Thank you for joining us here at the UN
office at Geneva for this press briefing today.
We have, uh, three agenda items for you today.
We have the situation in Gaza's hospitals. We have
Myanmar and the concerns over rising tensions in Rakhine state.
And we have an update from WHO on H five, N one, the situation globally.
So we'll start off immediately with, uh, Mr Dominic Allen.
Who's UN FP a is representative for the
state of Palestine who's joining us from Jerusalem,
who will again speak to the situation, uh, in Gaza's hospitals.
Well, thank you very much.
And, uh, indeed, I just, um I'm speaking to you from East Jerusalem,
having returned a few hours ago from my latest mission in Gaza,
this time a 10 day mission
leaving, uh, with our UN FB a team on the ground.
And, um, let me share a few things, I think, First of all,
as the Secretary General himself has said
6.5 months of Israeli military operations have created what I
saw on the ground which is a humanitarian hellscape.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed.
2 million Palestinians have endured death, destruction
and continue to suffer from despair.
coming back to East Jerusalem today is that fear remains ever present
as a military incursion in Rafah would compound the humanitarian catastrophe.
Now, for UN FB A in our particular focus,
I am terrified for the 1 million women and girls in Gaza right now,
and especially for the 180 women
giving birth every single day and giving birth in inhumane,
So let me share a few personal stories from from the Gazans on the ground, uh,
some reflections from the mission that I undertook and
a number of missions into Gaza in into Easter Khanun
together with the World Health Organisation
and then some of the priorities that we see for
sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence in Gaza
in terms of the fear that I spoke of and the desperation
and frankly, the unparalleled strength of Gazans. Three personal stories which,
uh, I would share with you one of, uh, a gentleman called
Who? I, uh when I went to visit the Al Aqsa Hospital
He had lost, uh, a few weeks ago, 30 of his extended family members,
and a few days ago, an additional 2050 extended family members.
And whilst there, I, uh, I I met with his mother, um, and, um, his, uh,
his brother who were both, uh, bodies have been, uh, bodies have been broken.
But when I when I when I spoke with his mother, not only her body is broken,
but her heart is broken if you can imagine
50 extended family members, men,
women and Children killed from an airstrike which collapsed a building in
which they were living in this indiscriminate loss of civilian life.
Second, uh, person that I met with
And, uh, I'll speak about her work when I come to the more programmatic side,
with anger in, uh, a tent on the sand in Rafah
as a youth leader has helped build and deliver supplies and deliver shelter,
But she's doing this having having had her mother and father
killed two months ago and speaking about that personal loss.
But her ability to uh, to continue going and supporting her community.
one of the humanitarian workers there who actually works with,
uh with our team from UN FB A has worked for the UN for over a decade.
And Ayman accompanied me on a mission with
the World Health Organisation to Gaza City,
Shiv Hospital Indonesia Hospital and a medical point
which again I'll speak to in a moment.
But just to share the this this personal story when you stand with, uh,
and he, uh his home his family home.
He has, uh, beautiful Children who I got to sit with in rapper
the look in his eyes as he visited his home, which is in the same neighbourhood as El
Shifa. The first time he'd seen
the burnt the burnt out carcass of the home which he'd
built with his wife and en encapsulated his family's dreams,
his personal aspirations for the future
And across these three individuals May
many personal stories of the incredible Gazans who are enduring so much.
One thing that they say is that they have got no choice but to go on.
the clear message which remains the secretary general and the United Nations
have maintained as well is that they all call for a ceasefire.
Now, aside from those personal stories, let me speak to the mission itself.
um I was, uh, within Gaza.
And I think during the 10 days, uh, and this is the frame for the for this,
I visited around 10 hospitals, many medical points,
many of the GB B safe spaces with a focus again from UN FBF for maternal health.
Now, some of those hospitals are laying in ruins. They are rubble.
Um, some of them cos there is AAA health system hanging by a thread,
and some of those hospitals are clinging to life themselves whilst
they are a lifeline for the pregnant women of Gaza,
Um, on the a number of the missions.
So last Wednesday, uh, together with the World Health Organisation,
the first time that I've been
Kunis, having worked in, uh, Gaza and
Palestine for for a couple of years
and seeing the level of destruction
very difficult to describe
um very similar to the destruction in Gaza City
and I described Gaza City last month as being dust. I feel the same around Panis
Amal hospital, which was in the hoping when we met with the hospital director.
He's hoping to get it back online soon.
It's not going to be providing maternal health services,
but it's going to at least try and start to provide some semblance of
an emergency medical point supported by the
World Health World Health Organisation and the,
uh, the Red Crescent Society
Also, we visited the NASA Hospital complex,
the second most important hospital across the Gaza Strip,
together with the WHO and UNICEF over years have supported this hospital.
There is a specific maternity ward which we ourselves have worked on for years
and having known and visited NASA Hospital many times before
but also having visited it recently in January
on my recent visit and delivered supplies there,
breaks my heart again. It's indescribable
what we see, there is, um,
you you will know. I is a very important tool for helping ensure safe births
with cables that have been cut
screens of complex medical equipment like ultrasounds
and others with the the screens smashed
So purposeful, wanton destruction in the maternity ward.
Aside from the fact that the water and sanitation, uh,
will be needed to be looked at the electricity, the GE, the generators.
So the the situation at NASA,
the again with the World organisation and the coordinations
world they're looking to with I NGO partners and
with partners on the ground trying to get that
up and running again to provide a lifeline.
uh, I stood beside the warehouse, which we delivered supplies many months ago,
and, uh, it was literally burning.
And there's so much work to do in terms of trying to re-establish that lifeline.
We also visited the Jordanian Field Hospital and the Alha
hospital was a maternity hospital up until
two or three months ago, till the, uh, huge incursion into Khan Yis
and I myself visited and we UN FP had provided maternity
supplies because whilst NASA hospital was overwhelmed at that
time with trauma care and full of ID PS.
And now it remains empty.
Now, Al ca Hospital was a referral hospital for maternal care.
And, uh, I mean, we had to be We had to be careful for unexploded ordinance.
Together with un mass. We visited nota
and, um, walking through the the the entrance into
It was unrecognisable from when I went visited two months ago.
There wasn't a it didn't seem as if there was any piece of working medical equipment,
the birth, the maternity ward, the birthing, uh,
birthing rooms that I visited earlier.
There should be a place of giving life, and they just have an eerie sense of death.
Um, on Monday, um, that was in. That was last Wednesday in Khan units on Monday.
Then, as I mentioned, we went to, uh,
Uh, we visited, uh, a PM RS the Palestinian Medical Relief Society Medical point.
heroic work by the doctors in Gaza City. Amidst huge rubble,
they've created a small primary healthcare focal point
antenatal care, postnatal care. There was a midwife.
there there was an OBGYN who's coming in to help provide medical support to
pregnant women as well as the other primary health care work that's there in
incredible amidst the rubble.
