OK, on this note, perhaps we can start our briefing.
I'd like to thank you for joining us here at the UN office at Geneva for this press briefing today, the 22nd of October.
We have a change to the agenda.
We, we are trying to connect with our colleague from UNDP in, in Gaza, but we're not able to do so at the moment.
We'll, we'll keep you updated on, on that.
If should we be able to connect, we'll, we'll go straight to her.
That's Miss Noguchi, the Deputy Special Representative, UNTP.
We also have another change of Rick Peppercorn, who you know well from WHO was also is also in Gaza, but not able to connect, unfortunately.
So our agenda has shifted a little bit maybe.
And I will introduce Miss Bauer in a moment.
We're very pleased to have you here with us.
But perhaps first we'll start off with Alejandro, who you know well from UNEP who has an announcement for us and then we'll go over to Miss Bauer.
Thank you very much, Rolando.
Ahead of the UN Climate Corp in Azerbaijan, in Baku, the UN Environment Programme, UNEP is about to launch as it does every year, the emissions gap report.
Now this is the 15th emissions gap report that we're going to launch.
And as you already know, it provides an over an overview, an overview, a yearly overview of the gap between the emissions, the global emissions and and where those emissions would need to be if we want to keep a limit to global warming, to the increase in global warming compared to pre industrial times to 1.5°.
In other words, it offers an overview of the gap between the ambition of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the nationally determined contributions of different countries.
Now, each edition also explores ways to bridge that gap.
And I should also mention that this year is special because we have a very good opportunity to see the ambition rise.
We've got a new set of nationally determined contributions that are going to be presented at the next COP, the the one in Brazil in the COP 30.
I don't know if you remember that the last emissions gap report had a very interesting title and a rather playful but sad 1.
Broken record temperatures hit new highs, yet world fails to cut emissions again.
What do you think the the new report is is going to look like?
Do you think it's going to be very different to what we had last year?
What temperature do you think we're heading to now?
What do the current commitments look like?
What temperature are we heading to?
Even if countries do meet their commitments, their nationally determined contributions.
Well, the answers to all these questions will very soon be available to you.
We're going to launch the report officially on Thursday.
I will send you an e-mail with with the details for an online conference where you will be able to to watch our executive director, Ingrid Anderson, as well as the head of the publication.
But if you are really interested, there will be an embargo technical briefing tomorrow.
I will also share the details online.
And if you want to receive embargoed press materials, feel free to reach out to me.
Thank you very much and have a good rest of the week.
Alejandra, we have questions.
No, I think you it was very clear that we look forward to that, those emails on Thursday and for the briefing tomorrow to register.
Alejandro, thank you once again.
OK, on this note, we shift gears.
I'm sorry, pardon me, But before you leave, Alejandro, we have, I think Claire wanted to add something or is I'm not sure who Veronique is.
If you can identify yourself.
Veronique, is she a colleague of yours now?
Let's maybe I think Claire from WMO wanted to add something on this note, please.
Absolutely, yes, Sorry, sorry, sorry to **** in like this.
It's not, it's not a, it's not a question, but it's also just to say that following on from the emissions gap report, the World Meteorological Organisation will be releasing its greenhouse gas bulletin on Monday the 28th of October press conference at the Palais.
What we report on is concentrations of greenhouse gases that stay in the atmosphere.
So it's not the, you know, the net emissions, it's what is up, what stays up there after greenhouse gases have been absorbed by the oceans, by the biosphere, etcetera.
We will send out information on that in, in, in advance, but it, you know, very much complements the emissions gap report and it is part of the package of information which is sent to the, to the climate, to the climate change conference.
Thank you very much, Claire, for that additional note.
I'm not sure if Ronnie Kwilli is unmuted, but is, uh, Veronica Willy, are you a journalist and could you introduce yourself please?
Yes, umm, my question was to the UNEP spokesperson.
The briefing on Thursday.
Will the Geneva press be able to ask questions online or just to follow the webcast?
I believe you will be able to ask questions online, but I will I will actually double check and and get back to you.
Thanks very much, Alejandro, once again, and good luck with this launch this week.
Now we turn to Miss Florence Bauer, who's UNFPA's Regional Director for Eastern Europe in Central Asia, who is here to speak about Ukraine.
So over to you and nice to have you here with us.
