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UN Geneva Press Briefing - 31 January 2025
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Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNCTAD , UNOG , UNRWA , WFP , WHO
UN Geneva Press Briefing - 31 January 2025
HYBRID PRESS BRIEFING – Friday, 31 January 2025
Attendance list
RG Announcements:
Read the list of meetings covered prepared by François Nassiet
Press conferences
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UNCTAD Catherine Huissoud (PR)
Economic Development in Africa Report 2024. Monday 10 Feb at 1 pm CET
TOPICS
UNRWA Juliette Touma, Director of Communications, UNRWA (From Amman)
Update on the Assistance to Palestinian Refugees
WFP Antoine Renard, WFP’s Country Director in Palestine (From Jerusalem)
Update from Gaza
WHO Tarik Jašarević (Zoom) with Dr Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in oPt (From
Gaza)
Update on the health situation in Gaza
OHCHR Jeremy Laurence (PR) with James Rodehaver, Chief of Myanmar Team (From
Bangkok)
Myanmar ahead of the 4th anniversary of the coup on 1 February.
Jeremy Laurence (PR)
DRC – update on the human rights situation in Gom
UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
31 January 2025
UNRWA: Update on the Assistance to Palestinian Refugees
Juliette Touma, Director of Communications of UNRWA, speaking from Amman, said the full implementation of the Knesset laws seeking to prevent the Agency from delivering its services across the occupied Palestinian territory would have catastrophic consequences on the lives and the future of Palestinian refugees. In the absence of any durable solution, Palestine refugees would continue to depend on UNRWA for basic services, including health and education.
The State of Israel had sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the UN, requiring UNRWA to cease its operations in Jerusalem and evacuate all premises in the city by the 30 January. Despite that, UNRWA continued to provide services across the occupied East Jerusalem, including providing 70,000 patients with primary health care, as well as providing over 100 000 students and pupils with education. The remaining UNRWA Palestinian staff in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank were facing an exceptionally hostile environment as the disinformation campaign against UNRWA continued.
In Gaza, UNRWA remained the backbone of the international humanitarian response. The Agency was bringing in trucks of basic supplies, with over 5000 team members on the ground. UNRWA was not only bringing in the trucks, but also distributing aid, Ms. Touma insisted.
Answering questions from journalists, Ms. Touma explained that in Gaza more than 270 UNWRA team members had been killed during the conflict, with two thirds of UNRWA buildings hit, including shelters and convoys; and that some 20 staff were still detained in Israeli prisons.
Schools across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, were now closed for a break; they should resume next Sunday. UNRWA education teams would continue to provide learning for around 60,000 boys and girls across the West Bank.
Ms. Touma stressed that UNWRA would continue with its mandate in the absence of a political solution. A political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was more needed than ever: the solution had to be a diplomatic, peaceful solution that would also address the issue of Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA was grateful to donors that paid their current contributions, Ms. Touma added. Still the financial was situation unclear, with certain donors having stopped their funding, others adopting a wait and see attitude, others still having stepped up their efforts.
There was no substitute for the Agency's capacity and mandate to provide its services, Ms. Touma warned.
WFP and WHO Updates from Gaza
Antoine Renard, WFP Country Director in Palestine, speaking from Jerusalem, explained that despite the attacks on its cargo and the closures it had been faced with, the Programme still had managed to deliver.
Since the ceasefire on 19 January, humanitarian access had improved: 600 humanitarian trucks were expected to be entering daily; up to 28 January, WFP alone had delivered over 10,300 metric tons of food, exceeding the total delivered last month.
While “shops around the corner” were restarting and food prices had started to go down in the Gaza Strip, these prices remained extremely high, Mr. Renard warned. WFP was moving to again support mills and food processing in Gaza, he added.
WFP immediate priorities were delivering food, serving hot meals in shelters and kitchens, and distributing nutritional supplements to women and children.
Dr Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, speaking from Gaza, gave an update on the health situation in Gaza, indicating that since the ceasefire, WHO had been delivering supplies and essential medicine to 1,6 million people. The devastation of the health system meant that only 18 of the 36 hospitals were partially functional. WHO was working round the clock to expand health service in North Gaza, including supporting over 26,000 women and girls to maintain proper hygiene during displacement. The expansion of Shifa Hospital to over 200 beds was also being planned.
The mental health burden was unimaginable: everyone in Gaza was affected by 15 months of conflict, stress, and anxiety, but only two psychiatrists were available in North.
WHO estimated that between 12,000 and 14,000 Palestinian people needed medical evacuation, including 2500 children in need of urgent evacuation from Gaza. WHO was especially asking for a restoration of the traditional (medical) referral pathways.
Answering questions from journalists, Mr. Renard explained that another priority of WFP was to provide high-energy food to people on the move.
Dr. Peeperkorn said WHO intended to rapidly expand hospital capacity across Gaza while strengthening primary health care: 4000 hospital beds had been available before the crisis, 1100 during the crisis, and about 1500 now. WHO aimed for 2500 beds as soon as possible.
The first evacuation of 50 patients was expected tomorrow through Rafah: at this rate, the process would take years, he noted. Medical evacuations must resume, and an evacuation corridor be opened, Dr. Peeperkorn insisted.
Other questions
Taking questions from the floor regarding, first, the current US administration policy on immigration, Mr. Tarik Jašarević, also from WHO, stressed that access to health services by migrants, on the same level as the local population, was a basic human right. Mr. Jeremy Laurence, from OHCHR, stressed that migrants had human rights that must be respected wherever.
Answering a question regarding the origins of the COVID-19 epidemic, Mr. Jašarević said that to advance our knowledge on the origin of SARS-CoV-2, further studies needed to be conducted. WHO had been calling on China to release any information it had on the origin of the virus.
Finally, regarding the United States withdrawal from the Organization, Mr. Jašarević said the WHO Executive Board would start on Monday to discuss governance reform, including the financing and implementation of the next program budget and the proposed program budget for the following years.
OHCHR: Myanmar four years after the coup on 1 February
Jeremy Laurence, from the OHCHR, stressed that over the past four years, at least 6231 civilians, including 1144 women and 709 children, had been killed by the military. Acts of extreme brutality had been committed, including beheadings, burnings, mutilations, executions, torture and the use of human shields, all of which were carried out against civilians with absolute impunity.
UN figures showed that over 3.5 million people had been displaced, a third of whom were children, although data from civil society organizations suggested that that overall number could be more than double that.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights had called on States with influence, particularly those in the region, to double down on bringing an end to the violence, to press for full and unhindered humanitarian assistance, to demand the release of all those detained on political grounds, to engage with actors promoting democracy and human rights, and to ensure international protection for those fleeing the violence and persecution. (Full statement)
Mr. James Rodehaver, Chief of OHCHR Myanmar Team, further noted that 63% of persons killed had died as a result of airstrikes and artillery barrages. There had been a 24% increase in the number of deaths amongst children and 61% increase among women. The violence that the Myanmar military was relying upon was inherently against the civilian population.
This had created a dire situation in the country, compounded by the military's continued limitation on access for humanitarians. At the same time, the country's economy was in a freefall, with an increase in inflation, especially the cost of staple foods that people relied upon normally to survive.
Given this situation and how dire the situation was for normal people in the country, one wondered what the Myanmar military’s priorities were, and why they were making preparations for an election which seemed focused on legitimizing the coup in 2021.
Mr. Gómez reminded that the Secretary General echoed much of the sentiments you just heard from our colleagues, among them calling on the parties to the conflict to exercise a maximum restraint, uphold human rights, and international humanitarian law. The Secretary-General also expressed concern about the military stated intention to hold elections amidst this horrific, situation, while noting that 19.9 million people in Myanmar, one-third of the population, was in need of humanitarian assistance. (See full statement).
Answering questions from journalists, Mr. Rodehaver said the black economy, including (telecom) scam-centers and trafficking of human beings, had risen in Myanmar. The pushback against the military had been motivated, in part, by the refusal of the military to do anything against the scam-centers, the expert noted.
In 2024, the military had lost considerable ground, having effectively lost control of the majority of its land borders, Mr. Rodehaver remarked. The military seemed only able to control areas where they had troops actively deployed, which was one of the reasons why they relied on heavy weaponry, the only area where the enjoyed a significant advantage over their opponents. It was difficult to track the delivery of heavy weapons to the military, Mr. Rodehaver said, answering a question regarding the delivery of Russian fighter aircraft.
There was no platform for political discussions or for the creation of conditions for a democratic transfer of power, the expert added. That was in part because the Myanmar military had resisted doing even the most basic things that had been demanded of it by both by ASEAN and the UN Security Council. The priorities now should be not elections, but de-escalation, peace and transition, Mr. Rodehaver said.
Mr. Gómez noted that the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, remained actively engaged with all stakeholders, in close cooperation with ASEAN, in the search of a Myanmar-led resolution to the crisis.
OHCHR: Human rights situation in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mr. Laurence, for OHCHR, said the human rights crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) had continued to deepen, as hostilities between the armed forces and the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group had expanded towards South Kivu following the M23’s takeover of Goma.
Since the start of the crisis, bombs had struck at least two internally displaced persons sites, causing civilian casualties; the Office had also documented summary executions of at least 12 people by M23 between 26 and 28 January; as well as cases of conflict-related sexual violence by the army and allied Wazalendo fighters in Kalehe territory.
