Thank you again, colleagues. And, um, once again, Good morning.
Thank you for joining us at this press briefing here at the UN office at Geneva today,
Uh, we just heard from, uh, Amy Pope, Uh, the Director General of the IOM.
Now, we're going to hear from our colleague safe from the,
uh, human rights office, the UN Human rights office. And as I mentioned earlier,
just wanted to make sure you're all aware and saw the
statement that we shared with you yesterday from the Secretary General
he's calling on both sides of the conflict
to immediately agree to a cessation of hostilities,
uh, that civilians must be protected. And the third priority he outlined is
the flow, the urgent flow of humanitarian aid. And we just heard,
uh, a very dire report from Miss Pope on the situation in Sudan.
We're going to hear more on the human rights angles on the situation here, then, uh,
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volka
Turkey is extremely concerned
by the escalating hostilities and violence in Sudan.
The violence is taking place in Al Jazeera state
and is further exacerbating the risk of attacks against civilians,
ethnically motivated violence and atrocity crimes.
a commander in the rapid support forces to the
armed forces on 20 October
on villages in al Jazeera state have increased,
apparently in retaliation for the defection,
UH, and targeting members of his ethnic group.
On Friday, 25 October, at least 124 people were reportedly killed in an attack by
with unconfirmed videos showing dozens of bodies lined up for
This incident follows at least two other attacks by the
ground forces on the nearby towns of Tam
Reports suggest hundreds of people were killed in Tambo
amid widespread lootings.
They indicate at least 25 cases of sexual violence in multiple villages
including three medical personnel
Women and girls were also reportedly abducted.
there are concerning reports that the
detained and ill treated civilians from the targeted villages
and confiscated Internet devices and telephones in some 30 villages,
channels of communication.
Further, there are reports of burning of crops
at a time when over 25 million Sudanese are facing acute food insecurity.
Because of the ongoing conflict,
destruction of crops in a region considered the country's
breadbasket can only exacerbate an already catastrophic situation.
As a result of the violence,
thousands of families have reportedly been displaced from Al Jazeera state
into neighbouring states of Garre
adding to the already dire displacement crisis in the country.
An estimated 8 million people have been internally displaced across Sudan
since the armed conflict broke out in April 2023.
We are also concerned by the increased calls
for mobilisation by civilians in Al Jazeera state
and reports of hate speech circulating on social media.
The leaders of both sides must promptly take
all measures to de escalate the situation.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
reiterates his call on all parties to strictly
respect the obligations under international human rights law
in particular in particular by ensuring the protection of civilians.
put an end to the violations committed by their forces.
All alleged violations must be investigated and those
responsible were brought to justice following fair trials
to break this horrendous cycle of violence.
Thank you very much. Safe.
And, uh, I note that you've shared the statement with, uh, colleagues.
You should have the statement that was just read out, uh, in your inbox.
And I should also mention that we have colleagues online
who are able to address and also in the room
here who are able to address the situation with the
James Uh, UNICEF and also Baar from UN HCR. Should you have questions for them?
OK, we'll turn now for general questions on
OK, I don't see any hands raised here.
Ok? And colleagues, if you want to add anything, just put your hands up.
I think this pope was actually very exhaustive,
very comprehensive on the very dire situation.
And again, I point you to the SG statement we shared with you yesterday.
do have OK, we have a question from Gabby of El
Uh uh, I would like to ask about the funding for for Sudan.
How is, um if if if it's uh
yeah, what is the situation on the funding for the crisis there? Thank you.
I think Jens is making his way to the podium.
I think he's best placed to answer this question.
We heard a little bit, of course, about, uh,
the funding situation from IOM from his pope.
add from the archer perspective.
Thank you very much. Uh, good morning, everyone.
So we have, as you know, a humanitarian response plan for Sudan for 2024
it's asking 2.7 nearly $2.7
and it's currently 56 per cent funded, which means that it has received
slightly over half funded. But we also very late in
Let me just add also from our side from the humanitarian side on this
development, we are seeing in Al Jazeera State
that the acting under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs,
has said that the UN has received horrific reports
as we have just heard of civilians killed,
detained and displaced in huge numbers.
noted that many need urgent medical attention.
