Welcome to the Information Service briefing here in Geneva.
Today is Tuesday, 10th of October.
Of course, the news are concentrating focusing on the situation in the Middle East and we will hear from several colleagues on this subject.
But before doing so, let me just start to keep the floor to Pascal for a quick update on the Council and then we will get to the situation in the Middle East.
Today the United Nations Human Rights Council is holding 3 interactive dialogues on three different country situation starting now with Isha defend the independent experts in Somalia to be followed by the independent experts on the Central African Republic.
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In the late afternoon, Christian Salazar Volkman from OHCHR will present the latest reports of the Secretary General on Cambodia and of the **** Commissioner on Yemen and Georgia.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Council will begin the consideration of 37 draught resolutions and decisions.
And yesterday afternoon the Council Secretariat has received a total of 15 amendments.
We'll share with you later an updated table of all these draught decisions and resolution and amendments to be considered.
Today is Election Day at the UN headquarters.
It's our own version of Super Tuesday.
the United Nations General Assembly, New York is electing 15 members of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The election will take place at 10 AM New York time, which is 4:00 PM Geneva time.
All 15 new members will serve a three-year term beginning on January 1st, 2024.
So let me remind you the 17 candidates for the 15 available seats this year, Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Malawi for Africa, China, Indonesia, Japan and Kuwait for the Asia Pacific group, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Peru for the Latin American and Caribbean group, France and the Netherlands for the Western and other states groups, and Albania, Bulgaria and the Russian Federation for the Central and Eastern European group.
And you can watch the HRC election live on UN Web TV.
We expect the result to be announced today between 5:00 and 5:30 PM Geneva time.
And last information, I would also like to inform you that the Commission of inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian territory and in Israel will issue a statement later today.
So please watch your inbox in the coming hours.
Thank you very much, Pascal.
Gabriel, let's raise your hand.
Gabriel, is that for Pascal?
I I want to know if the boat at 10:00 PM New York time is going to is going to be public.
Can you watch watch it And also OK, we, I will share the UN Web TV link with you all so that you can watch the election live.
Yes, thank you very much and thanks Pascal.
Now let's move as I said to the situation in the Middle East.
We have several colleagues who have come in brief you thank you Pascal, if you can just and I'll ask Tariq to come also to the podium.
So we have Ocha, UNRA, OHCHRUNICF and WHO for updates on the situation.
I'll start with Ocha and then we will go to UNRA to Ottamara Al Rifai then many of you know is the Director of External Relation Communication of UNRA.
Thank you, Alessandra, and good morning everyone.
Let me just give you an update of what we know this morning.
Air strikes continue to pound Gaza while rockets are being launched from Gaza into Israel on the first day of this deadly escalation in the in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.
We remain extremely alarmed by these rapidly escalating events.
As of last night, Israeli reports indicate that more than 900 Israelis, including foreign nationals, have been killed.
At least 2616 people have been injured, according to the Ministry of Health in Israel.
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of of Health in Gaza, at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3800 others injured.
An additional 17 Palestinians, including four children, were killed and 295 were injured in the West Bank.
Displacement has escalated dramatically across the Gaza Strip, reaching more than 187,500 since Saturday.
These new displacements add to some 3000 Palestinians who were displaced from previous escalations.
Further displacement is expected as hostilities continue.
Since Saturday, 4 schools and eight healthcare facilities in Gaza have sustained damage.
Destruction of infrastructure and streets has hindered the movement of civil defence and medical teams trying to reach victims.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Public Works and Housing, 790 housing units have been destroyed and more than 5300 have been severely damaged.
Healthcare and water and sanitation facilities have sustained damage too.
Israeli authorities have ceased supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip, reducing the hours of of electricity to between 3:00 and 4:00 hours daily.
The Gaza power plant, which is the only one, is currently running out of power and may only have a few days of fuel left.
Israeli authorities have decided to cut off the water supply to Gaza.
This decision effects over 610,000 people and will result in severe shortage of drinking water.
Palestinian armed groups in Gaza have, on their part, fired thousands of rockets and mortar shells into Israel, some reaching major population centres.
Humanitarian organisations are there, of course.
They are responding to the best of their ability, but highly constrained by the ongoing hostilities and access restrictions.
And now you have mentioned UNRWA and we have with us, as I said, Tamara Rifai, the Director of External Relations and Communications of this agency of the United Nations.
Tamara, thank you very much for connecting with us.
You are in Amman and you have a first hand account of the situation.
Yeah, as UNRWA is concerned and what we see there, you have the floor.
Thank you so much, Alessandra, and thank you, Jens, for introducing information about UNRWA.
This is really a time for one UN and I think that we are all working together and doing all we can to respond to the tragic developments in Gaza.
You mentioned the air strikes.
They continued through the night and in fact last night a building that houses the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City sustained significant damage as a result of of air strikes nearby.
This brings the recorded number of buildings from UNRWA that sustained damage to 18.
So 18 of our facilities, including a school for the visually impaired in Gaza and our our headquarters in Gaza City were damaged.
All UN international staff in Gaza are taking shelter in another building within the same compound that was hit yesterday.
So this is really an opportunity for a call again, that all under and UN buildings, all buildings that are, are flying that blue UN flag are protected under international humanitarian law in relation to the humanitarian situation.
Yes, the displacement continues and it continues en masse in approximately 80 underwater schools.
We are now housing more than 137,000 residents of Gaza who left their homes in fear of their homes being attacked or destroyed.
It is worth mentioning that UNAWA sadly does have experience in turning some of its schools into shelters, but the huge displacement we have witnessed over the last two days way outweighs our ability to absorb the displaced and to absorb them adequately.
We have 54 schools that are schools that can be turned into shelters, meaning these are schools where we can very quickly place mobile toilets.
Mobile showers give give the displaced access to clean drinking water, desalinated water and also access to food distribution and other items that are necessary for everyday survival such as blankets, mattresses or cherry caps.
However, again, the 137,000 displaced into unrest schools are now in more than the 54 schools that are ready to receive them.
And therefore, we are extremely concerned about our ability as Unride to respond to these huge needs, both because of the ongoing situation, security or lack thereof, but also because UNRWA, even prior to this conflict was already stretched to its financial limits and its resource limits.
We were already facing a huge underfunding situation that was jeopardising our ability to maintain all our services.
And as a reminder, our services includes full-fledged schooling systems, health centres, social protection, food distribution.
All of them were already at risk because of the underfunding, and now it is getting much, much worse because we do not have the adequate resources to be able to respond to the magnitude and the scale of this situation.
