Good morning everyone and welcome to this biweekly press briefing by Eunice on Friday the 18th of September.
Just a few announcements before we go through the agenda that we have for today.
First of Orlando, of course, could not be with us this morning, but you have all received the agenda or the programme for the Human Rights Council session that is taking place today.
And of course, at 10 AM this morning, the urgent debate on the human rights situation in Belarus began.
Orlando has obviously sent you the full programme.
Also just a few minutes ago, the list of speakers, which include, of course, Michelle Bachelet and Ace Marin.
In fact, it was the Deputy **** Commissioner for Human Rights that took the floor.
And then there is a one of the opposition candidates also in the 2020 Belorussian presidential elections that will be speaking and also a Belorussian protester, Niz Novikava.
And the then that will be followed by statements from States and NGOs and after the break from 1:00 to 3:00 at 3:00 they will what is scheduled is the action on the draught resolution on Belarus.
So I'm sure Orlando will keep you updated as the day develops on any other significant developments on that front.
I can tell you probably you're asking yourselves about Yemen, so we can confirm that both delegations have arrived in Switzerland and the talks will begin today on Yemen.
The 4th meeting of the Supervisory Committee on the Implementation of the Prisoners Exchange Agreement is starting today in Switzerland.
The Committee brings together the parties to the conflict in Yemen and it is Co chaired by the Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The Committee resumes discussions between the parties with the aim of fulfilling their stated commitments in the Prisoners Exchange Agreement concluded by the parties in Stockholm, Sweden in December 20, 2018 and what the parties further agreed in Amman, Jordan in February of this year.
Of course, the UN and the ICRC are very grateful to Switzerland for hosting this meeting.
I will receive notice as soon as the meeting begins and we will be able to update you on that.
Also, Jennifer, Jennifer Fenton from the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria was unable to to be with us, but she's asked me to kindly inform you that the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Mr Guerra Opedersen, we'll be briefing the Security Council today at 10 AM New York Times.
So that's 4:00 PM in Geneva.
The open, the briefing is open and the Office of the Special Envoy will, of course, distribute the transcript when the briefing concludes.
She also adds that Mister Patterson will be available to brief the pallet journalist next week on Tuesday.
And we will send you more information on the exact timing as soon as we can do so.
And I have other announcements, but those are the priority ones for the very beginning.
Are there any questions from anybody online?
I don't see any questions.
So let's go right into our agenda.
Yes, good morning, everyone.
We have this afternoon the main press conference to launch the Trade and Development Report 2020.
It will be in this room and on Zoom at 2:30.
All documents are available in our virtual newsroom.
Chinese, French, Arabic are already available in addition to English of course, and Spanish version will be made available today.
The embargo is on Tuesday 22nd at 6:00 PM GMT, so 8:00 PM Geneva time.
So looking forward to this press conference.
I just want to highlight that we send this morning 2 news one on a statement released yesterday by 8 UN organisation stressing that international transport and integrated supply chains are critical in recovering from COVID-19, achieving the SDGS.
You have received this in your e-mail.
And yesterday a top UN economist also released a report on warning of crisis of our own making if global megatrends left unchecked.
Of course, the the trade and development report this afternoon will deal with all these issues and what needs to be learned from what happened, what was not made after the financial crisis in 2008 and what needs to be done now to recover from COVID-19 crisis.
See you this this afternoon.
Thank you very much, Catherine, for that update.
And I don't see any online, so you're free to go.
Our new colleague, Thompson Fiti from the World Food Programme is here to give you an update on COVID-19 and food security.
So welcome to your first briefing, Thompson.
Well, thank you so much Brielle for that.
I was looking forward to it and I'm very happy to be here now.
The World Food Programme Executive Director, Mr.
David Beasley briefed the Security Council he led yesterday and highlighted how the if the economic effects of the COVID pandemic could cause more deaths from hunger than the virus itself, especially in conflict areas.