We have also heard from the humanitarian co ordinator
statement that was issued over the weekend.
The humanitarian co ordinator, there being Clementine
that she is shocked and deeply appalled
that human rights violations of the kind we have witnessed in Darfur last year,
including rape, targeted attacks, sexual violence and mass killings, are
seemingly being repeated now in Jazeera
So a very, very concerning development and spread of that kind of warfare,
which is utterly unacceptable
indeed. Thank you very much. Jens. Uh, we have a question from Emma of Reuters.
I'm not sure if it's for Jens or maybe safe. Uh, Emma?
Uh, yes. Uh, can I ask a question to yens about
Anna as well? Is it the right woman?
Just for the moment, we will address UNRWA,
but I just wanted to exhaust the situation in Sudan.
Is this Do you have a question on Sudan or anyone else for that matter?
No. OK, uh, Gabriella, perhaps Gabby.
Yes. Thank you. No, it's not a follow up II.
I just wanted to ask something to the Human Rights Office. But after that, we
Let's just if there are no questions on Sudan, maybe since safe is here,
we will address U NRW and other colleague may ch in on U NRW.
maybe if you could pose your question to safe on another subject,
as there are no other questions on Sudan.
So, Gabby, please go ahead.
Yes, thank you. Uh, I would like to ask about Mexico
and the new judiciary reform.
Uh, that the official is the party,
um, gave to the senate and the parliamentarians and,
uh, this this reform, um, attacked the the independence of the judiciary system.
So democracy in Mexico is kind of, uh,
a very weak. So I don't know if you have any comments on that or
if you can say something. Thank you.
Thanks for your question.
No, we don't have comments yet on that,
but we can get back to you in writing from the office. Thank you.
Ok, thanks. Uh, thanks in advance for that safe.
Um, do we have further questions for safe.
No, I don't see that's the case. OK, so what?
Maybe what we'll do is I appreciate, uh, that many of you have, uh, honour
on your minds. Uh, of course we do as well.
Uh, so maybe we'll we'll take your question, Emma.
And we do have colleagues from WHO and FA O who are online who will brief us.
Uh, Tarik is also, um, online to brief us on the situation of, um, of food safety
But Emma, maybe if you want to pose your question to, uh, Jens and, of course,
uh, afterwards, maybe I I'll just recite, uh, uh,
parts of the SG statement that we shared with you last night.
But your question first. Emma, go ahead.
Sorry I couldn't unmute myself. Um,
yeah. Uh, I I'm wondering yen, but also WHO or whoever.
Um, do you think there is an immediate risk then of
shutting down its remaining operations in Gaza?
Um, there was some question about that,
whether it just applied to Israel or whether it would impact Gaza.
And just if you could respond on, um, Jamie's question to Amy Pope.
Uh, what is your position on whether you can fulfil some
of the functions of UN R,
um, presumably not the infrastructure roles,
but some of the kind of emergency support roles could
aha or WHO or others step in at least temporarily to, uh,
take on that role. Thank you.
Uh, actually, on on your first question, I think I will let um, Rolando, uh,
Uh, which addresses that?
Jania colleagues. You did receive a statement that we shared with you last night.
was early this morning from the Secretary General
following the announcement at the Knesset of Israel.
I'm just going to recite some some of it,
um, for for the record here as it came in, uh, rather late in New York time.
Um, Secretary General is deeply concerned
yesterday by the Knesset of Israel of two laws concerning
the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine refugees
in the Near East, otherwise known as UNRWA, which, if implemented,
would likely prevent UNRWA from continuing its
essential work in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including east Jerusalem.
As mandated by the UN General Assembly,
UNRWA is the principal means by which essential assistance is applied to Palestine
refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory and
there is no alternative to UNRWA.
The implementation of the laws could have devastating consequences
for Palestine refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory,
Secretary General Calls on Israel to Act consistently with obligations under the
Charter of the United Nations and its other obligations under international law,
including under international humanitarian law
and those concerning privileges and immunities of the United Nations
national legislation cannot alter those obligations.
The implementation of these laws would be
detrimental for the resolution of the Israeli
Palestine conflict and for peace and security in the region as a whole.
