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Bi-weekly press briefing - 24 November 2023
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Press Conferences | UNCTAD , WMO , WFP , UNHCR , UNICEF , UNAIDS
Bi-weekly press briefing - 24 November 2023
PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
24 November 2023
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Meteorological Organization, UNAIDS, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Health Organization, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Humanitarian toll on civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Angele Dikongue-Atangana, United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking from Kinshasa, said that the UNHCR and UNICEF were greatly alarmed by the escalating crisis unfolding once again in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Violent clashes between non-state armed groups and government forces had forcibly displaced more than 450,000 people in the previous six weeks in Rutshuru and Masisi territories in North Kivu Province. The severity of the crisis was further exacerbated by the limited humanitarian access to those in dire need, primarily due to the obstruction of major routes. Cut off from essential humanitarian aid, approximately 200,000 internally displaced people were currently stranded. Tragically, an additional 100,000 people were anticipated to confront restricted access in the coming days if the current trends of conflict persisted.
The disruption of roads not only impeded the delivery of critical humanitarian aid but also heightened the vulnerability of displaced populations, leaving them without essential resources and protection. UN partners and humanitarian actors were urgently scaling up humanitarian and protection assistance to tackle urgent needs stemming from overcrowding and inadequate shelter in spontaneous sites in the eastern provinces, with limited access to food and clean water. Cholera outbreaks continued, signalling concerning limitations of the humanitarian aid currently available.
Grant Leaity, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also speaking from rom Kinshasa, said that the intensification of violence was having a devastating impact on the lives of children, who were facing an alarming number of serious violations of their rights. The number of overall violations reported against children between July and September 2023, recorded by child protection partners, had seen a sharp increase of 130 per cent to 2018 cases on the already high number of violations reported for the first half of the year. Children were increasingly vulnerable to recruitment and use by armed groups, with more than 450 verified cases from July to September, a 50 per cent increase versus first half of the year.
Since June 2023, UNICEF had reached nearly 700,000 people with lifesaving and life-changing assistance, including clean water and sanitation, child protection, non-food items, health, nutrition and education. With the recent deterioration of the security situation in North Kivu, UNICEF and its partners had accelerated processes to identify, document, and support family tracing and reunification in Masisi and Rutshuru territories in October through the increased presence of trained staff and the setting up of listening centres providing vital psycho-social support.
UNHCR and UNICEF urgently called on all actors in eastern DRC to stop the violence that was taking an enormous toll on the civilian population. The two agencies stood united in their commitment to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the crisis, but the international community ad to act swiftly and generously to ensure that sufficient resources were mobilized.
The humanitarian response in the DRC was significantly underfunded. For 2023, the coordinated Humanitarian Response Plan, which included both UNHCR and UNICEF financial needs, was set at USD 2.3 billion, but as of today, it was only 37 per cent funded.
The only lasting solution was a return to peace, concluded Ms. Dikongue-Atangana.
Responding to questions from the journalists, Ms. Dikongue-Atangana said that the eastern part of the DRC had not known peace in decades. Between 10 and 12 million people were believed to have perished in this long-lasting conflict. Humanitarian actors were running after the symptoms and trying to alleviate the suffering of the people, but the underlying issue was the ongoing conflict. The region desperately needed peace, she stressed. Ms. Dikongue-Atangana emphasized the need for the world media to give more attention to what was happening in eastern DRC. She stressed the importance of the protection of civilians, but regrettably those pleas by humanitarian actors had often not been heeded. On another question, Mr. Leaity said that humanitarian agencies were focused on supporting local communities, especially in the upcoming period, which was likely to bring some upheaval with the impending departure of MONUSCO and several regional initiatives. It was important to avoid security vacuums. Given the underfunding, all humanitarian agencies had to make difficult choices on how to utilize their limited resources. At least 80 percent of affected children and families ought to be reached, but often not even 50 percent could be reached.
Afghanistan: WFP mounts response for families forced to return from Pakistan
Hsiao-Wei Lee, World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director in Afghanistan, speaking from Kabul, said that more than one million displaced Afghans would have to leave Pakistan and return to Afghanistan; some 370,000 had already done so. Most people were returning to little or no belongings; some women were returning on their own and without their husbands. It was the worst possible time to return to Afghanistan, with the harsh winter about to commence in the country. Local communities had very limited resources to share, stressed Ms. Lee. WFP provided returned families with food and cash, and so far, over 250,000 people had been assisted, but as many as one million needed to be reached. With the funding shortfalls, that was becoming ever more challenging. Women-led households, the elderly, and people with disabilities in particular continued to depend on WFP assistance to survive. Without urgent additional funding, WFP would not be able to continue its support to those families.
In a response to questions, Ms. Lee specified that the WFP needed USD 950 million for the coming six months; the current shortfall was USD 850 million. For the returnees specifically, during the upcoming winter and the spring, the needs stood at over USD 20 million. A large number of returnees were returning to Jalalabad and Kandahar provinces, but their destinations spanned across the country, including destinations which could not be reached before the spring. Many returnees had been out of Afghanistan for more than 30 years; therefore, they no longer had members of the family to rely on, or property in the country. Some 16 million people in Afghanistan were already acutely hungry, and it was difficult for them to absorb yet another one million people in need. Responding to a different question, Ms. Lee explained that India had provided 60 metric tons of wheat to the WFP in Afghanistan, which was very much appreciated.
World AIDS Day report
Ben Phillips, for UNAIDS, said that the World Aids Day would be marked on 1 December. Ahead of the Day, a report, “Let Communities Lead”, would be launched in London on 28 November, at 2:30 pm Geneva time. Links to join online would be shared. In addition, on 28 November, the UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director would speak at the UN Spokesman’s noon briefing in New York. Interviews with key leaders could be organized ahead of the report release.
Mr. Phillips informed that the key message of the report would be that despite the facts that every minute a life was lost to AIDS, and that 9.2 million HIV-infected people around the world still did not have access to anti-retroviral medicine, the end of AIDS as a public health crisis by 2030 was possible and achievable. One of the biggest challenges was that the most affected communities were not being involved in the HIV response: plans were made without them; resourcing in communities was incredibly low and often, communities were expected to work for free; and, furthermore, many communities were being under attack, sometimes because they were from marginalized groups, such as LGBT. Mr. Phillips said that the report “Let Communities Lead” included fact sheets and uplifting essays by community leaders, who shared their first-person stories.
Situation in Gaza
Responding to questions from the media, Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), confirmed that trucks with humanitarian supplies were continuing to cross into Gaza through the Rafah crossing. It was hoped that the humanitarian pause would lead to a longer humanitarian ceasefire for the benefit of all. The previous day, he informed, 80 trucks with humanitarian relief had crossed the border. UN had repeatedly stressed that the humanitarian agencies needed access all over the Strip, including in the north, where needs were the largest. It was expected that people in need would be reached wherever they were, but it was still too early to confirm when that would be possible. Mr. Laerke emphasized the importance of getting fuel in, which was necessary to operate the machinery needed to get people out from the rubble. He explained that the fuel was distributed by UNRWA. Alessandra Vellucci, for the UN Information Service (UNIS), reminded that the Secretary-General had welcomed the humanitarian pause. The United Nations was working to ensure that this pause would help expand UN operations on the ground. She reminded that the UN had been present and working in the Gaza Strip long before 7 October.
Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the WHO also welcomed the humanitarian pause, but more was needed, and it was hoped that this pause would be extended into a ceasefire. On 22 November, in cooperation with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, a WHO-led joint UN mission had evacuated 151 patients, relatives and health workers accompanying them from Al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza. The mission had been undertaken following specific requests from health authorities and hospital officials in Gaza. This was the third mission to Al-Shifa carried out by WHO and partners in less than a week; the first had been an assessment mission on 18 November and the second an evacuation mission to transport 31 infants on 19 November. WHO was working on further evacuations from hospitals.
