PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE

4 July 2023

Update on the humanitarian situation in Jenin and the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Vanessa Huguenin for United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed alarm at the scale of air and ground operations that were taking place in Jenin in the Occupied West Bank, and airstrikes hitting a densely populated refugee camp. This was the second operation in Jenin involving air strikes within two weeks. Assessments were ongoing, but as of this morning, the Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed the deaths of ten Palestinians, including three children. At least hundred others had been injured, of whom twenty were reportedly in critical condition.

The airstrikes had also significantly damaged structures in which people had been living in both the camp and surrounding neighbourhoods. Due to damage to infrastructure, most of the Jenin camp did not have access to drinking water and initial estimation also indicated that most of the camp was without electricity.

Health facilities had also reportedly sustained damage and health partners were reviewing a list of urgently needed supplies and had already provided health supplies from prepositioned stocks.

As it continued to monitor the situation on the ground, OCHA, together with its humanitarian partners, was mobilizing to assist. It called for access to the injured and affected people within the Jenin refugee camp.

Rolando Gómez, for the UN Information Service, reminded the media of the statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, distributed yesterday, through which the Secretary-General said he was “deeply concerned about the developments in Jenin”. He also cited recent statements by Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, and by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Responding to questions, Ms. Huguenin recognized security concerns and said OCHA was on the ground in Jenin and hoping to get access in the coming hours. Roads had also been damaged in the airstrikes.

Christian Lindmeier for the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed alarm over the escalating situation in Jenin Refugee Camp, the loss of lives and the scale and severity of injuries. The extent of injuries placed strain on the fragile and underfunded health system in Jenin. WHO was working with health teams on the ground to support the activation of the Emergency Plan for Jenin Hospital and the mobilization of pre-positioned trauma supplies.

The Ministry of Health and health partners were already reporting critical shortages of medical supplies. WHO was at the Jenin Hospital to deliver more life-saving medical supplies and to assist in the assessment of needs. Attacks against health care, including prevention of access to persons injured, were extremely concerning. WHO called for respect and protection of health care, including safe passage to health services in Jenin and across Palestine. Further, it called on both parties to avoid further escalation.

Destruction of infrastructure, including roads in the refugee camp, is restricting access for medical teams and ambulances. As of 4:30 pm on 3 July, access to the refugee camp is mostly possible from one entrance where Israeli forces conduct checks on vehicles, including ambulances. Ambulances with medical teams have been prevented from entering parts of the refugee camp, including to reach persons who have been critically injured. There was currently no safe corridor for humanitarian access which was a key focus of ongoing United Nations negotiations. The Ministry of Health had shared a list of urgently needed medical supplies, which was being reviewed by WHO and health partners.

Responding to a question, Mr. Lindmeier said that at least two hospitals had been affected with attacks involving the use of ammunition and gas canisters. WHO continued to monitor. There had been a significant increase in attacks on health care in 2023 in the West Bank.

Ms. Huguenin reiterated the call for access, stressing that some of the roads had been demanded and OCHA had teams on the ground. This was a moving, developing situation.

Responding to another question, Mr. Lindmeier added that those injured in Jenin were being treated at three main hospitals - Khalil Sleiman Hospital (MoH Jenin Hospital), Ibn Sina Hospital, and Al Razi Hospital, all of which were functioning.

Mission to Brazil by the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide

Alice Wairimu Nderitu, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, briefed on her 1 – 12 May 2023 visit to Brazil. The purpose had been to assess the risk of genocide and other atrocity crimes against indigenous peoples, Brazilians of African descent, and other groups at risk.

While in the country, she had held consultations with senior government and state officials, colleagues working in the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), civil society representatives, community leaders from the indigenous peoples including victims, people of African descent and the Quilombola communities among other actors. She was in Brasilia, visited the

Roraima state to assess the situation of the Yanomami indigenous peoples; Mato Grosso do Sul state in the south-west of Brazil on the border with Paraguay, to assess the situation of indigenous peoples, specifically the Guarani Kaiowa; and in Rio de Janeiro to look at the situation of Brazilians of African descent, especially those living in the favelas.

Stating that only a competent judicial court (national or international) can determine whether genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity (atrocity crimes) had been committed, she clarified the focus of her mandate was the prevention of genocide.