Thank you so much for US invitation.
Great opportunity to be here with you today.
So today I'm going to speak about an aspect of the war in Ukraine that is often overshadowed by the massive humanitarian crisis and by the political repercussion.
And that's a demographic impact that the war is having on Ukraine.
And here I want to start by reminding us that even before the escalation of civil war, Ukraine was facing the significant demographic challenges.
The country had one of Europe's lowest birth rates.
It has large number of people had already left the countries to look after other opportunities.
The population was getting older and the total population was going down.
And this is a situation that is not a typical in Eastern Europe as many countries are going through similar kind of demographic trends.
But with the Russia's full scale inflation that started in 2022, so the situation goes significantly got significantly worse.
The burst rate plummeted and is currently at around one child per woman, which is one of the lowest in the world.
At the same time, we have millions of people who have been displaced.
We know that we have internally displayed people and we have 6.7 million that are externally displayed as refugees.
Some region have been mostly depopulated with young people leaving this region and some old people staying.
And a significant number of people have died due to the conflict and of the of the war.
So overall, what we can see is that the Ukraine population has declined but over 10 million since the beginning of the war.
It also represents a massive loss of human capitals that, as we know is so key for the recovery and for building Ukraine's future.
So that's why as UNFPA, through our country office in Kiev, the government of with our support, the government of Ukraine has developed and recently adopted a national demographic strategies to address these challenges.
It's a strategies that takes into account experiences from other countries that have been narrowly focusing on increasing birth rates and that have failed and instead it's looking into a comprehensive approach and putting human capital at the centre.
It also recognise that the solutions need to address broader socio economic factors including access to caregiving, access to health, to education and to create opportunities for young people and for families.
And it's based on some of the successful example, like in Sweden, where gender equality has been put at the centre of such policies, which through parental leave for fathers, family friendly work arrangement and also kind of flexible arrangements that make it easier for women to be able to have children and a career if they wish so.
So we you can we can see that Ukraine had made already important progress with the law in 2021, for example, that has been promoting the shared caregiving and the participation of fathers.
But of course, so much more needs to be done.
It would be essential to have a census as soon as the security situation we'd allowed to do so because the last one was was developed in 20, in 21.
It's also required to have slower demographic analysis to go more in depth and to understand how the demography is is evolving.
And Ukraine's path to demographic sustainability and resilience will require comprehensive approaches that focus as well on gender inclusivity and overcoming stereotypes and fostering economic opportunities for all citizens.
And it will, of course, also be key to create environments for families and individuals so that they can navigate those demographic trends.
And of course, above everything, a lot hinges on where the peace will return to Ukraine.
But it meantime, a lot can be done to strengthen the human capital of Ukraine so that the country can continue to build on infrontation and be better prepared for the whole recovery process.
Thanks to you, Miss Bauer.
I should just highlight that.
So we did share with you yesterday remarks from Yaroslav Zhencha, who is with the Department of Political and Peace Building Affairs to the Security Council yesterday, which through which he addresses the civilian casualties, extensive damage including the tax over the weekend, ongoing hostilities as just referred to.
And he also notes that next month will mark the 1000 days of this devastating war.
Those remarks of Mr Gensha were shared with you yesterday.
We have a question for you from Yuri Upperlef of Rio Novosti.
I just wanted to ask if you can send your notes on about the topic that you present to us today.
To all the journalists, thanks.
And colleagues in the room here, we'll definitely take care of that as well.
Thank you for the briefing.
I just wanted to double check, you were saying that the population in Ukraine has declined by 10 million since February 2022.
Is that that was correct?
The data we have is of course to be taken with cautious as well because as we know we don't have sciences and so on.
So the estimates that we have is decreased by 10 million since even before 22, but we can give you an exact range of the number that we have, OK.
Because I mean, we've seen data before about a decline of 10 million since 22,000 and one one, is that possible that that's it or is it closer to to 2022?
Since the beginning of the war, so you would assume that it's longer?
Yes, it's probably the numbers that you have seen.
Can I come back with you, to you with the exact number?
Well, I'm sure we'll we'll get back to you with clarity on those figures.
Do we have further questions?
Yes, we have Lisa Schleiner, Voice of America Online.
I'd like to pursue that a bit more because I'm, I'm confused, the could you break it down a little more systematically?