DRC officials had reported that at least 165 women had been raped by male inmates during the prison break by more than 4,000 inmates from Goma’s Muzenze prison on 27 January, as M23 had begun its assault on the town. Conflict-related sexual violence had been an appalling feature of armed conflict in eastern DRC for decades. High Commissioner Volker Türk was particularly concerned that this latest escalation risks deepening the risk of conflict-related sexual violence much further.
As M23 was advancing towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, the High Commissioner called for all parties to uphold their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law. It was crucial that there were investigations into the commission of violations. (Full statement)
Mr. Gómez, for UNIS, noted that the UN peacekeeping mission – the MONUSCO – was operating in very difficult conditions. Its priority remained the protection of civilians and of their own staff. Many civilians had taken shelter in UN camps near Goma.
Mr. Jašarević added that WHO had maintained its own staff the ground to try and ensure minimal health services, in a context where hospitals in or near Goma were saturated with injured patients. WHO was especially worried for the safety and health of women and girls at risk of violence.
(Editor’s note: On Tuesday, 4 February, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women will review a special report submitted by the Democratic Republic of the Congo regarding the authorities’ response to sexual violence in the eastern part of the country.)
OHCHR: Constitutional reforms in Nicaragua
Finally, Mr. Laurence, for OHCHR, warned that the constitutional reforms adopted on Thursday by Nicaragua would “deepen setbacks in the civil and political rights in that country”. The changes would further erode the already fragile checks and balances on the executive. The Office called on the authorities to review these reforms.
Announcements
Catherine Huissoud, for UNCTAD, announced that the Economic Development in Africa Report 2024 would be launched on Monday, 10 February, in Côte d’Ivoire, by UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan and Ivory Coast’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Promotion of SMEs, Souleymane Diarrassouba. There would be a hybrid press conference from Abidjan at 11 a.m.; a press kit would be ready at the latest on Thursday. Africa’s potential was immense, Ms. Huissoud noted, but unlocking it required bold policies, strategic investments, and stronger economic cooperation: the UNCTAD report would provide a roadmap to turn this vision into reality.
Mr. Gómez, for UNIS, announced that the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) would close this afternoon its 98th session and issue its concluding observations on Slovakia, Eritrea, Honduras, St Kitts and Nevis, Peru, Gambia and Ecuador.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) would open next Monday its 90th session during which it would review the reports of Nepal (5 Feb), Belarus (6 Feb), Luxembourg (7 Feb), Belize (11 Feb), Congo (12 Feb), Sri Lanka (13 Feb), and Liechtenstein (14 Feb). On Monday, 17 February, the Committee will hold a half-day of general discussion on gender stereotypes.
Answering a question from a journalist, Mr. Laurence said OHCHR was aware that Japan had decided to cut its support to the CEDAW Committee. The Office valued all the contributions that Japan made to the UN work on human rights, Mr. Laurence added, noting that it was the prerogative of the Government to choose which area to support.
***
Teleprompter
[Other language spoken]
Welcome here to the UN Office of Geneva for this press briefing today, the 31st of January.
Once again we have a very packed agenda.
We have the situation in the Occupied Palestinian territory.
We have situation in the Myanmar and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
We also have an announcement from our colleague from Trade and development.
So we'll start off immediately and we're very pleased to have with us Juliet Tuma, who you know well, who Director of Communications for Onrah, who's joining us from Oman.
We'll have opening remarks from Juliet and we'll go to Q&A immediately afterwards.
And then we'll have to relieve Juliet and then we'll move.
We'll stay on Gaza afterwards, but Juliet, we'll have to move on.
As you can imagine, lots of pressing activities.
So Juliet, once again, thank you very much for joining us.
Over to you.
Thanks, Orlando, can you hear me OK?
[Other language spoken]
Yes, we do perfectly.
[Other language spoken]
Very well.
[Other language spoken]
Morning, everyone.
Look, I wanted to give a quick update on Andrea and our operations in the Occupied Palestinian territory and then I can take any questions you might have.
And thanks a lot for all the support and the interest over over the past few months.
So across the occupied Palestinian territory, and I'll refer to it later as OPT, Andrea is committed to continue delivering life saving and other basic services that includes the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including E Jerusalem.
Full implementation of the Knesset laws across the OPT seeking to prevent Andrea from delivering services will have catastrophic consequences on the lives and futures of Palestine refugees.
In the absence of any durable solution, Palestine refugees will continue to depend on Indra for basic services, including health and education, and in Gaza in the aftermath of the devastation caused by the war, for their sheer survival.
To date, Andra has not received any official communication from the Israeli authorities on how these laws will be implemented across the Occupied Palestinian territory.
Under our international staff posted in East Jerusalem who have been granted limited visa duration.
That visas expired on the 29th of January.
These visas issued by the Israeli authorities, they had no alternative but to leave that territory under protest.
Our remaining Palestinian colleagues both in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank and they face an exceptionally hostile environment as a fierce disinformation campaign against Andhra continues on East Jerusalem.
On the 24th of January, as some of you might have seen, the state of Israel sent a letter addressed to the Secretary General of the UN requiring under the seize it's operations in Jerusalem evacuate all premises in which it operates in the city by the 30th of January.
That was yesterday.
[Other language spoken]
And so as a bit of background, across the occupied E Jerusalem under provide 70,000 patients with primary healthcare in our clinics and under our clinics and over 1100 students with education.
Our headquarters in the neighbourhood of Shekhar in occupied E Jerusalem is where the Agency has had an established legal presence for more than 70 years and it is the centre of operations of the Agency's work in the occupied West Bank, including E Jerusalem.
I'm ready to answer any questions on what we do exactly in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
But let me just say that in Gaza, you know, Indra continues to be the backbone of the international humanitarian response.
We continue to have international personnel in in Gaza and we continue to bring in trucks of basic supplies.
Andra was able to bring trucks of basic supplies yesterday and our teams on the ground, we have over 5000 team members on the ground in Gaza.
They have been distributing these supplies across the Gaza Strip.
That continued yesterday.
I'll stop here, Orlando, and see if anyone has any questions.
Thank you so very much, Juliet.
OK, over to your colleagues.
We have a question for you from Nina Larsen of AFP.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you for doing this briefing.
You you talk about the exceptionally hostile environment that your colleagues are facing.
Could you be provide some details about what they've experienced so far and also about your concerns inside of inside of Gaza?
If you're concerns when it comes to coordinating movements, if you're if you don't have contact with the Israelis, if you could just sort of spell out how this might impact the operations if they're continuing?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
In the Gaza Strip, since the war began 15 months ago, we've had more than 270 team members of Indra Kit in the Gaza Strip staying on that.
We've had at least 2/3 of Andrea facilities and being hit during the war, including those that were used as as shelters for the displaced, displaced families.
We had staff arrested.
We continue to have been dressed as currently in Israeli detention centre staff who are from Gaza, around 20 of them, and in the West Bank, including E Jerusalem.
The compound that I mentioned was subjected to to several types of attacks, whether it's protests, whether it's stone throwing, whether three times arson attacks.
We had staff also arrested in the area.
We have huge, huge delays on checkpoints controlled by the Israeli authorities.
All of this is, is ongoing.
With regards to the contacts.
[Other language spoken]
You know, I'm not entirely sure I'm able to answer it because like I said in the beginning, we've not had any communications from the government of Israel on how these two bills will be implemented.
Thanks, Juliet, for the questions in the room.
Yes, we have Christian of German news agency.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Can you, I, I assume that coordination was OK for for a few days, but what if an ANRA truck now appears at a checkpoint as an at an Israeli checkpoint?
Is there any more communication going on or how how do you see these trucks being processed with those laws in place?
[Other language spoken]
As of yesterday, Andrea was able to bring in trucks, say to the Gaza Strip.
We'll have to see the situation today.
[Other language spoken]
Normally these updates come in the in the evening.
And like I said, we've not received communication from the government of Israel on how they will implement these laws, including the no contact policy.
[Other language spoken]
OK, for we have another one, Satoko Dumiyori.
My name is Satoko Adachi from my emiration Japanese daily newspaper.
Could you tell us what's happening at the the Ottawa Schools and Healthcare Centre in eastern Jerusalem today and after?
[Other language spoken]
Yes, thank you very much.
Our services in occupied the East Jerusalem continue yesterday, the health centres that the agency runs continued to provide services.
The schools across the West Bank, including E Jerusalem, they are now closed for a break and they should resume on Sunday, This coming Sunday.
And our teams, including the education teams, will continue to provide learning for children.
We have around 50,000 boys and girls across the West Bank, including E Jerusalem who go to under schools.
[Other language spoken]
OK, we'll take another question in the room.
[Other language spoken]
AP Hi, Juliet, Thank you so much for coming to see us.
I wanted to ask you if what you know about any negotiations or talks or any kind of conversations underway either with UNRWA, directly with Israeli authorities or more broadly through the United Nations that can try to unblock this situation.
Is there is there anything that's being done, you know, whether it be obviously Israel has said that you know, other UN agencies can take up the slack.
Is there any thoughts of sort of restructuring UNRWA in any way?
Could you just kind of lay out what is being done behind the scenes if as far as you know to try to, to try to unblock this situation so that aid can can get to the Palestinian refugees?
[Other language spoken]
Thanks, Jamie, good to see you.
Look, first to to your last question, any change in the mandate of India must go to the United Nations General Assembly.
There are meanwhile lots and lots of good efforts around that have been ongoing for months on end.
So that this bill is is not implemented because if it's implemented, then there's going to be severe interruptions to the humanitarian operation in Gaza, given that UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organisation working on the ground in Gaza, the backbone of of the operation.
