The United Nations Office at Geneva
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UN Geneva Press Briefing - 23 July 2024
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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, uh, Margaret Harris of WHO
to introduce, uh, the guest today.
Margaret
Margaret, over to you.
OK,
now I'm allowed.
There you go over to you.
Thanks.
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
Dr Ayad
Sabako,
who is a team lead for emergencies in Gaza
and is here to give you,
uh I know what you want and much needed update on the health situation.
So over to you, I
thank you so much. Uh, good morning, everyone. Uh, my name is Doctor
Il Sara.
I am the head of emergency programmes for WHO
in the occupied Palestinian territory. I just returned back from Gaza.
Uh, the weekend
I'm currently based, uh uh in Jerusalem and I will give you an update on the,
uh, health system functionality, uh, in Gaza.
So far, uh, the Ministry of Health has reported almost
40,000 people who have, uh,
unfortunately died during this conflict and almost 90,000 people
who have been injured out of 36 hospitals that,
uh, uh, we had in Gaza prior to the beginning of the conflict.
Only 16 hospitals are currently partially functioning.
And the in, uh, inpatient bed capacity comes
to 1500 which is, uh, more than, uh,
half less than it was prior to, uh,
to the conflict of 105 primary healthcare facilities that, uh, provide, uh,
vital primary health care services, including immunisation and, uh, uh,
treatment of non communicable diseases. MC H care.
Only 45 are currently functioning.
Uh, so it's, uh, less than 50%.
Uh, that includes, uh,
healthcare facilities that are run by our partners UNRWA as well as the, uh,
Ministry of Health.
Uh, we, of course, have, um, field hospitals that are, um, brought in by the, uh,
international EMTS.
Uh, and unfortunately, only eight 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, uh, it is that, uh,
this hospital provides only minimal, uh, functional, uh,
healthcare services such as triage of the injured people and minimum, uh,
attendance to, uh, very urgent cases.
Uh, in general, the hospitals, uh, in Gaza are very much overwhelmed.
Uh, yesterday you witnessed the attack on
Khan. You, uh,
where the NASA medical complex, uh, received, uh,
80 patients, 80 people who have unfortunately died
and more than 200 patients who have been injured. Luckily, WN
provided
three days prior
a shipment of disposables and trauma emergency surgical kits to
treat up to 11,000 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 W
and partners such as the UK Medfield Hospital, as well as I MC, uh, field hospital.
15. Uh, injuries have also been taken to Al
aa hospital.
And unfortunately, no more injuries, uh, would be, uh, were able to bring,
uh, to be brought to that hospital because Alexa
hospital is at full capacity and cannot, uh, accept, uh, more patients.
Uh, For them, the bed capacity remains a very big, uh, issue, uh, in, um, in Gaza.
And double chain partners are working around the clock to make
sure that we are bringing some temporary structures into Gaza.
Uh, basically, the the, uh, the tents and the, uh to, uh, put the beds, uh,
in those tents so that the patients can be attended to in more or less, let's say mm
medical way. Uh, and dignified way, uh, while they are injured.
Um, so the partners continue to, um uh, revitalise, uh, hospital services in Al
Naser Medical Complex, which is in canes
Similar efforts now ongoing, uh, to, uh, restore service is in Al
Shifa Hospital, which is located in the North. Uh, W
and Partners just had a mission yesterday,
uh, to Al
Shifa hospital, Um, on due to the delays, uh, for moving the missions, uh,
through the checkpoints, we were only able to, um,
visit Al
Shifa hospitals. Well, we're planning to visit al
jlo and patient friendly hospital as well
to, uh, try to restore the functionality. But only Al
Shifa was visited due to the time limitations.
Uh, and we are planning to, uh, rehabilitate the outpatient department, uh, in the,
uh, shifa hospital, which was completely destroyed in March 2020.
Uh,
also, uh, we are aiming to, uh, rehabilitate, um,
the emergency department and to resume
at least emergency healthcare services such as trauma,
uh, triage of trauma patients and emergency, uh, cases related to different non
communicable and communicable diseases.
Uh, in addition to that, other partners are also, uh, trying to restore
the functionality of electrical system
as well as the functionality of the, um,
health supplies and logistics storage of, uh, medical items that are brought in by,
uh, by different partners.
And, of course,
uh, water and sanitation, uh,
services which are vital to functionality of each
and every hospital around the world in course,
including in Gaza.
So if we, uh, manage to, um to, uh, revitalise the emergency department,
we will have surgical room available.
