The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
31 March 2023
Cholera and other health emergencies in Mozambique multiplied by Cyclone Freddy
Dr. Severin von Xylander, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Mozambique, speaking from Maputo, said that there were multiple health emergencies happening in Mozambique at the same time: cholera, cyclone Freddy and its floods, polio, Covid-19, and a protracted humanitarian crisis in the North, mainly in Cabo Delgado with 0.5m displaced people. The compound effect of those crises was overwhelming.
Cyclone Freddy had destroyed over 132,000 homes and 184,000 people were displaced. In the cyclonic destruction path, 163 health facilities had damaged, jeopardizing access to routine care. The floods caused by the cyclone’s freak pattern were now receding, but access to safe water and sanitation was still challenging. About one-third of crops had been destroyed, and cholera cases were being reported from an increasing number of affected districts. In the coming weeks, the number of malaria cases would drastically increase, and the already high malnutrition rate would go further up. Dr. von Xylander said that, while cholera outbreaks regularly occurred in Mozambique, with almost 21,000 cases and 95 deaths, this was the largest outbreak in more than a decade. Over 715,000 people had already been vaccinated using the single-dose strategy, and a second campaign had just been launched in Quelimane, the most affected city, targeting 410,000 people. A humanitarian flash appeal had been issued on 30 March, informed Mr. von Xylander.
Update on the humanitarian response in Türkiye
Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), informed that, almost two months after the devastating earthquakes, UN agencies and humanitarian partners had reached more than 4.1 million people in Türkiye with basic household items including for cooking, sleeping, heating, and clothes. Almost three million people had been reached with emergency food assistance, and more than 700,000 people had received support to improve their living spaces. In addition, 1.6 million people had received water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance, and nearly one million liters of drinking water had been delivered. The humanitarian organizations had also supported the Ministry of Health with 4.6 million vaccine doses, 16 mobile health clinics, as well as medicines and medical supplies for reproductive health and trauma care. The USD one billion Flash Appeal was currently 27 percent funded, and the largest donors were the USA, Kuwait, the European Commission, the UN Emergency Fund, and Saudi Arabia.
Responding to questions, Mr. Laerke said that this was a rolling response. The first three weeks had focused on search-and-rescue, which was followed by the humanitarian emergency phase. After that, a reconstruction phase would commence; a recent Brussels conference had raised billions of euros towards that goal.
Situation of the global health workforce
Jim Campbell, Director, Health Workforce, at the World Health Organization (WHO), said that around the world the volume of emergencies to which the UN system was responding was overwhelming. All of that inevitably had an impact on national health systems and health workers. Question could be asked if we were in the middle of a global health workforce crisis. Halfway through the Sustainable Development Agenda and three years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, mortality among health workers, partly due to COVID-19, burnouts and mental health burden were notable. The health workforce was exhausted and in short supply in relation to the massive needs.
The following week, the WHO would be convening ministers from around the world together with international partners, national civil society and health professionals at the Fifth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health. The objective was to look at the diagnostic and what action could be taken to address today’s long-standing underinvestment in the health workforce, and to try to reset for the second half of Agenda 2030, thus keeping alive the ambition of “health for all: by 2030. Christian Lindmeier, also for the WHO, added that limited media spaces would be available for the meeting next week, but the meeting could also be followed online.
Migrant deaths in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Responding to questions about the tragedy in Ciudad Juárez, northern Mexico, in which 39 migrants had died in a fire, Olga Sarrado, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that this tragedy should have been prevented. People had died under the custody of state agents. UNHCR hoped that the investigation would be swiftly concluded and accountability established. Mexico’s asylum system was overstretched, said Ms. Sarrado, and it needed additional support. This was only the latest in a series of many similar incidents, and long-term, region-tailored solutions ought to be found.
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), reminded that the Secretary-General conveyed his condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased and wished a swift recovery to those injured. He called for a thorough investigation of this event and reiterated his commitment to work with the authorities of countries where mixed movements of people occur to establish safer, more regulated, and more organized migration routes.