We also have a huge reach across the Gaza Strip.
So it's not just about bringing the supplies, it's also about distributing the supplies.
And we are present across the Gaza Strip with, like I said, more than 5000 people who work with us.
Then there's also the type of services that the agency provides.
So the types of services cannot be done by any other United Nations agency.
And they've acknowledged that.
So, for example, only Andhra runs schools not only in the OPD, but across the region where we're serving.
So we can hand over to a Palestinian institution that would be a result of a diplomatic political solution that will also address the plight of Palestine refugees.
Currently, in the absence of that, Andra must continue.
Thank you, Juliet and colleagues, I'll remind you of the letter that we shared with you a few days ago from the Secretary General, 27th of January, in which he expresses his regret for the decision of the Knesset and of course, reminded you what we've been saying here repeatedly, that under is in fact the backbone.
There's no other organisation, there's no substitute for the agency's capacity and mandate to provide the services that Juliet just described.
[Other language spoken]
OK, We have a few more questions for you online now, turning to Muhammad of Anandolu.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
As you know, the ceasefire in Gaza continues.
My question is, do you think it it is a paradox that Israel has banned unravel activities despite the ceasefire And how negatively will this decision affect 8 activists activities in occupied Palestinian region?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Look, since the ceasefire started on the 19th of January, so just over 10 days ago, Andrea brought in 60% of all its supplies that went into Gaza and our teams continue to distribute.
So it's not just about bringing in the trucks, it's also about the reach and the distribution of, of aid.
We were able also to do that in northern Gaza, where according to estimates, hundreds of thousands of people have have gone back to a sort.
So that's that's one thing.
And yes, if Andrea's work is interrupted, if Andrea is not allowed to continue to bring and distribute supplies, then the fate of this very fragile ceasefire is going to be in the risk and is going to be in jeopardy.
Thank you very much, Juliet.
OK, Imogen, BBC, thanks for taking my question.
Hi Juliet, thanks very much for taking the time.
I found what you said really interesting.
And obviously the Unraban is, is, is only just in force, but it sounds like what you had to put up with before your staff getting killed, like stopping of aid being supplied, waiting at checkpoints is continuing.
So the law is in force, but there's not much change.
But obviously your role remains very difficult.
And I know Rick from who is there.
I just wondered if you have you noticed any difference since this law came into force?
Well, thanks, Imogen.
[Other language spoken]
It is a huge challenge in all cases.
[Other language spoken]
I think for for the United Nations in, in general, our teams continue to serve even though they themselves in in Gaza as an example, they themselves are impacted.
They themselves have been forced to flee their their homes, but they continue to serve.
And we are committed that on route to stay and deliver across the occupied Palestinian territory that includes the Gaza Strip.
It includes the occupied West Bank, including E Jerusalem in We have to be supported now, especially because the lives of people in Gaza depend on the work of the agency in a place like Gaza.
And the futures of of children in a place like the West Bank depends on the they depend the futures depend on on Undra.
And I'm speaking here about the education services as an example, the schools that Undra runs in the occupied West Bank.
Thank you once again.
And of course, just to remind you, we do have Rick and Anton, WFP and WHO colleagues online who will speak from their perspective as well.
We'll come back to them.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
We have a question from Jeremy of Radio France International.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Ronaldo.
[Other language spoken]
No, no, no, we're off there.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, sorry, we can mute Imogen.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I believe that it is 1/3 or 50%, I don't remember of the year that is coming in, in Gaza that has a basically some kind of UNRA stamp on it, let's say.
So all you actually considering getting the UNRA less visible on the edge so to make sure that the, the, the food and the everything is actually getting in.
Is it something that you're actually doing right now to make sure that yeah, Ed is is getting in in Gaza?
And also would like to know if you if you fear that an incident between the inner staff and the Israeli military could actually put an end to the ceasefire that the major fear right now.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
The second question was more about the, the the fears of of an incident between the universe staff and the Israeli military that could put an end to to the ceasefire.
[Other language spoken]
Let me start with your second question, Jeremy, and, and thank you very much, Luca.
Like I said in the beginning, it has been a really rough ride.
It has not been easy.
Our staff have not been protected.
270 of our colleagues have been killed.
Some of them were killed in the line of duty.
We've recorded that 2/3 of our buildings were hit during the war.
We've had shelters with displaced families, but we also had warehouses.
We've had convoys going in, especially into northern Gaza in being hit.
[Other language spoken]
And we've said more than once that Gaza is not safe and no place is safe including including for aid workers.
And that is the case also for other in United Nations agencies and through humanitarian.
So that risk has not gone away.
Now with the ceasefire, of course, we've seen a great, great decrease in in in violence.
And that's fantastic for the people of Gaza in particular because they finally have respite.
And we've seen the smooth delivery bringing in of humanitarian suppliers and the safe distribution.
And this is what should continue.
And This is why under should continue on the second.
On the first question, not that I know of the the systems side continues to to come in.
And what's really important is that a system comes in and we're not just talking about food because also our friends from the World Food Programme bring in a lot of food, but around brings medicines as an example, we bring fuel, including for humanitarian use, and we bring medical supplies and we also bring hygiene suppliers and we bring basic stuff for winter, so for example, blankets to keep people warm as as the winter continues in Gaza.
[Other language spoken]
And again, we'll throw to WFP and WHO momentarily beforehand.
We have one more question for you from Gabriella of El Proceso.
Thank you, Orlando.
[Other language spoken]
I don't know how to ask the question, but I will try.
[Other language spoken]
Israel subversion or hatred against ANRA is not new.
It did not arise in this war.
For many years they have wanted to get rid of this organisation.
I mean, now with the Trump and the possible peace agreement between Israel Palestina.
Blocks UNRWA before, If Israel blocks UNRWA before signing, it will somehow win the war because it is going to leave the Palestinians without aid, without food, education, I mean, with all the things that you contribute.
So do you think that the peace agreement should include clearly that UNRWA has to continue with its mandate?
Yes, thanks.
[Other language spoken]
Andrea should continue with its mandate.
In the absence of a political solution, the need for a political solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict is more needed than ever.
And that solution must be a diplomatic, peaceful solution that will also address the issue of Palestine refugees.
Thank you very much, Julian.
And of course, Gabriella, this is the message that the secretary general himself has also been echoing repeatedly.
I think that's it for you, Juliet, unless there are last questions.
No, I don't see that.
[Other language spoken]
Could I just maybe say a couple of words about our funding situation and in case it's helpful.
So Needless to say, we're very, very grateful for those donors who are able to pay their contributions this month, meaning the month of January that allowed us to maintain operations during a very critical period for the agency.
Some donors have decided to no longer contribute to the agency's other other adopted stop and see approach.
So our financial situation is, is very unclear.
And as I'm sure you've, you probably know, this agency, Andrea has been going through an endemic financial crisis for many, many years.
That is that gets worse as as the months and the years go by.
So we stay and deliver, like I said, and this is a message to the donors to bring in more contributions, bring in more commitments, to disperse those commitments as soon as possible because that will allow us to continue working in places like Gaza, but also across the region where we work.
So in Jordan, in Lebanon, in Syria and of course in the occupied West Bank, that last thing that we want is to suspend our services because of lack of funding.
So now is the time to give more support to Andrea, not less.
Back to you, Orlando.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Your, your comments sparked another question, Jamie, AP and also Nina.
So we'll start with Jamie.
Julie and talking about funding is of course going to stir, stir some, some some some extra questions.
If you don't mind, could you be more, could you please be specific about the current funding situation?
We, you mentioned some countries.
I, I, I thought from memory and of course this goes back to some time.
the United States is the one that of course is, has paused funding for UNRWA.
Are there others that are, have have paused and have since this situation?
Have you seen either a decline or an increase or some countries stepping up to fill the void?
Could you just give us the latest on that?
Obviously, this is a process in a situation that's been going on for many, many months, but just give us the latest and it'd be as specific as you as possible, if you can, about which countries have stepped up maybe more so than in the past and which ones may have dropped off.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
You may recall that exactly 1 year ago in January, when we had 16 countries deciding to suspend the funding to to the agency.
Since then, all of them have come back apart from the United States.
Then we've had Sweden, much, much later in December, stopping its funding to the agency, announcing that it's stopping its funding.
Meanwhile, we have countries who have stepped up.
So yesterday, as one example, Norway came forward with an early transfer of the money, the the funds that it normally gives to to Andra.
We continue to have funding from the private sector, so individuals, people who come online and give funding to Andra.
In fact, since the war began, the agency was able to bring $170 million, unprecedented in the history of the agency, $170 million only through private funding and digital fundraising.
It's a hand to mouth approach.
It's very difficult to to tell you, oh, in March we're going to need this or in June we're going to be there.
But what I can confirm is that we managed to go through the month of January, meaning we had no suspension of our operations.
We were able to say pay salaries for our local local staff.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So Jamie asked the the funding question, but I had a question about President Donald Trump's comments on on wanting Palestinian refugees removed from from Gaza and moved to Egypt and Jordan.
I don't know, I guess if you have any, any comments on on what that would entail and how your agency is positioned towards that?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I believe Rolando, to answer Nina's question, if we can read again the answer from Steph to Jadic on on that, where he said that the UN opposes any forced displacement.
We can share that with you in writing, Nina, if if you need that.
[Other language spoken]
I'll have to search for the precise language.
I want to be careful.
I'll make sure I get it right.
So I'll let me search for that.