We will have internal medicine consultation. We will have two,
functioning operating sitters for, uh, minor, uh, surgical procedures.
We will have a, uh, sterilisation, uh, unit, uh, to sterilise the me
equipment.
And also we will have rooms for, uh, first aid such as casting
such as, uh, suturing of, uh, wounds.
And, uh, also, we're hoping to have rooms for, uh, intensive care.
Uh, and the resuscitation of red patients, Uh,
in
addition to the pharmacy And, uh,
that and the supply chain that I have already mentioned.
The only functional, uh,
equipment that unfortunately remains in Gaza is a stationary X ray machine.
All other,
uh, major hospital equipment such as, uh, ventilation machines,
anaesthesia machines, operating theatre equipment
have unfortunately, uh, been destroyed.
And we, uh, it needs to be replaced, uh, again,
W A
and partners within the health class that are working around the clock to
make sure that that equipment is being brought into Gaza despite of the,
um, restrictions, uh, on dual use list.
Uh uh. In addition to that, of course, uh, al
Shua,
prior to the war, uh, prior to the destruction was one of the centres where, uh,
many Hemas
patients sought, um,
the, uh, services for, uh,
the life saving hemodialysis.
And, uh, we are now, uh, providing, um, uh al
Shiva
hospital to restore at least,
uh, so that at least 60 patients can, uh, come to, uh, Al
Shua
hospital to receive their life saving, uh, Hema
dialysis. And we are supporting them with a 22 hemodialysis,
uh, machine.
So that's, uh, uh, 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, uh, Gabrielle Reuters, Uh, here in the front row.
Uh,
good morning. A question for Doctor
Zarkov. Um,
there are cases. The Israeli army is now vaccinating soldiers against polio.
Those in Gaza. Uh, I'm just wondering,
how big a threat that would be Polio for the local population.
And, uh,
what kind of risks do you see linked to the fact that it has been found in the enclave?
Thank you,
Doctor.
Thank you. Very.
Thank you very much. Uh, for this question, indeed. On the 16th of July this year,
the global polio, uh, lab network, uh, notified WO and, uh,
the Ministry of Health of Palestinian Authority of the detection
of six circulating vaccine derived polio virus type two,
that were isolated in environmental samples. Uh, in the areas of Del
Bala
and Khanun
in the Gaza Strip,
there was a genomic sequencing, uh, further, uh, done by the US centre for, um,
uh, disease control and Prevention.
And, um, the, uh,
results that we received from Atlanta suggest a close genetic linkages, Uh,
of the viruses that, uh, uh have been isolated in environmental samples to, uh,
the virus that has been circulated in Egypt.
Uh, in, uh, 2023.
Uh, and the last, uh uh, was detected also in Egypt in December 2023.
So, um, the currently, uh WHO and its partners across the, uh,
GPA Network Global Polio Initiative network
are conducting, um, uh,
an epidemiological investigation as well as the risk assessment to, uh,
identify the, uh, potential source of this, um, of this, um, impartation, uh,
of the, uh, circulating vaccine derived polio virus.
And based on the results of the assessment, um,
WO, Uh, and the GP partners will, uh, consolidate a set of recommendations,
including the, uh, need for the, uh, mass vaccination campaign as well as, um,
what kind of vaccine should be used And what type of, uh uh what?
The age group of the population
that will need to be, uh, vaccinated. Uh, with, uh, this vaccine.
Uh,
we, uh, do consider that, uh, there is a high risk of, uh, spreading of, uh,
circulating, uh, vaccine derived polio virus to in Gaza.
And, um, this, uh, is not only, uh, because, uh, of the detection,
but, uh, because of the, uh, very dire situation with water sanitation.
As you may be aware, uh,
this virus is spread through faecal oral way of transmission.
Uh, in addition to that,
as I said, the functionality of the health facilities,
especially primary health care services that provide vaccination
and the other maternal
child health services, uh, to the population in Gaza
is critical, uh, is basically, um, not functioning, Uh,
that it used to function before.
That also brings the risk, uh, of, uh,
spreading the disease, uh, across the Gaza Strip.
Uh, and also, it may, uh, spill over internationally.
Uh, is at a very high at at a very high point.
So, uh, we would, uh, uh, together with the partners,
uh, need to work around the clock to, uh, make sure that the, uh,
epidemiological investigation is complete.
A risk assessment is complete.
We hope that it will be complete by completed by the end of this week.