For context, this recent and very heavy escalation of violence in Gaza in the Gaza Strip is believed to be the most intense of the previous six conflicts since 2008.
Sadly, Gaza has witnessed all these conflicts and also a blockade that had completely crippled its economy and severely limited the access of people of Gaza residents to livelihoods.
When we speak about Gaza residents, we are speaking about 2.2 million people who live on the Gaza Strip.
1.7 million of them are Palestine refugees that use UNRWA as a lifeline.
They send their kids to our schools.
300,000 Palestine refugee children receive education and unrest schools.
The schools are all closed obviously because of the ongoing situation.
All of them use our Primary Health centres and the majority of them rely on under for food distribution because the majority of them live under the poverty line.
So an already very fragile situation on the strip and a fragile situation of Punira is only being are only being aggravated now by this conflict.
I will leave it here Alessandra.
And I'm available for follow up questions either here or in writing.
I'll put my e-mail in the chat box and I am available to receive calls.
And yes, I see already quite a few questions, but we still have a few more colleagues that want to to brief and just just sorry, as a housekeeping matter, please, the journalists were connected with lots of journalists connected.
Make sure you have stated your name and credentials in the name of your media because we cannot keep you in the on the line otherwise.
And go now to UNICEF for an update of the situation on the situation of children.
Yeah, the the ongoing surge of conflict related violence continues to take a horrendous toll on the lives of children and their families in Israel and the state of Palestine.
Nothing justifies the killing and maiming or the abduction of children.
Any delay in bringing an end to the conflict is going to inevitably result in more devastating consequences for children.
According to reports, hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian children have been killed and many more injured in the last 72 hours.
The killing and maiming of children is grave violation and wilful killing is a serious breach of international humanitarian law.
We, again, like all colleagues here, call on all parties not to target children and take all necessary actions to ensure their protection during these hostilities.
In addition, there are reports of the abduction of Israeli children to the Gaza Strip.
The abduction of children by any party to the conflict constitutes a grave violation and hostage taking is prohibited by international humanitarian law.
In all circumstances, UNICEF calls for the immediate and safe release of all hostages.
Hundreds of thousands of children are affected by the escalation of hostilities in Gaza and they're in desperate need of humanitarian assistance and, of course, protection.
Before this renewed violence, 1.1 million children were already in need of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
UNICEF is extremely alarmed about measures to cut electricity, to cut food, to cut water, to cut fuel from entering Gaza.
This will add another layer of suffering to the existing catastrophe faced by families in Gaza.
Depriving children access to food and essential services puts their lives at risk, as do these attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure, including health centres, schools, water and sanitation systems.
In the Gaza Strip, UNICEF and partners are on the ground.
We are delivering emergency humanitarian supply, medical supplies, fuel, as well as supporting with mental health care.
Now, with the humanitarian situation rapidly deteriorating, humanitarian actors must be allowed to safely access and support those children and families wherever they are.
UNICEF is again calling for the immediate cestation of hostilities and reminding all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law to afford special protection to children.
Every single child, no matter who they are or where they are, must be protected.
Thank you, James, indeed, Let me go to my left now.
Ravina, you have a briefing note on the institution Human rights in this dire context.
Alessandra, you should have received a press release from the **** Commissioner about half an hour ago on the situation.
And the UN **** Commissioner for Human Rights, Walker Turk has issued an urgent plea to all states with influence to take steps to diffuse the powder keg situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
International humanitarian law and international human rights law must be respected in all circumstances.
We are faced with an explosive powder keg situation and we know how this plays out.
Time and again, the loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives and incalculable suffering inflicted on both communities.
All parties must respect international humanitarian law.
They must immediately seize attacks targeting civilians and attacks expected to cause disproportionate death and injury of civilians or damage to civilian objects.
We are deeply shocked and appalled by allegations of summary execution of civilians and, in some instances, horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups.
It is horrific and deeply distressing to see images of those captured by Palestinian armed groups being ill treated, as well as reports of desecration of bodies.
Civilians must never be used as bargaining chips.
We call on Palestinian armed groups to immediately and unconditionally release all civilians who were captured.
The taking of hostages is prohibited by international law.
It is vitally important that everyone deprived of their liberty in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel is treated humanely.
People's dignity and lives must be respected.
Information gathered by our office indicates that Israeli air operations have hit large residential towers in Gaza City and other residential buildings across Gaza, schools and premises of the UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, as you've just heard, resulting in civilian casualties.
International humanitarian law is clear.
The obligation to take constant care to spare the civilian population and civilian objects remains applicable throughout the attacks.
The principles of distinction and the prohibition of indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks are paramount.
On the 9th of October, Israeli authorities ordered a full siege of Gaza, shutting off electricity, water, food and fuel supplies.
This risks seriously compounding the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the capacity of medical facilities to operate, especially in light of increasing number of injured people.
The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Any restriction on the movement of people and goods to implement a siege must be justified by military necessity or it may amount to collective punishment.
The **** Commissioner also expresses deep concern at how hate speech and incitement to violence have surged since Saturday, fuelling anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the region and globally.
We know from bitter experience that vengeance is not the answer and ultimately innocent civilians are paying the price.
The world cannot afford more polarisation.
We need to find solutions guided by the full respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
And then on your left, Tariq, the situation of the health facilities.
Thank you very much Alexandra and hello to to everyone.
Just as my colleague said, the the World Health Organisation is also calling for an end to the violence.
Health facilities, patients, health workers and civilians in general have to be protected and safeguarded.
As Doctor Tejas has said over the weekend, a humanitarian corridor is needed to reach people with critical medical supplies and who will work with partners on this.
In Gaza, WHO is providing support?
We have supplies and previously delivered training of health workers and response plan.
Unfortunately, the pre positioned supplies which were in seven major hospitals on the Gaza strips have now been used up.
Yesterday these hospitals also activated the hospital emergency plans prepared with support from WHO to better manage the surge of casualties.
But with a number of casualties currently coming in, these hospitals are now running beyond their capacity.
WHO is reprogramming 1,000,000 of U.S.
dollars to procure more urgently needed medical supplies from the local market to fill gaps in need.
WTO continues to systematically monitor health attacks within the surveillance system for attacks on healthcare, as well as to document and report on health needs and restrictions on access to health services.
The Gaza Emergency Operations Centre established through WTO support has been also activated.
We supported emergency preparedness capacity in Gaza previously with provision of medical equipment and supplies, with updating of emergency plans of seven hospitals and with training of 223 health workers on mass casualty management protocols.
We also been have been working in the past to establish 2 Gaza Strip National Emergency Medical Teams and we were working on renovating the free primary healthcare clinics to better manage casualties.
