The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN Geneva Press Briefing - 23 July 2024
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MP4
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3.2 GB
UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
23 July 2024
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization.
Health situation in Gaza
Dr. Ayadil Saparbekov, Team Lead for Health Emergencies at the World Health Organization (WHO) in the occupied Palestinian territory, speaking from Jerusalem, said that almost 40,000 people had been reported killed and 90,000 injured, according to the Ministry of Health. Only 16 out of the 36 hospitals in Gaza were partially functioning; only 45 primary health centers were functioning, or less than 50 per cent of the total number. There were ten field hospitals in Gaza right now, eight of which were functioning, and only four of them fully functioning. The hospitals in Gaza were very much overwhelmed, said Dr. Saparbekov. Over the previous days, the hospitals had been receiving numerous casualties from the mass incident in Khan Younis. The bed capacity remained a challenge across Gaza. WHO and partners were working to bring in temporary structures, such as tents, and WHO’s health partners were now trying to restore in Al Shifa and Al Nasser medical complexes. It was hoped that emergency services, electrical systems and health supplies and logistics would all be revitalized. With that done, surgery rooms, first aid rooms and intensive care rooms would be operational again, explained Dr. Saparbekov. WHO was also supporting the Al Shifa hospital with hemodialysis machines.
Replying to questions, Dr. Saparbekov said that on 16 July, the Global Polio Lab Network had notified the WHO of several circulating variant type 2 poliovirus strains. Close genetic linkages had been established to a virus detected in Egypt in 2023. WHO and partners were looking to establish where exactly this strain had been imported from, after which it would conduct a risk assessment and make a decision on the type of vaccine needed and which age group should be included in the vaccination campaign. The risk of spreading the diseases across the Gaza Strip and beyond was very high, he warned. By the end of this week, a joint recommendation from the Global Polio Lab Network on how to proceed was expected. On another question, Dr. Saparbekov explained that it had taken him 12 hours from a bus station in Amman to his destination in Gaza. Every week, 50 humanitarian workers were allowed to come in and the same number were allowed out of Gaza.
Environmental samples were the samples collected from sewage, explained Dr. Saparbekov. This week, a WHO team coming into Gaza would bring up to 50 collection kits in order to collect samples from humans; until then it was difficult to confirm that there were people currently affected by the circulating polio strain. Once the decision on the vaccination campaign had been taken, the WHO would talk to a number of partners to conduct the campaign adequately. Dr. Saparbekov said that he was extremely worried about various disease outbreaks in Gaza, of polio, hepatitis A, and other communicable diseases. On another question, Dr. Saparbekov said that since the beginning of Rafah invasion on 7 May, medical evacuations through Rafah had been halted. There were as many as 14,000 people who might currently need to be medically evacuated from the Gaza Strip, he said.
COVID-19 and the Olympic Games
Responding to a question about COVID-19 and the upcoming Olympic Games, Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the WHO had long-term arrangements with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), whom it supported for every Olympic Games, but it was the host country, France, which was responsible for assessing health risks and taking appropriate measures. France had seen an uptick in recent weeks, with 25 per cent positive cases in primary health care centers. The health system, nonetheless, was not reporting a heavy strain, said Ms. Harris. Anyone with symptoms was advised to stay at home and avoid contact with others. Ms. Harris said that there was still plenty of COVID-19 out there; people were still advised to use masks in crowded places and when visiting vulnerable persons.
Heat stress report
Zeina Awad, for the International Labour Organization (ILO), said that the ILO’s second report on heat and the world of work would come out on 25 July. ILO would be looking into workers’ exposure to heat stress in several regions of the world year-round, and not just during heatwaves. The report would share findings on the impact on workers’ health and financial costs as a result of injuries or diseases. The report would also include best practices and health management to better protect workers, said Ms. Awad. Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), added that the UN Secretary-General was expected to deliver a statement at the launch of the report in New York on the Call to Action on Extreme Heat at 12:30 p.m. New York time on 25 July.
Announcements
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that this morning, the Committee against Torture was holding a public meeting with Suzanne Jabbour, President of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture. The Committee would also hold a meeting on follow-up to articles 19 and 22 and reprisals this afternoon at 3 pm. It would close it session on 26 July.
The Human Rights Committee would end its session at 4 pm today and publish its concluding observations regarding the country reports examined during the session: Croatia, Malta, Honduras, Maldives, Suriname, Syria, and India.
The Conference on Disarmament would start its third and final part of its 2024 session on 29 July, under the presidency of Ireland.
Mr. Gómez finally informed that Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber, a Reuters correspondent, would be leaving Geneva press corps. He thanked her for her cooperation and wished her the best of luck in her future endeavors.
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The webcast for this briefing is available here: https://www.unognewsroom.org/story/en/2276 /un-geneva-press-briefing-23-july-2024/0/WjnegYbwZ1
The audio for this briefing is available here: https://www.unognewsroom.org/share/y5eVPj5bEP
Teleprompter
Good morning, everybody.
