Welcome to the press briefing of the UN Information Service in Geneva.
Today is Friday 17th of January, already credible?
I would like to start with an announcement on the travel of the Secretary General to Lebanon.
The Secretary General arrived in Beirut, Lebanon yesterday.
Upon arrival, he was met by the caretaker Foreign Minister of Lebanon, Doctor Abdullah Bou Habib.
Today, as we speak, the Secretary General is in Nakura in southern Lebanon to visit UNIFIL to express his gratitude for the courage and determination of the UN peacekeepers who have been working in very challenging circumstances during this time on the ground.
The Secretary General visited a number of position in UNIFIL that had been hit by Israeli forces last year.
Before leaving UNIFIL, the Secretary General will address the mission's leadership and we will share with you those remarks.
We'll make them public this evening.
Upon his return to Beirut, the Secretary General, along with the UN Special Coordinator in Lebanon, Janine Hennis Plashard and the Unified Force Commander General Arroldo Lazzaro, is expected to attend the working dinner hosted by the caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati.
The Secretary General is expected to spend the day in Beirut where he will meet with President Joseph Own, Prime Minister designated Nawaf Salam, and the Speaker of the Parliament, Nabi Beri.
We expect the secretary general to hold the press conference late Saturday afternoon.
He will return back to New York on on Sunday and be at the Security Council meeting on the Middle East on Monday.
So this is what I could say of the trip of the Secretary General to Lebanon.
OK, so that is for the announcement of the trip of the SGI.
Also have an announcement from the UN Human Rights Council who asks me to to tell you that 14 states will have the human rights records examined during the 40th session of the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review Working Group, which starts on Monday.
The 40th session of the UPR Working Group will be held in room 20 from 20 to 31 to 31st, sorry, January 2025.
The 14 states to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during this session are, in order of a scheduled review, Italy, El Salvador, The Gambia, Bolivia, Fiji, Sammarino, Kazakhstan, Angola, Iran, Madagascar, Iraq, Slovenia, Egypt, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Details of this 48th session in the countries to be reviewed are on the Human Rights Council website and on the press release that was shared with you last Wednesday.
And with this announcement, I'd like to now go to our first topic we should have online.
You are calling in from Jerusalem for WHOI think Tareq is also online.
Let me see if it's the case.
Tarek, if you want to start, can I give the floor immediately to Rick and we will listen from him and update on the health situation.
But there's a there's A and we can go straight to doctor people Corn.
Good morning and and hope you're all doing fine.
Can you hear me loud and clear?
Because we had some problems, some technical problems.
So first of all, greetings from Jerusalem.
I want to raise in a few, of course, a few topics with regard to Gaza, but also a number of comments on the West Bank.
But first, let's start with the ceasefire, the imminent ceasefire.
I should say it's for us, I think for probably all of all of us, the best news since long times who we welcome the announcement of a deal to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza.
And we of course hope that all parties will respect that committee commitment to fully implement the deal, quickly go through those 3 phases and and and work towards.
There's so much needing needed lasting peace.
WHL Impartus, which is not ready to support the health system and the people of Gaza in specifically now planning to scale up it's operations, mobilising critical supplies and resources to address the immediate needs and support early recovery efforts.
It's of course critical that the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza are removed.
We need a rapid, unhindered safe access and expedite the flow of aid into and across to Gaza.
I want to also really mention that when people talk about restoring a health system, there is very much a collective effort and must and will be guided and executed in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
We finally need Palestinian solutions for everything, including for health and the health sector, the Ministry of Health, the health workforce, specifically when you talk about Gaza, in Gaza, the partners, WHL partners and the international community.
And we also really urge donors and the global community to provide this flexible funding.
So much needed to enable swift and effective response responses to the urgent.
Specifically now I want to say to the longer term, midterm and longer term needs.
We've heard it all along the UN and bargaining are very much ready.
They cannot do that alone on all France private sector is critical.
Private supply chain should be restored and basic communities allowed to float to flood Gaza.
Now when you look at WHO, the sport specifically and WHO leading and coordinating part of the health cluster, the HealthPartners health together with a closer part of a 60 day implementation plan for ceasefire was already prepared in the past.
But I think of course it has been updated.
And for us in line with the health ceasefire plan, we also have our own plan as part of that.
So the plan go initially because we have to be pragmatic and initially the humanitarian support, yeah, in all areas.
If you talk about food security and and water and non food items also specifically in health, we'll need to continue and need to be expanded and and further in the next phases of the ceasefire.
So our efforts will focus to to continue to restore but especially expand essential health services and and we, we have orders and and input coordination with partners and the Ministry of Health.
We have ordered temporary prefabricated clinics, the prefab clinics and hospital which we will integrate into the existing facilities, but not stand alone integrating existing health facilities as part of that to expense need that capacity address urgent health needs and health service delivery if in underserved and nearly accessible area.
So the focus will be on the seven priority response, trauma and emergency care will continue restoring and expanding.
Comprehensive primary Healthcare is probably the most important and then have a focus on child health, sexual reproductive health and rights, non communicable diseases, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, mental health and psychosocial support.
Expansions of the of the services will require strengthening of the and delivery of service capacity.
So expanding not only and and making sure that's the Gaza health workers can do their work, a lot of them are doing it in an incredibly resilient way, but a lot of them are there in this makeshift shelters, etcetera.
We want to they should go back to in their, in their original jobs, including bits which are already there emergency medical teams and we want to get more specialised care teams as well to scaling up the, the service which are really needed, scaling of supply chains via all possible routes.
And, and you've seen other news on that.
And sure, adequate delivery of stocks and essential medicines that supplies now the hospitals.
If you take some examples of that and and for me coming into to Gaza every every two months for a number of weeks, you look for example at in in Gaza City to to our sheep Al Ahli and on TC Sahaba patient friendly.
We're all in a sheep are we want to increase the bed capacity to adding 200 beds paediatric inpatient capacity in our own tissue of another 50 beds increase the hemodialysis machine.
So over 30 units in North Gaza expansion also serves a lot of and restoration serves in Kamala 1 and Indonesia special.
And I would say the the the the special comprehensive teams to make sure that they can go to deploy them to Shifa Al Akhi, Rantisi, etcetera, and come on at one and the others as well.
Looking at the South to do the same in, in, in, in the South, make sure that you get this special care teams.
EMT is already there to Nasser European as Al Aqsaq as well.
Now restoring the health infrastructure.
There is too much to actually do stocks there.
But I think we have to focus at the basics first.
And that's of course, electricity's the utilities, water, electricity, waste management systems.
Addressing malnutrition is an ongoing efforts and the protection of community, community from epidemics.
The whole public health intelligence, we struggled with that with surveillance systems, Ministry of Health and partners.
How can we make sure that we reactivate in ERS etcetera to report outbreak management, etcetera, stabilise, strengthen your results.
And I think it's probably the most critical and sure that all gas and health workers can do their job and deploying additional healthcare professionals, including external medical teams and and local works to fill critical gaps, preparedness and public health projection.
And last but not least, of course, governance and coordination as well.
O medevac, this is something where we hope in this ceasefire even in depth in, in the ceasefire processes, the three phases we should of course be transferring to a sustained peace process.
But in the even in the initial phases, we hope to expand on medevac over the coming months.