Uh, amidst the blown out half building they are They are, um, pro,
being able to provide some sort of
basic medical support. Then we went
which was, uh, the most, uh, iconic um,
hospital in Gaza and the most important in terms of its tertiary care.
the maternity building itself stood, uh, in rubble.
And, uh, this is a chief hospital somewhere where again the UN FP a together with WHO,
and partners have provided over many years support to
build the capacity to ensure safe births in Gaza,
it lays in complete ruin.
We also visited the Indonesian hospital in, uh, Beit Lahiya, uh,
further north from Gaza City and was amazed to see that they're already trying to
re rehabilitate some of the emergency room to get it up and standing again.
But it won't be, uh, used for maternity care again.
The one maternity hospital is referring.
All cases for safe births in Gaza in the north of Gaza right now is the Saab hospital,
which UN FB a has been supporting with supplies since since the start of this, uh,
since the start of October, and we continue to support,
but that is the only space where pregnant women are able to go
in the middle area. As I mentioned when I spoke of the case of Mayara
and his heartbreaking family situation, we visited the Al
and it again is it is overwhelmed with trauma.
Cares the emergency department was overwhelmed with with, uh, cases, uh,
coming through it right now is not supporting maternity care,
because in the middle area, the one functioning,
partially functioning hospital is the Al AA
which again UN FB A and partners are providing support to ensure safe births.
And then down in in in the south, In Rafah,
I visited the Emirati hospital,
which is a major lifeline for pregnant women in Gaza.
Right now, it's, uh, supporting to around 5060 births every single day,
including 10 to 12 Caesarean sections.
I visited that numerous times, Uh, on my previous missions into Gaza.
We continue to provide support on this occasion we delivered life saving oxytocin,
which, uh, they're going through at an incredible rate.
Um, because of the number of births which their maternity ward is overwhelmed with.
And again the the sense of fear for what may happen at Emirati,
given its importance for pregnant women in Gaza.
So those three hospitals for maternity care
AA in the middle area and Rafah in the south. But I also visited the I MC and UK med
which UFP is also supporting with supplies and uh,
also with mobile maternity prefabricated units, mobile maternity units.
And it was incredible to see one of these units that UFP has delivered.
It's a 40 ft mobile maternity unit, which, uh, I MC
we operate as part of their maternity work,
and I MC and the UK Med are doing phenomenal work in supporting.
And we will be delivering additional units, uh,
of that size for basic emergency obstetric care and compre, uh,
comprehensive but more complicated emergency
care cases to both UK me and I MC in addition to other,
also on the mission. Then we also
I think two of the highlights to to put forward. One
backbone for the humanitarian response in Gaza.
And I visited um uh, three schools which have been transformed into,
um designated shelters. And in those shelters there are emergency
and UN FP A together with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society and UNRWA
partnership to deploy midwives because pregnant women are not getting enough
access to pre and postnatal pre and post birth healthcare.
So we are deploying a number of midwives into these,
and we we went and we went and visited together with the, uh, un
P a section productive health and emergency specialists,
those midwives to hear about how they're seeing the cases,
how how are they able to function?
more support and supplies and hearing their needs. We will then be delivering in
wiffy kits to enable them to do their work and
try and do more with those getting more midwives deployed.
So that more of those pregnant women in those shelters
which though I call them shelters, they're S, they're apparently safe havens.
But we know how many have been hit previously.
They have not been deconflict sufficiently,
but also the conditions are indescribable in terms of what these pregnant women and
and the civilians in Gaza are having to endure in these UN R shelters.
the, um um, amazing inspirational work of those UN a
Finally, the youth, um uh, the the youth visit this youth, um,
youth advisory panel that UN FP A and
partners have been supporting for quite some years.
They were an advisory panel to help, uh, to elevate youth voice in Palestine.
one of the one of the shelters or one of their, um, interventions.
Uh, incredible. Incredible work. Incredible conditions.
First of all, it's it's within one of these, uh, informal camps in Rafa on the sand.
These youth advisory panel members, members of the community, members of, um, Y,
young people who wanted to, uh,
two years ago be a part of helping create a positive future for Palestine.
And now they've transformed into humanitarian agency themselves.
They have built tents, they're delivering water.
So, uh, and and food and, uh, anger and Ahmed, who I met with,
couldn't have been clearer in in elevating their youth voice.
Not only are they helping to create shelters and support their communities,
but they are very, very clear from them.
The youth from the midwives, the doctors that I met with
the civilians that I spoke with, Everybody is calling for a ceasefire
and their fear for what may come.
Finally, um, we also visited a number of the, uh women's led organisations.
Uh UN FP A is concerned, of course, for gender based violence,
but the broader impact on women and girls as well and hearing from the women
directly on this and previous visits and hearing from those women leaders in Gaza.
The big concerns are for, of course, their safety.
They are fearful for what may come and aside from being a parent or being a mother,
they also have concerns for their own dignity.
There is an insufficient supply of menstrual hygiene management items.
UN FP has been working with partners to try and
get as many as possible to those women in need,
but also the risks of gender based violence,
sexual violence and child marriage have increased.
And we heard directly on my team, my gender based violence or the UFB,
a gender based violence in emergency Specialist heard from Gazan women who spoke of
their direct impact of intimate partner violence
of child marriage that they're suffering.
aside from this mission last week, together with,
as I mentioned number of missions to to Gaza City in the north to Eastern Klan unis,
thanks to the partnerships with the World Health Organisation with
UNICEF and and many parts of the U, UN and importantly,
those local NGO S who are doing incredible work
whilst being displaced and under fear without sufficient food,
I think to zoom out for a moment for UN FP A.
If I speak to what we see as
the priorities right now for section reproductive health,
I think as you've heard from me, our concerns are for the healthcare system.
I mentioned the three only three of
the 10 partially functioning hospitals where wom
pregnant women can go to give birth and the capacities that they are running
at in terms of the Emiratis in which you can only spend a number
of hours after giving birth to until you you until the pregnant women,
uh, until the new new mothers have to be discharged.
it's, uh, less than a day,
So capacities are our big priority. And that's why, as I mentioned, UN FB a.
prefabricated maternity field unit in there this last week,
and we have another two arriving into
Airport next week on cargo flights, and we have another three behind that as well.
To deploy to ensure that safe berth can
be supported and assured to the extent possible,
then its supplies. How do we get more supplies in?
UFP has been working since the start to ensure those reproductive health kits,
those life saving medicines and medical equipment get in and get
to the doctors and midwives who need them and thirdly,
increasing the number of capacities this I mentioned the
the Medic Emergency Medical points with more midwives,
more access to antenatal and overall sexual and reproductive health care
on GB V side, our priorities are also three.
It's first of all how, given what had happened from October,
the referral pathways for what a gender based violence
survivor would seek in Gaza have been destroyed.
