Good morning, colleagues.
Welcome to this press briefing of the UN Information Service in Geneva, today's Tuesday, 27th of October.
Before we start, I would like to inform you and welcome to have students of journalism from the University of Lausanne who are joining us remotedly on the platform.
Welcome to all the students and let's start this briefing with the the 3 colleagues who are going to brief us on the situation in Yemen.
I've got Thompson PD for WFP here in the room, Mariks Mercado for UNICEF and Tariq just a Reddick for WHO online.
So I will start with Thompson in the room and then we will go to the other two speakers.
Thompson, you have the floor.
Good morning to colleagues who are joining us and Job and those who are in the room.
About 20 million Yemenis are food insecure today.
Of these, close to about 10 million are acutely food insecure.
Now, the IPC, the Integrated Food Security Affairs Classification analysis for the southern areas of the country of Yemen, has forecast that by the end of 2020, 40% of the population, which is equivalent to about 3.2 million people, would be severely food insecure in the analysed areas.
Well, those predictions from what we are gathering on the ground are that they are likely to be an underestimate.
It is highly likely that the situation is worse than than initially projected as conditions continue to worsen beyond the focus levels.
The underlying assumptions of that of of the projection have either been or are close to being surpassed now.
For example, at the time of the analysis, at the time of gathering data, there was an assumption that food prices would be at least are stable.
They were ****, but at least they would they'll be stable.
In fact, food prices have skyrocketed and now on average 140% higher than pre conflict averages.
Now, for the most vulnerable, even a small increase in food prices is absolutely devastating.
Now our colleagues on the ground are also telling us that the situation is worse than in 2018, when when the World Food Programme expanded assistance by over 50% and in the process averted a possible famine.
Those gains that we had been gained in 2018, two, 1019, I'm afraid we might be losing them.
And as as, as as the conflict continues to intensify and economic decline continues unabated.
Now food insecurity, for example, has increased by 56% since the start of the crisis.
The highest pockets of food insecurity are found at the conflict's front lines.
Now these front lines in 2019 there were about 33.
They have also risen sharply to about 43 as of the end of July and then and and and and more.
The most intense fighting we have seen in the past two weeks has been in Marib and Al Bayid, where thousands have been displaced in the last few weeks alone.
Now WFP staff are also telling us that some of the families are being displaced for the third or even the fourth time, and each time a family is displaced, their ability to cope, let alone to bounce back, is severely diminished.
In terms of resourcing, in 2020, the World Food Programme, it asked for 2 1/2 billion United States dollars to build on the food security gains that we'd made in 2019.
Half of that funding has been made available for the response in 2020.
However, in in April, food assistance was reduced by half in some parts of the country and unless additional funds are received now, WFP may be forced to institute further cuts from December onwards.
We need nearly 500 million United States dollars to continue to deliver food assistance for the next 6 months.
To the millions of people in Yemen who rely entirely on food assistance to survive, I will stop here.
Thank you very much, Thompson.
And I will give the floor to Marixi Online for UNICEF.
I just wanted to highlight a few of the figures that were in the press release circulated earlier this morning by Thompson, the joint press release on the IPC in Yemen.
So acute malnutrition rates among children below 5 years old are the highest ever recorded in parts of southern Yemen, according to the latest Integrated Food Security face classification.
This new analysis released today puts the number of children suffering from acute malnutrition this year at 587,573, which is an increase of around 10% since January this year.
In the worst hit areas included in the analysis, and these areas include Abian, Lage and Thais lowlands, around one in five children are acutely malnourished.
In the Hodeida lowlands, the proportion is 27 percent or over one in four children.
The most significant increase is among young children who suffer who suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
This is a condition that leaves children around 10 times more likely to die of diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea, malaria or acute respiratory infections, all of which are common in Yemen.
The new the new number released today is up 15.5% since January, for a total of at least 98,000 children.
The analysis release today covers 133 districts in Southern Yemen.
Data for the districts in Northern Yemen are still being analysed, but the experts say that the conditions there are expected to be equally concerning based on these historical trends.
There's more data in the press release that was circulated this morning and we and I'll take questions later on.
Thank you, Marik, Si and Tariq for WHO on Yemen.
Can you hear me Alessandra loud and clear?
OK, good morning to everyone.
Well, I'll just add few a few words on a, on a, on a health situation in Yemen.
We've been talking about Yemen in past years and we already said that Yemen is the the most complex operation WHO is, is, is, is is handling for for past couple of years.
Nearly 18 million people are in need of healthcare services this year.
2/3 of districts and it's 203 out of 333 are in more severe health needs due to inadequate access to health services.
And, and, and these these districts are basically in all of 22 governorates.
Now health system has been, has been devastated.
As we have been reporting in the past, only half of the health facilities are fully functioning and those who remain open are usually lacking qualified health staff, essential medicines and medical equipment such as masks and gloves as oxygen and other necessary supplies.
For last three years, unfortunately, Yemen has witnessed A downward spiral of diseases such as cholera that you will remember was one of the worst cholera outbreaks in a in a history.
We also had you remember diphtheria, dengue, measles, malaria.
Now we have also COVID-19 and unfortunately we have a cases of, of polio coming back, back to, to, to Yemen after it has been declared as a polio free, free country.
And for people who have chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes or others, they're the treatment is limited.
I'll just give a few, a few numbers because you know, it may be of interest for you that for example, regarding COVID-19, by October 25th, we had just over 2000 confirmed cases were reported in, in the country with six 101 deaths.
These are basically have been reported in 11 governor 8 since the first case was reported in April 2020.
Now, we and health professionals remain concerned that the official epidemiological curve underestimates the extent of COVID-19 in Yemen for reasons that include a lack of testing facilities, lack of official reporting and people delaying seeking treatment because of stigma, difficulty to access treatment centres and the perceived risk of seeking care.