In the meantime, I think we had another question.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
He did repeat this yesterday, I believe.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, it must be in the briefing.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, I think we may need to because, and I have lots of papers here and this, these are obviously delicately worded phrases.
So indeed what you summarised it indeed.
Tell you what bit on the spot here while I dig this up.
I believe it was from yesterday and the day before actually when the announcement was made from Mr Trump.
It was actually a couple of days ago.
But I'll tell you what, let me come back to you.
Let me search this.
In the meantime, let me just see if there are other further questions for you, Juliet, in the room or online.
No, I don't see that's the case.
So whilst I look for these comments into response to your question, Nina, I think we'll now go to our colleagues from WFP.
And WHO, Juliet, you're welcome to stay on the line.
Of course, taking this opportunity to express our immense thanks to you, your colleagues.
We stand with you at 110%.
So thanks to my name for all the support.
Of course, bye, of course, goodbye.
[Other language spoken]
OK, on that note, and again, I'll get back to you on those comments, but let's now turn to our colleague, Antoine Renau of WFP.
He's WF PS Country Director in Palestine, who's joining us from Jerusalem.
Right afterwards, we'll hear from Rick Peppercorn, who you know well of who who's joining us from Gaza.
So Antoine, over to you.
[Other language spoken]
And just to to EJ and I mean you've been following the situation, I mean before the ceasefire as you know from the walk through programme and working very closely with UNRWA despite all the different challenges that we had related to exactly the number access to here.
But you can hear me properly, there was a bit of extra noise there.
So you can start from the beginning.
[Other language spoken]
So just to EJ to confirm that indeed over the 15 months into the conflict, we were facing major impediments to actually serve 1,000,000 people from the work Food programme with food assistance and UNWA was also serving 1,000,000 people.
So despite all the different attacks that we had on our cargo, despite all the different, let's say, closure that we had, the different crossings that were not working properly, we managed still to deliver, but we were forced actually to come with very reduced food ration.
Despite this, we maintain with online WFPA proper pipeline for food parcels.
But at one point we were forced in December to only provide wheat flour.
We couldn't provide anymore some of the food parcels.
We were forced also to have hot meals that were provided 330,000 people on a daily basis.
We had like a window of five days to operate and we were actually systematically very close to turning down some of our operation.
The biggest impact we had was actually some of the bakeries.
WFP has been supported a network of more than 18 bakeries with the Strip.
And in fact since end of November we were forced to stop this bread support for north, for sorry for South and central Gaza.
And in the north, we were actually at a very reduced level given the fact that the fuel has been really a challenge since the since fire is in place.
We've managed actually both UNRWA and the World Food Programme to have more than practically 32,000 metric tonnes of food that entered into Gaza.
To give you an idea, this is more than the double of what we've done in December.
This is nearly triple of what we've done in October, where it was one of the lowest, knowing as well that commercial goods were being prevented.
So what it means completely on the ground, we managed to resume along with UNWA a full-fledged food parcels distribution.
We are providing one bag of three flour, 2 food parcels to the population.
Since the beginning of the ceasefire, we've reached 350,000 people already.
But on top of that, we resume also upscale all of our operation.
All the bakeries in the north of Gaza are actually running now, not at 50% as it was before, they're running 150%.
Currently we have five bakeries up and running and we will have one additional in bet layer as of early next week as well.
We've managed to reinstate a proper food distribution in terms of hot meals.
Even in bed layer, there are 20,000 hot meals that are being provided now on a daily basis.
What is the most important for us now is that the ceasefire holding is very paramount, not only to bring food and out, but also to make sure that we can actually sustain beyond food assistance.
And this is where Juliet reminded to all of you that many of the goods that are dual used need also to enter into Gaza being medicals.
And really I'm sure we'll raise that.
But as well the tents.
Why raise this?
Because the whole food programme is also supporting through the logistic cluster to ensure that the pipeline coming on a daily basis are being sustained to ensure also that we meet some of the requirements related to the ceasefire.
Last one on our end that I would like to raise to all of you.
Prices started to go down within the Gaza Strip.
Most of the prices for some of the key staples were around 2000 to 3000 person higher than three prices.
Many of the prices now are around 100 to 1000% higher still.
So this is not yet a solution related to market restoration, but we see an improvement.
This is why it's so important that the commercial as well as cash liquidity are coming back into Gaza in a proper sustained manner.
This will allow us to gradually move away from food and out and gradually actually support some of the markets we have now restarted and I know UNICEF also is doing it at scale.
We restarted some of the cash based programme using E wallet.
But again we need to see how markets are going to behave beyond purely the ceasefire period.
Last one from our end, this is where also WFD is not only contemplating, we are moving forward to respond the support to meals in the Gaza Strip.
We will actually provide wheat grains and reinstate some of these meal systems as well.
We are contemplating to look at food processing within Gaza.
To remind all of you before the 7th of October, fruit, vegetables were actually produced at scale.
This is where we need to work to make sure that seeds as well as many of the greenhouses needs to be restored to ensure again that the market is coping in a better manner.
And last one that is really for us quite crucial is that the shops around the corner are being reinstated again.
If we want to use and rely on E wallet system and on proper commercial, we need to ensure that these shop around the corner are being restored Again.
70 to 80% of the different buildings in Gaza have been actually torn down due to the crisis.
This is why also we need to sustain for the next 6 months our food endows, but at the same time gradually see how markets are restoring and of course the ceasefire holding to bring us to the next phase.
So this is where we stand on a nutshell.
Glad to take any question queries from your end.
Thank you very much Antoine.
Before we turn to questions, let's hear now from a Rick Peppercorn, who you know well WWE representative in OPT speaking from Gaza.
Rick over to you.
So good morning everyone.
I hope you can hear me loud and clear.
[Other language spoken]
So let me focus on on health.
Of course, WHO and, and as we all know the health needs, they are immense and just to, to, to focus on that.
Amid this large scale devastation of the health system, only 18 of the 36 hospitals are partly functional and one third, 57 of the 142 primary healthcare centres and 11 field hospitals are partly hospital, partly functional.
The ceasefire isn't as good news allowed.
Scale of eight I think and you heard my colleague Antoine, I mean I think of course the eight first and foremost focused on priority.
I did food, water, non food items, but also for WHO is smaller scale.
Since the ceasefire began received 62 trucks and that is definitely way more.
Over the next two days another 22 are expected to arrive.
And since the ceasefire from existing, we have pre positioned against stocks, the existing and use stocks.
So WHO delivered medical supplies and essential medicine to address the health needs of around 1.6 million people.
As we know the influx in the north increased health needs.
So more than 400,000 people, 450,000 people numbers be shared, crossed into northern Gaza and currently there's only there 10 partially functional hospitals in Gaza City and one minimal minimal functional hospital in north of Gaza.
The mental health burden is unimaginable.
Everyone in Gaza is affected by 50 months of conflict, stress, anxiety increase.
Only two psychiatrists are available in north along with a few mental health professionals.
And before the war, there was 1 psychiatric hospital and six community mental health centres points covering the Gaza Strip.
But early 24, they all came to a halt due to the attacks and conflict.
So the way it's just working around the clock to expand this health service in the north delivered yesterday.
Dignity gets to support over 26,000 women and girls and to maintain proper hygiene during displacement.
Mental health and and 44 mental humanitarian health works trained on psychological first aid to provide the immediate emotional psychological support.
Expansion of Shiva Hospital by 200 deaths is being planned.
Work on going with the Ministry of Health to conduct assessment of Indonesian Hospital.
That's the minimal functional hospital in the north to support this small scale rehabilitation of restoration planning being finalised for an installation for prefab health facility in Gaza City.
Deployment of two surgical teams 2 days ago to support trauma surgical capacity in Arab and public aid hospitals in Gaza City.
Enhancing the disease surveillance and response with an expansion of early warning and alert ongoing.
We also went to the South in Rafah and and as we know that the three hospitals there, they all were nonfunctional in during this conflict.
Al Najar Ali Marathi hospital assessment conducted and hospitals have significant damage restoration will be planned.
It will take a lot of time currently and that's I think a little good.
Is the UAE field hospital resume part of his capacity now the population is also returning to Rafa and mainly general surgery and orthopaedic, the only functioning I would say referral hospital in now in the South and Rafa.
Last point, important medical evacuations.
They must urgently resume and the medical corridor must open now.
So currently we estimate that between 12 and 14,000 people need medical evacuation.
Among these, let's say for the early trenches, we estimate that was roughly 2502 thousand 500 children in need for urgent medevac outside Gaza.
So what we are we have been asking for all the time, but should really happen now is first and foremost a restoration of the referrals, the traditional referral pathway to West Bank and E Jerusalem.
The the Eastern Ruslan hospitals and the West Bank hospitals are ready to receive gas and Palestinian critical patients.
Secondly, of course, the the plans being finalised to open Rafa for the transfer to to Egypt and when needed both from Egypt and from the West Bank Asia Richland patients which maybe need specialised treatment which they cannot get on that place is being transfers to countries elsewhere.
What we based on those latest reports that the first medical evacuation since the ceasefire is expected.
[Other language spoken]
We will report on them to tomorrow via Rafa for an approximately 50 patients.
But if we continue with this space which we've been.
Having now since the Rafa border closed like that, then we will be manufacturing for the next 5 to 10 years.
This needs to change.
Over to you.
Thanks very much to you both.
We have a number of questions for you online.
I mean, just to repeat or echo what Stefan Dejarque said the other day after the announcement to your question, Nina, about the relocation, Palestinians to Egypt and Iman.