So that, uh, by Sunday, uh,
most likely we will have a joint recommendation from the GP network, uh,
about what to do, Uh, with this particular outbreak over from my side.
Thank you very much.
Aadil
Very comprehensive response. Any further questions
for a call from WHO?
No, I don't see any online
nor in the ok, we have a question from Kyoto news agency meva.
Thank you very much for taking my question. Uh, my question is more logistic.
Uh, 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. Uh
uh, personnel that is going IN Gaza. So is it easy for you now to get a visa?
A bit I mean a bit easier than before. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Um, for the question, Uh, I have arrived to Gaza on the 18th of July.
Uh, and I have left Gaza last Thursday.
Uh, which is the, uh, 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, uh, through, uh,
Allenby Bridge to Jordan,
where I boarded a bus at six o'clock in the morning in Jordan.
And then I went back, uh, with a group of humanitarians around 20.
We were 2324 people on the bus to
Allen.
The bridge crossed to, uh into, uh,
West Bank and then drove from West Bank via Israel to Karem
Shalom
crossing point.
Uh, that entire journey, uh, from, uh, the bus station in Amman,
uh, to, uh, the O. A guest house inside Gaza took around 12 hours.
Uh, and when you are driving in, uh, from, uh, West Bank Allen B bridge to, uh, Gaza
via Israel. The bus cannot stop.
It goes straight.
Uh, we were escorted by the UN, and, uh uh,
I think I I I'm I'm not sure if it was police or military, but there were,
uh, two vehicles with, um signals. Uh, on I mean, this
like police signalling
on top of them. Uh, so, uh, that's how we take, uh,
uh, the humanitarian workers, uh, to go,
Uh, there are only two days that this rotation is allowed.
It's only Tuesday and Thursday.
And there's a number of, uh uh
of the patient. Not sorry. Not patients. The passengers. Sorry.
Speaking of patients, the passengers on the bus is limited to 25.
So, uh, 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, uh, as a WHO.
We also, uh,
work on coordinating the arrival and
departure of international emergency medical teams,
which are very much needed in Gaza
and the limitation on the number of, uh,
international humanitarian workers UN NGO alike.
Uh, it's hampering those efforts to bring in, uh,
additional emergency medical team doctors and nurses
that are very much needed in Gaza.
And to make the rotation, Uh
uh, and to make the irritation, um,
on a regular basis.
So, uh, you can imagine that, um, that's quite a difficult journey.
Uh, all in all, uh, from the time I boarded the bus in Amman, and
the time I arrived into the guest house of WO 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.
Uh, it really does help, um, underline the very difficult situation,
the constraints that
you're working under. Uh, we still have a couple of questions.
Uh, we'll take another one from the room.
Jamie Keaton of a P, and then we'll go on the platform. Jamie. Thank you, Doctor.
I just wanted to follow up on, um,
Gabrielle's question about polio.
you mentioned that there's a high risk of of of outbreak.
Can you just tell us how many cases that there are? Uh, right now that you're aware of,
if there are any
And, um, what would you recommend to,
uh, the people in those areas that, uh,
in terms of behaviours that they can minimise their risk or to exposure,
And, um what, um, and going back to the people that may, uh,
have already contracted the virus?
Um what, uh, what measures, um, or treatments that, uh,
have been provided to those that may have,
uh, um contracted the virus. Thanks.
Thank you so much. Uh, just to clarify
the, uh,
circulating vaccine derived poli virus type
two was isolated from environmental samples.
Environmental sample is a sample that collected from the sewage.
So we have not yet, uh, collected the human samples, uh, to, uh, 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, uh, 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, uh, we will try to send them
to the lab in Jordan, which is a WO, uh, part of the, uh,
same global polio network lab. So that, uh, those those samples can be tested.
And we can, uh, tell for sure that there
a human
case of, uh, of that. So, uh, until that is, um, that is done.
Uh, I cannot say that, uh, that there are, uh, any humans that are affected with, uh,
with, uh, this, uh, circulating, uh, vaccine drive
polo virus.
Um, when it comes to the, uh, response.
Like I said, uh, epidemiological investigation is still ongoing.
Risk assessment is still ongoing.
And the team, uh, of, uh,
GP partners jointly with the Ministry of Health will make a set of recommendations,
including on the vaccination.
But in the meantime, uh, our, um,
at risk communication and community engagement network are
doing their best to provide the population with,
uh, some knowledge about what to do.
And of course, Uh, 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.
Uh, so you can imagine that, uh, some of them will follow this advice.