The loss of population, does it have to do with refugees leaving the, the country, with people actually being killed in the war itself?
The birth rate is something else that's been going on another time.
If you could be more specific about all of these because it's really rather confusing.
And I, I since you were talking about it happening since the start of the war, I immediately thought all it has to do with the killings and the refugees and so forth.
It's a combination of factors and again, we have to take into account that we don't have a census, but what we see, and it's important also to note that already before the war, that's something that you see happening in many of the countries of Eastern Europe with young people leaving the country's ageing population and and slowing shrinking birth rates.
So what we have seen since the one in particular since the full scale escalation is that the burst rate, the fertility rate is around 1:00.
That's one of the lowest in the in the world, so well below the 2.1 theoretical reproduction rate.
And what we have also seen as you know, every refugee 6.7 million that are outside Ukraine and we have a number of people who also move and go in and out.
So that that's it's an additional complexity to that.
But of course, as you know, we have many young people who are also looking for the opportunities and going outside the countries.
Within the countries we see whole villages where you basically have only older people who don't want or cannot move, but where the young people has left the countries.
And overall, there is of course, as we can imagine because of the situation of the wars of are not in a position to be able to to create a family.
So it's a conjunction of factors and with and in addition to that you have the casualties that as you know, it's difficult to have exact numbers of this, but the estimate range around 10, several 10s of thousands of casualties, which of course add to the equation.
So it's a combination of factors that is putting a lot of demographic pressure on on, on Ukraine and jeopardising, I would say, the human capital and weakening the human capital that is so essential during the war and as soon as it will finish, hopefully soon.
Thank you very much, Florence.
We have another question from Reuters.
Hi there, can you hear me?
So I just really want to be quite clear.
So is that 10 million since February 22?
Umm, the other thing I wanted to ask is, are these your estimates or are they based, or are you relaying estimates by Ukrainian authorities?
And if they're your estimates, have you done similar for other countries in the region?
I mean, notably Russia, of course.
Umm, uh, and actually the third thing I would ask is some, uh, with 6.7 million abroad, do the neighbouring countries have, do the countries where the refugees are currently living, do they have a role to play in addressing this demographic crisis?
It would seem on the face of it that they do.
Let me answer part of the question initially.
This is a number by the government on the reduction of the population.
And your question on the refugees in the other countries, Yes, we are ourself and other UN agencies by the way, and other actors.
We're playing a role also in the other nearby countries.
I'm take one example, that is Moldova, where we are supporting the refugees through services on sexual reproductive health, prevention of gender based violence, but also providing opportunities to young people.
And this is of course done along the Nexus.
So there are, for example, simple youth centres that have been established in Moldova with our support, where in addition to being included into society and having access to the different services that have those additional services that will enable them to develop skills and to continue to develop the competencies so that they can have the lives that they would like to have initially where they are now taking continue example of Moldova, for example, but also when they will go back to Ukraine.
So definitely a lot can be done and is being done and has to continue to be done with the refugees in the neighbouring countries so that that investment in human capital will continue to be made so that it eventually also pays back for Ukraine.
Thank you very, very much.
Miss Bauer, I think that exhausts the questions on Ukraine.
So or you wanted to add something?
Can I just add on on the question, I just asked clarification.
So the number is since the beginning of the full scale invasion, OK.
So 10 million since beginning of full scale invasion.
It's a number from the government.
OK, that's very good for that clarification.
Thank you very once once again.
And please do feel free to join us anytime.
We have now I'm told that Miss Noguchi, Chitosi Noguchi, the Deputy Special Representative of UNDP is online joining us from Gaza.
The connection is not great, ladies and gentlemen.
But Miss Noguchi, thank you very much for joining us from Gaza.
Over to you for some brief remarks and then we'll take as many questions as we can get in.
It's really a pleasure for me to be connected from Gaza.
I'm currently in Deribala which is in the middle area and which is where many of the displaced persons have been relocated and many of the UN offices and non government organisations are placed to provide services.
I'm going to turn off my camera because I think the connection is not so great and I do apologise if it gets cut off again.
Sophie, if you can continue.
So this month we marked a full year of the war in Gaza.
And having been here a couple of times, I think the humanitarian catastrophe is really unfolding daily.
