worried about the conditions in which they are being held.
It is crucial that the de facto authorities ensure that
those detained are treated with full respect for their human rights
and that they are able to contact their families and legal representatives
further targeting of human rights
and humanitarian workers in Yemen
I might just add this morning. Just this morning,
the high Commissioner told us that he starts and ends every day
about these detained staff
and that they must be released now.
Thank you very much. Uh uh Jeremy, for this update.
Uh, is there any question in the room?
I don't see any hand up. Go to the platform. Goy.
report. A plan to control levo person
Yes. Thanks for your question on Mauritania.
I don't have anything on that at the moment, but, uh, do please, uh,
reach out to us and, uh and we'll get you something, uh, later today,
Um, listen, I, uh that's a question. I That's
a very much a legal question, and and I wouldn't be in a position to answer that
except to say that we there are various procedures which are taking place.
during the course of the the whole Gaza conflict and
investigations, we have called for investigations into
the killings of, uh, of certainly civilians and with respect to
Sorry, I switched to English
The human UN Human Rights Council resulted
in three meetings on the following country situations
with the High Commissioner for
Kerk. Uh, this has started this morning at 10 a.m.
the Central African Republic with the independent expert on this country
uh, starting at 1130 soon and then Ukraine, the com uh,
and that is going to start at 5 p.m.
The council is also holding this afternoon at three a panel discussion
on best ways to implement recommendations from the U PR mechanism.
Tomorrow morning at 1045 the council will
discuss the human rights situation in Colombia
and starting tomorrow afternoon,
the council will take action on 26 draught
decisions and resolutions put forward by member states
until the end of the session scheduled on late
Friday afternoon. A total of 30 amendment proposals have been submitted
and for more details. Of course, you can always contact them
since I'm finishing with human rights and then we will go
I just wanted to also remind you that the Human Rights
Committee will begin this afternoon its review of the report of Maldives
and the Committee Against Torture, which opened yesterday.
Its 80th session is beginning this morning the review of the report of Ecuador.
and and that's it for my announcement on human rights.
So now let's go with, uh, Vanessa,
uh, to the situation in, um uh,
with the hurricane burial and the response of the humanitarian community.
So I have a very short data for you today on the response after Hurricane Beryl,
a team and our United Nations Disaster Assessment
and Coordinating Team and AC are on the ground
and supporting the effort on national authorities.
Uh, partners, uh, and and the response.
Right now, the response efforts are focusing in Grenada on
uh, in Saint Vincent and Grenadines on Beka,
and mainland Saint Vincent.
And in Jamaica, it's really the southern coast.
That has been, uh, uh, most affected and particularly the parish of Clarendon,
Manchester, Saint Catherine and Saint Elizabeth.
The first assessment indicates that shelter, food, health,
water and sanitation are the key needs identified so far
Initial reports point to continued rain and debris,
obstructing access and delaying aid, delivery and assessment.
We also had a joint visit to the southern western part of Jamaica Bay oa
UNICEF uh, World Food Programme. Uh,
a team who met with families and again the same need rise, which is water, food,
reconstruction supplies for their homes and also psycho,
uh, psychosocial support.
So the assessments are still continuing.
but the worries with the logistics that have
been damaged power and commission communication services.
We also had the reports that on some of the islands, the airstrip, uh,
So the only way to reach some islands is to go with smaller boats,
Uh, which is furthering the logistic effort.
But of, of course, also the response and the the assessments.
Uh, despite all these challenges, aid is picking up.
and our colleagues are also telling us that the removal of debris is a big priority.
Uh, as you know, after all the damages
and if I have any more update, I will come to you.
But for now, it's what I have Thank you.
Thank you very much. Uh, Vanessa, let me see if there is any question to O
There is none. And before we leave the issue of the climate and the,
uh, situation with the humanitarian situation,
I have an update for you from the World Food Programme.
and this is about the drought fueled by a strong El Nino event which is threatening
food security for millions of people across southern Africa.
So we moved to southern Africa, but still on climate, uh,
and humanitarian situations.
our colleagues from the World Food Programme are telling us that
shifted rainfall partners and long dry spells during the critical planting season
left a large part of the region with insufficient rainfall
and above all, our average temperatures.
This combination of factors wiped out half
the expected crop production in Malawi and Zambia
and nearly all of Zimbabwe's crop with 80% of the expected harvest, Dec
Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe declared national drought disasters.
Others are expected to follow as the full severity of the crisis unfolds.
World Food Programme field offices are
reporting that the household granaries are empty
the region's most important crop and the most common source of calories,
is now priced out of many people's hands.
This is a situation we expect will worsen,
given production shortfall and dwindling supplies.
The hunger crisis is long drawn and its impact wider.
As more and more families are forced to make survival decisions,
Children and women face heightened protection risks.
There is need for a comprehensive and multisectoral response.
So the response that's coming from the World Food Programme,
um, is, uh uh that they first of all,
they they they welcomes the role played by
various governments in driving coordinate multisectoral actions,
expanding existing national protection schemes with the support of partners.
This government led responses will cover a part of the needs.
coordinate collaboration among humanitarian
and development partners is essential
to immediately scale up the response that is urgently
required to avert large scale loss of life.
WFPN partners triggered anticipatory action unlocking payouts worth $14 million
for half a million people across four countries of Lesotho,
These funds enable early action to improve
water sources and disseminate warning messages.