Upsurge of respiratory illnesses among children in northern China
Responding to a question, Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that since mid-October 2023, the WHO had been monitoring data from Chinese surveillance systems that had been showing an increase in respiratory illness in children in northern China. There was limited detailed information available to fully characterize the overall risk of these reported cases of respiratory illness in children. However, due to the arrival of the winter season, the increasing trend in respiratory illnesses was expected; co-circulation of respiratory viruses might increase burden on health care facilities.
According to surveillance data reported to WHO’s FluNet and published by the National Influenza Centre in China, ILI was above usual levels for this time of year and increasing in the northern provinces. Influenza detections were predominantly A(H3N2) and B/Victoria lineage viruses. WHO’s disease outbreak news can be found here. WHO recommended that people in China follow standard steps to avoid respiratory illnesses. Persons should avoid travel when experiencing symptoms. WHO did not recommend travel or trade restrictions.
Announcements
Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said that from 4 to 8 December, UNCTAD would organize UNCTAD eWeek, a week of debates on the digital economy, to be held at the CICG in Geneva. Key issues on the agenda would be platform governance, the impact of AI on economic development, environmentally friendly digital practices, women's access to digital entrepreneurship and inequalities in this field between countries and within economies between different population categories. The week was expected to bring together 3,000 participants from 130 countries for over 150 sessions.
Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that she would soon be sending out a media advisory on WMO activities at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, which would start in Dubai the following week. On 30 November, WMO would release a provisional report on the state of climate 2023; the press conference could be followed live online at 11:30 am Geneva time. Materials under embargo would be shared at the beginning of the following week, she informed. Interviews with the principal report author could be arranged. A report on global climate 2011-2020 would also be released, on 5 December.
Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that on 27 November at 2 pm, there would be a virtual briefing on climate and health, which would focus on what to expect from COP28 in this regard. On 30 November, the World Malaria Report 2023 would be released; an embargoed version would be shared on 28 November.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that 25 November would be the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Violence against women was the most pervasive kind of violence worldwide. An estimated one in three women was subjected to physical and sexual violence by their partners during their lifetime The Secretary-General’s message on this occasion had been distributed; in his message the SG asked everyone to come together and stand up against gender-based violence. This Day marked the start of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, running until 10 December. On 26 November at 6 pm, at Bains des Pâquis in Geneva, there would be an event to pay tribute to the victims of femicide. The ceremony would include a launch of orange lanterns in memory of the victims. The following day, on 27 November at 12 noon, at Door 40 at the Palais des Nations, another event would bring together the international community to show solidarity with the victims of gender-based violence.
She also said that the Committee Against Torture was closing this morning its 78th session, at the end of which it would issue its concluding observations on the six reports reviewed during this session: Burundi, Costa Rica, Kiribati, Denmark, Egypt, and Slovenia.
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was concluding this morning its review of the report of Germany, part of its 111th session.
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families would open on 27 November its 37th session, during which it would review the reports of Uruguay, Kyrgyzstan, and Sao Tome and Principe.
Finally, Ms. Vellucci informed that, due to the ongoing financial liquidity crisis, the Palais des Nations would be closed from 20 December to 7 January. Staff would continue to work from home during this period. Press briefings on 22 December and 5 January would be virtual only. There would be no briefings on 26 and 29 December, and on 2 January. If needed, urgent press conferences could be organized at the Palais during the closure period. Annual renewal of media accreditations would open on 11 December; current badges would be valid until 31 January. A list of spokespersons on duty during the holiday period would be circulated by early December.
Teleprompter
[Other language spoken]
Sorry for this delay that was due to a technical itch, but I see my colleagues have solved it.
So let's start this briefing, this press briefing of the Information Service.
Today is Friday, 24th of November.
We have quite a few guests lined up to brief you, so I will immediately start with our colleagues from UNHCR and UNICEF.
We have the pleasure to welcome Angel the Congo Atangana, who is the UNHCR Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and she is connecting with us from Kinshasa.
And we also welcome Grant Liotti, UNICEF DRC representative, also from Kishasa.
We are going to listen from them on the grave concerns of their organisation over the humanitarian tour on civilians in Eastern DRC.
So I don't know who wants to start, maybe Angel, welcome.
We'll listen to you.
[Other language spoken]
You good morning to all and yes, it is a great pleasure for us to be able to speak to you from Kinshasa, where I am with Grant, my colleague of UNICEF and a good number of colleagues in the room.
Really.
This is to say that we, UNHCR in the DRC and UNICEF, the UN Refugees Agency and the UN Children Fund, are greatly alarmed by the escalating crisis that has been unfolding once again in the eastern part of the DIA Congo.
Violent clashes between non state armed groups and government forces have forcibly displaced more than 450,000 persons in the last six weeks in Ruturu and Masisi.
This is in the North Kivu province.
The severity of the crisis is further exacerbated by the limited humanitarian access to those in dire need, primarily attributed to the obstructions of major routes cut off from essential humanitarian aid IS really threatening approximately 200,000 internally displaced people in who are stranded and facing challenges in accessing life saving assistance.
Tragically, an additional 100,000 are also likely to face similar fate restricted access in the coming days in if the current trends of the conflict continue.
The disruption of roads not only impedes the delivery of critical humanitarian aid, but also heightens the vulnerability of displaced populations, leaving them without essential resources and protection.
Although UNHCR has built shelters in the recent months for more than 40,000 people near the provincial capital of Goma and distributed more than 30,000 kits containing basic requirements including tarpaulin, cooking stoves, cooking pots and blankets for families in need.
The international community must really urgently address the obstruction humanitarian access to ensure that the nearly 7 million people who are affected by conflict in the east of DRC receive urgent help.
Colleagues, the gravity of the crisis is underscored by the distressing situation for displaced people in Saki, southern part of the province from Goma, who are arriving by the 10s of thousands in the town 35 kilometres West of the provincial capital Goma.
Having first been displaced in zones where aid was not accessible, they described harrowing choices to Unhcr's protection monitors, including the heart wrenching decisions to rapes, death to feed starving children and the exposure to **** for women for while fetching firewood colleagues.
The stories are underscored by statistics, with protection monitoring reports collected by UNHCR partners in October showing over 3000 reported human rights violation in October alone, nearly double the figure from September 2023.
****, an arbitrary killing prominently in these results, along with kidnappings, extortion and the destruction of property, illustrating A deeply concerning pattern of ***** inflicted upon civilian population.
[Other language spoken]
This intensification of violence is having a devastating impact on the lives of children who are facing a number of serious violations of their rights.
The overall the number of overall violations reported against children between July and September this year recorded by child protection partners saw a sharp increase of nearly 130% to more than 7500 cases.
And this is on top of the already **** number of violations reported for the first half of the year.
The UN verified grave violations for the first half of this year were 40%, up on the the same.
In in in 2022, children are increasingly vulnerable to recruitment and use by armed groups, with more than 450 verified cases from July to September, again a 50% increase compared to the first half of this year.
UN partners and humanitarian actors are urgently scaling up the humanitarian and protection assistance to tackle to to tackle the urgent needs stemming from overcrowding, an inadequate shelter in impromptu sites in the eastern provinces where people have limited access to food and clean water.
The cholera outbreak continues, highlighting the limitations of the humanitarian aid currently available and it's just extended to the location of Kichanga in in, currently in a disputed zone.
Since June this year, UNICEF has reached nearly 700,000 people with life saving and life changing assistance, including clean drinking water and sanitation, child protection, essential household items, health, nutrition and education services.
With the recent deterioration of the security situation in North Kivu, UNICEF and its partners accelerated processes to identify, document and formally support family tracing and reunification in the Mesisi and Ruturu territories in October, through the increased presence of trained staff and the setting up of listening centres providing vital psychosocial and mental health support.
UNHCR and UNICEF urgently call on all actors in Eastern DRC to stop the violence that is taking an enormous toll on the civilian population and children in particular.
We stand united in our commitment to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the crisis, but the international community must act swiftly and generously to ensure that sufficient resources are mobilised and also to double down on diplomatic efforts to end this conflict.
The humanitarian response in DRC is significantly underfunded.
For 2023, the Coordinated Humanitarian Response Plan, which includes both UNHCRS and UNICEF's financial needs is set at 2.3 billion U.S.
dollars, but as of today it is only 37% funded.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Madame Chair, if you allow me two words of conclusion.
