Welcome to the press briefing of the UN Geneva Here is today is Friday, 19th of July.
will start immediately with Babar.
is the first time I have you on the podium since you came back
And you have an update on the situation
in Afghanistan for the flood hit communities.
Please, you have the floor.
Thank you very much, Alexandra. Good morning, dear. Happy Friday to all of you.
We have an update from Afghanistan. UNHCR,
the UN refugee agency is supporting humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan
after Monday's rainstorm and heavy flooding in the country,
central and eastern regions that left at least 40 people dead,
Many roads, bridges, homes and public buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
Sadly, it is expected that figures will rise when more areas become accessible
to rescue and assessment teams.
Afghanistan is among the countries most exposed
to extreme weather conditions and natural disasters.
It is also one of the least prepared
to adapt to the impact of climate change following four decades of conflict,
insecurity and instability.
The latest floods follow on the heels of devastating
flash floods just a few months ago in May,
which hit large areas of northern, north, eastern and western Afghanistan,
with widespread damage to infrastructure, homes and agricultural lands as well.
In response to these latest flash floods and storms this week,
joint humanitarian assessment teams, including ours as UNHCR and partners,
have been deployed to the affected areas to determine the impact
humanitarian needs and to identify families in need of aid.
Many areas are still inaccessible due to damaged roads and bridges.
Initial estimates suggest thousands of people were
affected in the severely hit provinces of
Some of the worst hit areas are in districts with high numbers of displaced
and refugee returnees who have recently returned or who have returned in the past,
had been working with others to provide protection and essential services, Unic
plans to strengthen its existing services to provide mental health
and psychosocial support to the flood affected to people.
Eight inter agency humanitarian emergency teams have been deployed
province and six teams in
provinces, including Unic
More teams will travel to affected areas in coming days
as overall assessment of damage and loss of life is
has prepositioned stockpiles of emergency and relief
items which could be made available for distribution
The recent flooding incidents are increasing vulnerabilities faced
already by the struggling population
who have issues to access services.
Afghanistan remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises,
with nearly 24 million people estimated to need aid and support during 2024
since the beginning of this year in 2024.
more than 145,000 people have been
affected by natural disasters throughout Afghanistan,
with 33 out of 34 provinces experiencing some
kind of natural disaster during this period.
Afghanistan needs continued attention and
support from the international community.
humanitarian operations in the country
remain severely underfunded. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Babar.
thank you. Just just on that final point.
do you have the the money that you need in order to
to carry out this this work that you intend to do?
The needs that we have in the country,
UNHCR is more than 200 million that we need for this year.
So far, I mean, in July, we are only 44 per cent funded,
and I assume it's the same on all other sectors and agencies as well. That's why
to one to highlight the situation
but also seeking international solidarity and support globally
to continue this important work in there.
Yeah, Thank you. And and Hello.
Nice to see you back at the Geneva Coal faith.
yeah. Could you just tell us what is the
current UN HCR strength? Um,
in Afghanistan. To what extent? Uh, you know, the UN presence there,
cut down, uh, to because,
as a result of essentially international
sanctions against the the Taliban government
And secondly, could you also just, uh, update us on
the number of people who have returned to, um, Afghanistan from Pakistan.
Uh, and what is the current sort of population in,
uh, the various sort of transit camps and and refugee camps?
Um, that's receiving them. Thank you.
has maintained presence in the country
throughout the last four decades as
Afghans have needed our support and we are very much there even now.
And we have presence in almost all parts of the country
since the de facto authorities took over. Remember,
there is no widespread conflict as it used to be, but sadly,
the humanitarian situation has not stabilised so far,
so more is needed rather than less.
Nick, I forgot the second part of your question. Can you repeat?
Yes. I was asking you about the budget
returnees, essentially from Pakistan. And
there where they are and what kind of funding is available for.
October when Pakistan announced a drive
asking all undocumented foreigners to leave,
more than 600,000 Afghans
have returned back to Afghanistan.
Those movements have slowed down for now.
High Commissioner Grandhi was in Pakistan just last week,
meeting the highest level of leadership in Pakistan but also visiting
refugees and their hosts, and also
those that have recently arrived after the de facto
authorities took over control in Afghanistan in 2021
remember? I mean, for the last more than two decades since
the Taliban left the first time
we saw big numbers of Afghans returning to Afghanistan in the
range of nearly 6 million
that were refugees and went back home.
return home when it's possible. Our ask
is where they are being hosted.
