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UN Geneva Press Briefing - 28 March 2025
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Press Conferences | OCHA , UNHCR , UNWOMEN , WHO , IFRC
UN Geneva Press Briefing - 28 March 2025
UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
28 March 2025
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, UN Women, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Humanitarian situation in Gaza
Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated that it had been ten days since the return to a full war in Gaza and a callous disregard for human rights and dignity. Hundreds of children and civilians had been killed in Israeli airstrikes. More than 142,000 people had been ordered to move again, with no means to survive. The areas under Israeli occupation now covered 18 percent of the territory and growing. Mr. Laerke reminded that the UN had demanded full investigation into the killing of one UN staff member and injuring of six others by an Israeli tank. Inside Gaza, Israeli authorities were denying humanitarian access to people in need, and the supplies were rapidly running out. This time, the situation was worse than before because of the complete shutdown of every entry point into Gaza. Nothing could justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, stressed Mr. Laerke. There was an utter lack of respect for the most basic principles of humanity, he said.
Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, spoke of having witnessed people returning to their damaged houses and repairing their shops and restarting commercial activities during the ceasefire period, and now that was all being shattered once again. People just wanted to be left in peace and assisted to rebuild their lives. Dr. Peeperkorn spoke of the massive efforts provided by WHO to restore hospital supplies; there were now 22 hospitals partly functional in Gaza. Currently, the focus was on food, water, shelter, and medical supplies, which had been dwindling quickly since early March. Lack of trauma supplies, fluids, antibiotics, and blood supplies was particularly worrying, said Dr. Peeperkorn. There was no anaesthesia for surgeries, and supplies to help safe births were also running out. The lack of safe access impeded WHO’s ability to deliver. WHO had conducted three medical evacuations recently, but this had also slowed down since the closure of Rafah, he informed. Dr. Peeperkorn said that emergency supplies for trauma and maternal and newborn health were absolutely needed. A ceasefire, safe access all over Gaza, allowing supplies in, and proceeding with medical evacuations were all badly needed, stressed Dr. Peeperkorn.
Maryse Guimond, UN Women Representative for the occupied Palestinian territories, speaking from Amman, said that the end of the tenuous ceasefire in Gaza had had terrible consequences on women in Gaza. Over 170 women had been killed since the hostilities had restarted. Every single day from the 18 to 25 March, an average of 21 women and over 40 children had been killed per day. This was not a collateral damage; women and children bore the largest brunt and made up close to 60 percent of recent casualties. The war had to be ended, and women and children had to be left to live. There was nowhere for them to go, as there were no safe places to go. A feeling of despair was shared by many women Ms. Guimond has spoken to. Since 2 March, humanitarian aid had been cut off by Israel. The ceasefire, while brief, had provided a respite for local people and humanitarians. People had been returning home, but now that hope was gone. The war continued to ravage Gaza; this was not merely a conflict – it was a war on women, who were stripped of their fundamental rights. More than 50,000 people had been killed and more than 110,000 injured, reminded Ms. Guimond. The world seemed to be standing by, normalizing what should never be normalized. Women and children seemed to be trapped in a never-ending nightmare. What would we tell next generations: that we did not know, that we did not see what was happening? The ceasefire had to be respected, unimpeded humanitarian access allowed, and all hostages and arbitrarily detained people ought to be released immediately.
UN Women statement is available here.
Answering questions from the journalists, Mr. Laerke, for OCHA, said that what we were witnessing in Gaza had hallmarks of atrocity crimes as defined by international humanitarian law. Every day, children and aid workers were being killed, and people being displaced without means of survival. Dr. Peeperkorn, for WHO, explained that every single trauma supply was running low; only 500 blood units were currently available, while some 4,500 units were estimated to be needed per month; even more was needed at times of active conflict due to increased trauma cases. WHO was trying to bring in necessary supplies, but nothing was being allowed in at the moment. More than 20 percent of newborns were underweight, and some 4,000 newborns currently needed particular support through incubators, ventilators and nutritional supplies, which were unable to receive.
Dr. Peeperkorn further said on 18 March, during intensive air strikes, some 450 people had been reported killed. Over 800 people had been reportedly killed since the resumption of hostilities; overall, at least 50,000 people had been killed since the start of the war. On another question, Dr. Peeperkorn said that 22 hospitals were partly functional, including the Al Nasser medical complex. During the ceasefire, WHO had stocked up very well in its three warehouses and hospitals, but the almost four weeks of full blockade was leading to a shortage, including clean water and cleaning materials. He explained that the European Union and its Member States were the largest donor of the WHO operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, followed by the US. WHO was able, for the time being, to continue what it had been doing, but it would be a challenge to continue with all activities and future recovery and reconstruction efforts with the dwindling support.
Dr. Margaret Harris, for World Health Organization (WHO), emphasized that WHO would keep doing what it was doing, but it was increasingly challenging to do ever more with less. The situation in Gaza was now worse than before because of the exhaustion, continued fighting and no access to fresh supplies.
On another question, Mr. Laerke, for OCHA, reiterated that all partners were saying that the supplies were running out very fast as nothing was coming in. According to the World Food Programme, the agency had 5,700 tons of food stock left in Gaza, enough to support its operations for two weeks at most, said Mr. Laerke.
Earthquake in Myanmar
Marie Manrique, Programme Coordinator for the Myanmar Country Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), speaking from Yangon, said that a 7.7 point magnitude and a 6.4 point magnitude earthquakes had today stricken northwest Myanmar, in the vicinity of Segaing city. The impact had also been felt in China, Thailand, and India. Buildings had collapsed and public infrastructure had been damaged; all eyes were also on a major dam to see what the damage was, but there were other potentially affected dams. Electricity and communications were cut in parts of the country; Myanmar Red Cross Society had launched its own emergency operations, trying to help people in need and assess the situation. The very preliminary information showed that the most affected areas were in the north of the country; the impact across Myanmar would be quite significant, and even worse for people already vulnerable due to the protracted crisis in the country. The priority was to help communities in need as soon as possible, stressed Ms. Manrique. There were 3.5 million internally displaced people in the country, reminded Ms. Manrique responding to a question. Very preliminary information would indicate a very large impact in Myanmar, not only in the northwest of the country where 18.5 million people lived. Commercial telephone lines were largely affected. IFRC was looking into launching an emergency appeal.
Dr. Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that an instant management system had been set up from Geneva, which meant that activities had started immediately from the headquarters in cooperation with WHO country offices in both Myanmar and Thailand. The damage was enormous and WHO had activated its logistics hub in Dubai to primarily provide trauma supplies, and a health needs assessment had commenced. WHO was ready to move supplies in, as soon as there was clarity about the needs.
Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that the central and northwest parts of Myanmar had the highest number of internally displaced people due to the conflict that had been going for over four years. Some 1.6 million IDPs out of the total 3.5 million, lived in these areas, and this catastrophe would exacerbate their hardships.
Impact of funding cuts on 13 million displaced people
Allen Maina, Public Health Chief at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that without adequate resources, an estimated 12.8 million displaced people, including 6.3 million children, could be left without life-saving health interventions in 2025. The current humanitarian funding crisis, exacerbated by declining health spending in hosting countries, was affecting the scope and quality of public health and nutrition programmes for refugees and host communities, disrupting access to essential services and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, untreated chronic conditions and mental health issues. When support for refugee health care was cut, refugees would be forced to pay from their own pockets and would face challenges accessing already strained public services, overwhelming local clinics and hospitals.
When funding cuts for refugee support were implemented, host communities were also being affected, explained Mr. Maina. Sanitation facilities and water management were also affected, increasing the risk of spread of infectious diseases. Mr. Maina provided an example of Bangladesh, where one million Rohingya refugees were in a precarious situation: some 40,000 pregnant women would face obstacles accessing prenatal and delivery services, and 10,000 refugees with life-threatening conditions would have a challenge accessing secondary and tertiary health care services, including hepatitis treatments. The health system could collapse without continuous support. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the other hand, the health care system was on a brink of collapse; health facilities were overwhelmed, medical staff reduced and hospitals running out of medicine. Some 520,000 refugees in the country could be at risk of infectious diseases because of the funding cuts. An example of Ethiopia was also provided, where 80,000 children under five in the Gambela Region were at an increased risk of acute severe malnutrition. Every day the uncertainty continued would have an adverse impact on the millions of men, women and children displaced around the world. This was a moment for governments, private companies, and other partners to step in and support those forced to flee.
UNHCR statement is here.
Answering questions, William Spindler, also for United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), reminded that the US was UNHCR’s biggest donor. The funding uncertainty had an obvious impact on the service delivery: lives were being lost, people were dying, and some assistance would have to be cut. UNHCR was in the process of reviewing its funding with the view of minimizing impact on the people it served. UNHCR was looking at all possible opportunities to continue supporting displaced people. A world in which refugees found safety made everyone safer, stressed Mr. Spindler. He reminded that funding difficulties were unfortunately nothing new and provided examples of several underfunded appeals in 2024. It was not only the United States to decrease aid funding, but some other major donors, said Mr. Spindler. UNHCR was trying to become even more efficient to ensure that as much of the contributions as possible reach refugees. The uncertainty over funding was already having, and would continue to have, an impact on the lives of the most vulnerable people.
UNHCR statement can be accessed here.
Funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that vaccines were one of humanity’s greatest achievements: an estimated 154 million lives had been saved over the past 50 years thanks to global immunization drives as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), led by country governments worldwide, including the US, and supported by global institutions. Vaccination accounted for 40% of the worldwide improvement in infant survival over these 50 years, and more children now lived to see their first birthday and beyond than at any other time in human history. Much of this success was a result of the investments entrusted to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, founded in 2000.
Ms. Harris reminded that Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which included WHO, UNICEF and the Gates Foundation as core founding members, had been created to widen the benefits of EPI by helping the poorest countries in the world benefit from new, life-saving vaccines, and increase the coverage of EPI vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi had protected an entire generation – over 1 billion children – against infectious diseases, helping to cut by half child mortality in 78 lower-income countries. From 2000-2023, Gavi had supported 637 vaccine introductions and vaccination campaigns to protect children around the world against 16 life-threatening infectious diseases. Not only were vaccines delivering protection and high impact, but immunization was also a ‘best buy’ in health with a return on investment of USD 54 for every dollar invested. In the next 5 years, Gavi would protect at least 500 million children from preventable disease and in so doing save an additional eight to nine million lives. Without continued support by the US and other donors, the world would be at risk of a dangerous backsliding in immunization coverage – meaning more zero-dose children, more disease outbreaks, more diseases crossing borders, more threats to health and more children who never reach even their 5th birthday. Every child had the right to health, and the best defense against infectious diseases was continued investment in life-saving immunizations for all, concluded Ms. Harris.
WHO statement can be found here.
Health situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dr. Thierno Baldé, World Health Organization (WHO) Incident Manager for the Emergency in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, speaking from Goma, reminded that since late January, the eastern DRC and the surrounding region were facing one of the most critical and acute humanitarian crises. Some 2,000 people had died of trauma cases, and there had been numerous injuries as well. Many people were on the move, some of them injured and without access to care, and there was now information about an outbreak of cholera with an almost ten percent lethality rate. WHO had been around since day one, helping all of the different hospitals, providing fuel, providing medicines, providing clinical experts for really addressing this situation, and working closely with partners such as Doctors without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross. All of that, however, was just drop in the ocean as an estimated 50 million people were affected by the ongoing crisis. funding cut. Dr. Baldé said that funding cuts were also a major issue, and some four million people in North Kivu were expected to be affected. He emphasized the need for continuous support, particularly for immunizations and supporting critical trauma cases in the very volatile context.
Announcements
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), read a statement by the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, who said that today’s exchange of fire across the Blue Line, the second such incident in less than a week, was deeply concerning. A return to wider conflict in Lebanon would be devastating for civilians on both sides of the Blue Line and had to be avoided at all costs. Restraint from all parties was therefore critically needed.
Ms. Vellucci informed that on 3 April at 10 am, Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and Angel Gonzalez-Sanz, Head, Technology, Innovation and Knowledge Development Branch, would hold a press conference to present the Technology and Innovation Report 2025: Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for development.
Finally, Ms. Vellucci stated that 30 March would be the International Day of Zero Waste.
Teleprompter
Good morning.
Welcome to the press briefing of the UN in Geneva.
Sorry for this delay.
The reason for which we were waiting was that as you have heard, there has been a terrible earthquake in Myanmar and neighbouring countries.
And we were trying to get somebody who give you, who can give you a, a, a sort of a short, brief information on, on what's happening there.
The, the, the colleague is from the Federation of the Red Cross.
She's not online.
They are trying to get her so, and, and also WHO has some update on that.
So let's start with Gaza now.
And as soon as we have the person on the line, we will try to have a little information from the field and from WHO on, on this earthquake.
I understand that the conditions are very difficult there.
That's why it's not easy for for the person to connect.
But in the meantime, let me start.
And Sophia, can you come to the podium too?
Let me start with Gaza on which we have several colleagues briefing.
We have with us Yens for an update from OCHA.
Sophia Caltrop was brought Maris Gimon, who is the UN women representative from OPT.
She's connecting from a man and Margaret with Doctor Rick Peppercorn, representative of WHO in the Occupied Palestinian territory.
So I'll start quickly on this with Yens, then we'll go to Rick and Maris.
I believe Rick has a hard time to leave us, so let's try and do this a little bit brief.
Yes, Let me start with you.
Thank you Alessandra and good morning everyone.
It is now day 10 of the return to full scale war in Gaza after Israel decided to start bombing the enclave enclave again.
It has been 10 days of witnessing because the UN remains on the ground in Gaza.
A callous disregard for human life and dignity.
The acts of war that we see bear the hallmarks of atrocity crimes.
Hundreds of children and other civilians have been killed in Israeli air strikes and densely populated areas.
Hospitals are once again battlegrounds, patients killed in their beds, ambulances shot at and 1st responders killed.
More than 142,000 people have been ordered to move again, with no safe place to go to and no means to survive.
The area under Israeli displacement orders now covers 18% of Gaza's territory and it is growing by the day.
UN staff have been killed and injured daily, including by Israeli tank fire on Aun guest house on 19th of March that killed 1 international staff and injured 6.
We have demanded a full investigation of this.
Palestinian rocket fire towards Israel has also resumed and 59 people remain hostages.
They must be released.
All entry points into Gaza are closed for cargo since early March.
Across the border, food, medicine, medical equipment and other vital supplies are stuck inside Gaza.
Israeli authorities deny humanitarian access to people in need.
The progress that was made during the ceasefire has been reversed.
The supplies of food and other aid we managed to bring in are rapidly running out.
We are back to where we were before.
Just this time it's worse because of the complete shutdown of entry of supplies.
We repeat, nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
International law is clear.
It prohibits indiscriminate attacks, obstruction of life saving aid, destruction of infrastructure indispensable for civilian survival and hostage taking.
The International Court of Justice's provisional measures on the application of the Genocide Convention remain in place.
Yet the alerts that we issue in report after report reveal an utter lack of respect for the most basic principles of humanity.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Ian's for this comprehensive update.
And I'll go now to Rick Paper Corn for a brief description of the situation on The Who side.
Thank you very much.
I will repeat what say yes, just all I should be to just maybe 1 and this more on a personal note, I was in Gaza a bit more than now three weeks ago again for my last long term mission.
And, and that was a focus on the on the last round of polio, but also manifact and distribution of supplies and, and, and there you know what we of course again witnessed that was before just before we came out, the 8 blockades stopped.
And what we witnessed that, that, that this massive amount of people going back to Rafa, to the South or to the north, right unknown Jabalia, right Lahia, back to their, their damaged, destroyed houses and the building up their lives again.
We saw also a lot of commercial kind of commercial activities starting, you know, people starting to repairing shops, etcetera.
The foods was for the first time, I could see, you know, it was in, in, in relatively good supplies and, and more diversity, etcetera.
And, and I think everything Ian's describes, it is so hard to even mention that that that all those people were there, this massive evacuation orders and they have to get back as well.
And that's what people told me all the time.
I mean like they want to be left in peace and assistance.
Now I want to focus on health.
And for the evacuation or addition on 26th March just to be specific there in Gaza, Lutz Hospital is within the evacuation zone according with two primary healthcare centres and the medical points, other hospitals like a WAPA patient friendly very close to this evacuation orders, all of them remain partly functional.
The massive efforts we put into a restoring hospital, providing steady stream of supplies and stocks despite the severe challenges.
And, and there is 22 hospitals part and five fields hospital partly functional, but it underscores the resilience of the health system and needs the need to protect it.
So currently we see and and, and I think the focus is very much should be on food, water and and shelter, but also on the medical supplies are dwindling quickly.
Since the the 2nd of March, no supplies are also can cross the nurturing corridor.
Fortunately, we had stocked up in our warehouse in the north and two in the South.
But still the trauma for example, we are in the same pattern as I we have been in the 1st 1560 month.
Lack of trauma supplies, external fixators, fluids, antibiotics, blood of course, which is already to to to be to be brought in.
Less than 500 blood units are available at the moment in the blood banks and Gaza.
An estimated 4 1/2 thousands are needed per month left supplies, equipment insufficiency, the absence of functional microbiology, PCRCVC machine etcetera, critically impedes accurate diagnosis etcetera.
Infectious diseases, the lack of anaesthesia for surgery, labour and then the delivery pain, the analgesics etcetera and even the key supplies now for for safe labour and delivery, the deliveries, the so-called supplies for maternal and child health will be running out in out soon.
I mean we were running out limits the availability of benzene and has put out a dozen of ambulances out of use EM GS, the lack of EMG entries or the severely restricted only six staff being had been allowed to enter Surrey for waiting the letter saved access across Gaza and constricting WH shows and partners to deliver all missions need to be coordinators.
A lot of them are denied and and delayed etcetera.
We have been conducted 4 missions, three medical evacuation missions including one from the north-south and and one to National Complex.
Since the 18th of March.
Medevac slowed down closure of Rafa.
So currently only two evacuations through Karen Shalom 22 page 49 and yesterday 49 companions to Italy, France and Norway and Romania.
And yesterday 18/1 patients and one of the seven companions to the EOE healthcare, mostly protectors.
We saw the strike on NASA killing two people, destroying a certified hospital bed.
What is incredibly concerning currently what's happening in in Rafa after five days, the PRCS team of nine staff are reportedly still missing.
