Welcome to this press briefing of the UN Information Service, Geneva on Friday 11th of December.
I would just like to start with a short confirmation that many of you have called us to ask about a possible meeting of the Libyan situation.
What I can say is that I can confirm that on 14 and 15 December, Acting SRSG Stephanie Williams, together with the other coaches of the Economic Working Group of the Berlin Process, including Egypt, the USA and the EU, will convene a meeting of representatives of Libya's main financial institutions to agree on critical policy reforms.
These efforts are being done with a view to addressing the needs of the Libyan people and establishing a more durable and equitable economic arrangements.
I guess you would be very interested in knowing what are going to be the arrangements for the media, and I'm pretty sure we will be able to tell you a little bit more during the day.
So this is to answer your calls this morning.
I had quite a few about this, about this possible meeting and having said that, I would like to go to another meeting summit, which is basically the one that is going to be held on the 12th of December.
I have Claire with me to set up a little bit the stage of this, of this summit.
So I will give up the floor in a moment.
This is I would like to start by saying that the United Nations, United Kingdom and France are proud to convene the Climate Ambition Summit 2020 in partnership with Chile in Italy on this 12th December, exactly five years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement.
The summit is a major step on the road to the next UN climate conference, what's called what's known as COP 26, which will be hosted by the UK next November in Glasgow.
It will provide leaders with a global platform to showcase commitments to tackle climate change.
The summit will highlight the fast growing coalition of countries, cities, regions, business and investors committing to Net 0 emissions and boosting ambition in climate finance and resilience and adaptation.
It will feature leading examples of countries producing concrete near term plans and policies to deliver on their longer term climate ambition, highlighting the work I had for other countries to deliver new Nationally Determined contributions through 2021.
In advance of the Glasgow COP 26, the the summit will feature speeches from the Co conveners, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, President of France Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte and President of Chile Sebastian Pinera, COP 26 President Alok Sharma and dozen of other world leaders who will present ambitious climate commitments.
The event will also provide a global platform for voices for business from business, sub national governments and civil society including youth, indigenous and faith-based climate champions.
For your information, the summit will be live streamed and it will be available on demand.
Registration is not required for the media and a full programme of speakers has already been not a full full, but it's already a programme on the websites of the summit and they will continue.
It will continue to be updated on these websites.
The information about the summit can be requested either to us or our colleagues in New York, Matthew Coghlan and Daniel Shepherd.
As I said last time, we can provide you the in the e-mail addresses.
Otherwise, you have a media advisory that we have sent to you.
Claire, this was about the summit.
Maybe you can help us set the scene in terms of climate action.
So good morning, everybody.
Climate action certainly is needed.
The Paris Agreement, which terms 5 fifth anniversary tomorrow, has been hailed as a monumental step in the fight against climate change.
The reality is not enough has been done to implement it, hence the Climate Ambition Summit tomorrow.
And as the World Meteorological Organisation keeps saying, climate change indicators and climate change impacts are increasing.
As we told you recently, greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are at record levels.
The lockdown because of COVID is really just a blip in the long term graph, a temporary small blip.
Our State of the Climate report has indicated that 2020 is going to be one of the three warmest years on board the and this is despite a La Nina event which normally has a cooling effect.
The five years since the Paris agreement have all been the five warmest years on record and there is no sign of that trend reversing anytime soon.
We just had the warmest November on record.
This is according to figures from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service.
And I think the stand out of this year has been the extraordinary heat in large parts of the of the Arctic.
So at the moment the American Geophysical Union's full meeting is taking place.
And at that meeting, the US repeat released its annual Arctic Report Card.
I'll send you details of it with the with with the link.
The the the underlying message of that is that climate change continues to disrupt the the Arctic.
The second highest air temperatures, second lowest summer ice have been this year with a cascading of impacts, including loss of snow and wildfires.
And this is a quote from one of the editors, which I thought was quite dramatic.
Nearly everything in the Arctic, from ice and snow to human activity, is changing so quickly that there's really no reason to think that in 30 years much of anything will be as it is today.
So that is a quote from Rick Toman.
He's one of the editors of the Arctic Report Card.
So that's, you know, within many of our lifetime, you know, the Arctic will no longer be as we as as we see it today.
I'll send you briefing notes.
In addition to the changes in the, in the Arctic, which and I think it's, I think it's important to stress what happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic.
We say it time and time again, you know what?
What happens in the Arctic, the melting of Arctic sea ice effects weather and climate patterns in many other parts of the world, including, you know, the parts of the world where most of the world's population lives.
We're also concerned what's happening with the glaciers as glaciers retreat.
And today is the International Mountain Day.
WMO is supporting as everything is these days, a virtual **** mountain summit, which is spearheaded by Columbia and this virtual summit as as International Mountain Day.
It seeks to highlight the, you know, the very real impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems and the, you know, the, the, the knock on effect that this is having on short term hazards such as, you know, increasing landslides, rock slides, floods, but the longer term potentially very, very serious stress on water supplies for large parts of the large parts of the world.
So that's, that's all I have.
Just a couple of more very brief announcements.
On a lighter note, next week Tuesday, WMO will be, we've been having a competition on weather apps.
We're having an award ceremony on Tuesday to announce the winners and also the winner of the WMO annual photo competition.
So I'll send you notes on that.
Thank you very much, Claire, for this information.
And before I open the floor to questions, just to remind you that we have sent you the message of the Secretary General and International Mountain Day that, as Claire said, the international community commemorates on the 11th of December.
In this message, the Secretary General says, among other things, that the year ahead of this important policy making opportunities to protect mountain biodiversity and ecosystems, including the UN climate conference, the COP 26 we were talking about before, and the elaboration of a post to 2020 biodiversity framework.
the United Nations continues to work with local and national partners to protect mountain ecosystems and species and to promote mountain products.