Refugees should not be pushed or pressured to go back. And just
according to their will when they think conditions are right for them.
And as we have been warning, you know,
Afghanistan currently has more than 3 million
people who are displaced inside the country.
Almost half or more than half of its population, needs humanitarian assistance.
movements have to slow down to give people a breathing space. Thank you.
Lisa Schlein, Voice of America. I don't need to tell you who the people are from.
No, You remember them? Lisa.
Yeah, uh, a couple of questions first, um,
your appeal has been funded.
What is the total amount of money that you
you're, uh, you're asking for,
uh, And then you also say that, uh uh, maybe the fighting has gone down,
but the human rights situation is not stabilised.
We know that. And we also know that
the situation with, uh women, uh,
discrimination against them continues to be discreet.
So I am wondering whether, uh, the this, um uh, terrible situation which continues
will obstruct your efforts to help the people in Afghanistan
get out of this critical. Uh uh, natural disaster situation.
Because the human rights situation
Thank you very much. Lisa,
the funding that we need for this year is
around 215 million just for people inside Afghanistan.
when we come out with the funding appeals in the start of the year.
So this is without the forecast of what's going to happen next.
also affect the situation in terms of human rights and
issues linked with women inside the country still remain really,
But for our emergency response, we haven't seen any hindrances
from the de facto authorities. They are in charge on the ground.
We have to work with them.
They have to ensure our security and all of the humanitarian workers in the country.
in terms of our movements and providing humanitarian support on the ground.
Thank you very much, Babar.
And let me add, Lisa, that
the appeal the humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan,
the total appeal for humanitarian
aid in Afghanistan is $3 billion.
And to date we have only received
120 million, which is less than a quarter of what we had asked for the year.
appeal and the global humanitarian appeal. And the answer is here.
If there is any further question on this, but I don't see any,
so I would like to thank you very much, but
No. OK, I knew you would, But for the moment, let's keep questions on Afghanistan
and Sudan. We will talk about it later on. We have colleagues waiting in Gaza in Amman
Would you mind to wait that when we speak about
don't have an update, but I can get it for you from
thank you very much. And if you have questions on the Sudan talks.
We'll talk about it in a moment. OK,
Um, let me turn to my right. Jeremy is here
head of the office of the Human Rights
High Commissioner in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Aid, I think you are coming in. You're calling in from Amman.
Um, and you have done a recent visit to the Gaza Strip,
so we will hear from Jeremy and then give you the floor.
Yes. Uh, good morning, everyone. And thanks. Uh, Alexandra.
the people of Gaza have been subjected
to a renewed wave of deadly Israeli airstrikes
yet again to suppose it's safe players safe places
that are anything but safe.
503 Palestinians have been killed, mostly in central Gaza.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry,
three mass casualty incidents on the 13th and 14th of July
Shati refugee Camp west of Gaza City,
killed over 124 people and left hundreds more injured.
These attacks have been followed by further strikes on the 15th and 16th of July,
Another UNRWA school in Nusrat Camp, Middle Gaza and a street in al Moi
killing 59 Palestinians and injuring at least 76 others.
Israel's evacuation order on the ninth of July 1 of the largest since October 7th,
an impossible choice yet again.
Stay amid active hostilities or risk fleeing to areas still
subject to attack and with hardly any space or services.
Nowhere is safe for people in Gaza,
not the roads, not shelters, not hospitals,
not the unilaterally declared so called humanitarian zones.
We are also seeing the outcome of Israel's dismantling
of local capacity to maintain public order and safety.
family disputes, random shootings, fighting for space and resources.
And we see youths armed with sticks manning barricades.
The creation of these conditions has led to the predictable and
entirely foreseeable unravelling of the fabric of society in Gaza,
setting people against one another
in a fight for survival and tearing communities apart.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights stresses
once again that the violence must end.
There must be a ceasefire and the hostages must be released.
Reconstruction of Gaza must begin
and the occupation must end.
Accountability must be served
and the internationally agreed
At this point, I'd like to hand over to Ajit Ajit Soga,
the head of our Palestine office
who, as Alexandra just said, has just, uh, just returned from Gaza Over to you, Ajit.