As we all know, the medical evacuation remains incredibly slow.
So before the Rafa crossing was closed, we talked about 4700 patients and then from six May only 418 patients now have been manufacts over the systems of WHO.
Now we estimate that at least 12,000 patients are need actually the the special care and treatments at other places than Gaza.
So if you continue like that, we are basically in the next 5 to 10 years.
Now with this ceasefire agreement, we want to at least we want to see that that the traditional referral pathway to East Jerusalem and West Bank opens up.
But also of course pathways to Egypt, hopefully through the Rafah crossing can be expanded etcetera and through and to Jordan and from there to others.
Just I think it's, it's good to say that if you look at the number of patients from requests submitted between 27 November and 24 December 2024, only 29 patients of 1200 patients were approved for medical evacuation abroad.
So the stumbling block is actually the approval process.
It's one of the main and of these 1200 patients, 405 are children and only ten were approved to travel with companions.
So 99 were approved for travel without companions, which means they cannot leave.
Children have to travel with their companions and one of the 48 children were denied and one of the 48 are pending approval.
The one on the 48 children were denied will be reconsidered by the Israeli authorities for medical evacuation abroad.
We hope now with the ceasefire starting coming Sunday, the ceasefire process that this will be all better facilitated and supportive.
So the focus on the West Bank, because we forget that all the time, the access to a house, operations, increasing satellite violence, continued closure of checkpoints, arbitrary obstructions, detention of health workers as well the closure of entire towns and communities are impeding excellence.
So 52 out of the 52 hospitals are at least partially function, 22 are partly accessible and three primary causes of functionality constraint as reported by 8 partially functioning hospitals like a staff, equipment and supplies.
And the three primary causes for accessibility constraints as reporters by 22 partially accessible hospitals, insecurity, financial barriers such as use of these and other physical barriers Over to you.
Thank you very much Rick for this update.
It's very important to speak about this ahead of the what's going to happen on Saturday.
But I just would like to 1st tell our journalist that we have online, James Elder can answer a question on the situation of children in Gaza, but he needs to leave in 5 minutes and maybe he'll manage to join afterwards.
But if there is any specific question for James on the situation of children, can you please raise your hand now so that I can?
Yeah, Maya for James and then of course I'll, I'll, I'll you'll also be ready to give questions to to Rick, please.
James, you, you, that's for you.
Yes, regarding the numbers, thank you very much for taking my question.
James, if you could please give us the numbers of children that have been now in in a state of injured and compared to the number of dead.
If you do have that number.
Or if you could give us at least an overview of what the situation as far as children that need urgent needed to be urgently hospitalised teams.
Yeah, look, the the numbers game is perilous.
I think it's worth everyone looking at the report that came out last Friday from, you know, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious medical journals.
The the peer reviewed report in The Lancet that actually pointed to numbers in excess of what the Ministry of Health had been reporting.
That's very, very important because of course we have been standing by our use of those Ministry of Health numbers of children that already show upwards of 15,000 girls and boys having been killed.
That's around 35A day, 35 children killed reportedly every single day for 14 months.
The Lancets peer reviewed report actually points to more to more children.
So that simply underlines what Rick has spoken to, why this moment is just so absolutely critical and so overdue.
There's been around 10 children killed every single day this year.
You know, so there are so many reasons why this deal needed to happen much earlier, but why we now need phase one, Phase 2 and so critically phase three to to take place at the same time we are seeing deaths from hypothermia, which speaks to a lack of of the ability to get aid supplies into the Gaza Strip.
October, November, December, the last three months of last year were the lowest cumulative of a three month period since the horrors of the 7th of October.
So we've seen children die of malnutrition.
We've seen children die of hypothermia.
We've seen children die as we have worn for a long long time from the skies and from the ground.
So, you know, I wholeheartedly support everything Rick said, including those very impressive scale up plans you hear because people are absolutely at rock bottom and they have been for a long time.
I spoke to a lot of people in Gaza yesterday and heard very similar refrain from them, which is they are so glad the **** quote, UN quote, the killing will stop.
But they live in a tent now and they'll go back and they'll live in a tent above their rubble.
Because we have nothing left, we have to now ensure that it does mean something.
And that means those authorities, those signatories to this agreement, ensure an enabling environment for getting aid across the Gaza Strip, all those things were exposed to, which is something that has been lethally absent in the past year and two months.
James, sorry, I know you have to go in 2 minutes, but Gabriella has a question for you.
Alessandra James, we just heard that 12,000 people are wounded or sick and they need a treatment in another parts.
So do you have an estimate how many of them are children?
Yeah, it's a great question and it's something we've worked on.
Look WHO lead on this and WHO have been incredible.
And Rick just mentioned some of those numbers there and he might repeat some of those.
And I will, Gabrielle, I can re share the press briefing we did two months ago that showed a 90% plus reduction in medical evacuations of children into the six months since the Rafa crossing closed.
And when I was listening to Rick there, it sounded like the numbers have got even more dire.
Now remembering this is not a logistical problem.
This is simply a problem of intent.
So it was very important element that he added.
So I would defer to Rick, but I can't share those numbers from a month or so ago.
And I too want to want to reiterate the numbers that I just heard from, from Rick because they do point to medical evacuations.
Despite the public advocacy, despite the private advocacy has not been improving for thousands, thousands of children who somehow survived the bombardment, the missiles, the quadcopters, and then and then died of their injuries, excruciatingly painful injuries in hospitals and.
And this is not past tense.
Those children sit in hospitals as we speak.
So I'm sorry not to have greater clarity on numbers, but I know Rick does.
James, I know you have a hard to stop here, but Rick has already raised this And and Rick, I've got lots of questions for you, so let's go back to you.
OK, Rick, you want to maybe complete what James said and then we'll go to other questions.
So first, I think James made a really important point.
So we look of course at at the figures.
We always talk about the number of people killed in Gaza like 4647 thousand and the number of people injured close to 110 thousand.
Now we also the the study from in the in the Lancets, but long school and Yale, which actually comes at the number of of people being killed is an underestimate.
That's probably closer to 70 thousands.
We always raise that actually in order.
Secondly, we don't even talk about what we call the indirect death.
So people who have all kind of chronic diseases, etcetera, couldn't get couldn't access the treatment they need us and died over the last fifty months.
That runs in the 10th of thousands.
So the number of deaths is actually much direct indirect is much higher than what's actually projected.
And then from one of the 10,000 injuries and, and, and we've raised it, there's a WHO assessments together with the ETS Ministry of Health that's estimated 1/4 of that.
So that is now more than 25, almost 30,000 patients will have will meet lifelong rehabilitation and assisted assisted technology.
So this is like putting some numbers and then about the number of children, the question like how many children from those 12,000 you know would be what do we estimate how many children?
I can just say that when we look at the last four figures, I mentioned that the request some methods between late November and late December 1200 patients more than a quarter four and five of them were children.
So I would expect that's roughly 1/3 of them are and will be children.
If you look at the number of people killed, which is currently used, this figure, 4647 thousands, roughly almost 1/3 of them are children 14,555.
That's the lost latest figures we have over to you for the other questions.
OK, So let me start with the questions here in the room.
Thank you and good morning, Mr Pepicorn.
I would like to ask, since the ceasefire deal agreement announced, is there any change in the 8 trucks that who can get into Gaza or are there still restrictions going on, on that?