HealthPartners continue to work to improve the the response to COVID-19, including by increasing surveillance, screening and testing capacity, identifying innovative ways of encouraging behavioural change and and also working with the with the with the authorities on on how to boost intestive care facilities.
When it comes to polio, just quickly there are there were two new cases of vaccine derived polio that have been confirmed.
The total number of children paralysed this year by by vaccine derived polio is 17.
That includes 1 case from 2019.
When it comes to cholera, we made a really a good success because now the figures this year are 70% lower than for the same period last year.
So we had a total of almost over 180,000 of suspected cholera cases, which is as I said, 70% less than last year.
And the number of deaths decreased by 93% as we have only 56 associated that this this year.
We got also a measles outbreaks in several districts and and 47% of measles cases are reported from from just 4 governorates.
And you will have all these names in a, in a, in a, in a nose devil send.
Now these outbreaks of, of measles is the direct consequence of low level of immunity among children and, and this is also the case for, for polio.
And we are trying really our best with the authorities to, to respond to these outbreaks by intensifying by, by intensifying vaccination activities.
But as you can imagine, the, the, the COVID-19 has has further complicated the situation.
And then obviously that results in a decline in immunisation rates.
Let me just maybe go to to to health system in general.
Basically WTO had something that has been put in place and what's called minimal service package.
And this is basically to, to, to, to to support health facilities by providing incentives to health workers, but also providing the the supplies.
Now as of September, we ended this minimal service package in 121 facilities, which has affected 1,000,000 of people.
And this is in addition to 1.3 million people deprived of access to to these life saving healthcare services when we had to cut in April when we had to stop paying for example, incentives to to more than 1800 in medical staff in 135 facilities.
If resources are not provided by the end of the year, a total of 9 million people will lose access to basic healthcare services.
And just to give you at the end of the example, in terms of outbreak control and responsive funding is not received by October.
Preparedness, surveillance and pre positioning of supplies for outbreak response including diphtheria, dengue will stop across 2023 governorates and up to 60% of the 174 existing cholera treatment facilities and 100% of the of the of the preparedness and medical centres will close.
All 333 district rapid response teams will cease to perform core functions including case investigation and outbreak monitoring that that will result in in almost 18 million people that will be impacted.
And just to, to give you the figures at the end, so basically for the, for the response plan when it comes to health, we, we, we have a 65% of gap when it comes to funding.
So out of 149 million of U.S.
dollars, we have received only 50.8 for COVID-19, there is a gap of 56%.
All these figures you will you will receive in a in a note that that we will share.
Thank you very much, Tariq.
And let's go to a question, there is already one from John Zaracostas.
John, your question is for whom?
Firstly, I'd like to ask Tariq if he has some more details on the 17 children that got paralysed.
What sort of polio vaccine was used and what has been the follow up?
Have they discontinued the vaccination of the children for the time being?
What has been the investigation on why this happened?
We've had a similar situation a few years ago in Syria, if you might recall.
So basically what is going, Yeah, John, I'll answer briefly.
So, so there are two new new cases of of vaccine derived polio type one have been confirmed and these are in the in the in the in the region of SADA.
And this is following the retesting of sub specimens.
So the total number of children with a paralysed by vaccine, there are probably 17 now.
The backlog of stool specimens from acute paralysis cases and contacts in Sada and other northern governorates have been received at the polio labs in Oman and Kenya for testing.
Now, efforts to accelerate and intensify surveillance for more rapid detection of the virus are underway.
Teams have successfully cleared the backlog of stool specimen for AFP cases and contacts.
A total of 424 samples were shipped to to to a lab in Nairobi, Kenya with the support of UNICEF Supply Division.
An additional 356 samples were sent by road to the Central Public Health Lab in Oman.
These samples are now undergoing testing and the programme is expects this will change the epidemiology epidemiology in the coming week.
So, so more, more what samples are being sent for testing?
As you know, as you know, we unfortunately had cases of vaccine derived polio in, in, in different areas.
Medic, see if you want to add something, please raise your hand down anytime.
John, you have a follow up.
Can you unmute John Zaracostas, please?
Yes, can you hear me now?
Yes, my follow up question was to Marixian Thompson.
The severe acute malnutrition cases, do we know how many children have died in the first nine months of this year or the 1st 10 months of this year?
And how much are they linked to the embargo, the so-called land as the naval blockade?
And to what extent has the bombing of water facilities affected the quality of water leading to diarrhoea, which is reducing the capacity of children to be stronger and to to resist.
Maddox, maybe you want to start.
George, you want me to start?
OK, I'll have to look down it.
We don't, there is no number as far as I know of children who have died due to Sam that, that, that I have right now due to Sam this year.
And I would have a hard time linking any such deaths to any particular 'cause I think the thing, the reason why malnutrition rates are so **** in Yemen are a, the, the, the poor quality and diversity of food.
You have extremely elevated rates of food insecurity.
You have very prevalent diseases in the country.
All the, all of these childhood diseases that Tariq has already mentioned, including diarrhoea, malaria, acute respiratory infections.
And when you and, and you have a very poor water and sanitation situation where I think it's over half of the over half the population doesn't even have access to a pipe water system.
On top of that, you've got very poor access to services already.
This has gotten even worse due to COVID with I think the, the access, children's access to nutrition prevention systems down by about half and about 1/4 more children missing their vaccination schedules.
All of this, of course, I mean, and, and, and with respect to malnutrition, disease, water, food, if you, you know, all of this is leads to a virtual vicious cycle for children.
So if you have sick children who are drinking unsafe water or in unsafe sanitation context, this is this is what this is what causes a huge increase as spikes in malnutrition that you're seeing in this estimate that's just been released today.
In fact, it's a question for Tarek, but it's not about Yemen.
I, I imagine there are quite a few questions for Tarek, but we have here a briefing on Yemen.