Simply put, have we lost you?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
OK, hold on a second.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
We'll go right back to you in a minute.
Just want to take some questions, but simply to repeat what's been said.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
OK, OK, one second.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Sorry.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
OK, OK, there you do.
[Other language spoken]
Once again, just to say that indeed the UN is firmly against a plan forced displacement.
And this is the position that we have actually said repeatedly.
So this is exactly what Stefan Dujarc said the other day in response to the comments from Mr Trump.
[Other language spoken]
We have Emma Farge of Reuters and if you can kindly indicate who you're pointing your question to, Emma, Good morning from Valenzona.
I have two questions for Monsieur Renaud, please, and two for Doctor Peoplecorn.
So the first two, could you elaborate a bit more on what you said about the dual use items?
Has Israel eased those rules at all since the ceasefire?
And secondly, given how dire the food situation was in North Gaza until recently, did you have to control or or manage in any way or ration the way that people consumed food in the early days since the ceasefire to ensure they they didn't actually harm their health?
Doctor Peppercorn, could you give an update on the prefabricated hospitals, please?
And I'm also wondering if you can tell us how many injuries and fatalities you've seen since the ceasefire from unexploded ordinance or exploded ordinance left behind.
[Other language spoken]
Thanks for your questions, Emma.
[Other language spoken]
We'll start with Antoine, this one.
[Other language spoken]
Your question you're on the you're not related, sorry.
So on, on the dual news item, your question is very valid.
We've been with the logistic cluster and it needs on with Kogat and the different negotiator.
We need to ensure that to sustain also some of the cargo movement, we need to have 10s as well as medical as well as any of the key non food items linked also with wash to enter into Gaza.
There's been still some delay related to how some of those are yet being fully approved to enter into Gaza, especially into the north.
And I think it will be very important and crucial that these two ***** items are coming in.
You have a search related to food assistance.
It needs to be picked up at a higher pace related also to the other type of items on the food security situation related to North of Gaza, one of the priority that we've done is that when people were actually on the move and they're still on the move, we are providing some **** energy biscuits the moment they arrive.
We've increased all the capacity related to our operation and the different kitchen sets that we have both in Gaza City, but as well the different bakeries.
Most of the population that are heading back to Bethanol, Bethlaya as well as Jabaliya, they're actually coming up and some of them are then coming back to Gaza City.
Even the fact that some of the basic services are not yet up and running, we are reinstating some of those.
Like I said, we will reinstate one of the bakery that we had prior in Bethlaya, but they will start in early February.
But we did not have to cut Russian for people because we managed to act through ziking as well as through errors, sufficient food, getting both UNRWA and WFP to provide assistance to people.
Thank you, Antoine, Rick, over to you on the prefab constructions and injuries.
Thank you very much.
Well, first of all, I think, but that's about the, I think it was first there was a question about a bit of an overview.
So on the on, on what's, what's there now.
So when we look, for example, there's 5 field hospitals, there's 16 international emergency medical team and one national commercial emergency medical team at hospitals, 18 of the 36 partly functional, 57 of the one and 42 primary healthcare centres partly functional and 11 field hospitals.
So what is much better that first of all, the hospitals they fuel, they didn't have that.
And we know all the discussions we've had before.
So they're, we, we want to expense and, and WHL partners, Ministry of Health want to expand the bed capacity, not just here in the South.
I mean, National Complex, European Gas hospitals plans to, to substantially expand the bed capacity, but also in the north.
Shiva, what I said with 200 beds, an extra prefab hospital and it's currently being finalised.
We hope to get a prefab hospital in within the next 4 to 5 weeks that will be in the north.
I mean like a managed by IMC that isn't so expanding the capacity of hospitals.
Parallel to this, I think what is as important is to do much more on the Primary Health care and and that is from WHO, The Who, the Ministry of Health and all the cluster parts, the medical, you remember the medical points in the South and the shelters.
We have to massively expanded it to the north with that influx of of people and an operation on the unexploded ordinances etcetera.
We we don't have any data on that.
There's a lot of warnings, of course, going out on that.
So the people who move north and back to their place and back to the house, I don't have specific, specific data on that.
Yes, over to you.
Well, noted.
Thank you, Rick, and thank you, Antoine.
We have a question from Nick of the New York Times.
Yeah, thank you for Rick and good to see you.
Rick, could you just give us a, an overview of how many beds there are actually now in service in, in all your hospitals?
You talk about 18 partially functional hospitals and a number of field hospitals.
So what what's the total bed capacity there now and where do you expect it to be, let's say you know, in by the end of the month.
Secondly, in relation to medevacs, given the urgency of the situation and the priority you've given to this issue over many months, why have there been medevacs since the ceasefire started and why is it that the Rafa Gate isn't open to, to medevacs now?
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
So first of all, on the, on the, on the debt capacity.
So the debt capacity before the crisis was like around 4 thousand 3500 deaths in Gaza, but then it was reduced to the lowest was 1100, a thousand deaths during the crisis and then I think up to 15116 hundred, that's where we are now.
[Other language spoken]
That is the kind of objective on the on the medevac and I think it's important to to to to go back to the matter of fact.
And I think so the the Rafa crossing closed on 6th of May 2024 and before that roughly 4700 patients were medevac through Rafa and then in Egypt, 2000 remained in Egypt and from there and most of them in the other, the other 2002 thousand in the region, very few to Europe and other places that since the Rafa crossing closed there's been only 480, four, 180 patients.
Matter of fact they were all managed and and supported by by WEHL and and we have the date on that and that you know where they suffered from etcetera, the diseases etcetera, half of them more or less children.
[Other language spoken]
So first a Rafa crossing is not properly open yet.
So we expect and we hope it will be opened tomorrow and what we have constantly erased since the the Rafa closing was closed that hey estimated between 12 and 14,000 critical patients need to be matter of fact.
And if we continue like this with the pace we have, we will be busy for the next 15 years.
So we, there is an absolutely need to, to, to, to, to, to have this medical corridors operational now.
And the first one should be the restoration of the traditional referral pathway.
I cannot emphasise that enough.
Before this crisis, between 50 and 100 patients per day went from Eris to East Jerusalem and to the West Bank.
Now there's a ceasefire process.
Now why can those patients not go back to East Jerusalem and, and, and, and the West Bank?
So that should be the East Jerusalem hospitals or West Bank hospitals are are ready to receive that.
The other corridor we should open immediately is indeed Rafa and then into Egypt and then you know both from from Egypt and, and and and the West Bank when needed to other countries when, when it's ready why that hasn't happened.
So I think it's initially I think there is a lot of focus on getting food and water and non food items in etcetera.
And and we we hope and expect this is going to happen now both of those corridor and all the number of deaths.
So it was roughly at the moment, I mean, I just wanted to get a more specific there's roughly 99 beds available in the in the 18 hospitals.
Thank you very much, Rick.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
We have Gabriella of El Proceso.
[Other language spoken]
Rolando, I have a question for WHO but for Tarek is possible.
Let's I think there was another question from Julia for Tarek on another subject.
Is this on Gaza or OPT?
No, no, my question is on another issue, another issue.
[Other language spoken]
OK, then let's go back to Emma because I think Emma needed I had a follow up question for Rick and then we'll come back to you, Gabby.
[Other language spoken]
It's a really quick one.
Doctor Peppercorn, this evacuation tomorrow that is planned, would that be the first one via Rafa since it was closed for medical evacuations, I believe in May last year?
[Other language spoken]
Yes, that would be the first one.
And again it's reported to us.
We have to follow up.
It says we hope, of course it will happen.
It would be the first one since 6th of May.
Thanks for that clarification, Rick.
And I think unless there are questions in the room, I don't see any online.
I'd like to thank you both very much, Antoine and Tarek, I'm sorry and, and Rick, we do have Tarek online and we have questions for you.
But thank you so much, colleagues.
It's always a pleasure to have you join us.
And it's, it's supremely important to keep the spotlight bright on the situation on the ground there.
So thank you both.
Tarek, I think we have a couple of questions of the before we turn to Jeremy, who's joined me on the podium here, who has updates on Myanmar, introducing our colleague on Myanmar and also on DRC.
Let's just take the questions from Gabby to Tarek and then Julia.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Rolando.
My question for Tarek and maybe for for Jeremy is on United States on immigrants.
Do you think that irregular immigrants have access to health?
Let's try that again.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Yes, my, my question, my question is if irregular immigrants in USA, inside USA, do they have access to health services?
And also I would like to know from Jeremy or UNHCR if they, if they think that the measures that Mister Trump is taking against irregular immigrants saying that they are going inside churches, schools, houses to look for irregular immigrants and deport them.
Is this a persecution?
How do you call this kind of measure?
I mean, it's like persecution against social group, if you can say something about that.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Well, indeed, having, having access to health services is, is part of, of human rights and it's a part of universal coverage.
So definitely health of migrants is something the WTO is working on and everywhere migrants should be able to access health services, ideally to be integrated into, into provision of a health services as it is done for the local population.
So indeed, we, we really always call for migrants to receive as much as possible the full set of of health services wherever they are.
Thank you so much, Jeremy, On the second part of the question.
Yeah, we, that's quite a simple answer for us, Juana.
Really, everyone, regardless of their immigration status, should be guaranteed their fundamental human rights regardless.
Thank you very much.
OK, let's maybe before we throw to you, I think Julia has been waiting on line.
I think she has a question for Tarek and then we'll take the questions in the room.
So Julia, yeah, thank you so much for taking the question.