Mountains must move to the centre of our attention, the Secretary General concludes, and it's time to move mountains to secure the changes we need to secure the health of our planet and to build a sustainable future for all.
And I will open now the floor to question.
And I see Jamil has raised his hand.
Janil yes, hello, I have two questions.
First to Claire, the Brazilian government presented it's a mission plan for 2060.
Have your technical people analysed, do you have any, let's say intake on that in in the sense that it whether that is enough or not to reverse the trend that you mentioned?
And to Alessandra, in your list that you published yesterday, Brazil is not there.
I would like to know why Brazil is not there.
The government insists that it will participate, but in your list, and again this morning, it is not there.
So who should we trust, the organisers or Mr Bolsonia?
OK, maybe Claire, if you bear with me.
This is going to be a very quick answer to set the second question by Jamil.
The list that is on the website, I understand is the list of speakers.
We have 77 heads of States and governments scheduled to speak, as well as 27 leaders from the private sector, regional and local governments and civil society.
I've seen that Brazil is not in that list.
You are right, but the question, the question is that the three Co hosts, the UN and the UK and France, had provided all member states with clear guidelines from the outset.
That speaking slots would go to countries and other actors who can show the most ambition right now, right now, whether in the area of mitigation, adaptation and resilience, climate finance, including through concrete plans or other actions.
This means that not everyone will speak, but that doesn't mean that other countries cannot be added or that countries that are still preparing the plans, some are delayed by the pandemic.
Plans that will be released in the months ahead are not welcome, of course, into this very important efforts rather than focusing on those not on the list, said ASG Hard yesterday at the press conference.
We should be celebrating those who are on the list who despite challenges of the pandemic, including some on front lines and in developing world, have made bold and ambitious commitments around Net 0.
And we have a long way to Glasgow.
So this coalition will grow and that's what we hope.
And Claire, you may want to answer the other question from Jamil.
Yes, to the best of my ability.
What we measure is the concentrations in the atmosphere rather than trying to assess the emissions of individual countries.
I think UNET has, you know, more technical expertise in, in, in that level.
But I think the point that I would wish to make is that, you know, it's obviously a very, very welcome development that increasing numbers of countries are now, you know, making very firm commitments to go carbon neutral.
That is, you know, it's, it's a very positive development.
Our secretary general, you know, keeps saying that he's really encouraged by it.
What we also keep saying is the, the law of physics, you know, the carbon dioxide hangs around, sticks in the atmosphere for, for many, many decades.
So even if you know, countries do go carbon neutral by, you know, by, by, by by 2050, that is not a magic wand to solve climate change just because of the nature of carbon dioxide, which stays in the atmosphere.
It has a very, very, very long lifetime.
So that, you know, does commit our our planet to further, further warming for, for future generations.
But obviously the action that we take now will determine, you know, the the state of the planet at the state of the planet in the in, in the future.
Carbon dioxide is a very, very long lifetime.
That really is the thing that we need to tackle.
Methane, which is the second biggest greenhouse gas, has a lifetime of only 11 years in the atmosphere.
If we can tackle methane and that really is achievable, it's realistic, you know, then then that, you know, it definitely would be a help.
Thank you very much, Jamil.
Yes, probably it's the Zoom that did not work, but I did not understand.
Will President Bolsonaro participate or not?
As I said, what I have at the moment is this list of this.
What what we have at the moment here I have at the moment is the list of the speakers.
I have seen you have asked the question of my colleagues in New York and I'm sure they will answer about the participation.
What I can tell you about the participation is simply that every member states of the UN has received an invitation about the participation.
I will let my colleagues answer to you because we don't receive it here.
It's the Participation Confirmation Centre, New York, so hopefully we will have it done today from them.
Just let's, let's have very quickly Rosaline and ervy giving you their announcements and then we will go into the other briefing issues.
Rosaline, you have a a launch to announce.
Emma, you have a question to Claire or myself for this on this issue?
It's for you, Alessandro, if I may.
Very quick clarification.
In the meantime, if we can also unmute Rosalind, give it the floor just after.
Yeah, just very quickly, if you can clarify, the Libya talks are actually in the UN in Geneva.
Absolutely yes, that's that's why we that's why IA lot of your colleagues also called and and asked for this confirmation and that is what I've just confirmed absolutely.
I may not have said it, but that will happen in the Paladin yes.
The The ILO will be holding a virtual presser on Monday the 14th of December at 11 O clock, Geneva time to launch its first comprehensive report on the migrant pay gap and this report analysis how migrant wages have evolved in 49 countries and reports details and and also details the difficulties faced by migrants in receiving the same pay as nationals.
It examines gender discrimination affecting women migrants and the difficulties migrants have in getting a job that corresponds to the level of education, and it includes first indications of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on migrant worker wages.
The findings will be presented at the virtual press press Virtual presser by Michelle Leighton, the chief of the ILOS Labour Migration Branch, and waste specialist Rosalia Vatkas Alvarez, and there'll also be technical input from the report authors.
The embargo will lift at 1300 Geneva time on the 14th.
You should have already received the media advisory which we sent yesterday, and we'll be sending you the embargo press release summary and report later today.
Please let me know if you don't receive it and I'll look forward the materials to you and audio of the briefing will be available after the press conference.
And please let me know if you'd like to arrange interviews with our experts either before or under, under embargo or after.
I don't see any question for you.
So I will go to Hervey for his announcement.
Good morning to all of you.
You have already received the full English version of my text.
I will, because we have a lot of speakers, summarise that text here in French for you one more time.
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I'm sorry, I switched to English.
And Please note that we have also sent you the message of the Secretary General on this International so Universal Health Coverage Day.