So I would like to ask Yanka, Freddy, Lisa, Moussa and Peter with us for the floor to please stand the put down lower down their hand.
If it's not on COVID, we will go back to Tariq afterwards and you will be able to ask your question.
So please keep your hand up only if it's a question on Yemen, Freddy, Sisuli, Yemen.
It's really Yemen, Alizi.
Was the temperature of A2 tall?
It's a very more competitor don't Nissan ****** represents with the **** active more asset.
Hi Tarek, my questions questions are for you first on COVID, I missed the numbers that you gave, but you'll be sending the notes soon.
I hope so that can can be filled in now.
You mentioned that people were reluctant to seek care because of stigma attached to the disease.
How much are they actually informed about COVID?
What do they know about about it and what sort of treatment is available for people?
I don't know even know whether you're able to do any social distancing and all the other things that need to be done.
And then secondly, if you have the money, are you able to get the supplies that you need into the country or do the kind of restrictions that that exist that have been existing in Yemen for such a long time still still exist?
Yeah, thank you, Parika and whatever other colleague wants to join in, please.
So, so Lisa, my understanding is that the, the, the, the SANA International Airport is, is not functioning since since September 9th.
And that obviously is a is, is additional major obstruction to the COVID-19 response, but to the, to the all the other, to the, all the other activities as well.
So basically, according to our office there, this has delayed the arrival of COVID-19 experts, the arrival of, of, of critical medical but also other humanitarian supplies that include 207 tonnes of COVID-19 response equipment.
But as I said, we are really trying to, to work with the with the, with the authorities how to improve the, how to increase surveillance, screening and testing.
How we can, how we can better encourage behavioural change in terms of distancing and, and varying masks when distancing is not, is not possible.
How we can increase the intensive care capacities because as you know, this is the, this is something that becomes critical in COVID-19 response, but also how we can enhance data collection.
So these are all big challenges that are that we are seeing in many countries.
But you can only imagine how, how difficult it is in a, in a situation like Yemen is where colleagues just talked about the issue of food insecurity, where there is a, where there is a physical insecurity, where half of the health facilities are not working, where we have all these other diseases.
But again, that we, we, we have to, we have to keep appealing to donors to, to, to fund the, the, the, the, the response of, of all humanitarian agencies because as Freddy said, that this has been going on for, for a very long time now.
My question for WFP about the embargo and the impact of this embargo on the food crisis whole situation in Yemen.
Thank you so much for that question.
Any, any embargoes any, any, any disruptions to the food supply affects the movement of humanitarian cargo in into Yemen.
Fortunately we had managed to pre position stocks in the country, but those talks are fast depleting now.
And and it's always, it's always, it always works best for us when we are able to move in supplies in time.
What what, what we are going to see if, if at all the embargo remains in force is that slowly we're going to deplete available resources.
And not only are we going to be appealing for resources, additional resources to buy food, but then we'll also be appealing to authorities to allow safe passage of humanitarian cargo so that we meet, we meet the rise including security soon.
I'm would like to know from any of the speakers here and I'm not sure if the answer is there.
Yancey is physically in the room with us, so, OK, great.
Well, you know, you've spoken about the security situation now.
Now is this dire situation just due to the sort of general collapse of social services in Yemen or is the security situation in Yemen deteriorating?
Yes, it's going to answer to you just one SEC.
Sorry this is complicated with the COVID measures.
Well, the the security situation is bad and has been bad for quite some time.
It it does, it fluctuates up and down in in various areas.
So of course that is a major, a major because of all the current problems that we are seeing across the humanitarian spectrum from our side.
We are very much looking at some messaging about what what can be done in this situation because what can the world do right now?
We have been warning for several months now that Yemen was heading towards a Cliff.
We are now seeing the first people falling off that Cliff.
Those are the children under five years of age.
100,000 of them are at risk of death.
We are told the world can help.
The world can help by supporting the humanitarian response plan.
I'm starting to keep repeating that over and over again.
It is massively underfunded.
It asks for $3.2 billion.
We're ten months into the year that is way below what we have seen the funding levels of the past few years.
So there is something the world can do that money can help.
And I think of course now is the time to provide that money.
Jens, I have a follow up from Lisa.
Maybe stay on the podium if if the question is also for you.
Lisa, you have a follow up.
Tarek, I had asked you about the issue of stigma that you said that many people were not seeking who, who may be infected with COVID, were not seeking treatment for the illness because of stigma.
So I asked whether they are being sufficiently informed about the disease.
Could you elaborate on that?
One second, Tariq, can you unmute Tariq, please?
OK, sorry, I was calling, I was calling my colleague to unmute me.
It is it is a difficult context.
We are trying our best to to inform the population and I think, and I think it is it is something that adds to all the other problems Yemeni people have.
There is a there was already delays in seeking the the healthcare in in Yemen in the past.
I remember when I was there personally that many people have to make difficult choices if they are going really to, to, to try to get a healthcare sometimes in a dangerous zones, but also as as many health centres are not, are not, are not available, then the people have to go longer distances.
So that there was already issue of of, of of access to healthcare that we try to do to improve with these packages that we were providing to health services and that now are in danger because of lack of funding.
I think the, the issue of, of stigma, we have been seeing this for, for, for different diseases.
And unfortunately in Yemen, our colleagues are seeing with, with, with COVID-19 as well.
But again, it is, it is the, our, our, our, our priority to, to try to work with the health authorities on all sides to try really to 1st, to get a better understanding of the epidemiology through through enhancing surveillance and data collection.
And then to try to see how we can increase really capacity of ICU as you know for for people who develop severe symptoms the the ICU and it's **** level of medical care is, is, is important.
And Yemen, John, you have a follow up and then we'll go to Ravenna.
Yes, my question is to Jens.
Jens, if you could please repeat the underfunding for the appeal.
Am I correct that it's only 42% funded so far this year and the 100,000 children at risk of death, can you shed some more details on that?