[Other language spoken]
So at the weekend, the USSCIA released a report saying that laboratory leave was likely as the origin of COVID-19.
But previously, The Who team of scientists said that a laboratory leak is extremely unlikely.
What can you say about this new report, please?
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Well, W2 has been very consistent on this topic for four years.
In order to advance our knowledge on the origin of of SARS COVID 2, there was and there is a still need for studies to be done.
And we have been calling on China to release any information it has on the origin and to conduct those studies until we get more of that knowledge.
All the hypothesis are still on the table, OK.
These questions are what I would call a ripple effect because we have other questions now coming up.
I don't know if OK, Maeva, Nina, Christian and Jamie, who are your questions pointed to maybe I think Nina, you had your hand up first.
[Other language spoken]
Actually it was for Jeremy.
I guess I was wondering on the issue of of the treatment of migrants, the issue of their suggestion that that migrants could be held at Guantanamo, if you have any reaction to that and how that would.
Yeah, how that stands with the human rights law.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Happy to answer that one too.
It is essential to uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status, and to ensure they are treated in accordance with international human rights standards.
Detention of migrants should be used as of last resort and only in exceptional circumstances.
[Other language spoken]
And to remind you, we still have James Rohdehaver online for Myanmar and we also have Jeremy briefing on DRC.
So which order we have with Christian?
Let's start with you.
My question was to Tariq.
And it's got nothing to do with these crises.
I was wondering whether you could point us to when starting from Monday at the Executive Board, the topic of the US withdrawal will come up and what you expect the discussions to be?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I think you received the, the, you received the, the, the media advisory that is basically giving all these details on on when it starts and what are the topics that have been discussed.
But if you haven't received, let me know.
[Other language spoken]
And maybe just the last two brief questions.
I really want to go to James.
So who is next to Maeva?
I think you had your hand up first.
[Other language spoken]
It was exactly the same question that Nina and I sent you an e-mail.
I sent an e-mail to OHH R2 days ago and I I'm still expecting a response about Quintana Obey.
Thank you very much.
Well, noted, Jamie.
Hi, Terry.
It was just wondering if you could give us a nutshell summary of what's come out in the P back this week and maybe some meetings having to do with the US withdrawal at WHO, if there's any readout that you can give us about what WHO officials said to member States and and what their responses were?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I, I don't really have much information on on feedback and, and as As for the Executive board, it starts on Monday.
I'm just going through this what we have sent this morning.
So, so the the first day will be governance reform including the financing and implementation of the programme budget 2425 and the proposed programme budget 2627.
So this discussion is expected on on Monday.
There will be also appointment of a Regional Director for Europe and there will be consideration of draught resolutions and decisions proposed by Member States.
On on Thursday 6th February, the Board will hear the report of the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response and also there will be a number of other topics of non communicable diseases, mental health and social.
Connection, global strategy for women's, children's and adolescent health and other things.
There is already the the, the, the tentative agenda that is being posted on our website.
So I invite you to to have a look at that.
And obviously Member states will will decide what to what to discuss more precisely on a day by day basis.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Just a quick follow up to make sure that I understood what you said.
So for the moment there, you don't have any readout about the P back or other meetings related to the US withdrawal?
For the moment, no, I don't have no.
OK, short and sweet.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Nick, I see your hands are up.
I really, really would like to get to James Roydehaver on Myanmar, unless it's could you just quickly identify what your question is on if it's persistent or follow up of what we've just been commenting on Gabby then Nick, yes, is is a quick, quick follow up.
If just a if you can mention Jeremy, what do you think about Mr Trump going after migrants in the I'm sorry, I'm with my granddaughter.
If that the I'm sorry, what do you think about Mr Trump going after immigrants inside the churches, the schools and all that.
If you can say something.
[Other language spoken]
Oh my God, I think if I can just go back to what I was saying, regardless of their of their status, migrants have human rights and they should be respected wherever.
Sorry about that.
OK, Nick, is this for Jeremy or Tarek?
Well, just a quick one for Tarek.
[Other language spoken]
It's really just an update on whether you there is still communication coming from the United States on the progress of H5 N One or whether all contacts have indeed been suspended between WHO and US public health institutions.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I will really have to have to check with colleagues what's the communication status on that particular point.
And I'll come back to you.
Thank you so much, Tarek, for joining us and for responding to these additional questions.
[Other language spoken]
Well, I'm going to turn back to my colleague, Jeremy here, who is going to introduce a friend of mine, James Rohdehaver, who's joining us from Bangkok.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, Thanks Roland.
Tomorrow marks the 4th year since the coup in Myanmar, and an analysis by our office finds that the situation on the ground for civilians is only getting worse by the day, driving unprecedented levels of killing.
In 2024, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 1824 people were killed, including 531 women and 248 children, sharply up from the previous peak of 1639 verified deaths in 2023.
In all, over the past four years, at least 6231 civilians, including 1144 women and 709 children, have been killed by the military.
The atrocities and violence committed by the military have expanded in scope and intensity.
The retaliatory nature of the attacks have been designed to control, intimidate and punish the population.
An analysis by our office over the situation with respect to the situation in 2024.
Details Act Acts of extreme brutality including beheadings, burnings, mutilations, executions, torture and the use of human Shields, all of which were carried out against civilians with absolute impunity.
In many townships, soldiers attacked villagers in the absence of active fighting, likely in retaliation for anti military armed group advances in other areas.
Although not comparable to military violence in scale and scope, violence by anti military armed groups in 2024 also caused protection concerns for civilians.
Our office received allegations of torture, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, forced recruitment and other abuses committed by anti military armed groups in areas under their control.
In Rakhine State, the Rohingya found themselves trapped between the warring Arakan Army and the military, with nowhere to turn for protection.
Their villages were burnt, their youth pressed into military service and humanitarian assistance cut off, while they were forced repeatedly into displacement, fleeing to find any means of safety.
UN figures show that over 3.5 million people have been displaced, a third of whom are children, although data from civil society organisations suggest that that overall number may be more than double that.
A key driver of displacement was conscription and forced recruitment by the military of thousands of young people, including members of the Rohingya community, creating widespread fear.
10s of thousands of youths have gone into hiding or fled abroad, robbing the workforce of many aged between 18 and 35 and further aggravating the economic crisis.
The **** Commissioner for Human Rights calls on states with influence, particularly those in the region, to double down on bringing an end to the violence, to press for full and unhindered humanitarian assistance, to demand the release of all those detained on political grounds, to engage meaningfully with actors promoting democracy and human rights, and to ensure international protection for those fleeing the violence and persecution.
Without an immediate end to this brutality and accountability for the perpetrators, civilian casualties will only continue to rise and the overall situation for civilians will inevitably continue to deteriorate.
We have issued a full news release on this subject.
It should be up online by now, I trust.
And I will now hand over to my colleague James, the head of our Myanmar team based in Bangkok.
Thank you very much, Jeremy, and thank you, Rolando.
It's a pleasure to be with you all again here today, even though it is to again give you a rather bleak assessment of the situation in Myanmar.
As Jeremy mentioned, 2024 was the deadliest year for civilians in Myanmar since the coup, and what that has meant has been an 11% increase in the number of civilians killed at the hands of the Myanmar military.
63% of all of those persons killed died as a result of airstrikes and artillery barrages, and there was a 24% increase in the number of deaths amongst children and 61% increase in the number of deaths among women.
So what this means, in essence, is that the violence that the Myanmar military is relying upon is inherently through its use of heavy weaponry against the civilian population, either through the targeting of locations where they know civilians are residing, or the targeting of specifically protected objects under international humanitarian law, such as places of worship, hospitals or schools.
And so this has created a very dire situation in the country that is only compounded by the military's continued limitation on access for humanitarians and their ability to deliver aid in many parts of the country, particularly those impacted by conflict and violence.
This is also at a time when the country's economy is increasingly in freefall.
You've had a mass depreciation of the chart of the the currency of the country, an increase in inflation, especially the cost of staple goods that people rely upon normally to survive as their basic diet.
Many goods now at this point are unaffordable to the vast majority of the population.
I would also note that UNDP has just put out a report in which they note that since the end of 2023, nearly 3/4 of the population is subsisting just above or below the poverty line in the country.
So it just paints a very dire picture.
And it makes one wonder, given this situation and how dire the situation is for normal people in the country, what are why are the Myanmar military's priorities to continue persecuting its conflict, targeting of civilians and making preparations for an election, which it seems to be increasingly focusing its efforts on still in an attempt to legitimise its its coup in 2021?
So it's a very dire situation and one that requires much greater attention from the international media and much more concerted action from the international community.
Thank you very much and I'm happy to take questions.
Thank you very much, James.
And of course, Jeremy and using this opportunity to point you to the the statement that we issued last night, just about 7:00 PM statement attributable to the spokesperson for the Secretary General on Myanmar.
On this occasion, the 1st of February 2021 is the date the military seized power.
So this is the 4th anniversary tomorrow and Secretary General echoed much of the sentiments you just heard from our colleagues, among them, obviously calling on the parties to the conflict to exercise a maximum restraint, uphold human rights, international humanitarian law.
He also expresses concern about the military stated intention to hold elections amidst this horrific situation.
And he also notes that 19.9 million people in Myanmar, it's a staggering 1/3 of the population, needs humanitarian assistance.
So do take a look at that statement we shared with you last night, OK, over to your colleagues for any questions you might have.
OK, We have body a girl of Phoenix TV in the back.
I think you have a question on Myanmar, but concern to another, there is a situation in Chinese community recently met a big issue of telecom scams and they're connecting to human trafficking.