And as the secretary General has said before, UNRWA is indispensable.
bringing this matter to the attention of the UN
General Assembly and will keep the Assembly closely informed
as the situation develops.
Uh, this was a statement we did share with you last night.
And of course, since then there's been an outpouring from various principal
agencies, heads of agencies
on the decision yesterday. But back to you, Jens.
Thanks, Rolando. Indeed, an outpouring from
principles in the United Nations system.
I'm just looking at some of them calling UN.
a has the mandate, a vital lifeline and so on and so forth
the acting on the Secretary General,
she said last night Full solidarity with UN W A and
its brave teams whose work is essential to millions of Palestinians.
The decision is dangerous
There is no alternative to UN.
So I think that answers the question
OK, colleagues and our apologies for our next briefers.
Because we do have a number of hands. This is an important issue.
So if you can indulge us and be patient, we start with Jamie A P.
Thanks. Thanks. Jentz. Uh, I'm gonna move my mouth away from the microphone.
I was told I speak to Lily and,
the, uh could you just tell us what concrete implications right now that this de
this decision by the Knesset has had is there
Is there anything that you've seen that has changed
physically on the ground since this K
and yeah. I mean, yeah, that's
thank you, Jamie. I think we can read in the
to not have an implementation of this
because it's not. The decision has been made.
We have seen an outpour of protests and not only from the UN but I dare say, from
very prominent government officials and heads of state, actually
calling this out as this is wrong
I would say first and foremost for the millions of Palestinians who requires
statement about the work that is ongoing now,
I think it also mentions that he will be in contact with the General Assembly.
As you all know, the mandate
is a General Assembly resolution.
Like the mandate of my organisation, for example,
uh, so that that is where the the the decisions
Thank you very much for that.
Uh, Jens and let me throw to James, uh, of UNICEF and Tarik also, um,
from WHO have their hands up.
So I suppose it's, uh, reacting to this situation. James.
Thanks so much. Hi, everyone.
Yeah, just from a UNICEF point of view.
Uh, in terms of the amount of aid that we distribute across the Gaza Strip.
Um, so much with the support of UN.
uh, it would likely see the collapse of the humanitarian system
um, would become effectively unable to distribute life saving supplies here.
I'm talking vaccines. I'm talking winter clothes. I'm talking
hygiene kits, health kits, water,
water and sanitation RUTF on malnutrition.
And we know again we're knocking on the door
of famine and all range of of nutrition supplies.
So a decision such as this suddenly means that
a new way has been found, um,
be honest. So really, just to give some figures to explain how important
to, uh, delivery of health services. Uh,
A staff are health workers.
Uh, they basically provided more than 6 million
medical consultations last year in the health centres that are run by
and they have been providing this consultation
for more than half of Gaza population.
doing, uh, uh, immunisation of Children.
Uh, they are doing, uh, uh, uh uh.
Screening for disease surveillance screening for for malnutrition.
They have been active in a polio campaign.
One third, uh, of of team members for polio. Uh, are,
So, uh, really, Uh uh, If you think like that 3000 of their staff are health workers,
it's it's really, uh, unmatched.
It could be it couldn't be matched by by any agency, including WHO.
The High Commissioner this morning actually just spoke on this.
He says this decision is deeply troubling For many reasons,
he sees this as having a potential dire impact on human
rights of those de depending on U NRW A's assistance.
if I may go on step further and just say our
office has repeatedly raised concerns about
Israel's compliance with international law,
but can also point to its obligations under a range of human rights treaties,
including the Cornerstone International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights, which Israel is party to.
To this extent, uh, without UNRWA
the delivery of food, shelter, healthcare,
education amongst other things to most of Gaza's population would grind to a halt.
Civilians have already paid the heaviest price
of this conflict over the past year.
this decision will only make matters worse for them.
Thank you very much, Jeremy and colleagues.
And these are just a few of the comments that were, uh,
the reactions, uh, from the the decision yesterday at the Knesset.
So we have other comments from UN H ER from U NDP. Um,
and many others, too. Too many to recite here, in fact. But, um
um, we do have a couple of questions,
so I'll just take those online unless there are those in the room.