So we're working with our local partners with,
uh uh, and U IP coordinates the gender based violence sub
C that of a team of different local partners, NGO S and international partners.
To look towards how GB B survivors can seek support
clearly from the women of Gaza.
They're asking for more access for menstrual hygiene management items.
And we have dignity kits, hygiene kits, menstrual hygiene management kits
WHOUFP A. Uh, we are seeking to get as many of those dignity kits inside Gaza.
There is very little or no dignity in Gaza for the women of Gaza right now
and then finally. And this isn't just for pregnant women.
This isn't just for GB V survivors. It isn't just for the women
girls of Gaza, but psychological first aid,
Mental health and psychosocial support remains a key
priority amidst the fear and desperation that hangs.
that's where also in our youth work that is P FA Psychological First aid remains a
priority and supporting the youths who are enabling
many of the amazing community work local level
in those camps and engaging with the with the youths, uh,
themselves to support their own communities.
I think that's where maybe my final point. Aside from priorities,
I leave Gaza and arrive in Jerusalem today with a great sense of fear
that there is a There is a sword hanging over Rafah.
There is a palpable fear from the, uh from the Gazans.
Who I who I spoke with the midwives, doctors, pregnant women.
Um, my fellow colleagues, uh, who are, uh, are in Gaza
what will happen if a ground military ground incursion happens in Rafah.
Because right now it's a haven
for 1.2 million Gazans. It's not a safe haven, but it's a haven at least.
And the tents, the and I say tents but plas pieces of plastic and shelters
in these indescribable conditions to imagine
what they are meant to do.
If a military incursion happens, where are they meant to go?
Where will they get access to food? Water,
when we've spoken with the the hospital directors of the Emirati Hospital,
which in the middle of Rafah is a lifeline for the pregnant women of Gaza.
For the number of births I mentioned 50 to 60
births every single day with 10 to 12 Caesarean sections.
It's unthinkable that what may happen again,
maybe I can stop here in terms of my briefing. But
there is a way to stop Gaza from further plunging into a deeper abyss,
and that is that there must be a massive influx of aid and assistance and not
only getting it across the border cos you'll
have heard from the broader humanitarian community.
It's not only about access to get the aid into Gaza,
it's getting in and to the people who need it, those safe the ability to move safely,
uh, and deliver that aid safely to where it's most needed for those people in need.
And with that is the final call, which I again I echo my fellow,
my fellow humanitarian workers.
I echo the voice of the Gazans that I met with, and, uh,
from the from the United Nations from the Secretary General from UN FB A
in calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,
which is the only solution for this huge catastrophe right now in Gaza.
Thanks very much to you, Dominic, um,
for this very comprehensive briefing and and as heartbreaking as it is, uh,
and dire there the situation is I take this opportunity
car just to remind you that yesterday we shared with you
the remarks by Antonio Guterres, the secretary general to the Security Council.
In which, as as we just heard,
he echoed his call for an immediate ceasefire as well
as the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza.
And he says ending the hostilities in Gaza would significantly significantly
diffuse tensions across the region.
And and since we spoke about UNRWA, of course,
we echo that UNRWA is indeed the backbone.
And I draw your attention to the statement that we shared with you two days ago.
In fact, from Philip Lazzarini,
in which he talks about why the agency exists that is,
in lieu of a state that can deliver critical public services to the
OK, we'll take a question. Now we have Satoko
So, Toko, could you, uh, you're unmuted You want to try to pose your question?
so maybe you may need to disconnect and then connect again In that case,
I'll take a question in the room of Nina from a FP.
thank you for this briefing.
I was, uh, wondering you mentioned the intentional destruction of equipment. Um,
I was wondering if you could say, uh, that this was done, uh,
by the Israelis while they were in there.
And if you've spoken with them, uh,
specifically about this and what their reaction is,
uh, when it comes to, uh, conditions for for giving birth? Uh, in Gaza, if you could,
um, say a bit more. About what? What that means for women.
I mean, the CC sections, for instance. Uh, with, uh, are they being done now?
anaesthetics? And also, um,
are the fact that they have to be discharged so quickly?
and if you have any, uh, numbers you mentioned, Uh uh, sorry if you have, uh,
any information about low birth rates, uh, by the Children?
Uh, being born. Thank you.
so on the first question,
um, I don't know who damaged the medical equipment.
It's clearly just been purposefully damaged.
Um, a as I described, um, and for which we took pictures as well,
together with this joint mission with the World Health Organisation.
Um, seeing, uh, cables cut, but is not a by-product of, uh uh of, um,
seeing cables cut on an ultrasound machine
or screens that have been smashed without,
uh, any other damage surrounding them.
I can't speak to who did it, but I can speak to, uh, the impact it will have because, uh,
some of these medic specialised medical equipment
I know the World Health Organisation and some of the more
complex issues which aren't necessarily to do with maternal health,
they've spent years trying to negotiate their their ability to enter Gaza.
And it, uh, puts back the health system by, uh, many. Many fold on the
situation for for women giving birth. Um, thank you for the question on that. I think
in terms of Caesarean sections,
uh, we have had a number of reports and anecdotal evidence from, uh from doctors.
I myself spoke to the anaesthesia
in the Sahaba Hospital in the north of Gaza, as I described,
it's the hospital in Northern Gaza, which is, uh, providing, uh, the only maternal,
health services in the North for for referrals
for for those complex or basic emerging obstetrics.
And the anesthesiologist there said that, uh, he he does not have, um,
sufficient supplies of anaesthesia.
So where he would want to have, um, full, uh, full anaesthetic for C sections it.
so that the th that's those are the reports which
which we've received and heard with my own ears.
Indeed, the situation for for for births overall,
because of this health system being completely crippled,
the throughput, first of all,
in terms of trauma cases which overwhelm
emergency rooms and therefore displace maternal healthcare.
Uh, and the throughput, which I described in Emirati hospital, for example,
women are giving birth and having to and having to be discharged within a matter of
Now that increases risks because what would usually happen with checkups at, uh,
um, issues might be missed and the ability to come back, um, to, uh,
to seek medical care may have to happen.
So we we are deeply concerned about the, uh, the ability to provide postnatal care.
This is why you heard me describe in some of the designated emergency shelters.
We want to increase the number of midwives in the community.
And we've, uh, working with local partners to try and do that,
um in terms of the the data points.
As I mentioned, we were estimating, uh,
and tracking a around 100 and 80 births every single day.
a 15% of those would come for with some form of complications and would require
compre comprehensive emergency or basic obstetric basic
em or comprehensive emergency obstetric care.
But the again from speaking with the, um the the the the the doctors in the,
um in the maternity units and in those three hospitals,
they are describing an increased number.
We don't have data points on how many, uh,
how what is the percentage of those complicated births or complicated procedures?
But there is absolutely an increase in the numbers.