So do you have any concern on that and the Commissioner has involved or please give us some comments.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, well, I would say that the, the, the proliferation of the illicit economy in the country and illicit activities on a variety of fronts has been a topic of constant concern because as the the economy of the country is tanking, of course you have the black economy moving in to take its place.
And that includes the scam centres and and the trafficking of human beings which has been rife.
A lot of attention has been paid to a particularly over the last year, year and a half, because the these activities have grown can in, you know, considerably that some of these scam centres have have been huge and involved the nationals of dozens of different states citizens.
And of course, it was a large motivating factor behind, you know, the, the, the actions, the, the concerted coordinated actions of ethnic armed groups to push back against the Myanmar military.
It was in part because the Myanmar military was refusing to do anything about the scam centres and, and it created a, A cause of, of unity and, and coordination amongst some of the ethnic armed groups.
Thanks very much, James.
We have another question from Nick, New York Times.
[Other language spoken]
Hello, James, That's you again.
Sorry, I actually have three questions.
With all this talk of elections, how much of A country is actually under military control now that would make it possible for them to even hold it?
Secondly, there were recent reports of the Myanmar Air Force recently taking delivery of Russian fighter aircraft.
I wonder if there is any indication that the pipeline of military support to the Janta has has fallen in in the past year.
And thirdly, I wonder to what extent the cessation or the suspension of some of the US aid overseas is affecting the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar groups on the board around just inside.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you for that, Nick.
The Myanmar military has been very much on the back foot throughout the well since the the end of October 2023, but they they lost the considerable amount of ground last year.
Right now it's there are very few, if any land checkpoints that remain under the control of the Myanmar military.
So it has effectively lost control of of the vast majority of its land borders.
And some estimates have put their their ability to control territory at around 25 to 35% of the country.
Now that does include many of the population centres in the country like Mandalay, Napidol, you know, Yangon, of course.
So you know, they, they do still have some control.
But what's rather remarkable is that they seem only to be able to control areas where they have troops actively deployed.
And so they are are constantly in a state of retreat, which is one of the reasons why they're relying upon heavy weaponry, because it is the, the only area where they enjoy a significant advantage to their opponents in terms of the deliveries of, of weaponry.
You know, we see, of course, the accounts of, of, of weapons deliveries in, in the media.
Sometimes the military themselves promote these weapons deliveries, but it's, it's very hard to know how, how much the, the flow of weaponry is still coming in.
We, we, it's very difficult to track that, especially given the, the situation in the country and in our ability to get access to, to individuals on the ground in, in areas where the military are operating.
So we don't always have the best information on that.
Lastly, the impact of the, the suspension of, of US aid.
I, I can only comment anecdotally that I know it is having an impact that some agencies have received, received the, you know, the letters requesting a cessation of the, of aid.
But I only know that anecdotally, I, I can't speak on behalf of those agencies.
So I would would not comment any further.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
We have one more question of from Kyodo Takuya.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you for taking my question.
[Other language spoken]
I would like to ask James regarding the member the transition to democratic regime, you know, it seems that China is getting close to military regime recently.
And what do you expect the third country like China or some sort of countries to to to make sure the transition to democratic regime holder general elections and are you contacting with China?
[Other language spoken]
And second question I have actually I have second question.
It's going for Jeremy Sam, it's totally changing topic.
I'm sorry it's not a worldwide news, but I'd like to ask you about settle Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Recently this week, Japanese government announced it it will freeze funding for settle.
So it's not huge news.
So I'm afraid you might not know it, but you know, freezing the reading funding to say though, what could you give your comment on this matter?
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
We'll start with James.
[Other language spoken]
Well, I would just say that right now, I mean, one of the biggest problems is that there is no platform for political discussions or for the creation of conditions for a democratic transfer of power.
And that is in part because the Myanmar military has resisted doing even the most basic things that have been demanded of it by both by ASEAN and by the UN Security Council.
There has been a a a refusal essentially to to de escalate violence or to cease violence, all forms of violence.
There has been a a complete rejection of opening up humanitarian access and aid deliveries to the people who need it most.
Then there has been a, a lot of a lot of resistance, if not obfuscation of the ability of, of, of different actors to engage with all parties to this conflict and crisis who need to be consulted in order to have a meaningful process involving the people of Myanmar.
And so without a Myanmar LED process, it's hard to see how a transition to democracy would be possible.
I think what is clear and what needs to be pushed by China or any other country of influence in the region is to hold the Myanmar military accountable, to make sure that they are getting their priorities straight, which should be de escalation, peace and transition.
Not pushing for some sort of electoral process, which at this time would only intensify violence, escalate the number of of actors willing to commit acts of violence and place civilians at a much greater risk.
Thank you so much, James Takuya, before we get to your other question on CDAR, we have one more on Myanmar from Nina AFP.
[Other language spoken]
Hi, James, I wanted to ask you about the impact of social media, which has been an issue obviously in, in Myanmar in, in light of the upcoming the the elections and also the fact that Facebook, for instance, has said that they want to see all fact checking.
I'm just wondering if you've seen what you're seeing in, in that area and what concerns you might have?
[Other language spoken]
Well, this is naturally an issue that is of concern for us.
Facebook had been rather instrumental over the past few years of keeping a close watch on hate speech, in particular on its platforms and, and helping to monitor particular hate speech targeting the Rohingya minority.
And now over the last year, particularly over the last year, we've seen a lot of rhetoric that has popped up both on Twitter or X and, and on, on Facebook and Telegram and, and other and other social media apps that that has continued to, to to obligate conspiracy theories about the Rohingya and to, to really, you know, attempt to, to target them as the other and to really push this notion of, of both your religious based and ethnic differences that, that require, you know, a violent response.
And our fear, of course, is that this sort of social media activity will only flourish if the process of fact checking is tamped down or stopped altogether.
It does put these people who have been sorely put upon, particularly in the last year.
It places them at an even greater risk at a time when many countries of the region are trying to get the Erikan Army and other actors to really focus on, OK, what are the next steps to create the conditions so that people can start to return.
Particularly since the military has has nearly lost any control in Rakhine State, this should be naturally the time to to turn the page and start looking seriously at creating conditions conducive for sustainable return.
But in a if, if there is a poisonous social media environment, I think that would be much more difficult to do indeed.
Thank you very much for that response, James.
[Other language spoken]
OK, we have one more body of of Phoenix TV.
Hi James, I just come back come back for Cyber Centre.
Do you have any evidence basically because you are just a concern to Myanmar military government remains passive.
So if you have any evidence to support that Myanmar government has any collusions with other governments or neighbour countries or with some local armed groups.
[Other language spoken]
Well, I mean, if you're, you're talking about, you know, evidence, do we have evidence that they are holding meetings and so forth with other governments in the region?
If you have, if they have the only evidence, I would say that we have, I mean, again, we collect evidence regarding human rights violations in terms of, you know, relationships that help foster, you know, human rights violations or, or whenever we are looking to see which countries still have dialogue and, and potential avenues of influence.
We rely on what the military publicises itself or what the, the media in those different countries in the region continue to publicise about their relationships with the Myanmar military.
Because again, make no mistake about it that the, the, the SAC or the, the military authorities in the country are not the recognised government of Myanmar.
And so, you know, we do not treat them as such.
But we do look to see those people who still have dealing with dealings with them in order to try to find ways to continue to put pressure on them to obey the very basics of, of international law.
And, and As for their alliances on the ground, I they're quite open about the different groups that they work with, like the Mabata and the Pusati and other militia and armed groups that that still work pretty much under a combined sort of command structure or a coordinated command structure with the Myanmar military.
And in some cases, these militia groups are committing some of the worst abuses, particularly, you know, the burning of villages or the the direct targeting of individuals for summary execution.
But but but that those are are things that we continue to investigate actively and we're constantly searching For more information on those sorts of violations.
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I'm sorry.
[Other language spoken]
Is that you have any evidence that the government has worked with or support some activities of the cyber traffic?
You get that question maybe did you understand that, James, I'm not sure if you heard it.
I, I evidence of seems that he's asking you have any evidence of the government supporting these?
Yes, Supporting or working together.
[Other language spoken]
No, I mean just to, just to say, you know, we, we, I mean, we look at those sorts of situations.
We, we do look for your relationships.
But in terms of how and when we, we make public any information or, or evidence we have, you know, we do that only once we have, you know, we've met a legal standard of proof.
So I wouldn't comment on the nature of any evidence that we have until we are able to to publicise fully the findings from, you know, like a level of evidence that meets our evidentiary standards.
Thank you very much for that, James.
I think that does it for questions on Myanmar.
Just to mention, of course, as indicated in the SGS met statement that we issued with you to you last night, the SGS Special Envoy, Julie Bishop, of course remains actively engaged with all stakeholders in close cooperation with ASEAN.
And there was one statement I neglected to refer to, which is that from the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, otherwise known as a double I, double M, which is also issued in the context of this four year anniversary headline, four years since a military takeover in Myanmar, no justice for brutal atrocities.
So that was shared with you yesterday as well.
On that note, I'd like to thank you very, very much, James, for joining us here from Bangkok.
And thank you colleagues for your questions.
We have still DRC on the agenda and I'm sorry that we had to push it down at the bottom here, but it's a very dense briefing.
But beforehand, I think there was a question on Sedol.
So Jeremy, we'll take that.
Yes, thanks Rolo.
I'll briefly address the the question from Kyoto.