Is that coming from your field office in Yemen?
Is it an interagency assessment?
What exactly and under 5, is it mainly due to severe acute malnutrition or other causes?
I think the second part of the question, it should be in the press release that you have received.
But otherwise I'll leave that to, to UNICEF perhaps to, to elaborate on that.
The appeal for, for Yemen is asking $3.2 billion.
It is as you say, as of today, exactly 42.3% funded the money that has come in confirmed.
I will just mention the the, the top five donors, which by and large have provided some 85%, roundabout 85% of the money that has been received, that is the United States of America, it's Saudi Arabia, it's Germany, United Kingdom and the European Commission.
I haven't forgotten that there were questions for Tariq on not on Yemen.
So please hold on with that.
Tariq will answer this afterwards.
But now I will go to my right to Ravina Shamdasani for OHCHR.
And she has got a dense briefing on the situation of human rights in many countries.
Yes, indeed, Good morning.
You should have already received the press briefing notes this morning.
We're going to be talking about 3 upcoming elections in Myanmar, Cote d'Ivoire and Tanzania, as well as an item on Cameroon.
On Myanmar, we have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Myanmar ahead of its general elections on the 8th of November.
These include violations of the right to political participation, particularly of minority groups, including disproportionately the Rohingya, Muslim and ethnic Rakhine population in Rakhine State.
While the elections represent an important milestone in Myanmar's democratic transition, civic space is still marred by continuing restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression and access to information, and the use of language that could amount to incitement to violence, discrimination and hostility.
Myanmar's discriminatory citizenship and electoral laws, which we have spoken about on many occasions, confer different sets of political rights to different classes of citizens, and these affect most clearly the Muslim minorities who are largely excluded from citizenship.
Additionally, there's been significant disenfranchisement resulting from the Union Election Commission's announcement on the 16th of October that elections would not be taking place in 56 townships, including in Rakhine State.
The Commission did not provide public justification for this decision, which again curtails the right to political participation in areas with ethnic minority populations in a discriminatory fashion.
An Internet shutdown effectively remains in place in eight townships in Rakhine and Chin states, severely limiting the ability of residents to enjoy their right to receive and impart information, including on COVID-19 as well as the elections.
Blanket Internet shutdowns may be counterproductive and contravene international law.
Again, the measure disproportionately effects minority groups, including the ethnic Rakhine, Rohingya, Kaman, MO, Dagnet, Kami and Chin communities.
While the restrictions on freedom of expression continue to mount, we deplore that the unrelenting proliferation of hateful speech against Muslims on Facebook continues.
We understand Facebook has made certain efforts to identify and remove hateful speech from its platform.
But we call on the Government of Myanmar to take action in line with its Presidential Directive 3/20/20 from April this year, for them to denounce such hateful language publicly and to promote tolerance, non discrimination and pluralism in speech by public officials and by electoral candidates.
We are also troubled at the intolerance for criticism against government or the military known as the Tatma Dao in Myanmar.
Over the past two months, at least 34 student activists have found themselves facing legal measures, including charges of unlawful assembly and inciting public mischief after they called for an end to the conflicts in Rakhine and Chin states.
They also called for reinstatement of 4G mobile net Internet services in those areas and for the release of other detained student activists.
Four of these students out of the 34 have now been convicted and two of them, two of these four have been sentenced to over six years of imprisonment.
We urge the government to drop charges against all those facing legal action for exercising their rights to freedom of expression.
This is a right that is particularly precious in a pre electoral context.
We call on the government to take measures to ensure that the right to political participation can be exercised by all without discrimination of any kind.
Maybe we take we take question on this matter first.
OK, John, John Sarcostis online.
Good morning, Ravina, welcome back.
My question is not to the items you just mentioned.
Perhaps I have missed it, but has the **** Commissioner made put out a statement on the killing of the French school teacher, Samuel Patty?
But I'll go ahead and respond to that first.
No, of course, we, we unequivocally condemn this, this horrific ****** of the French school teacher and the **** Commissioner certainly condemns this ******.
How are you on on Myanmar, this general election?
Is Aung San Suu Kyi running in this or it or doesn't involve is that has there been any comment from her at all about the this this really terrible situation you're talking about?
And then did you ever consider that the Rohingya would be allowed to vote?
I mean, they've been disenfranchised, right?
No citizenship rights and so forth.
And have you, do you have any kind of line of communication with the government?
Have you spoken to them about it?
No, I mean, as I said, the government itself did pass a presidential directive in April this year denouncing, do you know, calling on public officials and electoral candidates to denounce such hateful language publicly.
That is one response that they've had.
Unfortunately, in spite of this presidential decree, we have seen really a continued proliferation of hate speech against Muslims, particularly on Facebook, and indeed even in the context of COVID.
The COVID situation in Myanmar is worsening at the moment and there have been stay at home orders imposed in certain areas and in the context of these orders as well.
For example, journalists have been classed as non essential, which means that really hampers their ability to be able to go out there and cover the elections and cover the the campaigning on the hate speech and the disenfranchisement and all, all that we've described here, which is all very worrying on the the disenfranchisement of Rohingya Muslims in particular.
They're the structural discrimination against them has been in place for decades now.
In fact, earlier they were able to vote because the earlier rules enabled anybody with any kind of an ID card to vote and these were in fact tightened.
So and so there's the the laws and discriminatory citizenship and electoral laws themselves.
And in addition to that, we've had, as I said, this Union Election Commission, which has made certain announcement, which again, disproportionate the impact on these communities.
So even where they would have otherwise otherwise been able to vote, elections aren't taking place in many of these townships.
So as I said, elections will not be taking place in 56 townships across the country.
And of these, nine of the townships in Rakhine in their entirety cannot vote.
Your third question was, oh, about whether we, yes, we do have lines with the government.