Welcome to this press briefing here at the UN office at Geneva today, the 23rd of July.
We have a couple of items on the agenda for you today.
We'll start off immediately with our guests from the World Health Organisation, who's joining us from Gaza.
I'll turn over to Margaret Harris of WHO to introduce the guest today.
Margaret.
Margaret, over to you.
OK.
No, I'm allowed.
There you go.
Over to you, Margaret.
Thanks.
Yeah, keep on getting messages.
Saying I'm not allowed to unmute myself and I'm not allowed to put myself on camera so.
Apologies for that.
Yes.
I've got today, we've got.
The great pleasure of having Doctor Ayudil Sapabakov.
Who is our team lead for emergencies in Gaza?
And is here to give.
You I know what you want and much needed.
Date on the health situation.
So over to you, Aya deal.
Thank you so much.
Good morning everyone.
My name is Doctor Adil Saparbeka.
I'm the head of emergency programmes for WHO in the occupied polician territory.
I just returned back from Gaza the weekend.
I'm currently based in Jerusalem and I will give you an update on the health system functionality in Gaza.
So far, the Ministry of Health has reported almost 40,000 people who have unfortunately died during this conflict and almost 90,000 people who have been injured.
Out of 36 hospitals that we had in Gaza prior to the beginning of the conflict, only 16 hospitals are currently partially functioning and they're in inpatient bed capacity comes to 1500, which is more than half less than it was prior to the conflict.
Of 105 primary healthcare facilities that provide vital primary healthcare services, including immunisation and treatment of non communicable diseases, MCH care, only 45 are currently functioning.
So it's less than 50%.
That includes healthcare facilities that are run by our partners, UNRWA as well as the Ministry of Health.
We of course have field hospitals that are brought in by the international EMTs and unfortunately only 8 out of 10 field hospitals are functioning and only four are functioning fully and four are functioning partially.
Again, when we say partially functioning, it may be it is that this hospital provides only minimal functional healthcare services, such as triage of the injured people and minimum attendance to very urgent cases.
In general, the hospitals in Gaza are very much overwhelmed.
Yesterday you witnessed the attack on Han Unis where the Nasser Medical Complex received 80 patients, 80 people who have unfortunately died and more than 200 patients who have been injured.
Luckily WH1 provided 3 days prior a shipment of disposables and trauma emergency surgical kits to treat up to 1010 thousand casualties and that was enough to attend to this mass casualty event.
There are other hospitals that have received patients from this mass casualty event are also supported by Double H and partners such as the UK Med Field Hospital as well as IMC Field Hospital.
15 injuries have also been taken to Alexa Hospital and unfortunately no more injuries would be able to bring to be brought to that hospital because Alexa Hospital is at full capacity and cannot accept more patients for them.
The bed capacity remains a very big issue in in Gaza and double chain partners are working around the clock to make sure that we are bringing some temporary structures into Gaza.
Basically that the the tents and to put the beds in those tents so that the patients can be attended to in more or less, let's say medical way and dignified way while they're injured.
So the partners continue to revitalise hospital services in Al Nasser Medical Complex, which is in Kanunis.
Similar efforts now ongoing to restore services in Al Shifa Hospital, which is located in the north.
WHN Partners just had a mission yesterday to Al Shifa Hospital on.
Due to the delays for moving the missions through the checkpoints, we're only able to visit Al Shifa hospitals.
Well, we're planning to visit Al Halo and Patient Friendly Hospital as well to try to restore their functionality.
But only Al Shifa was visited due to the time limitations.
And we are planning to rehabilitate the outpatient department in the Shiva hospital which was completely destroyed in March 2024.
Also, we are aiming to rehabilitate the emergency department and to resume at least emergency healthcare services such as trauma triage of trauma patients and emergency cases related to different non communicable and communicable diseases.
In addition to that, other partners are also trying to restore the functionality of electrical system as well as the functionality of the health supplies and logistics storage of medical items that are brought in by by different partners.
And of course water and sanitation services which are vital for functionality of each and every hospital around the world in cost including in Gaza.
So if we managed to, um, to uh, revitalise the emergency department, we will have surgical room available.
We will have internal medicine consultation.
We will have two, uh, functioning operating sitters for minor surgical procedures.
We will have a sterilisation unit to sterilise the medical equipment.
And also we will have rooms for first aid such as casting, such as suturing of wounds.
And also we're hoping to have rooms for intensive care and the resuscitation of red patients in addition to the pharmacy and that and the supply chain that I have already mentioned.
The only functional equipment that unfortunately remains in Gaza is a stationary X-ray machine.
All other major hospital equipment such as ventilation machines, anaesthesia machines, operating theatre equipment have unfortunately been destroyed and we it needs to be replaced again.
Double HN partners within the health cluster are working around the clock to make sure that that equipment is being brought into Gaza despite of the restrictions on dual use list.
In addition to that, of course, Al Shifa prior to the war, prior to the destruction, was one of the centres where many hemodialysis patients sought the services for the life saving hemodialysis.