I mentioned the attacks on health, so let me just give you the numbers that you also have in a latest OCHA Ctrip.
As of 4:00 in the afternoon yesterday, 13 health attacks have been confirmed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current escalation of the violence.
This resulted in a six health workers being killed, 4 health workers being injured, 9 ambulances affected and health eight health facilities affected.
The conflict is also affecting E Jerusalem and the West Bank where 12 incidents have been documented since 7th October, mainly in the form of first obstruction.
When it comes to Israel, Israel is is not currently part of this WHO monitoring system that I just mentioned.
However, Israel's National Emergency Organisation announced that one paramedic has been killed and there is also information of an attack against the hospital in Ashkelon.
And maybe just to to finish it.
Today is a World Mental Health Day and and we can only imagine how mental health of people on both sides experiencing this violence has been impacted.
And we should never forget that mental health of people in a emergency settings should be also taken care of.
Back to you, Alessandra, Thank you very much.
And just before opening the floor to the many question I'm seeing coming, just to remind you that yesterday we have distributed to you the remarks to the Press of the Secretary General, who gave a very strong statement on the situation and a call to see the end of the cycle of violence.
I'll now start with questions in the room.
And I, I start with Jeremy.
I, I, I'll say who you are for Tamara's benefit.
So Jeremy launch radio France international.
Alessandro, you, you mentioned cutting off of, of water to, to the Gaza Strip.
I'd like to know exactly what is the UN stand on that in.
I know that in other circumstances in other countries, UN officials have coined the depriving of water to civilian population of war crime.
Could that amount to a war crime coming off the water to the Gaza Strip?
The second one will be more.
Do you have any contact of any sorts with the authorities in in the Gaza Strip?
And that might be a question for ICRCI.
Don't know if someone is from the Red Cross is, is listening, but do you have contacts with Hamas regarding the hostage situation?
OK, So I guess the first question is for Ravina and then for the second, just go ahead, Ravina.
I'll, I'll, I'll let you answer first.
I'm not sure if Ocha might want to supplement as well, but I can.
I can certainly take this first, as I, as a **** Commissioner, has flagged in the press release the the ordering of the full siege of Gaza, shutting off electricity, water, food and fuel supplies does risk seriously compounding the already dire humanitarian situation for the people of Gaza.
Imposition of seizures that endangers the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Any restrictions must be justified by military necessity or they may amount to collective punishment, which is of course a violation of international humanitarian law.
On your second point, I just wanted to say that the the action of Mr Wenesland is actually also focusing on the issue of working with different parties, including for the hostage crisis, as the spokesperson of the Secretary General said yesterday.
But I don't know if any other colleague has anything on this contact with the local authorities, the local de facto authorities.
No, I don't see any hand up on this.
So maybe I'll go now to the next question.
I see Paula had a question and then I go to Jamie.
Yes, we have a problem with the mics.
I'm told to try not to be too close to the mic otherwise we have any.
So for Geneva Solutions, I have a question regarding the the accusation by Israeli authorities that UN facilities are being used by Hamas to store ammunition and so forth.
Just wanted to hear perhaps this is a question for UNRWA And then also just wanted to know from from UNRWA as well as other agencies whether funding to Gaza has been affected by these these events over the last few days.
Thank you so much for that.
The the UN and on run particular works very, very hard on regular, constant and very sturdy inspection of our facilities themselves.
We have very, very **** what we call humanitarian principles including neutrality standards and we have inspection teams that have that have conducted inspections of almost all our facilities over the last year.
So this is constant work in progress to ensure that UN facilities are immune to the use by any warring party, your own groups as a as a, as a storage place or a launching pad.
We take this extremely, extremely seriously.
On the funding, again, the funding of fundra was already very precarious before this crisis.
Now we have heard, along with everybody else, statements by a number of the strong partners to UNRWA about their revisiting or reassessing of their support to Palestinians.
Our strong call as AUN agency is that we be treated as such Aun agency.
We are AUN agency, We're mandated by the UN General Assembly.
Almost every government in the world has signed off on our mandate.
So we truly want to distinguish ourselves from the larger group of recipients of international aid and say that if UNRWA isn't able to respond to the huge crisis in Gaza now, then most likely there will not be anyone else able to provide the kind of assistance that UNRWA does.
Because UNRWA does have the largest architecture of humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
And therefore, our fleet is not only to spare from any change of position from our partners and donors.
In fact, we're about to issue a flash appeal about additional funding that we need to be able to respond to this crisis.
So this is coming up this week.
Thanks and thank you, Alessandra.
Just saying to colleagues, whoever wants to intervene in answering, just show your hand because I, I, I can't see everybody.
Also those who are connected with many colleagues who are connected to answer question on call.
My question I guess is for both Tarek and Yents to some extent.
Tarek, you mentioned the humanitarian corridor, the hope for a humanitarian corridor.
What is being done to bring that about?
I mean, are you speaking with authorities?
Is that actually, you know, feasible and and, and, and gonna come, come, come about given the circumstances at the moment, particularly at Rafa, if I understand correctly, that it's may or may not be open.
And then if I could also ask, Ravina, you mentioned the call from the **** Commissioner.
What contact has he had with either Israeli or Hamas authorities?
If I understand that the Secretary General Guterres had some contact with with Israeli officials, if I'm not mistaken.
So what what from the human rights front, what what has Volcker Turk done to to try to press those positions on warring the conflicting parties?
Tariq, you want to start?
What we are saying really is that we need supplies to come in.
Hospitals cannot run without without fuel, without electricity.
And and as I said, the supplies that we have pre positioned are already running, running up.
So we need those supplies to come in.
Doctor Tetris was yesterday in in Egypt and he discussed with the president of of Egypt on on how best we can help UN system to bring these supplies.
But we will work with other with all the other partners and and I'm sure our colleagues in not sure will be we will be leading on that.
But again, we we need to get supplies in because because hospitals and patients in those hospitals desperately need those supplies.
Yes, the secretary general indeed spoke with Israeli authorities, with President Herzog.
Prime Minister Netanyahu should be coming.
I have a list that is from yesterday afternoon, so I don't know if in the meantime there has been any update.
But what I know is, is this.
He also should have spoken with the President Abbas and with President Sisi.
He already spoke to the King of Jordan, and we expect him to speak with the Prime Minister of Lebanon if it's not happened when while we were sleeping.
And Mr Venice Land has been in touch with counterparts from the US, European Union, Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon and others.
And for the **** Commissioner, Ravina, thanks.
Thanks, Jamie, for your question.
