UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing UNOG-NEWS Beirut Humanitarian Response 11AUG2020
/
3:26
/
MP4
/
253.4 MB

Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR , OCHA , WHO , UNOG , UNITED NATIONS , WFP

UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: Beirut Humanitarian Response

Speakers:

  • Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
  • Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson
  • Tamara Alrifai, a spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
  • Elisabeth Byrs, Spokesperson of the World Food Programme (WFP)
  • Tarik Jasarevic, World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson

Geneva, 11 August 2020 - One week on from the explosion that devastated the port of Beirut and much of the Lebanese capital’s downtown area, UN humanitarian agencies are at work bringing immediate aid and mapping the extent of the damage to meet the Lebanese people’s most critical needs.

The price tag of this international effort will likely be steep, agencies say, but has not yet been fully determined.

“Fourteen urban search and rescue teams from 11 countries were sent, were deployed, from various parts of the world under the auspices of what is called the Interact, which is coordinated by OCHA, to look for survivors,” said Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), of the blast that killed some 162 people and injured more than 5,000. “They are still there, they continue to work. The latest update I have as of this morning is that so far, there is no confirmed survivors”.

In addition to search and rescue operations, UN OCHA has been assessing the capacity of local health facilities in Beirut following the massive explosion. “We have also done a rapid assessment of some 55 primary health centers in the blast area. That assessment found that 37 percent sustained moderate to serious, serious, damage and that less than half of them can still provide full routine health services,” Mr. Laerke said at a media at the United Nations in Geneva.

Additional concerns include food insecurity due to the port’s closure and the water and sanitation situations. According to Marixie Mercado, a spokesperson for UNICEF, which spearheads the international efforts on water and sanitation, “many households don’t have sustained access to clean water supply because of damages to connections between water sources and buildings, and within buildings.” This despite the main water network having been spared damage, Ms. Mercado said.

Water is a key concern also for those assisting the relief efforts. “UNICEF is delivering water to port workers and first responders, and trucking water to the three Lebanese Red Cross kiosks that are providing assistance to victims,” Ms. Mercado said. “Our partners are distributing water pads, hygiene supplies including sanitary pads, infection prevention materials and baby kits to families living in temporary shelters.”

In addition to water, the UN’s agency for children is delivering tetanus vaccines, and personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as psychological first care. It is appealing for USD 8.25 million, as a “very preliminary” figure, Ms. Mercado said.

As the nation that host the most refugees per capita of any other country in the world, concerns about the welfare of this vulnerable population group in Lebanon, were echoed by the UN refugee agency, UNCHR, who confirmed that “at least 34 refugees” were among the victims of the blast, and by the agency specifically dedicated to Palestine refugees, UNRWA.

“We fear that this entire community will slip even into hardship,” said Tamara Alrifai, a spokesperson for UNRWA, “and this is why , like some my other colleagues including UNICEF just said, it is very important to provide immediate support, and in our case it is cash assistance to Palestine refugees who have almost lost all their means of livelihood.” Medium and long term needs are likely to become an even greater problem, Ms. Alrifai said.

As concerns about the food supply mount, the UN World Food Programme’s (WFP) top official, David Beasley, has traveled to Beirut to inspect the situation first-hand. “ WFP is bringing into the country a 3-month supply of wheat flour and grains for bakery,” said WFP spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs. Current supplies were estimated to last no more than six weeks, she said. “The first wheat shipment is due to arrive within 10 days,” she added.

For the World Health Organization (WHO), which is already having to grapple with the global response to COVID-19, “priorities include immediate emergency care for injured patients, ongoing assessment of health impact and humanitarian needs, coordination of the international medical response, continuity of COVID care, procurement for PPEs for health workers, provision of essential medical supplies to fill urgent gaps and also restoration of functioning of damaged health facilities,” said spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic.

How much will this cost, altogether? With WFP appealing for 235 million dollars and WHO for 76 million, the answer to the total tally will likely come in the next few days, according to OCHA’s Jens Laerke: “We should expect a flash appeal, in the coming days, for the humanitarian response.

“It will be a lot of money. And it will be even more in the medium and longer term, I think everybody is saying that, and everybody is aware of that,” he said.