And also I want to ask, you said who is planning to increase the operations once the ceasefire is take effect.
Do you have targeted volume of aids get inside of Gaza in the first few days of the ceasefire?
Thank you, Rick very much.
So this of course it's not just WHO first of all, the key starting process starts on Sunday and and the UN, UN and partners are very much planning to are prioritised as much as possible.
You've seen in the in the, I think in the documents the, the targets to get between 5 and 600 trucks in per day over the over the coming weeks and during those phases that would be a huge, a huge increase of the 40 to 50 what we have seen over the last months.
So it would be an enormous decrease.
Now with it's not suitably HL with the health parts.
The cluster, the cluster plan is there.
We will try to do our level best to enforce, get the priority items in as quickly as possible and hopefully it will of course depends if it really works out.
And I'm hopeful for that.
I have, we have to be, we have to be hopeful that those rules will be expanders to bring the goods in both in the north and the South of Gaza.
So an, an, an expansion, it will be an unhindered and safe access of an expired flow of a there's of course concerns also about security within Gaza, which has to be addressed, which I also already raised.
And it is the the UN and, and, and I think everyone negotiating that ceasefire is, is focusing on those priorities.
So, yeah, let's say hopes that this will definitely expand the flow of aid in general and and with the focus, of course on the key priorities.
Food will be 1, water will be one, non food item will be 1 and including medical supplies, We also, as I said, we hope to get in that more difficult supplies.
There was there's a lot of issues.
For example, fuel is 1 area, but there's also an, if you talk to hospital, hospital directors, they, they all run on their generators.
There's some silly things.
There's a, there's a huge need in generator repair parts and spare parts in generator oil, which we haven't been able to bring in.
So all that kind of even if you go to NASA medical complex and I was there six weeks ago, again, the director said one item, they also misses paper, just A4 paper to, to, to, to make sure that you know, they're, they're because they don't have an electronic patient system to follow their systems.
So all there are so many needs which can be addressed.
They're being prioritised right now.
They were prioritised and hopefully it will be.
I think that we should be careful raising too many expectations and the focus initially they should be as pragmatic as as possible expense the humanitarian assistance as much as possible.
In the meantime, work on for health, work on restorations of this basic electricity, water systems, waste management, et cetera.
I've got 10 questions for you and many more.
Speaker afterwards, if you could answer a little bit briefly the questions, I'll go to Nina Larson, AFP.
Yeah, thank you for taking my question.
Hi, Rick, I just wanted to follow up on the press briefing given by WHO yesterday when you mentioned the amounts that you're the initial assessments are for the needs for rebuilding Gaza.
And you mentioned in the 1st 1 1/2 years 3 billion and and then it was either five to seven or six to seven years, it was 10 billion.
We wanted to clarify if that was if that should be added to each other, if it or if it was combined, if it was 3 + 10 or if it was 10 combined within the seven years.
Yeah, So what I said so maybe I was unclear.
So all these processes are in place with government, World Bank, EUUN and partners to make those analysis overall and also specific per sector.
So WHO of course we, we work closely with, with this part on, on health and and the initial type of assessment on health is that to restore, to restore the overall health system in Gaza.
Yeah, it would run into 10 billion plus actually that is the overall figure.
I think, however, we have to be pragmatic and as I said, when we we're now getting into a ceasefire press process at 3 phases, which shoots be continuing to sustain peace process and hopefully a long lasting solution.
So initially we really have focus when it comes to health to this expanding of this humanitarian support and the areas I mentioned previously.
We Jeremy launched a difference International.
Just want to follow up on the previous question.
When we talk about aid coming up and in, in in Gaza ceasefire, if it happens, it's in two days.
So if we're going to go from 40 trucks to 506 hundred trucks a day, does it mean that technically you have trucks right now going to the frontier queuing in front of of Gaza?
Is it what's happening now like trucks are actually yeah, But coming up to to Gaza and queuing, well, we all know that of course this is this is not WHO.
So I mean this question should we not be addressed, maybe should be addressed to the humanitarian coordinator and team.
But of course we know there are thousands of trucks in Egypt, for example and and it's a Jordan science, but also other routes would open up through our stops and restoring a route from the West Bank and E Jerusalem into Gaza.
So if it is possible strain way to go to 600, I don't know we'll see.
I think if the political will is there and a lot of impediments are taken out and routes are opening up and, and, and that is all in the plan that there will be many entrances at us into Gaza, then I think that should be possible.
That is the health part and The Who part is just a very small part of that.
I saw him, the greenlaf on hall.
You know what, what is, what are your plans concretely if the ceasefire holds on Sunday, you plan to start going in on Monday.
You talked about challenges security could be a bit more specific.
What do you think are going to be the largest logistic and security challenges for delivering aid?
Well, first of all, I think you heard like that we there was this huge struggle to increase the number of suppliers getting into Gaza and across Gaza including from the South to the north or from the north to the South, etcetera.
So that's is of course remains the biggest challenge that's going to be taken away when the ceasefire start.
That is part of the of the ceasefire arrangements etcetera.
That's not WHO that's the the parties who concluded this deal and the UN in general.
So if those if those obstructions are taken away and, and and we will have more entrances into Gaza and indeed there are many, many, many trucks already ready.
I mean again I don't I say no one will know if straightaway will be 6 hundreds, but I think the possibility is very much there.
That is very much this can be built up very rapidly and specifically when other crossings will be opened like Rafa and through Jordan, a number of additional court cross crossings in the north and in the South.
The security issues in the within Gaza and and of course the the transport within Gaza that needs to be addressed and solved.
But also on that part work is going on over to you.
Thank you very much Mesa.
There are so many questions.
Let me go to somebody who's not it's really urgent.
Thank you please again, sorry for that.
I think Mr Pipico missed my first question.
I asked since the since fire ceasefire deal announced, is there any change in the aid flow WHO missions or still the same?
Well, I think it's been reasonably that's still at the moment the same.
So that WHO and I think many of you and we are we finalised, I said we work with, we work as one UN and there's a flash appeal from the one UN.
Then there are clusters WHO leading and and coordinating the health cluster.
And within that we of course have our own operational response plan and and we finalising the one for 2025.
We just completed the one for 2024 including the report.
And yes, I think a lot, I mean like I mentioned one thing here, but lots of more flexible funding will be needed to expedite that we everyone, every UNAC still have supplies etcetera stuck in Egypt or in Jordan, etcetera, which should come in over the coming over the commands over over the coming months.
Currently the 8 moving into Gaza has been slow.
So that should be that should definitely change over the coming over the coming months.
But one thing which I think I mentioned that what will be absolutely needed and, and, and there will be many appeals to to Member States and, and, and partners that there is a global community to provide this flexible funding and to work enabling swift and effective responses.
And initially, it will be a continuation of the work we are currently doing the the component of early recovery, rehabilitation and healthy reconstruction should be rapidly expanded over to you.
Jimmy Keaton, Associated Press.
Thank you, Doctor Peppercorn.
I'm going to just follow up on what everyone else has has been saying, but I just wanted to add a little bit of a of a different question.
What, how devastating would it be for both aid operations and for public morale if the Israeli government does not go forward and approve the ceasefire which has prompted such joy as we've seen in Gaza?