I believe the food transcript of his of his remarks will be circulated with the summary of this briefing after.
COVID-19 leaves few lives in places untouched, but its impact is harshest for those groups who were already vulnerable before the crisis.
And I want to talk a bit about some of the countries that we are most worried about.
The Whole Food Programme is extremely concerned about countries where we are seeing the colliding crisis of conflict, climate change and COVID-19.
These are countries such such as your Democratic Republic of the Congo, your Burkina Faso, northeast parts of Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen.
These are already countries that were first seeing threats on multiple fronts.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, conflict and instability has already forced 15.5 million people into crisis levels of food insecurity.
They are unable to put food on their tables due to an upstage in violence.
Record levels of hunger are now expected with nearly 22 million people, an increase of about 6.5 million people.
If we are forced to scale back operations due to shortages of funds, then their situation is expected to even become worse.
In Yemen, years of conflict induced hunger and now the COVID pandemic has meant that it's population of 30.5 million is in need as we speak.
About 80% of the population, which is equivalent to about 24.3 million people, need some kind of humanitarian assistance.
Some 20 million people are severely food insecure due to war, a collapsed economy, currency devaluation, crippling food prices and the destruction of public infrastructure.
We believe a further 3,000,000 may now face starvation due to the virus.
Authorities took a decision to close the 9 International Airport last week and this has made an already impossible situation even worse.
It is the only airport in northern Yemen.
It is critical gateway for humanitarian staff and in a country like Yemen, or indeed any other place of humanitarian concern, when you close airports and borders, when you shut transport systems, when you introduce blockades, it is akin to removing the life support system on an ICU patient.
Yemen is one of the worst fatality rates of COVID-19 in the world.
About 28% of confirmed cases are dying as healthcare systems have collapsed after five years of war.
But due to a crippling funding shortage, eight and a half million of the people we serve in Yemen only receive assistance now every other month as opposed to every month.
Unless we get funding now, we will have the difficult choice of cutting food rations for the remaining four and a half million people by December.
COVID-19 is also forcing more people into food insecurity in Nigeria.
Analysis shows measures imposed to contain the virus reduced incomes for about 80% of the families in the northeast of the country.
Some 4.3 million people are food insecure, up by about 600,000 people largely due to COVID-19.
I was most recently in South Sudan before coming to Geneva.
South Sudan was already on its knees even before the emergence of COVID-19.
6.5 million people were expected to face severe food insecurity at the peak of the hunger season in July.
Now we all thought we were on the path to peace in South Sudan.
And then bang, we now have violence, renewed violence, more atrocities in Jonglei State.
It is the peak of the rainy season right now as we speak, and Jonglei State is drowning.
Drowning in floodwaters, drowning in economic challenges, drowning in conflict, and drowning in COVID-19.
You know what happens there is that even a short best of violence, a short best of conflict has far reaching consequences.
Two weeks of fighting at a critical stage of the agricultural season can result in food insecurity for a period of between 12 to 18 months.
And this is even worse when cattle raiding is part of the violence.
Families lose family, families lose animals that are essential to their livelihoods, that are essential to to farming and they cannot they cannot produce as they would have without draught power, leading to even greater food insecurity.
In Burkina, Burkina Faso, an uptick in violence has meant that 3.3 million people now need food assistance.
We have displacement there, we have insecurity, we have access challenges unless we mount an effective response.
Now, some 11,000 people living in the northern provinces of the country are staring starvation in the eye.
I could go on and on, but I I just want to stop here and see if there are any questions.
Thank you very much, Thompson.
Are there any questions from journalists in the room?
I don't see any hands and unfortunately I don't see any hands up online either.
But thank you very much for this update and I'm sure if there are further questions, people will get in touch with you directly.
Thank you very much, Thompson.
Let's continue then with Jens Lark from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, who has an update to share on Ukraine.