So yes, we're, we're aware of the, the response from Japan regarding the, the Sedol.
A couple of things we'd like to to just to reaffirm that the committee's independent mandate under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
That's first and foremost.
And we would also like to comment that we value all of the contributions that Japan makes to the UNS work on human rights, and it is the prerogative of the government to choose which areas to support.
We would also like to emphasise that the committee's work will proceed as schedule and will remain unaffected by this decision.
Thank you so much, Jeremy, for that.
OK, now we'll have to go to another crisis, I'm afraid, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
So Jeremy has an announcement on that.
[Other language spoken]
The human rights crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to deepen as hostilities between the armed forces and the Rwandan backed M23 armed group expand towards S Kivu.
Following the M23's takeover of Goma, reports indicate that M23 has progressed further South towards Bukavu.
Since the start of the crisis, bombs have struck at least two IDP sites, causing civilian casualties.
We have also documented summary executions of at least 12 people by M23 between the 26th and the 28th of January.
Our office has also documented cases of conflict related sexual violence by the Army and the allied was Orlando fighters in Kalahe territory.
We are verifying reports that 52 women were raped by Congolese troops in South Kivu, including alleged reports of gang **** in other areas under M23 control in South Kivu, such as Minova.
M23 has occupied schools and hospitals, forced Idps out of camps and subjected the civilian population to forced conscription and forced labour.
Additionally, DRC officials report that at least 165 women were raped by male inmates during the prison break of more than 4000 inmates from Gomer's Mazenze prison on the 27th of January as M23 began its ******* on the town.
Conflict related sexual violence has been an appalling feature of armed conflict in eastern DRC for decades.
**** Commissioner Volcker Turk is particularly concerned that this latest escalation risks deepening the risk of conflict related sexual violence much further.
The current widespread proliferation of weapons in Goma is exacerbating the already significant risks of serious violations and abuses.
We continue to receive urgent requests from civilians for protection and are working with UN colleagues and other partners to ensure their safety.
As M 23 reportedly advances towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kibu, the **** Commissioner calls for an end to the violence and for all parties to uphold their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
It is crucial that there are investigations into the Commission of violations with a view to bring in the perpetrators to justice and ensuring comprehensive accountability.
Thank you very much for that rather sobering update, Jeremy.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I'm wiped off.
Yeah, Jeremy, I have a couple of questions for you and also I'd like to ask a question to the World Health Organisation.
Do you believe that the warring parties, both MP3 rebels and the government, because you mentioned that the Congolese troops also have been ****** and sexually abusing women, that they are using **** and sexual ***** as a weapon of war.
Do you have any kind of account on how many victims there are in in this of **** and sexual *****?
And you mentioned that civilians are asking you for protection.
[Other language spoken]
Are the UN peacekeepers capable of protecting the civilians?
And also what about the government?
Has it increased its presence in the area?
Is it capable of protecting civilians?
And I'm wondering whether your organisation, among others, is in contact with the Rwandan government and able Have you asked it to rein in the MP3 rebels and then for the World Health Organisation?
Hi Tariq or Christian, I notice you're also there.
Have have you removed your non essential staff from from Goma, from North Kivu, S Kivu, as other agencies have done?
And I'm wondering whether you were able to have access to the the displaced camps, whether you have been able to treat any of the women who have been abused so terribly or whether you find that there is an A reluctance on their part to come forward for treatment?
[Other language spoken]
Yes, thanks for the question.
Sadly, yes, **** is used as a weapon of war and as we've mentioned in the statement, unfortunately it's an appalling feature of this conflict for decades now.
I we did provide some statistics in the in the briefing note, for instance, with respect to the the 52 women who were raped by the Congolese troops in South Kiva.
And of course, the instances were surrounding the, the prison break as well with respect to who is providing security.
Well, obviously that would always come down to the, to the government and themselves and the police, the policing there.
As far as we are concerned, yes, we are engaged as, as always with, with, with all parties.
And as we are here today, we, we express our grave deep concern with, with respect to the violence itself.
And, and that particularly today we've raised the issue of sexual violence.
I think I, I can leave it at that.
Thanks very much.
And maybe just to remind you, of course, our, our peacekeeping mission MONUSCO is, is obviously operating under extremely, extremely challenging environment and that their mandate is being tested.
The priorities, of course, remain the protection of civilians and of course their own staff.
As you know, we've lost a few of our own colleagues, many of it been injured, but that is indeed supremely their, their, their, their priority.
And many, many civilians have taken shelter inside UN camps in and around the Goma region.
So this is a situation which is still very fluid.
And we'll continue to to report on from here to you.
Tarek, the second part of the question, over to you again.
I believe you're still connected.
[Other language spoken]
I see your face.
So Tarek, thanks.
[Other language spoken]
So to answer a question from Lisa, we are maintaining our stuff in place to try to ensure minimal health services and to support health facilities in border in both South and N Kiev.
Let me just give you some latest figures that that we managed to get.
So hospitals are saturated by number of injured people.
Between 26th and 30th January 2880, people were reported to be injured and primarily with gunshot and shrapnel.
Large number are treated in hospitals.
In Gilma, our colleagues have seen dead bodies lying in the streets, including those of apparent civilians.
As of 29 January, 45 people were reported killed as well.
These numbers obviously will change and likely to go up as the violence subsides and we are able to access more places and services such as phone lines, electricity resume.
So electricity, telecommunication Goma partially resumed yesterday and we hope that this trend will continue.
Health workers, surgeons, nurses, anaesthesia's have been working around the clock for six days now to respond to this.
Crisis The medical supplies are being depleted rapidly and more supplies are needed.
WTO is exploring alternative routes to get more supplies as soon as feasible and to prepare for increasing needs.
In South Kivu, WTO has sent tents and supplies to hospitals to deal with increased number of injured, in addition to other health needs.
We sent 25 tents and these 25 tents are able to add hospital capacity of 1000 beds.
So that's, that's what I have.
That's just very useful information.
[Other language spoken]
Tarek, do we have further?
Oh, we have to have a follow up maybe from Lisa.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, I, I asked another question of Tarek.
Tarek have I asked whether women have been sorry?
Have you been able to treat the women who have been victims of **** and sexual *****?
Or do medical staff find that women are reluctant to come forth for treatment and that indeed there are probably many more women who have been raped and sexually abused then these statistics seem to apply.
Jeremy, you might you might also comment on that because, well, 52 is a lot.
It appears that probably there are a great many more.
And what would be the reluctance for these women to come forward?
[Other language spoken]
Lisa, I don't have any particular figures or information, but but we are especially worried for the health and safety of women and girls wives higher risk of violence, including ****.
And we just heard from Jeremy also there is a risk for pregnant women.
And we know that there is a **** maternal death rates that that were that were observed even before this this violence.
And as we have already said last time in this part of, of Democratic Republic of Congo, we had, we had a crisis of malaria, measles, cholera and this new more severe strain of Amplex.
So, so with this violence, obviously the, the, the increase of, of, of spread of the viruses is, is, is even bigger.
But again, we will try our best to stay there and to provide for that we need, we need access.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Tarek.
I think, well, maybe Jeremy had one comment on that question.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, just just briefly.
The numbers sadly will likely be higher because as we know in past conflicts, often for for reasons of stigmatisation, could be for social, cultural or or personal reasons.
Many women may not report instances of this.
So the grim story is the figure is, dare I say, higher considerably.
Thank you very much to you both.
[Other language spoken]
But before we turn to Catherine, I apologise for the delay.
We have one more brief item from Jeremy.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, thanks Rolo.
This is very brief.
On Thursday, worrying constitutional reforms were passed in Nicaragua.
Our Central America office issued a statement voicing deep concern that these reforms will deepen setbacks in civil and political rights in the country.
As you may recall, the UN **** Commissioner for Human Rights, Volcker Turk, in November last year warned that the proposed changes would sound the death knell for fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Nicaragua and further erode the already deeply fragile remaining cheques and balances on the Executive.
We reiterate our calls to the Nicaraguan authorities to review these reforms.
You will be able to find this statement that was issued locally by our regional office.
And if you want some further more information, just reach out to us and we can help you find it.
Well noted.
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
No, on that note, I turn now to my friend on the left.
Catherine.
Thank you again for your patience and renouncement.
Merci Rolando, merci para en Francais me me not so on angle briefing.
[Other language spoken]
Also representing Lord in conference the Press of a class secretary general like you said, Rebecca Greenspan luminist product commerce dollar promotion de payment Doctor Suleiman.
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De la volatility pardon de mache global de la cuno material infrastructure E la dependence of exportation of the Mater Premier exterior Porto Elia de quite optimist continental Africa, it turned out to determine sock economic.
Mercy, Catherine.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, colleagues.
Just one last announcement for me before we wrap up this rather long briefing.
Important but long, Committee on the Rights of the Child is concluding its session this afternoon, after which before which will issue its concluding observations for Slovakia, Eritrea, Honduras, St Kitsinevis, Peru, Gambia and Ecuador.
And to flag that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, otherwise known as SIDOL, will open its 90th session this coming Monday, the 3rd of February.
It's a three-week session.
We'll have reports from that'll be addressed by the C DAW on the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday, Nepal, Belarus, Luxembourg, Belize, Congo, Sri Lanka, Liechtenstein.
And there is also a meeting that will be devoted to gender stereotypes over the course of this three-week session.
So that is for the human rights treaty bodies.
And I think that's all I have for you.
Do you have questions for me?
[Other language spoken]
OK then.
I wish you a good afternoon and a nice weekend.