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UN Geneva Press Briefing - 27 August 2024
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Press Conferences | OCHA , OHCHR , OSE , UNHCR , WHO , WMO
UN Geneva Press Briefing - 27 August 2024
UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
27 August 2024
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Rising sea levels
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the Secretary-General was in the Pacific, where he had just issued a “global SOS” from Tonga in the Pacific, urging governments to step up climate action to “Save Our Seas” as two new reports revealed how rising sea levels were threatening the vulnerable region and beyond. Secretary-General’s full remarks from a press conference in Tonga were available here.
Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that the WMO Secretary-General had also sent a red alert regarding the impact of the climate change on sea level rise. WMO had released its State of the Climate in the Southwest Pacific update, which detailed how sea level rise in the region was above the global average. Sea surface temperatures had risen three times faster than the global average since 1980. During that time marine heatwaves had approximately doubled in frequency since 1980 and were more intense and lasting longer. At the same time, the WMO welcomed the Weather Ready Pacific Programme as part of the international Early Warnings for All initiative, which facilitated proactive measures such as evacuation plans, resource allocation and infrastructure reinforcement.
On 2 September, informed Ms. Nullis, the WMO would launch its State of the Climate in Africa report, its final regional update for this year. WMO would also release its annual report on air quality and climate on 7 September; an embargoed press briefing could be organized on 6 September.
Impact of mpox on refugees in Africa
Dr. Allen Maina, Public Health Chief at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), stated that in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the regions hardest hit by mpox, at least 42 suspected cases had been identified amongst the refugee population. Confirmed and suspected cases had also been recorded among the refugee populations in the Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. For those fleeing violence, implementing mpox prevention measures was an immense challenge. Insecurity had left many areas cut off from humanitarian assistance; many families were living in crowded places, and there was no possibility to isolate when symptoms of the disease were detected. Water and sanitation in those places were often inadequate, and food rations were frequently very meager. UNHCR and partners had scaled up health system preparedness and screening measures. Full inclusion of refugees was crucial, from monitoring and preparedness to medical care, it was all necessary to ensure that nobody was left behind. Health activities were among those hardest hit by inadequate funding. Sustained funding was needed to ensure that the necessary activities were in place to prevent further spread of mpox.
More details are available here.
Responding to questions from the media, Dr. Maina explained that a mixed transmission dynamics was detected, but with the limited access to laboratories, sequencing was a problem, and the exact strains of the virus could not be established that swiftly. Some samples had been sent for sequencing, and the results were being awaited. Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), explained that both clade 1a and clade 1b strains were circulating in the DRC at the same time. Overall, more than 18,000 cases had been reported from the DRC, but most of them had not yet been lab-confirmed. In eastern DRC, a lot of outbreaks were due to the clade 1b, specified Ms. Harris. Studies were underway to understand the properties of the new strains. Difficult living conditions led to weaker immune systems and made the populations more vulnerable to mpox. Dr. Maina said that one of the main challenges in the eastern DRC was the lack of adequate shelter, thus prevention efforts were very difficult. Very close physical contact created preconditions for the spread of mpox, including among children, stressed Dr. Harris. Weak immunological systems among vulnerable children might be a factor contributing to mpox spreading in this particular group. The virus also spreads through sexual contact, she said. Currently, an advisory was in place for medical workers directly dealing with infected persons to wear masks. Wearing of masks was currently not recommended for the general public, but further research was needed, she stressed. More details form the WHO on mpox are available here.
Dr. Harris, responding to further questions, said that vaccines were an important tool, but the overall effort had to be broader than that. Vaccine procurement was ongoing, as part of the larger strategic response. There was some evidence from the global mpox outbreak that some vaccines could be used in children. Dr. Maina said that the dynamic nature of the ongoing conflict further complicated efforts to reach people in need, as well as access of displaced people to health facilities.
Rohingya refugee crisis
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that, six years since the forced mass displacement of Rohingya people and other communities from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, the Secretary-General called on all stakeholders to redouble efforts to find comprehensive, inclusive, and durable solutions that could adequately address the root causes of systemic discrimination and violence in Myanmar and to respond to growing protection crisis and humanitarian needs while strengthening refugee protection efforts in the region for those fleeing persecution and violence. The United Nations was committed to working with all stakeholders, including regional actors, to help resolve the crisis and seek accountability and justice for victims towards a sustainable peace in Rakhine State and all of Myanmar.
Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), stated that, as the world marked the seventh anniversary of the large-scale forced displacement of Rohingya refugees, UNHCR was again calling for sustained commitment from international partners to support and protect nearly one million Rohingya hosted by Bangladesh, and to help secure solutions to end their plight. He reminded that, on 25 August 2017, some 700,000 Rohingya men, women and children had been forced to flee Myanmar and seek protection in Bangladesh. The generous support from Bangladesh and the international community had been critical in meeting the refugees’ most basic needs and providing protection, but new security concerns and funding uncertainties now undermined all but the most critical and life-saving assistance.
In Myanmar’s Rakhine state, the escalated conflict had only worsened conditions for the Rohingya; internal displacement was at an all-time high, with more than 3.3 million people displaced within the country. Among them, at least 128,800 were in northern Rakhine in Buthidaung, Rathedaung, and Maungdaw Townships. The fighting could be heard by Bangladeshi communities living close to the border. Dignified, voluntary and sustainable return to Myanmar remained the primary solution to this crisis and UNHCR called on the international community to demonstrate the political will to make this possible. UNHCR welcomed the renewed commitment to the refugees, made by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of Bangladesh’s Interim Government, on 18 August. Mr. Baloch informed that, in 2024, humanitarian agencies had appealed for USD 852 million to assist some 1.35 million people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshis in surrounding communities, but this appeal remained inadequately funded. Speaking of the exposure of Bangladesh to flooding, Mr. Baloch stressed that more systematic and sustained global support was needed for countries like Bangladesh which were exposed to extreme weather conditions and natural disasters that are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
Full statement is available here.
Answering questions, Mr. Baloch said that it was hard to ascertain numbers of Rohingya who had crossed from Myanmar to Bangladesh this year. UNHCR called on the Bangladeshi authorities to prevent refoulement of refugees to Myanmar. The total number of people who had left Myanmar, most of whom were Rohingya, stood at about 1.3 million.
Communities flooded following dam collapse in Sudan’s Red Sea State
Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), informed that on 25 August, the Arba’at Dam some 38 km northwest of Port Sudan in Sudan’s Red Sea State, had suffered extensive damage due to heavy rains, collapsed, and flooded downstream communities. Local authorities had confirmed 30 deaths, but the number of casualties could be much higher. Seventy villages around the dam had reportedly been affected of which 20 had been destroyed. Some 50,000 people living on the western side of the dam have had their homes destroyed or damaged, and people urgently needed water, food, and shelter assistance, according to the authorities.
An inter-agency team lead by OCHA was departing Port Sudan today and heading towards the affected area. This team, in coordination with partners and the authorities, would support assessments to further determine the extent of the damage, people’s most urgent humanitarian needs, and help coordinate the response. The damage to the Arba’at Dam was expected to have wider consequences as it is a primary source of freshwater for Port Sudan and will impact water supplies there.
Responding to questions, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy with 205 metric tons of food assistance for 17,000 people, had passed from Chad into Sudan through the Adre crossing. This was a second WFP convoy to come this way in recent days. Distributions in Darfur would commence as the trucks reached their destination. On another question, Mr. Laerke said that it was not known how many people in the area affected by the dam burst were unaffected for. The area was under the control of the Government of Sudan, so it was not expected that the conflict would affect this area in the immediate future.
Situation in Gaza
Replying to a question on Deir er-Balah, Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that the IDF had issued 16 new evacuation orders over recent days, and the total number of evacuation orders in August stood at 60. The relocations had taken place at a very short notice and in dangerous conditions, effectively upending an entire lifesaving humanitarian hub that had been set up in Deir er-Balah after the earlier evacuation from Rafah. The Rafah crossing remained closed, he reminded, while the Eretz crossing was open, and the Kerem Shalom crossing was technically open, but it was too dangerous for humanitarian agencies to go there to collect the aid.
Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that access, safety, and security were absolutely critical for the planned polio vaccination campaign. WHO aimed to reach every child under the age of ten in the Gaza Strip. Vaccines had arrived, trainings were underway, but a full agreement on the start of the campaign and security guarantees had not been reached yet. WHO aimed to reach 640,000 children; 1.6 million doses of polio vaccines had been released from the global stockpile for this purpose. More than 95 percent coverage was needed in order for the vaccination campaign to be successful.
New repressive law in Afghanistan
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, had stated that the “morality law” recently promulgated by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan further restricted human rights and freedoms, particularly of women. This was unconscionable. If maintained, the law could only impede Afghanistan’s return to the international fold.
Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the newly-adopted law on “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan cemented policies that completely erased women’s presence in public – silencing their voices, and depriving them of their individual autonomy, effectively attempting to render them into faceless, voiceless shadows. This was utterly intolerable, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for this egregious law to be immediately repealed.