In Eastern Ukraine, the ceasefire that came into force on the 27th of July has now contributed to the longest period of relative calm since the beginning of the conflict in 2014.
This reduction in hostilities has meant that 53% drop in security incidents months to months between July and August, and then even larger reduction in civilian casualties.
So according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in in Ukraine, there were five civilian casualties during August compared to 13 in July.
The overall number of security incidents dropped from 533 in July to 251 in August, So actually more than half.
And while 50 private houses were damaged around the contact line during July, none were damaged in August.
So our colleagues in Ukraine tells us that this improvement has given people on both side of the contact line that divides eastern Ukraine a sense of normality, and people hope that it will become sustainable.
But they also report that up to now, they have not observed changes in terms of humanitarian access that could lead to a scaling out of humanitarian work.
And that is largely due to restrictions imposed in response to COVID-19.
Only two of the five official crossing points allow people to cross the contact line.
Crossings have been largely limited to those who have been granted humanitarian exceptions negotiated by the humanitarian community.
All 5 crossings were originally closed in late March but partially reopened in June.
The result of continued closures is that the humanitarian needs among the conflict affected people in Donetsk and Luhansk continue as many rely on pensions and social benefits that they have to cross the contact line to obtain.
Thank you very much, Jens.
Are there any questions for for Jens Lark?
No, I don't see any questions.
So thank you very much, Jens for being with us.
If there are some that come up, we'll bring you back up.
We're going to go now to Shabia Mantu from UNHCR who joins us online.
Yes, we hear you perfectly.
It's a first remote briefing for me in a while, so, so bear with me.
We're just giving you an update on Greece today.
Efforts are continuing there to shelter asylum seekers made homeless and a series of fires that devastated Moria Reception Identification Centre in ****** last week.
Close to 5000 people are now being housed in the new emergency facility in Cairo, Tippe, which has capacity to accommodate some 8000 people while works are ongoing.
The site was set up by Greek authorities who hold overall responsibility for the management and coordination of the humanitarian response with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and other organisations.
A police operation which commenced on 17th September is ongoing to transfer asylum seekers to the new site.
We understand the operation proceeded smoothly and no use of force or incidents of violence were reported before entering the facility.
All new residents are ongoing undergoing rapid COVID-19 testing to help contain the virus as of today.
As a result of this mass testing, we understand there are some 150 positive cases.
All have received medical attention and are isolating in a quarantine area within the new site.
Our teams are assisting with site planning and mapping to facilitate the shelter allocation, the provision of information and distribution of relief items for all those who enter the site.
Refugees seem to be relieved to have found basic assistance, but they're still worn out from being on the street for several days and are worried about the future.
The new site is currently functioning as an emergency shelter facility intended to cover immediate and urgent needs of those affected by the fires in Lauria in terms of shelter, food, water, sanitation and medical care.
UNHCR supports its use as a temporary solution, but cautions that what may be deemed adequate in terms of shelter and services during emergency situations is not appropriate for the longer term.
Greek authorities are yet to clarify the future use of the site.
We stand ready to support discussions and possible long term solutions, including the continuation of safe and orderly transfers to the mainland and EU supported relocations.
UNHCR welcomes the announced decision of the Minister of Migration and Asylum to transfer all unaccompanied children living on the islands to proper accommodation and care in the mainland that UNHCR and IOM are assisting with.
We also hope that the forthcoming European Commission Pact and Migration and asylum will be an opportunity for the EU and Member States to address these issues and ensure more support, solidarity and responsibility sharing with countries like Greece that are faced with exceptional challenges.
Separately, in the wake of a number of arrests of suspects in connection to the fires in Moria, we urge people to refrain from speculation and allow legal processes to be duly followed.
It is not fair to stigmatise communities and groups on the account of alleged individual actions.
We hope that the legal process will help establish circumstances regarding this incident.
So, yeah, thank you very much for this update.
I do not see any questions unless there are questions in the room, and I don't see any online either.