Some doctors reported a doubling of what they previously had dealt with in terms of,
uh, dealing with complications with birth, and this is due to malnutrition,
and fear which impact the B, the P,
a pregnant woman's ability to give birth safely
and carry their baby to full term safely.
Indeed, you spoke to low birth weights again.
This was also a key message from Doctor He,
the medical director at the Emirati Maternity Hospital who described by F.
He described to me by saying he no longer sees normal sized babies in,
Given the numbers that are happening there, that is an important, uh,
anecdotal data point for for us in terms of, uh, what they're seeing again.
This is where the compounding nature of the malnutrition and the food insecurity
we we've spoken over the past weeks the United Nation around the looming famine
and that has a direct impact on pregnant women.
the the caloric intake and requirements for
both pregnant and lactating women are higher.
And because they are sustaining more than their own lives, the lives of their babies
and their needs for hydration water is also clean.
Access to clean water is also increased, especially for lactating women.
So, uh, and then finally, as I mentioned fear,
fear has a has a has a huge role to play in terms of increasing stress, hypertension,
blood pressure, which again increases complications and could force more, uh,
earlier preterm births, Uh, in order to give S, uh, birth safely.
So, I, I hope that helps provide some, uh,
some more context to the difficult, very challenging
ability for pregnant women to give birth safely in Gaza right now. Thanks, Dominic.
I believe it does help very much. The colleague from Yomiuri
asks a question online. She's asking specifically
the dates for the mission you just undertook and the UN agencies that were involved,
if you could respond to that. Thanks.
I come in as the representative for the N FBI go in and out of Gaza regularly.
This is my third such mission. We have our international team on the ground.
Um, so my my time in and out of of Gaza itself was, uh, I. I entered, um, last monday.
I have to pull up a calendar.
uh, which was the eighth of April and I exited on, uh, Wednesday the 17th, Um,
the missions that we undertook to Eastern
uh was last Wednesday together with the world health organisation
of April and then our joint mission,
uh, to the, uh to to, uh, to Gaza City, To Al
The Indonesian hospital and the Palestinian Medical Relief Society
Medical Point in Gaza was undertaken on Monday,
And again that was with the leadership of WHO, uh, together with
There you help. Thanks very much, Dominic. OK, we have a question now from Imogen.
Yeah. Good morning. Uh, thanks for that.
Um and Dominic thanks very much for all the information, it's, uh, very very, um
important and helpful. This question, though, is a bit more housekeeping.
And maybe more. Maybe more for you, Orlando. It's just because U NRW was mentioned.
The the report on UNRWA comes back, comes out on Monday.
Um, I believe it's being published in New York. Um,
but can we make sure that the UN correspondents in Geneva get a copy under embargo
and that we can also view possibly participate in the the press conference?
the coverage has been covering that angle has been a big part of our work here, too.
And from my point of view, it's, um I I'm
supposed to be covering it. I'm not in New York, but I'm allocated it.
So we can we can we ensure that that happens?
I will certainly relay that message.
We already have expressed that, uh, to our colleagues in New York.
You rightly point out, uh, the target date, I think is Monday this coming Monday, Uh,
So, uh, we'll definitely echo those, uh,
those, uh, sentiments to our colleagues and see what we can do.
Um, I just I'm taking note that, uh, Dominic, uh,
colleagues are asking if you can share your notes, that would be most helpful.
Um, and then we have a question. Now, from Lisa Schlein of the Voice of America.
Thank you, Rolando. And good morning to you, Dominique.
Um, I'd like to first know what what personal contact, if any. You have had with,
uh, the Israeli authorities.
In regard to all these fears, horrible fears that you have mentioned about a
possible, uh, offensive in Rafah.
And what measures possible measures might be taken, uh, in order to protect,
uh, this one vital hospital that, uh,
apparently still functions, at least in some way or other.
dignity, supplies and other supplies that are so necessary into
Gaza? Are you being obstructed in any way?
I'm thinking, perhaps particularly, you're talking about
anaesthesia. You don't have enough of that.
Apparently, is this, for instance, considered, uh,
a dual use purpose that is that it might be
diverted in some way for some sort of, uh,
fighting or going to Hamas or whatever it is, uh, anything you could,
uh, talk about that would be helpful. Thank you.
on the first, um, I mean, the United Nations, of course. And for UFP A.
We're part of a humanitarian country team,
which has, uh, daily contacts with, uh
with, uh, with the Israeli authorities.
And, uh, I think, uh, the the Secretary General himself has even spoke of what the,
uh, risks are in terms of the, uh, uh, possible military incursion into Rafah.
So I think we've been, uh, from the UN S.
Very clear in terms of our concerns, uh, with the, uh, Israeli authorities,
including on the health system as you referred to Lisa. So thank you for that.
On the, um, difficulty on getting supplies in,
um, for a UN FB A, um I think a couple of, uh, points of challenges that we've had, um,
dignity kits have not yet, uh, had any, um, challenges in in getting in.
Um, our only challenge is that
the overall ability to get
assistance into Gaza is through a very, very narrow pipeline.
And it's been a very narrow pipeline for some time.
And I spoke earlier about the compounding
impact of of malnutrition on pregnant women.
For example, after 6.5 months, uh,
being unable to receive sufficient nutrition Uh,
and, uh, food security and hydration. What impact that will have after 6.5 months.
It's the same for the assistance getting in.
humanitarian community has been working through a very
narrow pipeline over a significant amount of time,
it means that the number of dignity kits, for example,
are insufficient at the moment.
there has been a prioritisation for the most, uh, urgently needed items.
But it is a prioritisation
through a very narrow pipeline.
And whilst there are other possible entry points
opening up especially when I'm focused around food,
those do not yet include items for, for for for dignity kits, for example,
the medical items, I speak for UN FB A in terms of the items that they've had, uh,
had challenges in getting in.
We've had the majority of our supplies for for the for
these reproductive health kits which have the emergency obstetric care items,
the cold chain items which again is very challenging cos the anaesthetics,
the oxytocin and other items which have to maintain
a cold chain throughout very challenging to get inside,
uh, into Gaza and then distributed safely, Uh,
and to maintain the co chain throughout for those deliveries,
um, we have had, uh, some kits,
and I mentioned about these midwives that we've deployed together with UN
R in the designated shelters.
Those midwifery kits, which are a a neat little bag in which a midwife can, uh,
has all of the necessary small supplies equipment
that she would need to conduct her activities.
Those kits were opened at the crossing at some point
and, uh, were opened up and and torches actually were removed.
Now, having been in those, um, whi which we, uh,
which we didn't receive any information on because again, the UN doesn't have, uh,
people inside the specific crossings.
When, uh, supplies move forward at Karem
within the crossing, we receive it on the other side and then, uh, dispatched again,
led by UN R a at the crossing doing phenomenal logistical work.
for UN FP we take our supplies and move
them through together with the logistics logistics cluster.