Unfortunately, majority who live in, uh, uh shelters with, uh,
one toilet for 600 people and maybe 1.52 litres of
water per person will definitely not be able to,
uh,
follow, um, follow the recommendations that we will be providing.
But the teams are working very hard
to make sure, uh,
to inform the population of the risks associated
as well as what kind of public health measures
they have to take in order to prevent the outbreak over.
Uh, Jeremy, I see you here, but let's let's, uh Imogen,
you've had your hand up for a while, so it's got an image in the back to Jeremy.
Uh, Imogen folks of the BBC. Oh, it says in connection.
OK, if you can put a pin in that image in just one second,
let's take the question from Jeremy, though on a
FE,
uh, same same follow up.
Yeah. Hi, doctor. Uh, just to make it clear. So I understand correctly.
I understand that
you only found traces of polio in the sewage 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 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.
Uh, like I said, we have identified, uh,
there were seven samples environmental samples from Z,
out of which six came back positive with a circulating vaccine
derived polio virus.
That means someone who has been vaccinated with this vaccine
has, um, shred the virus into the environment. Uh, in Gaza.
Uh, like I said, uh, so far, we have not identified any, uh, vaccine derived or, uh,
any other type of polio virus in human beings in Gaza.
And the work is still ongoing.
Uh, the vaccine derived poliovirus,
uh, can be in a human body without any symptoms. And the person
who got it can, uh, through faecal, uh, way, uh,
disperse this virus in the environment, Uh,
in a place where he or she is
over.
Thank thank you for that clarification. Uh, we're going to take another question.
Uh, is this also on polio? OK,
let's do the polio questions first. Uh, we have Nina of a FP
with a question for you.
Yeah, uh, thank you for taking my question. I
was wondering, I know that, um, the Israelis are are vaccinating their, uh,
their soldiers are is what kind of responsibility do you think Israel might have
to ensure that the Palestinian population also does not, uh, contract polio.
Thank you.
Um, I work for the health agency.
Uh, my, uh, goal is to make sure that, uh, public health event
events, including the polio outbreak, is being responded to.
I will leave, uh, a question on the responsibilities of the, uh,
Israel under the international humanitarian law to the human rights.
Uh uh, experts,
uh, who, uh, will be able to, uh, respond to that question.
But like I said at the beginning,
uh, the epidemiological investigation is continuing.
Uh, risk assessment is continuing.
Based on the results of, uh, this, there will be a set of recommendations drawn by,
uh, the
GP, uh, expert group as well as the Ministry of Health on the, uh, next steps how to,
uh, combat, uh, this event,
and definitely, uh, we will be reaching out,
uh, to the government of Israel to the cogat,
Uh,
how they can facilitate, uh, so that this outbreak, uh, will be responded to.
The first thing that comes into my mind
is that, uh, the quick facilitation if there will be a, uh,
if there will be a decision to conduct mass campaign,
uh, is to facilitate the arrival of, uh, vaccines into Gaza.
Uh, is, um, this is the responsibility of, uh uh CO
A.
We are already, uh in touch, uh, with our partners with the coat,
Uh
uh,
the authority that is responsible for co-ordination
of government activities in the territory.
And, uh, we, uh, so far, uh, received
reassurances that this will be,
uh, done. In addition to that, of course, there are several asks, such as,
uh, increase.
The number of, uh, teams that are allowed to come into Gaza is to make sure that the,
uh investigation teams when they go across the Gaza Strip are
protected and their movement is de conflicted so that they and
safely and freely go and, uh,
do
theological investigation, including collection of the samples.
Again. We have also communicated this to
coat,
and we received the reassurances that, uh, they will follow up.
Uh, and, uh, of course, our partners within the GP initiative,
such as UNICEF are reaching out, uh, to
coat,
uh, to make sure that, uh, sufficient amount water,
uh,
is being provided to the population as
well as the sanitation facilities are working.
So, uh, once we have more, uh, information and the set of recommendations, uh,
from the risk assessment and
theological 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. Um, Imogen of the BBC.
Um, yeah, it's, uh, polio related to You've talked, for example,
about how difficult, uh, 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 gonna be able to get across Gaza and vaccinate everybody?
Thank you for the question.
Uh, like I said, once the decision to do the, um,
the vaccination campaign will be taken.
We'll definitely be, uh, talking to a number of partners,
including across the Global Poly Initiative, uh, eradication initiative,
as well as our partners who are working now inside Gaza, Of course.