And we are now providing Al Shifa Hospital to restore at least so that at least 60 patients can come to Al Shifa Hospital to receive their life saving hemodialysis and we are supporting them with 22 hemodialysis machine.
So that's it.
On the functionality of the hospitals in Gaza over.
Thank you very much, Doctor.
I don't know, Margaret, did you have something you wanted to add or should we go straight to questions?
Nothing to add at this point, but I'm here to answer questions that aren't on Gaza.
Super.
Thanks so much.
OK.
We do have a question from Gabrielle of Reuters here in the front row.
Good morning.
A question for Doctor Saparbekov.
There are cases the Israeli army is now vaccinating soldiers against polio, those in Gaza.
I'm just wondering how big a ****** that would be polio for the local population and what kind of.
Risks do you see?
Linked to the fact that it has been found in the Enclave.
Thank you Doctor.
Overtake.
Thank you very much for this question.
Indeed, on the 16th of July this year, the Global Polio Lab Network notified WHO and the Ministry of Health of Palestinian Authority of the detection of 6 circulating vaccine derived polio virus type 2 that were isolated in environmental samples in the areas of Derail Bala and Khanyunis in the Gaza Strip.
There was a genomic sequencing further done by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the results that we received from Atlanta suggest a close genetic linkages of the viruses that have been isolated in environmental samples to the virus that has been circulated in Egypt in 2023 and the last was detected also in Egypt in December 2023.
So the currently WHO and its partners across the GPA network, Global Polio Initiative network are conducting an epidemiological investigation as well as the risk assessment to identify the potential source of this of this importation of the circulating vaccine derived polio virus.
And based on the results of the assessment, WHO and the GPA partners will consolidate a set of recommendations including the need for the mass vaccination campaign as well as what kind of vaccine should be used and what type of what the age group of the population that will need to be vaccinated with this vaccine.
We do consider that there is a **** risk of spreading of circulating vaccine derived poliovirus to in Gaza and this is not only because of the detection but because of the very dire situation with water sanitation.
As you may be aware, this virus is spread through faecal oral way of transmission.
In addition to that, as I said, the functionality of the health facilities, especially primary healthcare services that provide vaccination and other maternal child health services to the population in Gaza is critical is basically not functioning that it used to function before.
That also brings the risk of spreading the disease across the Gaza Strip and also it may spill over internationally is at a very **** at a very **** point.
So we would together with the partners need to work around the clock to make sure that the epidemiological investigation is complete, risk assessment is complete.
We hope that it will be complete by completed by the end of this week so that by Sunday, most most likely, we will have a joint recommendation from the GPA network about what to do with this particular outbreak over from my side.
Thank you very much, Ayadil.
Very comprehensive response.
Any further questions for a colleague from WHO?
No, I don't see any online nor in the OK.
We have a question from Kyodo News Agency MAEVA.
Thank.
You very much for taking my question.
My question is more logistic, when did you arrive exactly in Gaza and when did you leave?
And also I would like to know, I'm seeing quite like a good turnover among The Who personal that is going in Gaza.
So is it easy for?
You now to get a visa, I mean, I mean a bit easier than before.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for the question.
I have arrived to Gaza on the 18th of July and I have left Gaza last Thursday, which is the weekend.
Oh, sorry, no, I arrived to Gaza on the on the 11th of July and left on the 18th.
Apologies.
In order for me to go to Gaza, I had to travel from Jerusalem through Island Bridge to Jordan where I boarded the bus at 6:00 in the morning in Jordan and then I went back with a group of humanitarians around 20.
We were 2324 people on the bus to Island Bridge cross to into West Bank and then drove from West Bank via Israel to Karen Shalom Crossing Point.
That entire journey from the bus station in a month to the OCHA guest house inside Gaza took around 12 hours.
And when you are driving in from West Bank, Alinda Bridge to Gaza via Israel, the bus cannot stop.
It goes straight.
We were escorted by the UN.
And I think I, I, I'm, I'm not sure if it was police or military, but there were two vehicles with signals on.
I mean this like police signalling on top of them.
So that's how it take the humanitarian workers to go.
There are only two days that this rotation is allowed.
It's only Tuesday and Thursday.
And there's a number of of the patients, sorry, not patients, the passenger, sorry.
Speaking of patients, the passengers on the bus is limited to 25.
So you can see that every week only 50 humanitarian workers are allowed to come in and same number of humanitarian workers are allowed to come out.
We've been as AWHO, we also work on coordinating the arrival and departure of international emergency medical teams, which are very much needed in Gaza and limitation on the number of international, national humanitarian workers, UN NGO alike.
It's hampering those efforts to bringing additional emergency medical team doctors and nurses that are very much needed in Gaza and to make the rotation and to make the rotation on a regular basis.
So you can imagine that that's quite a difficult journey.
All in all, from the time I boarded the bus in a month and the time I arrived into the guest House of WHO inside Gaza in Dar al Bala, it took me around 16 hours over.