Yeah, well, I think you can answer that yourself.
I think our assumption is that this is going to continue.
And, and that's my assumption is as well, that we go on through the three phases and there will be work.
And it is collective responsibility, including from Israel that we work through to a sustains, not sustained peace process and a solution.
And and so, yeah, I think it would be, it would because utterly devastating if this is not going to happen now.
But I think all the, I think, I think the whole world, we, we, we all hope and expect that, that, that this has happened.
I mean, this crisis, we, you know, we can't, can't be solved with solving the protracted crisis, the protracted crisis.
So we have to focus on, on all of that and look forwards.
And and as well, it's collective responsibility from member states, the owners, partners, including Israel, to, to make sure that there will be an an early recovery process, there will be rehabilitation and there will be reconstruction in Gaza.
And it should be Palestinian, it should be Palestinian left.
It should be Palestinian solution for that with assistance from all of us, all to you.
Thank you very much for doing this.
Doctor, people going you talk about a little bit about fuel, but could you talk about the dual use items into Gaza?
Does the ceasefire deal include loosening list addiction to David dual use medical items?
And secondly, if if cease ceasefire happened, then what concerns you have most in terms of implementation, implementation of phase one of the ceasefire deal?
You mentioned the the the item for dual use.
So it's all I think part of the erasement that a lot of those supplies and equipment will be rapidly approved.
The proof will be in the pudding.
I mean, like we will see over the coming months how how good this will work.
We know that we have had problems also before the crisis with getting some supplies and goods in for health.
Before this crisis, it was incredibly difficult to get medical imaging machinery into Gaza.
And I talk about mobile 8 rays or, or CTS or Mris or spare parts for that.
Well, there's hardly any MRI left in Gaza at the moment.
I think there's one in the north and one in the South.
So a lot of the medical imaging equipment will need to be included over the coming months and years to get into Gaza prove will be including that we will we will put everything like that on on the list.
And the assertions of course that it is going to work is part of of an of an recovery and rehabilitation process.
And now I'm only talking about health if to ask my colleagues on other sectors as well.
So, yeah, it's, it's, it's sparse as we as far as we understand it's all part of this arrangements and we are we are already submitting that.
As I mentioned also for example, the prefab hospitals that's also it would be very difficult in the past to get it in.
Now we're going to push all of that.
And the only thing, of course, what I I would hope that we will be able to, to, to get those goods in, it will take time.
If there's instructions, we will report on it.
And I go to Nick Cumbrous, New York Times.
Rick, I hope you can hear me now.
You talked yesterday about the need to or the wish to bring in prefab hospital units to support the sort of recovery of, of treatment.
Could you just elaborate a little bit on that?
How quickly do you think that is something you're going to do?
Do you have hospital prefab hospitals already in stock and ready to go?
Which of the hospitals where you would prioritise deploying these kind of prefab units?
Yeah, this is not easy because I think we we have already made assessments of some of the prefab hospitals, of course in close coordination the ministry and partners in in Gaza.
What and how so our contracts are ready before they, they, they, they can come in.
And, and I want to stress that point that what we want to avoid because we want to avoid that we, we again bring in separate hospitals, except no, they will be to, they will be linked as much as possible to the existing system, strengthening the existing system, expanding the capacity there and, and, and very much expanding the bad capacity, but also the land capacity, etcetera.
And that's also what we want to, if this is a time to, to look to, if there's a need and there is a need to bring in more specialised emerging medical teams into Gaza, working with the Gaza health for workforce as much as possible within the existing health infrastructure.
On the longer term, of course, government deviation partners, we have to look at the whole of the data health system.
You, you know, the, the figures from the 36 hospitals, half 18 are partly functional.
From the primary healthcare clinics for roughly 1/3 are partly functional.
But it's also of course an opportunity to look at which what are the priorities Like primary Healthcare is definitely priority.
So where should primary healthcare be delivered?
And if that's, if that's is currently in different places, we have to go of course, as much as possible where the community are and where they live.
That also applies for hospital hospitals.
Can we make some changes to maybe with which will lead to a more cost effective health system with a with a prime focus on Primary Health care?
Over to you Gabriella Sotomayor, processor.
So you mentioned that 12,000 people, around 12,000 people need special care out of Gaza.
When are they going to be evacuated?
I don't know how to ask, but how urgent is urgent?
So the, it's incredibly urgent for those patients because they cannot get a treatment they need and deserve in Gaza.
So that's what we and and and I just want to make a point that before the Rafa crossing was closed in 6th May 2024, before the crossing was closed and I think it was Ministry of Health part of The Who, it was quite a number, almost 4700 patients were a matter of fact mainly to Egypt and in the region from Egypt to the region.
But since the crossing was closed and only patients, very small groups of patients go through care of Shalom.
We talked about this 484 hundred 64180 patients, all of them facilitated, supported the whole manufact process through WHO you probably heard about.
Most of them after that went to the UAE, but also in the other regions and to the some European countries as well.
Now if we look at that phase from May till now, only 480 patients were 12,000 patients are in need to be matter of fact that this is way, way too slow and we estimate 1/3 is probably children.
We estimate from this 12,000 probably half that is related to the war trauma, trauma cases if it is severe burns or or or spinal injuries, amputations needed additional operations etcetera.
But the other half is also a lot of oncology patients who need specific treatment.
So that's why we, we, we, we hope and expect that with this ceasefire agreement and, and over the three phases and leading to peace, more sustained peace that manifest is 1 area where we can quickly expense through Rafa into Egypt.
But also, as we mentioned again and again and again to restore the traditional referral pathway to East Jerusalem and West Bank, because before this crisis between 50 to 100 patients per day were referred from Gaza to East Jerusalem and West Bank.
And almost half of those spaceship before the Christ was related to oncology, to cancer.
So we want to restore that etcetera.
And I think a ceasefire process and leading to peace isn't isn't is the opportunity to expand from that.
John Zaragostas, Francois, Catherine de Lancet.
Coming back to what you said earlier, you said it's a collective responsibility, including from Israel.
In your talks with the Israeli authorities, what commitments are you getting from the Israeli authorities?
And I'm interested in particular will they be waiving any import duties on the supplies coming in, whether it's the prefab hospitals, etcetera?
And secondly, if you have any information on the health personnel, Gaza, how many have left, whether it's medical practitioners or nurses or midwives or technical staff?
Yeah, starting with your last question, it's a difficult one.
I mean, we estimated before there was roughly between 12 to 25,000 health workers in Gaza and and I think estimation at least 3000 or something like that have left.
And unfortunately also a lot of the senior medical staff, a lot of let's say the senior specialists, that's why one of the reasons is because a lot of supplies are not there, but also a lot of the top medical specialists, a number of them are not anymore in Gaza.
So you also, by the way, and we don't even discuss it yet, but with a ceasefire process that you want the Gazans who have left Gaza and we would like to come back.
You want to see them back in Gaza to assist in, in building up Gaza again.
Because those health workers are the best.
They were trained, they know that, they know the situation.
And, and, and yeah, finally, it's all about the local health workforce, which we have to focus on.
EMTs and special medical teams can only do so much.
So it's in a real issue on, on, on the assistance from my my point was I think more on the longer term on may talk about early recovery and rehabilitation and reconstruction, which will take as we know years and years and years and years.