  1. Exterior wide shot, UN Geneva, Palais des Nations, flag alley, a beautiful day (stock).
  2. Interior Wide Shot, UN Geneva press room
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, UN OCHA Spokesperson : “Fourteen urban search and rescue teams from 11 countries were sent, were deployed, from various parts of the world under the auspices of what is called the Interact, which is coordinated by OCHA, to look for survivors. They are still there, they continue to work. The latest update I have as of this morning is that so far, there is no confirmed survivors”.
  4. Wide Shot, UN Geneva press room
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, UN OCHA Spokesperson : “We have also done a rapid assessment of some 55 primary health centers in the blast area. That assessment found that 37 percent sustained moderate to serious, serious, damage and that less than half of them can still provide full routine health services,”
  6. Medium Shot, two people attending briefing
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) — Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “Many households don’t have sustained access to clean water supply because of damages to connections between water sources and buildings, and within buildings.”
  8. Camera crews at briefing
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) — Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “UNICEF is delivering water to port workers and first responders, and trucking water to the three Lebanese Red Cross kiosks that are providing assistance to victims. Our partners are distributing water pads, hygiene supplies including sanitary pads, infection prevention materials and baby kits to families living in temporary shelters.”
  10. Medium close, journalist
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) — Tamara Alrifai, spokesperson for UNRWA: “We fear that this entire community will slip even into hardship, and this is why , like some my other colleagues including UNICEF just said, it is very important to provide immediate support, and in our case it is cash assistance to Palestine refugees who have almost lost all their means of livelihood.”
  12. Medium close, journalist
  13. SOUNDBITE (English) — Elisabeth Byrs, Spokesperson of the World Food Programme (WFP): “WFP is bringing into the country a 3-month supply of wheat flour and grains for bakery. The first wheat shipment is due to arrive within 10 days.”
  14. Medium shot, people at briefing
  15. SOUNDBITE (English) — Tarik Jasarevic, World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson: “Our priorities include immediate emergency care for injured patients, ongoing assessment of health impact and humanitarian needs, coordination of the international medical response, continuity of COVID care, procurement for PPEs for health workers, provision of essential medical supplies to fill urgent gaps and also restoration of functioning of damaged health facilities.”
  16. Wide Shot, moderator Alessandra Vellucci at the rostrum
  17. SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, UN OCHA Spokesperson : “we should expect a flash appeal, in the coming days, for the humanitarian response.
  18. Medium shot, UN Geneva entrance with flag alley
  19. SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, UN OCHA Spokesperson : “It will be a lot of money. And it will be even more in the medium and longer term, I think everybody is saying that, and everybody is aware of that,” he said.
  20. Exterior wide shot, UN Geneva Palais des Nations, Pregny Gate (stock)
  21. Exterior wide shot, UN Geneva Palais des Nations, Nations entrance (stock)

Similar Stories

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on last month’s telecomms shutdowns in Afghanistan

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on last month’s telecomms shutdowns in Afghanistan ENG FRA

The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).  

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment. 

Hurricane Melissa update IFRC - WMO - OCHA

1

1

1

Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO

Hurricane Melissa update IFRC - WMO - OCHA ENG FRA

‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives

Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.

Gaza health update - WHO 24 October 2025

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO 24 October 2025 ENG FRA

‘We need all routes to open’: in Gaza WHO calls for ramp-up of medevacs, easier access for essentials

Two weeks since a ceasefire agreement entered into force in Gaza the World Health Organization (WHO) noted progress on the flow of aid while calling for more evacuations of critical patients and eased entry for essential medicines and supplies.

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO

1

12

1

1

Edited News | WMO , UNITED NATIONS

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO ENG FRA

UN chief urges boost to life-saving weather warning systems, stresses role of climate change science

No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all, UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.

Gaza aid update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Gaza aid update - WFP ENG FRA

Gazans’ response to food distributions ‘overwhelming’ as humanitarians scale up under fragile ceasefire

In Gaza, the ceasefire is enabling UN humanitarians to reach more desperate people with life-saving food, but greater access is needed to contain the spread of famine.

Gaza aid and border crossings - WFP, OCHA 17 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP , OCHA

Gaza aid and border crossings - WFP, OCHA 17 October 2025 ENG FRA

UN urges opening of all Gaza crossings to deliver three-month food supply

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned food aid cannot reach everyone in Gaza unless all border crossings are opened, particularly in the north where famine was declared in August. The agency says it already has enough supplies in place to feed the entire population of the Strip for three months – if full access is granted by Israel.

Gaza update – UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, ICRC 14 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNDP , UNICEF , OCHA , ICRC

Gaza update – UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, ICRC 14 October 2025 ENG FRA

Around $70 billion will be needed to reconstruct Gaza and make it safe after two years of war, UN development experts said on Tuesday, while aid agencies reported that far too little aid continues to reach  desperate Palestinians.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Machado: reaction from UN rights office

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Machado: reaction from UN rights office ENG FRA

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday welcomed the Nobel Peace Prize committee’s decision to name Maria Machado as this year’s laureate, in recognition of her work promoting the Venezuelan people’s democratic hopes.

Gaza ceasefire agreement – UNRWA, UNICEF, WHO 10 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza ceasefire agreement – UNRWA, UNICEF, WHO 10 October 2025 ENG FRA

As Gazans jammed the main route leading north on Friday after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced, UN aid teams repeated their call to open all crossings into the devastated enclave to prevent famine spreading.

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO ENG FRA

Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians

Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025 ENG FRA

Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.