The long list of repressive provisions that this law imposed on women reinforced a number of existing restrictions that violated their fundamental human rights, including their freedom of movement, their freedom of expression, and their right to live free from discrimination. The law included the requirement to wear clothes that completely covered their bodies from head to toe, including their faces; a ban for transport providers on transporting women unless they were accompanied by a male relative; and the prohibition on women’s voices being heard in public. Other restrictions in the law, which were vaguely defined, affected other human rights, such as the right to freely practice one’s religion. The law also granted State agents broad, discretionary powers to detain people, impose punishments on them, or refer matters to courts.
More details can be found here.
Replying to questions, Ms. Shamdasani said that the OHCHR had a presence in Afghanistan and was doing what it could to influence the de facto authorities. Women had to be given a seat at the table to implement solutions. Pressure had to continue on the authorities to listen, but the UN needed to be cautious so that its response would not make the situation worse.
Update on the situation in China
Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), provided an update two years since the publication of the OHCHR’s assessment on human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. She informed that the High Commissioner and the Office had had detailed exchanges with the Government of China on a range of critical issues, such as counter-terrorism laws and policies, criminal justice, other policies of concern that impact on the human rights of ethnic and religious minorities, including in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the Tibet Autonomous Region, equality and non-discrimination, as well as national security and human rights concerns in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In June this year, a UN Human Rights team had visited China and engaged in dialogue with the authorities, specifically on counter-terrorism policies and the criminal justice system. In particular, on Xinjiang, the OHCHR understood that many problematic laws and policies remained in place. The Office had called again on the authorities to undertake a full review, from the human rights perspective, of the legal framework governing national security and counter-terrorism and to strengthen the protection of minorities against discrimination. Allegations of human rights violations, including torture, needed to be fully investigated.
The High Commissioner was committed to sustained engagement with the Government of China and to advocating on behalf of victims, always guided by the goal of helping improve human rights protections for the people on the ground.
Full statement is here.
Replying to questions, Ms. Shamdasani stressed the importance of continuing engagement with the Chinese authorities. During the visit to Beijing in June, at the invitation of the authorities, the OHCHR delegation had met with various central and regional authorities. Further visits were on the table, and the OHCHR encouraged Chinese authorities to consider allowing Special Procedures’ visits to the country. One of the key recommendations from the High Commissioner’s report from August 2022 was to investigate allegations of human rights violations, including torture, in Xinjiang. Those recommendations still stood. Ms. Shamdasani stressed the importance of the OHCHR’s continuous engagement with the Chinese authorities.
Update on Russia
Responding to a question on Russia, Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the OHCHR had not yet received a formal response to its request to access the areas of Russia affected by the war with Ukraine.
Arrest of the CEO of “Telegram”
On another question, Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the right of freedom of expression applied online as it did offline, but there were permissible restrictions in the interest of public order. On social media platforms, there were obligations for businesses and States, but efforts had to be made to avoid overreach by either business or States. It was too early for the OHCHR to weigh in on the arrest of Telegram’s chief Pavel Durov.
Announcements
Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), informed that the largest refugee Paralympic team yet, including eight athletes and two guide runners, would participate in the Paris Paralympic games, which were to open on 28 August. The team represented 18 million displaced people with disabilities. Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that UN Geneva Director-General would represent the UN Secretary-General at the Paralympic Games opening.
Speaking on behalf of the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria (OSE), Alessandra Vellucci informed that on 28 September, the Special Envoy would brief the Security Council at 4 pm Geneva time. His remarks would be subsequently distributed.
She also informed that the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was concluding this morning its review of the report of Mauritius and would begin this afternoon the review of the report of Ukraine.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child, which had opened its 97th session the previous day, would begin this afternoon consideration of the report of Bahrain.
Teleprompter
So let's start this press briefing.
Thank you very much to those who also participated in the press conference before.
But now let's start with our regular programme.
Today is Tuesday, 27th of August and I have the pleasure to have with me a guest from UNHCR and our bar on my left.
So I will start with Doctor Alan Minor.
So you are the Chief Public health of UNHCR and you're here to tell us about the impact that impact has on refugees in Africa, please.
Thank you very much.
So yes, I'll speak about the concern over the impact of impacts on refugees and displaced in Africa and and calling for inclusion and solidarity with the with the countries affected.
India seas S Kivu province, one of the region's hardest hit by M pox.
At least 42 suspected cases have been identified among the refugee population confirmed.
The suspected cases have also been reported in surrounding countries in Republic of Congo as well as in Rwanda.
For those fleeing violence, implementing many of the M pox measures is a tremendous challenge.
Over the years, the cyclical violence and attacks compounded by natural catastrophes have been have driven displaced people into overcrowded shelters with poor water and sanitation facilities and strained services.
Insecurity has left many areas cut off from humanitarian access and assistance.
With this, we see that displaced families living in crowded schools, shelters and tents and also in churches and also in farmers fields, and they have no space to isolate when they develop symptoms of the disease.
UNSCR staff have found in some afflicted individuals trying diligently to follow preventive measures and protect their communities, including by sleeping outside.
A balanced diet is also an important aspect for recovery, as we all know.
But this is a reality that is out of reach for many of the displaced subsisting on meagre food rations.
Working under the National Health authorities, the World Health Organisation, UNCR and partners have reinforced hand washing points in public spaces in refugee camps and transit centres.
We have scaled up health system preparedness and response measures as well as screening enhanced screening measures for those who are entering impacted refugee camps.
UNICR reiterates that guaranteeing full inclusion of refugees and other forcibly displaced people in national preparedness and response measures to address a public health emergency is crucial.
From monitoring and preparedness to medical care, this is all something we need to do to ensure no one is left behind.
UNSCR humanitarian response in DLC has only been partially funded at that 7%.
And what we're seeing is that health activities are among the ones that are hardest hit in international solidarity is urgently needed to expand health services, isolation centres, humanitarian shelters, access to water and soap for those forced to flee in conflict zone as well.
We're calling for peace that is desperately needed to ensure sustained response to stop the spread of the disease.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Sir.
Do you want to have anything?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So let's go to the journalist and see if there are any questions.
Let's start with Christian Erika, our correspondent of the German News agency.
[Other language spoken]
Can you tell us a bit about the people who are affected?
I think most of the people in that region are actually children, young children.
Is that the same in the refugee population?
And do you know whether it's this clade one or two?
Because one of them is more dangerous and spreads faster than the other, apparently.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Oh, sorry.
[Other language spoken]
So we're also seen as just as WHS reported a mixed transmission dynamics and in in instant DRC, we're also seeing the CLED 1B case has been reported.
Important to note right now that with the challenges with access and access to laboratory and diagnostic facilities, sequencing of the of the samples that have been collected is still undergoing to be able to understand fully the the strains that we're seeing in the camps.
But yes, we also seen a lot of the cases, majority of the cases being reported among children as well.
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Yes, we don't have the the exact figures right now.
We're looking at the figures.
As I said, we're we're reporting suspected cases and some of the samples have been sent to the laboratory for confirmation.
I see Margaret this raise her hand, maybe she has the numbers.
She has the figures.
[Other language spoken]
Sorry, we can see you, right And you can hear me too.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
There is some confusion because there was in, in the DRC.
We've got both Clade 1 and Clade 2, Clade 1A and Clade 1B circulating at the same time.
But indeed, in the Eastern DRC, where the camps that my colleagues have been referring to, we are seeing a lot of clay.
[Other language spoken]
I'll just get the exact numbers up for you.
[Other language spoken]
So and one of the confusions is just as just as my colleague from UNHCR said, a lot of the cases are not laboratory confirmed.
You need to do the sequencing to understand which one is which.
So that's why the numbers are a bit confusing.
So overall, we've had reported from the DRC more than 18,000 cases, but a lot of those have not been laboratory confirmed.
They're suspected cases in the end.
So as I said, we're seeing outbreaks of Clade 1A and Clade 1B in the endemic areas.
There are mostly Clay one AR Eastern DRC in North and South Kebu.
There are a lot of outbreaks due to the Clay 1B.
We have recorded one 5400 cases suspect suspected and confirmed as of 23 August of clade in the eastern DRC clade 1B but not absolutely confirmed because I said unless their lab confirmed, we don't know that they're necessarily clade 1B.
So it's suspected you're mentioned Christian that it's more dangerous.
We don't have that, that data studies are under way to understand the properties of the new strain, but available epidemiological data doesn't really suggest that the clade 1B variant causes more severe cases and deaths.
But remember, you've just heard about the description of the conditions under which people are living and have arrived in very, you know, already very stressed, hungry, terrified, displaced.
So that gives an immune there's an immunological deficit there's an immunological weakness which makes them more likely to become more I'll with anything they get, including inbox.
Thank you very much Lisa Schlein verse of America.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I'd like to how maybe you've mentioned it and I missed it, but how many of the people infected are children?
I believe that most of the cases are with children.
And how is it that they are so susceptible to getting infected with with mpox?
How how do they get infected and have vaccines arrived or will they arrive?
And would that actually be a game changer if you do have vaccines coming in and you're able to utilise that?
[Other language spoken]
You want to take this Doctor Minor and then maybe Margaret, you can complete.
I think Margaret would be best placed one for the vaccine, but just maybe the other one.
[Other language spoken]
I know definitely we're we're definitely concerned about so, so as getting Margaret will be able to explain about the the situation of the white children as we see more cases among children.
But what is important to know is that now what we're seeing with the current CLID 1B is a mixed transmission dynamics including close contact, including through especially droplets as well as sexual contact.
