UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : UN Geneva Press Briefing

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for joining us here at the press briefing at the UN office at Geneva today, the 4th of July.

Happy 4th of July to you out there.

We have another very, very packed agenda.

I'm going to start off immediately with our friend Ed Harris from WIPO.

But I just wanted to mention we have colleagues who are joining us from Kabul, from Gaza, from Yangon, and we also have announcements from our colleagues, from UNICEF.

And we also have an addition to the agenda, which I'd like to flag now.

We have a Mr Alri Mosso, who is a permanent observer of the OEF, who is going to make an announcement towards the end of this briefing.

So apologies for not having that in the schedule that we sent out earlier.

But we will have Mr Mosso who will speak at the end.

So we'll start off immediately with Mr.

Harris and then move on to our colleagues in the field.

Ed, thank you, Orlando.

Good morning, everybody.

A real fast word about the WIPO assemblies taking place next week and the following week beginning on Tuesday, July 8th through Thursday, July 17th.

We're expecting 1000 plus delegates including 40 or so ministers for these meetings which will be reviewing the programme of work for the 26th 27 biennium.

So Wipo's on a 2 year biennial work plan.

They'll also be looking at programme activities and reviewing them from the previous years for you in the press.

We have lots of very interesting side events and other activities that I hope you can find some time in your calendar to come and check out.

On Wednesday, July 9th we have the launch of the World Intangible Investment Highlights report.

We'll be sending out a press release around 8:30 in the morning on Wednesday.

This is looking at 2024 activity as well as longer term trends, investments in data, software, research and development brands and other intellectual, intellectual property backed assets that are increasingly important to global GDP.

So this is different than tangible investments, which are more like in factories and physical assets.

Friday July 11th the Waipo Global Awards also a press release, an announcement in ceremony at Waipo with 10 winners of this new enterprise which we launched 2 years ago.

This celebrates small businesses, startups and university spin outs that leverage IP backed innovation and creation in an exceptional manner to not only achieve their business goals but have some positive social impact.

There's also lots of member state activities, cultural and otherwise, they'll be highlighting innovation and activity in those places, among them are China, India, Oman, Armenia, Albania, Peru, Indonesia, Granada, and Qatar.

So you can find all the information about this through our website.

And if you think you'd like to come on over and see us, just give me a heads up in advance.

[Other language spoken]

And that's a lot of very important information there.

I think we do have a question in the room.

No, we do have one online.

[Other language spoken]

Ed, nice to see you in the briefing room.

[Other language spoken]

Your flagship report that you launched every spring on performance and trademarks, patents, industrial designs, I didn't see it launched this year or did I miss it?

Yeah, we put that, we put that out in in late February or early March.

It's a review of the use of Wipos IP services in the previous year.

So patents, trademarks, industrial designs and others.

I can send it over to you.

[Other language spoken]

OK, Thanks, Ed.

John, did you have a quick follow up on that further clarification?

Yeah, Ed, just not to confuse it.

The one that tracks the performance on the previous year of how many patents trademarks were registered, is that the one we're talking about?

That's right.

There's one that is in February, which refers to the previous year's activities through WIPO.

So that's a subset of total activity around the world.

And in November every year, there's another similar but quite distinct report which looks at global activity.

So sometimes business owners, enterprises, others will file IP rights in their own country, but they don't necessarily go international.

So when they do, they come through WIPO very frequently and that's what we do in February, whereas the larger report is in November, but for the previous year.

Hope that's clear.

I think that's pretty clear.

Thanks very much, Ed.

No further questions for you.

So thanks and good luck to you.

Thank you, all the best.

OK, now we're going to turn to our friend Babar on my left here from UNHCR, who's going to introduce a colleague who's joining us from Kabul to speak to the situation in Afghanistan.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you, Orlando.

[Other language spoken]

My colleague Arafat Jamal, who's head of Unity, our operations in Afghanistan, he's our representative in Kabul is joining us again, will update us on the increasing number of of ones who are returning from Iran.

Remember, he joined us on 20th of May, raising our concerns then, but things have worsened since then.

We issued a statement over the weekend alerting you what was happening, but just now to give you latest update from Afghanistan.

Arfa, John, you have the floor.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Babar, John and colleagues.

[Other language spoken]

UNACR, the UN refugee agency, is urgently seeking funding to protect over 1.4 million who have returned or been forced to return to Afghanistan so far this year, including over 1,000,000 from Iran.

Daily returns from Iran increased significantly after the 13th of June, with the highest number recorded on the 1st of July when over 43,000 people returned.

This is the stark increase from the January to June average of around 5000 arrivals per day.

Arrivals from Pakistan increased sharply in April when nearly 150,000 people returning that month.

Our teams are at the borders receiving and assisting streams of exhausted, hungry and scared people every day.

Staff and structures are absolutely inundated.

UNHCR has deployed additional staff and we are providing essential relief items, hot meals and emergency financial assistance to help meet immediate needs.

But amid funding constraints and given the scale and pace of returns, we will not be able to sustain support for more than a few weeks.

These returns are part of a complex protection crisis and we at UNHCR are concerned that the returns are happening in extremely difficult conditions and that some of them are not voluntary.

Many people who have returned have said that they have felt compelled to leave as they saw other fellow Afghans being deported.

Retrainees who arrived in Afghanistan in the past months have been sharing concerning stories of increasing restrictions, harassment and discrimination.

Colleagues, the last time I addressed this group was on the 20th of May, around 1 1/2 months ago.

At that time we were seeing an uptick in returns from Pakistan.

Since then we have had the so-called 12 day war in Iran and although the bombs have stalled, the human consequences persist.

I was at the border myself on the 24th of June, on the day that a ceasefire was announced, and what I saw was the human consequences of this war, of people streaming in.

A people doubly uprooted from Afghanistan, but hardly of this country, many of whom were born in Tehran and other places, many of whom hardly knew where they come from, stripped of belongings, having undertaken perilous, difficult and exhausting journeys, they seemed to know not what to do in Afghanistan.

UNHCR urges countries in the region to ensure that returns to Afghanistan are voluntary, safe and dignified.

Forcing or putting pressure on on Afghans to return risks further instability in the region and onward movements to towards Iran, Turkey and Europe.

UNHCR calls upon the international community to urgently and substantially, substantially increase funding to meet both critical needs of the border upon arrival and to provide longer term assistance to help returnees settle back in Afghanistan.

UNHCR response in Afghanistan this year, which is already a prioritised response, is only 28% funded.

We implore you, the international community, to not turn your back on the people of Afghanistan at this pivotal moment, to stand with them, to restore hope and to give them a fighting chance of recovery, stability and prosperity.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Arafat.

[Other language spoken]

We have one for you from our colleague from AFP, the French news agency, Christophe.

Good morning Mr Jamal, Christopher, Dr Jean France Press.

I actually had two questions.

One on you said that the funding is only is only met 28%.

Can you tell us how much money you actually need in in total how much you think you need with this new arrivals?

And the second question has to do with an interview that the German Interior Minister gave yesterday where he said basically that he was going to talk to the Taliban to be able to send Afghans back to their country from Germany.

So I would like a comment from you.

And if our if people from the human rights office are online, I would also ask them to chip in with a comment on that.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you so much to the colleague from from AFP.

Regarding the first question on on the funding, so our total budget which includes both the borders and and the border responses for 216 million.

So that is only 20% funded.

So we need around 100 and and and 70 million additional.

That is that is as I said, a highly prioritised budget to start with.

Secondly, regarding the question on returns from Germany, I would just remind everyone that units are continues to have a non return advisory to Afghanistan.

In other words, what we we feel that the objectively speaking the conditions on the ground are not yet ready for returns.

That does not exclude voluntary returns of course, but we urge countries not to forcibly return Afghans.