Thank you. Jeremy and colleagues.
Um yesterday I returned from Gaza,
where I spent a couple of weeks working under the Broader Protection Cluster,
a broad based group comprising UN agencies,
local and international nongovernmental
organisations with protection mandates
in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
There is even worse than when I last joined the press briefing just over a month ago.
The people of Gaza are suffering immensely.
people are on the move from north to south again.
Although they're making the journey
knowing it is fraught with danger.
I saw a motorbike and trailer loaded
with personal possessions smouldering on the road.
but it was clear no one could have survived the strike.
On the same road, I saw a bloody donkey cart
also laden with personal belongings.
and who carried out? These attacks are not clear.
As people move from Gaza City to Middle Gaza,
I observed several humanitarian responders, including protection. Actors
provide urgent services to the exhausted and repeatedly traumatised population.
At reception centres on an
most people moved on donkey carts and horse carts holding white flags.
that they had lost everything due to Israeli bombing, including their homes.
One elderly woman who fled from Gaza City on 11 July said her husband
was detained by the Israeli defence forces at a checkpoint on his way to the
She had no idea about his fate.
Several others shared similar stories.
We're also seeing the outcome of Israel's dismantling of local
capacity to maintain public order and safety in Gaza.
Our office has documented alleged unlawful
killings of local police and humanitarian workers
and the strangulation of supplies indispensable to
the survival of the civilian population.
and the breakdown in civil order also
raises enormous challenges for any meaningful humanitarian response
to the mammoth needs of the people.
In many of the makeshift IDP shelters,
people struggle with the bare minimum of daily essentials.
tents made of plastic sheets we saw in the early stages of the
conflict remain the only protection from
the elements for thousands of Palestinians.
10 months into the escalation,
some informal education under tarpaulins and plastic
sheets in the sweltering heat has begun.
These nascent efforts to provide for Children's right
to education must be nurtured and supported.
Humanitarian and human rights entities are
doing incredible work under impossible conditions,
while trying hard to ensure respect for diversity and inclusion.
Local NGOs are supporting an IDP camp
that puts inclusivity at the heart of their response,
fully taking on board the needs of disabled people.
they stress that the challenges ahead of them are immense,
including chronic shortages of assistive devices
Civil society groups have provided front line protection from day one.
They also stress the need for accountability for
gross human rights violations that have occurred.
that while talking about the day after and rebel removal seems distant and futile,
it gives them hope that this war will end
and that there will be reconstruction of Gaza
founded on the rights of the Palestinian people
and an end to the occupation.
Women's rights organisations shared information about
sexual and gender based violence,
including in Israeli detention,
but stressed that there is no space to talk about this while the war is ongoing.
I heard accounts of women committing suicide due to their
desperate living conditions and the terrible deterioration of mental health.
The continued attacks by Israel,
the administrative rules imposed by Israel that impede
the entry and delivery of daily essentials,
hostile involvement due to the war and the breakdown in civil order raises
enormous challenges for any meaningful humanitarian response
to the mammoth needs of the people
and provide any protection.
Travelling through Israel,
I've seen posters all along the roads and messages
for the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
there must be a ceasefire
and the hostages must be released.
Reconstruction of Gaza must begin
and the occupation must end.
Accountability must be served.
And the internationally agreed two state solution must become a reality.
Ajit And, um, for this appalling, really appalling update, um,
we'll open the floor to questions IN the room first.
Don't see any hand up. Yes, Robin,
Robin is our correspondent on the French news agency A FP.
Hello. Just a question about the conditions that
people are living in, particularly particularly with regard to sewage.
that polio is now spreading
via the sewage. Is that something that you are concerned about? Thank you,
I don't know if you wanna take this question.
Otherwise, we have, uh, colleagues from WHO that might want to answer, please.
Um, what I can say is I mean, sewage. Uh,
spilling and flowing is all over. And this is something we have highlighted.
diseases spreading is something that we have said many times and stressed
in specific on polio. I would leave it to WHO or UNICEF. Thank you.
Yes, Thank you very much indeed. Christian, Um
you have, uh, here with you.
Uh, doctor Oliver Rosenbauer Who's the communication officer?