We've been able to deliver health supplies for five hospitals and 1 field hospitals and also 220,000 litres of fuel in this since the the fighting resumed.
But of course, it's absolutely not enough.
We need emergency supplies for trauma and, and, and also for maternal and child health.
So what's originally needed, and I want to maybe repeat there, my last sentence here is of course, your assumption of ceasefire leading to a lasting peace, the lifting of the a blockade, a safe access of Gaza, resumption of Metac through all possible routes, protection of health.
And finally, everyone wants to start on early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Over to you.
Thank you very much Rick for this update.
And now let me go to you and women.
So yeah, you want to say something before?
No, I go directly to Maurice Guimon, who is the UN Women representative from Amman for the OTPOPT from Amman.
Maurice, thank you.
Good afternoon, everyone.
Alexander.
Hi, everyone.
Allow me to continue like my colleagues.
The end of the Teneous ceasefire in Gaza is having a disastrous consequences for women and girls.
From the 18th to the 25th of March, in just eight days, 830 people have been killed, 174 women, 322 children, with 1787 injured.
Let me break this down because these are not just numbers.
These are people every single day from the 18th to the 25th of March.
That is an average of 21 women and and over 40 children who work.
This is not collateral damage.
This is a war.
Children bear the highest burden.
They compromise nearly 60% of the recent casualties, A harrowing estimate, to the indiscriminate nature of this violence.
What we are hearing from our partners and the women and girls we serve is a call to end this war, to let them live.
It is a situation of pure survival and survival of their families because, as they say, there is simply nowhere to go.
They are telling us they will not move again since no safe places anyway.
As a woman recently said to us from the Albala, my mother says death is the same whether in Gaza City or the Albella.
We just want to return to Gaza.
This is a feeling that is shared by many other women I had an opportunity to meet during my last visit in January and February.
Another woman from Almirah tells us we're glued to the news.
Life has stopped.
We didn't sleep.
All night paralysed.
We can't live, my area is cut off, I'm terrified of being hit.
Every possible nightmare resist through my mind.
This is simply no way of living.
Since March the 2nd, humanitarian aid has been halted by Israel and people's lives are again at risk.
Since the Israeli bombardments resumed on March the 18th, the ceasefire, while brief, had provided some breathing.
During that time, I had the opportunity to visit some of our partner organisations who were repairing their offices in Gaza City with what material was available.
I saw neighbours coming together to clean some of the rubble on their streets for children playing, met with women who expressed their fragile hope for peace and for rebuilding their lives.
I saw thousands of people on the roads back to Gaza City.
And now that hope is gone.
For now 539 days, the relentless war has ravaged Gaza.
Ugly, tearing lives, poems and future.
This is not merely a conflict.
It is a war on women, on their dignity, on their bodies, on their very survival.
Women have been stripped of their fundamental rights, forced to exist in a reality where lost is their only constant.
Cumulatively, over 50,000 people have been killed and more than 110,000 injured.
It is crucial to protect the rights and the dignity of the people of Gaza, especially women and girls who have borne the brunt of this war.
Women are desperate for this nightmare to cease, but the horror persists, the atrocities escalate and the world seems to be standing by normalising what should never be normalised.
As we have seen in these nearly 18 months of war, women play a crucial role during times of crisis.
However, after all this time, they speak of being trapped into a never ending nightmare.
This war must end.
I and others have echoed their pleas countless times, amplifying the voices of the women in Gaza.
Yet the devastation deepens.
What will we tell future?
Generations when they.
Ask that we did not know, that we did not see.
International humanitarian law must be upheld.
The systems we established to protect humanity must be respected.
All humans must be treated equally.
This war is shattering core values and principles.
As UN Women, we join the UN Secretary General in a strong appeal for the ceasefire to be respected, for the unimpeded humanitarian access to be restored, and for the remaining hostages and all those arbitrarily detained to be released immediately and on condition.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Marisa.
Absolutely.
Let's open the floor to question on Gaza now to yes, Olivia Pradvan, Reuters.
Thank you everybody for this briefing today.
Yes, if I may just start with you, you, you were detailing there that that.
These acts of war bear the hallmarks of atrocity crimes.
Could you just give some more detail on what you mean by that?
And then just a question please for for the World Health Organisation, just in terms of the blood unit, sorry, could you just remind me of that statistic and what does that actually mean across the strip for people who are needing trauma care, for example?
Thank you.
Let's start it with the ends.
Thank you.
I, I, I mean what I say in the sense that what we're witnessing, the reports that we get, you get them as well.
We send them to you every day.
There's the hallmarks of atrocity crimes.
We are not, and I want to be clear about that.
We're not calling them that.
We are warning to the fact that this, this is reminiscent of the kind of behaviour that is described in, in these kinds of international laws that I, that I, I'm sure you, you know of.
So that, that is what I, what I mean by it.
I think you can.
You can disaggregate it by going through our reports and see every day we have children being killed, we have aid workers being killed, we have people being forcibly displaced with no means for their survival to the places they are they're asked to go.
All these elements are things that are described.
In in those laws.
Thank you very much.
Enrique, maybe you want to take the second question.
Yeah, yes.
So let me try.
So first of all, I think So what does it mean?
I mean like that what we always see when when, when the war is resumed or when, when the active fighting resumed.
And we've seen this, I mean over the last 18 months specifically starting with trauma that everything related to trauma is very quickly running short.
So I mean the blood supply we we mentioned and which is insane.
I mean like this less than 500 blood units are available and an estimated of four and all thousand blood units are needed per month.
WHO is ready to bring that in at least part of that as such and we are trying to discussions with Colgar, we erased it every time etcetera.
But unfortunately if you know there's nothing yet allowed in, but also things like related to try external fixators is the device that stabilised broken bones with pins and frame outside the body.
I mean like that's they run out and even when we get back to to the health workers, simple things like sterilisation, fluid, the infection prevention and control in Moses hospital because of the lack of proper water, sanitation and, and and so the number of infections are incredibly **** even after operations.
Then small things are lab supplies.
Lab supplies have been, we say regularly short supply and they are again and and in short supply and which will not help any diagnosis as you can imagine, specific focus again on anaesthesia, analgesics and but I just maybe want to maybe also want to make a point on on, on the modern child health, so the impacts on for example, newborns.
So at least 20% of the newborns are low birth weight, preterm or phase.
All about complication.
They require more advanced medical care that's already limited and very soon it will be unavailable due to the lack of essential medical supplies.
I think my the the UNFPA already raised is that they try to get in incubators, ultrasound devices, oxygen pumps, etcetera.
All vital for newborns with complication.
They also remain strict at the border and approximately 4000 newborns are currently unable to access the essential life saving care, which are major impacts on medical facilities in the Gaza Strip.
So every day without these ventilators, you know, unnecessary morbidity increases and and lives might be might be lost.
The way they show.
We have more than 16 trucks in our reach with supplies ready to get in.
Like many other partners, I want I want to stress.
So that should immediately have happened.
This 8 blockades should be lifted and you should get their supplies in and make sure that we can distribute them all over Gaza over to you.
And Maurice, if you want to add anything, just raise your hand whether physical or electronic.
I go.
You have a follow up, Olivia, very quick clarification.
Sorry, how much is estimated to be needed?
You said there's 500 blood units, but I didn't, sorry, catch the figure of how many you would actually.
Need thank you.
So approximately 4 1/2 thousand blood bags per month.
Yeah, and and and of course when it is an active war and and and and there's a lot of trauma that might even increase.
But so WHO we were actually ready to bring in I think 2 1/2 thousands blood bags and we have, we are consistently raising this, but this is absolutely a top priority and, and, and we don't get in.
So 8000 units for trauma and but also diseases like Telesomia 4 and all thousand for trauma and complicated pregnancies, everything related to pregnancies that is roughly what is needed per month currently.
There's a huge need for that in relating to the well, the the many injuries which we are again seeing because of the resumption of violence.
Thank you very much, Mohammed Aslan.
Another one to the Turkish News Agency.
Thank you so much for this briefing.
The Palestinian Red Crescent announced that they lost contact with 9 health workers in Rafa, which is the city sieged by Israeli army.
The attacks still continuing all over the Gaza.
My question is, SWHO, are you in contact with all the health workers in the fields or is what happened before the cease why you're repeating itself, Rick?
Yeah.
So we have the same reports on the, the these 9 PSCS, house workers and, and, and we hope like all of us that we get as quickly as possible information not for them, but also for their families and what had happened with them when we are extremely concerned.
And I think Orchard is also very much in, in involved with that, trying to, to push For more information on information on, on.
Yeah, we have of course the whole system in place with the Ministry of Health and partners and WHO there is a health cluster system and, and they coordinate and they, they, they need.
Currently it is very complex because of the, the insecure situation that is more difficult.
So it will be more, much more what they can do online.
But there is a system, we get all this information together.
We have what we call also V Rams.
That is an information focusing on on all facilities where we as much as possible.
It's of course a limited set of data and very much related to the humanitarian health abortion, but yes, we have that all of you.
Thank you, Rick.
Other question, Isabel Sacco, Spanish News Agency.
Yes, good morning.
Do you have any figure about the in the last 10 days of since the ceasefire was broken?
What is the number of casualties these people and injured people that according to the reports from the hospitals that you may have and what is the what are the overall situation of of the of the hospitals and of the health staff?