Thank you very much Arfat.

[Other language spoken]

I believe Ravino is connected.

[Other language spoken]

Hi, Ravina, if you heard the question or does do you need to be repeated?

It's on returns to Afghanistan, is it?

Yeah, that's right.

[Other language spoken]

No, sorry.

Sorry.

Maybe Christophe.

Maybe if Christophe could refresh.

[Other language spoken]

Nice to see you.

Just just to clarify, it's about the comment.

The German interior minister has given an interview yesterday where he said he wants to get in touch with the Taliban authorities to be able to send Afghans back from Germany to Afghanistan.

So I would like to know what you think of that, right.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks for repeating that, Christophe.

I would, I mean, I would of course echo what RUNHCR colleagues, colleague has said.

It is not appropriate to return people to Afghanistan.

We have been documenting continuing human rights violations in Afghanistan, particularly violations of the rights of women and girls who have effectively been rendered invisible, who have been stripped of their voices, of their rights to employment, to education, to freedom of movement.

But we've also continued to document other instances of human rights violations, including executions that have been carried out.

So indeed, it is not appropriate to be talking about returning people to Afghanistan at this point.

Thank you so much, Ravina, for the questions.

Chris, maybe just to remind you colleagues, earlier this week, you Nama, that's AUN assistance mission in in Afghanistan issued a report providing A grim update of the human rights situation in the country in Afghanistan with a focus on the rights of women and girls.

As Ravina just mentioned, in talks of, of women in Afghanistan still being denied the opportunity to join the workforce, accessing services without a male relative and girls are still deprived of the right to education.

And just one other note on Afghanistan, if I may, just to remind you that Mister Fletcher, Tom Fletcher, the humanitarian coordinator, was in the country earlier this week.

We also released a record $16.6 million to help vulnerable communities to mitigate the effects of drought, which is a compounding factor to the refugee situation, which you just heard about.

So I just wanted to flag that for you to put things in a broader context.

OK, Further questions for our colleague from Kabul, in Kabul rather.

No, I don't see that's the case.

I don't have anything more to add or no, we are here in case there are more queries that may come up later.

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, echoing those thanks.

[Other language spoken]

And thanks for keeping us updated.

And all the best and good luck to you.

OK, colleagues, we're going to switch.

[Other language spoken]

I'm going to switch over to the situation in Gaza.

We have Doctor Peppercorn, who, as you know, is the WH OS representative in the occupied Palestinian territory.

But maybe I'll turn to Christian 1st from WHO to introduce to start off and maybe if you had something to add at the beginning and you can throw to Rick afterwards.

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, thank you very much and very glad to have us again.

And then thanks for Rick this time talking out of out of Gaza, very grim situation as you've seen it all around in the recent days.

A lot of different press conference and and pressure from all sides.

Therefore, thanks to Rick and over to Rick from Gaza.

I think you're muted, Rick and maybe try again.

All right, go ahead.

So good morning, Ronaldo and and all.

Can you hear me loud and clear?

[Other language spoken]

All right, so greetings from Daraballa.

So I want to a bit give an update, a general update and then specifically a focus on Shiva and Nasser Melco Complex and talk a little bit about the matter of fact, just a general update.

This senseless killing in Gaza must stop these multiple attacks which we see in in in recent days, actually for weeks now, hitting sites hosting displaced people, specifically people trying to access foods, you know, have been killed and injured in this.

They have killed and injured scores and scores Palestinians.

So if you look at the at the overall figures and and you know, and we were yesterday evening discussed that since October 2023, it's estimated that more than 57,000 people have been killed and over close to one of the 35,000 people injured.

And we all know you've seen this also from the various assessment that this is an underestimation.

Even if you take this these figures, it translates into an estimated 9099 zero people being killed per day and 200 injuries per day in Gaza.

The health system, what we see is on it's knees.

Amid shortages of medical supplies, fuel and a huge influx in injuries.

No fuel has ended.

Gaza covered one in 20 days and and and for us for WHO supply and fuel to to the health facility.

It, it means that we constantly have to prioritise the limited fuel reserves in northern southern Gaza barely enough to keep 70 partially I would say so minimal functional hospitals, facilities running for short periods.

A limited quantity of UN fuel reserves are in areas currently inaccessible.

But of course fuel, new fuel needs to come from outside.

Now let me say something on on, on on Tuesday when we we went to the north and had an A visit at Shifa for three reasons with a DOEHO mission.

So first was to bring some fuel, secondly to collect patients from the north for a medevac on Wednesday.

And of course we also did an assessment on, on, on Shiva and then with the staff and and all around lack of fuel.

Crippling Shiva Hospital is compounded by a stream of of never ending injuries.

The hospitals operating at a minimum capacity and and for example, have to be enforced to reduce services.

They constantly play for each fuel.

You know what is that to preserve fuel for critical care.

1 operating theatre is down the dialysis sessions which should be ideally 3 * a week for four hours.

They cut down to two days for for three for three hours.

Oxygen plants has been stopped forcing reliance again on the cylinders.

The hospital overwhelmed severely under resourced by more or less everything the best at full and patients are once again being treated on the floor.

13 patients in ICU dependent on life supports which will cut off if power runs out.

Hundreds of pages are coming in daily.

10th majority have accommodation of multiple injuries.

We discussed it later, more specifically from large head, neck injury, bone injury, abdominal draining, the limited resource and fast rates.

We managed to deliver 3000 litre litres of fuel to the hospitals and what I said get patients out, but it's only enough for probably a week or something less than a week supporting to expand we we also at WHO we are looking together with parks to expense.

There's a constant lack of deaths.

So to expand the capacity with a with a number of tents like a little field hospital within the Shiva compounds.

Let me switch to National Complex and and you know having been so often to all those hospitals that was a bit of a shock yesterday.

We spent loads a lot of time there with with the team, with the director esteem etcetera.

The hospital is this is not a normal general national medical complex is the most important hospital in Gaza, Burundi.

It is serving almost all it was served.

Kind of all, let's say referral departments, which you would need.

It has been constantly and we warned about that being shifting within evacuation zone, just bordering in evacuation zone, again within an evacuation zone and now again just bordering in in evacuation zones, which of course has massive implications not just for patients, but all also for staff.

And that's maybe the first national, national medical complex needs to be protected.

So most important hospital or referral on critical patients, it needs to continue functioning.

It needs to be protected.

So currently they've seen already for weeks daily injuries in the 10's and hundreds majority coming from the so-called safe non UN food distribution site.

The hospital is is now you cannot even call it a a a general referral hospital is operating as one massive trauma award.

The Max for not so ethical conflict is 3 to 3 to 350 patients.

They have close to 700 patients now and with limited resources and fuel.

So they just like Shiva, but even starker the national complex, they constantly have to make a difficult choice to deprioritize patients, for example, with with chronic diseases in the hospitals, but also the Opds.

So basically diabetes, cardiac, but also mental health.

It was one of the few places where there was a bit of mental health care.

OPD it's not there anymore because they only focus on, on, on, on trauma patients and, and, and in order to save life in the emergency rooms and the operation theatres and WHO kind of filled hospital within NASA, which was mainly there for we used the sometimes format of that and then it used the paediatric ward.

It's all trauma patients.

The archive that rebuilds the the archive in NASA Medical Complex is now 1 trauma wards.

You see patients everywhere, on the floor, in corridors, etcetera, including a lot of ad hoc intensive care units which they have created in within the emergency ward and in other places besides.

Their own intensive care unit is 12 baths.

There's more than 60 patients on intensive care all over and, and, and people get intubated in front of you, rise or stretchers on the floor and etcetera.