And it's at that point that we receive our supplies,
and we can see that these torches which should,
uh, be able to enable a a midwife to to to support, uh,
her midwifery services have been
removed. And then finally, I described these, um,
mobile maternity units that UN FB has been focused on on getting in as well.
Um, we had, as I mentioned, one,
enter into Gaza last week that thankfully was co ordinated to get in.
It took, uh, quite a number of days, uh,
back and forth at the crossing in order to get it in,
but in order to get it in the, uh, the oxygenator unit the oxygen, Um um,
MM machinery that, as part of this huge 40 ft container
has an operating theatre for comprehensive
emergence obstetric care for safe births.
The oxygen device was actually, uh, unable to make it through which, uh,
again creates a challenge for how that that that one P that one unit as part of the, uh,
particularly going to the I MC field hospital will
be able to function and support safe births.
So there have been challenges. There are other agents
who have also received significant challenges in terms of getting
a number of items in. I think of the generators. Um, we we saw ourselves at the Al
Amal hospital, Uh, the major generator there, which has been destroyed.
Uh, they're functioning off smaller generators,
and again that's going to impact the ability of the health system to function.
Uh, um, water and sanitation equipment and other items which, uh,
are are life saving in nature and are needed in Gaza right now.
Thanks. Dominic. Uh, Lisa, is that a follow up or legacy hand.
My legacy hand is available at all. No, no, no. That's available at all times.
But this is a follow up. Thank you.
Um, very quickly. Do Do you have any numbers?
I don't know if it's possible to gather such information,
but do you know how many women,
uh, and babies may have died?
Uh, as a consequence of not having the care that they need?
In short, no, D getting data is very difficult.
Uh, we are, uh, as UN FB A.
We coordinate under the health cluster Sexual and
Reproductive Health Task Force Working Group with all,
uh, as many partners who work on reproductive health as possible.
And we have been trying to to get,
uh, and you have access to data,
Um, in terms of maternal mortality, Um,
again, we we hear anecdotal
um, evidence from doctors. Um, the head of the NICU
units, the neonatal intensive care units of of babies that, uh,
are increased number of stillborn births.
Um, of the impact of of this, uh, of this.
As I said, the the malnutrition of, uh,
inability to access, uh, safely the maternal health facilities,
which is life saving in nature.
But we don't have any data.
Uh, yet Lisa, there was a, um a a modelling,
which was produced by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,
together with John Hopkins University,
which looked at various scenarios and the impact, uh, based on the, um,
Likely impact on maternal mortality. I'm sure, uh, we can share a link to that work.
It's called Gaza hyphen projections.org.
And they did some modelling, which, uh which we think, uh, uh has, uh,
tells a very important story about the impact on, uh,
on women and girls and babies and neonatal.
Uh uh, tragic neonatal deaths in, uh, in Gaza.
No. Yeah. Those, uh, notes would be most helpful. Uh, so I take this opportunity.
I don't see in the other hand, so I'd like to take this opportunity.
Thank you very, very much. Uh, for briefing our journalists here in Geneva,
Dominic. And of course, uh, for the very important work you and your agency are doing
we'll now shift to, uh, Myanmar.
Jeremy Lawrence of the Office of the High Commission for human rights is here.
Who's going to speak to concerns of a rising tension in Rakhine
The the High Commissioner has issued a statement uh, earlier this morning which,
uh you should have all received
intensified fighting in Rakhine state between the military and the
Alongside tensions being fueled by the between the Rohingya and ethnic
Rakhine communities pose a grave threat to the civilian population.
There is a grave risk that past atrocities will be repeated.
Since the year long informal ceasefire between
the two sides broke down last November
15 of Rakhine S 17 townships have been affected by fighting,
resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries and taking
the number of displaced to well over 300,000.
has once again become a battleground involving multiple actors
and civilians are paying a heavy price
with Rohingya at particular risk.
What is particularly disturbing is that whereas in 2017,
the Rohingya were targeted by one group,
they are now trapped between two armed factions
who have a track record of killing them.
We must not allow the Rohingya to be targeted again.
The military has been fast losing ground to
the Arakan army throughout northern and central Rakhine.
This has led to intensified fighting in the townships of bid
ahead of an expected battle for the Rakhine state capital sit way.
The two townships are home to large Rohingya populations, putting them
the military has outrageously started to forcibly conscript,
bribe and coerce Rohingya into joining their ranks.
It is unconscionable that they should be targeted in this way,
given the appalling events of six years ago
and the ongoing extreme discrimination against the Rohingya,
including the denial of citizenship.
Some reports say the military is forcing the
the Rohingya recruits or villages to burn ethnic Rakhine
homes, buildings or villages.
Ethnic Rakhine villages have allegedly responded
in kind by burning Rohingya villages.
The UN Human rights Office is trying to verify all reports received a
task that is being complicated by a communications blackout throughout the state.
Disinformation and propaganda are also rife,
exemplified by claims that
Islamic terrorists have taken Hindus
This is the same kind of hateful narrative that fueled communal violence
back in 2012 and the horrendous attacks against the Rohingya in 2017.
Since the start of the year,
the Arakan army has positioned itself in and around Rohingya villages,
effectively inviting military attacks on Rohingya civilians.
Sans Frontieres office and pharmacy were torched in Bid
along with some 200 homes.
Hundreds have fled and are reported to be taking refuge in a high school,
the grounds of the former hospital and along roads in Bid
hospitals having been shut by the military back in March
and with the conflict intensifying,
there is effectively no medical treatment in northern Rakhine,
the alarm bells are ringing and we must not allow there to be a repeat of the past
countries with influence on the Myanmar military
Armed groups involved must act now to protect all civilians in Rakhine
and prevent another episode
of a horrendous persecution
Thank you very much, Jeremy.
Ok, we have, uh, Antonio Broto of Spanish news Agency. Antonio.
Uh, hello. My question is not related with, uh Myanmar is, uh, about Middle East.
I don't know if I can ask the question.
Let's let's just OK, let's maybe come back to you. Lisa has her hand up as well.
Let's see. Is this, uh, on Myanmar, Lisa?
Yes. And it's not a legacy hand.
it it does OHC HR have any presence in Myanmar. Do you have any contact at all with
the military? You talked about the situation being unconscionable. It seems as if
the military leaders have no conscience. How do you, uh I
I'm sorry. This is a horrible, horrible story which never quits.
But how do you ever make a difference? How do you ever get across to them?
And then I'm wondering, Do you know anything about
had been moved to house arrest, as opposed to
I guess she had been confined in the prison prior
Yes, thank you. So, with respect to,
uh, no, we don't have a presence in, uh, in Myanmar.
we are engaged. Um, with, uh, through our usual diplomatic channels.