If I were really to talk, I would say, you know, Grant and myself sitting here are parents and I can tell you when I was coming here, my children decided not to come.
[Other language spoken]
Because they felt this place was not was not good enough for them.
At first I tried to convince them, but I couldn't.
But I promise you, more than 18 months, then down the line, I think they were right.
So here am I sitting, a mother of four children, thinking that the place is not good enough for my children.
If that is what I believe, why shall I think that especially the eastern part of the country where we have been describing what is going on is good enough for any child on this world?
Really my answer is it is not good enough.
So children in DRC are just like any other children worldwide.
They are like Ukrainian children, they are like Gaza children, they are like children in France, in the US, you name it.
So they have hopes, they have dreams.
Madam Chair, I promise you the stories of those children are heartbreaking.
I am calling UNICEF and UNETIA here.
We are calling for a stop, a halt to what is going on because that is the solution.
In as much as we can continue to run after the symptoms, the true solution is the return of lasting peace.
We need world political commitment to this aim.
I thank you for your kind attention.
And I thank you both of you for this briefing and indeed we hear your call.
I'll open now the floor to questions first in the room, if there is any.
By the way, just to tell the journalist, Marrick C is also online and Eugene.
So maybe if they can think about sending the notes of the two speakers to the journalist online.
[Other language spoken]
Peter is our correspondent of all African media.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, thanks for the briefing.
This part of the Congo doesn't seem to be new to these type of conflicts.
Is this a new surge in the conflict?
And can you describe who is responsible for arming these groups?
Are they small groups or is are they bigger groups that are armed from somewhere else because something must be fuelling this conflict.
Are you able to pinpoint who is responsible for that?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Don't know who wants to take this, Angelo or Grant.
I can try to take it.
Thank you very much, Peter.
Yes, indeed.
The conflict is not new.
And as far as I'm concerned, I have been working with the UN for nearly three decades, since 94.
And ever since I've been working with the UN, the eastern part of Congo has never known peace.
And so really, yes, and this is even what is more heartbreaking.
Since the beginning of this conflict, it is believed that between 10 million and 12 million persons have perished, have died.
So my question here is, how many more deaths are we awaiting to start thinking that this has to come to a halt?
Now you are asking me whether I can pinpoint who is arming, who is responsible.
That's not my role, frankly, as a humanitarian.
We are sitting here, Grant and I.
We are running behind the symptoms.
We are present on ground to try to alleviate the suffering of these people.
The head of MONUSCO, Madame Bintu Kata has been doing a great job here informing the Security Council that entity which is responsible for peace and security of the world according to our UN, the UN which is all of us by the way.
So everybody knows what is happening, who is doing what.
It is not the preview of us sitting here to pinpoint at somebody.
We are only asking for lasting peace to be worked upon with clear political engagement, commitment, so that this part of the continent might also know this is what we are asking for.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Catherine Jiang Kong, our correspondent of France van Catt, French Channel.
Thank you, Alessandra, thank you to Madam and to the gentleman of UNICEF.
I'd like to both to say a few words in French because it will be useful for French media as the Congo is the largest French speaking country in the world.
[Other language spoken]
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[Other language spoken]
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John Zaro, Costas Francisco English Channel.
[Other language spoken]
I also wear the hat of The Lancet.
My question is to the representative of UNICEF.
I was wondering, Sir, if these disturbing figures that you just mentioned, if the head of UNICEF, Miss Russell, mentioned them during the interagency Standing Committee principals meeting in New York on the 7th of November, if that was discussed and what was decided by the heads of agencies there on going going forward?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Indeed.
I can confirm that the these figures were mentioned by our Executive Director, Catherine Russell.
What is what is under discussion is for a number of these protracted crises, agreements are being reached on on which agency principal will take a leading role.
It it, it turns out that she, she has that role, for example, in the case of Haiti and, and it's under discussion who will be taking on really a role of, of, of keeping the visibility and, and, and trying to lead the, the, the efforts in terms of both the mobilising appropriate resources and also joining efforts on, on re accelerating, finding a diplomatic solution to, to ending this conflict.
And if I may, John, I just add a compliment to on just previous point on the, on the departure of Manuska.
I think looking forward, we need to see this.
I mean, as the humanitarian agencies, our, our, our work here is to, to continue to support the, the, the communities and the authorities through what is clearly going to be a period of, of some upheaval.
In addition to the departure of MONUSCO, there's also been a request the departure of the East African Regional Command and East African troops that have been present since earlier this year.
And there's also a, a potential deployment of, of a different troops from Saadik South African Development Region.
So, so all of this is, is going to mean that the, the, the protection of civilians that Angel was referring to is something we need to be ready to anticipate different scenarios and really work with the the authorities and the agencies who are going to stay on the ground to be close to, to be bringing our attention to where maybe some some acute reinforcement of, of security is required to avoid the the vacuums that anger was referring to over.
[Other language spoken]
I think John has a follow up.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, with reference to the amount of funded so far in the appeal for the DRCI, think you mentioned 37%.
If I'm not mistaken that seems to be running at about 10% less than what was funded last year.
[Other language spoken]
How does this translate and how many children will not be assisted in the DRC?
And I if I'm not mistaken, it's millions of children that require help on the ground.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Indeed, this is this is a of great concern because what we are being faced with, and this is for all, all humanitarian agencies in Eastern DRC is we are being forced to make difficult choices around prioritisation.
So right now the way this is translating is that whereas we should be, we, we should really be meeting for anything to do with life saving, whether we're talking about epidemic outbreak response to acute malnutrition and providing safe drinking water and sanitation.
And we can carry on that list.
We should be reaching at at least 80% of those children and and affected families.
As we go through the sectors, we we are seeing that in some sectors we are clearly not able to, to, to even get to the 50% level.
So, so this is forcing us to make these these cut trade-offs both in terms of the different types of interventions, but also in terms of the geographic locations.
So we are clearly focusing on those areas which are the most vulnerable.
Angel referred to the spontaneous settlements from the new waves.
These are, are very obviously the, the greatest risk for the, for the likes of disease outbreaks such as cholera.
So we're, we're, we divert our efforts to these areas where we see the greatest risk of an epidemic outbreak.
But that then means that in the other areas, instead of getting the, the response to this, the also the, the standard, for example, which should be 15 litres of water per person per day.
There are places where that is dropping down to between 5:00 and 10:00 litres of water per person per day.
And that's a, that's a, That's not a an acceptable place to be.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
I don't see other questions for you.
So I'd like to thank both Angel, the Congo, Tangana and the Grand Lady for briefing us from Kinshasa.
As they both said, let's not forget this incredibly difficult situation and conflict, and let's also go now, thank you very much.
Let's also go now to another conflict and another difficult world conflict and another difficult situation that we need to spotlight, which is the situation of Afghanistan.
We have his Yahoo Way Lee, the World Food Programme country director in Afghanistan.
Madam, you're talking from Kabul about the situation of the families that are forced to return from Pakistan to Kabul to Afghanistan in general.
Let's hear more from you on this.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you and thank you for having me.
A few days ago I was at the Nangarhar border crossing on the road between Peshawar and Jalalabad where families forced to leave Pakistan arrive in Afghanistan.
More than 1,000,000 people will leave Pakistan and more than 370,000 have already arrived.
As UNHCR briefed you a few days ago, the people I met had almost nothing on them and nowhere to go.
One woman told me she only had two hours to pack up her entire life and leave with her family.
Some women had to leave without their husbands who have been detained by the police.
So the women had to find their way here without the breadwinners of their family.
Families travelling and arriving at the border only pack some bread for food for their journey and arrive exhausted, hungry and in need of immediate support.
They are forced to return to Afghanistan at the worst possible time.
Everyone I spoke with told me they did not know how they were going to survive this coming winter.
Harsh, unforgiving and freezing winter is a countdown to 0 in Afghanistan.
It's a time when communities are forced to return and sorry, it's a time when communities are forced to burn through all their food and resources and have to start over again.
In spring, these families coming back did not cross the border with food stocks to help them get through the winter.