UN. R
A,
uh, is a key, uh, partner for us because they provide, uh,
primary healthcare services.
And as you may know,
vaccination is a part of the primary healthcare.
So this delivery and we will be talking to them.
Also, there is a number of other partners NGO partners,
uh,
national and international that do provide primary health care
services in even in the north of Gaza,
which is currently almost
unaccessible, uh, to the international staff.
So once those recommendations will be drawn, we will have a meeting including, uh,
and include all partners across, uh, the spectrum
as well as we will reach out to the, uh, Israeli government,
uh, to, uh, and request them to facilitate, uh, those, um
from, uh, from the past. And I know this has happened many times
during the conflicts. Uh, there were, uh, periods of tranquilly
that were, uh, requested.
it was a good initiative. I think it started. Uh um,
long time ago.
I think, um, in one of the countries, uh, that was affected by the conflict.
Um, we will try to, uh, also talk to the, uh, to the to the parties to say that, uh,
maybe this is what is needed, but again, I don't want to speculate until,
uh, we have a clear recommendations from the, uh,
risk assessment and epidemiological investigation over.
Thank you once again.
OK, we have a question now from Lisa Schlein, A Voice of America. Lisa.
Thanks, Rollo. Good morning. Yes. Uh
uh. 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 poliovirus knows no borders. It travels, and it can travel swiftly.
So were you to have a campaign against polio? Um
um you know, a a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.
Would you also recommend that neighbouring countries,
Jordan and so forth also as a precautionary measure,
uh, have polio vaccination campaigns.
And what is the feasibility of doing this in the region
and it? Gaza, principally, Of course. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the question.
Uh, I don't want to speculate about the vaccination in other countries.
Uh, like I said, uh,
the group of GP experts and the Ministry of Health
will come up with a set of recommendations including the need
for the vaccination of the geographical area for mass campaign
as well as the age group for the mass campaign.
This will definitely, uh,
through the international health regulation channels will
be communicated to all neighbouring countries,
Uh, including, uh,
Egypt, Jordan and Israel.
And this is up to the member states to decide how they are going to address, uh,
to address those.
But definitely,
uh,
the the polio team that is working in our
region will make every effort to make sure that,
uh,
those recommendations reach the relevant health
authorities in the member states,
uh, for them to take a decision, But, uh, speaking about how worried I am,
I'm very much worried.
I am actually.
What? It
I mean, sorry. English is my third language, but, uh um,
I am, like, super worried.
I'm extremely worried about, uh, Outbreak, uh, happening in Gaza.
And this is not only, uh, only polio.
The different outbreaks of the communicable diseases that may happen.
Uh, in Gaza, we, uh, had, uh, hepatitis a confirmed,
uh, last.
Yeah. And now we We may have a polio.
So, um, with the crypto, uh, health system, lack of water and sanitation
as well as lack of access, uh, of, uh, to, um of population to the
to the health services. Specifically primary healthcare services.
This is a, uh, going to be a very, um,
that situation, uh, that we we may face in Gaza.
And we may have, um,
more people dying of different communicable diseases than from, uh,
the injury related diseases.
Uh, conditions over.
Thank you very much, Doctor.
Ok, we have another question from Nick of the New York Times.
Nick.
Yeah. Thank you. Um, uh, no. Um earlier question.
You
mentioned that you're getting in equipment or hoping to get in equipment to alsa.
Um, what are you trying to bring in? Do you have approval for that?
Or is Is is that stuck?
And then, um
what routes are open now for the supply of of anything,
including equipment, Um, to the health system. Is it only Karem
shalom or are Are there any other routes open?
Um, or any prospect of getting them over. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Um, as I said, uh, the teams are now, uh, currently, uh, doing an assessment.
And the first mission to
shifa was only yesterday,
uh, for us to and the partners to define what type of services, uh, would be, uh,
restored in Al
Shifa Hospital.
And based on that, what kind of equipment may be needed, uh, to be brought into, uh,
Gaza
and specifically to
shifa Hospital to restore those functionalities.
Uh, I
also mentioned that, uh, for the moment, we only have X ray equipment there,
but there will be, uh, more, uh, need for more equipment such as anaesthesia,
machine ventilation machines, the monitors and different type of, uh,
type of equipment.
And once we have this assessment completed and we draw up, uh uh, the map of needs,
uh, for different services, we will definitely be, uh, able in the position
to let, um to let the, uh the cogo
know,
uh, so that they can,
uh, start, Um,
uh, their process of approval of, uh, bringing those equipment.