I guess everybody is focused on the Human Rights Council this morning, listening attentively.
So Shabia, thank you for being with us this morning.
If there are any further questions, I guess journalists will contact you directly.
Well, that was a short agenda for today.
I just will end with a couple of additional announcements.
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You have a question as well.
Margaret Harris sent us a message.
She apologises that she wouldn't was not able to be here with us this morning.
She has some conflicting commitments, but of course, she recalls that they will be having their global press conference this afternoon and you will be receiving an advisory this morning.
I'm told at the last briefing, Peter Kenny had asked for a media contact for the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and response.
I have this name and I will be sending it to you if if Margaret hasn't done so, in a note to correspondence.
But the name of the contact is Christine McNabb, and we'll send you her e-mail as soon as this briefing is is finished.
I see that I have some messages coming in.
Well, that's what I can tell you.
I see Bahram has a question.
Yeah, I'm just wondering if, I'm sorry, but I didn't understand.
Can you repeat your question?
She just wrote me saying she had to go, but I understand that Baba is online.
Do you have a question for you on HERI have a question?
Yeah, please, if you don't mind you, you have a question for you in HDR?
I believe Baba is online.
Yes, I see Baba is there.
So pose your question and we'll go to Baba to see if he can answer you.
Ask your question one second.
According to CNN International exclusive report yesterday and some immigrants allege Chris is pushing them back at the at the sea in agency and one of the eyewitness Ayat Ibrahim says that immigrants were treated like animals on Greece less violent and they've been beaten up and she was among those who say they were forcefully forcefully expect from Greek soil and left at the sea to be rescued by the Turkish guard.
So have you heard about this report and what you what's your comment on these allegations?
Thank you Yeah thank you Bellam.
Not personally, but I can check around and can send you a response.
OK, so you will be looking into this and sending a response to by time.
I would like to still insist of the participation of WHO at your press, at your briefings.
It is the only time we can actually ask questions.
We also have conflicting agendas.
I'm with one screen on the council and the other one on you, so we also have this.
It's not exclusivity of WHO they have more than one people, one person and they could be there.
Secondly, we need to know when we're going to go back to have live physical presence press conferences with WHO.
The Swiss government, the president came to Geneva and she had a physical press conference.
You have a physical press conference.
Many others are having this.
We need to know why is it that WHO is the only place in Geneva with not a physical press conference?
Are we more dangerous if we go to WHO than other places?
You've made your point several times on this issue.
We noted, I'm sure that our colleagues at WHO make every effort to be present with us on Tuesday or Friday if they have a a conflict or unfortunately they there may be times when it's just impossible for them.
But as regards to their physical press conferences, we'll approach that with them and see what their answer would be.
I I don't know why they're only doing online briefings at the moment, but we'll urge them to see if they can do the the hybrid ones at least.
Byram, I see your hand is up again.
Mr I am totally agree with, I am totally agree with Jamil on this issue.
So we only had one single with physical press conference with Mr Tedros and that was very limited journalist participate that meeting apart that last 7-8 months, we don't have any physical press conference by WHO which is very important for us.
We basically are our agencies, our mid outlets, outlets invested money for us.
So if you don't get any special exclusive reports from here, but from WHO they will.
I'm I'm afraid that so many journalists will be losing their job and they will go there our country.
I think you should take an initiative to convince WHO to do at least one press conference physically at WHO headquarter in the UN.
I'm noted, will transmit your message to WHO if there are no other questions.
I'm just going to finish with a couple of additional messages that I had for you.
I was, I was talking about the Secretary General's message for World Peace Day, which is on the 21st of September.
And I would also like to recall that on 21st of September, next week will be the Geneva peace talks.
The annual Geneva peace talks, obviously for for obvious reasons, this year is going to be an entirely virtual event.
But you can follow it live streamed on on the 21st of September from three to four.