Uh, we're engaged. We have been engaged with, uh, for instance, the, uh,
Arakan army via its political wing.
and the same when it comes to engaged with the permanent mission here in Geneva,
and, uh, to check on information received.
We're aware of the reports of, uh, that she has been moved. Um,
Now, uh, our position remains the same on
some. I think it's 20,000 other, uh, political, uh,
who are being held in, uh, in
All of them have to be released.
Maybe just take this opportunity to remind you of the fairly recent appointment by
the Secretary General of Julie Bishop of Australia as a special envoy on,
uh, on Myanmar who, uh, replaced, uh, Noeleen Hazer of Singapore.
Uh, who stepped down earlier.
Um and we also, of course,
have the independent investigative mechanism on Myanmar,
which is very active here in Geneva.
Um, so indeed, um, it is a dire situation which we are looking at from various angles.
Um, further questions on Myanmar.
Before we take Antonio's question, I believe on Gaza.
So maybe if you don't mind, maybe I'll just turn back to you, Antonio,
for a question on the Middle East.
I think you said Go ahead, Antonio.
Uh, yes, thank you. So the espial
of attacks between Iran and Israel
Today we have heard about the alleged Israeli drone attacks on Iranian soil.
So I wonder if if your office has any comments on this situation in the Middle East.
Yes, Uh, thanks for your question. Like you, um we're aware of the reports. Um, and
it's hard to gather real information because, uh, from both sides involved.
Um, but what we can say is something quite clear.
We urge all parties to take steps
in particular, those with influence
to do all in their power to ensure there is no further deterioration
in an already extremely precarious situation.
we're deeply worried about the potential humanitarian and human
rights cost if this escalation leads to a wider conflict
And just again, as I mentioned earlier, the Secretary general also
called, uh, for a de escalation of the situation. He he echoed this.
Rather he he uttered this to the
Security Council in the statement yesterday which we shared with you.
Um and then earlier in the week, we shared with you a statement on on his behalf.
Um, which strongly condemned the serious escalation,
um, represented by the large scale attack launched on Israel by Iran.
So of course, de escalation is is the key word here. Muhammad, please
It is known that Israel is planning to attack on
Israeli and US officials discussed
And according to the statement,
officials agreed on defeat of Hamas in Rafah.
My question is, do we have any information on that?
And how do you commend this Israeli attack attempt? Thank you.
Thanks, II. I can't share anything more beyond what I've just said,
to go back to what? Orlando
escalation and ceasefire is what we've been seeing,
million times. So this is really the hope,
uh, further questions for Jeremy before we release him from here.
OK? I don't see That's the case.
So thank you very much as always, Jeremy, for joining us.
Uh, I would like now to invite our colleague from the World Health Organisation Uh,
Doctor Wang King Zhang who is head of WH OS Global Influenza programme.
And Tarik, if you can, uh, step up as well we'd much appreciate that. Um
Doctor Zhang uh is one moment.
Doctor Zhang is head of the World Health Organisation Global Influenza programme
this is an update on the H five N one situation globally Doctor Zhang over to you.
influenza H five N one viruses have been detected in dairy,
in dairy cows and goats in the in the United States
And since March 2024 infections in 29 herds in
eight different states in the US have been reported.
the US notified the WHO of our laboratory confirmed
human case of H five N one in Texas.
This case worked at a dairy cattle farm where he was
exposed to cows presumed to be infected with the virus.
viruses identified in the cows and in the human case remain avian viruses,
and there's no increased adaptation identified to mammals.
Every influenza H five N one first emerged in 1996.
But since 2020 we have seen an explanation of
growth in the number of outbreaks in birds.
In addition to birds, an increasing number of mammals have been affected.
For example, minks, foxes, seals and sea lions.
Now we see herds of cows affected in an increasing number of US states,
which shows a further step of the virus spill over to mammals.
Farm workers and others in close contact with cows should take precautions
in case animals are infected.
has also been detected in milk from infected animals.
While investigations are ongoing,
it is important for people to ensure a safe food practise,
including consuming only pasteurised milk or milk milk products.
The case in Texas is the first case of an human
infection of any human infected by any influenza by a cow
and the cow to bird transmission have been registered
during these current outbreaks, although a lot is still under investigation.
These suggest that the virus may have found
other routes of transmission
other than what we previously understood.
While this sounds concerning, it is also a testament
to strong disease surveillance which allows us to detect the virus.
WHO is working very closely with FA.
one health partners on updating our
joint risk assessment on H five N one,
which we expect to be to be published in the coming days.
H five N one remains rare
and are tied to exposure to infected animals and environments.
human cases of H five N one
infection have been reported.
Infections in humans have ranged from mild, even asymptomatic,
There is a human case of infection with an animal virus.
Countries are required to report it to
the WHO under the international health regulations,
and the detailed investigation will take place
to prevent and to stop potential further transmission
to provide the clinical management to seek
persons and other important public health measures
to understand the source of infection
to characterise the virus
and other and conduct other pandemic
So all these allow us to ensure that the risk associated with the H five, N one
and other A influenza viruses on public health is carefully managed.
does is using the virus catheterization and other available information to update
the risk assessment and the candidate vaccine viruses
as part of pandemic preparedness.
Having candidate vaccine viruses ready
to quickly produce vaccines for humans if this becomes necessary
for this particular H five N one
virus virus detected in dairy cows.
There are couple candidate vaccine viruses available from
from the WH OS Global influenza Surveillance and Response system.
While OWHO and its partners are closely
the risks associated with the H five N one
and other any influenza viruses.
We call on countries to remain vigilant,
rapidly report human infections if any
rapidly share sequences and other data,
and reinforce biosecurity measures
Thank you very much, Doctor Zhang. We have a couple of questions for you.
We'll start with uh oh, We'll start in the room.
OK, so let's take, uh, Christine, first of, uh,
Thank you for that briefing.
Could you clarify? Um, the detection in chaos
is that, uh, restricted to the US.
And could you speak more about the detection of the virus in milk?
And what exactly the precautions are? Does that mean?
raw milk cheese should not be consumed all over the world?
Or is that restricted to the United States? Thank you.
So So far. Yes. The information we have so far is the virus.
Detection is only in cows in US.
with regards to the virus detection in milks,
we also received a report that there is very high virus concentration in raw
But exactly how long the virus would be able to survive in the milks
in the milks, it is remain under investigation.
So from WHO, From public health perspective, we recommend
that people really should consume pasteurised milk or milk products.
thank you very much. Uh, Nina, do you have a question from a FP?
Thank you, uh, for taking my question. I also had a question. A similar question,
on on the milk. Uh, so if I understand correctly, this hasn't contributed to any,
um, human, uh, cases yet of the of the virus, is that correct?
if you say people should consume pasteurised milk products.
Uh, so that would mean that we should steer away from unpasteurized cheeses,
Uh uh, is that what you're?