So, but even this normal treatment or this lack of treatment of this, this so-called more chronic diseases will also have isn't another unnecessary increase of preventable deaths, more rarity and of course, sovereign again.

We, we went around and we spent hours there.

And, and so we witnessed first hand the impact of this mass casualty incidents and violence at the so-called safe non UN food distribution slot.

Besides this 10s hundreds of patients, you know, we could pick out so many cases.

And, and, and yesterday we saw and, and, and, and we discussed with his, with his family, his father's, etcetera.

First, a 13 year old boy shot in the head, fighting off for his life, being quadriplegic, etcetera in in your emergency room and his father, I mean like approaching me, you know, you need to assist me.

My boy needs to be matter fact out.

They cannot do anything here, etcetera and and completely traumatised and overwhelmed in order because what type of trauma patients do we see?

It's mainly boys, young adolescents, young men, etcetera.

And we all know because they go to this show called safe non UN food distribution sites.

And you see and and the staff told me that and couldn't believe that.

So there are so many of these cases shot in the head, shot in the neck, shot in the chest, being shot in the abdomen, on the knees, etcetera.

And and besides, we saw another, I mean that we talked again with family from the other one father that it is deeply distressing for this for for all those families.

A 16 year old, another 16 year old as well with shot in the head fighting for his life on the stretcher being into build, etcetera.

And and and the same story, a 21 year old, still a boy with a bullet still launched in his in his neck.

And quadriplegic, of course, which we all know.

I mean, like being quadriplegic or paraplegic in any, in any location, any place.

But here in, in Gaza, no, no chance for any reversal, but also no chance for any, any, any even closely proper treatment.

So all those lives, your own lives destroyed for forever.

And, and what you see, you talk to, to to the father.

The only thing that say like can, how can you help us?

You know, what can, WHO do they think that we are kind of that we can and matter of fact, everyone and and that that will help.

[Other language spoken]

It was it was deeply, deeply distressing.

And you know, they, they, they all the children were erased with dreams and and then they wanted to do something and no parent is actually prepared to witness this.

So there's no Rd a road map for for for this kind of heartbreak.

It it's just this long quiet ache of knowing life will never go back to what it was.

Nasser hospital remains close to evacuation zone and we we again raise it needs to be protected.

A small thing on meningitis which you might have heard about.

And it also very much lead to various well, specifically in NASA.

So it's been a rise in meningitis cases in children, mostly viral with some bacterial as well.

Viral meningitis is almost never a life threatening.

I want to say bacterial meningitis of course is extremely serious, life threatening ills, illnesses.

This data we are monitoring it with The Who team, Ministry of Health, they are ongoing.

There is normally you see a spike in meningitis in this time.

[Other language spoken]

And although we are of course very concerned and we have to monitor this very closely, there seems to be more cases.

And is this because of crowding and everything else related to that, the the overcrowding in shelters in the camp, the absence of basic hygiene, the disruption of routine vaccination, inadequate access to healthcare, etcetera.

The problem for the hospitals is that we talk to the paediatricians and then the nurses that that's a little paediatric ward.

They have a lot of difficulties to differentiate that because they they lack the lab supplies, they lack the, the well, especially the, the rapid test and the, and the LAX supplies.

So they have to use sometimes their limited supplies of antibiotics for, for both They were, they were asking us for, for increased supplies of what's this vancomycin and of course this Ratrovir for the viral.

One last point I want to raise is on the medevac.

So let's say on meningitis, we make carefully monitoring, we need to get the cultures in and improve the the diagnostics help to improve the diagnostic.

That's why we need the supplies in and of course adequates the right time, antibiotics, medical evacuation.

So on, on, on Wednesday, 2nd of July, again we evacuated 19 child patients to Jordan with 39 companions and to Turkey 4 patients, 7 companions.

Want to thank also very much Jordan and Turkey for that.

During strikes actually on route there were strike very close to holding points was completely unacceptable near the convoy.

It damaged bus ambulances and vehicles.

But of course, of course use anxiety among patients and their companions.

Fortunately, no injuries and, and, and, and very distress, this sort of thing.

So since 18th of March, only seven medical evacuations have taken place, 370 patients and 504 companions.

We, we had an assessment again in Shiva and Nasser.

We still estimate very much that at least 10,000 people need medical evacuations.

We want all routes to open up, including to East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Last point I want to say on supplies.

So the supply routes need to be opened up.

There are supplies of WHO and all Arisha and other places, et cetera.

And what also what in, in NASA said they could, they could provide us an endless list.

They were shortened.

But specifically anything around anaesthesia, anything around trauma, et cetera, all those regular specific antibiotics, et cetera, cultures lab supplies is very much needed.

Let me end with with maybe 4 messages.

We all know what is needed.

Gaza needs to be flooded with food.

Flood the markets with food, it will stop.

It will stop the the the the number the the mass casualty incidents.

It will stop also the fighting for food, the desperate.

Flood the markets with food, make sure it wash and water is supplied, make sure that essential medicine, medical supplies and of course, a regular supply of fuel.

Last but not least, we really need a ceasefire now.

There's a lot of talk about it everywhere in the media.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Rick, for this important update, as heartbreaking as it is.

And maybe just to mention, the various points you mentioned in your comprehensive update were echoed by the Secretary General in a statement that he shared with you yesterday.

Colleagues, in response to the deepening humanitarian crisis, in particular, the recent multiple attacks hitting sites hosting displaced people spoke.

The statement refers to the relocation of nearly 30,000 people to flee just in one day this week, colleagues.

So as, as Rick said, fuel is an issue, medicine, shelter, water, all these issues were mentioned in the secretary general statement, which we shared with you last night.

[Other language spoken]

We'll go now for questions.

Let me turn immediately to Antonio because I think you've had your hand up very early.

Is this for Rick?

No, it was for UNHCR.

Sorry.

I thought maybe it was because I didn't see your hand up earlier.

Is if I could ask you if this is on Afghanistan or another issue because I'd like to take questions on Gaza first.

No, it's this about the DRC, actually DRC.

OK, if you could hold on to that thought and we'll I'll get back to you on the DRC, but let's take questions on Gaza first.

We have one from Olivia of Reuters.

Thank you very much.

Doctor Peppercorn, just starting with Al Shifa, I just wanted to double check, did you say 13 patients on life support would be cut off if if you runs out?

That's my first question on meningitis.

Do you have any data in terms of the kinds of numbers you're seeing in terms of that increase at this stage in meningitis cases with a if you have a breakdown as well between viral and bacterial, that would be great.

And just in terms of the injuries you said were being seen at Nasser Hospital, you're, you're talking about non UN sites.

Can can we confirm you're directly talking about the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and their operation?

And and secondly, in terms of that, I just want to put a comment to you that they've consistently said to us, which is that people are not being injured or killed at their sites and have been pointing instead to other humanitarian organisations and their aid distribution.

So some clarity, that would be great.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Well, Chief, I can confirm that the certain patients on, on the, on, on the ICL, I mean there's many more in Nasser as I, I explained.

And of course they are only dependent on on fuel and not only that also the pneumonia, PYMBO, dialysis, the operating theatres, etcetera, etcetera.

So that is that's very important.

But in in Shiva there is 30 all the the meningitis, the data they're being worked, worked on because it's quite SSF is really difficult for for the hospitals to make even this differentiation between viral.

The meningitis is mainly on clinical, clinical science because they don't have culture.

They can do the test, they can do number of function and see some base.

So they can do a little bit and specs, OK, this is most likely not bacterial, but it is complex.

It's runs overall in, in, in, in a couple of hundreds cases.

I mean, that is clear probably around 300 what I understand from my colleagues.

But the it's very important that we analyse better.

So what happened in the years before?

Because normally you see an increase in between June and, and, and August, what we got from the yesterday, our visit in NASA.