I don't see that's the case. So we'll turn to Gabby LA
So I think you had another question on this subject.
Yes, it it's not on Gaza. But since J
sorry, Gabby. I'm just gonna cut you off.
Let's just finish, because I think other colleagues want to.
Let's discuss the honour situation first, and then we'll move on to other subjects.
We still have other briefers online. Just to remind you
my question is the yens on Gaza
Would it not be possible to put a different hat on that organisation, For example, Or
if all the people who work for UN
R now would then be employees of
this problem would be solved? Or is that a naive suggestion?
I really don't want to speculate in that. What?
And if And but And we can rehab this and that and the other
is and has been for decades since 1948. The backbone of
what the UN is providing to the Palestinian refugees in Gaza and other
countries in the region. It is indispensable. And there is no
Thanks. This is for James. James.
Um, I'd I'd like to, um follow up on your comment about the decision of the Knesset to,
uh, the, um And you You mentioned that, uh, decisions like this, Um
uh, mean that it means that a new way has been found to kill Children.
Could you elaborate on that? What do you mean,
reports at a conservative level are of 14,000 girls and boys having been killed.
OK, that's an unprecedented,
um, number, um, becomes ever more so if you look at the duration of this war.
And if you look at the population of Children.
So 14,000 girls and boys being killed and we've seen, of course,
ferocious attacks in the North very recently,
showing clearly that this level of attacks
of what has now been accepted are indiscriminate attacks
lacking all sorts of proportionality have not stopped.
So that's always been the case. But we'll just outline it to put it there. Anyway,
The second part is, of course, is the warnings that came from as far away as November.
That if you devastate the health system, the water system, the sanitation system,
then there is such an enormous risk.
We heard from medical experts WHO across the board, doctors on the ground,
such a huge risk of a disease outbreak.
And now, of course, we've seen the devastation to the health system,
the water and sanitation system. Um,
we see uh, we've seen famine on the doorstep.
We see polio now for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Um, so we have disease and we have bomba
disease on the ground bombardments.
if you recall Jamie Bri when I briefed last week another way Children are dying.
Children are being killed, if you will. Is, um, this
wilful neglect to get medical evacuations for any of
those Children who have somehow miraculously survived a shelling or
a bombing on their homes and find their S themselves
with wounds that none of us could possibly imagine?
Just imagine the last time you burnt yourself and then imagine, you know,
your four year old child having fourth degree burns
and that hospital not being able to have the the
burn cream or anaesthetics or or painkillers that are required,
that child not being allowed to leave the country,
those kind of injuries we are seeing Children,
um, dying from being killed from despite,
um, our best efforts. So that's a third way
as you've heard from so many principals and
there were senior people in the United Nations
and I think Tarik explained it so well in terms of healthcare workers,
you takeaway the healthcare workers.
You takeaway the nutrition
support you takeaway the people who will provide the
life saving supplies for a population that is physically,
physically, absolutely on death's door.
And psychologically, of course, in unchartered territory,
you takeaway these healthcare workers.
You takeaway the nutritionists.
Then we will see many more Children die.
Um, so that's that's my my reasoning for that statement. Thanks.
Thank you for that. James. Uh, we have a questioner from Satoko
Yeah. Hi, Satoko. We can hear you.
OK, this is a question to Tariq.
Uh, could you tell us the the status of the polio campaign in North
If there is any update since Friday last week.
And then also the implication of the
if on the on the polio campaign Thank you.
I was briefing you last Friday on the postponement of the second round of, uh,
polio vaccination in the north.
and then day after that, there was a raid on Kamal at one hospital,
Uh, and a number of staff had been detained.
Uh, and let me just update you on that. Our teams managed to get back to Kamal
Uh, they have found, uh, basically one orthopaedic surgeon, one paediatrician,
chief nurse and handful of, uh,
young doctors and junior doctors and nurses, uh,
trying to attend some 101 150 patients.
So, really, this shows how difficult it is to provide any sort of aid in north of Gaza.
Out of 25 requests for missions
only seven of them managed to take place. Others were either denied or were impeded.
So in this setting, while we don't have agreement on Humanitarian po,
that would cover areas where Children
are. It is difficult to imagine to have this second round of
of, uh, of the polio vaccination.