Thank you very much.
I do.
Thanks for the question as well.
It really does help underline the very difficult situation, the constraints that you're working under.
We still have a couple of questions.
We'll take another one from the room, Jamie Keaton of AP and then we'll go on the platform.
Jamie.
Thank you, Doctor.
I just wanted to follow up on Gabrielle's question about polio.
You mentioned that there's a **** risk of of of outbreak.
Can you just tell us how many cases that there are at right now that you're aware of, if there are any?
And what would you recommend to the people in those areas that in terms of behaviour so they can minimise their risk or to exposure and what and going back to the people that may have already contracted the virus, what, what measures or treatments that have been provided to those that may have contracted the virus?
Thanks.
Thank you so much.
Just to clarify, the circulating vaccine derived polyvirus type 2 was isolated from environmental samples.
Environmental sample is a sample that collected from the sewage.
So we have not yet collected the human samples to identify any viruses because of the, uh, lack of the equipment to collect those and lack of the laboratory capacity to, to, uh, test those samples.
The team of WHO and UNICEF is coming, uh, into Gaza on this Thursday on the next rotation.
And they will bring up to 50 sample collection kits so that we will be able to collect human samples, stool samples from humans.
And we will try to send them to the lab in Jordan, which is AWHO part of the same Global Polio Network lab so that those those samples can be tested.
And we can tell for sure that there is a human case of of that.
So until that is that is done, I cannot say that that there are any humans that are affected with with this circulating vaccine derived polar virus.
When it comes to the response, like I said, epidemiological investigation is still ongoing, risk assessment is still ongoing and the team of GPA partners jointly with the Ministry of Health will make a set of recommendations, including on the vaccination.
But in the meantime, our risk communication and community engagement network are doing their best to provide the population with some knowledge about what to.
And of course, however, given the existing water sanitation limitations and hygiene limitations in Gaza, it will be very difficult for the population to follow the advice to wash their hands to drink safe water.
So you can imagine that some of them will follow this advice.
Unfortunately majority who live in shelters.
With one toilet for 600 people and maybe 1.52 litres of water per person will definitely not be able to follow follow the recommendations that we'll be providing.
But the teams are working very hard to make sure to inform the provision of the risks associated, as well as what kind of public health measures they have to take in order to prevent the outbreak over.
Jeremy, I see you here, but let's let's Imogen, you've had your hand up for a while, so let's go to Imogen in the back to Jeremy Imogen, folks of the BBC.
Oh, it's a connection.
OK.
If you can put a pin in that.
Imogen, just one second.
Let's take the question from Jeremy though.
On IDE same, same follow up.
Yeah.
Hi, Doctor.
Just to make it clear so I understand correctly.
I understand that.
You only have found traces of polio in the sewage and and directly and not directly among humans.
But is it possible that you can actually find the virus in the sewage?
And that no one.
Is infected in in the in in Gaza?
I mean, is it technically?
Possible or does it mean necessary that some people have?
Polio right now in Gaza.
Thank you so much for the question.
Like I said, we have identified there were seven samples, environmental samples from sewage out of which six came back positive with circulating vaccine derived polio virus.
That means someone who has been vaccinated with this vaccine has spread the virus into the environment in Gaza.
Like I said, so far we have not identified any vaccine derived or any other type of poliovirus in human beings in Gaza and the work is still ongoing.
The vaccine derived poliovirus can be in a human body without any symptoms and the person who got it can sort of faecal way disburse this virus in the environment in a place where he or she is over.
Thank.
Thank you for that clarification.
We're going to take another question.
Is this also on polio?
OK, let's do the polio questions first.
We have Nina of AFP with a question for you.
Yeah, thank you for taking my question.
I.
Was wondering, I know.
That the Israelis are are vaccinating their their soldiers are is.
What kind of responsibility do you think Israel might have?
To ensure that the Palestinian population also does not contract.
Polio.
Thank you.
I work for the health agency.
My goal is to make sure that public health event events, including the polio outbreak is being responded to.
I will leave a question on the responsibilities of the Israel under the international humanitarian law to the human rights experts who will be able to respond to that question.
But like I said at the beginning, the epidemiological investigation is continuing, risk assessment is continuing.
Based on the results of this, there will be a set of recommendations drawn by the GP expert group as well as the Ministry of Health on the next steps how to combat this event.
And definitely we will be reaching out to the government of Israel, to the COGAT, how they can facilitate so that this outbreak will be responded to.
The first thing that comes into my mind is that the quick facilitation, if there will be a if there will be a decision to conduct mass campaign is to facilitate the arrival of vaccines into Gaza.
Is this is the responsibility of Kogat.
We are already in touch with our partners, with the Kogat, the authority that is responsible for coordination of government activities in the territory, and we are so far received reassurances that this will be done.
In addition to that, of course, and there are several asks such as increase the number of teams that are allowed to come into Gaza is to make sure that the investigation teams when they go across the Gaza Strip are protected and their movement is deconflicted so that they can safely and freely go and do the epidemiological investigation including collection of the samples.