So the teams are working and analysing that, but it's really difficult to get all this data from these hospitals.

It took us, for example, 2 hours to go from Dharavala to Nassar.

That's already insane.

It used to be 10 minutes or something like that, took us two hours because people have moved, etcetera.

So we need better data to to, to really, yeah, to to speak out that more clearly.

And if we have that we will share it, share it with with you.

And of course very it's very important we know is this more of an increase?

We are of course is this more of an increase than compared to the last couple of years.

We are of course concerned that specifically because of the overcrowding and such the bad hygienic conditions as such the lack well, I think that the the vaccination programme with with all have been affected etcetera and and of course the overall stages of kids in my own that one as well.

Now, the injuries you talked about that injuries which we saw in, in Nasser, they were all confirmed by the, by the health workers, but also by the families.

So and so reported by the families.

I mean, and that's really important that they actually came from these so-called safe non UN food distribution sites.

We also know there's mass casual incidents when, when, when trucks, for example, we have seen that also in reporters and, and, and so on, the UN trucks come, come in.

And This is why I made this point.

Gaza needs to be flooded by food.

So he stopped that scramble from food, from desperate people for maybe organised people who want to, who wanted to get a hand on, on, on, on the food, etcetera.

The markets need to be flooded and we saw that also when there was the ceasefire.

It's very quickly any looting around everywhere or any violence, it stopped, it subsided.

And I think what we have seen since this crisis constantly and, and, and I think that should concern all of us that it seems every time the situation goes a little better, there's again a squeeze.

There's a squeeze and, and, and there's a kind of a blockade or it comes very difficult for you and, and and partners to, to distribute within Gaza and, and we're getting squeezed and the situation which is already disastrous becomes, I cannot even describe it beyond the disastrous.

And then again, there's a little bit of relaxation and a few trucks come in and of course, I mean, like desperate people go crazy.

I mean, like people are hungry and and and and there is so, so young boys are sent out to get some food for their families.

That's what that what what one of his fathers told he first didn't want to allow his son of 21 year his youngest son of 21 year.

And then finally, OK, you know, yeah, maybe it's a good idea.

You go there and you get some a little food supply and and it was very trash.

It was, it was and, and, and neighbour from, from one of the hospital works.

[Other language spoken]

So, so life, I mean life is almost like this is, is worth 1 bag of flour or something like that.

That's the insane thing.

[Other language spoken]

And and it's, it's in a majority of of of the casualties directly reported to us by the health workers, but also by the families was all related to the so-called safe non UN foods distribution side.

There's definitely also, I mean we've seen also mass capture of the incidents going happening around other trucks which came in etcetera.

It can all be stopped if the market is flooded by food.

Over to you.

Thanks, Rick.

I think Olivia has a follow up.

[Other language spoken]

Hi, Rick.

Sorry, I'm just going to go back to you on that.

I just need to be really clear because we obviously need to be as accurate as possible in our reporting of this.

And are we specifically talking about sites which are related to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation?

Because I understand whose position, but we need, given these are allegations, we would need to put them to whoever is responsible.

So if you're able to please clarify, are we specifically speaking about sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation?

And just secondly, if, and I forgive me, I forgot to ask if you hadn't had an idea of numbers in terms of dozens, hundreds in terms of numbers of people who were injured from these sites coming to to NASA.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Well, look, we of course as WHL team, we are not that is Gaza Unitarian Foundation so-called safe.

Distribution sites, we're not there.

So we see, we, we witness the consequence of that and we get a report.

We get a reports not just from the patients and from the patients, their families if they cannot speak anymore because they're a paraplegic, paraplegic or whatever, from their families, their friends who are with them, etcetera.

And yes, I mean from them based on their reports, the majority of these injuries that I think we have been reporting on this not only we, but I think many other agencies, many other NGOs that please, I mean like there's been so many statements of this has been reported that the majority of these injuries is related to the stock of non UN food distribution sites which are run by GHM.

So yes, that we, we have WHO we are not at those sites.

So I cannot count, OK, this amount of, of, of people are being shot etcetera and whatever they shot and this amount of people on that side.

So it's being reported to us.

I hope I'm clear.

[Other language spoken]

I, I think that that clarifies things.

Let let me just echo what what our spokespeople in New York said and what we've been saying here in terms of this scheme, this foundation, you know this, this does not meet the most basic standards required by us for humanitarian delivery.

What we need when we're trying to help people, we're trying to help people, not put them at risk in in this, this game certainly does not meet that that high standard that we require.

Further questions in the room and then OK, I'll turn to colleagues online.

Antonio, I'll come back to you.

I have a question from Elaine and then from Imogen.

[Other language spoken]

This may not be something that Rick can answer either.

This is from Health Policy Watch.

But when we did a story on this chaos last week, I found at least two incidents which in which there were mass casualties of 20 to 40 people and around UN distribution sites as well.

So it seemed to be for us to be more linked to the open fire rules and the way the army was managing all of the access points rather than specifically to GHF.

But so I just would would love some further clarification on how many UN deliveries are happening as well.

And where it seemed to us it was mostly in the Northern Gaza that there were new at UN deliveries in the South, GFHGHF sites for concentrate in the South.

But again, anybody that could clarify that would be much appreciated.

And also another question that may not be in the purview of this presser, but has occurred to me is understanding how the flow of aid worked previously from the UN distribution throughout the UN trucks or the UN distribution points to families.

I mean did it was a distribute just directly to families?

Was it to soup kitchens mainly what how did supplies get to the market?

You know that whole chain of flow previously would be just good to understand for background.

[Other language spoken]

Rick, do you want to do you want to tackle that?

Yeah, I think maybe you can add on on this one as well and, and and or maybe an another time AWP colleague etcetera.

So one thing of course, what what we get reported and again I want to stress that reporters by the patients, their families, their friends, their health workers, that the majority of injuries we see are related to this so-called injuries, traumatic injuries, that the majority by far related to the so-called non UN food distribution sites.

[Other language spoken]

I already reported there's mass casualty incidents with any group of trucks coming into Gaza and we all know why because way too little food and any supplies comes in.

It was a blockade for how much for more than 12 weeks.

And after that, just a trickle, A trickle what came in and on, on, on all areas, definitely also on food.

So any supplies which come in, you get this, you get hundreds.

And we've seen it as well.

I mean, like when we were travelling that people move in when there is suspicion that trucks are coming in, hundreds of of of of mainly young boys, men, etcetera will flood that etcetera.

It's a sign of desperation.

It's also definitely an ugly side of looting etcetera.

And yeah, so I think Elaine's point, I mean like when the story is it's a combination, but a majority, the majority of trauma injuries definitely capital now related to the so-called non UN distribution site.

So again, the plea food, the market should be fluttered by by food and you will take this away quite quickly.

And on the on the on the actual distribution, we have to discuss with WFP and maybe OSHA, but there were definitely a range of community distribution sites and it will need to go back to that.

Over to you.

Thanks, Rick.

[Other language spoken]

I won't repeat what I just said about this foundation.

What what I can do is remind you that, you know, our teams are humanitarian teams in Gaza.

They required to coordinate their movements with the Israeli authorities.

Now what I can tell you is that during the month of June, out of nearly 400 such coordination attempts, only a 44% were out.

Well, 44% were outright denied by the Israeli authorities.

Another 10% were initially accepted but faced impediment.

[Other language spoken]

It's an absolutely dramatic theatre.

They're working and very difficult as we know.

We've Rick spelled it out in detail.

I just referred to the, the relocation orders again.

And these are people who've been relocated, you know, many, many, many times over the course of these months.

So it's a very complex situation.

And of course, as Rick said and as the secretary general says, we want to deliver food to these people who are unable to move, in most cases, food, water and medical supplies as urgently as possible.