What we're seeing is a challenge that is TRC with the challenges of shelter and a lot of people congregating in in communal shelters ensuring distance and appropriate and facial prevention control measures are is difficult.
So we're seeing some household transmission.
Again, W was informed that this is something that is being analysed to understand this transmission dynamics and migrate to be a better place to to answer that.
But we, we're very definitely concerned that with the ongoing conflict and a lot of people trying to find shelter and, and come up in one place, it's making these prevention efforts very, very difficult.
And Margaret, yes, and sorry, I lost my connection.
My connection is really unstable right now.
I'm sorry about that.
[Other language spoken]
Indeed, we saw that it had been transmitted through some sexual networks.
But the IT that the essential thing to understand with mpox is it's close physical contact.
And in when people are in situations where they cannot avoid having close physical contact, like they're in a refugee camp, they're crowded together, it's very, very difficult for them to maintain the infection prevention control measures to prevent the, the the spread.
I can see that my system is terrible.
So I hope you can hear me.
I think there was also some question about, I'm sorry, I've just lost the question.
Maybe I need to first of all, yeah, you, you get blocked from time to time.
So the maybe, maybe the, the let's give up with the video and get the voice.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
But it was also the the question why children get infected, how?
OK, so it's two ways basically close physical contact with within the family group because it's spread simply skin to skin.
Now, the reason we see some transmission through sexual networks is, as I think you might all know, when you have sexual contact, you have close physical contact.
Within the family groups, we're seeing that the children are very vulnerable to getting very ill with mpox, probably due to again, the immunological lack of immunological, the immunological deficit, a weak immunological system.
But this is again one of the unknowns that we need to understand a lot better.
I'm trying to shut off my video.
So in any case, the quality is not good, Margaret.
So no worries for the video.
Lisa has maybe a request for clarification, then I'll go to Katherine.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, Margaret, I, I think what you missed hearing from me was I was wondering whether vaccines were on the way, whether that would well not be a game changer perhaps, but for to help you control this, this outbreak.
And I'm, I'm wondering whether and, and the urine H CR person representative could also answer this too.
Is, is the conflict preventing medications, aids and so forth from getting through to the area?
And then for you again, Margaret, I understand that Doctor Tadros is has got some kind of a six month programme in order to get the M pox epidemic under control.
Is that already functioning and what hopes do you have for that?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Good questions on the vaccine.
They are they're a really important tool, the troop infection prevention control measures in you get the communities empowered and understanding what's going on and that's why the work that my colleagues in the UNHCR is so important.
Oh dear, it looks like my connection is unstable again, but so it's much, much more than simply vaccines.
The vaccines do help and we the various countries are donating and we've doctor Tedros has advised UNICEF and Gavi to go ahead and procure the vaccines and get them going, not to wait for the, the, the details of the emergency use listing process, but that will is also ongoing as quickly as possible.
One of the vaccine producers has submitted their full dossier last Friday.
So everything is moving quickly, as quickly as possible to get the vaccines to country.
But it should not be seen as the only thing it will be part it must be part of a much bigger response.
The plan you refer to is a strategic response plan, which yes, has been launched.
That's a six month plan laying out what's needed, how to do it, who's going to do it, what should be done with all the different aspects.
So the community empowerment, the research to understand better what's going on with this virus, the vaccination, of course, the provision of medical countermeasures, the provision of healthcare services.
And so it really puts together everything that needs to be done.
Doctor Maynon, the question of the vaccinations is the so the question was whether the conflict is affecting delivery of supplies, medicines.
[Other language spoken]
Definitely the, the conflict is having a toll in terms of logistics and delivering supplies.
We're working very closely with the with the health authorities, WHO and other partners including MSF and others to to to ensure that we're able to guarantee supplies.
The challenge right now is that resources are not sufficient for the needs that we have.
It's further complicated by the dynamic nature of the conflict and and people having to move food safety and and getting people to access services is a challenge.
For example, we we targeted to have 300,000 health visits by refugees this year and so far, as of July, we only had 60,000 visits by refugees to the health facilities.
The project by the end of the year only only 200,000 visits will have been achieved.
So it's one thing to get the resources there, it's another thing to ensure that the refugees are able to access the services.
[Other language spoken]
Catherine Fiancon Okonga Francois Catter Yes, good morning.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you to all.
[Other language spoken]
The first one is regarding children as the question has been addressed also by my colleague.
Children seems to be the most affected by inbox.
So in as you just mentioned that there's a problem of quantities of vaccines or the vaccines efficient for children.
That's my first question.
And are you going to pre give a priority for vaccinations of children?
My second question is, if I understood well, Mr Maynard did mention infection through droplets, Does it mean that there's an airborne transmission And has this been confirmed?
Do you have, did you get enough time to confirm that there's maybe an airborne transmission?
And my last, it's not a question, it's a request.
Will WHO keep us informed about the outcome of the vote for the new director of WHO Afro that is taking place in Brazzaville now.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Catherine.
I'll start with Doctor Mina.
[Other language spoken]
No, definitely.
So that as I said, as we've mentioned also Margaret, I mentioned we, we're trying to understand the transmission dynamics.
Close contact is known but also we've seen that as as has been reported that they they're also infectious respiratory particles that was transmitted when somebody's talking or breathing close to one another for an extended period of time.
Now W chose best place to answer that as I hope Margaret is connected on the latest in terms of the, the airborne transmission.
Yeah, Margaret on, on the second expect and on the election of the, on the designation of the new director of the Africa region for you.
[Other language spoken]
So first of all, no, it's, it's the confusion there is, if you're talking closely to someone, uh, breathing on them, uh, physically close face to face, there is a possibility for the, the, the, the droplets from, if you've got lesions being spread to somebody else, but this is a minor source.
[Other language spoken]
What we're seeing is the close physical skin to skin.
But you know, when you're talking to somebody, you're spitting out droplets and so on, especially if you're talking loudly.
So if you're talking closely face to face, that's a possible mode of transmission, but it's not the the major form of it's not a very major form of transmission and it's not a major through the air a long distance sort of transmission that I think that's what you're referring to.
Katherine, on the vaccines for children they have, there is some evidence from the global mpox outbreak where the vaccines were used that indicates that some of them can be used in children.
There are very specific recommendations that we have and I'll send you the detailed information from our SAGE recommendations.
We have a long paper which describes how they can be used and what the the evidence and the data is to date on the African region.
You're quite right.
The I will get back to you on exactly when the announcements and the proceedings will be done.
This has been done by my colleagues in in the Brazzaville office and I will link you with them with the details on when you'll have that information.
Katherine, is that fine with you?
I see your hand is still up.
Oh, sorry about the hand.
[Other language spoken]
But I mean, I, I come back to that, even if you say, Margaret, that it's not a major transmission about droplets, wouldn't it be good to advise people globally to wear masks when they are in travelling in planes, trains and also locally in Africa to advise people to wear in fact masks?
Margaret, Currently the advice is, yes.
Currently the advice is certainly for healthcare workers and people who are in contact with somebody known to be ill.
But this is 1 means of preventing transmission of or protecting against transmission.
But it's really related to being in contact with a person who already has the illness.
So in other words, not a global recommendation, but a recommendation in the specific instance.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, I wanted to understand the scale of this a little bit better in the displacement camps.
Are we talking about a major outbreak in displacement camps or, or just a few suspected cases And, and how much potential do these camps have to be sort of incubators to even fuel an even bigger outbreak in in DRC and beyond?
Just to know, I had questions for Margaret on polio and cholera, but maybe you want to do them after Alexandra, As you wish.
Let's let me, Doctor Minor answer your first question and then we have a list of speakers today.
[Other language spoken]
So if Margaret will stay with us at the end, we will.
We can get more questions to the after the briefings, please, Doctor Minor.
No, thank you very much.
So that thank you, Emma for that question.
Right now, the number of the number of cases being reported in the in the camps is, is still being worked out.
As you said, the challenges with access to treatment, access to diagnostic facilities.
The the main emphasis here is on the the risks associated to the vulnerable situation they're in, in terms of the overcrowded shelters, close contact as Margaret has explained, and logistical challenges with the testing of suspected cases as well as the situation of the devastated health infrastructure that makes it compounds the challenge in terms of ensuring timely access to to treatment and care and prevention.
So this vulnerable situations make us very concerned that we we need to be able to ensure that one, we're coordinating among the the various actors with Ministry of Health, the the UN and NGO partners 2, that we are ensuring that every person is possibly displaced is included in the national preparedness and response efforts from diagnostic to treatment, prevention and vaccines when they become available.
3 to engage the communities appropriately as leaders in the response in terms of the informing the community in terms of where to access treatment, how to access treatment, how to prevent themselves and, and then also be able to provide materials in the language that they understand.
And lastly is also the health system strengthening health system resilience, calling for sustainable financing, not just for this emergency response, but being able to ensure that the infrastructure is ready for the next outbreak.
And and lastly, as we talked about, is, is a peace that is very important to be able to get the much, much needed healthcare access that the refugees need and the displaced populations.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much Doctor Mayne and thanks for this for bringing this aspect of this inbox spreading on refugee camps to us.
Do we really have a very long list of OK very, very short.
Can you just tell us how many people are in the displaced persons camps that where you detected those cases Mike?