And all of the concerns that we've raised here, we have also raised with the government.
Sorry, my, my Microsoft, Nick.
Now Lisa has a follow up.
Maybe we'll go to Lisa 1st and then Nick.
Ravina, you, you missed one of my, my multiple questions.
I asked you whether there has been whether Aung San Suu Kyi was running.
But I also asked you whether she has made any kind of a comment about this or has she sort of retreated in through the shadows when it comes to human rights issues on whether she's made a comment specifically on these?
But again, this is something that you should.
I would encourage you to reach out to the government of Myanmar for for comment on this, but not that I know of.
OK Nick, hi, can you hear me?
I just wondered if you had any information on the number of people who you consider political detainees, how many there are now?
And what's your, you talked about tensions in the last couple of months.
What's, what's your sort of running total for the year?
Nick, this is always a tricky figure for us to identify because there is a real lack of transparency as well, which is one of the problems.
I don't have a comprehensive figure of political detainees at the moment, but I can check if the colleagues can give us some kind of an indication and I'll get back to you on that.
Oh, of course, sorry, there are more questions.
Make you have a follow up.
Make you have a follow up.
Just to say, I mean, when you talk about people detained for political opposition and criticism, are they being detained for criticism of on science of chief government specifically through reporting or, or broadcasting?
Or is it more kind of proactive demonstrations?
I'm, I'm trying to get a sense of to what extent the civilian element of the government is, is cracking down on political discourse.
Sometimes it's for criticism that's been posted online.
So this this applies online and offline and it's it's most often for criticism of government policy.
For example, student active students have been arrested for protesting the detention of other student activists.
They've also been arrested for criticising the the Internet shutdown that I referred to earlier that remains in place in age of the townships in Rakhine and Chin State.
They've been criticised for their comments on the conflicts in Rakhine and Chin States.
Sorry, they've been arrested and detained for their criticism of the conflict and the handling by the government and the military of the conflicts in Rakhine and Chin State.
So it does seem like it's, you know, it's quite a broad based crackdown on dissent.
Hello, Ravina, do you hear me?
Yeah, go ahead and yes, go ahead.
My my first question is a follow up of what John asked before about the these crimes of the French teacher some days ago.
I was wondering why UN didn't publish a press release, the **** Commissioner didn't publish a press release after such a crime.
And now while the French President is being attacked because of defending liberty of publishing caricature and defending the liberty of expression.
What is your position on on this very severe attacks of defending liberty of expression?
And yes, on the, the UNS reaction, I mean, I, I can speak for the **** Commissioner and I can tell you that the **** Commissioner unequivocally condemns the, the ****** of the school teacher in France.
On the, the interactions between the heads of states in, in Turkey and France, I mean, I will not weigh into that, that kind of, you know, interaction between 2 heads of states on the liberty of expression, the freedom of expression and the freedom of religion.
In fact, this is a very complex issue and there are quite a lot of, how do I put it.
Over the years in the Human Rights Council, there have been a lot of attempts to really define this issue much better.
Some years ago there was pushed to, you know, create resolutions, the defamation of religions, but eventually this was quite well resolved in the Human Rights Council.
And in fact there was a resolution that was passed providing a road map and giving concrete ways to clarify where the line should be drawn between free, free speech and hate speech.
What I think I would prefer to do is send you in writing some of those provisions because as I said, this is a very tricky issue and I wouldn't want to misstate something.
Would that be alright if I sent it to you in writing?
I guess you would because of the platform.
It's a little bit complicated to go back, but Leonel has another question maybe on the same subject.
Yeah, just Ravina, can you, can you tell me exactly how an Internet shutdown can violate international law?
This is mentioned in your in your press release in, in you know, specifically.
I wish I had, I wish I had Article 19 of the ICCPR in front of me, but I don't.
But I believe the article provides for the freedom of expression, opinion and access to information.
I think it might be the right to impart or receive information.
This is of course crucial at all times that these rights are respected in Myanmar.
In this context, we have several very difficult situation, several crises going on at the same time.
There is the increase in COVID-19 cases, there are armed conflicts in different areas and there is an election.
Now in this context, clearly it is very important for people to be able to access information about public health, about their own security, about, you know, the the different candidates so that they're able to effectively exercise their right to political participation.
So by putting in place a blanket Internet shutdown, you're making it very difficult for people to be able to make decisions that can affect a whole host of their rights.
So this is this is how it it is in violation of international human rights law.
No, Gabriella has a question if it's still on the subject because Ravina has another another briefing issue.
So Gabriella, is this on the subject of the elections?
OK, So and I see Anya says also follow up, but maybe I, I let the Ravina go to the second question because maybe that will also trigger other questions from you.
And then I'll take Gabriella and then yes, Ravina on Cameroon.
In fact, if you don't mind, I'll, I'll do Cote d'Ivoire and Tanzania first.
On Cote d'Ivoire, we urge the government of Cote d'Ivoire to ensure accountability in relation to reports that at least 20 people have been killed in intercommunal clashes and in confrontations between security forces and supporters of opposition parties in several localities in the country in the run up to the October 31st elections.
Intercommunal clashes occurred in the towns of Bonguano in the east and Dabu in the South East of the country between the 17th and the 21st of October.
In various opposition demonstration in other towns and in the capital Abidjan, unidentified individuals assaulted, threatened and intimidated protesters using machetes and knives with apparent impunity.
On some occasions, voting stations were damaged, people's voting cards were destroyed, and private businesses were also looted.
To prevent a recurrence of such events, it is crucial that the authorities conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into all human rights abuses and violations, regardless of the political affiliation of the alleged perpetrators.
We understand that a number of individuals have been arrested in relation to the violence in Dabu.
Also deeply worrying is a persistent use of hate speech or language amounting to advocacy of hatred that constitutes discrimination, incitement to discrimination, and violence on the basis of ethnic and political affiliations.