Lisa, I have a question, has a question.
Nice to see you all have a couple of things.
First, if you would be so kind, you don't have to read it all, but could you read some of what you said in English because I work for English audience and that would be the audio would be useful.
And then I have a question.
I believe Unitaid, as you mentioned, is involved in the, well, trying the production of generic medications.
And I was wondering what Unitaid is doing, whether it is involved in trying to get the generic production of COVID-19 vaccines.
This is a, this is a big issue at WTO and so forth.
And I was wondering whether there was any involvement by Unitaid on this and if you consider this an important issue in terms of getting the vaccines to poor countries.
UNITA is in fact a member of ACTA.
ACTA is a cooperation between many important actors for the fight against COVID-19 and in the ACTA alliance United is Co sharing each one Co coordinating the treatment pillar.
We are then working on trying to find adequate treatment for COVID-19.
Other ones are following on on vaccine.
Then I will not comment here here on, on, on vaccine in particular, and I will more send you to the to the head of the pillar for for, for vaccine.
But we are working with the welcome trust and other on research and development of potential medicine treatments who are very important.
And and one more time, that's the opportunity to say that vaccine is great.
And of course, we welcome very much the, the, the vaccine we're now available in the world, but it's also important to develop treatment and good test.
And we need the three tools to, to fight COVID-19.
We have no good news for, for vaccine.
It's important to also invest time, energy, research and money in the research for, for treatment, for adequate test and availability of those tools.
Now, as I told you, this week marked the ten anniversary of the creation by Unit 8 of the Medicine Patent Pool.
That's a groundbreaking mechanism which has played a critical role in ensuring quality.
HIV, Hepatitis C and TB are accessible in low and middle income country.
By negotiating voluntary access with patent holders, the MPP allow other pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce generic version of patented medicine for developing countries.
As a result, more affordable version of the medicine are available.
And for the moment, since 10 years, because United United created MPP 10 years ago, we've made available 15 billion, 15 billion doses of quality generic treatment for HIV, hepatitis C and others in low or middle income countries.
I just wanted to, I'm, I'm trying to really track down on what measures are available in order to ensure that when these vaccines go to the developing countries, you know, does how do we ensure that the price will be right?
Basically, how can we ensure that the pharmaceutical companies who, as I understand and it's very difficult to get accurate figures on this, understand, have received public funding in different countries.
So in fact, should such vaccines be made available at cost and how can we ensure that the prices they're quoting are actually at cost?
That's a good question, to be honest, because that's a vaccine questions and that's very specific.
What I will do is I will send an e-mail and copy you to my vaccine colleagues in the other organisation of, of ACTA to make sure that the the response is exactly a vaccine response in term of, of medicine.
I can tell you that we we will work and we are already working now on trying to find potential treatments were available at the price that those kind of countries can afford.
I'll now go to the issue of Ethiopia for this.
We're going to have a briefing by Babar by via Zoom and Thompson is with me on the in room 14 to also speak about this issue.
Babar, you want to start?
Good morning, Alessandra.
Just let me bring the note up here.
Can you hear me, Alessandra?
On Ethiopia Unicia, the UN refugee agency is working with local authorities in Sudan, with the number of registered refugees coming from Ethiopia have nearly reached 50,000 who have crossed into eastern Sudan, with some reporting having to evade armed groups to reach safety.
Since 6th of December, the number of refugees escaping ongoing conflict in the northern Tigray region have been trending downwards to under 500 refugee arrivals per day.
The recent groups coming from Areas D are coming from areas deeper inside the Grey and are arriving weak and exhausted, some reporting they spent two weeks on the run inside Ethiopia as they made their way to the border.
They have told us horroring accounts of being stopped by armed groups and robbed of their positions.
Many have spent time hiding in the fields and bushes to avoid being spotted.
Without access in Ethiopia, we are unable to verify these disturbing reports.
UNICR remains very worried about the safety and conditions of Eritrean refugees in Thigre that have been caught in the conflict and have had no access to services and supplies for more than a month.
We echo the United Nations Secretary General's call for unfettered access to Thigray in order to reach people in need.
We repeat the joint UN call as well for all parties to allow freedom of movements to affected civilians seeking assistance, safety and security within the Thigray region or outside the affected areas.
This includes respecting and upholding the right to cross international borders to seek asylum inside Sudan.
UNICI is working with the local authorities and partners and continues to scale up its Unitarian response to assist Ethiopian refugees.
We have seen increasing requests for family tracing as many were separated at the start of conflict or during flight and have not been able to get in contact with their family members since.
More medicines are needed, especially for those who are overtaking chronic medication for diabetes, HIV and other illnesses as well.
And as of Wednesday, we have started another round of airlifts to Sudan to bring more humanitarian aid.
Thank you very much, Johnson.
Now, the World Food Programme continues to provide food to the refugees who are crossing from Tigray, as well as logistics support together with other actors, including assisting with establishing camps away from the border crossing point.
WFP has so far set up six supply hubs for storage of food and other vital commodities to refugees as they move into camps.
WFP is also transporting humanitarian responders to the camps on Unhurst, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service.
We have also successfully pre positioned 2 fueled tankers to provide for both WFP and other agencies.
WFP has dispatched enough food to feed 60,000 people for one month, however, the food was borrowed from existing programmes.
We have so far reached just over 48,000 people with in kind monthly rations, **** energy biscuits for refugees on the move or oatmeals that are provided near the border.
Although the number of arrivals is slowed, the influx of new arrivals will strain WFP's ability to respond to existing needs in Sudan as it deals with multiple crises across the country.
The international community must step up to respond to this situation as violence continues.
We appeal to donors to give generously so we can continue to save lives in this crisis.