Thank you.
OK, so there is of course we what we know that on the on 18 March when there was this very intensive air strikes began on gas and then it was reported that there was over 400 people killed, like 450 people killed and and also hundreds of injured.
The total figures of death I've seen figures over 8 hundreds reportedly and of course overall, overall we talk now more than 50,000 deaths and and close to 115,000 people injured since the start of this crisis.
Over to you.
Oh yeah.
You have a follow up on the situation of the hospitals and the their availability to the situation of the hospitals and their availability to to work to, to to receive people in your people and if there you have seen attacks against health facilities.
No, definitely hospitals are still working.
And I think I, I mentioned that 22 of the hospitals are partly functional in all these areas.
So they definitely and even even not a medical complex, you, you, you heard about that, that incident, that attack, not a medical complex is partly functional.
They're still continuing in all areas.
So all these hospitals are not the 22 are partly functional, but the critical thing is that's also for medical supplies they are, they will start.
So we stocked up during the ceasefire.
We stocked up very well in, in, in both the the our three warehouses and actually brought most of the supplies we stocked up at the hospitals fuel etcetera.
But then more than three weeks, more than almost 4 weeks now 8 blockades very quickly you get a shortage of supplies.
And I mentioned already in which areas?
So that is definitely affecting the work at hospitals, including I mean simple things like like the the lack of access to clean water and, and, and, and, and, and, and cleaning materials, etcetera, which is is not helping.
And you see of course, the whole infection prevention and, and control, which is essential for any hospital that is severely challenged all over Ghana.
Over to you.
Thank you very much.
No other question in the room.
I'll go to the platform.
Gabriela Sotomayor, Processor.
Thank you, Alessandra.
Good morning.
I just joined the briefing.
But the the cuts that you are having, the problem with the funding is because USA funds, I mean that that they stopped the funding to W2.
I guess this is for WHO, Gabriela.
Yeah.
I don't know if Ricky want to take this or Margaret.
No.
Well, maybe, maybe Margaret want to start.
I can say something specifically on OG Margaret if you want to start.
Oh well, sure, I'll just clarify.
With Gabrielle A, A we, you know that as we've discussed, this is a very complex situation.
Are you talking about the cuts to the recipients of USAID funding?
Are you talking about cuts to WHO or are you saying is the general reduction in US funding to the different health services affecting our work in in Gaza?
Is that what you're really saying, Gabriella?
Yes, that's what I'm really saying.
What you, you said at last, Yeah.
So over to you, Rick.
We can't hear you.
No, it's fine.
That's fine.
OK.
So I think here in the, in this response, the WH operational response in, in, in the crisis in OPG, both guys in the West Bank, I think we we did very relatively well in the first kind of phases on humanitarian health support.
And fortunately we have a plateau of partners, so almost 30 partners.
the US of course is an important partner.
So if I just put it in, in, in, in, in, in figures, the group, the EU and the European countries are for us our largest group of donors here in, in, in, in, in OPG.
But we as I said, we also have other countries, I can mention as many besides the Europe, Canada, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, etcetera, etcetera.
the US next to the the European countries was I would say the second biggest donor with with 60,000,030 million.
We were used for that.
So, so roughly 47,000,000 is fortunately part of that age freeze which we had planned for, for all the activities which are critical primary, secondary care, trauma, emergency care, sexual, we would have health and services, surveillance, medevac, the supplies, et cetera.
So we we have had good discussions with us why the group of progress and and we can continue for the moment what we are doing, but I'm deeply concerned that WHO haven't been key in for example, for the essential medicines, medical supplies in Gaza at once say more than 80% came through WHO we have allocated another 90 million and we are OK for the next three months.
I mean, in that sense, if you get them in, if the a blockade is lifted.
But after that I'm seriously concerned and, and, and this is what we now have a discussion with all the partners and I think we get some good watch the feedback.
We need to maintain that supply of essential medicine and medical supplies and, and, and and and, and equipment.
Then we have to maintain supporting the emergency medical team and help teams and health system medicine, etcetera.
And I'm not even talking about what we all want to start with is early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
So yeah, there's massive funding, funding gaps with need to be this needs to be addressed and say huge request from us from here.
I have to stop here.
I have to actually quit to another emergency event.
Is that OK?
Yeah, yeah.
I knew that you had to leave.
There were more questions, but maybe if they were for you, Margaret can pick them up and and then report them to you.
So thank you very much Rick for for being with us until now.
Maurice is still on the line and colleagues here.
So I'll give the floor.
Gabriela, you had a follow up, but probably was for Rick.
Was it?
Well, in fact, it's for Margaret.
It is.
OK.
So as we heard from Rick, it's important the the lack of funds due to a USA decision.
But but I would like to say, I mean not USA decision, Mr Donald Trump decision because USA is a is nice.
It's a nice country.
I mean, the people are nice, but this is a decision of Donald Trump.
So maybe we can say that to clarify because no, well, that's it.
But if you if you just can elaborate that Margaret.
Sorry, I don't really.
Understand your question, but yours anyway.
Certainly the the US, the new US administration has made a lot of different changes.
And as you know WHO like many, many other of our sister agencies is now looking at how we can continue to do our work with less or look for other ways to fund our work.
But the top line message is we are not going to stop doing what we're here to do, which was is to.
Protect health, serve the vulnerable, keep the world safe from from disease.
Yeah, and and later on we will also hear from the UNHCR on the effects of funding cuts on the ELF in that case of the displaced people in in the world.
We'll we'll hear more about that.
But I've got still questions.
And as I said, the colleagues are on the podium and Marie's is still in the man and connected with us.
So I'll give the floor to Nick Cummin, Bruce, New York Times.
Yeah.
Thank you for taking my question.
Jens, you talked about ambulances getting shot at and 1st responders killed.
I've seen some of the reports of ambulances being shot at.
Do you have any more detail about first responders killed?
I don't think I have clarity on that.
And for Margaret, I'm afraid I'm a bit confused by Rick's numbers.
I don't know if you can clarify them.
47 million was part of the 8th Breeze, 16,000,000 was missing.
Could, if you're able to, shed some light on exactly what has been affected?
What money has been withdrawn since the change of administration?
Thank you.
Thank you, Nick.
I I would consider anyone working in Humanitarian Affairs in Gaza a first responder, be it UNNGO or or others working on this.
I can try to get you more examples of that that I can send to you.
On Rick's numbers, I'm just sending a WhatsApp right now to his team to ask him to get those, those really clear for you and we'll get back.
If I get it back quickly enough, I'll I'll, I'll send it to everyone, but I'll definitely send it to you via e-mail, Nick.
Thank you very much.
Jamie Keaton, Associated Press.
Thank you, Alessandra.
My questions are for Jens and for well, it would have been for doctor people corn, maybe Margaret can help.
I wanted to just get a sense about how long you think that the people can sort of go on given the situation right now in terms of the blockade, the aid deliveries.
I mean, if this continues, how much longer can they go on in terms of food and and and medicine?
And then the question for yes, more specifically is what are you hearing about Israel taking over distribution it made?
Is that actually moving forward or is it just talk at the moment?
Thanks.
Thank you.
I give the first Margaret, but Marie is.
If you want to add anything to this, please let me know Margaret.
Sorry, I was, I was talking to my colleague in Gaza.
Can you?
How long people can go ahead with what they had with in terms of medicine and not long.
We're looking at the situation right now that is as bad as it ever was.
We knew it was bad before the ceasefire when we were constantly begging to be allowed to do our job and just to help the ordinary people of Gaza to live their lives.
It is now worse.
That because people have had a blockade of food, but they've also got the ongoing fighting and the supplies are running out and they're exhausted and they're and this is on top of a situation where they were already very unwell so.
No, they can't keep.
Going and, and that's why we're saying we need this to be lifted right now.
We need a ceasefire right now.
And the opening, but is I saw your hand up.
I don't know If yes, go ahead, please.
I know.
But I would like to to to reiterate what just said.
I mean, and that's what we're hearing from the women across Gaza.
I mean, this cannot continue and they're very clear on that.
They just cannot continue on this.
I mean, when you're taxulating the number of days that people have food for.
So it's really important that one, the the aid humanitarian access is are restored, but also that the ceasefire is is effectively also restored.
Thank you.
And that's and I'm saying this is what we're hearing across the Gaza Strip from the women.
Thank you.
Thank you, Yens.
Yeah, thanks, Jamie.
On on your first question, I'll I'll different kind of aid works in different ways.
Food works in a particular way, shelter works obviously it in another way.
Medical equipment is one kind, medical medicines, consumables are another kind.
So it's very hard to give an overall idea of, you know, number of days or weeks or whatever to say at this point, it's going to run out.
What we hear consistently from all partners, partners are is that it is running out and it's running out very, very fast because there's nothing coming in and it has been so since the 2nd of March.
So I will invite you to go to, for example, WFP to ask them.
I have numbers here, but they are their numbers.
So I prefer that they speak to them about what they still have and how fast it actually is running out.
Thank you.
On the second one is quite easy and nothing to report on that.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I see Catherine and Gabriel along the line.
We have people waiting in the field to brief you.
So is Catherine, is this on Gaza?
Hello.
Do you hear me?
Yes, yes, thank you.