So we have and and so we have about need just be sure about 200,000 refugees in some of these camps in the eastern side.
I need I just need because you're asking for the specific camps and the Twitter about in South Kibo or just the total just to get an idea to refer the 42 cases you mentioned to the total population of refugees or displaced people.
Yeah, Baba can add the numbers that you have.
[Other language spoken]
Just to put things in context, DRC as we all know has has a huge IDP population.
So that number currently stands more than 7.3 million ID PS in the countries.
And that's also not forget DRC also hosts refugees from other countries.
So we are at least talking about more than half a million refugees who come from the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Burundi and other places as as well.
And also DRC also has a big refugee population that has been forced to flee and seek safety across the borders.
That number currently stands at 1,000,000.
[Other language spoken]
I raise my hands.
We'll stay here until 12.
And yes, yes, thank you.
This is a question to Margaret to to something she she said about the masks.
She said that the the mask should, I understand that people should wear the mask if they're in contact with a person who is healed.
But what about if the person doesn't know that this person is healed?
When the person knows that, I mean when the transmission can begin, does it mean that the transmission could only begin when the symptoms have appeared?
Or could the transmission already begin even before the symptoms are there?
[Other language spoken]
Sorry, having trouble unmuting.
So again, more research is needed to fully understand the transmission dynamics, particularly since we are.
That's one of the reasons we called the public health emergency of international concern to see if anything has changed.
But what we currently understand and what our current recommendations are is indeed the people who need to be wearing masks are those who are giving care to somebody who's infected.
So that is somebody that you know is infected.
And if you are a healthcare worker and you're working with people likely to be infected or known to be infected, you're advised to be wearing a mask and also ask that those likely to be infected wear a mask so that they are not transmitting through the the droplets.
So those are the two groups and we're not currently recommending, we're not recommending that masks we want to the general public at this point.
Thank you very much, Mark, Jamie, sorry, I just want to be very clear on this last, last week I believe it was the government in Congo announced that they had had 1000 cases over the previous week.
[Other language spoken]
So you know 1042 out of 1000.
But my question is how concerned are you that these refugee areas because of the concentration of people in them will be a vector for either geometric or exponential expansion of the number of cases of impoxity?
Is that a vector for increase either for you or for Margaret?
Is that a vector for a very sharp increase in case counts?
[Other language spoken]
I think we'll be very careful how we how we put that in perspective because first of all understand that mpox can affect anyone and it's about the conditions that they're in, not necessarily because the retail refugees or displaced populations.
And because if we put in that context, it could be seen as stigmatising in one way.
What we are saying, what our emphasis is the conditions that are in HDRC, which are not just in the camp, but the whole of the here in terms of impoverished, impoverished health systems and difficulties in accessing health services and difficulties in preventing the prevention measures, poor sanitary conditions and and also poor access to health and diet and food that is needed.
This, this conditions are further compounding the efforts to to control mpox, not just the specific factor they're refugees incomes, but we we have seen, we've had experience in the region management of outbreaks in this camp settings and we've seen tremendous responses among in the communities and also the actors.
It's just about ensuring that the right resources are available and accessible for this whole for the communities in this location.
The question of the discrepancy between the numbers, you know, so there's no, no discrepancy.
I think that's wasn't your question because there are 1000 cases above and then over 42.
It's just, I think you wanted to just put in comparison.
The main point there is that we're having challenges in ensuring that we get the samples being tested on time and the rate at which we're able to get these tests being confirmed is a challenge.
And two, even those who are suspected or having illness are having challenges getting 2, the facilities where we can be able to collect samples to be able to test them.
So we definitely would have a, a difference, a big gap in the, in the number of the data that we're getting from the camp settings and the conflict affected areas.
Thank you very much.
So let's stay with UNHCR.
Babar, you have an update on the situation in Myanmar for the ring refugees.
But maybe just to remind everyone that over the weekend, as we will hear also from the bar, we did mark seven years since the force mass displacement of Rohingya people and other communities from Myanmar, Rakhine State.
To mark these sad milestones, we have issued a statement in which the Secretary General called on all parties to the conflict in Myanmar to end the violence and to ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with international human rights standards and international humanitarian law.
There was also the special involved for Myanmar, Julie Bishop, which as we said is engaging all stakeholders to move towards an inclusive Myanmar LED process for sustainable peace and national reconciliation.
And the Secretary General renews his appeal to strengthen the regional protection efforts, provide access to conflict affected communities and further support host communities, including through the 2024 joint response plan for the Rohingya humanitarian response plan for Bangladesh.
And maybe we'll hear more about this from Babar.
[Other language spoken]
Exactly as the world marked the 7th anniversary of the large scale force displacement of Rohingya refugees, Unit CR, the UN refugee agencies again calling for sustained commitment from international partners to support and protect nearly 1,000,000 Rohingya refugees hosted by Bangladesh and to help secure solutions to end their plight.
This reminding ourselves, seven years ago on 25th of August 2017, some 700,000 Rohingya men, women and children were forced to flee Myanmar and seek protection in Bangladesh.
The gender support from Bangladesh and the international community has been critical in meeting refugees most basic needs and providing protection.
However, the new evolving situation inside Myanmar and funding uncertainties inside Bangladesh now undermine all but the most critical and life saving assistance.
In Myanmar's Rakhine State, the escalated conflict has only worsened conditions for the Rohingya inside.
Myanmar in internal displacement is at an all time **** with more than 3.3 million people displaced within the country, among them at least 128,000.
In northern Rakhine in Booty, Tong, Ratidong and Mongdo townships, fighting IS occurring very close to the Bangladesh border areas and can be heard by Bangladeshi communities living close to the border.
As conflict in Myanmar continues unabated, we are closely monitoring the situation at the border, providing life saving assistance and educating with the Bangladeshi authorities for access to asylum for civilians fleeing the conflict in Myanmar.
A dignified, voluntary and sustainable return to Myanmar remains the primary solution to this Rohingya refugee crisis and Unit CR calls on the international community to demonstrate the political will to make this possible for Hingas.
Unity welcomes Bangladesh's renewed commitment to the refugees made by Doctor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of Bangladesh's Interim Government, on 18th of August.
We echo his call for continued solidarity from the international community through consistent financial support and helping to ensure their eventual repatriation to Myanmar with safety, dignity and full rights.
Until that happens, the refugees need immediate assistance and help to build a future for themselves.
52% of the refugees are under the age of 18 years old and many were born in asylum or having spent their first years in the refugee camps.
In 2024, humanitarian agencies have appealed for 852,000,000 U.S.
dollars to assist some 1.3 million people in Bangladesh, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshis in the surrounding communities.
This appeal remains inadequately inadequately funded at 34%.
Currently, underfunding has severely affected and Hanford humanitarian efforts to support refugees and hosts in Bangladesh, leading to reduced food rations in the first half of this year, shortage shortages of medical personnel, specialised equipment and medicines in the health centres, and the decline in water quality, leading to an upsurge in cholera and hepatitis and the reduction in vocational training and income generation opportunities, among others.
Bangladesh is also currently facing catastrophic flash floods affecting millions of its citizens.
It cannot be left to shoulder this a crisis alone.
UNICR has immediately made available water purification tablets, hygiene kits, cherry cans and tarpaulins from its existing humanitarian stockpiles to support the communities hosting refugees.
2 inflatable rescue boats have also been deployed.
But a more systematic and sustained global support is needed for countries like Bangladesh exposed to extreme weather conditions and natural disasters that are becoming increasingly extreme and more frequent due to climate change.
This recent and latest flash flooding are at least the 4th extreme of weather or climate events the people in Bangladesh have to face this year.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Babar.
Is there any question?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Bruce.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
But I just wonder if you could update us on how many Rohingya you reckon have crossed from Myanmar into Bangladesh this year and whether you have also any data or information on forced returns?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Very hard to ascertain the exact numbers.
The border between Bangladesh and Myanmar remains officially closed and under surveillance of Bangladesh border guards.
Since the beginning of 2024, Unit CR has monitored cases of people fleeing from Myanmar, including both Rohingyas and non Rohingya either crossing or attempting to cross the border through land borders as well as to the Naf River and Bay of Bengal on boats.
Unit CR calls on Bangladesh authorities to ensure access to safety for civilians and to prevent rifle more of refugees fleeing the conflict inside Myanmar.
And the number of those who have fled in the region since February 2021 is in the range of 150,000.
But as we know and the total of people who have left Myanmar, including the Rohingya exodus currently stands at 1.3 million.
But let's not forget the majority of them are Rohingyas who left in 2017.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Babar.
I don't see the questions, but Liz is saying in the chat if you can send the notes, both yours and Doctor Alan.
[Other language spoken]
Oh, yes.
Thank you very much for reminding me.
[Other language spoken]
Babar has a very short, just one point, just one moment where it's just, you have also short announcements on the Olympic Games.
And it's an occasion also to congratulate Filippo Grande, the **** Commissioner, for the fantastic recognition that he had in the first part of the Olympic Games.
But you haven't got more coming, right?
Yes, thank you very much, Alexandra.
Tomorrow, on 28th of August 2024, the largest Refugee Paralympics team to date will compete at the Paralympic Games in Paris.