WFP faces a shortfall of $153 million over the next six months for its operations to meet the food needs of the most vulnerable across Sudan, including $14.8 million for new Ethiopian refugees, $3.8 million to increase the to increase and maintain the number of owners flights to Eastern Sudan and $750,000 for Rd repairs so responders can reach remote areas where refugees are arriving.
I realised that I've thrown a couple of figures in there, but I will circulate this brief as soon, as soon as possible to you all.
Thank you very much, Thompson and Babar, Lisa has a question for you.
I Bob, our well communications are still cut in the Tigray region, but I was wondering whether you have any information whatsoever as to whether the Eritrean refugee camps have been essentially emptied out.
I mean, you last time you spoke about information that you had or reports about people, the refugees fleeing and so forth.
And do you do you have any more information regarding that at all?
And does the government, I mean, I think a lot of pressure is probably being placed upon the Ethiopian government to actually do what is said it was going to do, and that is to give access to aid agencies to the people in need.
What does the government say about that too?
I mean, what, what's their excuse, their reason for not doing this?
And then lastly, in speaking to the refugees, you now have what something like 50,000 that have come over.
Are they saying that there are more people who actually want to flee but are being blocked, being prevented from fleeing the country?
Starting with inside the Grey and Eritrean refugees, Indeed, our worries, concerns and fears are valid even till this day as we don't have a clear picture in terms of what has happened inside the Tigra region, broadly with the civilians but also with the 96,000 estimated registered refugees that we had.
We have no idea once we will be able to reach the sites where refugees were, how many will find where, where they will be and in which conditions.
So the appeal even today is access as soon as possible for a really dire and desperate situation.
I understand in terms of the discussions for access are going on assessments, many of issues are linked to insecurity as well.
So I, I don't have an update in terms of how soon it will be possible, but I can repeat that it's badly needed.
On the last point of the your, your question, we are seeing a drop in the numbers and this is concerning and worrying for us as well as refugees who are coming into Ethiopian refugees who are coming into eastern Sudan are telling us they're being robbed.
They tell us about armed groups that they have to evade, increasing checkpoints, hiding in the bushes.
Many more could be on the run but we just don't have a clear picture.
And now refugees are coming from further places inside the grey, then closer as we had seen till recently.
So refugees are talking about two week long journey on foot and also with a lot of difficulties and challenges.
And that's why we are appealing to all sides involved in this conflict to allow civilians free movement to reach safety.
Let it be inside the country or crossing the international border.
A question for Baba in, in just on the, the refugee camps in, in Tigray, the, the Eritrean refugee camps, what's what actually needs to happen in order for you to be able to get to those camps.
Sorry, Robin, I, I, I don't know if you have something else to say because it was quite abruptly cut.
I think you should be OK.
Babar, you want to answer this question?
The access we are looking for should be unconditional and unhindered with guarantees for security.
So that's very important.
Immediately move in, you know, impact.
You Robin, sorry, can maybe we can re open, re unmute you and you can repeat your question because we didn't hear half of it.
Do you mind to repeat your question?
Yeah, just not what's what actually needs to to happen in order for you to be able to get to those camps.
And secondly, what once you get that green light, what would you do then?
Do you have stuff that's ready to go that you would take in there that's that's pre positioned?
I mean, what was the immediate action that would happen?
This time we heard well, so thank you Robin.
We need unhindered and unconditional access to reach civilians and and refugees and also guarantees for the safety of staff and humanitarian workers as well.
And with the UN agreement now in place, unit CR and the wider UN family looks forward to concluding discussions on all aspects of launching a response to able to reach those in need, including security and logistics.
And on the last point, supplies are ready to go pending the finalisation of of of these security assessment, which is in the fluid context are imperative in order to to proceed.
So although these things have to be in place.
And and that's why people on the ground, after a month long cut off from humanitarian relief, must be in a desperate situation.
And it it, it's imperative that we reach them as early as possible.
I don't see other questions on this subject.
So thank you to our colleagues.
You have an announcement.
Is something about Afghanistan?
Thank you, Alessandra and good morning, everyone.
I have a statement which has just been finalised as I was on my way here.
So I will send it immediately when I get back to the office after after this briefing.
So it's a statement from Afghanistan.
We have had our deputy emergency relief coordinator, Ramesh Rajasingham on mission there for the past week.
And he says people in Afghanistan have suffered 40 years of war in the context of worsening climate crisis and natural disasters.
For most people, recovery has never been a realistic option, only survival.
Their situation now has been further battered by the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Household income and savings have disappeared and needs have increased dramatically.
Almost half of children on the five are now facing acute malnutrition and require treatment to save their lives.
Humanitarian agencies are stepping up to keep pace with the massive increasing needs.
Next year, we aim to reach almost 16 million people.
That's double the number of people compared to one year ago.
And that drastic increase is almost entirely due to COVID-19.
Primary needs include health and food assistance.
However, for the time being, we only have half the money that we need to provide winter support.
Winter is coming and we need an additional $71 million for this year.
Humanitarian capacity in Afghanistan, however, remains very robust.
In fact, our access to vulnerable families remains strong.
Despite the impact of COVID-19, Aid agencies have stayed and delivered, reaching in fact 99% of all districts in Afghanistan.
Throughout the country, almost 8 million people have been provided with humanitarian aid so far this year.
For next year, we need $1.3 billion to provide assistance to, as I mentioned, double that #16 million people.
More than ever, we call on the international community to generously support the people of Afghanistan at this critical time.
Iensis, if you can send it afterwards and I'm looking if there's any question, there is none.
I'll go now again to Babar.
Babar, you have a briefing note on Yemen.
On Yemen Unit, CR is today warning that hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Yemenis are at a heightened risk of food insecurity as livelihoods have been lost to the combined effects of ceaseless violence and COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the latest UN Food Security Survey in Yemen, food insecurity is prevalent in areas of conflict where half of Yemen's 4 million displaced population reside.