It's a collective responsibility and globally etcetera and a *****, Yeah.
And also with the support from Israel, they're also responsible there to assist and facilitates that.
And the, it's a global responsible, global community responsibility.
And that should be, of course, always a Palestinian solution, Palestinian plan, which we all jointly support as focused as possible.
The humanitarian support will be needed for years to come, including in health.
You want to make that point on the supplies, the specific supplies that you question?
Yeah, we get signals that this will be better facilitated.
Now, again, the proof will be in the pudding, and we will let you know how this is working out.
And just to complete your answer, Rick, just to inform the journal, the secret card was card sorry was earlier this week in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah trying to coordinate indeed this this preparations in for for for the next days.
And also Mohan Adhi, our deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process has been discussing the same issue in Cairo.
So, so we are preparing, but as we have heard several times this morning, we will only be able to deliver as much as the conditions on the ground with allow.
So the Secretary General has been calling for this repetitively in the last hours and days.
Thank you very much, Rick.
This was extremely useful.
I'm would like really to to thank you and praise yourself for all these days coming.
There will be yes, as you said, a lot to do, but the UN are really committed to stay there and supports the implementation of the deal and scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief as much as possible.
Let's now I hope maybe I, I will plan to go back to Gaza again in the weak time and such that maybe we can have a report from Gaza.
That would be that would be extremely welcome.
So thank you very, very much.
Let's change conflict and go to Africa for an update on Sudan and also the situation in South Sudan.
So I've got Ravina with me for OHCHR and we also have Florence Gillette online.
Florence is the head of the delegation of the ICRC in South Sudan and that we're going to hear about the conflict in this area.
So maybe we'll start with the ravine and then I'll go to Florence and then we will open the floor to questions.
Thank you, Alessandra, and good morning, everyone.
As Alessandra said, moving from one conflict to another, one extremely dire catastrophic situation to another.
The UN **** Commissioner for Human Rights, Walker Turk, warns that the conflict in Sudan is taking an even more dangerous turn for civilians.
After reports that dozens were brutally killed in ethnically targeted attacks in the southeastern state of Al Jazeera.
And amid reports of an imminent battle for the control of Khartoum.
As the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces battle for control at all costs in the senseless war that has raged for close to two years now, direct and ethnically motivated attacks on civilians are becoming increasingly common.
The situation for civilians in Sudan is already desperate and there is evidence of the Commission of war crimes and other atrocity crimes.
We fear the situation is now taking a further, even more dangerous turn.
In the last week alone, our office has documented at least 21 deaths in just two attacks in Al Jazeera state, although the actual number of attacks directed against civilians and the number of civilians killed are very likely higher.
In an attack on the 10th of January, at least 8 civilians were killed in Taiba camp and at least thirteen women and one man abducted.
Houses were burnt, livestock, crops and other property looted, and dozens of families were displaced.
The next day, at least 13 civilians were killed, including two boys, in an attack on Kambo Kamza camp.
Both camps are located about 40 kilometres from Wad Madani in the capital of Al Jazeera.
Reports suggest that the attacks were carried out by the Sudan Shield Forces led by Abu Aklaq Khal, a former Rapid Support Forces commander who in October last year defected to the SAF, and that they targeted the Kanabi, A historically marginalised group composed mainly of Nuba and other African tribes.
We note the Sudanese authorities assurances that these attacks, which came in the context of the recapture of Wad Badani by the SAF, would be fully investigated and those responsible brought to justice, and that an investigation committee has been established.
Retaliatory attacks of shocking brutality on entire communities based on real or perceived ethnic identity are on the rise, as is hate speech and incitement to violence.
This must urgently be brought to an end.
In three videos received by our office that document scenes of violence, including unlawful killings, victims were dehumanised and denigrated and called dirt, mould, animal and ******** as they were subjected to violence.
Summary executions were hailed by perpetrators as a cleaning operation.
The videos were reportedly filmed in Wad Madani with men in SAF uniforms visibly present.
Serious concerns also persist for civilians in North Darfur, where ethnically motivated attacks by RSF and its allied Arab militias against African ethnic groups, particularly the Zagawa and the Four, continue to exact a horrific toll.
Separately, in the city of Omdurman, some 120 civilians were reportedly killed and more than 150 injured in drone attacks on the 13th of January, allegedly launched by the SAF on a market in the Ambada Dar es Salaam Square and RSF controlled area.
We once again call on the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council and the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces to put an end to the fighting.
We call on both parties to uphold obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
The proliferation of militia recruitment and mobilisation of fighters, largely along ethnic lines risks unleashing a broader civic civil war and inter communal violence.
The SAF and the RSF are responsible for the actions of groups and individuals fighting on their behalf.
Let us be clear about that.
The SAF and RSF must take immediate measures to ensure the protection of all civilians, including by taking all feasible measures to avoid or at the very least minimise harm to civilians in the conduct of hostilities.
Attacks must never be directed against civilians.
Prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into all reports of violations and abuses are crucial.
Thank you very much, Ravina, for this.
I'll give the floor to Florence now.
Yeah, Thank you very much.
I'm coming to you today from Juba to share what I witnessed last week during your visit to Ren County, including Jodha border crossing in the north of South Sudan last a few days ago and where and why I found the situation critical there.
Rank is down is only a few kilometres from the Sudanese border and many of its villages are right on the border across from the states of Blue Nile, White Nile and Senna, where fighting inside Sudan has been particularly intense recently.
During the recent hostilities and air strikes, more than 120,000 civilians crossed over from Sudan into South Sudan since the beginning of December.
Many of those people are actually Sudanese, which is a change from the trends of arrival we have seen since April 2023 where 75% of the people coming into South Sudan where South Sudanese returning this 120,000 people and more still to come are coming on top of 800,000 persons who already sought safety in South Sudan since April 2023.
Those people are feeling the extreme violence that Trevin I've just described in Sudan and are extremely vulnerable as well As a host community in South Sudan.
We can see a number of alarming issue in in rank and firstly I would mention the **** number of war wounded that average trained country since late November, early December.
Secondly, we can see a major strain on the resources of the local communities in Rain County in particular on water and firewood, but also a huge pressure on basic services including health that are not geared up for such an amount of people.
Thirdly, in addition, there is a cholera outbreak ongoing right now in South Sudan with more than 20,000 cases already declared across the country and a very **** fatality rate linked to the course, access to water, safe water and the status of the health services in the country.
In regards to ICRC response, upon hearing about the **** number of woundeds that were requiring urgent surgeries, we deployed an ICRC mobile surgical team on the 8th of December and immediately started to operate on patients.
Since the 8th of December, more than 260 surgeries were conducted by ICRC teams in in rank and this is ongoing every day with up to more than 100 surgical inpatients in the hospital at the same time.
It's only because we team up with other actors and in particular MSF Bettas en Frontier that we have been able to handle such a case slot.
You have to remember that resources in rank prior to the conflict in Sudan were only surfacing to serve a population of a few dozens of thousands of people.
So the services are extremely stretched.
And also we have to keep in mind that some of the services were actually provided in Sudan or from Sudan, such as advanced healthcare, access to electricity and and many other services.
Imagine how it looks like now in rank that the population has more than triple, possibly quadrupled in the last month.
Imagine what Geneva would look like if it's population would even double in less than two years.