The team of eight athletes and two guide runners represent more than 120 million forcibly displaced people, including the estimated 18 million people with disabilities who have been displaced from their homes as a result of war, conflict, violence and human rights violations.
[Other language spoken]
Printer, Guliam Junior and Tangna will be the refugee Paralympic teams flag bearer at Wednesday's or at Wednesday's opening ceremony, marching along the Chance Elysee into Paris's iconic place, still a Concorde.
[Other language spoken]
And we will all be chairing and and supporting the team.
Boris, yes, Boris Freelancer.
Over the past 2-3 years, we have seen documentaries, documentary films on the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh fearing radicalisation there under the aegis of some Islamic relief agencies.
How does UNHCR cope with this, this development that this situation, issues of insecurity in the refugee camps are dealt by the local authorities.
As we keep reminding, there are 1,000,000, nearly 1,000,000 Rohingya refugees over there and all security concerns are conveyed to to the the local authorities over there.
As we were saying, insecurity, underfunding and limited resources available for refugees, their well-being and their children are a big concern for us.
That's why this appeal today.
I, I don't have any update in terms of exactly on that subject, but I can tell you that in, in the, in the camp of 1,000,000, we are worried about well-being of all refugees who are hosted at the camps.
Thank you very much, Babar, and thanks for this update.
Please remember to send out the, the notes to the journalist.
So let's now go with Ravina to Afghanistan.
You would have seen then during the weekend, Rosemary de Carlo, the Under Secretary General for Political and Peace Building Affairs, said that the morality law recently promulgated by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan father restricts human rights and freedoms, particularly of women.
She added, this is unconscionable and if maintains the law can only impede Afghanistan return to international fold.
Also in a statement, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Afghanistan, Rosa Ottum Baeda.
So the morality law extends the already intolerable restrictions on the rights of African women and girls, with even the sound of a female voice outside the home apparently deemed A moral violation.
Her statement is online and she's expected to brief the Security Council on 18th September.
And I will hear from Ravina what the Office of the Human Rights has to say about this dire development relief for human rights.
Yes, that's right, Alessandra.
Good morning, everyone.
And the newly adopted Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan cements policies that completely erase women's presence in public, silencing their voices and depriving them of their individual autonomy, effectively attempting to render them into faceless, voiceless shadows.
This is utterly intolerable.
The UN **** Commissioner for Human Rights Vocator calls for this egregious law to be immediately repealed.
The long list of repressive provisions that this law imposes on women reinforces a number of existing restrictions that violate their fundamental human rights, including their freedom of movement, their freedom of expression, and their right to live free from discrimination.
The law includes the requirement to wear clothes that completely cover their bodies from head to toe, including their faces, a ban for transport providers on transporting women unless they're accompanied by a male relative, and a prohibition on women's voices being heard in public.
Other restrictions in the law, which are vaguely defined, affect other human rights, such as the right to freely practise 1's religion.
The law also grant state agents broad discretionary powers to detain people, to impose punishments on them or to refer matters to courts.
The law further tightens the grip on the media sector with a ban on publishing images of human beings, presumably also those of de facto officials.
We call on the de facto authorities to immediately repeal this legislation, which is in clear violation of Afghanistan's obligations under international human rights law.
Disempowering and rendering invisible and voiceless half the population of Afghanistan will only worsen the human rights and humanitarian crisis in the country.
Rather, this is a time to bring together all the people of Afghanistan, respective of their gender, religion or ethnicity, to help resolve the many challenges that the country faces.
Thank you very much.
Let's open the floor to questions.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you for that.
I just wanted to ask you what you think can be done about it.
I mean, we've got a response from the Taliban already yesterday rejecting the concerns expressed by other United Nations officials.
So, So what can be done about it?
It's a very good and a very difficult question, Jamie.
What can be done about it?
We have a presence in Afghanistan.
We are doing what we can to engage, to try to persuade.
It is important as well that we keep the public attention on this.
Let's remember that 23.7 million people will require humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan this year.
We don't see this in the headlines very much now.
Women's voices are being completely silenced.
I mean, when I was in Afghanistan about two years ago, this should come as no surprise.
We were sitting around the table with several women representatives who were sharing with us the issues that their communities face and solutions.
These women were full of solutions.
They are in contact with people in the community at a very close level.
They understand the issues that are facing the most vulnerable.
They have solutions.
They need to be given a seat at the table to help implement those solutions.
These are partners who are being completely silenced and and they're attempting to render them into shadows.
Their voices are no longer permissible.
[Other language spoken]
You cannot even see their faces.
This needs to stop and we need to continue talking about it.
We need to continue advocating for it and putting pressure on the authorities to listen.
Speaking of putting pressure, I mean, for example, UN support, humanitarian support, other types of support.
Should that be contingent on whether or not, you know, on decisions like this from the ruling Taliban?
[Other language spoken]
And you always need to be careful in your response and not to end up making the situation worse for the people.
On the the broader question of the UN support that that's really more a question for the secretary general and perhaps for for the humanitarian agencies on what's being considered in that respect.
And and humanitarians are.
[Other language spoken]
I, I don't see how punishing women in need of humanitarian support would be the way forward.
But but I think what Mr Dicarlo said, it's important because she, she really made the point that this kind of of of laws doesn't really help at all the Afghanistan to come back on the international scene.
This is, this is something it's, it's a very, I think it's a very sometimes hard equilibrium to find, But you it cannot be done at the expenses of the more vulnerable.
That's that's really the problem.
But but I think that's yeah, the most important thing is continuing working with those who can make a difference in Afghanistan on the international scene.
And please continue talking about it.
And that's your voicemail that brings our our comments on this plea.
I don't see other questions in the room.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
There are I believe a lot of female headed households, women who do not have husbands or another male to support them.
How did they how did they live?
I mean they can't work.
How do how do they feed themselves and their children?
Does the Taliban provide them with any sort of assistance?
And then if women girls cannot go to school, eventually there will be no female doctors.
I don't believe women can see male doctors.
So what happens?
They just die.
That's it.
You're painting a very dire picture, Lisa.
That's not too far from the truth.
How do they feed themselves?
This is true.
There are women headed households.
And This is why you see the the humanitarian assistance needs 23.7 million people require humanitarian assistance.
Some of this, I mean, there are there will be multiple reasons for this, but the fact that women are not allowed to educate themselves, the fact that they're not allowed to work and to support themselves so surely contributes to this.
As we said, it's this is exactly the recipe for making a bad situation much, much, much worse.
Indeed.
Let me see if there's another question.
I didn't see any.
You have another point to that.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I, I hope the shortage of questions doesn't mean that this will not make headlines, because I really do hope that Afghanistan remains in the headlines.
Excuse me for for insisting the other item we have is on China.
In response to questions in relation to our work on China, particularly as we approach two years since the publication of our offices assessment on human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
[Other language spoken]
The **** Commissioner and the Office have had detailed exchanges with the Government of China on a range of critical issues such as counterterrorism laws and policies, criminal justice, other policies of concern that impact on the human rights of ethnic and religious minorities, including in Xinjiang and in the Tibet Autonomous Region, equality and non discrimination, as well as national security and human rights concerns in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Notably, in June this year, Aun Human Rights Team visited China and engaged in dialogue with the authorities specifically on counterterrorism policies and the criminal justice system, in particular on Xinjiang.
We understand that many problematic laws and policies remain in place, and we have called again on the authorities to undertake a full review from the human rights perspective of the legal framework governing national security and counterterrorism, and to strengthen the protection of minorities against discrimination.
Allegations of human rights violations, including torture, need to be fully investigated.
We hope to continue our active engagement with the government, as well as with civil society actors to seek tangible progress in the protection of human rights for all in China.
We're also continuing to follow closely the current human rights situation in China.
Despite the difficulties posed by limited access to information and the fear of reprisals against individuals who engage with the United Nations, we've continued to raise with the government individual cases of particular concern, calling on the authorities to take prompt steps to release all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty and to clarify the status and whereabouts of those whose families have been seeking information about them.
We are continuing to advocate for implementation of these and other recommendations made by us, as well as those made by other UN human rights mechanisms.
And during the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review process.
The **** Commissioner is committed to sustained engagement with the government of China and to advocating on behalf of victims, always guided by the goal of helping improve human rights protections for the people on the ground.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Ravina, you're, you're calling for a lot.
The **** Commissioner is calling for a lot.
[Other language spoken]
Is anything going to change?
What sort of response have you received?
Or have they just nodded, you know, looking cryptic.
Will the internment camps be closed?
Will the people get their freedom?
I mean, and you know, it's fine.
These calls have been going on for a long, a long time.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
We are asking for a lot, but we are asking for what is the obligation of the state in terms of human rights, in terms of their commitments under human rights law, in terms of their obligations under human rights law on, on whether they're listening, you'll have to ask them.
This is, you know, not I, I, I speak for the **** Commissioner, not, not of course, for, for any government authorities, But on our engagement, we have had a lot of engagement on very difficult issues as well, quite open engagement.
There were several round tables that were held here in Geneva with visiting delegations from China.
And we also deployed A-Team.
The **** Commissioner deployed a team in June this year.
Sorry, just check that.
I'm getting that right here.
June, it was the 26th of May to the 1st of June that a team was deployed.