They live in and around the 16 districts worst affected by acute food insecurity in Mareb, Al Baida, Abayan, Thais, Hadra, Motand and Al Jov govern rates.
They are increasingly at risk of famine like conditions.
Nearly 40% of most vulnerable displaced families say they have no access to income and 37% were already eating less.
Initial is particularly concerned about the impact of the most vulnerable among the internally displaced.
Today, one in four displaced families is headed by a woman or a girl, of whom every 5th is under the age of 18.
Women are disproportionately impacted in a country where social cultural norms often restrict their access to work.
Many IDP women, including single and widowed women, report feeling excluded from humanitarian aid in Yemen because of cultural and social obstacles which restrict them from going out to provide for their families.
For many, conflict, displacement and gender inequity only compound hardships and difficulties they face.
With rampant inflation and few livelihood opportunities, families no longer can afford basic meals.
To put food on the table, many displaced families are selling off belongings, pulling children out of school and sending them to work, begging on the streets or eating just once a day.
UNICIA staff report that often a daily meal is nothing more than a bowl of rice, a cup of tea with a piece of bread.
Coping strategies such as limiting meal portions are most prevalent among the displaced.
An estimated 4 out of five displaced female headed displaced families now resort to such measures.
Thank you very much, Babar.
And before opening the floor to questions, I just would like to remind you that yesterday we have sent to a press release of the office of the Special Envoy for Yemen on the meeting with representative of Yemeni civil society working on issue related prisoners and detainees.
I see Emma has a question for you, Emma.
There's always a problem with your mic.
You are unmuted, but we can't hear you.
It's it's again an issue of communication.
I can see you are muted, but we can't hear you.
So this time I look at my e-mail.
If you want to send me the question, I'll ask it to Babar.
Lisa, you have a question to Babar or Yemen?
Yes, just a very quick question.
You may have said it and I may have missed it, so I'll ask anyway.
How many people are at risk of famine?
And is and there have been warnings about this for some time, Is it actually, are they actually on the brink of famine?
And then also in regard to malnourished children, do you have figures on that?
And are they getting any relief at all?
Are they at risk of dying?
Do you have any figures in in that regard?
I mean, what what are we looking at in terms of the inability of these people to get enough food to eat, to support themselves?
Are there going to be a lot of deaths?
So as was mentioned, I mean, according to the latest UN food security survey in Yemen, food insecurity is prevalent in areas of conflict where half of Yemen's 4 million displaced population reside.
And they're mostly in the 16 district worst affected by by the food in insecurity.
Nearly 40% of the most vulnerable displaced families say they have no access to income and 37% were already eating less.
Worries are for everyone, especially for for for children going hungry without food.
And now the conflict has dragged on for six years and, and, and numbers of people who are displaced is on the rise as well as as far as I understand, even nearly 30,000 have been displaced since the beginning of, of this year.
And we have been warning about the conflict itself and, and its effect on, on civilians inside, inside Yemen as well.
If if they don't have access to humanitarian aid and food, the fares are many could end up losing their lives.
And Thompson has more on this on behalf of WFP.
Thanks, Lisa, for the questions.
Yemen remains one of the West humanitarian crisis that the world has ever seen.
What is happening right now is that the window to prevent famine in the country is narrowing very fast.
We are running out of time.
The number of children that need that need treatment for acute malnutrition as I speak is about two million with approximately 360,000 at risk of dying in case they don't get any treatment.
Not only are we concerned about the children, we are also concerned about pregnant or nursing women who also require treatment for acute malnutrition.
They are still, as I speak to you right now that number stands at approximately 1,000,000.
These are very vulnerable people.
Years of conflict, economic volatility, is is is is pushing the country towards the precipice.
Not only are we concerned about the most vulnerable, but the entire country, because you're talking of a population of about 30 and a half million, yet 24.3 millionaire in need of humanitarian assistance of some kind, and approximately 16 million people cannot put food on their tables.
This is a ticking time bomb and the world needs to act and to act now.
I don't see other questions on Yemen, so but I will read to you and maybe Thompson and and and Yens too, says Emma.
The question that Emma has just sent me as as we count here, she it's about Ethiopia.
She says Reuters has credible reports that bus loads of Eritrean refugees left Addis this morning from an IOM facility and were put on buses against Sorry I have lost it and were put on buses against their wheel and driven N Where are they going?
Are they any concerns that they will be sent to great camps given that UNHCRS also does not have access to these camps?
Maybe I will ask the bar to start answering and then whoever wants to, I mean, knowing that we have Angela from IOM on the line, so maybe she also has something to add The bar you want to start on this?
These are indeed disturbing reports that we are receiving as well.
Unit CR was not part of any such movements of Eritrean refugees which are being reported today.
We have received alarming messages from Eritreans living abroad and about these reports which we are looking into today.
We had not been informed by the government or any other authorities or partners of a planned relocation.
We as units are the UN Refugee agency underlined the obligation of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia to protect refugees.
While we cannot speculate at this time, any reform would be absolutely unacceptable and refugees have to be allowed to be at a safe location.
Thank you very much, Angela.
Just in case I'm looking at you, you're not raising a hand.
So I think that's that's what we have to answer your question, Emma.
Yes, hi, this is to Margaret.
Sorry, before we go to Margaret, we have one more item that I would like to let the colleague speak about, and it's Venezuela.
And for this, we also have Babar.
Babar is your day, and we have Angela Wells from IOM to Baba.
You want to start on this and then I'll come back to you.
Let me bring up the right page.
Unicia is warning of unprecedented levels of trauma and despair among newly arrived refugees and migrants from Venezuela.