Now this is occurring both online and offline, and we've also seen the manipulation of ethnic differences for political ends.
Given the history of electoral violence in Cote d'Ivoire, we appeal to all parties to refrain from using discriminatory and provocative language along ethnic affiliations that could lead to more divisions in society and ultimately violence.
We call on the authorities to protect the right to political participation in accordance with international standards and to ensure it's exercise without discrimination, fear or reprisals.
The authorities must ensure respect for the right to peaceful assembly and protect participants against attacks from third parties.
We appeal for calm in the lead up to the election and in its aftermath, and for differences to be resolved through dialogue.
I wonder whether the question are on this subject.
Gabriella, you said it wasn't on on on the election issue.
Maybe I'll go to Katrina who has raised their hand now.
We'll take all the questions afterwards anyway.
Good morning, Alison, My good morning, Ravina.
I have a question for you, Ravina and I have a question for Alessandra, for you.
I would like to know if the the **** Commissioner has decided to send a team as observer of the elections.
Is there anything planned for that?
And do you want me to ask also the question for Alessandra on the same topic?
Yeah, please go ahead because it's it's getting really difficult with the switching from one person to the other.
So please this for everybody.
Try not to ask follow-ups and and if you have several questions to ask them all together.
Always on Cote d'Ivoire Alessandra, the former President Henrique Gnombedier has asked for and I quote the personal involvement of of the UNSG, Antonio Guterres and I quote in the resolution of the serious political crisis that still shakes the country and he's accusing President Ouattara not wanting I quote any dialogue.
Is that has there been any reaction from the SG on on, on that?
OK, on the second straight answer, I don't have it with me.
So I will ask and I will ask Ravina to comment to to answer your question.
Thank you for your question.
Well, so to clarify, we don't monitor elections.
That is for another UN agency.
It's the Department of Political and Peace Keeping Affairs, DPPA, Yeah.
And our role is to monitor the human rights situation in the country, including in the pre electoral context in the run up to the election.
So yes, we do have two staff members who are focused on monitoring this situation at the moment.
We have one colleague who is in Cos d'ivoire in the resident Coordinator's office conducting this monitoring and another colleague who's supporting from our West Africa regional office, which is based in Dakar.
Is Lisa is on the elections?
Now you're talking about intercommunal clashes and ethnic problems.
Is, is that a part, are those confrontations different from the confrontations between security forces and supporters of opposition parties?
Or is it all one in the same thing that is everybody sort of protesting against the elections?
And then I was wondering whether they were whether the security forces were particularly aggressive against the protesters who are opposed to to the government, the president who's running controversially for another term.
So as I said, there's there's been quite worrying use of ethnic affiliations and you could even say ethno political affiliations because quite often there are calls for people and communities to vote for a particular leader based on where they were born, what ethnic group they belong to.
I mean, for example, there has been a lot of use of the word Ivarite, which is, you know, how genuinely Ivarian you are.
And there've been a lot of calls questioning the Ivarite of particular candidates, which then, you know, again invokes this, this ethnic element on the security forces and the demonstrations and the clashes.
In fact, there is the, there are several elements there.
There are the opposition demonstrations that are taking place.
There's the reaction of the security forces to these demonstrations.
And then there are unidentified individuals.
Now these are known, These unidentified individuals are known as microbes who have carried out these assaults, threats, intimidating protesters, wielding machetes and knives.
There are allegations that the modus operandi of these microbes, as they are called, are known to the state authorities, which is why we are urging the state authorities to to really to, to ensure that people are held accountable for their actions regardless of their political affiliations.
OK, Catherine, you have a follow up to your question.
I'm expecting the the feedback from you or from New York regarding the demand from former President Henrika.
As I said, Catherine, I will check after the briefing as soon as New York wakes up and and we'll come back to you.
But I mean you still have one point on elections and then Cameroon.
So let's let's go to that and then I'll take Gabriella's question and other questions that come up on, on Tanzania and Cameroon.
We still have Claire waiting to to brief us and Tariq has to answer questions.
Turning now to Tanzania, we have been following with concern the shrinking of democratic space in the country with worrying reports of intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrests and physical attacks against political opponents, journalists, women, human rights defenders and other activists.
This repression of dissenting voices intensified in the lead up to the elections, when the right to freedom of expression and political participation should be upheld, not repressed.
The elections take place tomorrow.
We are particularly alarmed by reports that three people were reportedly killed last night and others injured on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago, where police fired live ammunition in clashes with opposition supporters.
We urge the authorities to ensure that prompt, transparent, independent investigations are carried out into the incident and we urge all actors to refrain from any acts of violence.
We call on all relevant actors to ensure that the elections take place in a peaceful, inclusive and participatory manner with people being able to cast their votes free of fear and intimidation.
I'll move on to Cameroon now.
This is not election related.
This is about the the conflict in the the Northwest and the Southwest.
The population continues to pay a heavy price in the ongoing crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon.
Serious human rights violations and abuses continue to be reported involving both security and defence forces and armed separatist groups amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest vile, merciless attack on a school on Saturday, perpetrated by a group of men armed with guns and machetes, resulted in the killing of at least six children between the ages of nine and 12.
The attack on Mother Francesca International Bilingual School in Cumba in the southwest, left another 13 children injured, of whom 7 are reportedly in critical condition.
And I understand that their conditions are in some cases worsening.
We strongly condemn the attack.
The killing and the meaning of children, as well as attacks on educational facilities, constitute serious violations of international law, and the perpetrators must be held accountable with due regard for international human rights standards.
We remind the authorities of their obligation to protect access to education.
We've also received numerous other reports of serious human rights violations and abuses by separatist groups and by security forces.
Difficulties in accessing the affected areas makes it very hard to verify the reports, including reports of extrajudicial executions, torture, sexual and gender based violence and abductions.