It is for Margaretta.
It, it is for Margaret.
I have a question for you also Alessandra.
But as you requested in the chat, I'll wait a bit later.
Thank you, Margaret or or colleague Gabriella did ask a question related to the cut of funds.
And I'll, I'll come back to the kind request which was placed by Akanu 2 months ago about getting a briefing on the situation and also getting a briefing of.
How far and how?
Strong you are affected, would it be possible please to organise that?
Thanks, Katrine.
And as you know, we are doing our best.
But as you also know, because you're reporting on this situation, it's so fluid.
It changes every day at at the same time every department, every country office, every regional office, everybody is looking at exactly that.
How are they affected?
What can they?
How can we do what we need to do with less?
In other words, do more with less and we still.
I know you're frustrated.
It's.
Frustrating for everybody.
We still don't have the clarity that would make it a a worthwhile briefing for you, but when we do, you're top of the list.
Thank you, Margaret, Gabriella and Jamie very quickly.
And then I'll stop the question on Gaza because we have our colleague in the field attending wanted to tell you something about what's happening in with the earthquake and I think you all want to hear her.
So Gabriella, please, very quickly.
Yes, thank you, Alessandra, very quickly.
So you are talking about women and children in, in, in Gaza and everything.
So is this a collective punishment?
Do you would you qualify that as a collective punishment, Maurice?
I'm sorry, I would refer this question to you, to my human rights colleagues to respond.
I'm done.
Thank you.
Yeah, they're not here today.
Anybody who wants to take the floor on that?
No.
OK.
So very last question, Jamie.
Thanks.
WFP is also not there Yens.
Could you please give us the numbers?
That you have from your WFP.
Thanks.
The numbers on on the food distribution, you're going to get me in hot water, Jamie here.
But according to the World Food Programmes latest operational update, the agency has about 5700 tonnes of food stocks left in Gaza, enough to support it it's operations for two weeks at most.
Thank you very much to you all.
Thanks Maries and you thank Rick for us Margaret.
Thanks Maries to be connected.
Thanks to your colleague here in Geneva, Sophia Caltrop.
I will keep Margaret on the podium and we will connect now to Marie.
Marie, who is me.
Find your titles, Madam.
You work with the International Federation of the Red Cross.
And you are.
I have your title somewhere.
It's OK.
Yeah.
Coordinator of the IFRC Myanmar country delegation.
And you are connecting from Yangon.
Thank you very much for being with us.
I imagine it's not easy at the moment to to to be connected with the other side of the world.
Margaret, do you want to start say something And then we go to Marine the earthquake just to say that we've, we've set up our incident management system.
It's being coordinated from Geneva because we see this as a as a huge event.
We've we've been in contact with our staff.
Most are safe and but the damage is enormous.
We've activated our.
Logistics Hub to look for, particularly for trauma supplies and things like external fixators because we expect that there will be many, many injuries that need to be dealt with.
And we've been started the the health needs assessment, but over to a colleague in the field who knows exactly what's going on.
Yes, Mary, please tell us what's happening there, what you see.
OK, thank you.
Good afternoon.
So speaking from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies here in Yango and Myanmar, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to actually share a little bit of the update on today's two large earthquakes.
So at approximately 12:51 PM local time, there was a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in the northwest of the country.
And then less than 12 minutes later, we had a 6.4 magnitude earthquake, not in the exact same area a little further South, but also in the northwest of the country.
However, the tremors were felt throughout the country, including in the country South as well as in the largest city of Yangon, where I'm based.
Here in the Myanmar Red Cross building, where I'm actually based, we also had to evacuate.
I understand that the impact has been felt as well in neighbouring countries.
Thailand, China and India have also been reporting feeling the impacts of these large earthquakes.
One of the things that's quite important is to understand not only the buildings that have cracks and tremors are fissures in them, but also collapsing buildings and public infrastructure has been damaged.
This includes roads, bridges and public buildings.
We currently have concern for large scale dam that people are watching to see the conditions of the dam.
We also know that the major bridge that collects Mandalay to Sagai has also collapsed.
This is going to cause a logistics challenge to reach people in Sagai.
Sagai area that is currently affected very strongly by the protracted crisis has the largest number of internally displaced people in the country.
We are also know, We also know electricity and communication is found in several areas of the country.
The Myanmar Red Cross Society has activated its emergency response.
So the staff and volunteers from the Myanmar Red Cross Society are on the ground and helping as possible.
Currently engaged in what I would say is very rapid assessments and trying to help out as possible.
This condition, this the conditions are quite challenging, but the support that they're able to provide is vital at this time.
I have very preliminary information gathered from the Myanmar Red Cross because they're in contact with their their branch networks throughout the country.
The main impact areas are Saguine, Mandalay, Mcguay, Sean, State, Nepito and Pago.
We're working with very limited information at this time.
We will know the scale of the damage as we move forward, but we can imagine, as our colleague already said, that the impact will be quite significant and this will even be a particularly worse for those people in situations of vulnerability due to the protracted crisis in country.
We will have a clearer picture in the next few hours, but I would really like to say that we're very concerned about the potential humanitarian impact and really it's a developing emergency and our priority is to ensure that affected communities receive the help that they need as quickly as possible.
And we stand by as the IFRC ready to scale up our support as the needs become clearer and access allows.
So thank you for your time and we'll keep you updated as the situation evolves.
Thank you very much.
But if you can stay on the line, there are a few questions for you and maybe for Margaret.
I'll start with Isabel Sacco, Spanish News Agency.
Yes, thank you very much for being with us.
And could you please tell, tell us who is monitoring the situation of this dam that you mention is the central authorities or is someone else?
Secondly, about the collapse of the bridge that they will make will make it difficult to access people that could be affected.
And you said that in that region that were these people is cut maybe from from help.
This is a region or a place where there are a lot of ID PS is this that's what I understood.
Could you just give more details?
So how happens that they are there?
Who are they, how many are they?
And also, what are you, what do you know about the a demobilisation by, by the government, maybe by the army to help the, the affected people?
Marie, thank you.
We, we can't hear you anymore.
It's I, I see your mind.
Thank you.
Thank you for having problems with the.
That's fine.
That's fine.
Yeah, please just know that right now we're focused on the emergency response, trying to gather the data about what is happening within the country in terms of the situation, the dam.
This is information that we are gathering from people that are in those regions.
But I imagine that local authorities are also following up on this, including the issue of the ABBA Bridge, which is the bridge that's connecting Sagai to Mandalay.
We will see further what that means in terms of the number of ID PS in country.
You know, there are 3.5 million ID PS in country with the northwest of the country being one of the areas most severely affected.
This is, as you mentioned, an area of great concern for all humanitarians and we will continue to work with the Myanmar Red Cross and the Red Cross movement generally to make sure that we can support in the humanitarian needs going forward further information as we receive the assessments from the field.
Thank you, Olivia put the Reuters thank.
You very much and I.
Hope your colleagues are safe and well.
Just a question just to get a sense of.
Scale.
I appreciate it's very early days.
But are we, are we talking about kind of hundreds or thousands of buildings that have been damaged or or collapsed any, any kind of sensitive of the scale would be would be helpful.
Thank you, Marie.
OK, thank you.
So at this time, these are very, this is very preliminary information.
So the Myanmar Red Cross Society with the support of the International Federation has activated its emergency operations centre.
I don't want to put quantify the numbers because we don't really know what they are.
But given the scale of the earthquake, earthquake, we can imagine that the impact is quite large.
Please keep in mind that some of these locations, some of the infrastructure might not be that modern.
In other cases, infrastructure is quite modern.
So we just need to see based on the impact in the certain States and region, 6 States and regions are currently considered the most impacted.
I named them when I was speaking initially.
But we need really to remember that this is not just focused on the northwest of the country.
It's also focused on the central dry zone area as well as the southwest of the country is largely impacted.
Thank you very much.
Yeah, Robin.
Sorry.
Robin Millard AFP.
Thank you.
Margaret, could you tell us a little bit more about this, this incident management unit that's been set up?
How will that operate and, and what will it be doing and for Archer and for WHO, what sort of stocks and supplies of things do you have that you might be able that you're sort of starting to prepare to move into the region?
Do you have those, those sorts of things lined up and are they already on the move?
Thank you.
Yes, So the incident management system is something that we initiated actually after the big W African Ebola outbreak when we realised that when we get a signal of something really serious, we need to go into what's called no regrets mode.
We start immediately, Not wait to get the information, but start immediately.
And and because this one's.
Clearly a very, very big ****** to life and health.
We have already said this.
This is managed from headquarters in in conjunction with our regional teams and our country office.
We do have a country office in Myanmar.
We also have one in, of course, in Thailand.
And we have a special cell to deal with Myanmar because Myanmar's already been suffering a lot from conflict and other issues that are very much part of the work we do.
To.
Support and protect the health of people.
As far as supplies, we have a hub in Dubai and we've already looked at what we've got there.
The main things you need in these sort of circumstances are trauma supplies because and also ensure that you can get in essential medicines and other things to people because they may have the health infrastructure so damaged that they need to have extra medical supplies.
But the main thing will be trauma at this point because of the injuries people are likely to have.
We've got a lot of experience with earthquakes.
Unfortunately, we've had the big Turkey earthquake, so we know very well what you need to send in first.