Many arrive in dire conditions to host communities hard hit by the pandemic.
Urgent support is critically needed to protect and assist them as borders remain closed across the region, people are crossing through informal routes where illegal armed actors and smuggling and trafficking networks operate.
Rapid field assessments indicate that approximately 500 to 700 people are exiting Venezuela every day.
This exposes them to heightened risk of violence, exploitation and trafficking.
Some reports some reports having having been faced with theft, extortion, violence and ***** in transit and border zones during the journey to safety.
Of the new arrivals to Columbia, Unicia's field reports indicate that approximately 70% have made the journey by foot, some with just the clothes on their back.
As conditioned inside Venezuela continue to deteriorate.
Many arrive in Colombia weak and in a state of poor nutrition, having faced impoverishment and hardship for many months.
UNITAR field staff in border areas are observing noticeable increases of single women, men and children arriving in extremely precarious states.
Among them are unaccompanied children and adolescents who have left or being separated from their families.
Many are suffering from trauma, distress and required immediate protection and humanitarian assistance, including health, shelter, food and counselling.
Unaccompanied and separated children, people with disabilities and Indigenous populations also require specialised care and protection.
With the borders closed on people arriving through unofficial crossings, this makes it difficult for them to regularise their status.
As a result, they have limited access to basic rights and services and are also at risk of evictions, trafficking, forced labour or sexual exploitation.
The fear of being detained or deported also inhibits some refugees in some refugees and migrants from approaching humanitarian organisation for support as well as reaching the competent authorities in the context of massive economic downturn.
With the pandemic affecting region, host communities can be hesitant or or resistant to welcome new arrivals.
And Angela, on behalf of IUM.
The economic and social impact of COVID-19 has been particularly severe on the well-being of a 4.6 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela hosted in 17 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The pressures due to the COVID-19 mobility restrictions and consequent socio economic decline have been compounded by the difficulties they face in regularising their situations and host countries and fewer opportunities to pursue regular migration pathways.
Decreased economic opportunities have put refugees and migrants at greater risk of eviction and hunger, while xenophobia and discrimination toward this population have been on the rise.
The precarious conditions that migrants and refugees from Venezuela face in transit and upon revival to their destination countries make them vulnerable to protection risks, including trafficking, *****, violence, sometimes at the hands of criminal networks.
Gender based violence has also dramatically increased due to the isolation measures taken to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
Over the past months, we've seen a worrying increase in migrant smuggling as many are compelled to move through irregular, dangerous pathways when confronted with mobility restrictions and closed borders.
In a region traditionally marked by availability of legal pathways and a welcoming attitude toward Venezuelans, this is a worrying trend.
IOM also estimates that an average of 30% of refugees and migrants in the region, and as **** as 50% in some countries are in a regular are in an irregular situation.
Many lack documentation due to lengthy administrative procedures, long waiting periods, expensive visa application fees and delayed regularisation processes.
Limited access to documentation, information and Internet and Internet connectivity leaves migrants and refugees susceptible to significant protection risks, including detention and denial of basic services like medical care.
IOM in partnership with UNHCR and other organisations are stepping up efforts to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable, particularly children, victims of trafficking and gender based violence and those at risk of being abused by smugglers.
Iowan partners work closely with governments to advocate for full inclusion of migrants and refugees and national response plans, particularly those focused on alleviating the health and socio economic impacts of the pandemic.
And we will continue to work directly with governments to ensure greater access to regularisation processes and documentation for migrants and refugees.
Yesterday, in partnership with UNHCR, we called on the international community to support our newly launched.
A $1.44 billion regional plan to respond to the growing needs of refugees and migrants from Venezuela and the communities hosting them across 17 countries.
Thank you very much, Angela.
Gabriella, hi, good morning.
Thank you for taking my question.
What Barbara, what is happening?
Is there a spike in the in the people running out from Venezuela And what, what, what do they tell you?
What, what is the reason right now?
I mean it was because of the elections or what is the reason?
Barbara, thank you very much.
The numbers who are arriving are from, as I mentioned, Let me go back.
So what our colleagues tell us from where the Venezuelans are arriving, at least 500 to 700 people are exiting Venezuela every day in in.
Some of them do report to us in terms of what they have been facing through the journey in terms of trying to reach safety and, and and trying to leave the the situation where they have been.
Some reports of having faced theft, extortion, violence and ***** even during the transit and border zone there during their journey to safety.
In terms of what inside before leaving, I don't have any additional details here with me, but I can check with colleagues if we can get anything for you.
So is it possible to compare these figures with the situation be before the pandemic?
So are you, you are saying now it's 507 hundred, how many people were crossing illegally before the the pandemics?
And also is Colombia still the main path of these crossings?
Are they using also Brazil?
Are the, the, the people that try to to go through the Caribbean racing?
So thank you, thank, thank you.
In terms of a comparison, we can have a detailed look in terms of what the numbers were before the COVID started.
But as mentioned, currently the number per day is five to to 700.
And yes, majority of them are arriving in in Colombia with other countries.
Just let's not forget that the total number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela worldwide now stands at 5.4 million.
And out of that 5.4 million, 4.6 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela are in Latin America and the Caribbean.
These were numbers as of November, Lisa.
Angela, if you want to intervene also, please raise your hand.
I can't see you otherwise, Lisa.
Angela, it could just very quickly, could you please send us your notes?
I don't see other questions on Venezuela, so I come back to Jamila.
Jamil, you have a question for Margaret, right?
Yes, Margaret, my question is back to Brazil.
President Bolsonaro said yesterday that the pandemic is in Brazil at its end.
For us the the pandemic is continuing everywhere.
Short question, short answer, Catherine.
Yes, hi, good morning Margaret, nice to see you.