Uh, but, uh, but again, we will be, uh, uh, doing our best as we do,
trying every day to get some sort of agreement on that.
But also agreement on our movements
to bring to to those health facilities that are still working, uh, what they need.
Thank you very much for the elaboration.
Um, the numbers say it all Thank you very much, Tarik.
Ok, I think we've finished questions on this subject now.
Gabby, you have a question for Jens who's still with us.
Uh, and then we'll have to turn immediately thereafter
to our colleagues in Rome. So, Gabby, back to you.
Thank you, Orlando. No, I just wanted to to say if,
uh this decision on UNRWA
for the people of Palestine.
Uh, because, you know, Children are gonna die, but also, people are gonna suffer.
if if this can be catalogued as that
and then I have another question for you.
if implemented and I stress if implemented,
they have decided here. If implemented,
to the acts of collective
that we have seen imposed on Gaza.
Thank you, Jan. Uh, you want to pose your other question now, Gabby?
Yes. Thank you very much. Uh, Rolando and
elections are coming in in the USA.
And if Trump wins, if Donald Trump wins,
how affected will UN humanitarian operations be?
we know that during his term, Trump reduced funding for the UN.
So now he also threatened to do so. So
are you worried about this or
Thank you, Gabby. We survived. We survived the last one.
so that would be my comment on that.
just on the collective punishment issue, I should mention that Philip
Lazzarini did tweet last night.
Uh, shortly after this, uh, this this legislation act, um, the Knesset.
And And he does refer to how these bills increase the
suffering of the Palestinians and nothing less than collective punishment.
Using those words, uh, precisely
so colleagues to take a look at all the, uh, the utterances, Uh, on this, uh,
I think, uh, we are now done with, uh, this subject now. Thank you very much.
Jans and colleagues, uh, for for chiming in on this important,
important subject. Um, and again, apologies. Uh, Mr Branca and Miss
Francesco Branca, who you know,
is a director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety.
is a FA O deputy director,
um, for, uh, for the food and nutrition division, Um, of FA O.
you maybe wanted to add something before we throw to our colleagues in Rome.
Yeah, th th thank you very much. Uh uh, uh uh, Orlando.
And, um And, uh, we have just sent a joint statement WH,
and we just heard, uh, about, uh, millions of people,
uh, living in a food insecurity being hungry in Sudan.
People in Gaza are hungry, too.
So some of you may wonder and be surprised that we are talking about a a
But if you really think about it, the food security is about healthy diets.
And if you think that, uh,
nutrition is one of the main,
communicable diseases that are killing
two out of three persons and it's a huge burden
on a on a health system in all countries, not only, uh, in developed countries,
but also in a lower middle income countries, but also in humanitarian emergencies.
that we talk about a healthy diet. And that's why
uh, we proposed this topic today
with, uh, doctor Francesco Branca that you already know. And, uh, Nancy
O. So I'll give the floor to,
Thank you very much, Tareq And, uh, good morning to all.
Indeed, as Tarek was saying, you know,
the scourge of food insecurity still affects, uh,
733 million people in the world as the latest report on the state of food security,
But the same report also says
that, uh, uh, 3 billion people cannot afford healthy diets in in the world.
And we know that, uh, consumption of unhealthy diet, as Tariq was already saying,
is responsible for many deaths every year is
responsible for 8 million deaths every year,
largely due to non communicable diseases.
uh, the second worst cause of disability and disease. Uh, you know, among all causes
So, uh, FA, O and WO, uh, wanted to clarify,
uh, what healthy diet means
and, uh, have, uh, put together all the guidance in this year. Uh uh,
on the different elements to define healthy diet, you know,
why do we need healthy diet?
The healthy diets are needed
health to prevent communicable and non-communicative
diseases to support healthy lifestyle.
Uh, and, um, really, uh, promote. Well, being and and development.
And this has to be defined across the life course.
We need healthy diets in the very beginning.
This statement indicates that healthy diets can be
achieved in any part of the world.
have, uh, uh, the adequate, uh, foods available in all parts of the world.
principles are respected, the statement basically says
that healthy diet should first and foremost be adequate in nutrition.