We have urged the Cameroonian authorities to ensure independent and impartial investigation and prosecution of all serious violations and abuses, including acts of gender based violence by state and non state actors.
We've also called on them to ensure the right to a remedy for victims, including by guaranteeing their access to justice and reparations.
We stress the urgent need for an inclusive dialogue to carve out a durable resolution to this crisis.
And before giving the floor to the journalist, I would like to add on both issues that you've touched.
You should have received a a statement attributable to the spokesman of the Secretary General on Tanzania too, where the Secretary General calls on all national stakeholders to ensure that the polls are conducted in an inclusive and peaceful manner.
He also recalled that an inclusive electoral process and a broad effect participation of political parties and their candidates, particularly women, remain essential for safeguarding the progress made by the United Republic of Tanzania in consolidating stability, democracy and sustainable development.
He urged all political leaders and their supporters to participate in this exercise peacefully and refrain from violence, and called on the authorities to provide a safe and secure environment, which would allow Tanzanians to exercise their civil and political rights.
And of course, reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to support the country's effort to promote sustainable development and build a prosperous future.
And also on the Cameroon horrific attack, the Secretary general as a cold as of course shocked, said he was shocked by the news of this attack, which of course, he condemned fully.
And he also called on Cameroonian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
And you have I think received the whole the full statement we sent you already.
So I will now go back to the platform to see who is asking for questions on this.
I'll see Peter, Kenny, then Bianca and Lisa and then Gabriella.
Robina, as far as Cameroon is concerned, conflict there is quite complex.
There's the inter linguistic conflict is Boko Haram and there's inter communal conflict.
Do you have any information as to whether this attack on the Mother Francesca International Bilingual School was related to the linguistic conflict or was it a Boko Haram attack or is it stemming from inter communal conflict?
Can you elaborate on what information you have?
We are continuing to try to find out more information about this.
We do have an office, our Central Africa Regional office in Yaounde, which is looking into this incident.
Now, the government says that, I mean, they, they issued a statement attributing responsibility to the Ambazian fighters, but we haven't actually been able to verify who exactly was behind this.
What's clear is that these were armed men who attacked the school, which had only just opened quite recently.
Lisa yeah, Hi, Ravina, back again.
Sorry, could you spell that name Ambazid?
And I'm sorry, I don't know how to spell that.
And then my question did have to do whether you knew more about the identity of the aggressors.
But so I'll switch to the second question, which is, is the government doing anything as far as you know to protect these vulnerable people and whether they are actually seeking for reconciliation?
You have in the past called for moves towards this aim.
Has anything been done in that regard?
I, I couldn't note your, but I might remember it later.
I didn't note your third question on the oh embassion A MB AZIAN and on the, on what information?
I mean, as I said to Peter, we we haven't been able to verify the the identity of the perpetrators, but we have been able to get information corroborated by various sources that it was perpetrated by a group of men armed with guns and machetes who broke into the school and they shot indiscriminately while the students were studying.
The third question was about the government, but the government information.
Oh, no, there was also the Security question.
In fact, on security, in fact, this sub school was not benefiting from security protection measures, which is why we are calling on the government.
We're reminding the government that it is their obligation in the middle of this crisis to protect access to education and of course, to protect the physical safety of the students.
The government, in fact, the **** Commissioner was in Cameroon, I believe it was last year.
And, you know, she spoke to the the authorities in very clear terms about what was needed.
Now, there have been some steps taken.
There were some releases of political prisoners, but it's not enough.
The root causes of the problem again go back decades and these are structural systematic issues that, you know, including as Peter said, linguistic issues, which go back a long time.
And, and there is a real need for an inclusive dialogue bringing in the most affected communities with the government to work towards a sustainable peace in the Northwest and southwest regions of Cameroon.
I'll take a last question from Gabriella and then we will go to Claire and then to Tariq again.
Gabriella, yes, thank you very much for taking my question.
This is an another subject for Ravina and maybe for the refugee agency or IOMI, don't know.
So in the last debate, the US President said that migrants have a lower IQ than the rest of the population.
So do you have any evidence that migrants are less intelligent?
How dangerous is for the president of a country to refer to migrants like this?
And then he also said that about 500 children who were separated from their parents, he said that they are in great shape while they are waiting for them, that they have they have been in very clean facilities in a great condition.
So my question is if you have any confirmation that their situation is like that, can you confirm that?
OK, I'll, I'll ask Ravina if she wants to answer you, Gabriella.
But we have online also Barbara Baruch for UNHCR and Paul Dylan for IOM.
So colleagues, if you want to take the floor, please raise your hands.
We'll we'll open the floor to you.
Ravina, do you have any comment on this specific question?
I mean, Gabrielle, I would assume that your first question is a rhetorical one.
No, we, yeah, that's what I would answer the the question about whether my ways are are less intelligent on the separation of children.
We had been very clear when the news first emerged of of children being separated from their families.
The best interests of the child must always be paramount in any kind of administrative or, you know, other actions taken by the authorities in relation to, to migration.
Babar has asked for the floor.
Alexander, can you hear me very well?
Just in in line with what Raveena was mentioning, we also reiterate our view that preserving family unity is a fundamental talent of refugee protection and the unity of family is sacrosanct and should be preserved in the best interest of children and society as a whole.
If the reports were referring to to the US, if I understood it well, we have seen the report stating that the parents of hundreds of children who were separated along the US land border recent years have still not been located.
I mean, we understand the policies and procedures LED or contributed to the separation of these families remain under investigation by the Inspector General of the US Justice Department.
We look forward to seeing a final report when it is issued.
And I thank Ravina for this extensive briefing.
And let's go to our last briefer, Claire Nullis from WMO.
Can we unmute Claire, please?
Just a quick note on tropical cyclone activity.
Hurricane Zeta has made landfall along the coast of the Yakutan Peninsula of Mexico as the equivalent of a category one on the Sapphire Simpson scale, bringing heavy rainfall and the risk of flash flooding.