But if there are colleagues perhaps connected who can add more context, please raise your hands.

Thanks for the question, Elaine.

[Other language spoken]

This is for Rick, I suppose.

Imogen from the BBC.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks for taking my question, Rick.

[Other language spoken]

You talked about multiple attacks for weeks now of people trying to access food and you said and they have skill have killed scores and scores of Palestinians.

Who is the they in that sentence?

You asked it to me.

[Other language spoken]

So as I said, we are not we are not there at the size, we don't know shooting and and we only see the results of this and the results are pretty clear and pretty graphic and pretty horrific.

And we described it and and we tried to analyse and monitor as good as possible.

We tried to use as many sources as possible.

You've seen the reports BBC, your own BBC reported on that.

[Other language spoken]

What do you think yourself may like?

It's it's we are more than almost two years now in the crisis.

And and I'm a little surprised about this question, to be honest.

Over to you.

[Other language spoken]

I mean, if if we had eyes, more eyes and ears on the ground, we would be able to obviously report, of course, we're doing the best we can with our colleagues on the ground.

I mean, there's three things we want.

[Other language spoken]

We want accountability.

We want justice and we want the return of hostages.

We want all these things which is can be done, it could be done.

It's it's been something we've been pleading for for months and months and months.

So of course we want, we want we're hearing witness reports, colleagues from the human rights office have been reporting to you on on these atrocities as well as as has WHO and other colleagues online.

But this is really an appeal which will continue to echo until there's peace, a lasting peace in Gaza.

So let's turn to the next question.

[Other language spoken]

AP Thank you, Rolando, and thank you, Doctor Peppercorn, for coming to see us again.

I, I just wanted to pick up on a phrase that you said a short while ago in response to Elaine's question that you said that a majority of trauma injuries definitely up until now are related to these non UN distribution sites.

I just want to make sure that you can, if you can you be as clear as possible on that.

What is the source?

Is that from the presumably that's from the health ministry figures that you're getting that from?

And is there any sort of metrics that you are coming up with that back that up from your own side from WHO that can specify that that indeed is where most of the, or is it that that is indeed where most of the trauma injuries are coming from?

And you know, are you compiling that information yourselves?

Because that is an important metric to be able to track if possible.

So what we're trying to do and that I want to make, by the way, also the point is it's in general, although this is not specified as an attacks on a healthcare, but I want to make again the point on tax on healthcare.

WHO role there is to which the mandate by the member says is to monitor, analyse and report on that we never attribute.

We're not a crime investigating Bureau.

So I want to make that point clear.

Now on your question as well.

I think that we, we have provided not only we but others as well the figures.

And if they are, if they are reported figures, we mentioned that they are reported figures.

We do this all the time, what we can say not just from from our teams who are actually working with these hospitals to, to, to, to, to assist with mass cash for incidents to prepare to bring supplies, etcetera.

They also confirmed this on the spots and the many emergency medical teams will be working on that and which have been reporting.

I mean, there's been, there's been reports and statements from a number of the NGOs and emerging medical teams as well on this topic, not just the UN working in those hospitals.

So some of these figures are Ministry of Health figures, but all those organisations working, including our team, including myself, coming here regularly.

And, and now again yesterday in NASA and, and on Tuesday, Shiva.

So we've seen this and we witnessed that, I mean, first hand.

So should I not believe the patient myself?

Should I not believe his father?

Should I not believe his friend?

[Other language spoken]

So we try to then compile this the duct and and and and analyse and, and if they tell me that they have been shot or injured at one of those non UN distribution side, who am I to say?

Well, you know, Are you sure about this?

Is this not somewhere else, etcetera?

And and there is that who is shooting?

I didn't even answer the question.

I don't know that they got shot in the head, in the neck, in the chest, in the abdomen, on the knees, etcetera.

That's definitely there.

And, and, and it would be great if the press would be in, in National Medical Complex or those hospitals.

You could witness it for yourself and you could ask those patients, you could ask the fathers and you could ask their, their, their friends and, and, and except for one, we're completely paralysed, of course.

Over to you.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks, Rick.

We have well, I was going to say one more question we have now.

Jamie's had a follow up before we take the final question from John.

[Other language spoken]

I just, I just wanted to make sure that I, I appreciate what you just said.

And I understand that the accounts you have to take them at face value.

But as you rightly mentioned, you know, there's not a lot of independent press that is on site to be able to do this kind of accounting.

So in that in short, you know, because that what I'm trying to find out is who on site is compiling these who, who are the people a bit like what Elaine was asking about, about the mechanics of the aid distribution.

I'm talking about the mechanics of the accounting of these individual cases.

So, for example, when a father or a child says I was shot at this position, from this direction by, you know, whatever, who is compiling those accounts and putting them into a sort of comprehensive, cohesive narrative by the metrics that we can, we journalists who are not there can at least refer to other than just raw numbers for the Ministry of Health saying this is how many people were killed, You see what I'm saying?

And how can we access those accounts?

Yeah, I see your point.

And I think this is also very frustrating for us.

I mean, like that's and and and I think as Rolando also says, a lot of assessments.

So first get a ceasefire they can go in and then everywhere not justing us also Israel and all the the horrible thing would happen there that then and let independent assessment start and do their work.

It's very much needed etcetera.

I wanna and and I've re clarified this position as well.

The UN is not on those sites.

[Other language spoken]

So we we need to look at at the health and health impacts and and instead of the headlines for whatever get on a blame game.

And I also want to remind everyone, I remember that from the start of this crisis, the figures, the figures were questions on the number of death managers.

You remind those discussion, I mean you remember those discussions very well.

The number of people overall killed and injured were constantly questioned the first couple of months by all kind of partners, members, data etcetera.

Ministry of Health data were very much questioned that all the analysis which has been known not just by the UN, but a lot of others publishing the lens published somewhere else etcetera.

They all confirm incontrary, they actually said it's an underestimation.

I think we have to also be a little careful and think about, hey, where were we then etcetera, what happened then?

So currently we cannot, we cannot as you when we cannot analyse exactly as I said, I confirm that you see the result.

I'm frustrated about that as well and I wish hope that's we get a ceasefire we get we're going to work at the at the future and I think a lot of those hopefully independent assessments will be done will be done within and outside that 02 Thanks again, Rick colleagues, I'm going to turn to Ravina who might be able to comment on some of the killings at these sites.

[Other language spoken]

Indeed.

And also in follow up to Imogen's question about who's responsible.

So the latest figures that we have, we have recorded 613 killings both at GFFGHF points and near humanitarian convoys.

Now this is a figure as of the 27th of June.

Since then I was reading our latest sitreps.

There have been further incidents.

5 killed, 6 killed, a 14 year old boy shot in the head, another 14 year old boy.

We haven't compiled all these figures and I'm getting reports from from Ajit, the head of our OPT office, saying there was another big incident last night as well, which we're still trying to verify.

Police have pointed out the challenges of verifying information because we don't have eyes and ears on the ground.

International press is not being allowed and neither are we.

We are doing what we can to try to verify these figures, but there's a time lag and we will perhaps never be able to grasp the full scale of what's happening here because of the lack of access on who is responsible.

It is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points.

[Other language spoken]

Who is responsible for for that?

We need an investigation.

We need access.

We need an independent inquiry and we need accountability for these killings.

[Other language spoken]

OK, I think lots of hands coming up now.

[Other language spoken]

Let's let's go to John Zaracosis and I'll get back to Jamie then.

Anya has a question.

John, you've been waiting patiently, so over to you.

[Other language spoken]

I would like to hear your views on the killing of the doctor Marwan Al Sultan, the director of the Indonesia Hospital, renowned cardio surgeon.

How many doctors have been killed on duty or off duty?