There are no open arms for these families.
Many of them have not heard back from their relatives in Afghanistan.
Those who did were told that there is no space for them or that there was too little to share.
Many have fled violence in Afghanistan years ago and have nowhere to return.
They return as a country still reels from the multiple earthquakes that flattened entire villages in Harat a few weeks ago.
WFP provides the returnee families with food and cash as they arrive at the border hungry and destitute after registration by IOM who is also assisting them.
So far we have assisted over 250,000 people, but we need to get to 1,000,000.
We need to help them not only get through this winter but also to help them rebuild their lives here.
Sadly however, at times of massive funding shortfalls we are taking the assistance to the returnees families from an already underfunded programme that is increasingly insufficient to support the starving amongst the many hungry women LED households, children, the elderly and people with disabilities continue to rely on our assistance.
Without urgent additional funding we will not be able to continue our support to these families.
And yet what I saw was their desperate need.
Thank you very much indeed.
Any question to WFP on this subjects in the room I don't see any or on the platform Nicamine Bruce New York Times.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I just wonder if you could sum up what was your funding requirement for this year, what level of funding you already have and what kind of additional funding you're trying to get to address this particular crisis?
And I wonder also if you could just elaborate a little bit more on where these people are going and if you've got a million coming back, what is the sort of logistical plan for accommodating these folks?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So looking forward at our funding requirements ultimately for WFP for the next 6 months, we would need around 950 thousand $950 million.
We have some of that funding, but still face a shortfall of close to $850 million for the next 6 months.
Usually winter is the highest period of need and that's where we would need the greatest resources.
For the returnee specifically, our funding requirements are around $28 million.
That is both to support them at the border as they come in, but then also to provide support in areas of return.
First for the winter where there aren't many livelihood opportunities and there would continue to need food assistance.
And then in the springtime where there may be some livelihood opportunities or as they get back on their feet to really help rebuild their lives.
So that's more of the, the return package package for, for returnees.
And of course many other UN agencies are also providing assistance as well as other humanitarian, whether it is for water, for shelter and for livelihoods for where they're going a lot, a large amount of the returnees would like to go to Jalalabad, to Kandahar, that's within Nangarhar and, and Kandahar provinces, but certainly also across the country.
[Other language spoken]
And in there, we're also seeing some returns, but it really spans across the country in places that are extremely harsh in the winter.
So some of the returnees were telling me that for the next few months, they would not actually be able to get to their location of return because it's either will be cut off or it's too harsh and they would look to go in the springtime.
And then for WFP more broadly, I think the concern is we already have around 16 million people who are acutely hungry this winter.
And we've seen in the last two winters how large scale humanitarian assistance is required to really stave off catastrophe.
And I'm afraid without those resources and without being able to get them during the winter in time, then we will not be able to achieve what we were able to achieve the last two winters.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Just are most of these people coming back then essentially going back to to family, to relatives, to prior previous contacts or are they kind of in the wind just trying to just start completely afresh?
And one, one last question and that is to what extent are your funding constraints simply a reflection of the overall pressure on humanitarian funding globally?
And to what extent do you think it's still affected for Afghanistan by international resistance to the Taliban government?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So it's a combination I think for some.
And I met with a woman who she was born in Pakistan.
She she is not, she had never been to Afghanistan before, while some also do have relatives here in Afghanistan.
So it's a combination, but many of them have been away for decades.
I would say the majority of the people that I met had had been outside of Afghanistan for 30 or more years.
And so while they do have relatives and family connections, they, they don't have land necessarily, they don't have livelihoods and they don't have many members of their families to rely on and even family members who want to help and communities who want to help, their resources are extremely low.
We know just from the food security situation that communities are not able to to feed themselves at the moment.
And so if we have 16 million people already acutely hungry, it would be very difficult for them to absorb the additional million coming back even if they wanted to help.
As for the funding constraints, there is a large we know that we we face unprecedented humanitarian needs across the world with many other crises that are also severe and large.
And so our donors, while they have also still continued to express their confidence in funding WFP and food assistance and that we are getting to the people most in need, we recognise and appreciate their support to the people of Afghanistan.
Thank you very much, Ravikan Diwakunda, our journalist from the Washington Trade Daily.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Actually, this is for the Indian publication The Wire.
[Other language spoken]
My question, my question to is, Madam, can you share your notes on the current flight of this, you know, more than a million refugees?
[Other language spoken]
You know, Afghanistan is a border almost to India and India in the past has said that it's, you know, helps or it provides WFP, you know, in bilateral kind of programmes to overcome the kind of humanitarian crisis.
Has India actually pitched in in any way to help these refugees?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So India has been very generous this year in providing 60,000 metric tonnes of wheat to WFP's programming and that assistance has gone across the country.
Most recently because some of that week came through through the borders to our Harat office, we were able to respond directly to the earthquake.
And so the assistance that we get as WFP really is then shared with those most in need, depending on where the location is.
And India's assistance this year has been tremendous and very much appreciated.
Thank you very much.
And I think she does on the line.
Maybe if you can think about a spread distributing the the notes.
Antonio Brotto is our correspondent from the Spanish News Agency.
[Other language spoken]
My question is for Ocha concerning dasa.
I don't know if I have to wait.
We are not yes, we are not that yet.
We still have a few briefing points, Antonio.
So I remember that you want to ask a question on that watcher.
But for the moment, let's stay in Afghanistan.
If there is any other question and I don't see any.
So if she does writing in the notes that she will distribute Mrs Lee's notes to everyone soon.
So thank you very much for coming and and briefing our journalist, Miss Lee.
Good luck with this very, very hard work for the for the winter coming and I will now go to unless I see an iPhone.
I don't know who's that, but I would like to ask whoever journalist has written iPhone on his registration to just go out and put the name again.
Otherwise I won't keep I won't be able to give you the floor.
Sorry for that.
[Other language spoken]
The first one I would like to make concerns this incredibly important day, which is the 25th of November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
As you know, this is in a moment where the international community comes together to remind ourselves, and really everybody in the world, that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide.
What the Secretary General is called a horrific violation of human rights, a public health crisis, and a major obstacle to sustainable development.
We've distributed to you the message of the Secretary General for this day, which is dedicated to invest to the to the campaign to the Unite campaign, which is called Invest to prevent violence against Women's and Girls.
The Secretary General says this campaign calls to all on all of us to take action to support legislation and comprehensive policies that strengthen the protection of women's right across the the world, ramp up investment in prevention and support of women's rights organisation, listen to survivors and impunity for perpetrators everywhere, stand with women activists and promote women leadership at every stage of decision making.
And the Secretary General to conclude, let's stand up together and speak out.
Let's build a world that refuses to tolerate violence against women anywhere, in any form, once.
And for all.
And as you know, this International Day is the start of the 16 days campaign of activism against gender based violence against women and girls.
And this campaign goes from the 25th of November down to the 10th of December, which is Human Rights Day.
It is really something we want to spotlight.
As we estimate that 736 million women, almost one in three, have been subjected to physical or sexual violence, especially from partners and non partners, sexual violence or both, at least once in their lives.
These are horrific figures.
So to remember this at the UN in Geneva, we would like to invite you to 2 events.
The first one is on Sunday, 26th of November at the band the ****.
There will be a ceremony, what we call the Ceremony de Lantern.
I'm sure you've been there in last years.
It's organised by UN Women together with the club Sir Optimist is Zonta and the city of Geneva.
That will be Osnat Lubrani, the director of UN Women Geneva, together with Natalie Fontanet, the Conseillabeta, Alfonso Gomez, the mayor of Geneva.
And we will put a Lantern in the lake, an orange Lantern for feminist with themes of feminist sides.
And on Monday here at the parlay at 12 O clock, we invite you to come at door 40 where we will be putting, we'll be planting seeds of flowers into a huge canvas that says no to gender based violence.
So we would really like to see you there.
There will be a few speeches but most importantly, we would show our solidarity with the victims of gender based violence by planting flowers in this campus.
Please be with us on this occasion and for the 15 days coming.
Sorry, the 16 days coming.