I don't know if his daughter. Sorry. Oliver
Rosenbauer, communication officer for polio education.
So I don't know if one of you two can take this up.
Yeah. Thank you, Alessandra. And thank you for promoting Oliver.
I'm sure he would be happy for that. Now, let me let me start with some, uh, top lines.
And I have Oliver with me as an
as the communications officer for, uh, the polio network
in order to be able to maybe go more into details into polio as such. But
here's what you have so far, Um,
the, uh, global Poly laboratory network isolated
poly virus. Uh, type two,
six environmental surveillance samples collected on 23 June,
These are environmental, uh, surveillance sites in Gaza.
that the virus has been isolated from the environment
and there is no associated paralytic case or any cases that have been detected
as part of the response efforts.
our colleagues of WO and the OPT are working with the Ministry of Health with UNICEF,
a and other partners to conduct a risk assessment to decide the
scope of poliovirus spread and the appropriate responses necessary to stop
any further spread, including,
um from vaccination campaigns.
the data available? Uh, on routine immunisation.
The coverage rates in Gaza were really optimal before the start of this ongoing war.
Polio vaccination coverage, um
primarily conducted through routine immunisation
in 2023 just according to the latest UH WO UNICEF
routine immunisation estimates which were just released a few days ago,
also as to put some context here.
Currently, only 16 out of 36 hospitals are partially functional,
and 45 of the 105 primary health care facilities operational.
The decimation of the health system.
constant population displacement,
cramped living conditions, shortages of medical supplies,
of water and weakened sanitation,
as also just described by the colleagues
routine immunisation rates and increasing
the risk of vaccine preventable diseases,
This poses a risk for Children
and creates the perfect environment for diseases like polio
to effectively mitigate the risks of poliovirus spread in Gaza.
along with WO, UNICEF, UN,
W A and Partners, are urging all stakeholders to support polio eradication efforts
by ensuring that all Children are vaccinated
against polio at every opportunity.
Ultimately and that's to note, a ceasefire is essential
of immunisation activities to address gaps created by this
and one more background just important. Sorry,
Alexander in the in the OPT
wild polio virus was eliminated over 25 years ago.
This feat was achieved through diligent use of the oral polio vaccination
to stop transmission of poliovirus by building
serological and gut immunity in Children.
Thank you very much. And Oliver, please. Uh uh Feel free to add anything.
I just wanted to mention that James Elder is also online for UNICEF IN case.
He wants to add something, so I don't know.
would you like to say something more or I just see if there a RE further questions?
Sure. Thank you very much. And thanks to Christian, nothing further to add.
That's what we know so far. But, uh, over to the group if there's any. Any questions?
Good. And James James too.
So would that be Robin? Is that enough?
So I don't see other question on this polio particular polio issue, but Mu
Has a question. I don't know if it's for Jeremy or for whom.
support, uh, human Rights Commission.
to reject the establishment of a Palestinian state.
I don't know if you talk about that, and I'm I'm asking if you have some, uh,
reaction about this decision.
Um, are you speaking about the vote at the Connect
I'm not sure. I heard the beginning of your question.
we have a comment on this? I don't know if you
Yes, we do Have a comment.
The secretary general two days ago
talked about a stake being driven through the heart
of any prospect for a two state solution.
What his spokesperson said yesterday
is that the Secretary General is very disappointed by the decision of the Knesset to
pass a motion opposing the establishment of a
Palestinian state west of the Jordan River.
As he has said many times, he believes that ending the occupation
and negotiating a two state solution where Israel and an independent, democratic,
contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian state
living side by side in peace and security with insecure
and recognised borders based on the 1967 lines with Jerusalem,
them as the capital of both states is the only viable path to
a sustainable peace for the people of Israel and the people of Palestine.
the motion passed for us is clearly inconsistent with the UN resolutions,
international law and prior agreements.
And the Secretary General once again calls on the Israelis
and on all sides not to do anything that
takes us farther away from the two state solution.
And I don't know if you have anything to add on the side of the Commissioner.
Very comprehensive. Thank you,
Gabriel. Sorry. There is Lisa still online? Isa
Schlein, Voice of America. Lisa, you had a question. Maybe for
Ajit first, uh, good morning to you. And would you be so good as to send us your notes.
You had a lot to say and it was hard to keep up with all of it.