The **** Commissioner is actually in New York right now for the third committee meeting there.
So when the secretary general referred yesterday to an extraordinary meeting with senior leaders, the **** Commissioner was part of that meeting.
So he has been feeding into of course the the response to the situation.
But we also have staff in the region.
We've got staff in Gaza and in the West Bank, national staff mostly.
Unfortunately, as you may recall, visas for our international staff were not granted and that it's been several years that this has been the case.
Some, however, we have been in contact with authorities on both sides.
I mean, you know, we, we periodically come out with reports, press releases, our responses and concerns on different situations that have been evolving in the region.
And we've been in close touch with the authorities raising our concerns on these.
Sorry, Anadu Rons, thank you for taking my.
You can try not to be too close to the mic.
Following a Hamas attack on Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said called the residents of AB located a Gaza Strip to leave the area, and he also said that they will turn the old areas where Hamas is located into rubble.
Are you concerned about the people of Gaza who have already been in a difficult station for years?
Mohammed, the Secretary General expresses deep distress by today's by yesterday's announcement from the Israeli about the siege.
And yes, Praveen, and maybe thank you, know that there are a few elements you refer to hear.
One is the language of incitement that's being used and rhetoric that could amount to incitement to hatred and to violence, which of course in this context is explosive.
It's a very emotional situation.
Obviously, we have already seen, you know, dialogue and feelings of vengeance among the population.
It is the responsibility of leaders to try to calm things down, to try to deal with the situation with full respect for international humanitarian law and human rights law.
Unfortunately, we have seen rhetoric that is doing the exact opposite, that is stocking tensions and stocking the violence.
There is an obligation on on states to prohibit propaganda for war and advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.
I don't see other hands in the room.
So I may go to the platform.
And we've got quite a few more questions.
I said with John, John Zaro Costas France, Van Cat, English Channel.
Good morning and also The Lancet.
Alessandra, my question is first to Tariq and I have a follow up to Ravina.
Tariq, in the talks with the President Sisi, did Doctor Tedros raise the possibility of having a humanitarian corridor from the Egyptian end of the Gaza Strip, where that has been, as you know, in the past, also closed and that's had difficulties to evacuate injured people into Egypt for special medical care.
Is that one option that Doctor Tedros has raised?
And is he contacting the Israelis as well?
Because I suppose that would require clearance from both sides to have that corridor opened.
John, as, as you know, Doctor Tetris was was was in Egypt for the certification of elimination of hepatitis C in Egypt, which is obviously a good news.
And he used this opportunity to speak about the situation in occupied Palestinian territory and, and, and Israel.
We as WHO we will really work with all the partners to try to make sure that supplies can reach people in need and that those who need health services will be provided health services.
But again, it's too, too soon to to to say how exactly this will happen.
But but I think as, as you have heard from from other colleagues, we definitely will do everything we can from our side to make sure that the health services are are provided.
John, you had also a question for Ravina, but I don't see your hand anymore.
And what you just referred earlier measures to prevent inciting of anti-Semitism and anti and Islamophobia.
I was wondering if the **** Commissioner has also any comments on the incitement to hatred before this current crisis.
As Associated Press reported, on October 6th, there were spitting of Christians and defacing of tombstones in a Christian cemetery in Jerusalem.
The **** Commissioner has been clear clear in his condemnation of both anti-Semitism and of Islamophobia.
Language of incitement, language of hatred that has a real impact on the situation on the ground.
Nothing justifies the violence that we're seeing today.
However, as you do point out, there is a lot of terrible rhetoric and language of incitement that has brought us here today.
Emma Fart, Reuters, thank you.
One for Yams and one for Ravina, please.
I was wondering if you could talk a little bit more about your projections for displacements going forward, How much of the population could be displaced?
And anything about refugees?
Presumably not, because there's nowhere for them to go.
And Ravina, could you just say clearly whether you consider the current situation in the Gaza Strip to already represent a siege?
But Tamara, if you also want to intervene, just let me know.
Yes, thank you very much, Emma.
I mean we are on the morning of Day 4 of this escalation and we have seen 187,000 people displaced within the space of three days on what can talk about more about where they are now because they're mostly in, in in their schools and thank God for that.
There's a place for them to go to, but as long as this continues.
The displacement will continue.
I think that's without a doubt.
How much that all depends on for how much longer this goes on.
As you know that, you know, the current situation has compounded what has already existed over many years, the situation of the blockade that colleagues referred to, which have led to **** levels of deprivation in the Gaza Strip and the lack of opportunities, lack of livelihood opportunities for the people there.
So this is compounding and already dire situation there.
I can't go beyond that in terms of the legal definitions of sieges for now.
Christian Erich, German news Agency.
Well, OK, whatever you see that I'll try this.
I wonder whether anyone from UNHCR is listening and whether William is on on call.
Are there any provisions, for example, along the Egyptian border for taking in people who might be forced out of flee, flee from the Gaza Strip?
I wonder where this is more for Tamara though, but William is on the line too.
So maybe I don't know if William you want to start and then Tamara or yeah, William is there.
Thank you for the question.
Let me just move the camera a bit there so you can see me.
OK, so well as as as you know, UNRWA is the UN agency with the humanitarian and development mandate to provide assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees pending a solution to the flight plight.
UNACR calls on all countries to allow civilians fleeing Gaza access to their territories and to ensure respect for the principle of non rebel Mon at all times.
And we continue to call on states not to forcibly return Palestinians, including Palestinian refugees.
Registers with Undra to Gaza.
That's why I was mentioning maybe Tamara, if you can maybe say something about the situation in the Egyptian border.
So then we will have I'm putting the contact details of Tamara in the in the chat.
So if you have more question for her.
Yes, thank you very much.
How does humanitarian law apply in this case because it is a state at war against a non state army.
So in other words, is Hamas obliged to obey the Geneva Conventions also for Anwar?
But she's not there I think.
But I wanted to ask if you can put it on the chat or sending the question.
What is the procedure to accept people at your shelters?
I read some reports that people from Hamas are hiding there.
I don't know if you have any information about this.
I think for Robina as well is some of the people at the concert said that women were raped, killed and taken to Gaza and fighters showing their bodies as a trophy.
But I want to know if you have a reports on that as well.
And the end for Tariq, are you worried about I'll treatment of Palestinians fighters caught in Israel, I mean wounded Palestinian fighters in Israel.
The current situation is it's an armed conflict.
In an armed conflict, all sides have the obligation to respect international humanitarian law.
This includes Hamas, the Israeli side, all, all armed groups that are involved have the obligation to respect international humanitarian law.