Again, we have also communicated this to Kogat and we received the reassurances that they will follow up.
And of of course our partners within the GPA initiative such as UNICEF are reaching out to COGAT to make sure that sufficient amount water is being provided to the population as well as the sanitation facilities are working.
So once we have more information and the set of recommendations from the risk assessment and the biological investigation, I will be able to provide you with more updates over.
Thank you very much.
OK, now we'll go to the platform.
We still have a couple of questions for you, Sir Imogen of the BBC.
Yeah, so polio related to you've?
Talked for example, how difficult.
And laborious it was for you to get into Gaza throughout this conflict.
We've heard.
About, you know, checkpoints, blockages of aid, so.
I'm really wondering.
You've told what might be needed to combat polio if it happens.
Mass.
Vaccination.
I mean, I just don't how is that really going to happen?
In Gaza, how are you?
Going to be able.
To do it are.
You going to be able to get across Gaza and vaccinate everybody.
Thank you for the question.
Like I said, once the decision to do the the vaccination campaign will be taken, we'll definitely be talking to a number of partners, including across the Global Polio Initiative, eradication Initiative, as well as our partners who are working now inside Gaza.
Of course, UNRWA is a key partner for us because they provide primary healthcare services.
And as you may know, vaccination is a part of the primary healthcare service delivery.
And we will be talking to them.
Also.
There is a number of other partners, NGO partners, national and international that do provide primary healthcare services in even in the north of Gaza, which is currently almost unaccessible to the international staff.
So once those recommendations will be drawn, we will have a meeting including and include all partners across the spectrum as well as we will reach out to the Israeli government to and request them to facilitate those from from the past.
And I know this has happened many times during the conflicts, there were periods of tranquilly that were requested.
It was a good initiative.
I think it started long time ago, I think in one of the countries that was affected by the conflict.
We will try to also talk to the to the to the parties to say that maybe this is what is needed.
But again, I don't want to speculate until we have a clear recommendations from the risk assessment and epidemiological investigation over.
Thank you once again.
OK, we have a question now from Lisa Schleiner, Voice of America.
Lisa.
Thanks, Rolo.
Good morning.
Yes, still on.
Polio.
How worried are you personally?
About the possibility.
Of a mass outbreak of polio, and, as you know far better than I, the polio.
Virus knows no borders it.
Travels and it can travel swiftly, so were you to.
Have a.
Campaign against.
Polio, you know a.
Polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.
Would you also?
Recommend that neighbouring countries, Jordan and so forth, also as a precautionary measure, have polio vaccination campaigns and.
What is the feasibility of?
Doing this in the region, in it, Gaza principally, of course.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for the question.
I don't want to speculate about the vaccination in other countries.
Like I said, the group of GPA experts and the Ministry of Health will come up with a set of recommendation including the need for the vaccination to geographical area for mass campaign as well as the age group for the mass campaign.
This will definitely through the international health regulation channels will be communicated to all neighbouring countries, including Egypt, Jordan and Israel.
And this is up to the member states to decide how they are going to address to address those.
But definitely the the polio team that is working in our region will make every effort to make sure that those recommendations reach the relevant health authorities in their member states for them to take a decision.
But speaking about how worried I am, I'm very much worried.
I'm actually worried.
I mean, sorry, English is my third language, but I am like super worried.
I'm extremely worried about outbreak happening in Gaza.
And this is not only only polio, the different outbreaks of the communicable diseases that may happen in Gaza.
We had hepatitis A confirmed last year and now we we may have a polio.
So with the crippled health system, lack of water and sanitation as well as lack of access of to, of population to the to the health services, specifically primary healthcare services.
This is a going to be a very bad situation that we may face in Gaza and we may have more people dying of different communicable diseases than from the injury related diseases conditions over.
Thank you very much, Doctor.
OK, we have another question from Nick of the New York Times.
Nick.
Yeah, thank you.
Non earlier question you, you mentioned that you're getting in equipment or hoping to get in equipment to Al Shifa.
What are you trying to bring in do?
You have approval for that or is is.
That stuck.
And then what routes?
Are open now for the supply of of anything, including equipment to the health system.
Is it only Karem?
Shalam OR.
Are there any other routes open or any prospect of getting them open?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
As I said, the teams are now currently doing an assessment and the first mission to Shiva was only yesterday for us to and the partners to define what type of services would be restored in Al Shifa Hospital and based on that what kind of equipment may be needed to be brought into Gaza and specifically to Shifa Hospital to restore those functionalities.
I also also mentioned that for the moment we only have X-ray equipment there, but there will be a more need for more equipment such as anaesthesia machine, ventilation machines, the monitors and different type of type of equipment.
And once we have this assessment completed and withdraw up the map of needs for different services, we will definitely be able in the position to let to let the the COGAT know so that they can start their process of approval of bringing those equipment.