And at that level, that's suppressing anything in recent memory, leaving behind unprecedented numbers of casualties, widespread destruction, severe food insecurity and mass displacement.
As you've seen, we also have crippling restrictions on a delivery and that has really compounded the crisis exponentially.
We are today launching with Esquire an assessment that has new data and it's really highlighting the fact that we have a development emergency looming and this is jeopardising the future for all Palestinians, not only in Gaza.
If we look at the economic figures, the economic losses are staggering.
By the end of 2024, the GDP of the state of Palestine would have dropped from pre war estimate of 20.2 billion to 13.1 billion which is equivalent of over 35% reduction.
Unemployment is skyrocketing.
One in two people is jobless in Gaza.
Unemployment rate is reaching 80%.
Poverty is also exponentially rising.
3 out of four people live in poverty and in the state of Palestine, poverty is projected to rise to 74.3% in 2024, up from 28 Thursday sorry up from 38.8% at the end of 2023, which is affecting 4.1 million people, which includes 2.6 million people who have newly become impoverished.
If we use another poverty metric which takes into account other dimensions such as freedom of movement and access to services, calculations indicate that the number of people in Gaza living in multidimensional poverty has risen to 97.9%.
The State of Palestine is experiencing unprecedented set back in development as measured by the Human Development Index, indicating a lost of loss of almost 24 years of development gains.
And as you're aware, the human development English is looking at various various aspects of of of the people's lives, which includes a long and healthy life, knowledge as well as the standard of living.
We are looking at figures that are showing that the state of Palestine is experiencing really on unprecedented levels of of setbacks.
And this is for Gaza reversing development by an estimated 70 years to the level equivalent to 1955.
If we look at just humanitarian assistance flows at a rate of 280 million per year for 10 years.
Simulations according to the assessment show that humanitarian aid alone can't put Palestinian economy back on track to restore pre war levels and align with the Palestinian development goals.
The investments in development enabling multi sectoral recovery interventions, at least in an equal amount or more annually must be secured.
Recovery must be enabled to eventually support reconstruction of destroyed capital and restoration of lost livelihoods.
Restrictions that are currently stifling the economy must be lifted, such as the movement of restrictions on Palestinian workers, as well as the withholding of clearance revenues due to the Palestine Authority to improving the business climate.
This would actually allow the private sector to contribute to recovery and reconstruction.
So the reliance on recovery and reconstruction should not be just on ODA, that should be also the private sector being recovering, able to recover so that they can actually contribute to the process.
The conclusion from the assessment is very important, not just for Gaza, not just for Palestine, but also for the Arab States region as it's facing rising levels of war and crises.
Home to less than 6% of the world's population, this region has witnessed 31% of global conflicts and originated 10% of the world's refugees.
The call for simultaneous attention and investment in the dual tracks of immediate humanitarian Aid and Development focused early recovery.
This applies to many other contexts in the Arab region today.
We as UNDP are already working on similar assessments in Lebanon, Syria as well as other places in the region.
Thank you very much, Miss Noguchi.
And please, if you could share those notes with us would be most helpful.
This, this really helps put this horrific situation in in perspective.
We do have a couple of questions and please do let us know if you need to leave.
I know you mentioned you don't have much time, but we have a question from Christian of the German news agency in the room.
And then we have another one online, Christian.
Yes, we had similar reports in the last two weeks from Antered and from ILO with similar but different figures.
And that leads me to two questions.
Do these UN organisations not work together?
Is there a lot of duplication of analysis or does this contribute something that has not been presented in the other reports?
Thanks, Miss Noguchi, are you still with us?
Ahead, I'm so sorry, I was trying to unmute but it wasn't allowing me to.
Thank you very much for your question.
With regard to the different assessments and reports that are coming out from different agencies, we do coordinate and we do collaborate.
As I mentioned at the beginning, the report, the Socio Economic Impact assessment report that we are doing and that launching today is actually in partnership with Esquire.
And to your question earlier, the the figures are being are in the report and that is actually online.
So that is shared with you so that you have the actual figures.
So in terms of the different numbers, of course we are making many assumptions when we do projections.
So each report or assessment might have a different triangulation of data, different methodology for data collection, different analysis.
But what we are always doing is to complement each other in terms of the different information that is coming together.
For example, on the economy, on the unemployment, on poverty rates.