Human Rights Council
Pascal Sim, for the Human Rights Council (HRC), said that this morning, the Council was continuing an interactive dialogue on the report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali. After that, the Council would hold an interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the findings of OHCHR report on the situation of human rights in Ukraine. From 3 pm, there would be a High-level interactive dialogue to assess developments in the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, to be followed by an interactive dialogue on the report of the High Commissioner on technical assistance and capacity-building for South Sudan.
Mr. Sim informed that on 3 April, the Council would conclude its dialogue with the Fact-Finding Mission on Libya, whose mandate was ending today. In the afternoon, the Council would start to take action on 43 draft resolutions, before it closes on 4 April in the evening.
Announcements
Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that on 3 April at 1:30 pm, there would be an embargoed briefing on new data on infertility prevalence. The estimates would highlight the magnitude of the issue and possible ways to address.
Speaking about events on the occasion of the WHO’s 75th anniversary, Mr. Lindmeier informed that from 3 April until 1 May, there would be a photo exhibition “Picturing Health” at Quai Wilson in Geneva. WHO’s regular press conference would take place on 6 April in the afternoon; media were welcome to the WHO premises. On 8 April, at 7:30 pm, a “healing arts” concert would take place in the Victoria Hall in Geneva.
David Hirsch, for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said that the ITU would hold a hybrid press conference from CICG on 6 April at 1 pm on the progress of discussions leading to the World Radio Conference 2023, which would take place in Dubai from 20 November to 15 December 2023. More information is available here.
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that today at 12:45 pm, in the stake out area behind Room XX, Ambassador Michèle Taylor, Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations Human Rights Council, would address the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report on Ukraine
Mr. Gómez said that the Committee on Enforced Disappearances would conclude its 24th session at 5:40 pm today, when it would issue its concluding observations on the four countries reviewed during the session: Zambia, Argentina, Germany, and Costa Rica. On 4 April at 2 pm, the Committee would present its findings.
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families was concluding this morning its review of the report of the Philippines and would continue this afternoon its review of the report of El Salvador.
Mr. Gómez reminded of the statement by the Secretary-General on Myanmar, in which he shared deep concern by reports that the Union Election Commission, appointed by the military in Myanmar, had dissolved 40 opposition parties, including the National League for Democracy.
Mr. Gómez said that 30 March was the first-ever Zero Waste Day; 2 April would be the World Autism Awareness Day; and 4 April – International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IOM , OHCHR , UN WOMEN , UNFPA , UNHCR , UNOPS , WHO
UN Geneva briefing: Yemen crisis worsens, urgent aid needed across multiple sectors.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Press conference on the latest report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the UN Human Rights Council
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
Victims Still Waiting: A Global Briefing on Transitional Justice Around the World
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | WMO
As world’s water reserves change, countries must prepare for a new reality: WMO
New data showing that rivers were at their lowest level for decades last year provides further evidence that the climate crisis is real and countries must act immediately to protect themselves from the increasing threat to communities and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.
The key findings from WMO’s State of Global Water Resources 2025 report covering the hydrological cycle and extreme events in the five-year period to last year:
- 2025 was one of driest years for river discharge in 35 years
- Past seven years have seen abnorfmal river flows
- Water storage on Earth’s land surface has decreased in past decade
- Widespread glacier loss across all regions for fourth consecutive year
- Asia and Africa are regions most affected by water-related disasters
- Water data availability has improved, but gaps remain in hard-hit areas
Highlighting the long-term decline in the Earth’s freshwater storage and glacier melt, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo explained that the planet’s water reserves used to act as a planetary “savings account” that absorbed the occasional dry season, avoiding a water crisis. “One of the central stories of the 2025 report is what is happening to that savings account? And the simple answer is that we are depleting it,” she told journalists in Geneva.
Groundwater reserves are equally stretched and have been in decline since 2014, WMO’s report states, with nearly two-thirds of monitored wells worldwide showing levels lower than the historical norm and indicating a shift “further toward deficit…not recovery”.
“At the same time, we are seeing more water-related disasters,” Ms. Saulo said, while also stressing that the currently strengthening El Niño “will increase the risk of drought in some areas, and flooding in others”.