Keep talking about the scourge that we really have to finish with another International Day which is coming and which is also very prominent in our activities is of course the 1st of December, the when the community, international community comes together to commemorate World AIDS Day.
And for this we have with us Ben Phillips, the Director of Communication of UNAIDS that is going to tell us about the plans for this International Day and the launch of World AIDS Report 2023.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you and thank you all for joining.
We wanted to give you advance notice of the World AIDS Day report that will be being launched next week.
Now World Aids Day is on the 1st of December, that's Friday, but the report for World AIDS Day is being launched on Tuesday.
This is the the cover of the report Let Communities Lead and the report will be launched on Tuesday in London at 1330 GMT, so 1430 European time, Geneva time in Central Hall, Westminster.
And journalists are able to join in person or online and the links for joining online will be sent to you after this conference.
So you'll have access to all of that.
In addition, on that day at the New York UN spokesperson's noon briefing, our Deputy Executive Director, Anjali Ashraekar will also speak there to to media.
In addition, because the report is being published on the 28th of November, it's under embargo, but we are able to get to you the full report.
We also have a press release, We also have a fact sheet.
[Other language spoken]
We have a whole range of assets that we're able to get to you.
We can also organise for you to have interviews with key leaders in advance of that in order to give you everything you need as a package.
Just to share about what the key message will be is this.
And we've heard today a lot of bleak news.
And we know as well that many of the SDGS are, are, are really in trouble with HIV.
Even though every minute a life is being lost to AIDS, even though every week 4000 girls and young women become infected with HIV.
And even though of the 39 million people living with HIV, 9.2 million and not yet on life saving treatment, even though there's all of those things, our analysis shows in this report that the end of AIDS as a public health crisis is possible by 20-30.
This is an achievable goal and it would be an amazing success of international cooperation, of development of health if we were able to do that.
One of the challenges, one of the biggest challenges standing in the way of achieving that goal, is that the most affected communities, people living with HIV or the people who are most vulnerable to HIV, they are not being involved, included as leaders in the HIV response in three different ways.
Firstly, plans that are key that affect their lives are being made without them.
Secondly, the resourcing for communities is incredibly low.
And in fact, resourcing that's gone to civil society has actually shrunk as a share of of the action.
And often communities are expected to work for free, a task that no one else has ever assigned to do.
And thirdly, we're seeing a growing wave of communities being put even under attack, either because they're from civil society or because they're from a marginalised group, for example from the LGBTQI plus community.
But when communities are enabled, supported, empowered, resourced, they will lead the world to the end of AIDS.
So it's a tough situation, but we think this is ultimately an optimistic story, but an optimism of of action, an action, a hope based on people taking action.
In the report, you'll be able to read not just the data, the facts and figures, the examples.
There are also nine pieces, nine really beautiful guest essays by frontline community leaders for Here is 1, for example, about the extraordinary power of ordinary women.
And what we wanted to do was to make this a UN report with a difference using our platform, not just to show the data and analysis, but to show those first person stories to help give voice to people.
There are nine of those beautiful essays, which you'll also be able to read as part of that report.
And anything you need to help you with your story, our team is there to help you.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much then for that.
Any question in the room to your needs?
I go to the platform, Antonio.
I guess this is the same question before, so I will go to Paula, Paula de Bras.
[Other language spoken]
It was actually a question for Afghanistan, sorry.
For the issue with.
The naming of who I was.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, it's it was actually regarding Afghanistan.
Yeah, that's a little bit too late.
[Other language spoken]
Maybe you can just send your question to Ishita.
Sorry, do you have any question for Ben before I go to the next one?
[Other language spoken]
Sorry.
OK, Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Alessandra, for taking my question.
I just want to know if we will receive by mail your report and if we can use what you were saying during this briefing in our reports today or if we have to wait for Thursday?
[Other language spoken]
So we will, we can get you, we will share with you an embargo site that you'll be able to access and on that what?
So we'll e-mail you the link of that embargo site and on that embargo site you'll be able to read the full report including those guest essays by communities, fact sheets, press release, all the all the assets.
So those will be there in terms of what I've summarised, it would be helpful to wait to use it all on, on Tuesday that also you'll have the chance on Tuesday as well to hear from key leaders.
So at the at the press conference in London on Tuesday, you'll hear from Andrew Mitchell, the UK Minister for International Development, from Winnie Bianima, the executive director of UN AIDS, from Solange Baptiste, who's the executive director of International Treatment Coalition and from Melanie, sorry, Mercy Shabemba, who is Auk based young activist living with HIV.
So you'll be able to hear from them and you'll have further information.
So Please wait for for that.
But all the materials, all the embargo materials that you can read today under embargo in order that you can prepare your story.
[Other language spoken]
Catherine Fiancon.
Yes, thank you so much, Sir, for this information.
Would you be kind enough to send us under embargo the speech that will be delivered by the head of UN AIDS during the meeting?
That would be very helpful for our stories.
[Other language spoken]
We can give you a lot of things, but not that so, but you will find a fulsome set of materials.
But for the but for the speech by the executive director, you'll have to you'll have to wait to hear it live.
And it's the same for the speeches by all of the other eminent speakers as well.
But we know that with these types of stories, because there's a need for kind of deep background.
That's why we were keen to to get all that other material so that when you do hear the speakers, then you've got already the context, the facts and figures at your at your fingertips and your story at least partially written at the time of the of the event.
[Other language spoken]
Interviews as you.
[Other language spoken]
And we can organise interviews for you as well, yes.
Thank you very much, Ben.
I don't see other questions for you.
Good luck with the launch of the report and thank you for bringing maybe positive stories.
So we really need that.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, I'm sorry, interview under embargo.
Does it mean that we can get an interview of the executive director here in Geneva before?
[Other language spoken]
Well, yes, if you contact me, we will work to arrange an interview for you.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Could you kindly send all your contact details in the chat?
That would be helpful.
[Other language spoken]
Katherine, we can put Ben's contacts in the in the chat, but they are also on the list of spokesperson if you if you already want them.
But Solange is listening to us and and and she can circulate the Ben's contact for sure.
Anyone else?
[Other language spoken]
No, it's not for.
It's not for Ben.
OK, So thank you very much, Ben.
I go to my next speaker on my left.
[Other language spoken]
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[Other language spoken]
She is this religion on the line minister.
The like communication with the technology de la Tunisi Nizar Beniji Ori Punar Chia Secreto, General of the Pacific Island Forum APAP dot quisto sola sola.
We no, no, the model mercy, mercy boku Catherine, don't question for like when you said the Jean Vapa don't mercy boku Antonio Stepao plea on anchor.
Do speakers pardon wonder don't want to switch back to English.
I'm pleased to give the floor to Claire and to Christian, who are going to tell you a few things about their programmes for the upcoming COP 28.
I don't know, maybe Claire, you want to start?
[Other language spoken]
So I'm, I've got a red bit of sunlight in my presence, so that's why the screen's not, not very good.
Yes, Morning everybody.
I will be sending out a media advisory either today or at the very latest on Monday with details of the World Meteorological Organisation activities at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 28, which as we all know starts next week in Dubai.
Of I think most interest to you will be our activities on the state of the climate reports, and we're also doing quite a lot on the early Warnings for All initiative.
So on the 30th of November we will be releasing the provisional statement on the state of the global climate.
[Other language spoken]
There will be a press conference at COP with our Secretary General, Professor Tallis.
It will be live streamed.
And so if journalists in Geneva want to follow it, you should be able to buy the UN F triple C live stream up again in the media advisory will give you details.
But if you're planning now, it's at 11:30 Geneva time.
That is on the 30th.
We do expect a lot of media interest in it.
We'll send out material under embargo at the start of next week.
As I said, there are a number of quite **** level events on the early warnings for All initiative.
And again, we will be sending out regular updates, regular press releases on that, then another report.
I think you will be interested.
Oh, and sorry for the state of the climate report.
The press conference is given in Dubai by Professor Telus, the reports coordinator, Dr Omar Badour, who most of you know, he will actually be staying in Geneva.
So if you need any interviews in English, French or Arabic, please, you know, please, please let me know.