Provide all the necessary uh, uh, nutrients in the right amount, not in excess.
The the the, uh, essential nutrients. Second,
the diets should have a balanced intake of, uh, macronutrients,
which means protein, fat and carbohydrates.
uh, eat more than a third of our energy, our diet from fats.
And we should largely, uh, provide energy from carbohydrates. Uh,
The third element is about moderation. There are elements which we need to limit.
Uh, first sodium salt salt is actually one of the greatest killer.
Uh, at the moment, we shouldn't.
We shouldn't, uh, uh, exceed five grammes per day.
We should also limit the consumption of free sugars to less than 10% of the energy
we should limit the amount of saturated fat to less than 10% of the energy.
We should limit the consumption of highly processed food.
We should limit the consumption of bread and processed meat.
And finally, Dutch should be diverse. We should eat food from different
food groups and from many foods, um, within, uh, a food group.
So these are the main elements.
Uh, that can, of course, be translated.
And I'll give the floor to my colleague Nancy Bhutto from FA O.
Thank you, Francesco. Good morning, colleagues.
It's a pleasure to be here with you today, um,
also showing the partnership that FA O has with our valued collaborator of WHO
and with our longtime colleague and friend Francesco Branca.
Francesco has already outlined the content of this
FA OWHO joint statement on healthy diets,
and we feel it's an extremely important contribution to the
efforts to unlock the power of nutrition for sustainable development.
Good nutrition is dependent on on many factors.
I think we we have reflected on that actually throughout today's conversation,
but we know that healthy diets are are absolutely essential,
and they are where good nutrition starts.
They're where good health starts
and achieving good nutrition based on these core principles.
Adequate, balanced, moderate and diverse
and consisting of safe foods and beverages has the power to drive at least 11 of the 17
sustainable development goals.
achieving good nutrition based on diets that include
adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals such as iron
can support addressing anaemia in women and therefore allow
more than 500 million women who suffer anaemia today
to have a better opportunity at experiencing an improved quality of life
so that they can reach their full potential and personal fulfilment.
And this can drive SDG. Five.
Achieving good nutrition based on diets
that include balanced energy across protein,
fat and carbohydrates can enable child development
so that all Children everywhere at all times can
reach their full potential for health and productivity.
Which data has shows has shown can add billions
to national incomes and pull millions out of poverty.
Achieving good nutrition based on diets that include
diversity can support reducing maternal and child malnutrition,
potentially saving more than 2 million lives of Children under five every year,
and allowing Children and families to live in
good health and well being driving SDG three.
Achieving good nutrition based on diets that include
moderation of foods and nutrients of public health Concern
can reduce the burden of non communal diseases responsible
for the vast majority of premature mortality globally,
allowing millions more people to be free of disease
to reach their full potential as productive members of society
productive people drive action needed to reach targets across all of the SDGS.
enabling healthy diets for all is a core
not only to food systems transformation agenda,
but also to the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
And we hope that this joint statement,
with its simple four core principles of a healthy diet,
can support that critically important effort.
Thanks to you both, Um very, very important messages is indeed.
And I believe, uh, that key shared these statements with you.
Uh, OK, we have a couple of questions for you, John Zara
Costa. So Frans van cut in the Lancet. John.
Uh, I was wondering, uh, if you're following, um,
initiatives at the moment, uh, to have flexibility on food labelling, uh,
Is that something FA O and WHO support or are against
I think maybe I can. I can start, Uh, just
maybe. I think I think John, you refer
which is taking place at the moment that
the Codex committee on food labelling in in Canada
we have we have, uh, uh, uh a concern
that, uh, the the the the Labelling, Uh, there might actually,
uh, the the the distribution of of the right food.
But we are looking at the situation and the discussion at the at the Codex
Thank you. Francesco. Uh, Gabby of El Proceso
Um, my question is, um, who is responsible of the access to a healthy diet?
and also the situation in Venezuela.
Uh, I heard that 5 million people are hungry there,
So I don't know if if you have something to say about nutrition
in In in Venezuela. Thank you.
I can start with this one. Thank you, Gabby, for the question.
Who's responsible for access to healthy diets?
I think it's a shared responsibility.