However, there is a number of equipment that we have not only the butcher but also partners have submitted through COGAT.
Some of them have been approved, some of them still pending.
We're still waiting for the final word for from the COGAT as to the approval of some of the some of them equipment and we're almost in daily contact with them to remind that this equipment is urgently needed into Gaza.
When it comes to the points, I can only say for WHO WHO goods are coming from Karem Shalom Rafa border is closed.
As you may know, since the beginning of May after the Rafa incursion, we're also now hearing about the opening of the the crossing in Zikim, which is West of areas in the northern part of Gaza.
And those are the two key points for us as a double HO.
And I think for the one UN, it doesn't really matter which point we use.
We need to have as many points of entry into Gaza as possible.
Rafa Karam, Shalom or Zikim or any anything else that could bring more items into Gaza would be good over.
Thank you very much, Doctor.
Let me just remind and state that it is indeed the responsibility of the Israeli authorities as the occupying power to ensure assistance reaches those in need in Gaza and of course, to create an enabling environment for the UN and our partners to operate.
Lisa, I think you have a follow up.
Yeah, very quickly 1st and we've gone through this, but I'd like to ask you again, but do the outbreaks.
How of polio?
And other diseases in Gaza?
Constitute a serious ****** to.
Israel to the Israeli population and then on a.
Possibly related issue well.
I know our medical evacuations totally stopped.
I know, I think there have been thousands that are waiting to go to another country for medical treatment.
And have there been any?
Deaths as a consequence of the inability of some of these people who are seriously ill not being able to get treatment abroad.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for the question.
When it comes how the polar outbreak affects the State of Israel and its population, I will defer that question to the Ministry of Health of State of Israel, as well as to my colleagues of WHO in Israel, because my responsibility is for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
When it comes to the medical evacuation, indeed, since the beginning of Rafa incursion, which is around 7th of May, the medical evacuations through Rafa has been halted.
We had, however, several cases of 16 children with 25 companions that were evacuated from Gaza to Egypt and those kids will be transferred very soon from Egypt into Spain.
And I would like to thank the government of Spain for their generosity as well as WHO in collaboration with the European Commission Emergency Response Coordination Centre, is facilitating this transfer.
So also thank you to the to the European Commission.
As far as the number of people who are still waiting for the evacuation, there are around up to 14,000 people who may need to be to seek medical treatment outside of the Gaza Strip.
So far, we have only this handful number of patients who were able to, to be evacuated and this was a very **** level advocacy interventions, including at the level of the heads of the member states.
So, uh, we are now working on, uh, making sure that, uh, there is a steady, uh, flow of the patients, um, outside of Gaza.
Of course, together with the member states, we are also advocating that the evacuation of the medical treatment pathway that existed before the events of the 7th of October when the Gaza and patients were able to receive treatment in East Jerusalem and West Bank hospitals continue.
So far, we have not received that clarification from from the Kogat and the Government of Israel.
Therefore, we're working with third countries, Member States to try to receive those to, to medically evacuate those patients to the third countries, neighbouring countries as well as countries of the European Union through the European Union Emergency Response Coordination Centre, which is, as I said, happening now for the Spain.
And we hope that the 16 children and their 25 companions will be evacuated in two days on the 25th of July.
Um, so far, also, um, because we have had an approval of the patients to go through Rafa and Rafa crossing point has been closed since the beginning of May.
We have a backlog of approximately up to 3000 patients who were approved.
However, they were not able to exit for treatment outside of Gaza Strip.
I would not aware myself of any fatalities that that was a result of of those delays.
However, I can as a medical doctor, I can say that the conditions of those patients who are still waiting may have deteriorated while still they're still in waiting.
There's a number of people from that cohort that require cancer treatment, for example, a treatment for oncology diseases.
And you may be well aware that any delay in provision of oncology treatment only exacerbate the the health outcomes for the patients who are in need of that treatment.
There was also a number of patients who are in need of treatment for the injuries and again the more delays are happening, the health outcomes of them being rehabilitated is doesn't look good.
Let me put it this way over.
Doctor Saparbekov, thank you very, very much for joining us.
I don't see further questions, especially joining us from Gaza.
Best of safety to you and your colleagues and, and do join us.
Feel free to join us anytime here at this press briefing here in Geneva.
So thanks once again.
And Margaret, thank you very much as well.
And I suspect that we'll, oh, we have another question.
Yeah, sorry.
Before we let you go, just a quick follow up from Gabrielle.
OK.
Margaret, you're still there.
Gabrielle Vroy just has a question for you over to Gabby.
Thank you.
Just on the completely other topic, but health related paras Olympics are starting on Friday.
There already has been documented COVID case among one of the teams.
Obviously this is not the COVID.
Olympics as we've seen in Beijing and Tokyo.
But given that, there will be a lot of people.
In the same place.
Yeah.
And obviously the restrictions.
Have been lifted.
Are there any concerns regarding the spread?
Potential spread of COVID at this event and has.
WHO been in touch?
With the IOC and French.