And this of course, this conflict is taking place in the wider context of an occupation by Israel of Gaza.
So there are other obligations that come in under international law, in the context of an obligation.
I perhaps that answers your question.
If you, if you need more details, I, I can provide more details on the, the treatment of, of the people who were abducted and killed by Hamas.
As we said, this is horrific.
This is clear violation of international law.
The desecration of bodies is sick and disgusting and horrific.
And we've been deeply distressed by these images.
We have seen bodies being paraded as trophies.
We have seen the desecration of bodies on the claims of sexual violence.
I don't have confirmation of these reports.
And I've been trying to catch our colleague from UNRWA.
And so she says if there are specific question to them to use to, to contact them directly.
I'll put the I'll put the contact in the details in the in the chat.
And yes, Paula, yeah, go ahead.
I've got more questions on the line.
Yeah, Paula, Yeah, I just wanted to to actually get a little bit more of a response to part of the question that I asked before, which was regarding funding.
I'd like to know if any of the agencies may have had sort of earmarked funding going to Gaza that may have been affected, certain donors might have pulled out following the attacks by Hamas.
But obviously, any any, you know, funding cuts would be a very cruel blow to the long-suffering children of of the state of Palestine.
And Gabriella is reminding me that I had to give you the floor Tarek to answer her question.
It's Raven already mentioned international humanitarian law and there are provisions in this on providing medical care to to prisoners of war.
I think it's Article 30, Article 30.
So the prisoners of war should be provided with the necessary medical care.
Thank you very much, Maya Plants.
Yes, thank you for taking my question.
My question is regarding the which UN agencies are working at the highest level on the opening of the humanitarian corridors.
If any of the agencies present could give me a quick overview update.
I know if some of you spoke about it, but I would like to know which agencies are working and what level, at what level of the organisation.
I think that we are doing as much as possible in terms of getting contacts at the highest level, but also the working level, as the spokesperson of the Secretary General said yesterday, in order to try and, and make our help operational on what is on the spot.
As you know, and we will, I think we will hear more about this contact as soon as information become available.
I have tried to reach Tamara, but as I said, she's on on, on a, on a meeting.
Maybe we will get a little bit more today from, from UNRWA.
There are more questions.
Sorry, I have a problem to read to look at my my list.
I don't understand why it's OK now it's back.
John, your hand is still up.
I don't know if it's from before or you have a follow up now.
I have a follow up actually for Robert and Tariq.
Robert concerning the hostage taking especially of children and also the elderly.
Has UNICEF got position specialists in trauma and psychosocial support to go in if the children are released through negotiations from third parties, given the shortage of such expertise on the ground in Gaza?
And the same with Tariq, as you mentioned, it's today, well, mental Health day, not only psychosocial support for children, but many elderly Israelis that have been taken hostage.
You understand, must be today we are not organised.
You said for Tariq and for whom?
Catch the other person you wanted to ask the question to from the spokesman for UNICEF on the podium.
John, please And repeat your question for me, will you?
I've got to rob it, so go for it now.
Yes, James, what I was interested in is UNICEF have on standby experts in cytosocial and trauma advice in case some of the children, the Israeli children have been taken hostage into Gaza are released through third party negotiations.
And also for Tariq, I mentioned same possibility of having experts in psychosocial support not only for children, but also for many elderly people that have been taken hostage.
Short answer, yes, we have counsellors, experts in psychological support, psychosocial support in Gaza in the West Bank available to support anyone and everyone.
The obvious segue to this is when you listen to the testimonies coming out of of Gaza from children in Israel.
It is consistent stories of of fear of, of suffering, of pain to be honest.
And the only way out of this to ensure that there aren't great numbers more of children suffering psychological trauma is of course for as everyone's been speaking this morning, for an immediate ceasefire and a long term political solution.
We have to listen to those children of Gaza and of Israel who are very clearly and as we've heard usually through tears saying enough, leave us alone, Tariq.
Well, first of all, as secretary General said yesterday, hostages should be released.
And obviously it's a it's a highly traumatic experience for anyone who is taken hostage.
So hostages must be provided all medical care, physical and mental care.
But I think for all of those people who are going through those horrific moments of being taken hostages, the most important thing is to to be released.
Can you just tell me more about this collective punishment concept?
What does that mean in international law?
Collective punishment is where?
Oh, I'm sorry, I'm too close.
So as I mentioned, goods that are vital for the survival of the civilian population must not be restricted.
Civilians must be allowed to leave besieged areas should they wish to do so.
Any restriction must be justified by a military necessity or may amount to collective punishment.
Collective punishment is is is what it says.
It's defined under international humanitarian law as the collective punishment of a population or of a community in response to, you know, the the actions of, of certain individuals or armed groups.
This is clearly prohibited under international humanitarian law and it could amount to a war crime.
Let me know if you need further on that.
I, I think the question is, is raised within the context of this announcement of, of a siege.
And I just want to provide a little bit of, of, of detail on that, because this stripping away of essential services did not start yesterday.
In fact, since the evening of the 7th of October, the Israeli authorities cease supplying electricity to the gas strip and reducing the, the number of hours that they have electricity available.
And that's where the only thing that's keeping, you know, the lights on a few hours a day day is the Gaza power plant itself.
And that one is running out of fuel.
And the evening of the 8th October, the Israeli authorities decided to cut off the water supply.
So since then water has water, provision of water has gone down as well as as I mentioned, this is affecting about 610,000 people who already had very limited access to drinking water.
So this is a, this is a crisis still developing.
And you know, every hour without electricity, without power, every hour without proper access to clean water raise any number of concern for people's health and for the ability of those responding.
We hear from the hospitals without power, you can't do much, frankly.
So the crisis is very much unfolding and growing by the hour as these basic services are cut off.
So let's go to the last question from Nick.
On the same subject, I mean, the **** commissioner's statement is explicit that a siege can only be justified by military necessity.
Could you explain what constitutes military necessity?
And in a situation where we have armed violence and hostage taking, can you just also be clear why this situation doesn't constitute military necessity?
I mean, the secretary general's statement yesterday makes it clear the UN doesn't believe it.
So could you just explain why?
On the Secretary General statement, I'll leave it to Alessandra to clarify.
I mean, the Secretary General clearly, I think has said time and again and so as the **** Commissioner, that there is no military solution to this protracted situation.
There are solutions which we have discussed at the United Nations over decades now, military solutions.
The whole concept of a military solution is not logical under international humanitarian law.
Now, there have been lots of questions raised about, you know, Hamas positioning, for example, you know, weapons in civilian facilities, Whether certain attacks by Israel are proportionate or not.