Our assessment in terms of the social economic impact assessment with Esquire is actually looking at multi poverty index, which is a unique measure that has been calculated and shared through this report.
And of course the HDI is something that is not in other reports.
So there are unique aspects to our report, but as I mentioned, it's actually looking at different aspects and dimensions and we are complement each other, which complement each other in terms terms of the comprehensive analysis.
This actually does help us with our interventions and prioritisation of our interventions.
Launch of Radio France international.
Just a quick one for Mrs and Gucci.
I think you mentioned the the the.
Poverty level is we could rise to 74%, nearly 75% and then you mentioned another figure is 97%, almost 97.9% if we consider multi like multi level of poverty, something like that.
Can you explain the difference between the two, between the two?
What is the multi dimensional poverty and the poverty that you that you've calculated?
There's a 20% gap here, so I'd like to understand what is different.
Thank you for that question.
So in terms of the figure of 74%, that is looking at poverty levels from an economic angle.
So it's really looking at income poverty versus the multi dimensional poverty index is a much more comprehensive figure that looks at access to services including health, education as well as freedom of movement.
So there are many aspects that are incorporated into the multi dimensional poverty index and that is actually going to be available to you.
So you'll be able to look at the specific dimensions and look at the differences in terms of the calculations and methodology for the calculations.
OK, Gabriella Sotomayor of El Proceso of Mexico.
Thank you very much, Orlando.
Miss Noguchi, I didn't get what is the estimate or your, your, Yeah, your estimate.
You know, a bit like it was before the war?
In terms of the recovery, we have estimated that if we look at the investments going into Gaza, the humanitarian aid itself, we've calculated or we've done an assumption with $280 million per year.
And then also in addition to that $290,000,000 a year for investments in development.
And if you if that continues then it could go back to a pre war levels in 10 years.
However, that is based on many assumptions.
And as you'll see in the report, we have different scenarios of the restrictions, a deciding factor.
So for example, if we don't have the access movement restrictions and materials going into Gaza to support the early recovery and recovery and reconstruction, we also don't have the the clearance revenues going to the Palestinian Authority, then those would actually affect the outcome of the trajectory of of recovery.
So the report actually details the different scenarios and what it would take for us to recover pre war levels.
But if you have any technical questions, I'm sure my colleagues who are economists will be able to answer them much more from a technical perspective.
Thanks for that offer, but I think it was quite clear those comments, so thank you.
We have one last question, John Zaracostas of Franz Foncat and The Lancet.
May I'll tell you what, if you have problems with your connection connectivity, maybe you can pose a question in the chat.
But I think this way it may need to be the last question unless there are other questions in the room.
I remind you we do have colleagues.
Tarek is here in the room and of course, colleagues online.
Should you have other questions?
Question is to the representative from UNDP in Gaza.
In your report you mentioned that access to health, people unable to access health increase from 2.7 to nearly 30%.
So does that mean the other 70% of the population in Gaza having access to health?
And secondly, I was wondering if you have a more more up to Thank you very much.
Thank you for those questions.
In terms of the health workers and health facilities and access to health facilities, that is probably best answered by our WHO colleagues and they would have the latest figures as well as the health cluster.
So perhaps I could refer to them in terms of specific questions related to health.
OK, thank you very much, Mr Noguchi.
And Tarek is in, I don't know if you had anything to add Tarek if you wanted.
Tarek is is nodding and he will get back to you with these figures in the course of the day, I'm sure.
Mr Noguchi, thank you very, very much for for joining us.
And I know it's, it's a bit of a effort to connect from Gaza.
So thank you and and stay safe and and please do join us anytime.
Thank you very much for this opportunity.
OK, colleagues, we have now Tarek on another subject who has a guest with him who's going to join us here at the podium.
And then we will have one announcement from Tomaso at the end if you want to come up as well, Tomaso, that would be fine.
So we have Tarek with Doctor Janet Diaz.
Thank you very much and apologies.
Doctor Rick Peppercorn was unable to to join as it has been planned.
Doctor Peppercorn was in a in a meetings planning.
For the last phase of the second round of Poly vaccination campaign in in Gaza and John, I will, I will come back to you on a question of number of detained health workers.
I don't have it in front of me.
Been repeating for last year that we always say that that right to health is one of the human rights and unfortunately people in.