Governments have also requested the world food programme to
provide direct assistance and on demand services in transport,
logistics and food procurement.
WFP is scaling up to provide emergency food and nutrition
support to 5 million people between now and March 2025.
And the conclusion from WFP is that approximately $409
million is needed immediately
to support approximately 4.8
million people in the most impacted countries Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
So this, um um message is coming.
As I said from the World Food Programme,
Ishita could not be reading and being with us today, but of course she is available.
Should you need further information on this
dire situations in in these three countries?
And I see John is as resident, I don't know if it's on this or on what? Vanessa just read
Uh, yes. Good morning. It's partly related.
I was wondering if Tariq is still online. If not, uh,
I'll reach out to him directly.
Yes. Uh, good morning, Tariq.
Uh, I was wondering if you're gonna contact Mr Rick Brennan.
Uh, if he could also provide the latest, uh, information from MO
on the number of Children who are suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Gaza.
Uh, this continuing, uh, reports of very, very dire
images coming out of Gaza reminiscent of what we saw in Yemen a few years back.
If you could give us the number of Children
that are being treated for,
uh, severe acute malnutrition
and are you successful in getting some out of Gaza
for, uh, treatment in neighbouring countries? Thank you,
Uh, hi. Hi. Thanks. Uh, thanks. Uh, John, uh,
it's really pity that, uh, that Doctor Brennan was, uh, was was not able,
Because obviously, he would be answering some questions on Gaza,
as in his position of regional director.
He's covering all the all the crisis.
And there are so many crises in the Eastern Mediterranean.
is that, uh, according to the Ministry of Health,
uh, uh, 34 people have died of malnutrition and dehydration.
Uh, so far, and then Kamal,
60 cases of severe acute malnutrition were detected,
uh, last week and two patients admitted to the stabilisation
centre. You remember Kamal? A
is Is a paediatric hospital. That is partially,
So, uh, so yes, indeed. The situation is very difficult.
I think we there was no evacuation since we had the evacuation of cancer patients.
And, uh, we we we we we keep, uh, uh, appealing for opening of all crossings into Gaza.
More than 10,000 people need
to receive specialised medical care outside of Gaza. These people cannot wait.
Uh, we need, uh we need, uh to have them, uh, get out and receive the care.
This is really a question of life and death for many of them.
Thank you very much, Tari, because
uh, tare just, um if you could give an idea, uh,
30 or so Children have died directly from malnutrition, but
do you suspect that the Children who have
died from malnutrition indirectly is much higher?
um, making them more vulnerable to disease,
Or maybe not surviving the war injuries.
a rough idea of the scale and and tell us how malnutrition can kill Indirectly.
Well, uh, indeed, uh, we It's really difficult to have exact figures, but, uh,
but a number of deaths that are not directly related to,
shelling to bombardment. Uh, people who don't have access to their
and it's not only about Children.
So we are really talking about everyone in Gaza
who doesn't have access to basic health services.
Pregnant women who can't get a prenatal care, people who have diabetes,
people who have cancer, people who have had hypertension, who may not,
have access, uh, to their, uh,
treatment injured people who are not treated on time Children, uh,
who are living in a very difficult conditions with no access to clean water, Uh,
with no access to sanitation, uh, with the increase of, uh,
waterborne diseases. So it's really difficult to give a number.
But everyone is at risk of, uh uh, uh uh
sick and eventually dying because we have all these. Uh, all these factors
is is definitely one of the factors that reduces the immunity, especially, uh,
at the vulnerable population, elderly and and Children, uh,
who then can't really cope with the, uh uh, with the with the, uh,
any disease any any pathogen that they can get.
So it's really it's a vicious circle of, uh, of not having access to
enough of food to clean water to clean sanitation,
not having access to basic health services.
with so many injuries due to bombardment and and military operations,
we are just, uh, uh looking into into into everyone in Gaza facing increased risk of,
uh, O of of having health, uh, health issues.
Thank you very much. Tariq. Um Goy,
uh uh uh uh uh Le le le attack. Uh, Skip
dedication. Uh uh. The the the they met,
Yeah, you will see, uh, le
Sorry. Are there any other question to Tari
or to any of our colleagues?
If this is not the case, I think everybody very much and sorry for Dr
really hoping, uh, unless Tariq,
you wanna read what you are going to send or are we going to just I will
I will. I will send the notes just in case we
may find some of the information usable. Uh, there are some numbers. Uh,
if there is any further interest, contact us and we will definitely try to get
Dr Brennan. And he asked me when when would be the next time we could We could have him.
So we will try to get him, but In the meantime,
we will send the notes because there are
some figures there that could be of interest.
So But just to be very clear,
this is about the the situation of
Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries of Sudan.
OK, so is that ok? Any other question?
No. OK, so thank you very much to you all.
Just a reminder that we have distributed the message of the Secretary
General for World Population Day which is commemorated on the 11th of July
and where the Secretary General reminds us that this year
marks the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population
and Development. Programme of Action
and central to this programme of action is the recognition that women's
sexual and reproductive health and reproductive
rights are cornerstones of sustainable development.
Secretary General reminds
the progress that has been done but also the challenges
and concludes by saying as the theme of this year's rule
investing in data collection is important to understand problems,
tailoring solutions and driving
I urge countries to make the most of the summit of the future this
year to unleash affordable capital for sustainable
development and you have this in your
Thank you very much. And, um uh, have a nice day and I'll see you on Friday.