That would be very good for all of us. Thank you.
And I have a question regarding relief.
Uh uh, efforts that is actually getting food and medicine and other relief into
into Gaza. I have heard that, uh, that,
uh, the Israelis say that actually,
there is a pile up of relief trucks that are inside Gaza, and they,
uh they blame the lack of distribution by UN agencies to
get the relief to the people as being the big problem.
What is your view of the situation?
Uh, is relief enough relief getting through? If not, why not? Who is to blame?
Is anyone to blame? Thank you.
Um, I think it's not just about bringing, um, goods, uh, and relief items, uh,
Gaza and leaving it there and expecting the international community.
Humanitarian aid workers, UN entities to distribute.
The problem is within Gaza as well.
We need permits. We need,
uh, green lights for coordinations of movements
or notification of movements which is done by the Israelis
without that we cannot move humanitarian aid
without security, we cannot move humanitarian aid.
So there are a range of other issues that come
with, uh, that that impact negatively on the distribution of
So it is not enough if we are able to just
bring in and leave the items in the corner of Gaza.
So that's where I would stop and emphasise. Thanks.
And as we said repetitively,
it's the responsibility of the Israeli authorities as the occupying power
to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it the most.
And to create the enabling environment for the UN and partners to operate.
Uh, Gabriel Gabriel, uh, is our correspondent of Reuters.
Good morning. Just a very quick question for Ajit
on the dates of your visit to Gaza, please. Um, just I know you returned recently, but
if you could provide us with Ah, the exact dates you were there. Thank you.
between the seventh, uh, of July and yesterday 18th.
So I returned last, uh, late last evening.
Lisa, I see you have a follow up about James's racist, and maybe he has a comp, Uh,
something to complement to the answer that
we get before about the humanitarian aid.
James Elder is our colleague from, uh, UNICEF.
Thanks, Alessandra. Yeah, Than just to compliment what I just said. Um Lisa,
think it's important to ask these questions so long as we are
aware we're looking for the kind of response we just got.
But of course not to answer questions because we're we're unsure.
I think the record is now very, very clear.
I have to think we have to look for consistency
in terms of evidence in terms of number
of trucks allowed in in terms of obstructions,
in terms of denials in terms of utter inconsistencies.
And I think this is death by 1000 cuts.
Once we look at all these things,
it becomes clear that there has been and there
is an intentional restriction of aid going in.
URA, the backbone of aid into the Gaza Strip,
has not been able to take a convoy of food to the north for many, many months.
whilst we advocated from the highest levels of the United Nations to get
more and more access points,
uh, into the Gaza Strip es
open for five minutes before
the lifeline shut. Now, of course, there is one road.
There is one single road coming from Kerre
and that is done deliberately.
And when WFP sought to to, uh, fix another road,
that road my understanding was was was actually,
So these, as as Alexandra made clear,
this is the legal responsibility of Israel not just to facilitate aid getting in,
but then to facilitate the safe distribution of that aid.
None of these things have been happening for nine months,
so it's just a plea that we we understand that and we move away from he said, she said,
because the evidence is unfortunately very clear,
and and it is a service to Palestinians and to the United Nations,
those people on the ground in one of
the most difficult operating environments of all time.
Um, to think that this is somehow because there are inefficiencies on the ground.
What there are is disease on the ground and bombs from the sky and a deliberate,
willingness of authorities who have the legal and military
power to prevent life saving aid going into Gaza.
Thank you very much, James and Christian. You also have a point on this.
Thank you, Alexander. Thank you, James.
I just want to add our voice to what has been said now by colleagues because it is
very important to get exactly what James said away from the he said. He said She said,
Look at the evidence on ground,
let journalists go into Gaza and let them see for themselves what's going on.
Compare the evidence with the words
and the rest speaks for itself.
Uh, Lisa, you have a follow up?
Uh, yeah. I. I do, uh, first follow up for a
you were talking about anarchy in Gaza.
Could you elaborate on how this is manifesting itself? And specifically,
uh, since I asked the question about the pile up of aid trucks inside Gaza whether
there is a lot of looting going on, whether this is also a problem that, uh,
And James, thanks so much for jumping in. Uh, And you, too, Christian. Always, Um,
I I'd like to know a bit more about, uh
there hasn't been any reference during this
briefing about the situation of famine,
Probably, uh, breaking out in
adults are dying from this,
what the food situation is and whether enough fuel specifically is
getting into Gaza in order to run the hospitals and,
uh, well, do everything that needs to be done. Thank you.