And is that triggering a reduction in staff as we've seen in Iraq or Syria from their working environments or they staying there and continuing despite the high risks?

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, John, I think it's a good question.

And yeah, I, I should have mentioned this actually in my introduction.

[Other language spoken]

We're deeply sentenced by the the the killing of the of the director of Indonesian Hospital, including his children and his wife.

I think the whole family has been killed.

It's incredible.

We, we, we, we really want to share any of course, condolences to his family, these friends, etcetera.

And there's many of them.

And I think I saw also reports from from also fellow health workers and, and, and, and grieving because he was a great human being with also a great medical doctor.

We, we do not desecrate the killing of health workers in, in, in, in, in that sense.

We have an old view on tax on health care and, and, and as well.

And I think it is recently being updated.

We will try to get figures to you as well.

But yeah, having been on, on, on, on these hospitals also many times, we, we knew and we'd work with him.

We support Indonesian hospital, of course with the other partners.

And the hospital, as you know, is currently a non functional, should be functional.

It's in this evacuation zone, it's in the so both Indonesian hospital come out one, they're relatively very close to each other and, and all other all those hospitals are, are are non functional.

And again, sharing the condolences with, with his family, friends, but also of course with all the health workers.

And yes, of course it has an impact.

I mean, and I'm always surprised yesterday at in in in national complex, I met a few medical specialists, senior doctors, but also a few others who actually worked in in Al Najjar hospital in in Rafa, the hospital, which is the three hospitals in Rafa, which are all all three non functional anymore.

And also in this epic ration zone and, and damage or were partly destroyed, etcetera.

And the last time I was there, but we cannot even visit there anymore.

So I'm always surprised that they, most of those health workers will then go and assist somewhere else.

So this this too were moved to Nassima complex and are working there.

Others they move to Shiva, for example, and work that.

And we have seen this over over time.

But of course it has an impact and, and, and specifically on, on, on, let's say the the top medical specialist also with a number of them in the start of the crisis left to Gaza and got their way out to Egypt.

So it's part of the of the HR struggles and the problems.

And that's why, by the way, it's also so important is we have to emergency medical teams bringing on the topic.

That's emergency medical teams from all over the world to assist and specialised medical teams which work either within those hospitals or in the in the field hospitals and doing a fantastic job.

We struggle at 1 area and and we've raised this getting staff in.

We see that a disproportionate number of of health staff, especially for EMT gets denied entry.

So we've raised at multiple times and that's maybe maybe my small complete different topic because I find it very difficult to to discuss about the the passing away of the director.

Maybe the one thing on the on the future, there's so much talk about this ceasefire and, and, and opening up of discussions, etcetera.

And including that supplies, you know, we'll be able to to well, we should be able to get supplies out of our region and other areas, etcetera.

I just want to plea again, let this happen.

Let this happen as soon as possible.

Off to you.

Thanks, Rick.

And of course, so we at the UN express our condolences to over the loss of Doctor Marwan Sultan, the director of the Indonesian hospital in Gaza, and to his family.

We have colleagues.

I know there are lots of more, lots more questions and we do have other briefers waiting, but let's take these quickly.

I'll go to Anne.

[Other language spoken]

From AFP, then back to you.

[Other language spoken]

Anne, yes, yes, hi, everybody.

Thank you for taking my question.

[Other language spoken]

To the figures that you mentioned earlier, the 613 killings both at GHF and near humanitarian convoys, could you make the distinction as you made it last week about how many were killed at the GHF and how many other near the humanitarian convoys?

And could you specify, do you speak about UN humanitarian convoys or because it's a big too general humanitarian convoys?

And then the last question on those figures would be if you could tell us if those figures have BeenVerified by your office there?

[Other language spoken]

And yes, on the breakdown, no, I don't have it yet.

[Other language spoken]

During this briefing.

It can be difficult to get all the details immediately because the way that we gather the information is for example, also from hospitals where they receive dead bodies.

Now we can count, but we can't immediately identify the location attribution of responsibility that that takes a bit of time.

But I am checking and I'll get back to you as soon as I have it.

So I don't have the breakdown of where the breakdown of these 613 where they were killed.

Did I answer your questions or what?

Did you have something further on this?

And yes, is that answer your question?

I think I I wasn't activated.

One question is also you say near humanitarian convoys, if you could be more specified, do you speak about UN or Yeah, No, sure.

Let me get back to you on that as well.

I don't have information on the exact location, but I can send you a note afterwards.

[Other language spoken]

I'm getting further updates so I can share those perhaps in a note after the briefing on, on locations and on the incident last night as well.

Yeah, thanks in advance for Ravina.

And we'll take the last question really we we have to move on.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

I just want to make sure I'm clear on that.

You mentioned that that was that 613 is since the beginning of operations in mid-May from GHF.

Just to be clear that what, what the start date is of that 613 count.

And and just to be doubly clear, I know that you're going to get catch me on this, but this is a based on OHC KHRS standard vetting process of the information where it's you're as thorough as you possibly can be in terms of getting that.

And it's obviously it could be an under count presumably, is that right?

[Other language spoken]

So these figures are from the 27th of May onwards.

You're correct about that.

Since the GHF started operating on verification, yes, we are.

We are continuing to verify and our figures always tend to be on the lower side.

We get information from hospitals, cemeteries, families, from the Palestinian health authorities, from NGOs, from our partners on the ground in order to try to corroborate it to the extent possible.

Thanks very much, Ravina.

I think that concludes our discussion on Gaza.

Rick, as always, thank you so very much.

Stay safe and please continue to join us here at the briefings.

Vitally important.

[Other language spoken]

You're on the ground there.

And as we, as we've all agree, we need more eyes and we need more reporting.

We need justice and so much more.

So thanks so very much, Rick and good luck to you.

OK, we're going to before I move to my colleague from IFRC, I'm going back to you, Antonio, you had a question on DRC.

Babar is back on the podium.

So please pose your question and then we'll move on to Myanmar and the other topics.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you, Rolando.

So my question is if UNHCR has seen any movements, returns or or other other figures in the week after the the signing of the peace agreement between DRC and Rwanda?

[Other language spoken]

I think I'm not sure if you saw the statement that we issued on Saturday welcoming DRC Rwanda peace agreement as an opportunity to end cycles of displacement.

High Commissioner Philippo Grandi has been quoted in there.

[Other language spoken]

But just briefly, UNISIA, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the agreement signed in Washington on June 27th between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda.

We commend the efforts of regional and international partners who made this important milestone toward lasting peace and stability possible.

As we all know, for decades, violence and instability in the DRC have forced millions of families to flee their homes, often multiple times, stripping them of safety and hopes for the future.

This agreement offers a chance to stop the cycle of violence and displacement and focus on solutions that restore dignity, stability, and opportunity.

We'll need to wait to see what colleagues report from on the ground, but we are aware the figures show us that since the beginning of this year 2025, nearly 120,000 people have fled DRC for neighbouring countries.

Also prior to the signing of this agreement days or during that week, violence and insecurity continued to displaced people and also causing loss of life.

So we'll keep monitoring the situation and if there is any update, we'll come back to you.

As we know, DRC has mentioned, you know, has been running humanitarian situation and a displacement crisis for long.

We have 1.1 million refugees who have fled DRC to the neighbouring countries, majority to Uganda.

But also inside the inside DRC, we have huge number of displaced people who are internally displaced inside the country and that figure is in the range of 7 million.

That's it.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks to you, Babar.

And you might have seen the statement that we also issued on behalf of the Secretary General on the reaching of this agreement over the weekend.

So thanks very much for that.

Thanks for the question, Yuri.

Is this for Babar by chance, or is this appointed to someone else?

[Other language spoken]

It it's for Ravina about Azerbaijan.