I'd like to to know what's The Who position is towards the allergic reactions that we see in in Great Britain in that first, I would say stage of vaccinations.
And what are your advices?
And also not only allergic reactions, but also facial paralysis.
So how long does it last?
Could it would be nice to have maybe a, a briefing from Doctor Sumiya Swaminathan.
You know, Akanu has asked the several times we, we wrote the males letters.
We had no answer that it would be very kind that if your team could, I mean the head of your, your team could kindly answer the mails and the official addressed by the Association of correspondence in Geneva.
I'll answer your, your second question first, because in fact, we've been working very hard to get SUMIA and some of our our other vaccine experts because vaccines is clearly the issue of 20 not just now, but 2021 and it's a complex issue.
So yes, exactly you need access to those experts and you need time to ask your questions fully.
So that is in train and I really hope to have some good information for you about dates very soon.
I will pass on the request that that those messages and letters be answered on the any adverse reactions in any national jurisdiction.
Yes, we have heard media reports of those, that is for the national authorities to look at and review.
But people should not be too anxious to remember there are a number of vaccine candidates coming online at the same time and some individuals May 1 vaccine may not be suitable for particular individuals, but you may well find another vaccine is.
So again, the fact that these things are being reported, they're being looked at is actually good news, as I said before, because that means we are all looking at everything transparently and ensuring safety.
Catherine, you have a yes, thank you, Alessandra.
In fact, yes, I have a follow up regarding the other opportunities and other vaccine candidates vaccines.
But as as you've seen and you've noticed certain countries in in the world and particularly in Europe have already ordered the one that is used in UK.
So we, we know that the vaccine that had the shortest trials and time was Ebola and it took four years.
Aren't you afraid that we'll notice and we assist to even people that are going to die from that, that vaccine, the one that is now used in in UK.
Thank you, Margaret, I'm very glad you raised the border in the vaccine because in fact, the all the actions taken and as you know, who was very much leading all that.
They taught us a lot of lessons about what to do, how to oversee the rapid development of a vaccine in an emergency.
It led to the development of the R&D blueprint which was activated the first week of January in, in 2020, first week of this year.
When we heard about this mystery, mystery illness.
At that point, we, there was not enough information to really know that we would need this level of scientific cooperation.
But we went ahead and activated because we'd learned those lessons from Ebola and in and we also because we activated it early, we could look at what had been learned about the vaccines for this particular family of viruses, the corona virus.
And there was a lot of work that had been done on cousins of this virus on on SARS the which caused the outbreak in China and Hong Kong and on MERS.
So there was a lot of information early.
There was a lot of development of there was the establishment of the genome very early.
So these things don't usually happen at anything like that speed, but the world has become much better at sharing information and there is a mechanism for coordinating that.
That's the R&D blueprint and a lot of the work of The Who science division.
So because all those things came into play and we also have a very operational emergencies programme, those a lot of the work that would take years just getting people together, just getting the research could already be consolidated in the first few weeks.
And by early February, we brought all the scientists together to look at where we were, what we needed to do, how we could do this as effectively, safely, transparently as possible.
So that's why we are now at the end of this year with a lot of candidates coming online.
There's not just the one and we as WHO are now receiving the data from many groups and reviewing it.
Gabriella, yes, thank you very much.
How are you 1 clarification at this moment, which are the vaccines that WTO is endorsing at this moment?
So we are reviewing, we're not endorsing any at this stage what we do and we are not a regulatory authority.
It's very important to understand that the regulatory authorities that is a national sovereign right of every country.
But what we do is review vaccines and medicines as well for emergency use authorization.
And that basically does a lot of the work for countries that may not have that capacity that that regulatory capacity.
So that means that everybody gets access to the same level of regulatory advice.
Countries like the UK and the US, they have their own very advanced, very robust regulatory systems, but not every country has that level of regulatory infrastructure.
So we we look at the data and we look at it for three things.
We look at it for safety.
You know, what is the safety profile, what does the data and has all the important safety issues been looked at?
We look at efficacy, Does the thing actually work?
Have you got clear data, clear evidence?
Have you done a good process to ensure it works?
And thirdly, are you manufacturing it at the highest standard?
Are all the manufacturing processes clear, transparent and are we confident that it has been in manufacturing manufactured to the highest and safest standards?
When we have, we have all that data, when we've reviewed it, when we're satisfied with it, then at that stage it may receive from us an emergency use authorization and we also go into something called pre qualification so that that enables its use in countries that are not necessarily able to go through those steps themselves.
Margaret, I would just like to ask you if you perhaps have a ballpark figure for the total number of vaccines that you are reviewing and how many are in the COVAX facility?
Goodness, no, I don't have, but I can tell you that we've got over 200 in development and we've got 11 to 12 that are going through the final stages of phase three.
The data and the information and the the work to review it, that's changing every day.
So I couldn't really give you an an accurate ballpark.
Likewise with Kovacs, I know that there is a lot of back and forth purchasing and advanced purchasing.
You will have to talk to Gabby for the Vaccine Alliance who oversee that to get any an accurate again ballpark figure on that.
But if you send me your question, I'll refer it to them.
Margaret Turner yes, good morning.
I have a question about the ethical responsibility of the WTO for promoting the vaccine, even its sides effects is is not known.
Did you issue a warning for example, saying be aware we don't know its sides effects.
We cannot guarantee the efficiency of the of the vaccine because it is now running all over the world that they are running behind the vaccine.
And some scientists, many scientists say we don't know which side effects it has.
It needs at least four or five years to know which side effects.
What is the moral and ethical responsibility of the WTO in this case?
I've just described the process that we go through when we talk about the emergency use authorization.
The primary thing we look at is safety.
If there are any concerns about safety anywhere, we again will provide that information, but we will not authorise anything and unless we are satisfied.