Is that what you're saying? Thank you.
there's only one human case was detected associated with the with the outbreaks.
And this case had exposure to to the cows,
and most likely is is through the direct compact of the cows presumed to be
to be infected with this H five N one.
we we don't have the information that this case
actually got the infection through through milk itself.
The information is a direct contact with the cows in the during the outbreak.
So with regards to what would happen to those milk and
and or they have relevant guidance developed,
I really would suggest people would look into
into that resource of information with the highest authority.
Yeah. Please go ahead. Nina.
So But just for that recommendation, it's it's worldwide,
even though this has only been found in cows in in the US.
believe is why would it only be found in in cows in the U SI mean I?
I assume we should perhaps expect it to be be spread elsewhere.
I think we we we are not able to really predict how wild
again this virus will be spreading into into cows in other countries.
that the virus emerged in 1996 and then in 2020 this very specific
virus emerged circulating, spreading to Africa, Asian and and and Europe.
And then in 2022 it's cross to the North
America and then into the South America itself.
And also, in recent years, we've see the virus spill over to meals.
And I think there are around 200 memos
at least from the US D's report reported that
have this virus detected from these 200 mammals itself.
So the trend is clear. What is required is the vigilance
and the disease surveillance programmes in countries,
and this would again come to the one health
Not only the surveillance in humans, but also in animals as well.
Tare. If you have anything to add any point, just let me know. Uh,
we have a couple of, um questions online for you.
Uh, doctor, Uh, Catherine, uh, fianca of
Yes. Thank you, Rolando. Good morning. Um, and thank you so much for this briefing,
Doctor. First of all, could you please send us as soon as possible? Your notes?
Um, because that would be very helpful for all of us.
I have a couple questions related to the questions also asked to from my colleagues.
first of all, when you said that, um, it was a direct contact with the cow.
What does it mean? Direct contact? Could you please elaborate on that?
Does it mean that the person was milking,
um, the the the the cow? Or do you know how it happened?
The other, uh, my other question
is, um, if you could tell us a bit more also about, um the way you detect it. Do you have
that would be used in the rest of the world As you mentioned that
you had some cases in chaos
before in the previous years.
And could you tell us more about the rate of death
Uh, the level of research I know. It's, uh there are many questions.
And, um, I I get back to what my my two colleagues said about pasteurised products.
Does it mean that, um, you found the evidence that
the virus is dying when, uh, you heat
the milk or the product above a certain, uh uh, degrees? What about freezing?
Um, does it affect also the virus or not?
Or you're not at that level of, uh, investigation. Thank you.
Thanks very much for this list of questions, and these are all very important.
And I'll go through one by one
first about the direct compact. What does that mean?
So, according to the report from us D a likely the transmission
can occur through the form
or mechanical devices that used in milking
And also this person worked, worked in the farm.
But the details exactly what exactly? This person worked in that farm.
I think I would have to look into the report of that.
and the second question is about the detection.
So, yes. So there's ways available the laboratory diagnostics available,
and the countries both in the animal sector but also in the public health sector.
Through the global system,
countries are equipped to detect that virus if the virus appear in their country.
So those diagnostics are not only available, but updated.
Um, then you also have a question about the death itself.
So this case reported from the US have the contact with the cow actually had mild
so far close to 900 human infections. So H five N one. And that was really from 2003.
And if we look at the overall cases, more than a half or around a half,
actually were reported as fatal as fatal.
But if we look at the details of this specific virus 2344 B
This is a virus circulating and infecting or detected in cows these days.
Actually, the case human cases so far
occurred, reported from from from North America and Europe they are all mild.
Um, there's a case detected in China.
It's fatal, but there are also a couple other cases detected in other countries.
Also present severe, but all recovered.
So this is about, uh, about the death question.
We need to look into details with regards exactly
the mortality caused by the by the virus itself.
Um, you also have a question about vaccines.
So for influenza, for the next influenza pandemic vaccines, Um,
Actually, there are close to 20
Um, so this is for influenza,
uh uh uh vaccines that can be used tailored for that specific pandemic.
It will rely on the specific virus strain at
But the mechanism or the process is all in place.
And for this particular virus infecting cows in US,
there are a couple of candidate vaccine viruses available.
So if imagine if that virus cause a pandemic tomorrow, then
vaccine development and production basically could
already occurring because a candidate vaccine
virus are already available are being distributed to the manufacturers already.
So this is a preparedness and the readiness. That's the whole world we have so far.
you also have a question about the pasteurisation.
And for this question, I would really like to refer to the guidance developed from FA
O and a war on this particular about the
process about the quality of this Pasteurisation process.
Thank you very much, Doctor. Perhaps.
Yeah, for the last question,
maybe you can reach out to colleagues at FA
O who might be able to provide that guidance.
And we have another question for you, Doctor from John Zara
sorry, uh, your second periodical.
It's drawing a blank here, John, if you can introduce that
Yes. Hi, it's John. The other one is the Lancet.
Uh, thank you, Doctor Zhang. I was wondering if you could, uh, bring us up to speed on,
under the international health regulations,
member states are obliged to report to the WHO when they have, uh, outbreaks of, uh,
H one N one or other influenza strains.
What is the average delay from the member state to the WHO?
Are they reporting fast enough? Or there is a lag time.
And secondly, if you could bring us up to speed on some of the other,
um, influenza viruses that are fatal, like H three, N eight
or H three, N two. And where have they been? Uh,
um, found. And how quickly have they been notified to the WHO through your, uh,
So, under the health, uh, under international health regulation,
member states need to notify to report to WHO the detection, Uh,
or the confirmation of the of
of human infection with novel influenza virus within.
I think within 48 hours there's a very specific requirement of those.
There are certain delays or there were certain delays.
But this was mainly due to the process of the confirmation,
because influenza itself a virus. It could be seasonal influenza
and which are not notifiable.
So how actually to confirm whether this is a really a novel virus?
This might take some time, so they were delays in the past.
Due to this type of process,
you actually also mentioned about H one, N one and H three, N two.
So we need to be I just would like to clarify it.
Here Is that for influenza, seasonal or human influenza circulating.
And these are H one, N one and H three, N two.
But there are also viruses circulating in swine in
and well, we call that variant influenza virus.
So if a human infection or that swine H one N one or H three N two viruses.
We would also encourage member states to report as well.
And they are laboratory diagnostics.
a colleague asked laboratory diagnostics
available to differentiate the seasonal influenza
So this is a mechanism in place.
Thank you. Uh, John, a quick follow up from you before we go to Lisa. John?
yes. I was wondering, uh, if, uh if Doctor Zhang also had some details on the
virus outbreaks, if you can bring us up to speed on that. And secondly,
do we have some figures from your sister agencies?
The number of, uh, poultry that have been, uh, uh,
culled worldwide. And is there similar efforts to coal,
uh, cows. And also, I think, uh, it's been found also in goats. If I'm not mistaken.