[Other language spoken]

OK, let if you could hold on to that.

And Ravina, I think she can stay on a little longer.

[Other language spoken]

On that note, thanks, Babar.

Once again, I'm happy to introduce Scott Craig from the IFRC who's joining us here.

He's a spokesperson for the FRC and he's going to introduce a colleague who's joining us.

He's been very patient, I should say, who's IHACIHIFRCS, head of delegation in Myanmar joining us from Yangon.

But over to you, Scott.

Thanks, Orlando.

Good morning, everyone.

As we approach the 100 day mark since the devastating earthquakes in Myanmar, I'm pleased to introduce Nadia Kuri, our Head of delegation in Myanmar.

And she's here to give you an update on our humanitarian response as it enters a new phase.

And just to remind you, we do also have spokespeople and audiovisual materials available available for for those of you who'd like to cover the story.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for the opportunity to brief you today.

On Sunday 6th of July, it will be 100 days since 2 powerful earthquakes struck central Myanmar, taking lives, causing injuries and destroying and damaging dozens of thousands of homes, schools, hospitals and places of worship.

We are taking stock of the achievements of the past 100 days and we also know that the next 100 days will be critical because they will shape how people can move from survival to recovery and rebuild their lives alongside local communities, local responders and the private sector.

The Myanmar Red Cross volunteers, many of whom were themselves affected by the earthquakes, were amongst the first to respond.

Today, they are still supporting community communities across 5 earthquake affected States and regions and together with the IFRC and Red Cross Red Crescent partners from all over the world.

Volunteers and staff of the Myanmar Red Cross have reached close to 200,000 people with a range of services including emergency shelter, household items, healthcare, safe drinking water and catch assistance.

It is now raining heavily.

We are closely monitoring the monsoon and we'll be ready to respond with additional relief items in parallel.

It is crucial now to restore the dignity and safety of affected people as quickly as possible during this early recovery period.

Recovery means helping as many people as possible to return to their homes and supporting them in rebuilding their livelihoods.

It's also significantly more costly than relief.

For example, a single transitional shelter for a family can cost $1200, compared to approximately $20.00 for a set of kitchen items or around $120.00 for an unconditional cash grant.

Recovery will not only repair damage, but also address underlying vulnerabilities that are faced by families.

It will be community driven and informed by local needs and preferences.

For us, this is a real window of opportunity to move from temporary solutions to permanent progress in a country where people are affected by so many different layers of disaster.

For this reason, the IFRC is calling for even greater support of its Myanmar Earthquake Emergency Appeal.

Helping people to move back to earthquake resilient shelter and rebuilding livelihoods takes more time and a larger investment than providing immediate relief.

Still, our International Emergency Appeal has received only 22% of the funds needed to help the Myanmar Red Cross meet its earthquake response goals.

Without increased support, we will not be able to reach the scale of recovery that communities urgently need at this critical juncture in what was already a fragile and complex situation.

Thanks to the work of volunteers and staff of the MRCS and the IFRC and the strength of Myanmar's people, we are seeing real progress.

And as part of this recovery, we see that communities themselves, and in particular women, are central to rebuilding with strength, hope and dignity.

I'd like to tell you about a 30 year old, 30 year old mother from Amarapura in the Mandalay region.

When the earthquake struck, she shielded her young son under a table as their home collapsed, and in the days and hours that followed, she herself helped to dig out other people's children from under the rubble with her bare hands.

For 15 days, she and her family slept in a field, and when Red Cross volunteers arrived with tarpaulins, water and dignity kits, it made an immediate and lasting difference.

Today she is also a volunteer herself and a leader of her local camp committee helping others to recover.

And she told one of my colleagues just last week, if I can help others in this life, then maybe in the next life I will be in a better place.

This spirit of helping others despite immense personal suffering has been repeated throughout this crisis.

The IFRC plays a critical role in providing technical expertise on long term recovery and international coordination to assist the Myanmar Red Cross in these office in these efforts and to mobilise international support for the next 100 days and well beyond.

Today, the urgency is not over, but it is changing.

The latest aftershock that was felt by our teams and communities in Mandalay and Sagai was just yesterday morning at 7:00 AM with a magnitude of 4.9 on the Richter scale.

That is considerable.

The monsoon is here, the diseases will be rising, and families in damaged homes and temporary shelters face new threats.

Acting now can stop this from becoming a longer and ultimately more costly crisis.

So we call on the international community to continue to stand with the people of Myanmar.

The first hundred days after the earthquake were about survival, but the next 100 days will shape the future for thousands of families.

I thank you and I'm available to answer any questions.

Thank you very much, Nadia, very important brief from you.

Do we have questions in the room starting online?

Give it a second.

No, I don't see that's the case.

I think you were very comprehensive and we really appreciate your brief and of course this and fewer patients, of course.

So thank you very much and please continue your your great work and we give you all the support and, and for Scott, thanks for joining us, Scott.

Craig is our new colleague, not new, he's been in Geneva before, but with IFRC fairly recent.

So he's going to we're going to share his contacts with you.

So, Nadia, thanks once again and to you as well, Scott Merci.

I will now turn to our colleagues, Monsieur only Monso.

And also we have an Ubuntu Nedelouvo of the Giga communication Manager Merci Povotra persiance.

[Other language spoken]

And please if you want to join us as well at the same time, but I'll go mid leaf to you, Sir.

Thank you very much for your patience.

[Other language spoken]

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[Other language spoken]

Now we will turn to our colleague from Giga UNICEF, an Ubuntu Nerluvu, a Giga communication manager who's joining us for an important update on the Giga Connectivity Forum 2025.

Over to you.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you so much and it's a pleasure to be briefing you today.

I'm here to invite you all to the Giga Connectivity Forum, which is taking place next week on the sidelines of Wisys and AI for good.

Now, before I get into the connectivity forum, I also want to just quickly position us as Giga to explain who we are and what our mission is.

GIGA is a joint initiative between UNICEF and ITU, and our sole mission is to support governments in connecting schools to the Internet by 2013 and ensuring that every young person has access to information, opportunity and choice.

Now, this is very important for us to note because next week we'll be understanding more how technology is moving at a critically fast pace and what it means for other communities out there that are not connected to the world.

We are all aware of the digital economy, the digital divide and the huge gap that is increasing as we continue to talk about AI, generative AI and all the other exciting things that we see when we're looking at a global society that's at the cusp of growing within the technology ecosystem.

Whilst that's happening on our end, we are looking at the grassroot movements, understanding that schools are being left behind.

We've used schools as centres of community or schools are hubs that sprout digital economic opportunities within each community.

When we connect to school, we are enabling communities to be connected and giving communities access to the digital economy in ways that they would have not previously experienced.

To quickly give you some stats in terms of what we've achieved so far as Giga, we operate with four models, which is map, model, finance and contract.

We go into countries and we basically want to map the schools to understand where they are.

When we map the schools, we're able to understand what the big challenge looks like, how many schools are connected, how many schools are not.

But connecting schools is not enough because we also need to do the modelling to understand the infrastructure that is required to support these schools.

And we work with governments to model and finance partnering with them to enable them to understand what the best procurement practises could look like.

Connectivity is an expensive commodity, it is highly privatised and when we partner with governments, we're looking to consult and work with them from a contracting perspective, being the middle man to actually enable them to drive pulled procurement as part of model.

So we have a procurement team within the contract contracting ecosystem that works to pull this demand.

We've partnered with the likes of Smart Africa and Unika to drive this agenda forward.

So when you come to our Giga Connectivity Forum next week, these are some of the opportunities or conversations that you'll be able to take part in specific to the media.

At the Giga Connectivity Forum, we have a session on the 9th of July at 10 AM where we've opened it for you to come and have this conversation with us.