That's right, because only half of the hospitals are partially functional, to get to hospital is very difficult.
Movement is is is is is really.
Difficult because of the infrastructure damage.
Ministry of Health has said that 1000 health workers have been killed.
Which is a really irreparable.
Loss for, for, for the, for the health system in Gaza.
We do the best we can and we will keep updating you on that.
But today we wanted to tell you about something else.
So you know all Doctor Janet Diaz, who is with us today, she's our lead on clinical management and she has just returned from Rwanda.
Maybe you have been following Doctor Tetris?
Went to Rwanda this weekend to see the progress in the response to the current Marburg outbreak and Dr Diaz was was was with him and will tell us more on the situation in Rwanda.
With specific focus on the clinical management of of.
Works on other diseases, so like Mbox and he will probably remember that she also worked on long COVID.
So she may so those questions as well.
But let's let's focus on my work first.
OK, Yes, good morning, Good morning colleagues and and thanks for having me here today.
As Tarek already described, I lead the clinical management work here in the Health Emergencies programme at WHO and I was part of the search team that first went to Kigali to support the Ministry of Health in our country office a few days after the outbreak was declared.
And I returned this past weekend with the honour of accompanying Dr Ted Rose, our Director General on his **** level mission.
As of the 21st of October, in the current Marburg outbreak in Rwanda, there are a total of 62 cases and 15 deaths.
One patient is still in treatment but recovering well, and there are two critically I'll patients that have recovered from Marburg but are still recovering from their critical illness and in treatment centre.
The majority of cases are in health workers infected during the two amplification events at the hospital in the city of Kigali and there have been no cases or deaths in the past seven days.
So to echo what the DG said, Doctor Ted Rose words over the weekend.
It is really a commending commending the strong leadership of the Government of Rwanda that enabled them to make rapid decisions and take actions and establish a multi sectoral response to this Marburg outbreak.
Specific to case management, which is what I want to focus on, a pathway for early recognition of cases was developed.
Early diagnostic testing with rapid turn around of results as well as the establishment of a treatment centre that was safe to work in and that could provide quality clinical care and that includes critical care services as well as mental health services.
Soon after the outbreak started, the ministry LED response decided to establish a centralised treatment centre at the Bajo International Hospital and two centres that would manage suspects.
That means patients who were symptomatic suspected from harbour by not yet confirmed these centres.
The suspect centres could isolate patients safely, start early treatments and also conduct rapid testing.
The treatment centre itself is able to care for up to 50 patients and has dedicated staff that are working there.
There's almost over 150 staff including general doctors, specialists such as ID physicians, internal medicine physicians, ICU physicians, emergency physicians as well as nursing staff and general nursing as well as intensive care nursing.
The site also has infection prevention and control professionals as well as teams that are dedicated to waste management, cleaning, disinfection and decontamination, which is really important when managing an Ebola or Marburg phylovirus treatment centre.
I want to take a moment here to acknowledge the wonderful collaboration between WHO and its GORN partners that have been integrated into the national case management pillar under the leadership of the Ministry of Health.
The Who experts brought **** level expertise with infectious disease intensive care, special specialists as well as health logistics from previous outbreaks and have been working side by side with the local teams within the treatment centre to ensure collectively as one team that we are providing safe care for patients and the best quality care as well.
In particular, I want to talk about the two ICU patients which received invasive mechanical ventilation.
These patients were excavated late last weekend.
And that I think is something that was discussed by the Minister of Health and the DG at the press conference over the weekend.
And I want to highlight that this did receive a lot of attention because it's a little bit more advanced treatment that we have been doing in previous Phylovirus outbreaks on the continent.
But let's not forget that one of the major interventions for Phylovirus case management has been optimising supportive care.
And that piece of work has been going on for a decade with partners such as Alima, MSF and in other partners within the countries that have had outbreaks.
And an example of that has been the Alima cube that was used in the most recent Phylovirus outbreak responses where we've been able to deliver oxygen therapy as well as non invasive ventilation therapy therapy.
But what's different about what was able to be done here in Rwanda and Kigali was that we were able to use the colleagues were able to use invasive mechanical ventilation for the Marburg patients.
And those two patients have been excavated and now are recovering still a ways to go in their recovery, but but but doing better.
Another hallmark event in this outbreak in Rwanda has been the initiation of the clinical trials on therapeutics.