And they were able to meet with a lot of different state representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Public Security, the Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, the National People's Congress, National Ethnic Affairs Commission, as well as representatives from Xinjiang and from Hong Kong.
So we are conveying our messages, We are offering our engagement, our support.
We are continuing to engage with the authorities as well as with civil society.
And again, guided by the ultimate goal of doing whatever we can to try to improve the situation on the ground for those people who need it, to try to help ensure human rights protection for all in China.
That that really is the ultimate goal that guides both our diplomatic engagements as well as our public advocacy.
[Other language spoken]
On this visit in, in June, could you tell us if you have been able to, to move that?
You mentioned the Xinjiang, you talked about the Xinjiang region, but were you able to to move there?
And if you could specify if the visit, this visit was at the invitation of China or if it was a request from, from the UN?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
And yes, this particular visit was to Beijing and it was to interact with all of the, you know, several of the different line ministries as well as judicial officials from from different parts of of the administration.
There were representatives from Xinjiang and from Hong Kong, but the visit was just to Beijing at this point.
As I said, there was also a previous, there were previous set of round tables that was held in Geneva with visiting delegations.
Again, was this at the invitation of the authorities?
Well, yes, it was at the invitation of the authorities and it was the result of a series of engagements including the round tables that were held in Geneva.
[Other language spoken]
So do you expect more visits to come next month and maybe in other regions of the country?
Is it on the table?
Visits are on the table.
This is part of the, the engagement that we're having with them.
And we're also encouraging the authorities to consider special procedures visits as well as visits from our office to, to various parts of China.
So this is, it's part of the the discussions.
There's nothing in the calendar yet, but it's part of the discussions.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
You mentioned in your initial comments about cases of torture that have been discussed.
Are those recent take cases?
Could you give us a time frame and as to what, when, when the, that torture may have taken place?
And, and you also said that you raised individual cases of particular concern.
Can you tell us which ones those are?
And then I just more broadly, I mean, we had the, you know, the, the, the commissioner report from Madame Bachelet on how long is it coming up on what, three years now?
Is that right?
Two years, sorry, the 31st of August, as I remember you, you said, you know, we need to ask Chinese officials about their cooperation, but you know, it's been 2 years.
So I mean, can you just generally qualify the level of cooperation that you are getting from Beijing on these issues?
[Other language spoken]
On torture, this was a key recommendation from the Xinjiang report, the report that you're referring to, the assessment report that was put out two years ago.
One of the the key recommendations was to promptly investigate allegations of human rights violations in the VTCS, the so-called vocational education and training centres and other detention facilities, including allegations of torture, sexual violence, I'll treatment, forced medical treatment as well as forced labour and reports of deaths in custody.
So this is the recommendation that we are repeating that stems from, from the report itself on individual cases.
[Other language spoken]
In some cases we do speak publicly about, about cases where it's deemed appropriate and in some cases we're trying private engagements on those.
I wouldn't be able to to give you names.
Yes, it has been two years.
You asked about, you know, cooperation with the authorities.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, we have had a lot of engagement with them.
There's been a lot of discussion, as you know, that the issues that I laid out, these are not soft issues.
These are quite sensitive and pertinent issues on counterterrorism laws, criminal justice policies, ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang, in Tibet, as well as security and human rights concerned concerns in Hong Kong.
So in terms of cooperation, it's positive and **** commissioners committed to sustained engagement.
In terms of actual implementation of the recommendations, there's a lot to be desired, which is why we need to continue to work with them to engage to, to see where we can, we can have some, some progress, tangible progress, as the **** Commissioner has said.
And of course it's not just us, as we said, they've also been recommendations of other UN human rights mechanisms, including during the Universal periodic review process this year, there were a lot of recommendations made to the government of China.
Some of them were accepted as well.
And we will be using those recommendations as well to try to find entry points to to get tangible progress.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So if I had to summarise what you just finished saying, I mean you would applaud China on its receptiveness to your participation.
You would not necessarily applaud them on the results from those conversations.
Is that an oversimplification?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
No, no, as I said, sustained engagement, it's it's a long term thing, right.
It's not you can't expect immediate results overnight, but we are committed to sustaining this engagement with a view to tangible results and tangible progress.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
And yeah, yeah, you talk about the desire for tangible progress.
We're looking at the results of the outcomes of all this impressive amount of engagement that you've described.
What would you flag as the tangible progress so far either in relation to human rights defenders or in relation to Sinjiang or in relation to Tibet or in relation to Hong Kong?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
The, there has been a deepening of the engagement really starting, you know, from more general engagement and getting into really specific issues, specific laws that we're looking at as well, including a particularly egregious law on picking quarrels, which has been used against, you know, people who are exercising their their human rights, the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of association.
So the, we are getting much more specific on the, the types of issues, laws, cases that we are.
We are looking for for results on Mick as a follow up.
[Other language spoken]
Because it'd be good to know a little bit more about the, the specific areas where you see this progress.
But also, I mean, you referred to the outcomes of the UPR and what human rights groups did was that, yes, China accepted some recommendations and it rejected a record number.
So it didn't seem as if there was a particularly positive response to the recommendations that you or the human rights community were making in that process.
Those as well, you know, during the UPR process, the rejection of certain recommendations does not take away the obligation of the state to actually comply with its human rights obligations with with international human rights law, but the recommendations that were accepted as well.
Those are recommendations that we are now using to take forward our engagement further, Judy.
[Other language spoken]
But this is not a question in China.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, I think I don't see other question on this particular matter because unless, because there's you and Musa and I, I've got the feeling that Musa wanted to ask something on on Gaza, but maybe we'll ask just Musa for confirmation.
Musa, your question was on something else, right?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So maybe Yuri, you can go ahead and then we'll see if Moussa has.
What's the question from from him.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
And thank you, Ravina for being here.
I have the questions about two different topics.
I will start with the first one is about the arrestation of Pavel Durov in France.
He's in particular directly accused of not coping sufficiently with the intelligence services and the French police to give them data on Telegram users when they're asking for them.
Does this pressure from security services to obtain access to data from a non crypt application used by many human rights defenders worry you?
And are you worried about this situation in general?
And secondly, for the other topic, this is about the Korsk Oblast and not only about the Briansk and the Bulgaria, two, our discussions with Russia continuing to obtain access to the oblast after you called for it two weeks ago.
And have you received a definitive answer if it's not the case?
[Other language spoken]
Thanks for your questions, Yuri.
On the case of Pavel Durov, of course, we're aware of the the reports of his arrest in France.
At this stage of the investigation, we just don't have enough information and it would really be too early for us to weigh in.
So I'll refrain from weighing in on that one at this point.
On the access to Russia, we have not yet received a formal response.
[Other language spoken]
Just a second, sorry.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Just as a general rule, Ravina, what is the position of OHCHR when it comes to, you know, platform, social media platforms and the rights of, you know, freedom of expression on those platforms?
I mean, we always stress that the same rights apply online as they do offline.
So there is of course, the the right to freedom of expression and to not be subjected to reprisals.
Do you know, to be able to express your opinions and your views freely.
Of course, this right is not, there are permissible restrictions to this right in the interests of public order.
And you know that there are very clear kind of parameters set up where these rights can be can be restricted on social media platforms.
It's this is a very complicated issue.
There are obligations that the businesses themselves have to comply by and there are obligations of the state.
Again, you need to be very careful not to encourage an overreach either by the state or by businesses into regulating social media platforms and the kinds of content that is there.
So it's, it's not something I can, I can respond to, you know, in a, in a short sound bite.
I'm afraid it's, it's, it's quite complex and it has to be, This is why on this specific issue of this arrest, it's too early for us to weigh in.
We just don't have enough information to be able to do the analysis that would be required.
[Other language spoken]
Otherwise we maybe mostly you can send the question to Ravine afterwards.
Yeah, just let's try and see if we make OK.
You should be on now.
The Palestinian thanks Musa on oh gosh, sorry, I had already forgotten your first question because your second one had three parts contacts with the French.
We are we're seeking more information about this case on the situation in, in the the occupied Palestinian territory and, and, and, and broad more broadly in the Middle East.
In fact, of course it won't.
My commissioner has consistently stressed that the protection of civilians must be the top priority in the midst of this conflict.
All parties must comply with international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians and the the escalations that we're seeing are are very worrying on the exact number of Palestinians detained.
I don't have that in front of me.
Of course, colleagues are continuing to to follow the situation, but let me send you that information by e-mail afterwards.
Thank you very much Ravine.
I think this concludes the questions for you.
Thanks for this updates and let me turn to my left.
Yes, thanks for your patience.
You have a point on Sudan and the flooding.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Alessandra and Robina, last but not least.
[Other language spoken]
There's another briefer.
[Other language spoken]
Last and not least.
[Other language spoken]
Thanks for your patience.
On Sunday, the Arbat dam, some 38 kilometres northwest of Port Sudan in Sudan's Red Sea state, suffered extensive damage due to heavy rains, collapsed and flooded downstream communities.
Local authorities have confirmed 30 deaths, but we fear that the number of casualties could be much higher.
Many more people are missing or displaced.
70 villages around the dam have reportedly been affected, of which 20 have been destroyed.
Some 50,000 people living on the western side of the dam have had their homes destroyed or damaged, and people urgently need water, food and shelter assistance, according to the authorities.