In Roraima, she had received very disturbing reports and testimonies of abuses and violations committed against the Yanomami Indigenous peoples. According to the Brazilian constitution, indigenous territories, and in this case, the Yanomami territories which were demarcated, were protected from mining. Yet, illegal mining in these territories had taken a toll on the people leading to widespread violations and abuses against the Yanomami.

The Public Defender’s Office had carried out an investigation of the situation in the Yanomami territory in January 2023 and concluded that there were grounds to believe that “widespread and systematic human rights violation of the Yanomami and Ye’kwana indigenous peoples have been committed.” Therefore, this record of violations might constitute systematic and widespread attack on the Yanomami people as a protected group and posed a high risk of genocide and other atrocity crimes.

The case of the Guarani Kaiowa indigenous peoples in Mato Grosso do Sul state was not different from that of the Yanomami and other indigenous peoples in Brazil. The major difference was that the land of the Guarani Kaiowa community had not been demarcated and was subjected to land dispute. Most of the indigenous people had been expelled from their traditional land, in most cases violently. The Special Adviser was shocked by the prevalence of extreme poverty among this indigenous population. The violent attacks against the Guarani Kaiowa people were emblematic of the many cases of excessive use of force by the security agencies against unarmed civilians in Brazil.

Visiting the indigenous lands of Guapo’y, Kurupi, Yvu Vera and Lavandera Nhanderu in Mato Grosso do Sul, Ms. Nderitu had witnessed the suffering of the indigenous communities living there and calling for more urgency in demarcation of land. She had also witnessed many displaced persons living in deplorable conditions

In regard to the situation of Brazilians of African descent, specifically in Rio de Janeiro, Ms. Nderitu had listened to painful stories of more than 40 mothers of victims of police violence. The Government should promptly carry out thorough and transparent investigations to clarify possible unlawful deaths at the hands of the police and enable victims’ families to participate.

Cumulatively, the conditions imposed on the Guarani Kaiowa as a group had caused serious physical and mental harm contrary to the Articles of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which Brazil had ratified.

On 30 May 2023, the Brazilian Congress had approved the Temporary Framework, commonly referred to as “Marco Temporal” draft bill on the demarcation of Indigenous Peoples lands, which would limit indigenous land demarcation to territories occupied by indigenous communities in 1988. The final decision on the demarcation of the indigenous peoples’ lands was now pending judgment in the Federal Supreme Federal Court. In the afternoon, she would brief the Human Rights Council.

Responding to questions, Ms. Nderitu said she could not make a determination on whether genocide had happened or not, which only a court of law could establish. However, she pointed to risk factors and noted that racism, hate speech and discrimination were systemic issues. Part of the reason why she was raising the situation of Brazil specifically, was because she had seen the potential for the Brazilian Government to do right by these people and actually making changes to address those issues. Discussion on whether the international community could be involved in terms of providing humanitarian assistance were not held, right now the key focus was for the Brazilian State to protect these Brazilian citizens who were in such a dire need. Brazil had the capacity to sort out these issues.

Health Impacts from El Niño

Dr Maria Neira, Director for Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization (WHO), noted the very high probability that 2023 and 2024 would be marked by El Niño events. By altering climate conditions, El Niño would have severe effects on key health determinants. WHO was particularly concerned about food insecurity and increase in moderate and acute malnutrition especially amongst the most vulnerable. Ms. Neira expressed concerns over potential increase in water-borne diseases such as cholera due to water scarcity or flooded water and sanitation infrastructure. She further pointed to potential increase in mosquito-borne disease outbreaks such as malaria and increased risk of Rift Valley Fever. An increased number of people would be affected by infectious diseases such as measles and meningitis, especially in acute humanitarian situations. There would be disruption of health services due to lack of water supply in drought situations or damage to health infrastructure by floods and cyclones as well as extreme heat and an increased risk of wildfires.

WHO was reinforcing the capacity of the countries it anticipated to be more affected. It was working closely with the World Meteorological Organization, prepositioning stocks, coordinating with humanitarian partners, and reinforcing preparedness, among other actions.

Answering questions from the media, Ms. Neira said that regarding the particularly vulnerable geographical areas WHO was looking at Africa, Latin America, South and South-East Asia.

Regarding humanitarian situations and crises that had been already happening, she cited the Sahel region, the Horn of Africa, Pakistan and Myanmar. It was reasonable to expect an increase on infectious diseases because extreme weather events were more frequent and intense.