And we're again, we've got somebody in Bangkok set up.
We've actually done an assessment of best ways to get supplies into Myanmar just by chance, but that had already been done a few months ago, a few weeks ago.
So we are ready to move in.
But now we have to know exactly where and what and why, and it's information from the ground, just as we've heard that's really critical right now.
Thank you very much.
Gabriella Sotomayor, processor.
Thank you.
Could you repeat us, please?
Where was the epicentre and the, the grade of the of the earthquake, of the earthquake maybe.
Could you repeat what?
Yes, thank you.
Thank you.
So the epicentres for the earthquake as well as the aftershock were in Sagai, that is in the northwest of the country.
The first was northwest of Sagai City, Sagai region.
The second was South of Sagai City.
Did you want the actual?
So one was 7.7 and the other is 6.4.
Thank you very much.
I think that's what she was asking.
Christian Erich, German news agency.
Yes, thank you.
This is also a question to Marie.
Can you tell us how many people live in those six areas that you think are mostly affected?
And I'm not talking about ID PS only, but total population and second question.
Being as old as I am, I was in the region when Cyclone Nargis hit in 2006 I think, and it was impossible to get supplies in because the.
Military government was very secretive.
Do you do you expect more openness from the military authorities at this point or do you see already problems getting helpers and materials into the country?
Thank you.
OK, thank you so much for that question.
Right now at this time, we're focused on trying to get assessments and responding to the needs in the field.
So I don't think that we can really discuss what potentially other actors might be engaged in.
So for the IFRC, we will continue to support on what is emergency needs assessments and particularly reaching people in need.
And in terms of the people who are in these locations, very generally just focused on the northwest, we're probably looking at about 18.5 million in the immediate areas that could be affected in the northwest of the country.
That doesn't include all of the six areas.
Thank you.
Catherine Fiancon, Francois Cat Yes, question to Marie.
Marie, please can you tell us the state of the communication facilities?
Because in order to work properly, I suppose that you need to be able to communicate and maybe there's someone from ITU around.
It would be interesting to know if they did activate that emergency facilities into communication when there are problems in the world, they have those emergency groups which are a little bit everywhere on the different regions, in different regions of the world.
I can just speak to what would be the commercial telephone lines and then I'll hand it over to another colleague to respond to those other questions about what's been activated within the UN system.
So commercial telephone lines, many of them are out.
There are probably 4 potential lines that can be used in country.
There is one that we've been able to establish communication on, but that's all that we know currently at this time.
Over to you.
There was, there was 1 colleague from ITU, but she dropped off, so I can't, I can only bring your question to back to them.
Katherine.
Jamie Keaton, Associated Press.
Thank you very much.
I just wanted to follow up.
Could you give us the spelling of the name of the of the dam that you're talking about that there's concern about?
And do you have any details about how many people may be buried underneath the rubble in the building that collapsed in downtown Bangkok, if I understand correctly?
Thanks.
OK.
I'm not familiar with the information from what's happening in Thailand.
We just heard that you do have some UN colleagues that are in Thailand, so perhaps you can answer that question.
And with regard to the dam, there are several dams actually you know that the largest body of water throwing flowing through the country is the Irwaddy.
So there are several side, I guess I would say affluent.
I don't know what you call the connecting rivers to that.
So that's the concern, their concerns on several dams.
It's not just one in particular, particularly because as we saw what the impact was on other infrastructure.
With regards to the other damage of people within country, as I mentioned, it's still ongoing to receive the assessments not just from the MRCS but as well as other institutions.
So over to the colleagues that have the information and Thailand, I don't think this has been very, very much of A last minute intervention and we still don't have here in Geneva much information on, on on the earthquake.
And I'm sure colleagues from the humanitarian agencies will definitely come back to the journalist with more information on the, the situation also in Thailand.
And that's why we are so happy to have Marie here.
I'll take a very last question, Gabriella, because afterwards we still have several colleagues who have to brief.
So please go ahead.
Thank you.
Alessanda, you always tell me that this is a question I I would like to, to, to ask.
For example, in Mexico we are very sensitive about earthquakes.
So people wants to help.
So what is the best way for people to help in this, in this, in this matter?
I mean individuals, not, you know, organisations, individuals, how, how can they help?
Thank you, Marie.
OK, thank you.
I think one of the things that's quite important to understand that the first responders are the people who are in the communities.
So of course I'm coming from the Red Cross Red Crescent movement.
So I'll speak about the importance of supporting through the Red Cross Red Crescent.
However, no, the UN is probably looking at if they are going to determine what the response will be.
In our case, we are generally focused on how we can work with the Myanmar Red Cross to have the emergency response plan.
And then we will probably and I want to say probably we're looking at the possibility of launching an emergency appeal.
Thank you very much.
And I see that Tomaszo of De La Lunga from IFRC has put some information on the in the chat.
One was about Palestine before Mohammed that I think was for you and then also an answer to Jamie.
So have a look at the platform, Jamie, and thanks Tomaso.
So thank you very much to Marie for coming in like very, very last minute to tell us about the situation.
Good luck, stay safe.
And if possible, give us updates on on the situation in Myanmar.
We really hope that will not be too catastrophic.
But from what we hear, it is going to be very dire.
So, and I'm looking at Margaret to thank you so much again.
Let me now move to UNHCRUNHCR.
William is here with Alan Minor, who is the public health chief of UNHCR.
I had already started telling our journalist, Alan that you were going to tell us about funding cuts and the threats that it poses to the health of nearly 30 million displaced people.
Go ahead, please.
Thank you very much and thank you for being having me here today.
As you rightly noted them, I'm here talk about a very worrying situation, very worrying situation with close to 13 million displaced people, including over 6,000,000 children at risk of not being able to access life saving health and nutrition care and having devastating consequences in 2025.
The current funding situation complicated by declining health expenditure at country level is affecting the scope and quality of public health and nutrition programming that we're able to provide for refugees and host communities around the world.
The result is that we were we are seeing a disruption in access to essential services, increasing risk of disease outbreaks of of malnutrition and and treatment, lack of treatment of chronic diseases.
We also seen a rise in mental health issues as a as a result of this funding situation.
Just to note that when the funding cut is is reduced for the refugee healthcare, it's also affecting the host communities around there and refugees themselves are facing increased barriers including being able to pay from their pocket.
Right now the situation is forcing many of them to have to have to pay more with funding that they do not have.
It's also resulting in access in them having to receive or seek access in strained public health services and also resulting in an overwhelming of the local clinics and hospitals as a result of this funding cuts.
It's not just affecting health, but it's also affecting water supply systems, it's affecting sanitation facilities, waste management.
And this is associated as, as we know, with increasing risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases like cholera, hepatitis, malaria and others.
And it's a, it's threatening populations around the world with devastating consequences.
The funding reduction as well could significantly reverse the progress we've made globally in HIV, including in humanitarian settings.
I just highlight some key examples of the situation of the funding.
Start with Bangladesh, where we have close to 1,000,000 Rohingya refugees facing a severe health crisis.
As a as a result of the funding situation we in the honesty have supported programmes with we fear that over 40,000 pregnant women will have challenges accessing critical antenatal care services including 5000 some 5000 women having to make choices on how to deliver in safe conditions.
Additionally, about 19,000 acutely malnourished children run the risk of not being able to receive life saving treatment and about 10,000 people or children communities will be able to will have challenges accessing secondary healthcare services.
In addition, in total we're seeing about 200,000 refugees in UNSC supported services having challenges accessing services including for mental health and psychosocial support.
Furthermore, and very worrying is about 10,000 refugees may not be able to access hepatitis C treatment, further complicating a very dire public health situation.
The without immediate funding support, the health system will collapse in this camps and put thousands of lives at risk.
If we move to Burundi as well, we see that some 10,000 pregnant women could lose access to antenatal care and heightening the risk of complications and preventable maternal deaths.
We also worry that the local health facilities and something that we're seeing in in various countries are overwhelmed in are located in under served areas and they're having to work beyond their capacity.
The patient numbers are increasing and we're also seeing an outbreaks increasing in in Burundi.
We've also already seen 11 cases of cholera reported in Chibetoke province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
We're seeing the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse.
Financial resources allocated to the health sector are not adequate to meet the urgent life saving needs into the 2025.
UNSCR health budget has been cut by close to 90% in 2024, triggering severe and immediate consequences.
Health facilities are overwhelmed.
The critical shortages we're seeing medical staff reduce, reduction in medical staff and supplies, facilities are running out of medicines and referrals to secondary care are not guaranteed.
Disruption to the water supply system has also led to reported cases of cholera.
The health consequences of the funding cuts are expected to be devastating and and puts over 520,000 refugees in the country at risk of infectious diseases and death.
We moved to Egypt, another example there where we're seeing that medical treatment for refugees has been suspended except for emergency life saving procedures.
The suspension includes planned surgeries and treatment of severe conditions and medication for chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, which have untreated, of course, as we know could have died.
Consequences.
At least 20,000 patients are affected, including many refugees who fled the war in Sudan.
We're talking about people here.
We talk about men and women, we talk about fathers and mothers.
We talk about children worried whether their father or their mother who might have a chronic condition is not able to access treatment and whether they will leave to see another day.
It's very worrying and and very acute situation in Ethiopia's Gambella region.