It's now it's weakened a little bit, but it will is expected to strengthen again as it moves over to the southern Gulf of Mexico.
And it'll become a hurricane once again, bringing heavy rainfall and dangerous storm surge to Louisiana, to the Florida Panhandle.
This is a part of the US which has been, you know, repeatedly hit by heavy rainfall and tropical storms so far this year.
It's Zeta's, the 11th hurricane on the 2020 Atlantic in hurricane season.
It's extraordinarily active.
So far this year, only two other Atlantic hurricane seasons on record since 1851 have had more than 11 hurricanes.
1 was in 1950 and the second one was in 2005.
The next name storm, which forms will also be taken from the Greek alphabet because we've run out of names from the regular list, and it will be called ETER.
Moving along to the other side of the world, in the western North Pacific, Typhoon Molave, I think that's the right pronunciation, is going to make landfall in Vietnam on the 28th of October.
So that's tomorrow at the equivalent of a strong Category 2 hurricane.
In addition to the ****** from the wind and from the storm surge, you know, the really big risk here is, is rainfall.
We are expecting huge amounts of rainfalls from this system.
And as you may know, Vietnam has repeatedly been battered by storms, by very, very, very heavy rainfall in recent weeks.
We've seen flash flooding.
And although Vietnam has a very, very good forecasting and disaster management system, we have seen quite heavy loss of life.
Unfortunately, the risk is now that this new Typhoon Molavi will worsen the situation and that remnants from the typhoon will also impact Cambodia, possibly Myanmar, Laos with very, very heavy rainfall, which this region certainly does not need at the moment.
Just finally, you will have received an announcement this morning.
With apologies, I got the the date and the title wrong on it.
We will be having a press release and a press conference on Thursday about, about El Nino, La Nina, which obviously is having an impact on the on our on our weather and climate at the moment.
Thank you very much, Claire.
Let me look if there are any questions from the journalist for Claire for WMO.
And I'll go back to Tarek now.
I remember I think it was Bianca who had a question for you.
Bianca, you have the floor.
Hi Tarek, it's about COVID-19.
2 British studies, one from King's College published yesterday in Nature and another one from Imperial College released today, showed that the antibody level against the the new coronavirus declines rapidly, so suggesting that immunity should be lost in months.
What are the implications for the development of a vaccine and also what does it mean for the idea of herd immunity over time?
So Bianca, on the first question, we know that that there is a level of immunity being developed by a person who is infected by COVID-19.
How long this immunity will last and how strong it will be is something that that remains to be seen.
And we are at WHO looking into all studies that are being done on that now when it comes to a concept of herd immunity that is being used when it comes to vaccination.
So herd immunity is being developed or collective immunity by basically protecting people from the virus, not by exposing people to the virus.
So, so for us, acquiring this collective immunity just by letting virus run through the population is not really an option.
First, we as we just said, we don't know how long the immunity will last will last.
Secondly, we know that a huge majority of people are still susceptible of getting COVID-19.
So letting, letting virus go free would just result in more suffering and deaths.
So, so basically we have to really do the the things that we have been advising since the very beginning and that is to know where the virus is and and try to break the transmission chains.
You have a follow up, Bianca.
But specifically about the development of vaccine, does it, it's confirmed that the immunity could could be lost only in some months.
Well, first, first we have to really look at, at the, at the, at the studies that are being done.
Immunity acquired through vaccination may not be the same as the immunity acquired through through infection.
So this is something to be seen and get from the data that we will that we are looking forward to receive from all the all the trials that are being ongoing right now for, for for number of vaccines.
Tariq, is there any other question for, for Tariq?
So thank you very much to you all.
I have a few announcements for you in particular.
Well, Claire has already reminded you of the press conference on the Nina La Nina.
We also have a press conference on Friday, 30th of October at 1:30 PM.
It's going to be an hybrid press conference by UN Habitat, which is going to launch the UN Habitat World Cities Report 2020 on the value of urbanisation and promotion of World Cities Day.
The Executive Director of UN Habitat, Maimuna MO Sharif will be speaking together with the other few speakers experts from UN Habitat and from UNC In and Graham Alabaster is online.
If you have any question, Graham from UN Habitats.
I also wanted to remind you that the Human Rights Committee, which is currently holding its virtual 130th session and it's mainly meeting in private until the end of the session, will hold the only public meeting plan for the session on the 30th of October at 4:00 PM, which will be devoted to the review of the report concerning the follow up of concluding observations and the follow up of views.
And also the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women opened yesterday.
It's virtual 77 session, which will last until the 5th of November, and all the meetings will be in private.
Finally, today at 3:30 Geneva time, the Director General of UNISCO, Audrey Azule, the Director General of WHO, Tedros Braces, Michelle Bachelet, you and I, Commissioner for Human Rights and Fibula Janotti, Director General of CERN will come together for a joint appeal for Open Science and basically a call on the international community to take all necessary measures to enable universal access to scientific progress and it's application.
You should have received the media advisory on this joint appeal for Open Science where there is a link for registration in order to follow live the event.
But the joint appeal will also be broadcast live on webtv.un.org.
If you have any question on this event, please contact Vanson de Funido, Director of the UNISCO Liaison Office in Geneva.
Catherine, I see you have a question.
Catherine, please, do you hear me?
Yes, it's a reference to the press conference that is taking place next Friday from UN Habitats.
They're launching a report on world cities and maybe I did not check well, but I'm not sure that we got that report.
Would it be possible to get it in advance?
Yes, I wonder if Graham still on online, I don't see his name on the list of participants.
We will, we will forward your question to to Graham and to Graham Arabasta and and ask him if it's possible for them to send to the report and their embargo in advance.
It's been a long briefing.
Thank you for your attention.
Thank you for the students of the University of Lausanne to be with us.