International humanitarian law is clear that the onus is on the parties to the conflict to take constant care to spare the civilian population and civilian objects.
And this remains applicable throughout the attacks, no matter what the circumstances is, no matter what the other party is doing.
These are obligations under international humanitarian law the the imposition of of sieges, the deprivation of the civilian population from its basic needs is prohibited.
Principles of precaution in attack requires all parties to take feasible measures to avoid and in any event to minimise incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects.
Now this includes verifying that the target is a military objective and that the attack respects the proportionality requirement, choosing weapons and timing for the attack with a view to avoiding or minimising civilian casualty, issuing advance warnings when feasible and suspending an attack if it becomes apparent that it does not respect the principle of proportionality.
And warnings themselves also do not absolve the the warring parties of the response, their responsibilities under international humanitarian law to take precautions in attack and to spare the civilian population.
And and on the Secretary General's speech, really Nick, I would refer to what he said.
I think it really made a very bold statement.
He said even in the worst possible times, perhaps especially in the most trying moments, it is vital to look to the long term horizon and avoid the reversible action that would embolden extremists and do many prospect for lasting peace.
And then he said only negotiated in peace that fulfils the legitimate international aspirations of Palestinians and Israeli alike.
The long held vision of the two state solution in light with UN resolutions, international law and previous demons can bring long term stability to the people of this land and the wider Middle East region.
Look, I never, I should never say last questions because there are more hands up, but I'm OK.
I see these are all follow-ups.
I'm happy to take them but I will have to ask Daniel to come and replace me on the podium because I have a presentation to do in a few minutes.
Let's try just to be brief because we have still, I mean is the situation in the Middle East is obviously **** on the news, but we don't have to forget other crisis.
And we have 3 colleagues who will brief you on the situation in Afghanistan after the terrible earthquake that took place there and also if I see on Libya.
So I'll ask Gabriella to start with her question and and let my Daniel come to the podium.
And please just let's be brief.
Yes, thank you very much.
My question is on the General Assembly Security Council.
What are they going to do?
And also, if Mr Gutierrez is in is in communication with Mr Netanyahu, did they spoke?
What is the situation on that side?
Thank you, Gabriella, Sorry, I think this question was more for us, but we were we were changing seats so we didn't hear it.
Let's if you could just repeat it for Daniel.
Yes, Thank you very much, Daniel.
My question is if you can update us on Security Council, General Assembly on on this conflict.
What are they going to do?
Are they going to have an another meeting?
What is going to happen there?
And also Mr Gutierrez, if he spoke with Mr Netanyahu, if you can tell us a little bit about that.
Yeah, thank you for that.
I guess we'll know more about what the Security Council is planning at the noon in New York today in, well in a few hours time, of course, but I don't have the latest on the Security Council schedule today.
If you just bear with me one second, I can take a look, see what the latest is there.
I see nothing immediately evident.
If I find something, I will.
I will put it on the chat.
OK Gabriella, I can't really help you with that on the GA.
I don't know either whether they're planning anything, but I should think the Security Council will be discussing it.
But beyond that, I can't say anything for sure at the moment.
Thanks for your patience.
Ravina, one more for you.
Just a clarification on the statement casualties, Can you say what that means?
Does it definitely mean that's any estimate at all at this stage?
And also, can you tell us what you're monitoring in the Gaza Strip consists of right now, given all the difficulties on the grounds?
Do you actually have people there?
Emma, On casualties, you're absolutely right.
It's very difficult right now.
We have our usual methodology that we use to, you know, collect civilian casualties, deaths and injured.
And where possible we do try to determine whether they are civilian or not.
In these circumstances, it's very difficult.
So we have also, like our fellow UN agencies, we've been relying on figures from the Ministry of Defence in Israel and the Ministry of Health on the Palestinian side.
But what we can say with confidence is that civilians have been killed and injured.
There are examples in Gaza of attacks on residential buildings in various neighbourhoods on, of course, the, the the attack on the residential area in the Jabaliya camp where civilians live in very tight quarters.
And we've got information that, you know, at least 50 Palestinians were killed there.
So how we collect information, as I said, we still do have a presence in Gaza as well as in the West Bank.
So we are in touch with our usual sources.
We try to also look at videos, photos, all sorts of information available in the public domain as well as trying to corroborate that with our sources, credible NGOs, other partners that we've had the work of the other UN agencies, many different sources that we're trying to use to to make sense of the situation and to establish the facts.
I see no other questions on this topic.
Thank you very much for your patience because of course other things are there are other urgent situations.
Thank you very much for joining us.
Those who are here on the podium today and remotely so kicking off Afghanistan following the deadly earthquake there, devastating news and reports, Yes, Maybe you'd like to give us the the latest from from there in the UN humanitarian response.
Yes, thank you, Danielle.
Turning to Afghanistan, aftershock continued to be fell yesterday after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that rocked Hirad province in western Afghanistan a few days ago.
Some 12,110 people have been affected by this earthquake across 5 districts of Hirad province.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing with the support of international partners.
Humanitarian actors are coordinating with relevant de facto line ministries on the delivery of assistance at that place.
The epicentre of the earthquake in a in a district called Sindayan is the worst affected area with nearly 1300 deaths and 1700 injured.
Nearly 500 people are still missing in that area.
Teams were on the ground confirmed that 100% of homes in that place have been destroyed.
The priority needs that have been identified so far include emergency, emergency shelter, non food items that things such as tarpaulins, blankets, clothes, kitchen sets, wash support that is latrines, portable water and storage containers plus food assistance and protection.
Children are particularly vulnerable and have suffered severe psychological distress from the earthquake.
They will require mental health and psychosocial support.
The humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, Danielle Andres has approved an emergency reserve allocation from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund that's a multi donor pooled fund just for Afghanistan.
This is an allocation of $5 million.
He did that yesterday to support immediate relief efforts in the affected areas.
And I have shared a link with you to the, to the full update with much more detail.
Thank you very much indeed.
Yens Tarek, would you like to add something from the World Health Organisation?
So Yens already mentioned the the the the main, main figures from the health perspective, The immediate focus right now is to save lives of those who are injured and ensure survivors and affected populations have access to humanitarian relief, including essential health services.
Who was on the ground within hours of the earthquake to deliver medical supplies to hospitals and provision of medicines and medical supplies.
For example, we provided enough supplies to treat 650 injured patients to the Harrods regional hospitals on 9th of October.
So yesterday, additional 25 metric tonnes of medicines and medical supplies were sent to Haggat from our warehouse in Kabul.