This success is also based on years of preparatory work led by the R&D blueprint here at WHO in collaboration with the MARVAC consortium.
And that group of folks developed a generic clinical trial protocol that that was able to be quickly deployed to Rwanda and adapted by the national principal investigators and then approved in record time by the regulatory authorities of the country.
In Rwanda, this protocol started to enrol patients last week and I think is a big, a big success in advancing the care for patients with Marburg disease.
Finally, a word about the low case fatality ratio.
There's also been mentioned that we're seeing the, you know, on the range of the lower range of case fatality ratio so far in this Marburg outbreak.
And I think we will see by the end of the outbreak what the true CFR will be.
However, and the ranges between CFRS has varied across different outbreaks from as low as you know 2024% to as **** as 88 or 99 or 90%.
And you know, there's many elements that that that interplay to determine what the CFR is.
But I say even though we have a 24% CFR at this point, let's try to aim to do better.
There is it is really important to continue to conduct robust clinical trials to find the most efficacious treatments and to combine that with, with, you know, the highest level of standard of care or optimise supportive care.
So together with knowing the best treatment and the best standard of care, we can continue to drive down the mortality from this disease, which previously has had very **** mortality.
So we're happy to see it not so **** and and lower in this outbreak, but indeed, we need to learn from from this outbreak and then try to do better in the next 1.
Thank you very much, Doctor Diaz, for that very comprehensive, very useful brief.
Do we have questions for Doctor Diaz?
I don't see it in the room.
No, I think you were absolutely very, very clear and comprehensive.
But perhaps I trust that the notes will be sent.
So thank you very much, and thank you once again, Doctor Diaz, for joining us here.
So the last but not least, Tomaso of IFRC is here with an announcement.
Everyone, as you may know, our statutory meetings across the statutory meetings started today and I would like to update you on the next day's what will happen.
All our meetings will take place from today to the 31st of October at the International Conference Centre of Geneva, the CICJ.
So basically on the other side of Plaza Nation.
As you know, today we started with the IFSC Youth Forum which is at the moment ongoing and this Youth Forum brings Young younger, Red Cross and delegates together to discuss youth strategy and directly vote for the IFRC Youth Commission.
The inclusion of youth voices in governance is critical for us and for decision making and This is why the Head of the Youth Commission will sit in the IFRC Governing Board, ensuring that youth voices are central to our discussions.
Then from tomorrow to the 25th to 25 of October, we'll have the IFSC General Assembly, which is our highest decision making body for our under 91 national across Crescent societies.
This year among other topics will be discussed the new health policy of the organisation and the youth engagement strategy.
And we also says where we are with our strategy 20-30 and discuss and discuss some constitutional, constitutional amendments.
And next week, as you know, we'll have the International Conference, joined, of course by ICS colleagues and the governments who signed the Geneva Conventions.
Journalist should have already have received our media advisory.
And thanks for the colleagues who already answered.
I would like to remind that you need accreditation to enter the conference centre.
So please drop us an e-mail with your contact details and we'll get you a badge to enter.
Regarding media opportunities, all the sessions are open to media.
We are happy to support you in setting up interviews and based of course on the angle that you want to cover.
The first priorities will be at the centre of this discussion during plenaries, but also in other meetings, bilateral and so on.
And just to name a few, protection of humanitarians.
It's really critical this year.
Health, climate crisis, migration and integrity, these, these will be all **** in the agenda.
You'll have the opportunity to talk with humanitarians from literally all around the world with first hand stories from current emergencies.
And of course, I mean, we heard a lot today about Middle East climate related disaster, I would say for us M box outbreak, migration, just to name a few.
So we look forward to working with all of you at the conference centre.
And if you have any question, I'm here.
Tomaso, do we have questions?
Can you hear me there, Tomaso?
Send us the list of the names of the delegates from the national chapters that are attending at what level, if that's the secretary general of the national chapters or the directors or whatever.
So we can that way pick our selected interviews to come through you if that's possible.
Sadly, I discussed with with colleagues this request, but suddenly for data protection we're not able to send the names of delegates.
We can send the names of national society present and governments registered.
Usually the level of our delegations are presidents and secretary general of the different national societies.
And since some of course, the youth delegates and in some cases set of operations and then it really depends on every single national society.