Thanks a lot, Lisa. Um, on anarchy. I mean, I It's very evident when you go in there,
tens of barricades as you move around. Um, especially in Khan Yunis,
Um, in northern Gaza and Gaza City.
people, youth with a lot of energy not knowing what to do.
There is no law enforcement.
The law enforcement has been, uh, disbanded as, uh, as I mentioned in
this scenario, of course, there is looting,
um, some opportunistic, some in the north, uh,
more because they are hungry and what people have been saying as self distribution.
So it is a combination of these things, but beyond that,
you also have many so called family disputes in Middle Gaza itself,
people have been living without much of bombardment. Bomb
You hear a lot of bullets flying.
And this is not between only IDF and and the Palestinians.
Within these communities, there is chaos.
There's no one enforcing.
I will not call it as law and order, because there is no law at this point in time there.
So this is the anarchy that we talk about, and it's extremely dangerous as well.
And we need to pay attention here. We want the police to be back on the street
and to bring some order there.
Otherwise, it's going to be very difficult.
with 21 point million Palestinians in the
midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe,
there is indeed desperation and scarcity which have
led to a breakdown in law and order.
I will now pass the flow to James to answer
uh, in let's for famine, we have to We can only lean on, of course, the I PC.
And in that most recent evaluation, which was last month,
the classification still was quote unquote high risk of famine.
that high risk is is the highest,
highest possible margins of course because the aid restrictions are continuing.
But, yes, it has stopped short of classifying condition.
as we all know, whilst that declaration is very, very important,
particularly when it comes to, I guess, to media attention.
And particularly, uh, particularly funding,
Gaza is a little bit different right now because
you have a manmade situation.
as we've heard today very clearly the utter devastation of water, of sanitation,
of hospitals, of all the things that may may enable, uh, aid work
reaching that catastrophic level. The fact remains, at the moment.
Lisa Yes, Children, Children are dying
based on nutritional factors.
Children are malnourished, and then,
as we know any malnourished child is 10 times more likely severely malnourished
child Rather is 10 times more likely to die of a common illness.
And given as we've seen, that sewage that's
flowing through places like drill
And unfortunately, from my mo most most recent visit talking to families, many,
many families don't take Children who are sick, um, with malnutrition,
with diarrhoea to hospitals, cos those hospitals are war zones.
So few of those function hospitals are functioning.
As we know, two thirds of hospitals are not functioning in any capacity.
And pa families know taking a malnourished child who's also sick
from a waterborne disease is something of a fool's errand to a hospital.
When you are talking about Children there with the wounds of war,
that's why we're seeing Children die.
And right now we have a number Lisa of more than 14,000 Children having been killed.
That number hasn't been updated for three months.
And that number does not take into account,
Children who are dying from the the the kind of causes that we're speaking about now.
Thank you very much. Uh, Satoko
Uh, thank you very much for doing this. This question is to either Alice
or Jeremy. Um, I'm wondering when are you planning to release a report on the
condition of Palestinian detainees?
Uh, it's, um the report is very close.
Um, I'm happy to report that,
it it, uh hopefully with will be within the next couple of weeks.
Thank you very much. John Zarro Costas.
Yes. Uh, good morning. Uh, my question is to Ajit and also to James.
I was wondering, Ajit, if your office is still, uh, collecting and doing, uh,
independent assessments of the civilian casualties,
uh, or or you've given up because of difficulty in collecting data.
And if you could share those figures with us And secondly,
uh, also to James. Um, do you have an update, James, on the number of Children
that have died under five due to severe acute malnutrition
from the various, uh, field, uh,
hospitals and centres that you're collecting information.
Thank you, John. Uh, that's a good question.
We have not given up on, uh, independently verifying the, uh,
figures. Uh, we continue to do that. It's extremely difficult,
uh, for 100 reasons, uh, communication, Uh, prioritisation, uh,
trying to get the right people.
The partners that we work with who are also victims of, uh, the conflict.
It's not easy to get them,
uh, plus just general conditions and people moving around. But we have not given up.