Announcements

Pascal Sim, for the Human Rights Council (HRC), informed that the Council was holding on Tuesday morning an interactive dialogue with Paula Gaviria Betancur, the new Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons. This afternoon, at 3 p.m., the Council would hear from Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. This would close item 3 of the Council agenda dedicated to thematic human rights issues. At 5:15 p.m. the Council would start Item 4 of its agenda dedicated to pressing human rights situations that required the Council’s attention with an interactive dialogue with Anaïs Marin, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus.

On Wednesday 5 July, the Council would hear for the first time from the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Fact-Finding Mission would present its first oral update to the Council. After this presentation, members of the Fact-Finding Mission would give a press conference to be broadcasted live on UN Web TV.

On Wednesday, the Council would also hear an oral update from the Commission of Inquiry on Syria and in the afternoon High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk would present his latest report on the human rights situation in Venezuela, which had been posted this morning on the session’s page. Mr. Türk would then present his written update on the situation in Myanmar.

On Thursday, the discussion on Myanmar would continue with the presentation of an oral progress report by the Special Rapporteur on this country, Tom Andrews. Also on Thursday, the Council will hear from Fortune Gaetan Zongo, Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burundi.

Following a request received by Pakistan yesterday evening, the United Nations Human Rights Council would hold an urgent debate to “discuss the alarming rise in premeditated and public acts of religious hatred as manifested by current desecration of the Holy Quran in some European and other countries”. This urgent debate would be convened following a request of Pakistan sent on behalf of several members of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, including those that are members of the Human Rights Council. The urgent debate would most likely take place this week in Room 20 of the Palais des Nations, as part of the programme of work of the current 53rd session of the Human Rights Council.

Rolando Gómez, for the UN Information Service, reminded the media of the statement by Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), on the burning of the Quran in Stockholm, Sweden.

Answering questions from the media, Mr. Sim said that since this was not a specific country situation, a request by one member of the Council was sufficient to request an urgent debate. Pakistan had presented the request, on behalf of several members of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. The letter sent by the Pakistan Ambassador had not listed the supporting countries countries in detail.

KiJung Min for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced the upcoming launch of this year's flagship report, "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World" on 12 July. This joint publication with the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) would shed light on the current state of food security and nutrition globally, providing crucial insights into challenges as well as and actions needed to ensure a world free from hunger.

A standalone press conference would be held on Friday 12 July at 3:30 p.m. in Geneva, just before its official launch in New York. Those interested in accessing the embargoed publication were reminded to submit a request to FAO. She informed that in addition to the press conference, experts would be available as of today for bilateral interviews ahead of the official launch, with FAO providing support in arranging interviews.

David Hirsch, for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), reminded the upcoming opening of the AI for Good Global Summit (6-7 July). A media preview would take place tomorrow 4 p.m. allowing journalists to spend time with the technology that would be on display. Registration in advance to the event and the summit was required. A press conference with humanoid robots would take place on Friday at 12, in a quite physical, charismatic set-up.

More information about the Summit is available here.

Rolando Gómez, for the UN Information Service, reminded the media of the Secretary-General's remarks to Shanghai Cooperation Organization, delivered shortly before the press briefing, through which Mr. Guterres noted how “today’s global challenges, from the climate crisis to growing inequality and the governance of new technology, can only be resolved through dialogue and cooperation”; he also drew attention to the statement delivered by the Secretary-General at the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Port of Spain, and the transcripts of the joint press conference of the Secretary-General with Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Keith Rowley.

Mr. Gómez further informed that the Human Rights Committee was concluding the review of its report on Burundi, while tomorrow it would begin its review of the State of Palestine. In New York, the Security Council had held consultations yesterday to discuss its programme of work for July. The United Kingdom held the Presidency of the Security Council for this month. Tomorrow the Council would hold a public meeting to adopt agenda for the month and discuss the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflicts, issued last week.

Finally, Mr. Gómez announced a press conference on Wednesday at 12 p.m. from United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on the Publication of the World Investment Report 2023 – Investing in Sustainable Energy for All. Rebeca Grynspan, UNCTAD Secretary-General and James Zhan, UNCTAD, Director, Division on Investment and Enterprises would participate. Also on Wednesday, at 2 p.m., the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran would present the first oral update to the Human Rights Council and brief the press. On Thursday 6 July, Thomas Andrews, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, would brief the media at 2 p.m.