Funding cuts have severely impacted the nutrition services leading to closure of operations in four out of seven refugee sites.
In in we had an unfortunate situation where 9 severely malnourished children had to be discharged immediately because programmes had to had to close and that increases the risk of them of their death actually because they had to go will be followed up through outpatient services there.
In another related to the mutation institution in Gambella, we're seeing about 980 acutely malnourished children only being served by two staff, about 1/3 of what is needed.
We also seen that 80,000 children under 5 are at risk of life threatening malnutrition, increasing child mortality rates and the antecedent consequences to the affected communities.
In addition, the shuttering of a community based programme for sexual and reproductive health will likely lead to an increase in maternal and newborn deaths.
In Jordan as well, 43,000 refugees are at risk of losing access to primary care and cash for cash for health programmes, putting some 335,000 women of reproductive age at risk of not receiving essential services for maternal care.
Mozambique's Maritani refugee settlement in Nampula Province hosts some 8000 refugees and asylum seekers.
And when you talk talk about solidarity, this is a place where the host communities appreciate the presence of this settlement.
They're able to access services just as as at par with the refugees in this site.
Last year, UNIC has supported healthcare centre in Maratani, was able to provide over 80,000 consultations.
Unfortunately, we now see a severe impact with a 50% cut in assistance in that operation.
The cuts are affecting access to much needed mental health and psychosocial support services to food and nutrition services for some 300 people.
It's also affecting access to sexual and reproductive health services, also HIV and TB testing and treatment for many people in that area.
Referrals for food assistance for HIV positive mothers is also severely impacted.
I'll conclude by saying that everyday that this financial uncertainty continues, of course, we will increase the impact on the lives of millions of men, women and children around the world that have fled their home.
It's historic times, historic challenges, but also historic opportunities are rising.
It's a time for to see more individuals, governments, private and sector partners being able to step up and be able to stand for humanity, be able to stand in support of people who have been forced to to flee around the world.
And this is important not just for the refugees, but the communities that have been so graciously and generously hosting them.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Alan, for all these numbers.
Really quite incredible effects impact.
So I'll open the floor to questions in the room if there is any.
I don't see.
So let's go to the platform.
Jamie Keaton, Associated Press Jamie, you're on.
I'm sorry, we can't hear you.
I see your mic has been unmuted, but I can't hear you.
You want to try deconnect and reconnect again?
I'm afraid we can't hear you, Jamie.
Or if you can put the question in writing in the chat.
I can read it to Alan.
No, his his hand is up, but like, there's no voice.
Why?
We're waiting for Jamie, maybe to to try again to connect.
Is there any other question to Alan?
I don't see other hands up.
Oh, yeah.
Nick ******* Bruce.
New York Times and Jimmy, please disconnect and reconnect because we can still not hear you.
Sorry, Nick.
Yeah, Thank you.
Yeah, thanks for the briefing.
Could you just give us a bit more clarity on, on how much money you actually have for health services in 2024 and how much of the cuts that you're talking about are specifically US related?
Because a lot of different countries are are cutting back their foreign aid.
So how much of what you're concerned about is specifically related to the USAID and other U.S.
government support?
Thank you.
That's OK.
That's OK.
Thanks Nick for for the question.
We'll have to get back to you specifically on on health, but in general, as you know, we are facing very severe crisis due to the decision by the US, which is our biggest donor to review it's foreign assistance programmes, but also from other top donors.
So this funding uncertainty is having an obvious impact on our delivery.
As our **** Commissioner said recently and as we have just heard, lives are being lost, people are dying.
The impact on assistance is very serious.
In many cases we we'll have to stop providing assistance to people we cannot yet.
We are in the, in the process of reviewing our funding and, and measures that we will need to take in order to maximise or or rather to minimise the impact on the people that we serve, refugees and other displaced people.
So at the moment I cannot give you a figure of, you know, on, on, on, on, on our funding situation at the moment, but we are pursuing every single opportunity to explain the importance of supporting people forced to flee.
And that's what we are trying to do now.
So Simply put, the work that we are doing is saving lives, protects and advances solutions for forcibly displaced people.
And in doing this we help to stabilise fragile regions and strengthen local economies.
And this contributes to security and peace.
So a world where refugees find safety makes us all safer.
So as many other agencies, we are having to deal with this severe cuts in our budget.
We are looking into how to minimise the impact on the refugees.
This is our main consideration but as we have said before, find funding difficulties and are not new.
Unfortunately, you could say that we have been perpetually underfunded.
Last year, for instance, our Yemen appeal was only 29% funded, Central African Republic 36%, Myanmar 40%.
So what we are trying to do everything we can to adjust to this reality, the impact on displaced people, it continues to be huge, as we have just heard.
Thank you very much.
I see that Jamie has not reconnected, so I'll give the floor to Gabriella Sotomayor.
Gabriella, you said in the chat you had a question.
We have a problem with the question.
I don't know what happens.
Can my colleague give open the mic of Gabriella?
Yes.
Thank you.
Yeah, I had a problem with the connection with the microphone.
So 1313 million of people are of people of people displaced are going to be affected by the cuts the and the decision of one man, Donald Trump, because is the decision of the president is not the the American, the administration is the decision of one person is going to affect 13 million of people.
Is is that correct?
Shall I take?
Yeah, OK.
As I said, Gabriella, the funding situation that is affecting us as well as many other agencies has to do with the decision to reduce auto freeze funding.
We still don't know how much money we will receive from the United States, but it's not just the United States, although it is our biggest donor.
Many of our other top donors have also indicated that they will reduce their contributions this year.
So it's a combination of the number of or the needs worldwide increasing, the number of conflicts in the world as we know have been increasing, the number of emergencies to which we have to respond has been increasing.
And at the same time, this uncertainty over funding, we are trying to become even more efficient to make sure that every single contribution goes directly to help refugees.
And we have been trying to do this for some time.
And we are in the process of reviewing our operations to see what further savings and cuts we can we we can do to our staffing at our expenditure.
But the reality, and there's no other way of putting this, the reality is that this uncertainty of a funding will have and is already having an impact on the lives of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet, refugees or the displaced people.
And this is having a consequence on, on, on, on, on the ground, as we have heard.
Thank you very much.
You want to.
Alright, just going to add emphasis to the point that this funding, this situation is already it's it's devastating, but it's coming on top of long standing shortfalls in humanitarian assistance as as William rightly noted.
And and in these it is important that we act immediately together and and actually want to appreciate that as yours is one of the major donors.
We also have seen others stepping up to support and would like to see more support to the refugees and surrounding communities because the the funding cuts and the health conscious cause the health consequences are expected to be a devastating and immediate action is needed to be able to to avoid this.
UNSCR is agile, is present, is staying, is delivering to the extent possible.
We're having to review how we are working.
But then.
We will continue to do everything possible to limit the impact on the lives of the people, the refugees and the surrounding communities.
Thank you very much colleagues.
I see Jamie has must have had lots of problem with their connection because he now is not even in the list of participants.
So hopefully if we get the question afterwards, we'll, we'll give it to, we'll send it to you.
But staying on the same subject, Margaret also has a statement from WHO and that's on Gavi's support.
Support to Gavi.
So many of you have asked us questions about the story from The New York Times about GAVI funding suspension and we've got a statement that we've just put up.
Vaccines are one of humanity's greatest achievements.
An estimated 154,000,000 lives have been saved over the past 50 years thanks to global immunisation drives as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, which is led by country governments worldwide, including the US, and supported by global institutions.
GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, which includes WHO, UNICEF and the Gates Foundation as core founding members, was created to widen the benefits of the expanded Programme on Immunisation by helping the poorest countries in the world benefit from new life saving vaccines and increase the coverage of these vaccines.
We refer to them as EPI vaccines.
These two goals.
One to expand the scope of protection and the other.
To and one to expand the scope of protection have resulted in a greater breadth breadth of protection against an increasing number of vaccine preventable diseases.
This.
Intensified.
Effort.
Including in the most vulnerable parts of the world, and we have just been hearing what this means.
Has helped to save more lives and and further vaccine equity.
As you know, during COVID-19, the wealthy world got 100% vaccination.
The poorest countries didn't receive one vaccine a year after some countries were fully vaccinated.
The work of GAVI has helped to save more lives and further this vaccine equity, ensuring that children who never receive a single vaccine.
Are.
Reached since 2000, Gabby has protected an entire generation over 1 billion children against infectious diseases, helping to cut by half child mortality in 78 lower income countries.
From 2000 to 2023, Gabby supported 637 different vaccine introductions.
So no 637 vaccine introductions and vaccine campaigns to protect children around the world against 16 different life threatening infectious diseases.
So not only are vaccines delivering protection and and having a **** impact immunisation, and this is what really needs to be understand here, immunisation is a Best Buy in health with a return on investment of $54.00 for every single $1.00 invested.
Decades of progress have made many vaccine preventable diseases a rarity in the lives of the family.
That's why people are not taking it seriously.
They are not seeing the diseases that are being prevented by this work and Gavi has been in the front line to help keep the deadly vaccine preventable diseases at Bay, working hand in hand with WHO, UNICEF and other public and private sector partners.
We've just heard of Unhcr's work in public health.
Every child has the right to health.
Our best defence against infectious diseases is continued investment in life saving immunisations for all.