And we can certainly for the main event will be Dubai, but we can facilitate contacts with the, with journalists here, with the, with Doctor Badour.
The other, the other event, the other report I think you'll be interested in.
And obviously there are a lot of reports that that COP it's, we've got a report on the state of the global climate 2011 to 2020.
[Other language spoken]
We'll, we'll be giving you know, figures on the ice ice, you know, the melt, melting of ice over the decade, the sea level rise of the decade, looking at temperatures, ocean heat, other factors.
I read the report yesterday to, to start writing the press release and I felt like crying.
But anyway, so we will send you.
Again, press release on that the report launch is on the 5th of December.
Again, you will get materials under embargo main launch will be in Dubai, but again Doctor Baddoor will be in Geneva if you need interviews in Geneva.
So that's that.
As I said, we'll, we'll send you the media advisory later today for any of you who are at COP, the WMO, along with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, with the UAE National Metrological Service and with a Merry foundation, which is a South American philanthropic foundation.
We do have a pavilion.
So if you, if anybody is in and you buy, you know, please feel free to come and see us.
Everybody's got their my WhatsApp number.
And so if you are there, you need and you need interviews, just just get in touch.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
Sorry.
And before we we give the floor for questions, maybe I'll ask Christian towards update us on the cop and then I go to the journalist Christian.
Yeah, exactly.
And thank you, Alessandro and thank you, Claire.
That's the perfect lead in to it.
On Monday, you already got the announcement of Climate health and W Joe at COP 28 briefing.
It will be at 2:00 Geneva time.
It's a virtual briefing with Maria Anera and and others.
It's on the COP and what to expect there from the presidency and so on so forth.
So a full briefing on the expectations for this Monday, 2:00 and on Thursday at 3:00 we'll have the Dali Charles world malaria report for 2023.
Certainly an interesting one to watch.
The announcement hasn't gone out yet.
That will come Monday and also on Monday you then in the afternoon, evening, we'll have access to an embargoed council site with all the relevant material to to prep beforehand.
So again, the briefing on Thursday afternoon, announcement still to come with the details for the embargoed site for Monday.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
And since we are speaking about the COP 28, just let me add that our department will also create make available a page in six languages, which will be updated daily to feature the latest your news, a live blog for the opening days, which in fact is going to be prepared by our colleague from Geneva, Dominica Tomatzka.
And then we will also have links to live streams, press material and other and other material related to the COPS.
So I will invite you also to have a look at this page for updates on the COP.
So let me see, because I see Mohammed has raised her his hand.
I don't know if it's about these announcements, Mohammed, or if it's you're also waiting for Gaza.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I see in the room a couple of hands.
Is that for Claire or Christian?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So question to WMO, if we have a request for interviews in Dubai in person, are you still the focal point?
So do we have to write directly to you?
All right, yes, that's all.
Yes also and will both of the secretary generals like the the, the the actual one in the in the next one will be there or is it only Petri tell us?
OK, so write to me, send me a WhatsApp or you know, a message on the on the phone.
I will be there for the entire duration.
Who is chief of WMO Communications.
She will be there for the first week.
But as I said, if you've got media requests, come to me first.
The our secretary general, Professor Telus, he will be there for the first week and then the deputy secretary general, Elena Manikova will take over from him.
The incoming secretary general Celeste Salo will not be in be at cop, but she starts, she starts her position here at the beginning of January.
And so, you know, very early in the, in the new year, I, I hope, you know, I hope to have a press conference with, with her.
[Other language spoken]
Other questions on COP, I don't see any.
So thank you very much.
Christian, stay with us because I think there are a few questions for you, but I go now to Antonio who had a question for Jens who has reached me on the podium.
Join me on the podium.
Thank you very much.
So my question is if OCHA or other humanitarian agencies have any updated information on the 8th entering in Gaza now that the ceasefire has started?
And also if you have any details about the participation of Red Cross in the transport of released hostages and prisoners?
Thank you, Antonio, and good morning, everyone.
the United Nations can confirm that as I speak, trucks with humanitarian supplies continues to cross into Gaza through the Rafa crossing point.
We hope the agreement between Israel and Hamas now in force, will bring respite to the people of Gaza and Israel, and some relief to the hostages and detainees who will be released and to their families.
We hope it allows grieving families to honour their dead and bury them with dignity.
And we hope that this humanitarian pause leads to a longer term humanitarian ceasefire for the benefit of the people of Gaza, Israel and beyond.
We will from ORCHA, continue to update you on developments, including daily convoy movements from Egypt, as we have done daily since the start of the escalation.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you and I will recall that's on the 22nd of November.
The Secretary General is also of course welcome the agreement reached by Israel and Hamas with the medication of Qatar and supported by Egypt and the United States, he said.
This was an important step of course in the right direction, but much more needs to be done and the United Nations will mobilise or it's capacity to support the implementation of the agreement and maximise it's positive impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
[Other language spoken]
Mohammed was there, I think asking a question too.
So Mohammed.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
My question for WHOI think Christian is over there, The Israeli army detained Abu Silmier who who is the director of Elish Hospital yesterday.
There is currently no information on his whereabout.
Do you think it is acceptable to detain a healthcare worker in Gaza?
And do you have any information where he is and how is it about?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Very important question indeed.
But I will have to refer to a statement that we're about to release sometime later today, which will have more details, the circumstances, the whatever we know about this topic.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Christian.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
1 for Jans and and one one for Christian as well.
Do you think the 200 trucks a day that Egypt is saying we should expect during the truce is possible?
And, and if so, how is there any indication from your side that the process for aid entering Gaza has been simplified?
And can you get to the north?
And, and for Christian, it's sort of related, but more broadly, do you think you can use the truce to evacuate hospitals?
I I can see that the Red Crescent is doing that.
Is that your plan?
And what can you say about your cooperation with the Gaza Health Ministry?
They they've said that they've suspended cooperation with The Who over the issue raised by my colleague, the alleged detention of hospital staff from Al Shifa.
Thanks very much.
Yes, you want to start?
[Other language spoken]
We will report on humanitarian aid, a number of trucks once they have arrived inside Gaza.
Yesterday we had 80 trucks with humanitarian relief that crossed the border.
There was some 68,000 litres of fuel in addition to the to the 80 trucks with relief.
So we do it once it's established inside Gaza, the pipeline is quite long for relief and parts of it, lot of it in fact is beyond our control and has to do with verification of the of the consignments.
In terms of the north, we have said consistently that we need access across the Gaza Strip, especially in the north.
That's where the damage and the humanitarian needs are the greatest.
So we continue to call for access to reach all parts of Gaza.
Indeed.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Well, first let me say we absolutely welcome, of course, this humanitarian pause.
But exactly we, we do need more and we would hope that it extends into maybe even a ceasefire.
[Other language spoken]
The the, the, the circumstances of this arrest and, and everything which follows again to be expected in a, in a statement later today on the evacuations.
Yes, we're working on further evacuations from hospitals as soon as possible.
To remind you that on 22N together with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, AW joint, a LED joint UN mission evacuated 151 patients, relatives and health workers accompanying them from our Shiva hospital in northern Gaza.
This was undertaken specifically following requests from health authorities and hospitals, hospital officials in Gaza.
That's really important.
It was the third mission to Al Shiba carried out by Da Bai Chong and partners in less than a week.
And during this mission, the team evacuated 73 severely ill or injured patients, including 18 dialysis patients, 26 patients with serial serious spinal injuries, 8 patients with severe chronic conditions, 2 in need of critical care, and further 19 patients in wheelchairs.
So these patients were transported in 14 ambulances, supplied and staffed by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, 2 buses and together with eight health workers and 70 family members componenting them.
Now we're extremely concerned about the safety of the estimated 100 patients and health workers remaining at Al Shifa.
And due to the limited time that the mission members were able to spend in the hospital and the urgency of moving the most critical, it was difficult to determine exactly how many remain.
So that's an Al Shifa.
On other hospitals, we named the Indonesian and the AL Al Ali requests came and we are working also on details.