I will not be able to give how far we have gone.
Uh, today, but I will make efforts to communicate that in one form or the other,
either in some upcoming reports or perhaps in, uh,
press briefing. I hope that's OK. Thank you.
No, no short answer is we don't,
um just that the medical situation and the decimation of
the medical situation simply simply doesn't allow for it.
But, I mean, to give you a sense,
uh, UNICEF with partners on the ground,
was getting to a point of the sort of response, at least in the south,
that we wanted to see around severe acute malnutrition.
Uh, the North is much, much harder. But in the South, we were with stable
Um, they closed in a flash, literally when that
when the invasion of Rafa
occurred and again, I we've spoken about this before,
but it's it's related to how I was speaking to Lisa's question on
on why evidence matters. We all will remember that that invasion of Rafa
was called a limited invasion,
which has now meant a million people 1 million
out of 1.1 million people had to flee again.
Um, and so that ST those stabilisation centres, John shut in an instant,
literally with Children who were being cared for at that time.
Uh, when I was last in Gaza,
we were again trying to recreate and have been able to recreate one
And the uptake in terms of, uh, families who need that support is is again spiking.
But we won't have numbers, at least for a couple of weeks in terms of, um,
new malnutrition rates among under fives, John.
Yeah. Thank you. Just one more question on polio for, uh, Mr Rosenbauer.
If, um, if polio was to start spreading in Gaza,
how could an outbreak, uh, possibly be combated
in these conditions which exist on the ground at the moment? Thank you.
mean, anytime you have, uh, uh, situation with insecurity, Uh,
it makes it all the more difficult to to,
uh, reach Children with polio vaccination.
Uh, you've been following the programme
long enough to know that we saw we saw that in the outbreak situation in in,
uh, Syria about 10 years ago. If you remember
uh, but it's definitely much, much more complicated. I think.
For now, the the the focus is on
doing further investigations, determining if there is, uh, spread of the virus.
If so, how far is the spread and, uh, take it from there, I think
Thank you. John. You have a follow up?
Yes. It's a follow up to James. James.
Um, you mentioned, uh, some of the stabilisation close in an instant.
Do we know how many are still operating in, uh, Gaza?
Uh, and how many Children are being, uh, cared with?
Yeah, last count. It was 11 operating.
It's, uh and I don't have a number I I I'll get you a number for the last 30 days, John.
What's important as well is, as you know,
that those stabilisation centres are are big formal settings,
Um, because of the fluid nature, nature of populations and because there's just no
consistency in terms of where attacks will occur next,
and so populations are moving more than stabilisation centres.
Although that is the kind of large formal response we would like.
Most of our work is through outreach.
So I saw, even in my short time there, six or seven different community.
outreach projects which have a a similar role
of sta of stabilisation in terms of doing
A assessments and giving redus therapeutic food.
But without that additional,
that additional layer of support for those severely acute,
So there's a lot. There's a lot of that.
But again, that is particularly in Derry, Bulla
Um and we are very, very restricted in terms of what we're able to do in the north.
Sorry. Thank you very much. I don't see other questions on this subject,
so yes, thank you. I think we just before thank you very much, Jeremy.
Just Christian had something more to add on
And then I will take Hassan
Yeah, thank you very much. A very different topic. And, um,
on World Brain Day, which is Monday,
22 July WO will launch a new report
on improving access to medicines for neurological disorders.
neurological conditions are the leading cause
of ill health and disability worldwide.
Despite the significant progress made in developing effective,
safe and cost effective medicines that
enhance the quality of life of individuals with neurological disorders.
These medicines remain largely inaccessible for unaffordable
or unaffordable, especially in low and middle income countries.
So this new report outlines the barriers that
prevent access to these essential medicines and sets
out the actions needed to address these challenges.
The advance copy is available and we will send out uh, I can put that now into the chat,
but not everybody has access.
We will also a little bit later today send out the media week ahead and this will
the details for how to get that advanced copy
Thank you very much. Uh, Christian, I don't see question on this.
Lots of, um request IN the IN the chat to all the speakers to send out their, uh, notes,
please, as soon as possible.
Otherwise, I don't see questions on this. It's important day.
yeah. OK, so thank you. All those who have briefed
you want to ask you a question about Sudan?
I have I have heard today the last day for the negotiations between two parties.