Hi, good morning, Margaret.
Good morning, Alessandra.
Turkey has signed a contract to buy 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese Synovac Biotech.
And however, there is there are some speculation in Turkish media and because the vaccine came from China and people are worried.
So do you have any idea about this Synovac vaccine?
What's your advice, the Turkish people, Turkish government on that?
So again, my answer is the same.
We are reviewing a number of different vaccines from a number of different groups and we are in contact with the the makers of the Chinese vaccines and the makers of the the developers of the vaccines from the groups around the world.
And I should correct myself.
I said we will not do a listing until we've gone through all the data and reviewed the data properly ourselves.
Catherine and Tamer and not Tamer, No, Catherine as a follow up, yes, thank you.
Follow up on, on the vaccines and on fake vaccines because we already see on the Internet some people that are in fact trying to sell fake doses.
So how do you you fight around these phenomena?
Are you working with IFBMA or other entities in order to make sure that people won't they won't buy these kind of doses?
And that's a really important point to raise right throughout the year.
We've had problems with all kinds of misinformation.
And as you're right, this may well be another area in which those who choose to provide, uh, misleading or, or, or counterfeit, uh, medications.
And, and, and we'll move into, in if now that there are real vaccines around, um, uh, I would advise, yes, we do have a team that works on counterfeit products and they are also, we'll be working on, on these issues, but also we have a misinformation team and then epidemiology team.
And I would just say I, I really ask for your help, as well as really good and effective members of the media that if you have an opportunity to write about this, say, give people advice about how to look at a trusted source.
Whenever you're offered something like this, go to the trusted sources.
Come to us at WHO, go to your health ministry page, go to the places where this information can be checked and check it first.
Do not accept anything until you've checked your sources.
And I would like to join Margaret's appeal by also reminding you that the United Nations Secretary General launched the Verified initiative, which is really aimed at combating this information, a sort of a spiel, another initiative in the framework of verified, this called Team Hollow, that allows everybody to be able to hear truth from those who are preparing those vaccines.
And it's very important, as Margaret said, that we have the support of the media in spreading this information and making people look at the trusted sources instead of any other information that can circulate on the on the social media.
Margaret, we are ready to help, but we need your help as well.
We don't need sound bites.
We need the specialists to counter misinformation.
We need information, not sound bites.
So I would just repeat our request again.
Put the specialists in contact with us, put them available.
This will help you as well.
Otherwise, we we obviously, I'm very happy to quote you.
Actually writing your name is a pleasure, but we need the specialist to counter 1 by 1 all of these pieces of misinformation.
Thank you so much indeed, Mr Margaret said.
We hope for that she she will be able to announce some dates soon for a briefing on this.
But Margaret, Kathleen and then Tamir and then we will stop here.
Thank you so much, Alison for giving me the floor again and again.
I wanted to fully support the Secretary General appeal, you know, to really fight misinformation and to check and I I fully support, of course, my colleague Jamil.
We can help you when and we will be delighted to do so if WHO opens his doors and access to information.
And to the experts, I kindly remind you that there is AUN General Assembly resolution 126 slash 67 that underlines the importance of access to information and we will do our job.
If you guys please look at the resolution of the General Assembly and follow the guidance of the Secretary General.
Well noted to Margaret Grover.
Yes, thank you for giving me the floor again and I would like to support Jamil and Katherine.
And just a quick question to be sure from Margaret, if I understand you well, who didn't authorise any vaccine against COVID-19 until now, Is that right?
This stage we've not done in a.
Emergency use listening listings.
We use the word emergency use.
And today there has not been one.
I'm finishing my briefing.
Margaret, can you start answering Tamara's question again?
Can you say that can be muted, please?
And I appreciate your question because it's a very, very important point.
We have not at this point issued an emergency use listing for any of the vaccine candidates.
Thank you very much, Margaret for being with us this morning.
I have three more announcements to to make before we close.
The first one is that as you know, yesterday the WFP received the number of Peace Prize and today, 11th of December a Nobel Peace Prize Forum 2020 is organised that the Secretary General will address as a keynote speaker and guest of honour via a pre recorded video message.
We have shared with you the message of the statement of the Secretary General and the embargo until delivery.
The event is scheduled to start at 3:00 PM and will take place in Oslo and online and it will be well live streamed.
If you haven't received it, please let us know.
The second thing I wanted to let you to tell you, to speak to you, to you about is that on the 15th of December, the End Violence campaign will be launched.
It's called Together to End Violence, to spare the end of violence against children and catalyse the political and financial commitments needed to end this violence against children at home, school, online and within communities.
I just remind you that we calculate, we estimate that 1 billion children suffer from violence every year.
It is an epidemic of ***** that undermines all other investments made in children with the staying long term consequences.
We have sent you the information with the link to register and to follow this launch online on the 15th of December.
And then Sarah could not be with us today, but she asked me to remind you that on Monday at 2:00 PM, a virtual press conference by UNDP will present you the new Human Development Report 2020 focusing on the African insides, including how the new Planetary Pressure Index plays out in the ranking of African countries.
This briefer will be given by Kuna Etziakonwa, Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa.
The report itself will be launched on 15 December at 6:00 AM CET.
So the press conference is under embargo and she's obviously available for questions if you have any additional 1.
Kathleen, you have a last question for me and then we'll close.
Yes, Regarding Libya as it takes place, the 1415, do you have any ID if we will have a kind of briefing at the end of the meeting or it will only be a press release?
This is what I said at the beginning.
For the moment, I can't give you more details on the media arrangements for this meeting.
We are hoping that with our colleagues from Winsmere, we will be able to inform you today about visual arrangements and possible media events and that's what I have for the moment.
So thank you very much to you all and to have been with us today and have a very nice weekend.