More updates to come during the day.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
OK, so let's go to the next question.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I have one question for OSHA and one for WHO.
Christian, at first, because your teams were in Al Shifa, have you seen any evidence that injured people had white phosphorus injuries because it was something that was allegedly used by Israeli forces in the northern part of Gaza?
And to yes, just to know if you have some possibilities to help to, to help the people that are under the rubbles in Gaza, if you can bring any trucks that can free them from there, or at least to find the bodies that are there.
And if it's not possible, how do you think and when do you think it will be possible to do that thing?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
No, Yuri, I've not seen any evidence, any report or any evidence of that so far.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I think what is critical in terms of helping people who are on the rubble, as we see in other situations, is to have fuel available for any machinery that is in place already to be able to run.
Secondly, to get people who have crush injuries and other types of of of of problems having been in such a situation that they get medical care.
So that that is of course a **** priority for us.
Thank you, Christian.
Sorry, Christian.
[Other language spoken]
Sorry.
Maybe I can say before we the audio was off so we couldn't hear Yens most most of what the yens was saying.
OK, OK, so maybe Yens you, you want to repeat what you were saying then Yuri, you can ask your follow up and then we go to Christian.
Yeah, I was, I was emphasising the fact that it is very important to get fuel in to be able to operate any machinery that will be required to, to get people out, out of the rubble.
We see that in all, in all kinds of situations where you have massive infrastructural damage and collapse.
Secondly, I, I, I just want to mention that we will of course to report on anything that does happen in our daily situation reports.
It is a very, I think we can all agree a volatile and tense situation right now.
So please bear with us that we don't jump into announcing this, that and the other, but wait until we can reasonably say that this has happened.
That is both in the interest of correct reporting by us, by you, and certainly in the interest of the people we are trying to help, not to raise any expectations that we may or may not be able to to deliver on.
[Other language spoken]
Extremely important, thank you, Jens.
So I think Yuri just raised her hand isn't because she couldn't hear your answer?
There were quite a few.
Yes, that that was the that was the fact, yes.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Christian, Eric.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Jens, I'm sorry I have to squeeze you.
Also again following up on Emma, you have been calling for access for the last six weeks, but something must have changed in the last three days when these negotiations were going on, on the on the pause.
So the question is, do you have guarantees at this point negotiated over the last three days to access the north with relief items that doesn't need to wonder.
We don't need to wait until it has actually happened.
The question is, do you have agreed access to the North at this point in time?
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Christian.
[Other language spoken]
What do you have?
We have the agreement that has been made and announced by Qatar and commented on by other parties to the agreement.
[Other language spoken]
That is what we have and that is what we work on.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
You're not going to like this because it's the same question, but I'm still it.
[Other language spoken]
The agreement says there's access to Gaza, all of Gaza as as how I read it, but there's also instructions from Israel to Gazans not to go north.
[Other language spoken]
You, you, you don't have a definitive answer whether you will be able to deliver aid to the north or not.
Is that is that what I'm to understand?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
We have, of course, seen what the Israelis have been saying about movements also about movements of, of, of convoys and so on and so forth.
We proceed on the basis of the hope and the expectation that we will reach people in need where they are.
Whether that happens, obviously I cannot tell you now, but the operation of course wants to see that happen.
That is the result purpose of it from our point of view.
So we will continue to update you as information is available and and confirmed.
Jamie, same question in another way or another question?
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[Other language spoken]
Alessandra Yens, you just said that.
[Other language spoken]
So does that mean that there's no coordination at all going on between the United Nations and the various parties in terms of how this is going to play out?
I mean, you know, basically the question I have is you.
I mean, it's similar to Christiana's, but for weeks there have been a certain number of trucks that have been getting into Gaza.
Right?
And the question really is becoming what, if anything, is giving you hope that there may be more trucks that may be able to get into Gaza?
Is there anything or are you simply in the dark, as you seem to suggest, beyond what the public statements have been made?
Is there no community?
Is Mr Griffith not talking to anybody at this level?
[Other language spoken]
We, we have since the 7th, before the 7th of October, we are in daily contact with the, with the Israelis and, and all parties.
Because before this, of course there were movements into, into Gaza that dropped.
It stopped in actual fact for two weeks, then it was restarted on the 21st of October.
So we're in constant contact at a working level, not least through the humanitarian coordinator for for OBT based in East Jerusalem.
[Other language spoken]
I don't want to go into a, a *** for tat.
What, what, what I can say is that of course we are, we are as, as I just mentioned, negotiating this.
The hope that we have, and I think I mentioned the word hope three times when I gave you the first reaction, is that this agreement that has been made, which includes A humanitarian pause, which we have been asking for as a minimum for us to deliver, that that pause is respected, that it enables us to reach the people who needs us, and that it will be extended into an actual humanitarian ceasefire in the long run.
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The the fuel that's going into the Gaza Strip, how is that going to be managed?
Where is it going to go?
And are there plans for further fuel shipments into the Gaza Strip?
[Other language spoken]
The fuel that goes into Gaza for us is under, in, in UN custody at all times.
It is distributed through UNWA with the entity who has the distribution network and knows how how to do it because they've done it for years.
So that is about as much as I can say we have, we have had agreement for for some time now by the Israelis to allow for entry of fuel.
That's why we in our daily reporting update on that and as you will have noted, not in number of trucks because that doesn't make much sense, but in litres of fuel.
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Yeah, I did just, I just wanted to make sure the yes, the that was very important what you said and I just I appreciate what you said, but can you can you tell us?
I guess the really most basic question is what if anything has changed based on this ceasefire issue?
I mean, in other words, a lot of people think, oh, this means a pause and there's going to be possible hostage, less prisoner exchange.
But in terms of aid getting in, you said you have hope, but is it more than just hope?
Is there actual concrete foundation to let you have that hope?
I mean, a lot of us hope for World Peace.
You know, we all hope for a lot of things.
But is there anything in the information that you have seen that makes you believe that there will be greater aid shipments into Gaza based on this pause that is happening right now?
Look, Jamie, it's not to give us some relief to Yan's, but I just wanted to answer your question with what was said about our colleagues of the spokesman's office.
We are working out arrangements on the ground.
We're trying to make sure that this particular pause means and that we are able to expand our operations.
So we're really going to do as much.
It's not a question of hope, it's a question of working on the grounds at all levels to we're really trying to do whatever we can to bring this humanitarian goods and into Gaza.
And so it's not just their hope, it's a, it's a working hope, I would say Antonio again.
[Other language spoken]
And my question is about another topic is for WHO?
Sorry, Antonio, if it's not on Gaza, just one second because I see Gabriella has her hand up and I think it's on Gaza.
And then I'll let you ask your question to Christian.
Sorry, Gabriella, is that on Gaza?
Yes, Alexandra, thank you very much, Alessandra James.
And Alessandra, Mr Netanyahu criticised that United Nations is very slow doing their job.
Are are, are you aware of these declarations?
What do you think?
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[Other language spoken]
Gabriella, we don't comment statements from member States.
Of course they they've got the right to say what they want to say.
But we, I think the only thing I can say, look at the work that has been done by UNRWA, by the, sorry, the humanitarian coordinator in the OPT, by all the, by WHO, by all the agencies that are working in the field.
And as Yens hinted to, it's not starting on the 7th of October.
We've been there for a long time.
So I think that is what we we want to underline.
Antonio, you had a question for Christian, but it's not on Gaza.
I think there are no other questions on Gaza, at least I can't see any on the platform.
So I'll go to you now, and to Christian.
[Other language spoken]
So it's about the search of cases of pneumonia and other respiratory diseases in China.
WHO has already published a press release this week saying that you have requested information about all this to Chinese authorities.
So I wonder if you have had any answer.
And also I wonder if the recommendations that you have published for China concerning this situation may be extended to other countries.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, thank you very much, Antonio.
So indeed, last night, late last night, we issued the disease outbreak news on the upsurge of respiratory illnesses among children in northern China.
It's a lengthy disease outbreak news, so I will not go through it all.
But since mid-october 2023, WTO has been monitoring data from Chinese surveillance systems that have been showing an increase in respiratory illness in children in northern China.