And you can register at www.peacetalks.net.
It's going to be there's there's a very nice line up of presenters, there's a poet, there's an there are educators, humanitarian, humanitarians.
Even a former professional football player, Luis Figo is going to be taking part.
Adiba Gasim, as well well known, has participated in several events here at the UN in Geneva and several others.
The whole list of speakers is available on their website and I urge you to sign up and register to take part in this event next Tuesday.
In terms of meetings, the Conference on Disarmament, the the last session will be ending today.
They will be having a public plenary meeting at 3:00 PM today in Room 17 to close the 2020 session and adopt the annual report to the GA and otherwise.
As we've learned at the beginning, the Human Rights Council continues its 45th session with an urgent debate today on Belarus.
In terms of press conferences, Catherine Misu has recalled the press conference that they will be having today at 2:30 to present the Trade and Development report.
So you are invited to follow that.
And then in terms of next week, there will be a press conference by the International Labour Organisation on Wednesday the 23rd of September at 11 AM to launch the 6th ILO Monitor on COVID-19 and the world of work.
That will be with Guy Ryder, the ILO director general, and Sangion Lee, the director of the ILO Employment Policy Department.
It's a press conference that is, of course, embargoed until the 23rd of September at 1:00 PM Geneva time.
And a final note you should have received yesterday a comprehensive well, a note to correspondence to recalls the the exhaust, the extensive agenda of the General Assembly that will will be happening next, next week.
Several **** level events will be taking place, including the general debate, as you know, from the 22nd to the 26th of September and the 29th of September.
That all begins at 9:00 AM New York time.
And our, our Secretary General of course, will deliver a keynote speech during this.
And there are many, many other very **** level events taking place throughout this General Assembly, including the SDG moment, the **** level meeting on UN75 on the 21st of September.
There's also a **** level roundtable on climate action.
There's one on financing for development accelerating the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There's also a summit on biodiversity.
So quite a number of of events will be taking place, despite the fact that this year's General Assembly is going to be more or less held in a virtual format with, I believe only one representative from each delegation attending the actual General Assembly in New York.
I think the Secretary General said that there would be the IT would be the highest number of heads of state taking part in a General Assembly with pre recorded messages.
I think they've confirmed that no head of states would actually be in attendance at the GN in New York.
But still quite a packed event that you can follow, of course, on webtv.un.org.
Jan Edelman, I see that your hand is raised.
Could you please send us the list of speakers for the events on the 21st of September and then the list of speakers for the general debate?
And secondly, you just said that no heads of no head of state or no head of government will attend.
What about President Trump?
There was some well speculations that he might attend the general debate and the event on the 21st of September to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN.
I'll be happy to send you the the list of speakers for the Geneva Peace Talks.
You can find that also by simply going to ungeneva.org.
There is an event to promote, to promote that.
And if you click on it, it will bring you directly to the Geneva Peace Talks 2020 website where you will find the entire list of speakers regarding participation of heads of states at the General Assembly.
As I've said, none are confirmed to to attend in in person.
And I believe I've seen news reports that the White House itself has announced that President Trump would not be going.
I've seen that from a news report that you may want to contact the the US mission for full confirmation of that.
And if there are, can I follow up please?
Yes, I was asking for the list of speakers for the events in New York.
Yes, the, well, again in the note to correspondence that I, that I sent yesterday, there is a link to a full-fledged media kit with full information on each of the events.
I don't know if it includes the list of speakers.
And if it's not in the kit, it, it should be available at least the list of yes, the order in which the, the countries will be addressing the General Assembly, that should be available on the website of the General Assembly.
If you still don't find it, of course, do contact us and we'll, we'll try to help you.
I'll look into it as soon as I get back to my office.
And if I find it, I'll I'll share it with you.
Are there any other questions?
I think that concludes our briefing for this Friday.
Thank you very much for having been with us and I wish you a good afternoon and a good weekend.