Glaciers disappearing
In 2025, for the fourth consecutive year, every major glaciated region on Earth lost ice mass, leading to short-term hazards including floods and long-term water insecurity, according to WMO.
Responding to a question about whether the changing global water cycle might have contributed to the deadly Nepal-China flooding disaster, Ms. Saulo explained that melting ice and rock was just one factor in the chain of events that ultimately sent a massive and deadly wall of water and debris downstream on 26 August, killing at least 1,367 people.
“You asked if it could happen again? Absolutely; the problem in this region is that there’s 63,700 glaciers at the last count,” she told a Press Conference in Geneva. “Even if you’re looking with remote sensing with satellites at these glaciers, you might see some faults, you might see some slight shifting, that does not mean necessarily catastrophic collapse. So, in order to plan for this, it’s very, very difficult. But the international community is looking very hard at ways in which we can bring people together to solve some of these monitoring issues.”
Data indicates that glaciers shrank between 2023 and 2025 with cumulative losses of 1,400 gigatonnes of water – or about one third of annual fresh water needs.
Every major glacier region on Earth lost ice for the fourth consecutive year.
“All 19 glacier regions around the globe lost ice; in Central Asia, Iceland, the Russian Arctic and western Canada and the United States, it was among the three worst years on record,” said Wayne Jenkinson, WMO’s Director of Hydrology and Cryosphere.
Some regions with smaller glaciers such as Central Europe, the Caucasus, the western Canada and the United States may already have reached “peak water”, Mr. Jenkinson warned.
“After this point, the glacier gives less meltwater each year simply because there is less ice left to melt. That matters for every community downstream that relies on water during hot, dry summers,” he explained.
Narelle van der Wel, WMO’s Head of Cryosphere Monitoring, Predictions and Services, stressed that while some further glacier loss is unavoidable, the eventual scale of the decline is not predetermined.
“Some glacier loss is inevitable, but total loss of glaciers is not yet inevitable,” she said, pointing to emissions reductions as central to limiting future losses.
Preparing for moving baselines
The report does not attribute every observed change to climate change alone. WMO says pressure on water resources and natural variability also contribute.
Mr. Jenkinson said governments need to prepare for “moving baselines” as historical patterns become less reliable.
“The situation 30 years ago is not where we are today,” he said. Countries, he added, need to prepare “for those changes that have really already arrived”.
ends
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WMO , OCHA , WHO , UNICEF , UN WOMEN , OHCHR , IOM , UNHCR
Update on Ebola from WHO and OCHA, update on the situation of children with the beginning of school in Ukraine from UNICEF, UN Women on the impact of the settlers and restrictions on women and girls in West Bank, OHCHR on the recovery of extensive human remains in Gaza, IOM and UNHCR on the new wave of displacement in Yemen
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | WFP
‘Super El Niño’ and converging crises worsen hunger in South Sudan and across the region - WFP
South Sudan’s hunger crisis is becoming increasingly catastrophic as violence, extreme weather and dwindling aid leave millions without enough food, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Update on the human rights situation in Belarus by the UN Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR
Update on the human rights situation in Syria by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNOG , IOM , UN WOMEN , UNCTAD , WHO , UNECE
IOM Yemen's Western Coast displacement; UN WOMEN on Gaza; UNCTAD Strait of Hormuz disruptions impacts; WHO Ebola logistics in DRC; WHO smoking and infertility; UNECE Data centres and energy.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNITAR , WMO
UNITAR: GA resolution on the merger of the United Nations System Staff College into the United Nations Institute for Training and Research; WMO: Air Quality and Climate Bulletin released; WHO: Ukraine update
2
2
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO
Powerful El Niño heightens extreme-weather risks through 2027, as countries brace for impact - WMO
Fuelled by extraordinarily warm waters across the tropical Pacific Ocean, the El Niño climate pattern is expected to intensify in the coming months. Forecasters are almost certain that it will persist through February next year, with unusually warm conditions expected across the globe.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , UN WOMEN , WFP , WHO , WMO , OCHA
UN WOMEN/IFRC: Update on the impact of the floods in Nepal, WFP: Food assistance in the West Bank, WHO: Gaza’s rehabilitation needs and continued spread of diseases