As mentioned, this is also more important that there is an outbreak of Korea in South Sudan and many other ongoing crisis.
Though in rank this outbreak seems under control, we continue to register cases every day and with increased population it would get it would get worse.
ICRC teams are supporting the South Sudan Red Cross Society as they conduct essential activity on the cholera response, including case management and provision of safe water.
Today, along with the Ravenna, I stand in front of you to remind that the Sudan conflict is raging, affecting millions of people inside Sudan, but also millions of people in neighbouring countries.
14 years after independence, South Sudan and Sudan remain highly interconnected economically and socially.
The conflict in Sudan has a compounded effect with the impact of decades of ongoing inter communal violence, conflict and climate crisis in South Sudan.
We need to be careful so that the spillover effect of almost two years of war in Sudan do not further aggravate the already deep humanitarian crisis in South Sudan.
Very far away from the cameras and the media interests.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Thank you very much, Ravina and Florence for this update on Sudan questions.
1 is about Sudan, the other is about another issue.
Yeah, just ask for Sudan now because I've got some other questions and then we will go to.
So I just want to ask on Sudan, there have been reports of or the USS reports from the US saying that chemical weapons have been used by the army.
I'm wondering if that's something that you have seen And also the concerns around the fact that the sanctions imposed, the fresh sanctions imposed by the US would could result in further limiting of aid access, if you have any thoughts on that?
Yes, of course, we, we've seen the, the report from the US now our own office within its limits of access has not specifically documented the use of chemical weapons during this conflict in Sudan.
Of course, these reports are very worrying, very concerning, and they do require further investigation.
As you know, the use of chemical weapons is explicitly banned under international law.
We will continue to gather available evidence.
What we have documented is the use of extremely heavy weaponry in populated areas through the course of this conflict, including the use of air strikes in heavily populated areas in marketplaces.
Clearly on the issue of sanctions, I mean, we're unaware of the precise factual basis that the US has used to impose these sanctions.
But it does reinforce the need for full investigation of the serious misconduct, the serious violations of IHL and international human rights law that we have documented on both sides, and for states to take steps that are available to them to bring the parties into compliance with their obligations.
Obviously, we're also calling for compliance with the arms embargo that was imposed by the Security Council and on all states that are providing military or other logistical assistance to parties to the conflict to continue to fuel this conflict for them to reassess the impact of their contributions.
Other question on Sudan in in the room.
Lisa, I believe you have a question on Sudan and for France.
Lisa Shine is our Voice of America correspondent.
Yeah, actually I have multiple questions.
So if I'll try to be brief, but if you will Please be patient with me.
Thank you, Nina, for bringing up some of the questions.
As far as chemical attacks go, do you know have that information where there this is happening?
Is it mainly in Darfur or is it also in other areas of of Sudan and who who is it that there are who are the countries that are providing the weapons?
You talk about a an embargo, apparently the embargo is not being respected.
Do you think that specific sanctions from the United States and other countries against these countries would be useful, would be efficacious in in making some kind of an impact on this?
And then I would like to ask the EU and HCR, or perhaps you have information on this ravine as well, that is whether whether escape routes for Sudanese are being closed, whether it is difficult for the Sudanese to actually flee to other countries.
Perhaps this is something that the Red Cross representative can also discuss 'cause there is a lot happening there.
And then I noticed that there are some World Health Organisation representatives.
Bless you for being there.
Could you talk a bit about the situation of the Sudanese people, what you know about famine, the health situation and whether aid is getting through through to them?
I'm almost finished and it's specifically for the the Red Cross representative first, if you would send your notes please.
And then also, since there are so many South local S Sudanese returnees coming into the country and also Sudanese nationals fleeing into South Sudan, is is there a lot of hostility growing among the local communities where these people with this huge influx is occurring?
Because as you mentioned, resources are very limited.
And I am wondering whether The Who is also helping you in terms of the cholera outbreak which is occurring and what is the role in the government in all of this, that is, is it able to provide any kind of security or any help to this situation?
Thank you, Lisa, for this.
So yes, I'll give the floor to have.
I've been joined on the podium by Eugene, who also has to brief on DRC, by the way, but she can also answer some of your questions.
A few questions for Florence and Tariq should still be online so he can answer your questions on The Who point of view.
So let's start with Ravina.
Thank you, Lisa, you, you begged our patience.
But in fact, I should thank you for for bringing attention to this conflict, which is not in the headlines as much as it should be.
It's an extremely dire situation.
If you look at the figures, over 11 million people have been internally displaced, over 8.2 million of them by the ongoing conflict, 3.1 million fled to neighbouring countries, famine conditions in five areas, 25 million people face acute food insecurity.
This is an extremely dire situation which deserves all the attention it can get to try to engage, to try to put whatever pressure the international community can to bring this conflict to an end.
On the use of chemical weapons, as I as I said to Nina, unfortunately we because we have such limited access, we don't always have all the information that that we need on, on various very important aspects of this conflict.
So within the limits of our access, we have not documented the use of chemical weapons during this conflict in Sudan.
However, we have documented the use of extremely heavy weaponry, including explosive weapons used in populated areas in a manner that raises serious concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law, the principles of precaution and the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks.
And This is why the **** Commissioner has said that he is concerned that there are ongoing Commission, there is ongoing Commission of war crimes and other atrocity crimes in Sudan on the arms embargo.
So there is AUN arms embargo that's applicable to Darfur.
We are calling on all states to to refrain from providing all types of military support in Sudan.
This will of course have a decisive impact on ending the hostilities.
And as you rightly point out, this embargo is not being fully respected.
Now I believe you're aware of our position is that broad sectoral sanctions can be damaging to the human rights enjoyment of the population of a country.
So we are generally against broad sectoral sanctions.
Targeted sanctions can be effective in in exerting pressure on specific individuals and, and organisations that are responsible for the perpetration of, of conflict.
So we are calling on states to use whatever measures they can to to use whatever leverage they have to pressure the parties to the conflict to bring this to an end.
And this could also come in the way of the use of universal jurisdiction, for example, to to bring to justice perpetrators of of great violations.
I think that was all the questions for me.
So I'll then, yeah, just just to add to what Ravina said, Eliza, I think Ravina did well to point out the importance of speaking about this conflict.
And I would just like, I mean, the numbers are absolutely incredibly, they're terrible.
And I just wanted to add that the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan coordinated by ORCHA is seeking $4.2 billion to deliver set life saving 8 to almost 21 million vulnerable people, restore basic services and scale up protection.
And to this amount, we have to add $1.8 billion to support 5 million people, primarily refugees in seven neighbouring countries.
And maybe on this part, I'll give you the floor.
For Nina, Lisa, for your question, we don't have any specific information of a blockage.
If you heard any blockage, please let us know.
For now we haven't heard any blockage but we really continue to call for say passage for the the people who who would like to seek safety in neighbouring country and a sick asylum in neighbouring country.
And also we are echoing what ICRC representative presented today.
We are extremely concerned about the the increased attacks at the border area and especially the border to Sudan and South Sudan.
And then we are aware of those 120,000 plus people who arrived in rank and also to find the dire situation in in rank.
So we really call international community to step up their and scale their their assistant to those who are returning to South Sudan.
Thank you very much, Florence and Tariq.
Yes, no, thank you very much, Suzanne.