Authorities about this.
Thank you.
So who supports the IOC?
For every Olympics, we've got a long term.
Well, in recent history I should say, and we've got a long term arrangement, but it's the governing the hosting country that takes the responsibility for making.
The risk assessment and also taking the action, so we're very.
Much in an advisory role.
I can certainly we've.
Been watching and looking at.
All kinds of health.
Risks.
And we've actually put out a really useful document.
Well, it's our.
European region office that has.
On all the different.
Kinds of health risks people might face while.
At the Olympics.
And what they should do to prevent those things happening.
You asked.
Specifically about COVID and France has.
Seen.
An uptick in recent weeks.
And they are.
Having a moderate.
Impact on their healthcare systems.
They've got an overall elevated SARS COVID 2 activity with 12%.
Positive cases and 25.
Percent positives in the primary.
Healthcare centres we look at less than 5.
Percent as as sort of baseline.
So that is an uptick, but their health.
System is not reporting a massive strain and.
But the health?
Authorities have already made some.
Advice to.
People that while in in.
Crowds to take the the various.
Precautions including.
They're recommending the use of mask in crowded places.
And and next, especially when people are vulnerable.
So essentially you look at your own vulnerability.
The other advice we give is if.
Anybody's got symptoms?
Of any kind of respiratory.
Illness don't go out.
And give it to everybody else.
Stay at home.
Stay in your hotel.
Do not spread it.
A simple advice like that.
So, you know, be responsible.
Especially when you have got these athletes.
Who are working, who are reaching, This is a very big moment in their career and it would be a horrible.
Thing if you gave that to an athlete.
So anybody with?
Symptoms is asked to stay at home or stay in their hotel.
Thank you very much for your wise words, Margaret, as always.
Appreciate that and perhaps this is a good segue to our next subject.
Thank you again, Margaret.
And and to your guest we have here on the podium, Zena Awad of the International Labour Organisation, who has an update on upcoming heat stress report titled Heat at Work Implications for Safety and Health.
Zena, over to you.
Thank you very much.
Good morning, colleagues.
As as just mentioned, our second installment, our second.
Report.
On heat at work will be.
Coming out on the 20.
5th of July on Thursday.
And it is under embargo until 12:30 Eastern Time.
It will be.
Launched as.
Part of a wider set of communication.
By the UN.
Secretary General in New York.
And I wanted to just.
Brief you on what you can expect out of this report.
We will be looking at exposure to heat stress.
In different regions of the world.
This includes the Arab states, Asia and Pacific Europe.
Central Asia.
And the Americas.
So we will be looking at the impact of heat stress on workers in countries and regions that have historically dealt with heat, as well as ones that.
Haven't in the past, and we'll be doing so within the context.
Of heat waves, but also outside of heat waves so so year.
Round the report will will.
Share findings on the.
Impact of of heat stress on.
Workers, including medical impact, disease, illness and in some cases death.
As well as estimated.
Financial costs due to lost income.
As well as medical expenses.
Incurred as a result.
Of of injuries and disease and.
The other thing that the report will also look at is.
As a set of policies.
And legislative measures taken in 20.
One different countries.
Across the world and the.
Idea here is to to to sort of look to use them as as guides for bets best practises.
And what can work when it?
Comes to putting in place.
Occupational Safety and health measures for.
Workers dealing with heat OSH measures as well as recommendations for better health management systems to.
Protect workers.
As I mentioned, the report is under embargo until the 25th.
At 1830 CET, our local time, 12:30 Eastern Standard Time.
We do have spokespeople available for.
Interviews in French and English.
But due to the summer.
Season, As you can imagine, people are travelling.
So we would just.
Need a little bit more heads up in order.
To to organise that.
Thank you very much.
Back to you.
Thank you very much, Sena.
And I should mention that the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres is expected to deliver a statement at the launch of this important report at the time, just a precise at 6:30 PM our time Thursday, the statement on the call to action on extreme heat.
So we'll share the statement of the SG with you in advance.
We have a question from John Zaracostas.
John.
Yes.
Good morning.
I was just interested to know I didn't see.
Any reference to heat stress?
In African countries, why was that the case that you don't have it in your study and.
Secondly, do.
We know how many ILO Member States have regulations in force concerning heat heat.
Stress such as time limitations.
When not to work at the maximum.
Heat of the day.
Etcetera.
Thank you.
Thank you, John.
Africa is included, I just didn't mention it.
My apologies and thank you for for raising that.
And in terms of ILO Member States who have.
In place, if I understood.
Correctly policies I'd be happy to check with our technical.
Colleagues and and get.
Back to you.
On on that one if.
That's OK.
Great.
Thank you very much.
Sena, I don't see further questions, not in the room or online.
So thank you once again for briefing us and we'll look out for that important launch on Thursday.
So that just leads me to a few short announcements before.
OK, before I let me put a pin on that.
Yes, Margaret, I think she's still in line.
Is she online?
Yes.
OK, go ahead, Jamie.