Some village residents were reportedly forced to escape to the mountains for safety, while others were evacuated.
Our reports also say that 84 boreholes have collapsed, 10,000 animals are missing and 70 schools have been either damaged or destroyed.
[Other language spoken]
The impact on the eastern bank, however, is still to be assessed as Rd access has been cut off.
Local rescue teams are attempting to open these roads.
An Inter Agency team led by the UN Humanitarian office Orchia, is depositing Port Sudan as I speak and heading towards the affected area.
The team will, in coordination with partners and the authorities, support assessments of the damage and we'll get people's most urgent humanitarian needs and of course help coordinate the response.
To note, the damage at the at the ABAT Dam is expected to have wider consequences as it is a primary source of freshwater for Port Sudan and will impact water supplies there.
Since the onset of the rains in Sudan in June, floods have wreaked havoc across many parts of the country, with the most affected states being North and West Darfur and River Nile State.
Before this dam collapse on Sunday, an estimated 317,000 people have been affected and 118,000 of them have been displaced and 10s of thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
OK, let's start with Robin.
[Other language spoken]
Against on the on Sudan, on the situation at the Adray crossing, could you give us an update on the flow of trucks across the crossing?
Are we seeing the proper sort of flow that you the Archer would like to see?
So if you could just give us the, the picture of, of aid at the crossing.
[Other language spoken]
I, I think the latest on, on the crossing is from WFP.
So if I may ask her to, to go for them.
We, I, I was in contact with with the office earlier this morning, our office in, in Sudan and they said that we should expect in the not too distant future an update on the Adra crossing.
But for now, the latest is from WFP.
[Other language spoken]
And, and what WFP has been saying, Robin, is that a convoy of the World Food Programme trucks cross from Chad to Sudan's therefore region by the Adra border crossing carrying some 205 metric tonnes of food assistance.
That would be for about 17,000 people, 17,000 people.
That's the second WFP convoyed cross through this crossing recently.
They said that the food assistance will be delivered to communities across Darfur and distributions will start as soon as the tracks arrive.
I don't know if he sheet us back, but in in case you can definitely ask her for another update.
This is from yesterday.
I had seen another hand in the in the room not seeing any more.
[Other language spoken]
Christian, that was you for Yens.
[Other language spoken]
Just wait because I've got two more on the on the platform.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you for briefing.
[Other language spoken]
We heard very can we, Stephan, sorry, because I think there are more than one on Gaza.
Let me ask just Emma, if this is on Sudan, then we close Sudan and we go to the other questions.
Sorry, Emma.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Can you give us a rough idea of how many people are unaccounted for in this disaster?
And can you tell us a bit about how the war is affecting your ability to respond to it?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
The, the truth is, we, we we don't know how many are unaccounted for.
Communications with the with the with the area has been disrupted.
It's very difficult to get information out from there.
We had the initial assessment that that went from from the government of Sudan to the area.
And as I, as I just said, we are on the road to go there ourselves.
And so hopefully we'll have a better understanding of that when they return and debrief us.
The area is under control of the government of Sudan and the SAF.
So we do not expect at least in this initial phase that the conflict as as such, horrible as it is, will have an impact on the immediate assessment that that we are that we are doing in the area.
[Other language spoken]
Other questions on Sudan, I don't see hands up.
So let's go back to Stephen and see what was the question about.
And then Christian, Yeah, sorry, Stephen, it was on Gaza, you said.
And yes, could you give us an update about the current humanitarian situation?
We heard dramatic UN reports saying that humanitarian aid couldn't be delivered in the region of their Al Bala, for example.
And it sounds pretty, pretty critical.
Could you give us a real update?
What is possible, what is not possible in terms of delivering humanitarian aid?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Let let me let me give you what what I have on the situation particularly in Dar al Bala that we are talking about.
Since Friday, the Israeli military has issued 3 new evacuation orders for over 19 neighbourhoods in northern Gaza and in their Al Bala.
With more than 8000 people staying in these areas, many sheltering in displacement sites.
That actually brings to 16 the number of mass evacuation orders that have been issued in the month of August alone the in their Al Bala.
Those orders have displaced UN humanitarian staff, NGOs and service providers along with their families.
These relocations took place at very short notice and in dangerous conditions.
Our humanitarian colleagues on the ground are particularly worried about the order issued Sunday for a part of their Albala.
It affected 15 premises hosting UN and NGO, 8 workers, 4 UN warehouses, Al Aqsa hospital, two clinics, three wells, 1 water reservoir and one desalina tion plant.
All of these are either in or near the designated area.
The sum of this is that it effectively up ends a whole life saving humanitarian hub that was set up in their Al Bala after its earlier evacuation from Rafa back in May to moved again.
And that of course severely impacts our ability to deliver essential support and services.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
It's about the polio vaccination campaign.
And I'm just struggling, struggling to see how something on this scale can be rolled out in in the current circumstances that Yen's described.
So how will that be rolled out?
[Other language spoken]
Has Israel agreed to a pause?
And is this a prerequisite for a roll out or will you go ahead anyway with your plans on the polio vaccines?
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, OCHA is not rolling out this campaign.
It certainly is with the Rachel unit.
I see you still there.
[Other language spoken]
I'll try the video again.
[Other language spoken]
So indeed access safety, security, it's absolutely critical to for successful roll out, we have to be able to reach every child and we're aiming to reach every child under 10 in every part of the street.
So it's critical that it's agreed that we're going where we need to go and that that happens with safety and security.
Now currently the the vaccines have arrived in the strip and the cold chain equipment so that technical bits and pieces are in place.
The healthcare workers, the vaccinators who are going to deliver the vaccine are in the process of being trained.
And that training is I think concluding today.
But the the crucial part, the agreement.
Are where, how and, and doing that with full safety and full access.
That's still something that's not been made clear and that's why we haven't given you a date.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Those were the two questions I was also going to ask and maybe I can just dig a bit more.
Can you to Margaret, can you remind us how many vaccines are there and how many children are going to be vaccinated and whether you expect this to happen in the next few days or not?
And Yens, can you tell us have are operations still going or is nothing possible because the employees have been displaced and are now scrambling to find new accommodation?
I don't know warehouses, he said offices.
Is this is this something that needs to be set up a new and takes a week or two or are operations still going on?
[Other language spoken]
Yes, so the numbers I just have to double check because the the different numbers have come.
But as I said, it's the aim is to reach at least I have to get my numbers in front of me.
Sorry, can you go to yes first, I'll just get my numbers.
[Other language spoken]
Operations are ongoing where feasible.
Operations are ongoing where feasible.
There's been no decision made to halt, to halt.
There never has been.
We've been there for 10 months.
So going on where we're feasible, I want to remind you that only 11% of the territory of the Gaza Strip is not on the evacuation orders, 11% is not on the evacuation orders.
So we're trying to work with that number and keep the operation going.
As I mentioned, the humanitarian hub that has now been displaced was that's the second time it's been displaced.
It was originally established as you will recall, in Rafa because that was where the trucks were coming in and where the operations were was run from.
Then when that became impossible, it moved, established itself there and now they are on the move again.
Can you tell us how many people?
Sorry, can you tell us how many people?
I don't have an exact count of how many people.
I believe a number was, was mentioned yesterday.
I, I don't want to get myself in hot, in hot water on the exact number because there's different numbers, different agencies, and also because there are families of, of, of, of staff that are that are being counted their dependants.
Margaret, yeah, listen, I agree with you.
[Other language spoken]
I do have the numbers.
[Other language spoken]
So these are children under 10 years of age across Gaza.
The number of doses were approved the release of 1.6 million doses of polio vaccines that's OPV 2 because that's the specific strain that we is circulating.
And and they were released from the global stockpile in UNICEF actually transported them to the the strip and the cold chain equipment.
And to be successful, we need more than 95% coverage.
So that's why it's critical we reach every child.
Stefan here the follow up.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Could you give us a broader picture of where we are in terms of humanitarian aid?
Can the humanitarian trucks go through Karim Shalom and Rafa do how many are there a day?
Could you elaborate on that?
[Other language spoken]
Right.
Rafa remains closed, the Irish crossing has reopened and the West Areas crossing has been closed.
Kirram Shalom is technically open for entry, but it is too dangerous for aid organisation to actually go there and pick up whatever aid is being dropped off just across the border.
And Mohammed, yes, thank you, Alessandra.
My question is for Margaret is about Al Aqsa Hospital in Gaza.
As we know Israeli army order and evacuation for the area of this hospital and decorated as a military zone, the hospital continues its activities against the the rays of attack.
And my question is, what is the situation about the hospital?
How many patients still there and can you contact have it the hospital also?
[Other language spoken]
I don't have the numbers about how many patients are still there, but certainly my colleagues have described how every time there's an evacuation order, many patients and staff do leave just because of even if it's not specifically, even if it's just it's in the area very close because of the terror, the fear and their experience of what happens when the conflict comes to them.
The other important thing to know, whenever there's evacuation order, whenever a hospital is left, a lot of looting occurs and a lot of the equipment, things like the generators, the solar power, all the things that we have spent a lot of work to put back in, it's taken every time.
So it's not just that the hospital itself doesn't function, but that the hospital is often very much damaged by the the experience of the evacuation order.