Thank you very much to to all of you.
I mean, as mentioned, the conflict in Sudan needs to require but would need more attention from the international community on the escape route.
I think in the case of South Sudan, you have it's important to to recall the history.
South Sudan as I mentioned has been independent for less than 14 years.
Sudanese and South Sudanese are one where one nation not that long ago.
So there is a so far we've seen really a free passage from Sudan into South Sudan, whether for South Sudanese returnees, some of them who have never really lived in South Sudan for the returnees or for Sudanese refugees.
We also have to recall that the comprehensive peace agreement allows actually Sudanese to set to settle in South Sudan and the same for South Sudanese in Sudan.
So this has to to continue to take place.
We also have to recall that the crossing from South from Sudan into South Sudan doesn't only take place as official border crossing, but all around the line.
This links into the the question asked by these are about the relationship between the host communities and the returnees and and refugees.
I would say we have until yesterday now I'll come back maybe on what's happening in the last 24 hours.
Yes, the arrival of the Sudanese and of the South Sudanese returnees into South Sudan put a lot of pressure on communities.
Many of the people are going to areas where there are no services.
And when I say no services, there is no water, no electricity, no health services, no schools.
But this is their area of origin and they have been highly welcomed by those who were there, whether they were from those areas or ID PS from ongoing conflict in South Sudan or climate crisis in South Sudan.
So that has been working well.
But it also requires to work very closely with the communities when you work on assisting those who are arriving and ready to get on board the host communities and ensure they also in the way benefit from whatever support is brought to the community.
Would it be only in alleviating the pressure of the new arrivals?
Now, we also have to keep in mind that in the last 24 hours, things have changed a bit following the events in Wad Madani.
I think that's probably allude to to to that.
And we have seen scenes of violence not only in Juba, but in Malacca, Wow, Quadrock and other places with new development, which is indeed attacks on Sudanese businesses at large.
The authorities of South Sudan are taking that very seriously and trying to take measures to contain the violence and trying to protect the Sudanese in South Sudan.
This is not a general trend.
It's something that happens in reaction to those what happened in one minute 2, two days ago against South Sudanese.
There is a large majority of South Sudanese who are in support and see the Sudanese people as you know, where they're brothers and sisters.
So the authorities also give that to your question in regards to the returns and arrivals of South of Sudanese refugees from Sudan.
Do try to bring their contribution to the response, but we also have to keep in mind that they are facing many challenges.
There are a lot of challenges in terms of budget management and also the budget of the government of South Sudan has been deeply amputated with this conflict in Sudan as the oil income have sharply reduced by at least 70% since the onset of the conflict in Sudan.
So this puts some, a lot of limits and we have to highlight that the humanitarian response is largely below what the needs require are and it's important to to keep that in mind.
Thank you very much, Florence.
Before I give the floor to Tariq for the last part of the answer to Lisa, I would like to apologise.
I leave you in the capable hands of me, Kelly, because I'm going to moderate the screening of the movie Cabrini, which is going to start very soon with a dialogue first and then the screening itself in Room 19, if you want to join us afterwards.
And Michaela has everything.
And we have not forgotten that in addition to the questions on Sudan, there were people who had questions on human rights for Ravina.
And then we still have Eugene who has to to brief you on the DRC and Ankh that which has a who has a an announcement.
Yes, thank you very much and good to see you all here.
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Yes, thank you very much, Michaela.
There was a there was a question on health situation particularly and a colleague from ICICI has already mentioned that.
Basically what's happening is that access to the to the Healthcare is, is is really severely constrained at 39% of health facilities who were reported as destroyed or non functioning health facilities like medicines, medical supplies and vaccination activities are very limited to the most in the most affected areas.
Now the situation in Khartoum is particularly stark.
Around 90% of health facilities are not functional.
MSF has suspended medical activities at Bashai Hospital, one of the last functioning hospitals in South Khartoum.
And that is following the the repeated attacks on staff and patients.
Cholera, malaria, dengue and measles have been reported in over 12 states.
Over 50,000 cholera cases and 1200 deaths have been reported.
And now let me just give you some latest figures on attacks on healthcare.
So since April 2023, there were 141 attacks resulting in 240 deaths and 216 injuries.
Since January 2024, that was 77 attacks, 202 deaths and 171 injuries.
So there are reports of cholera, measles, malaria, dengue and meningitis from several states.
We have some figures and I can, I will share it in notes.
But again, the, the, the, the, the access is, is, is difficult and then the, the disease surveillance is also very difficult.
So numbers are probably much, much higher.
So the critical services, maternal child health, management of severe acute malnutrition and the treatment of patients with chronic conditions have been discontinued in many areas.
This will also includes unfortunately the disruption in childhood vaccination, disease surveillance and vector control.
So really this is like a vicious circle where there is a less of health services for all people who need them, pregnant women, children, people who are injured in conflict.
And unfortunately, many of areas are largely inaccessible to humanitarian actors because of insecurity and logistical challenges that have have basically restricted doubly chosen partners capacity to provide direct assistance to health facilities in Darfur, Khartoum, Al Jazeera and and other places in in Sudan.
Alexander more numbers in in notes over Thank you very much Tarek.
I think Ravine, I wanted to perhaps add something.
Now just on Musa, your question now of course on on the exact progress in any peace negotiations, I would defer to my colleagues who are handling that side of things.
But just to say that the reason why we felt in particular we had to speak out today is because of these reports of an imminent battle for Khartoum.
We are worried about the kinds of violations that we may see as the the parties to the conflict battle for control at all costs for Khartoum.
And we are worried that this is taking us further away from peace and further into a horrific situation for civilians.
Thank you very much, Gabriela Sotomayor.
Michele and Ravina, why there is no interest on what is happening in Sudan?
Do you think there is racism or discrimination from donors or traditional media?
Gabrielle, I would like to ask that question back to the press corps.
We, maybe this is more a conversation to have over coffee, but we do hear that there is not much interest in, in many major mainstream news media on Sudan, that even when reporters file stories, they're, they're not featured prominently.
I, I do not know the reasons behind this, but I hope that we will be able to work together to bring as much attention to this conflict as possible.
A lot of the work we do behind the scenes is important, but the public pressure and the public advocacy is very important, and we hope that there will be more such advocacy and attention on the situation in Sudan.
No, I had another question that I said, oh, I'm sorry, but my apologies.
Yeah, thanks for reviewing that.
I wanted to ask about Russia and and the verdicts against Navalny's lawyers and sentences to lengthy prison terms in Russia, if you have a reaction to that.
I don't have a reaction on that specific case.
So let me check with colleagues if they've, they've been monitoring and if they can provide a specific reaction on that.
But generally, as you know, we have been very concerned about the civic space restrictions in Russia, the targeting of dissent, the, the gaoling harassment, intimidation of anyone who dares to question the, the policies of, of the administration and in particular people who speak out about the, the war against Ukraine on the, the case on Navalny's lawyers.
I'll get back to you if we have something more specific on that.
As Palestinian side reported, since the ceasefire ceasefire deal announced, Israel has killed over over 100 Palestinians, including 31 women, 27 children.
What is your office's report on that and how you evaluate those killings?
Yes, of course we're following the situation closely.
It's the ceasefire is meant to come into effect on Sunday.