These include medicines for trauma care, pneumonia and for treatment of severe malnutrition, orthopaedic and surgery equipment, as well as basic hygiene supplies and personal protective equipment for health workers.
More supplies are underway, including medical supplies for emergency and surgical care, essential medicines to resupply health facilities and to treat infectious diseases such as cholera and measles, as well as pneumonia and severe malnutrition.
A total of 54 mobile health teams have been deployed by HealthPartners, including free by WHO, and these mobile teams are providing health services, evacuate casualties to referral facilities and assess health needs in the affected areas.
12 ambulances were sent to Zindajan District and Gorian District to evacuate casualties to the regional and other hospitals.
In Herod Province, WHO has already supporting 6 primary healthcare facilities and three hospitals, Sakina Okobi Hospitals and 100 Bed infectious disease hospital, Inherit in collaboration with its HealthPartners.
Together with 19 HealthPartners, we have been providing healthcare services to the affected population and currently there are 87 health facilities treating victims including two district hospitals, 21 basic health centres, 13 comprehensive health centres and 9 sub health centres.
Now this devastating impact of the earthquake shows once again the pressing need to support and maintain the provision of essential healthcare services, especially to the most vulnerable groups in Afghanistan and those are women and children.
Ramping up investment in healthcare services provision, particularly in the under underserved is urgently needed.
And last word on funding needs.
Without immediate and flexible resources, WHO won't be able to quickly respond to rising health needs and to continue our health response in the country for the rest of this year.
We require 120 million of U.S.
dollars to sustain the response to ongoing emergencies and emerging health needs, to expand the coverage and increasing quality of health service delivery, especially in underserved areas.
You will find more details and more figures in the briefing notes that have been sent to to you by e-mail.
Thank you very much indeed, Tarek.
So now to Tomasa della Longer from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Thank you very much and good morning all.
Before talking about Afghanistan, let me express our concern about the current alarming humanitarian scenario.
In the last weeks, the humanitarian sector has been confronted by emergency after emergency.
We're now in a cycle of permanent crisis.
Our three teams are stretched to its core, from Morocco to Libya, Armenia, and now the escalation in Israel and Gaza Strip.
Everywhere we have our volunteers and staff responding to every emergency.
We need them the support of the international community, not only now, but in a month to come.
The scale of the humanitarian needs is enormous.
Our teams on the ground reported a chilling scene yesterday.
In the affected area, at least six villages has been reduced to absolute rubble, with not a single house left standing.
This early observation underscored that the full extent of the damage is yet to be realised.
The urgency for early recovery cannot be overstated.
Winter is approaching, with temperature set to plummet in less than two months.
We cannot afford to wait.
We cannot let a secondary disaster unfold.
We urge international donors to rise to the occasion.
Afghanistan is in a precarious situation, one that has been overlooked for far too long.
While many crises are unfolding worldwide, Afghanistan must not be relegated to afoot.
Not donor support is crucial, particularly as our existing operation and appeals are already stretched thin.
Local knowledge is our best asset.
In this testing times, teams from the Afghanistan Red Crescent were the first to respond, embodying the power of community based action, investment in these local actors and ongoing community preparedness initiatives.
And never been more relevant.
Our network of volunteers and partner national society are tireless working on the ground.
In just the past 24 hours, essential supplies have arrived in a rut and 16 mobile facilities have been redirected to the crisis epicentre.
Cash assistance programmes are also underway to provide immediate relief.
The mental scars left by the earthquake and its aftershock cannot be overlooked.
Psychological first aid is a priority, as is extending support to those displaced and hosted by families outside the direct impact area.
In closing, we show an urgent appeal.
Our existing humanitarian initiatives are critically underfunded, a situation made even graver by the recent earthquake.
To put into perspective, of the 120 million Swiss francs S, we have yet to raise more than 64% Afghan.
Afghanistan needs you now more than ever.
Please let's not add forgotten to the long list of tragedies that this resilient nation has already endured.
And then finally, just a note to the journalist.
Our IFC head of delegation and our regional director are currently in a *** assessing the urgent needs.
We have spokespeople available on the ground for interviews and further information, information to coordinate.
Please get in touch with us and we can facilitate interviews.
And I remember interviewing the UN agencies helping the in the wake of the last one in June last year.
So that was the worst one in decades at the time.
So of course, we mustn't forget about Afghanistan and the United Nations stands with all of the victims.
Gabriella, was it on Afghanistan?
I, I just want to know about access to health services for women in Afghanistan.
How is that do you, are you worried that women are going to be rejected from having services or something like that?
And also, since the Islamic government has ordered most Afghan female and stuff not to work, are you having shortages in Afghanistan?
I have been in touch with our colleagues in Afghanistan this morning.
And what they told me is that based on WH OS team visit to Harrods Regional Hospital, female health workers and staff continue to attend to patients.
Female patients were provided with care and support without discrimination.
There are also female health workers in the mobile health teams supported by WHO that provide medical care and support to female patients.
Thank you for that update and Nick ******* Bruce.
The the casualty numbers that you've listed, are they only for Cindajan province, the district or is that the total casualty tool?
Thank you that that is only for Cindajan Province where we've been able to collect them, but there are other areas where we simply don't have the numbers yet.
I also spoke of about 500 still missing, so this may still rise.
It's a very inaccessible area as, as you know, communication is very difficult.
It's only by satellite phone.
We can speak to the teams when they're out there.
So information is a bit hard to come by.
Yes, thank you so much to IFRC you, you mentioned that you are well the humanitarian world is under permanent emergencies.
If you can elaborate a little bit about that, about funding to your organisation.
Thank you Gabriella for the for this question.
Well, we saw in the last five weeks, I mean I'm listed several emergency from Morocco to Libya and then now the Gaza Strip in Israel.
There there is there are two issues I think that needs to be highlighted here.
The first one is the operational side of this.
So we have our teams, our across across and volunteers in every of the context that I mentioned.
But of course with the capacity that they could have a national level and sometimes these capacities are limited.
If I think about the teams of Palestine Crescent in Gaza, after what all we aired today in this a very comprehensive briefing, of course, it's easy to understand all the pressure that you're they are in their suffering.
So one is the operational one and then there is the donor side.
We know that we have 4, some crisis funded appeals, but for many others underfunded appeals and this is becoming a kind of a trend in the last in the last weeks.
So of course, what we want to say is that we are really deeply concerned for this amount of emergencies that are occurring every other week and they will need a huge amount of support.
And not only, this is what I want to stress, not only in the first few days and weeks when all the attention is on, as we saw in Morocco and Libya, but for the months to come.
These emergency response are not, will not last for a couple of weeks, but for months and sometimes years.