We'll have our Giga colleagues, Alex and Chris will be joining us.

And in that session, we would like to open the floor to have you ask them important questions that can bring visibility to the work that we're doing as we continue to do this within this ecosystem.

At the Connectivity forum itself, we're going to be having ministerial delegates from the ministers of education, ministers of ICT coming together to convene and learn what best practise could look like.

As mentioned mentioned earlier, we've mapped 2.2 million schools.

We have 24,000 active schools and this is resulting in 11,000,000 children benefiting in connectivity.

This is not enough.

We need to have public and private conversations that gather and unite people to understand the job that needs to be done.

With technology moving at such a fast pace, we fear that there's going to be a huge gap and a huge disconnect across the globe.

Within the Global Connectivity Forum that we're hosting, it's not just the global South of the Global N, it's a combined effort of countries across Europe, Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, just to name a few, who'll be coming in to convene and share best practises, looking at some of their countries, what has worked for them.

We recently had a Europe and Central Africa session where we heard from ministries of Turkey, We heard from ministries of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Seeing the amount of work that they've been doing successfully to map their schools and how they've been managing to lift their their schools into the digital economy is something that we want to spread across the various communities that we work in.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Lots going on, very important work you're doing.

So thanks so very much for briefing our colleagues here.

[Other language spoken]

No, I don't see that's the case.

I think you're very comprehensive and good luck next week.

I will, colleagues, I will announce something from the ITU momentarily.

But before I do that, I'll go back to Yuri, who had a question on Azerbaijan, if I'm not mistaken for Ravina.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, thank you, Orlando.

[Other language spoken]

My question is about the journalists that were arrested from Sputnik Azerbaijan.

I just wanted to know if you are following this situation.

Seven of them were arrested, five that had the nationality of Azerbaijan and Russia were released yesterday and they were, they are now blocked at home.

But two of them who are only Russian citizens are still in gaol.

We also in the court the video that was published when we see that they were beaten, they were all beaten without doubt and more than journalist.

There is also two Russian citizens who are working in in format league that were also arrested and also beaten.

I just wanted to know if you are following that and if you are coding for the release of the journalist.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, we are following the situation.

We're aware of these cases, so we're looking into getting more details.

Once we have more details, we can have a better understanding of what's going on.

But generally, I think you're aware that the High Commissioner has raised concerns about respect for media freedoms in Azerbaijan and the treatment of journalists and media workers.

He has raised concerns also about the arbitrary detention not only of journalists, but also of activists and other individuals who have been arbitrarily deprived of their liberty.

[Other language spoken]

I think Jeremy Launcher at if he might have a question for you as well, if you can hold on just a moment, Jeremy.

This is for Ravina.

Yes, this is for Ravina.

Thank you, Randall.

A question on on on Ukraine maybe for Ravina.

It seems like the Dutch and German intelligence confirmed that Russia used chemical weapons again in in Ukraine.

Ukraine who suffered the maybe the largest drone attack yesterday.

I want to know if if you have any info on that on the chemical weapons used in in Ukraine.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks, Jeremy.

Yes, indeed, we're we're aware of that report.

We ourselves have not documented specific civilian casualties caused by chemical weapons.

However, police tell me that the OPCW has confirmed the presence of toxic chemicals on several occasions that that there has confirmed the use of toxic chemicals against Ukraine on several occasions.

So perhaps you you would like to consult them.

We have documented the use of many different weapons, obviously by Russia in Ukraine, including the use of cluster munitions in heavily populated areas.

And High Commissioner has repeatedly warned that the due to the wide area effects of cluster munitions, they're used in populated areas, is incompatible with international humanitarian law.

We've also documented the use of mines and other heavy weaponry.

And you are, of course, aware of the severe overnight attacks in Ukraine, where we understand loitering munitions and missiles were used.

So we can share with you a number of different weapons that Russia has used in Ukraine, which raised serious concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law.

On the issue of chemical weapons specifically, though, I would refer you to the OPCW.

Well noted.

[Other language spoken]

Colleagues, You will have seen the update that OCHA shared with you last night, which speaks to what Ravina just mentioned, these air strikes in Ukraine, which over the past three days have killed and injured civilians, including ten civilians killed and nearly 60 injuries, including children.

So do take a look at that update that we shared with you last night from OCHA.

[Other language spoken]

OK, I think that leaves it leaves me to just announce a few things.

As promised, I have a short announcement from the ITU.

You've heard from our colleagues, the OAF colleague and GIGA colleague about WYSES, the so-called WYSES, the World Summit Information Society plus 20 high level event starting Monday.

This will last throughout the week until the 11th of July, so 7th to 11 July.

And stakeholders from over 150 countries will help shape the vision for the next phase of the world's digital transformation.

The outcomes will contribute directly to the UN General Assembly's 20 year review of WHIS is scheduled for December 2025 in New York.

Now also on Monday, there is a press tour at PAL Expo of the AI for Good and Wishes Conference.

Facilities, exhibitors and their AI technology will be on display.

Reporters are asked to arrive early to receive their press badges at PAL Expo.

The event begins at 1700 at 5:00 PM, so please arrive to PAL Expo by 4:00 PM or 4:30 the latest to avoid missing the tour start.

Just one more moment.

On Tuesday, the AF for Good Global Summit 2025 opens and that also runs through the end of the week to the 11th of of July.

The AI governance, standards, skills and capacity will be on in focus at the event, featuring talks from AI leaders and 100 plus demos showcasing AI innovations to deliver better healthcare and education.

Reduce risk, disasters, disaster risks, rather ensure water and food security and bolster economic resilience.

So there is a press conference on AI Superhumanity scheduled AI Superhumanity scheduled for Wednesday the 9th of July at PAL Expo at 12 noon.

Media advisors have already been sent out.

More to follow.

Event badges are required.

Just to repeat that.

And if you have not already registered, please do so.

And any questions of course, direct to press info at ITU dot INT and that's a message from our colleagues at ITU almost done just to mention that Secretary General Antuna Guterres is leaving tomorrow for Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, where he will attend the 17th summit of the BRICS countries.

Now this is he'll be there for a couple of days and the SG has been invited to speak at an outreach session on, quote, strengthening multilateralism, economic financial affairs and artiful artificial intelligence.

End Quote, that will take place on Sunday, this coming Sunday, the 6th of July.

Now, on Monday, the 7th of July, the Secretary General will address the second outreach session on the environment, COP 30 and Global health.

And during his visit, Secretary General Guterres will also be having a host of bilaterals attending the BRICS Summit.

And we will, of course, share the readouts with you once we receive them.

I've already referred to the message from the Secretary General that we issued last night on Gaza.

[Other language spoken]

In terms of meetings, here we have the Committee on the Elimination of Discriminations again against Women's Sea Dog concluding its 91st session this afternoon after having issued its concluding observations on the country's review during the session, namely Mexico, Thailand, Ireland, Afghanistan, San Marino, Chad and Botswana.

And the Human Rights Committee is continuing its session throughout the next couple of weeks.

This morning it concluded review on the report of Haiti.

So you take a look at the media advisory with more information on the succeeding reviews for the human rights from the Human Rights Committee, Human Rights Council.

Pascal shared with you updates as usual, daily updates.

They're speaking to the situation of technical cooperation in the series in the context of human rights.

But we're told that at roughly 4:00 PM this afternoon, the Human Rights Council will commence action on various resolutions and decisions that are put forward to it for Action 26 in total.

I'm told that the action will start around 4:00 once again on a resolution concerning Eritrea.

So do take a look at the proceedings in Room 20.

And that is all I have.

[Other language spoken]

On that note, I bid you a good afternoon, a nice weekend.

See you here on Tuesday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 04 July 2025