And what also happens is in the many of those patients, they have to go somewhere.
So they end up trying to go or, or more patients go to the other hospitals that are already overburdened.
Thank you very much, Emma.
[Other language spoken]
Is this the right time?
I'm going to go for it.
Thank you, Margaret, for your patience.
We're really leaning on your expertise.
[Other language spoken]
There was some good news out of India.
The vaccine manufactured by *** Biotech said that it's phase three trials of an oral cholera vaccine proved that it's safe for public use.
So I'm just wondering what is The Who doing now?
Are you ready and equipped to handle an application for pre qualification and how long do you think that process will take?
[Other language spoken]
Certainly an unexpected question and I, I don't have any detailed information on that for you, but I will talk to our pre qualification team and and the Cholera team to see what the arrangements are there.
As you know, pre qualification is dependent on three different things, proof of efficacy, proof of safety and and and proof of good manufacturing process.
And that applies to absolutely every product that's looked at for pre qualification.
But I do not have any details on timelines, applications, etcetera for you in front of me.
So I'll have to get back to you on that.
Thank you very much, Margaret.
Let me see if there's any other question for you or for Yens not in the room and not in the platform.
[Other language spoken]
And as I said, you're not the last one because I've got on my right, Claire from WMO, as you will have noticed, because we've send it to you during the night, hoping that you will find it this morning and read it very attentively yesterday.
The Secretary Channel has been, first of all, he, as you know, is in Tonga to participate.
He has participated in the opening of the 53rd Pacific Island Forum.
So he has given speeches, we have distributed them to you.
But yesterday he gave a press conference together with the World Meteorological Organisation Secretary General, where a couple of reports were launched.
We'll hear more from Claire.
But the most important thing that I wanted to to raise is that this Secretary John has been highlighting the present day impacts and future projections of sea level rise.
He has spoken of an SOS that's really_the need to save our seas, a global SOS.
He has been saying that the ocean is overflowing.
This, I think science demonstrated it largely, and this reports confirm it.
The reason it's clear, So the secretary general, greenhouse gases overwhelmingly generated by burning fossil fuels are cooking our planet and the sea is taking the heat literally.
The Secretary General said that this puts Pacific islands at the grave danger, he continued, underlining that without drastic cuts in emissions, the Pacific islands can expect at least 15 centimetres of additional sea level rise by mid century and more than 30 days per year of coastal flooding in some places.
The reports that were launched showed that the average rate of sea level rise as more than doubled since the 90s and emerging science suggests that the two degree temperature rise could potentially lead to the loss of almost all the the Greenland ice sheet and much of the West Antarctica ice sheet.
This would mean condemning future generation to unstoppable sea level rise up to 20 metres over a period of a millennia.
But at the three degrees of warming, which is our current trajectory, the rising sea level would happen much more quickly, over which this in fact spells disaster wide-ranging and brutal impacts coming far thicker and faster than we can adapt to them, destroying entire coastal community communities.
So the Secretary General said that by only by limiting warming to 1.5°C do we have a fighting chance of preventing this irreversible collapse and the catastrophe that accompany them.
This means cutting global emissions by 43% compared to 2019 levels by 2030 and 60% by 2035.
The world must massively increase finance and support for vulnerable countries.
We need the surge in funds to deal with surging seas.
And he concluded by saying that the world must act and answer the SOS before it is too late.
And I understand, Claire, you wanted to add something on this, but also speak about in maybe another report.
I'll give you the floor now.
[Other language spoken]
Well, there's not actually much that I can I can add to that from the perspective of the World Meteorological Organisation.
Our Secretary General Celeste Salo spoke of we're sending a red alert to the world on sea level rise and indeed on the impacts of climate change.
And just to summarise what Alessandra has has just said, oh, we released a our State of the Climate in the Southwest Pacific report for 2023.
This shows that indeed, sea level rise in the region is above the global average.
It's not uniform.
[Other language spoken]
Within the Southwest Pacific, sea surface temperatures have risen 3 times faster than the global average since 1980, and during that time, marine heat waves have approximately doubled in frequency, and they're more intense and lasting longer.
So you should have received details in addition to the UN Secretary General's speech.
We sent out all the information under embargo.
[Other language spoken]
The Pacific Islands Forum which is taking place in Tonga, which is where we had the press conference, these important reports were launched, has seen a number of of other activities and one of them was the the inauguration of a new weather radar station at the airport in Tonga.
And this means that it's a big boost both for weather forecasts for early warnings, which is, you know, one of our top priorities, as both Celeste Salo and Mr Guterres underlined in in Tonga, you know, we need to get the early warnings out and we need to make sure that people can act on them.
Another good example of why we need early warnings is that the UN secretary general, he actually visited a primary school yesterday.
And while he was there at the primary school, they got a sort of an alert on the cell phones for, for a minor earthquake.
So again, you know, it highlights that we're not just dealing with one single hazard.
[Other language spoken]
After Tonga, Celeste Salo will be heading via Fiji to Singapore next week.
There's several important events in Singapore, including the launch of a new ASEAN Centre on Climate Resilience.
We'll be sending you details on that.
That is the 4th and the 5th of September.
Ahead of that, on the 2nd of September, we are launching the State of the Climate in Africa 2023 reports.
So this will be the last of the WMO regional climate statements.
It's being launched at a week long conference in Cote d'Ivoire.
We will as usual, send you the press press release under under under embargo in hopefully French and English.
We're not planning a press conference as such, but if you need to speak to any of the authors, please, please just let me know.
Even closer to that, WMO is releasing its annual report on air quality and climate.
It's pegged to the 7th of September, which is clean.
[Other language spoken]
The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, that is the 7th of September.
We do do an annual report on air quality and climate.
Now if there is interest, we can have an embargoed press conference on that.
We're proposing this Friday, which is quite a long time ahead.
But it's just because our, our expert who's dealing with it, he's, he's at a conference all of next week.
So we've given these press conferences, you know, the past couple of years and they have been quite well received.
So if you are interested in an embargoed press briefing, we can, we can, we can do it.
We can probably do it anyway.
Even if you're not interested, people nodding, they might be interested.
We'll send out the notice for that after this briefing.
But the plan is so for 2:00 PM Friday afternoon.
So that will hopefully give you time to to write up from the from the briefing and it will be embargoed for the for the following week.
Thank you, thank you, thank you very much.
Stay here because there may be questions.
I just wanted to add that also in terms of the Secretary General is when he finishes his commitments in in Tonga, we'll go to Timor last for from the 28th to the 31st of August, where he will take part in the commemoration on the 25th anniversary of the popular consultation in the country, which was organised, as you all know, by the United Nations.
He's also then going to Singapore on the 1st and 2nd September, when he will meet with the president and the Prime Minister.
And then from the 2nd to the 5th of September, he will be in China.
He has many engagements, but he will also take part in the 2024 summit of the Forum on China Africa cooperation in Beijing, where he will highlight the importance of South S cooperation to build solidarity and Dr progress on shared development goals.
And he will meet with several government officials.
And since he is there on the other side of the world, he cannot be at the opening of the Paralympic Games.
But our director general is representing him there.
So she will be in Paris for the opening.
And we will report on social media for engagements.
And I'll open the floor to questions on all these matters in the room.
I don't see hands, although I saw people nodding before about the background briefing.
So that's good on the platform.
Yeah, it's, it's not a background briefing.
It is, it's an on the record briefing.
But it's, it's, it's sort of technical level with one of our technical experts who speaks Spanish, French and English.
Just for your information.
That's good, not background.
OK, so if there are no other points, I have just one last announcement from the office of the Special Envoy for Syria.
One for for Claire.
No, OK, just one second.
[Other language spoken]
I've got a couple of announcements.
So just to inform you that tomorrow, Wednesday, the UN Special Envoy for CDM is the guy of petition, will brief the Security Council at 10 AM New York time, which is, as you know, 4:00 in Geneva.
The transcript of the briefing will be distributed, He concludes, as as Jennifer usually does.
And also let me remind you that the Committee on the Rights of Person with Disabilities is going to start this afternoon the review of the report of Ukraine, which will be the last one on their agenda.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child will start this afternoon.
The report the examining the report on Bahrain, which will be followed by Turkmenistan, Mexico, Argentina, Israel and Armenia.
And that is what I have.
I have no press conference to remind you for the moment.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I just read in some calendar that today at UN Geneva opens open 2 events.
One is at Palais Wilson on racism in Palestine, Israel.
That's what I heard, something related with Serd.
So is it open to the media and what can we know?
And another event is on autonomous weapons.
[Other language spoken]
Let me ask and come back to you, do you know where the little autonomous weapons one was?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Like the one on autonomous weapons.
I think it's the whole week starting today.
That's what I remember.
And.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
You're probably.
And the one that Palais Wilson was more intriguing.
So is it worth for us to rush there and try to attend?
[Other language spoken]
The one on the lethal autonomous weapons.
[Other language spoken]
We, we, I I had heard about it, but I didn't have the dates, so let me check on the other one.
I will ask the colleagues of human rights.
[Other language spoken]
And let you know quickly, we'll, we'll check just after the, the end of the briefing, which I think is now because I don't see any, any other hand up.
So thank you very much for, for attending this long briefing and, and see you next time and let me inform you by e-mail about these two events.
[Other language spoken]