Hi, Margaret, if you can hear me, I don't see you on the screen, but I hope you can hear me.
You mentioned just in your comments about about the COVID situation that there are 12% positive cases and 25% positives in the primary healthcare centres.
Could you just and, and you would look at less than 5% of the sort of baseline.
Could you elaborate what you're talking about there exactly in terms of 12%?
Positive cases.
And 25% positive cases in health primary healthcare centres.
Thanks.
Sure.
I've actually taken this from the Santi Public France website because.
France, like many countries.
No longer are reporting to us once the public health emergency with national concern was taken.
Down.
OK, but what they?
Published on the 17th of.
July is that they are seeing a continuous circulation with moderate impact on their healthcare.
Systems.
Now what I was talking about was when people.
Go to primary.
Healthcare centre saying I've got.
You know, I've got an illness and I think it might be COVID or they think it might be COVID.
And they do the swab.
25% of those are coming back.
Positive from the primary healthcare.
Centres so that.
Usually tells us that there's.
Probably a lot more out there, that's all.
Why we have?
This 5% under 5% means.
You know there's not much out there, but once you've got one in four.
Coming back positive, that gives.
Tells you that there's.
Quite a lot of.
COVID out there in the community and again.
12% in hospitals indicates that the sick of people who are coming in are also.
Actually, we've got at least.
Over 10% of them coming back.
With positive swabs so you may have.
More swabs for lots of.
Other things being done in.
Hospitals.
That's why you won't have.
Quite such a **** percentage, but it just gives you an idea that there's more COVID.
Than what we expect and the emergency visits with COVID are higher than last year, not as bad as we were.
Seeing in 2022, but again, this is all indicating.
That there's plenty of COVID out there and it's.
Causing quite some illness in.
A percentage of the population.
The wastewater surveillance is showing.
It moderate levels so.
Again, at the French of really focusing on this, they're really watching this, they're looking at the health system and as a result they are asking people to use masks.
In crowded places, particularly when you're, if you're vulnerable or when you're visiting vulnerable people as well.
Thank you very much once again, Margaret.
Further questions for Margaret before we let her off the hook.
OK, I don't see the case.
So thank you very much to you.
And of course, Sena once again for that important update on this report.
Again, that brings me just a couple of announcements so that we can wrap up.
Just to highlight a couple of meetings taking place here in Geneva.
We have the Committee against Torture holding a public meeting with Miss Suzanne Jabor, who's the President of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture known as the SPT.
It's also the committee's also holding a meeting on the follow up to Articles 19 and 22 and reprisals this afternoon at 3:00 PM.
And the committee, as we previously announced, will close its current session this coming Friday, the 26th of July.
Human Rights Committee is also ending this it's session this afternoon at 4:00 PM.
So the Committee, Human Rights Committee, this afternoon concludes its session after publishing observations, concluding observations regarding country reports examined during this session, namely for Croatia, Malta, Honduras, Maldives, Suriname, Syria and India.
And the Conference on Disarmament will start at the third and last part of its session for this year on 29 July.
So that's coming Monday under the Presidency of Ireland.
And as you know the NPT Prepcom, the Treaty on the Non proliferation of nuclear Weapons kicked off its Prepcom for the 2026 Review Conference yesterday taking place in Geneva in Room 19.
We heard from the chair of of the Prepcom.
We have the media advisor with details that is in Room 19 and webcast, of course, just to mention that we have meetings on the other side of the pond taking place today's Security Council.
We did share with you yesterday a Security Council meeting on Syria.
We forwarded a message from Jennifer here from Mr Peterson today.
We have a continuing focus on the Middle East Security Council and on Yemen.
And I just wanted to use this as an opportunity to remind you of the statement that we shared with you earlier from the Secretary General on the attack in Yemen over the weekend.
That's it.
Or not exactly.
I just have one final announcement to make.
Where is she?
There she is in the front row there.
OK.
I'm somewhat sad to announce a one of her own.
Gabrielle Gabby is will be leaving the Geneva press corps.
I think today's your last day.
If I'm not mistaken, she's off to pursue a different passion.
Am I allowed to say of veterinary studies?
Quite a departure, but who knows, maybe you'll be back here in a different capacity.
So Gabby, your stellar reporting will certainly be missed.
Your warm physical presence here.
I'm tempted to maybe do a cardboard cut out in the front row so I have that line of vision right there and always have you there.
So on behalf of Eunice, I'd like to wish you, of course, the very best of luck in your new venture.
Thank you for your hard work, your dedication and helping us get the word out on the important issues that we address here.
So thank you and all the best to you, Gary, on that note, unless you want to say something, sure, why not?
Well.
Just thank you to Eunice.
For for organising these briefings and getting speakers in difficult locations as well.
I know there's a lot of effort that goes into that and thank you for your availability and and kindness to to the.
Reporters and and thanks to.
Everyone who who makes these weekly exercises entertaining, thank you.
Thanks to you.
All the best bon appetit.
See you on Friday.