In the run up to the ceasefire we are seeing heavy bombardment, including last night, and we understand that the the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported that 81 Palestinians have been killed just on the 15th and the 16th of January.
We are calling on all parties to the conflict to do everything they can to prevent the ceasefire deal from being derailed, to do everything they can to implement in good faith the ceasefire agreement which has been so hard won and to move towards finalising phase two and phase three of this agreement as soon as possible.
It, it is maybe you could say for you what what the what the topic is and to whom your question is addressed.
President Biden announced that he would commute the sentences of nearly 3000 inmates serving long prison terms for nonviolent drug offences.
So this is the broadest commutation of individual sentences ever issued by AUS president.
So my question is if you think that other countries, other governments should follow that example, For example, Mexico, there is a lot of people in gaol that it's only there because they were having some drugs or something in their pockets.
The short answer, Gabriella, is yes.
The office has been advocating for the decriminalisation of drug use and we have been advocating for alternative approaches to to tackling the scourge of of illegal drugs in society.
So we would welcome this news and unfortunately what we are seeing in in some countries, rather than looking for alternative ways and alternative punishments for for possession of small amounts of drugs and, and drug possession, we are seeing the continued implementation of the death penalty in relation to drug trafficking.
And we of course are very much against that.
The international human rights law prohibits the use of the death penalty in cases involving drug trafficking.
So we would welcome this news.
My question is, on the ground there are many, many videos showing executions against Pro X regime or against allow it minority.
I don't know if you have some information about that and if you saw those videos.
Yes, of course we are aware of these reports and we have been seeing those videos which are very worrying.
As the **** Commissioner said in his end of mission statement at the end of his short visit to Damascus, revenge and vengeance are never the answer.
Instead, there needs to be a fully nationally owned healing, truth telling and reconciliation process now.
In his meeting with Al Shara Ahmed Al Shara, the **** Commissioner did receive assurances of the respect, importance of respect for human rights of all Syrians and of all components of Syrian society.
The **** Commissioner also stressed the need for this new Syria to not fall back into the old ways where the the previous administration was using divide and rule tactics to keep the population under control.
He has asked everyone to to work together to ensure that a new Syria is built on inclusivity and the participation of people from all walks, from all segments of society, including women, men, people of different, you know, ethnic and religious backgrounds as well.
Just perhaps if I can add to that, you know, it's important to remember from, you know, the secretary General's perspective that, you know, the situation in in large parts of Syria has stabilised.
But but it's, you know, the conflict is not over and that in this context, the, the protection of civilians must be, you know, the highest priority for the international community.
I think that if we if we if there are no more questions for Ravina, particularly at this moment, then we'll continue with the briefing and we'll move on to another topic that deserves attention and often doesn't get as much as it ought to, which is the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Eugene, the floor is yours.
The UN HCR, the UN refugee agency is extremely alarmed by the worsening violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has already displaced a 237,000 people this year.
Escalating crashes between non Saddam group and the Congolese army in North and South Kivu provinces are intensifying.
What was already one of the worst was was the most alarming yet underreported humanitarian crisis marked by widespread human rights violation and massive force displacement.
These two provinces are already home to 4.6 million internally displaced people, and the DRC is one of the world's largest host for people uprooted within their own borders.
From first to 6th January, intense fighting in the Masisi and the Lubero territory of the North Kivu province forced approximately 150,000 individuals to flee their homes just for one week.
Many initially sought the safety in Masisi territory, northwest of Goma, the territory's main town, only to be displaced yet again as violence is spreaded Simultaneously.
In South Kiva Sefezi territory, the local government indicated that 84,000 people are now displaced, causing them to recast the humanitarian assistance from the international community immediately.
Civilians in both region are enduring indiscriminated bombing and sexual violence.
The use of a heavy weaponry in a populated areas has resulted in numerous civilian casualty, including children.
The ongoing violence has left a displaced population in disparate need of shelter, food, clean water and medical care and has a severely limited humanitarian access.
Many are fleeing, seeking refuge in overcrowded hosts, community makeshift shelter and public buildings such as hospitals.
Already, dire humanitarian conditions are worsening rapidly and access to these vulnerable population is severely restricted by insecurity, roadblocks and the presence of a violent armed actors.
Fighters are reportedly using civilian homes as a shelter which is very concerning because it endanger residents by blurring the distinction between combatant and civilians.
Despite the volatile security situation, approximately 25,000 displaced people return to Masisi Centre following the temporary looting violence on 4th of January.
However, renewed clashes on 9th of January forced many to flee once again which highlighting the fragility of situation and the town remain engulfed in uncertainty which civilian facing ongoing violence, including forced recruitment and suspicion from armed actors.
As soon as humanitarian access permit, your NHCR is ready to help this population.
UNHCCR emphasised the urgency of addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis in DRC and also safe and unimpeded access for aid workers must be guaranteed and measure to protect the civilian, particularly women and children must be prioritised.
While UNATCR remain committed to supporting displaced community in Eastern DRC, the scale of the crisis demands immediate action to scale up relief efforts.
Most importantly, UNATCR reminds all stakeholder the peace is a common good of our humanity and it is a time that peace should prevail in the DRC in the best interest of region and also civilians.
We urge increase the investment in peace building and conflict resolution to address the root cause to over force the displacement and build the foundation of lasting stability in the region.
Thank you very much Eugene.
Any questions for UNHCR or on the Democratic Republic of Congo?
I do not see any, perhaps if you don't mind staying around for a little longer in case the questions come up later on.
Meanwhile, we'll go to Katharine from Monktad, who has an announcement to make.
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So legit this direction to Rebecca Greenspan.
For Eugene, all right, thank you.
I just wanted to clear, so when you say that the displacement has been this year, so it's since the 1st of January just to.
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I will read these in English.
As announced to you yesterday, the Conference on Disarmament, which is the world's single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, will hold its first public plenary of its 2025 session on Tuesday, the 21st of January.
The meeting will start at 10 AM under the Presidency of Italy.
Tatiana Valovaya, Director General of the United Nations Office of Geneva and Secretary General of the Conference on Disarmament, will address the conference at a later date.
Public meetings which will be held in The Tempest Building of the Paladinacion can be followed in person or through the Listen Live page, which which is Listen Dash Live dot UN dot chapter.
The 2025 session of the Conference on Disarmament will be divided up into three successive parts from the 20th of January to the 20th of March, from the 12th of May to the 27th of June and from the 28th of June, July through 12 September.
The present didn't see of the conference rotates among its member states according to the English alphabetical order, which each president holding office for four working weeks after Italy's presidency until the 14th of February.
The following countries will also take the presidency during 2025.
Japan until the 14th of March, Kazakhstan in a period between the 17th and the 28th of March, in between the 12th and the 23rd of May, Kenya from 26th of May to the 20th of June, Malaysia and then Mexico.
The **** level segments of the conference will be held from the 24th to the 28th of February in room 19 at the Ballet de Nacio.
I also have a meetings update on the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
It's meeting for it's 19th session, 98th session from the 13th to the 31st of January at Pelli Wilson.
And it's, it's concluding this afternoon the review of the report of Sakis and Nevis, which began yesterday.
I don't have any further announcements.
I know I have to get back to you on a question from Moussa.
And if there are no further questions, I think we'll wrap up the briefing here.