Did two parties reach any agreement or compromise?
Yes, indeed. I have an update on the talks that have been taking place, as you all know
you are right. The discussions are indeed concluding today, 19th of July,
as what I can tell you is that
looking back at these days from 11th to the 19th of July,
the personal envoy of the Secretary General Ram
and his UN team has held a total of around 20 sessions with the party's delegation.
As you know, these were parallel talks, so engaging with one party at a time.
The personal envoy is encouraged by the willingness of the delegations
to engage with him on critical matters related to the situation in Sudan,
on which he seeks the necessary Cooper operation of the warring parties.
He now counts on the parties to promptly translate their willingness
to engage with him into tangible progress on the ground,
both in the implementation of existing
agreements and through possible unilateral commitments.
The discussions held in Geneva have been an encouraging initial step
in a longer and complex process.
The personal envoy will remain in close contact
with the leadership of the two warring parties.
This is what I can tell you
on the outcome of this of these discussions that, as I said,
they have not concluded yet.
They are concluding to that.
Robin. You had a question,
tune. You mean some kind of, Um
don't know why your mic is green and not red, and I can't hear you.
just to ask if at the end of those talks at the end of today,
if there might be a further update
with any possible conclusions have been agreed
for the moment, we don't have any, uh, media opportunity planned.
Uh, but it is possible that we get some kind of, uh,
statement or a written outcome that's possible.
And we will get you informed. M might be late tonight, but, uh, it is possible.
Uh, we'll, uh we'll check for you.
Uh, good morning, Alexandra.
I just want to ask if, uh, United Nations has been affected by the IT outage.
uh, happening in all the world affecting many companies and many institutions.
Sorry. I don't think I've catched. Wh what? What has affected US?
That's what you were asking.
Is the There is a a general problem
related with Microsoft updates that is affecting,
And, uh, many airports. Uh uh,
supermarkets, uh, many, many, uh,
many things. So I just want to ask if United Nations is affected in some way.
Look, I don't have any information on that, but I can ask, uh, if there has been, uh,
any any effects on, uh, our operations, but for the moment,
I don't have any any on that.
Uh, I had seen another hand up, but it is gone. So if this is the case,
our final announcements as usual.
An update, An announcement on behalf of the Human Rights Council,
which asks me to announce that the 14th session of the UN
A committee on the elaboration of complementary standards to the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Uh, um will be held from the 22nd of July to the second of August.
The meeting will take place in room 20.
Um, it is a public meeting, but there is no webcast.
So if you want to to follow the the proceedings,
you would have to go to room 20.
The colleague sent you an immediate advisory on Thurs
the afternoon. But you can contact Matt Brown if you David
Diaz Martinez. If you have further questions.
No public meetings today and Monday for the Human Rights Committee in the
In the Committee Against Torture.
On Tuesday, 23rd of July,
the Committee Against Torture will hold a public meeting with Mrs Susan Jurg,
who is the president of the subcomittee of the Prevention of torture.
The Human Rights Committee will end its session also on the 23rd of July.
It will then publish its concluding observations regarding the country's reports
that they examined during this session, which were related to Croatia, Malta,
Honduras, Maldives, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic and India.
And finally, the press conference is just a reminder that on Monday 22nd of June
at 10 a.m. you may remember this is the press conference of UN aids that Ben has, uh,
UN aids press conference from Munich.
I think that Ben has announced to you last Tuesday
a reminder also that at 11. So one hour later
of Monday 22. 22nd of June,
there will be in the media launch of the 2024
state of Food Security and nutrition in the world Report
Uh, the, uh, press conferences for you is, um uh,
for the Geneva Press corps is given by Maximo Torero, who's as you know, the F
chief economist. He will be calling in from Brazil.
but please remember that the embargo on this report
goes until the 24th of July at 2 p.m.
a press conference by the colleagues of the Office of Disarmament Affairs.
That's also on the 22nd of June at 1:15 p.m.
who is the first deputy foreign minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan
and a chair of the second Session
of Nuclear Weapons Treaty Preparatory Committee.
We will brief you on the preparatory Committee session
that is starting on the 22nd of June. We sent you a media advisory on this matter.
I have told you everything I had.
If there is no other question,
No. OK, thank you very much.
I just wish you a very good weekend