And yeah, some, some delegation are bigger, some delegation are smaller.
But of course, if you are, if you have any specific interest in some national society, I can link you with the national society and discuss it.
Thanks, Gabby El Proceso.
Yes, thank you very much.
Are, are you going to discuss access to prisoners, for example, in places like Nicaragua or Venezuela?
As far as I know, to my knowledge is not, is not in the agenda.
But this doesn't mean that there will not be discussion with participants with side events or bilateral.
So it's not something that I'm aware of, but I can check if you want.
I just wanted to know if the Russian Red Cross is coming and at which level?
Yes, Russia Red Cross is registered to the statutory meetings for the level.
I need to come back to you because I'm not really sure about it.
Lots of follow up for you, Tomaso.
So thank you very much for joining us here for the announcements.
Good luck with this important meeting.
And that brings us to nearly the end of this briefing.
Thank you once again to Masa.
I just have a couple of announcements before as usual, just to mention keep you on track.
The SG, as you know, it was in Addis Ababa yesterday where he took part in the eighth African Union.
Actually, it's an annual, UN annual conference taking place in Addis, the home of the African Union.
So you have a number of documents that we shared with you in connection with the Secretary General's visit there, remarks at the inauguration of the renovated Africa Hall.
Incidentally, in those remarks he refers to, he referred to the fact that Africa has no permanent seat on the Security Council.
And he says, and let's hope it will be corrected soon, quote unquote.
That's in one of the remarks shared with you.
We also have the opening remarks that were delivered by the secretary general at a press conference with Moussafaki, the chairperson of the African Union that we shared with you last night, a readout of the S GS meeting with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, B Ahmed, who's also shared.
So that's a lot of material to go through in connection with the S GS visit.
In terms of meetings here, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against a Women is currently a meeting.
As you know, today there is an informal, sorry, not today, the 25th, that's this Friday, if I'm not mistaken, 25th of October.
The Sea Doll, as it's commonly known, is holding an informal public meeting with States parties in the launch of the General recommendation #40 on equal and inclusive representation of women in decision making systems.
And during this session, as you know they've reviewed Lao, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Chile, Canada, Japan, Cuba and Benin.
The Human Rights committee is also meeting and this morning they are reviewing the report of Greece and this afternoon it will continue reviewing France, which they began yesterday.
Press conferences in this room at 2:30 we have the UN Trade and development will be hosting a will be holding a press conference rather on the presentation of the review of Maritime Transport 2024 navigating maritime choke points.
Shamika Shiramane, who is UN Trade and Developments Director for Technology and Logistics and Mr Jan Hoffman, who is Head of Trade and Logistics at UNCTAD will be here to brief you.
A week from today, the 29th of October, we have another briefing from Trade and Development, and this one will be on the publication of the Trade and Development Report for this year 2024.
Rethinking Development in the Age of Discontent.
Rebecca Greenspan, the Secretary General of ANKTAD, will be here to present this report, along with Anastasia Nesvatalova, who is a head of Macroeconomic and Development Policies Branch.
Policies Branch, almost done just to mention the flag that we did share with you.
A press release and a report under embargo yesterday from the Global Ecosystems Atlas, which is a branch of the World Meteorological Organisation.
This to unveil, I believe the embargo was lifted at 10 AM this morning, but you do have the the contents of the press release and the report itself.
It was a report unveiled at the at the COPPA 16 taking place in Cali, Colombia, as you know, speaking to the proof of concept to the global Ecosystems Atlas.
So that's something in your inbox.
And lastly, quiz, what is this?
Come on colleagues, 24 October, free cup of coffee for anyone who gets it.
Come on, UN Day, it's our birthday.
OK, Today, Thursday, is UN day and we did share with you the Secretary of General's message in multiple languages as always.
And he refers to many, many things, very important messages.
He speaks of finding solutions to ease tensions, build bridges and forge peace, eradicate poverty, deliver humanitarian relief is something we did address commonly in this at the Cintas podium here.
So lots of important messages in his UNA message for 2024.
I think that's it for me.
Are we going to have press conference with SIDO with the conclusions of their analysis of the countries?
That is, I'll check with my colleague to see if they actually if we have something pencilled in for them.
Usually they do, but nothing to announce just yet.
I'll check and we'll get back to you.