However, there is a number of equipment that, uh, we have, um not only DAO,
but also partners have submitted, uh, through coal.
Some of them have been approved. Uh, some of them still pending.
We are still waiting for the final word for, uh,
from the C AD as to the approval of some of the, uh, some of them
equipment. And we are almost in a daily contact with them
to, uh, remind that this equipment is urgently needed ah, into Gaza.
Uh, when it comes to the, um, points, uh, I can only say for WHO,
uh, WHO goods, uh, are coming, uh, from Karem
Shalom. Um, Rafa
border is closed. As you may know, since the beginning of may, after the Rafa
incursion.
Uh,
we're also, um, now, hearing about the opening of, um uh, the crossing in zikim,
which is, uh, west of, uh, uh, areas, Um, in the northern part of Gaza.
Uh, and, um, those are the, uh, two,
key points, uh, for us as a WO. And I think for the one UN,
it doesn't really matter which, uh, point we use. We need to have as many,
uh, points of entry into Gaza as possible. Rafa
Karem, Shalom,
Karim, Abu Salem or
Zikim or any anything else that could bring more, uh, items into Gaza
would be good. Over.
Thank you very much, doctor.
And let me just remind and state that it is indeed the
responsibility of the Israeli authorities as
the occupying power to ensure assistance,
uh, reaches those in need in Gaza and of course, uh,
to create an enabling environment for the UN and our partners to operate.
Lisa, I think you have a follow up.
Yeah, very quickly. First, um,
and we've gone through this, but I'd like to ask you again, but,
uh, I do the outbreaks How, uh, of polio and other diseases in Gaza
constitute a serious threat to Israel, to the Israeli population.
And then on a
possibly related issue? Uh, well, I don't know.
Um, our medical evacuations totally stopped.
Uh, I know, I think there have been thousands that are waiting
to go to another country for medical treatment.
And,
uh, have there been any deaths as a consequence of the inability of,
uh,
some of these people who are seriously ill not being able to get treatment abroad.
Thank you.
Thank you so much. Uh, for the question.
When it comes, uh, how the polio outbreak affects, uh, the, uh,
state of Israel and its population.
I will defer that question, uh, to the, um,
Ministry of Health of, uh, state of Israel as well as, uh, to my colleagues of, uh, W
in Israel. Because my responsibility is for the occupied Palestinian territory.
Uh, when it comes to the medical evacuation. Indeed.
Uh, since the beginning of Rafah
in
Kirchen,
Uh, which is around seventh of May?
The medical evacuations through Rafah
has been, uh, halted.
Uh, we had, however, uh, several cases, uh, of, um,
uh, 16 Children with 25 companions that were evacuated, uh, from Gaza to Egypt.
Uh, and, uh, those kids will be, uh, transferred very soon from Egypt in to Spain.
And I would like to thank, uh, the government of Spain for, uh, their, uh, generosity
as well as WHO, uh, in collaboration with the European Commission.
Emergency response coordinations
is facilitating, uh, this transfer.
So, uh, also thank you to the, uh, to the European Commission.
As far as the number of people who are still awaiting, uh, for the evacuation,
there are around
40 up to 14,000 people who, uh, may need to be, uh,
to seek medical treatment outside of the Gaza Strip.
So far, uh, we have only, uh, this handful, uh, number of patients who were able to,
to be, uh, evacuated.
And this was a very high level, uh, 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, uh, the evacuation the medical, um,
treatment pathway that existed before the events of the seven
October when the Gazan patients were able to receive
treatment in East Jerusalem and the West Bank hospitals.
Uh, continue.
So far, we have not received, uh, that, uh, clarification from, uh, from the KOGO
and the government of Israel.
Uh, therefore, we are working with, uh, uh, third countries, uh, member states, uh,
to,
uh, try to receive, uh,
those through to medically evacuate those patients to the third countries,
neighbouring countries,
as well as countries of the European Union through the European Union.
Um uh, emergency response, coordinations centre.
Um, which is, uh, as I said, happening now for the, uh, Spain. And we hope
that, uh, this, uh, 16 Children and their 25 companions will be evacuated, uh,
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,
uh,
crossing point has been closed since uh uh, the beginning of May.
We have a backlog of approximately up to 3000 patients who were approved.
However, they were not able to, uh, exit, um,
for, uh, treatment outside of Gaza Strip.
I am not aware myself of any, uh, fatalities that, um
uh, that
was a result of, uh, of those delays.