And at a press conference on 13 November, China's National Health Commission reported on a nationwide increase in the incident of those of this respiratory disease predominantly affecting children.
Now this was follow up on on 22N WTO identified media and Promet reports about the clusters of this undiagnosed pneumonia in children's hospitals in in Beijing.
Let me jump to the to the risk assessment, which is maybe the the the most interesting what you're waiting for right now.
And again, I'm referring you to the full statement we sent last night.
In the current outbreak of respiratory illnesses, the reported symptoms are common to several respiratory diseases.
And as of now, at the present time, Chinese surveillance and hospital systems report that the clinical manifestations are caused by known pathogens in circulation.
Mycoplasma pneumonia is a common respiratory pathogen and a common cause of paediatric pneumonia and is readily treated with antibiotics.
China has an influenza like illnesses and severe acute respiratory infection.
Sentinel surveillance system.
Since mid-october, China has implemented enhanced surveillance systems for respiratory illness covering a broad spectrum of respiratory viruses and bacteria, including Mycoplasma pneumonia.
There's limited detailed information available to fully characterise the overall risk of these report cases.
However, due to the arrival of the winter season, the increasing trend in respiratory illness is expected.
Cold circulation and cold circulation of respiratory viruses may increase the burden on healthcare facilities.
According to surveillance data reported to WH O's Flu Net and published by the National Influenza Centre in China was above the the level was above usual levels for this time of the year and increasing in the northern provinces.
Influenza detections were predominantly AH3N2 and the B Victoria lineage viruses.
So this was very technical now.
But again, I can I will send this to the notes because it's out of the risk assessment and happy for you to to follow this up further.
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, good morning, Christian.
Yes, a follow up on Antonio's question, which other WHO member countries have seen a spike in this pneumonia largely affecting children and have you received the samples from the Chinese authorities that you had requested?
[Other language spoken]
So I'm not aware of any other countries, but based on the available information, WTO recommends that people in China follow the measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses, which include recommended vaccines against influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory pathogens as appropriate.
And the regular advice is keeping distance from people who are ill, staying home when I'll and so on and so forth, getting tested, regular hand washing and so on and so forth.
WHO does not recommend any specific measures for travellers to China.
In general, persons should avoid trouble while experiencing symptoms themselves suggested of respiratory illnesses if possible, and in case of symptoms during or after trouble, travellers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share the history with their healthcare provider.
WTO further advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions based on the current information available on this event.
So very standard and regular recommendations.
Nothing out of the norm.
The I'm not aware of the details of what was shared, but this information was put together in the disease outbreak news yesterday.
But happy to follow up with up with you individually about the details what and when was sent.
Thank you very much.
I don't see other questions for Christian, so thank you very much.
Christian 2, just two last announcements.
First of all, I've been asked to give you an update about apparently many of you will need some information on how to organise the end of the year.
We've already told you about the conservative measures for cost reductions that have been implemented at the Palace.
So this end of the year will be a little bit different from from the others.
As you know, we have implemented, I mean you've seen this characters now being stopped and at the time of the day at the palace being now moved from 8:00 in the morning to 7:00 PM.
So there are a number of things that you have already seen, but one of the measures we are planning to implement is, I'm sorry, a generalised closure from the 20th of December to the 7th of January.
So the Paladin assume will be closed during those days.
It's not enough a total closing if you need to come and work.
We have already foreseen to make an exception for journalists, of course, but the building will be closed and we will be working with any working from from home during these days.
This means also that we will hold the press briefing of the 22nd of December and of the 5th of January virtual only.
So we'll hold it, but only virtual, while as usual on the 26th and 29th of December, there will be no briefing unless there is something that happens.
And we of course hope there will be a peaceful.
And we will not need to rush to the office to brief you.
But as as usual, the 26th and 29th there will be no briefing and the 22nd of December and 5th of January it will only be virtual.
We're also putting together the usual list of spokespersons who will be on call for you during this holiday period, so that you will always know whom to talk to if you have questions during this time.
And I think you've also received a information from my colleagues on the removal of the annual accreditations.
We'll start a little bit later this year.
As you know, we have two big events coming up in December.
So we're very busy with accreditation for those events.
But we will open the renewal of accreditation, if I'm not wrong, on the 11th of December.
Don't worry about the time.
We will have the time to renew your accreditations and your budgets.
Every budget for everybody who is accredited annually will be valid until the 31st of January.
So there is no reason to to to rush into that.
We will do it as usual, try to do it as efficiently as possible.
And then my last, last point is on the committee's, the Committee against Torture is closing today.
As you know, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination concludes this morning in the review of Germany, and they are going to examine South Africa, Bulgaria and Vietnam in the next days.
And the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families is going to open it's next session, the 37th on Monday at Paula Wilson.
And the countries they review will be your way, Kyrgyzstan and settlement and principle.
And that is what I had for you.
[Other language spoken]
Is there any in the room before I go to the platform?
[Other language spoken]
OK, Katherine, you have the floor.
Yes, Alessandra, thank you so much.
If you already know, when will you be able to send the list of spokespersons that will be in charge during that season.
The second thing is, as there is a war going on in Gaza and Israel, I suppose that we'll be able to reach everyone on a very easy base during that those holidays.
And that if anything important occurs, that they will be press conferences and that we won't be obliged to run and call everywhere and disturb you or the person that will be in charge during Christmas and New Year.
And I'd like to kindly request if, Eunice, we would make sure that the security people are aware about the validity of our badges, because the the the gentleman that are working in the ballot for a long time, they know us and they know about your policy, but the newcomers don't don't know anything.
And often we stopped by the new staff and because they have been a problem of internal communication for certain events.
Thank you so much, Alessandra.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
First of all, the list of spokesperson should be ready at the end of the month.
I think we have given a deadline of the 28th of November to to get all the names and contact details.
So you will have it at the beginning of December or end of November, beginning of December at the latest.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, the time for source to compile all the information that we received on the issue of the conflict.
You said you have a conflict in Gaza, You're absolutely right there.
Also the conflict as we have outlined and brief you about today and many more.
So definitely we are absolutely open to the fact that there might be press conferences during this period of closing of the pallet.
We are already in agreement with our colleagues of the technical services that if needed, of course, the press room will be available for press conferences.
That's not an issue.
And as you remember, Catherine, in the past, it has happened that unfortunately we had to do some urgent communications and press conferences during the holiday period and we did.
And so we will do.
And your last point about security, yes, of course, and the communication we have made in writing and I have done today, it's of course agreed with security and we will make sure that this message is quite well known by the various security offices, John.
Yes, just a little observation to help in the economising of resources in the Palais.
After 8:00 the Peace Gate is closed, but there's dozens of lights still switched on there.
It could be helpful to switch them off and at least have some lights on the left side of the walkway where there is not even a light in the crossing.
So that's just a suggestion.
And.
Secondly, yes, yeah, we have had in the past, if I recall, 208, two and nine, the war in Gaza was during the holiday break and also the tsunami in 204.
So yes, somehow holiday seasons come with a lot of tragedy sometimes.
Indeed.
[Other language spoken]
Thanks for the observation on the lights.
That gives me the opportunity to remind everybody we need your contribution, we need your support.
For cost reduction and energy saving measures.
So we really encourage everyone as long as as much as possible to use natural lightning, turn off your unused electronics.
Of course, use the stairs when it's possible.
It's also good for health.
And of course, at the end of the day, turn off the lights.
[Other language spoken]
It's not always easy.
Sometimes there are, there are people who are indeed staying late and and don't, don't do it.
But I know for sure that after we have all gone, security goes by and turn them off.
But I take your suggestion about the external light and then bring it to my colleagues because this, yes, it is, it is useful.
Thank you very much.
I don't see any other question.
And of course, all this we will inform you in writing and it may evolve as we said, but you will have all the information as we go.
I wanted to say this today because some of your colleagues and some of you have asked for information about the end of the year and that is why I'm giving you this update.
So thank you very much for following this long briefing and bon appetit, bon weekend.
I'll see you on Tuesday.
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