We cannot turn our backs on protecting all children and all communities from these diseases.
Nobody should be mistaken that reversing the gains of the past 25 years of immunisation is anything other than a grave ****** to us all.
It is critical to continue investment in Gavi so that life saving immunisations can continue to reach all children.
Thank you.
The statement is longer and it's.
I'll provide the link.
Yeah, yeah.
In fact, Christian in the in the chat was asking if you could just send the link quickly.
Yeah, thank you very much.
Sorry, I see 2 messages.
OK.
So that is I think what we had in terms of questions for on on this subject.
I would like to thank you very much Alan for being with us with your very busy agenda and thanks to William.
Before we leave even HCRI think Babar has an update for you on the, on the situation in the in, in Myanmar.
Babar, thank you.
Alexander, can you hear me?
Yes, we can go ahead.
Yeah, just a quick update for for colleagues in terms of the overall number of people who are displaced in the affected region.
So as mentioned, the central and northwest parts of Myanmar have the highest number of internally displaced people in the country due to conflict that has been going on now for over 4 years last.
Two years we have seen.
Numbers ready of numbers of people who are being displaced increase sharply, so some 1.6 million ID PS out of the total 3.5 million live in these years.
As it was mentioned, our thoughts are with people who have been affected and also with the colleagues who are the first responders on, on the front front lines.
This has mentioned, you know, is going to increase the hardships that endured by those people who we have been serving with our partners.
I mean, we have already been providing emergency assistance, shelter and running livelihood projects.
Back to you.
Alexandra Hughes.
Thanks.
Thank you very much.
That's that's very useful updates.
OK.
So thank you very much.
I'd like now to let let you go and go to our last speaker, who was also a colleague of Margaret and I hope we can connect to him because he has been extremely patient and waiting in the street.
I think we have Doctor Thierno Balde, who's the incident manager for the emergency in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, who's connecting from Goma.
Sir, can you hear us?
Yes, I can hear you.
OK Thank you.
Thank you very, very much for your patience.
This was a very long briefing with lots of emergencies, but we are very happy to hear from you also on the situation in on the medical situation in DRC.
Please go ahead.
Thank you very much.
Thank you really for giving me also this opportunity to talk about DRCI have heard also I have learned many things happening in the world currently a very challenging moment, I think for the humanity, for all of us.
But close to all of these other emergencies.
I wanted also to have the chance to talk a little bit about the situation in Eastern DRC.
You know, since January 26, the Eastern DRC is facing one of the most critical and accurate humanitarian crisis.
I mean, for the past decade.
It's a region.
It's not only a country.
It's a region because many other countries are currently directly or indirectly affected.
I'm talking here about Burundi, about Rwanda, somehow about Uganda and about Tanzania.
The consequences of the ongoing violent clashes which are currently happening, I mean have led really 2000 of people who have died to trauma cases but also to wounded patients.
As we are talking now, we just received the medical director of the hospital in Waikali, a territory which is located on the western part of Goma where recent clashes has happened.
And I I was informed that almost the 6 to 700 people are seeking kind of assistance from that hospital.
Including many wounded patient without any possibility.
No partner, no WHO, no MSF, no ICRC can really join that place.
So in a very difficult situation, the same situation is also happening in South Kivu, in Uvira, and also in Ruzuzi, at the border of Burundi, where also for the past three weeks we are having many wounded people, you know, without access to care.
But also facing a major outbreak of cholera.
Clearly, I mean in the other part of the country we are seeing all of these peak off outbreaks in the Maniama province, we are informed about almost the outbreak of cholera with almost 10% of lethality, so 10 people dying out of the 100 people.
So it's really kind of very challenging moment.
At the meantime, you know the MBOX, the outbreak of MBOX was also having the hotspot here in North Kivu and which has been now complicated further by really the humanitarian situation.
All of these just to highlight, I mean the challenging situation of this part of the world also where I think we should not really forget, you know, at the moment about the sulfa of the population in this context who has been around since day one.
I mean for really helping all of the different hospital, providing fuel, providing medicines, providing people you know and.
Experts.
Clinical Experts.
For really addressing this situation and with the partners like Alima, MSF and ICRC, whom we are really supporting by donating all of these material and equipment, we are trying to do our best.
But this is really a kind of drop in the ocean giving, I mean, really the, the, the massive challenges.
I was listening.
The situation about Gaza, but here also I can just tell you the territories that you have mentioned first almost 50 million of people, so 50 million of people directly and directly affected by by this crisis.
We are doing our best.
Again, as I was saying with the clinician, the emergency medical team that we have really kind of, you know, mobilised from local people here, you know, well accepted clinicians to go in to provide care, you know, with the support of WHO, WHO were capable of shipping 20 tonnes of material and medicines, you know, taking the roads, you know, from Uganda to Tanzania, by Nairobi, from Nairobi to ship here.
And today this is a relief.
But again, as I was saying, this is just a.
Drop in the in the.
In the ocean and maybe just to conclude, I think there is also I have heard about the consequences of the funding cut.
It's also a major issue here because I can tell you our initial assessment in the North Kivu here have highlighted almost half of the population of North Kibu, which is composed of around 4 million people will be affected by this funding cut directly.
Many NGOs, international NGOs, partners, WTO are probably just stopping.
I mean the interventions.
Just to highlight that I can tell you today almost in Goma, there is a situation out of stock of vaccine for the, for the routine immunisation, I mean programmes.
So children will not have any more access to vaccine the medicines.
Or again like the.
Prophylaxis, the post exposure prophylaxis for limiting the transmission of sexual diseases.
This is also people are really out of that stock by one of the NGO AIMA, which were supported by the US.
We're just, I mean, not anymore in the possibility of providing those care WHO tried to provide some of them, some of these kids around 200 here in Goma, around 300 did not keep.
But this is not enough.
So there is really a need and those are my final words, you know, to continue emphasising on the situation here for sure for a better piece to allow more access to the communities, more access to the people who are facing in the different situations.
And at the meantime also obviously having more capacities for deploying medical people, medical supplies, community health workers, mental health workers.
To address the situation.
Over, thank you very much for this update, Doctor Balde, thanks a lot really.
Do we have any question for WHO in DRCI don't see in the room or on the platform?
Let me just sorry, go up here.
No.
So thanks a lot Doctor Balde really for for this for this very important update.
Margaret, you want to say anything before we close?
I think I've said enough.
We've.
Sent the link to the vaccination statement so you should all have that.
I've actually sent pasted the whole thing and I think that's it.
From me, yeah.
Gabriella has a question, but I don't think it's for doctor, but I think it's for you.
But I'll give her the floor.
Gabriella.
Yes.
Thank you very much.
Margaret, could you tell us these vaccines got funding?
How can affect the USA people, the American people?
Does that affect them?
Vaccination effects every one of us.
That's the reason most of us are healthy adults.
We don't realise that, that that pre vaccination, half the people you look at in any room just wouldn't be there.
So yes, it affects absolutely every country.
And also infectious diseases don't care about borders, they don't care about elections, they don't care about governments.
So if you don't vaccinate everywhere, anywhere, you're going to be affected everywhere.
So, and again, it really is, if you wanted to invest, if you're looking at what am I going to invest in public health, vaccination is your Best Buy.
So it's honestly personal opinion, but I don't think it's it's silly, it's madness not to invest in vaccination.
Thank you so much.
So I like now the free, free Margaret, who's been with me on the podium for the whole briefing.
It's been a long briefing, but I still have a couple of announcements for you.
First of all, just to note that we have just issued a statement of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Janine Hennisplash heard, and I'd like just to read it to you.
She says today's exchange of fire across the Blue Line, the second such incident in less than a week, is deeply concerning.
This is a critical period for Lebanon and the wider region.
Any exchange of fire is one too many.
A return to wider conflict in Lebanon would be devastating for civilians on both sides of the Blue Line and must be avoided at all.
Cost restraints from all parties is therefore critically needed.
It is **** time to realise the commitments made in the Cessation of hostilities understanding of November 2024 and to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 17 O1, which contains the formula to ending recurrent cycles of violence.
the United Nations remains committed to working with all relevant stakeholders in preventing further escalation and making Resolutions 17 O 1A reality.
We'll send it to you.
And there is a contact if you have more questions to ask on this issue.
And so that is the one.
I just wanted to remind you of a press conference that's going to be announced at press conference on Thursday, the 3rd of April at 10 AM.
They will present the Technology and Innovation Report 2025 Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for Development.
The report and the contents of the press conference are embargoed until the same day, 3rd of April, at 2:30 PM Geneva time.
And the speakers will be Rebecca Greenspan, the Secretary General of Anktad, and Ankur Gonzalez Sons, the head of Technology, Innovation and knowledge Development branch of Anktad.
I think I've told you everything.
Oh, and 30 of March, so in two days, it's International Day of 0 waste.
We've sent you the remarks of the Secretary General on this important day that he gave to the General Assembly yesterday.
I think I really told you everything.
Just looking at the platform, if there is anybody else who would like to say anything, no, I don't see any other hand.
So thank you very much for following, following this very long briefing and have a nice weekend.
Just a reminder before I forget, Monday the Palais is closed.
It's an unofficial UN holiday.
So we will not be here.
And hopefully for you, you will also enjoy some rest.
So thank you very much and I'll see you on Tuesday.
Thanks.