However I can, As a medical doctor, I can say that the conditions of those, uh,
patients who are still waiting may have
deteriorated while they're still in waiting.
Uh, there's a, um, number of, uh, people from that cohort
that require cancer treatment, for example, a treatment for oncology diseases.
And, uh, uh, you may be well aware that any delay in provision of oncology treatment,
uh, only exacerbate the, uh, the health outcomes for the patients, uh, who are, uh,
in need of that treatment.
There was also a number of patients, uh, who,
uh, are in need of, uh, treatment, Uh, for, uh, the injuries.
And again, uh, the more, uh, delays are happening, the health outcomes of them, uh,
being rehabilitated
uh uh is, uh, doesn't look good. Let me put it this way. Over.
Doctor Sar
Bako.
Thank you very, very much for joining us. Uh, I don't see further questions.
Um, especially joining us from Gaza.
Um, best of, um, safety to you and your colleagues and And do join us, uh,
feel free to join us Any time here
at this press briefing here in Geneva. So thanks once again.
And Margaret, uh, thank you very much as well.
And I suspect that, uh, we'll Oh, we have another question. Yeah. Sorry.
Before we let you go just a quick, uh, follow up from Gabrielle.
Ok, uh, Margaret, you're still there.
Uh, Gabrielle le voy just has a question for you
over to you, Gabby.
Uh, thank you. Uh, just on a completely other topic.
But health related, uh, Paris Olympics are starting on Friday.
There already has been, uh, documented covid case,
uh, among one of the teams.
Obviously, this is not the covid Olympics as we've seen in Beijing and Tokyo.
Um, but given that there will be a lot of people in the same place,
um
yeah, and obviously the restrictions have been lifted.
Are there any concerns regarding the spread
potential spread of covid at this event?
Uh, and has W and Jo been in touch with the IOC and French authorities about this.
Thank you.
So WHO supports the IOC. For every Olympics we've, we've got a long-term.
Uh, 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, uh,
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, um, 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.
Um, you ask specifically about covid and and, um, France has seen,
uh,
an uptick in recent weeks and they are seeing
a moderate impact on their healthcare sys systems.
They've got an overall
elevated SARS
covid two activity with 12% positive, um,
cases, uh, and 25% positives.
In the primary health care centres, we look at less than 5% as as sort of baseline.
So that is an uptick.
Uh, but their health system is not reporting a massive strain. And
but the health authorities have already made some advice, uh, to,
uh, people that while in, um in, uh, crowds to take the the various,
uh um precautions,
including their recommending the use of masks in crowded places and and next,
especially when people
are vulnerable. So EE 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.
Uh, a simple advice like that. So, you know, be responsible.
Uh, especially when you have got these athletes who are working who are, um
uh,
reach.
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. Very wise words. Uh, Margaret, as always. I appreciate that.
And perhaps this is a a good segue
to our next subject. Uh, thank you again Margaret and and to your guest, Um,
we have, uh, here on the podium. Uh, Zaya awa
of the International Labour Organisation,
who has an update on upcoming heat stress report, uh,
titled Heat at work Implications for safety and health.
Uh,
zayna over to you.
Thank you very much. Uh, good morning, colleagues,
as, uh, as just mentioned, uh, our second instalment.
Our second report on heat at work will be coming out on the 25th of July on Thursday,
and it is under embargo until 1230
eastern time.
It will be, uh,
launched as part of a wider set of communication by the UN Secretary General
in New York. And I wanted to just bring
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 year round.
The report will share findings on,
uh, the impact of of heat stress on workers including, um, medical,
UH impact disease, illness and, in some cases, death,
as well as estimated financial costs due to lost income as well as, uh,
medical expenses incurred as a result of of injuries and disease.
and the other thing that the report will also look at,
um is as a policy set of policies and legislative measures
taken in 21 different countries across the world.
And the idea here is to sort of look to use them as guides
for best 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.
Uh, CE T our local time, 1230 Eastern standard time.
We do have spokespeople available for, um, interviews in French and English.
Uh, but due to the summer season, as you can imagine,
people are travelling so we would just need a little bit more, um, heads up
in order to to organise that.
Thank you very much. Back to you.
Thank you very much. So.
And I should mention that the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres,
uh, is expected to deliver a statement, Uh, at the launch of this important report
at the time. Just precise, Um,
at 6:30 p.m. Our time Thursday.
Um, the statement on the call to action on extreme heat.
So we'll share the statement of the SG with you in advance.
Uh, we have a question from John Zarak.