Yes. Thanks very much, actually.
Um, for any influenza, as you rightly said it's not just H five N one.
There's also H five and six
and even for H five. N one. There are different claims.
The case. Only the current case infected
But probably you recall there are other cases also
reported in Southeast Asia just early this year.
It was caused by a different decla
And so this is different places with
But there are also other subtypes. As you said H three and eight.
There's also H 10 and five,
so there are different subtypes of those
But those are subtypes, so if human infection
is very rare, it is very rare
and usually it was picked up from from
like from hospitalised cases from severe cases.
But this is rare. It's individual. Of those,
um, I don't actually have the number of the all all the information about the car,
et cetera, So maybe you can send an email,
and certainly I'm very happy to connect with our colleagues in In FA,
That would be very helpful. Thank you Doctor.
Uh, one final question from Lisa, Uh, Voice of America. Lisa, over to you.
Thank you. Uh, yes. Good morning, Doctor Zen,
Um, you mentioned that half of the death that that, uh,
half of the 900 people who were infected
have died. So this is when it does occur. Fairly high mortality rate.
You also said that the United States States in Europe only had mild cases.
So where did most of these
Where did these deaths actually occur? Were they in
Africa? Were they in developing countries that they have to do
with the sanitary conditions? Uh, and the manner in which
animals were being treated.
is there a treat? You were talking about vaccines, but that's preventive.
Uh, I guess, um what about treatment? How? How?
If somebody becomes infected, what do you do? Thank you.
Thank you very much for this question.
Yes. Uh, this close to 900 cases occurred since 2003,
and at those beginning, Yes,
most of the cases were detected in Southeast Asian or East Asia.
As I said, if we look at the specific claim of the viruses like in the current 23 years,
Actually, in the past two years,
the cases in US and and and and Europe they they were really mild,
it could be related to the virus profile itself.
And it could also related to the surveillance as well.
Because for the detection of asymptomatic cases, it would require thirdly,
more or more intensive surveillance in order to pick up an asymptomatic cases
while in the early years after 2003 in Southeast Asia.
Maybe the surveillance was focusing on those severe cases in those population.
So that comes up with a high mortality rate.
And the example is that if we look at the moral
rate among cases in IC U,
it was much higher than if we look at among
all hospitalised cases or all those with the symptoms.
would, referring to both the surveillance but also the virus profile itself.
And we really need to look at the virus in different
places because it comes out with different figures of mortality.
Good question about treatment, anti
virals And also I did not mention here. Indeed.
So one of the monitoring aspect of WHO is
to look at the susceptibility of the currently available anti
And we are very happy to see to say that when we look at the current viruses,
including the viruses detected in cows and that human case,
Or there's no mutation in the viruses associated with
the reduction of the susceptibility of available antiviral drugs,
I think, uh, Nina had a follow up question or another question, perhaps
Uh, I follow up on what you were just saying, Uh, when it comes to the number of cases,
I guess if the surveillance has not picked up less severe cases um, in in Asia,
you're saying that there could probably be a lot more
cases than those who that have actually been registered.
Uh, if you could answer that, And then I just wanted to,
um, go back to my initial question on the the recommendations for pasteurised milk.
Uh, could you clearly say if that recommendation is just for the US or if it is, um,
So about the sensitivity.
Actually, you are talking about the sensitivity of surveillance,
whether actually more cases could have been
I think we are quite comfortably to say is that,
the surveillance itself has a different components.
You know, the primary part is that we look at those people with symptoms,
so we call the syndromic surveillance those symptoms,
we test them and to find out actually, what is the viruses cause the infection.
Um, complementary to that.
There are also other studies, for example, serology studies.
They are also focused surveillance, for example, surveillance just within
or surveillance in the people involved in the investigation
in the investigation, or the people like, at the moment working in cow farms,
So all these surveillance species were coming together,
would be able to get a better picture with regards
to what extent the virus actually infect human itself.
So I think with all these together,
we are quite comfortably to say that this avian influenza virus,
H five N one is still remain an avian virus and its infection in human.
so this this is a comment I would want to put there with
regards to a recommendation about the use for people to use the pasteurised.
Uh uh uh uh uh Milk and milk products.
It's a similar to people to consume the cooked food instead.
Cooked meat instead of raw meat. This is the same. This applies to the whole world.
Thank you very much, Doctor.
This was a very useful briefing and gauging from the number of questions received,
Of course. Very important. Uh, so thank you.
Our colleague from FA O does, uh, mention that, uh, inquiries on animal health.
She's, uh, happy to coordinate with experts in Rome.
Should you have questions on that specific area.
So thank you again, doctor, for joining us and, uh,
for sharing this important information.
before we wrap up just a couple of quick announcements
from me to highlight the meetings here in Geneva.
We have the committee on the elimination of racial discrimination.
Uh, meeting, uh, this morning,
concluding this morning its review of the report of Moldova
and the Committee Against Torture will commence. Um,
its session on this coming Tuesday morning. The 23rd,
uh, to review the report of Azerbaijan
and press conferences. A couple to announce both for Monday the 22nd of April.
We have one from the International Labour Organisation
on the launch of their report titled The
Impacts of Climate on Occupational Safety and Health.
And that's at 1130 in this room
the office of the High Commission for Human Rights who you just heard from,
Uh, will do a briefing on the health situation health situation in Gaza.
And actually that is, uh, sorry. That is a special rapporteur on the right to health.
keng Uh, the special rapporteur on the right to health, who will be here at 1.
And very last, just more of a housekeeping.
Just to remind you of the announcement that we shared with
you yesterday via email to say that you're all invited,
Whoever is here in person is happy.
Uh, if you're willing to go upstairs to
our third floor, uh, outside room eight at 1.
15, there is a meeting currently underway with the principal,
the directors of communications for the various UN agencies and programmes from
all countries who are currently in Geneva for their annual meeting.
And they would like to meet with you for those of you who are
are free at 1. 15 in room eight to that meeting will take place.
And I should highlight that This is indeed a unique occasion,
uh, to establish a personal contact with, uh these, uh,
colleagues from all over the globe.
It may be very, very last. Not the congratulations to
on the election of their new well, the newly elected
congratulations to you and looking forward to working
with you over the course of the year
if there are no qu. Oh, there are questions for me. What do you know? OK, uh, cat
Yes, I was muted. Rolando, the I
briefing is taking place Monday at 1030. No.
Yeah, that's what I said. Did I say 1030?
I said, I think I thought
Wait, wait. You know what? You're absolutely right, OK? It must be, uh, my jet lag.
I just arrived so 1030 is the actual briefing.
until 11:30 a.m. So I apologise. Briefing 1030 in this room
under embargo until 1130. Thank you for clarifying.
So I'd like to take this up and just thank you and have a good afternoon.
Good lunch and nice weekend.