So we'll need the sustainable solidarity and long lasting solidarity and support from donors in the future.
I think William Spindler from the refugee agency would like to add something.
Just to add to what colleagues have said about the response to the earthquake in Afghanistan, UNACR staff on the ground are reporting that the scale of the damage is extensive, with many villages entirely destroyed.
Locals are traumatised and resorting to sleeping outdoors in fear of the safety in case of further earthquakes or tremors, and despite dropping temperatures, the majority of those who are displaced are without shelter.
Search and rescue efforts are on the way, and authorities are removing the debris and relocating it for disposal.
Shelter, water and sanitation are amongst the most urgent needs.
Additionally, people have lost all the belongings and as winter approaches they will require swift winterisation support, including warm clothing.
Many of those interviewed by UNACS staff have not eaten a warm meal since the earthquake.
The private sector has reached out to the affected communities to provide some assistance, but the scale of need far exceeds the support provided.
Separated and are accompanied.
Children have been identified and are receiving protection assistance.
Protection and assistance challenges abound and UNACR has responded with an initial delivery of tents and blankets to families, increasing the pace of distribution As rapid needs assessments results identify the most vulnerable, call relief items will be distributed to households who have lost everything.
These include kitchen sets and basic hygiene items.
Stocks of solar lamps and face masks are also being prepared for distribution.
That's that's all I I have to share with with you for now.
That was already really useful insight.
Thank you very much, William.
And with luck, the world will be watching and listening.
And please keep us updated on on that whole villages washed away or destroyed.
Is, is is certainly something to take away from this briefing, right.
I think we have no further questions on Afghanistan now.
So we're going to turn to our final item, which is on Libya.
And it's been a month amazingly since storm Daniel washed away much of the coastal city or the central part of the coastal city of Derna.
And Tomasa is going to give us another update on the latest from there.
Thank you again for the space.
Yes, almost a month ago, heavy flooding in Libya affected thousands of people in an already difficult and vulnerable situation.
Libya Recursion volunteers lived in Derna and were helping immediately the people affected.
Indeed, the tragically, tragically, 3 members of our family were killed during the emergency response.
Our members, more than 450 of them, have been on the front line of support ever since that night.
And the needs there are still huge, even if the disasters drop out of the media spotlight.
The main needs include clean water and sanitation pipes.
Water hasn't been restored to much of Derna and needs to be second.
There is an ongoing needs for psychosocial support.
Those who survive the catastrophe.
So family members and friends washed away.
Many will never recover the bodies of their loved ones.
There is a significant amount of trauma there today.
As was already said by colleagues, they were mental health day and in there now mental health support is much needed and then there is 1/3.
There is a need for cash.
People want the dignity to choose the support they need the most and cash helps them to do that.
For all of these, the IFC launched an emergency appeal as you know as at the beginning right after the the emergency to help found the activities of the Libya Crescent that is still underway.
And we are still encouraged donors to donate and we have our teams in Derna and in different areas of Libya.
So again, if you want to reach out, if you want to speak to them, we are happy to facilitate follow up interviews.
Thank you very much indeed.
I don't see any questions, so I am casting around, but no success.
So thank you very much for coming in and you can't hear me.
So I'll just end with a few announcements for this, this week and this week.
This afternoon at 2 in this very room, it will be 10 years since the Minamata Convention on Mercury was signed.
Not in this room, of course, what we can expect from the 5th Committee of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention meeting at the end of this month until early November.
And UNIP is the secretary at the UN Environment Programme, is the secretariat for that.
That's a 2:00 PM in this room.
Tomorrow, Wednesday at 3:00, we will be hearing about Sudan displacement.
The crisis has caused millions to flee their homes and seek shelter elsewhere.
UNHCR will have a raft of speakers from the Horn of Africa, from West and Central Africa and from North Africa at Oppressor happening here at 3.
Then Thursday, the World Meteorological Organisation WMO will be giving us the latest on the state of global water resources.
Professor Tallis, the Secretary General of the WMO and other speakers will be joining us.
Committee meetings today happening in the Palladium Nacion in Room 23 include the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, SIDOR, and the calendar of events includes Bhutan up for review today, Philippines tomorrow, Jamaica on the 12th, Guatemala 13th, France on the 17th, Albania on the 18th, Malawi 19th, Uruguay the 20th, and Nicaragua finally the 23rd.
The Human Rights Committee is meeting in Palli Wilson, concluding it this morning.
And then this afternoon, turning to Venezuela, the Haiti report has been postponed.
It was initially planned for the 11th and the 12th.
If you'd like any more details, please see me after the briefing.
That is it for the moment.
Many thanks for your time this morning.
So I think we'll call it a day there.
Gabriella, Yes, yes, thank you so much.
I, I, I, I'm not sure, but I think that Nicaragua state delegation is not coming to review of Sydow.
If you can just confirm that.
And then I have an invitation on the positive side for the journalist to come to side event, I can always going to be present there.
So it's the role of journalism in the universal periodic review process.
It's going to be in room 24 from 3 to 4.
If journalists can join us, it's important to, you know, for freedom of expression.
So I wanted to invite my colleagues to there.
Tamer Abolene is going to be there.
The president of Akanu, I'm going to be there.
So if you can come and join us, I will appreciate that.
Thank you, Gabriella, for that kind invitation.
I think everybody heard it.
I have omitted to mention that Isabel Piquet from the International Labour Organisation has been patiently waiting on line and I was going to cut her off.
So please, would you tell us about the International Conference of Labour Statisticians beginning tomorrow?
Yes, yes, the ILO will hold the 21st International Conference of Labour Statisticians at its headquarter here in Geneva, starting tomorrow and until the 20th of October.
The conference is the main forum for discussing the gathering and handling of labour statistics.
It happens every five years and the 21st session marks the centenary of the standard setting mechanism.
And I know it sounds a little technical, but let me remind you what without data, no decisions can be taken.
The conference will address measuring informality, earnings, violence and harassment at work, international labour, migration, child labour and forced labour, among other topics on labour statistics.
So you can follow all the conference live on the ILO website starting tomorrow at 11 AM Geneva time.
Thank you very much indeed, Isabel.
And you have relayed your message and hopefully you will get some interest.
A question from Jamie Keaton from the AP.
Did you say that we can also come in person?
I'm sorry, I missed that.
You can e-mail us at newsroom at ildo.org.
I think that answers the question, Gabrielle.
I only have Nicaragua slated to appear on the 23rd.
I mean, maybe things will change between now and then, but that's the latest information I have.
So I'm going to wrap this up once and for all.
Many thanks for your time.