Costas. John?
Yes. Good morning.
I was just interested to know I didn't see any reference to, uh, heat stress
in African countries. Why was that the case? That you don't have it in your,
uh, study. And secondly, do we know how many ILO member states
have regulations
in force concerning heat, heat stress, Uh, such as, uh, 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, um, for raising that,
um and in terms of IO member states who have in place If I understood correctly,
um, policies.
Um, I'd be happy to check with our technical colleagues and, uh,
and get back to you on that one, if that's OK.
Great. Thank you very much.
Zena, 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, uh,
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 online. Is she online? Yes.
OK, uh, go ahead, Jamie.
Hi, Margaret.
Uh, if you can hear me, I don't see you on the screen, but I hope you can hear me.
Um, you mentioned, uh, just in your comments about, um, about the covid situation
that there are 12% positive cases and 25%
positives in the primary health care centres.
Could you just and and you would look at less than 5% as a 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 health care centres.
Thanks.
Sure. I I've actually taken this from the so
public
France website because, uh, France,
like many countries no longer are are reporting to us once the, uh uh,
public health emergency of international concern was taken down.
Um
uh,
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 centres saying,
I've got,
you know,
I've got an illness and I think it might be covid or
or they think it might be covid and they do the swab
25% of those 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, uh,
one in four coming back positive,
that gives tells you that there's quite a lot of covid out there in,
um the community and again, 12% in hospitals
indicates that the sicker people who are coming in are also,
um uh,
you know, we we've got at least over 10% of them coming back with positive swabs,
so you may have more swabs.
Well, lots of other things being done in hospitals.
That's why you won't have quite such a high percentage.
But it it just gives you an idea that there's more covid than we expect. And,
uh, 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, um, a percentage of the population.
Uh, the wastewater surveillance is is showing it at moderate levels.
So again, the French are really
focusing on this. They're really watching this.
They're looking at their health systems,
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.
Uh, once again, uh, Margaret, um,
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, Zaina once again for that important update on this report. Um,
again, that brings me just a couple of announcements so that we can wrap up just to
highlight, uh, a couple of meetings taking place here in Geneva.
We have the committee against Torture holding a public meeting with, uh,
Miss Suzanne Jabor,
who's the president of the subcomittee on the prevention of torture,
known as the SPT.
It's also the committee is also holding a meeting
on the follow up to articles 19 and 22
and Reprisals this afternoon at 3 p.m. And the committee,
as we previously announced, will close its current session this coming Friday,
the 26th of July.
Human Rights Committee, uh, is also ending this, uh, its session this afternoon,
at 4 p.m. So the committee, uh,
human rights Committee this afternoon concludes its session
after publishing observations concluding observations regarding
country reports examined during the session,
namely for Croatia, Malta, Honduras,
Maldives, Suriname, Syria and India.
And the Conference on Disarmament will start the third and last part of its session.
Uh, for this year on 29th July.
So that's coming Monday under the presidency of Ireland.
And as you know, the,
uh NPT prep com The treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear weapons
kicked off its, uh, prep com for the 2026 Review conference,
uh, yesterday taking place in Geneva in room 19, we heard from the chair
of of the prep com
We have the, um, Media advisor with details.
Uh, 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 at the Security Council.
Uh, we did share with you yesterday a security Council meeting on Syria.
Um, we forwarded a message from Jennifer here. Um, from Mr Peterson.
Uh,
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? Well, not exactly. I just have one final announcement to make.
Um, Where is she? There she is, in the front row there. Ok, I'm somewhat sad, um,
to announce that one of her own, Gabrielle Gabby, is, uh
will be leaving the Geneva press corps.
I think today is your last day.
If I'm not mistaken, um, she's off to pursue a different passion. Am I allowed to say,
uh, veterinary studies? Quite a departure, but who knows?
Maybe you'll be back here in a different capacity.
So, Gabby, uh, your stellar reporting will certainly be missed.
Uh, your warm physical presence here,
uh, 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 you, I
I'd like to wish you, of course, the very best of luck in your new venture.
Uh, 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? Um well, just thank you to you
for,
uh,
for organising these briefings and getting
speakers in difficult locations as well.
I know there's a lot of effort that goes into that, Um,
and thank you for your
availability and and kindness to to the reporters. And and thanks to everyone, uh,
who, uh, who makes these, uh, weekly exercises, uh, entertaining.
Thank you.
Thanks to you.
All the best. Bon appetit.
See you on Friday.