Um we'd like to support a strengthening of the entire food system,
which begins with producers, um, and actually begins before producers.
It begins with our, um, ecosystems.
And so I think we all have a shared response
in supporting healthy ecosystems,
helping producers that can produce the foods needed for healthy diets.
And the actors across, uh, the food supply chains,
the retail markets all the way to consumers ourselves that need
to also have our own agency so that we can participate
in what is our access and ability to consume healthy diets.
Thank you. And I the second question on Venezuela, I think,
so maybe I I can, uh I can comment. Uh uh, there, uh, in indicating,
uh, uh, that, uh, indeed, the, uh, uh, situation of access to food, uh,
is related to the, uh, economic situation of the country.
don't have, uh, uh, recent information around, uh,
the, um integrated phase classification. You know, there is
a A system to monitor the, uh, access to food.
So we don't have, uh, recent, uh, analysis around, uh, Venezuela, but certainly,
Uh, the analysis of the state of food security and nutrition has indicated is that,
a combination of economic downturns.
Uh uh, climate change and conflicts,
other situations that are responsible for other reasons
that are responsible for for food insecurity.
So clearly the the situation of Venezuela is affected by
by the economic situation.
Thank you for that. Francesco.
Do we have further questions for our colleagues
No, I don't see. That's OK.
So once again, uh, sincere thanks to you both, uh, Mr Branca and Ms
Ato for joining us and thank you also for your patience.
OK, so we almost finished here. Just wanted to, um thank you both.
I just wanted to recite a couple of things as usual to make sure you're all on track.
OK, so starting with the Secretary General's travels, Of course.
Uh, the statement that I shared with you earlier to write out on UNRWA
and Sudan as well. I referred to those statements.
Uh, I should mention that the Secretary General is currently in Cali,
where he is, uh, scheduled to deliver remarks at the opening of the uh,
plenary session of the cop um, in
his remarks, he's expected to highlight that nature is life,
and yet we are waging war against it.
Uh, these, um, comments will be
we figure in his statement which we will share with you later today, shortly after
the as delivered version shortly after they are delivered.
Um, I should mention that the Secretary General, whilst
in in Colombia will also meet and engage in discussions with indigenous people
and local communities. So
we will keep you up to speed on his, uh, travel to Colombia at
Uh, other events taking place here
in Geneva. We have the Human Rights Committee, which is concluding this afternoon.
Its review of the report of Ecuador
and the Committee Against Torture, which began its 81st session yesterday.
This morning is reviewing the situation,
and in this room in this seat in about 40 minutes from now,
we will have Rebecca Greenspan,
who is the secretary General of UN Trade and Development.
Uh, together with Anastasia
A's head of macroeconomic and development policies Branch. Um,
they're going to be briefing you.
It's an embargoed press conference on the publication
of the Trade and Development Report 2024.
Rethinking development in the age of discontent.
That's the report which should have been shared with you.
It's embargoed until 2:30 p.m. So the press conference in this room
Uh, there is a meeting, this seminar rather that we have announced here a
asander has announced that to you
Uh um and it's called the International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East.
It's an event which the Department of Global
Communications is organising with support from U.
of course, taking place this Friday, the first of November
Uh, we have, uh, Melissa Fleming, under Secretary General for DGC Tatiana Vallo
via Who's our director general at UN
Ambassador Riyad Mansour,
who is a permanent observer, um, of the state of Palestine to the United Nations,
We have messages from the Secretary General,
um, and the chair of the Committee on Exercising in a
rights of Palestinian people.
These are the messages that will open this this important, uh, full day event
with sessions speaking to the situation of, uh,
press and safety of journalists in a time of war.
is titled behind the headlines of Gaza Media Challenges and Perspectives.
to show up at this important event. Uh, this Friday, the first of November,
Uh, starting at, um 1030 in room 26.
And lastly, just to mention that this coming Thursday,
the 31st of October is World Cities Day.
There is a secretary-general message that we shared with you.
This year's observance is
themed to youth climate change makers.
catalysing, local action for urban sustainability.
So there is a message which we shared with you on this important observance.
That's all I have. Do you have any questions for me?
No. On that note, I wish you good afternoon and see you here on Friday.
