The United Nations Office at Geneva
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UN Geneva Press Briefing - 08 August 2025
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1:15:30
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Press Conferences | UNHCR , WHO , UNMAS , UN HABITAT
UN Geneva Press Briefing - 08 August 2025
- UNHCR Jocelyn Elizabeth Knight, UNHCR Protection Officer for Darfur (From Port Sudan) & Dossou Patrice Ahouansou, UNHCR Principal Situation Coordinator for Eastern Chad, (From N’Djamena) - Cholera outbreak among refugees from Sudan’s Darfur, urgent funding needed
- WHO Christian Lindmeier (Zoom) with Dr Ilham NOUR, Senior EmergencyOfficer (Zoom from Geneva) - Health Challenges in Sudan
- UNMAS Mohammad Sediq Rashid, Chief Mine Action Programme (From Port Sudan) - Update on the explosive remnants of war situation in Sudan
- UN HABITAT Stephanie Loose, Country Programme Manager, UN-Habitat Afghanistan - Urgent need to scale up (re-)integration efforts for returnees to Afghanistan
8 August 2025
Humanitarian, health and security updates from Sudan and Chad
Jocelyne Knight, Protection Officer for Darfur at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), speaking from Port Sudan, stressed that the situation in Sudan was a massive protection crisis, and even more so in Darfur. The impacts of the protection crisis were manifesting differently, with cholera case numbers rising in certain regions. With such a large-scale, long-lasting displacement, people lacked the basics for dignified survival, and the risks of communicable diseases were high. People could not engage in food production as they used to before the conflict, and markets were not functioning as well. All these factors were compounding one another and making the situation for numerous people unbearable. Ms. Knight had spoken to displaced people and children, who had shared with her their fears and traumas of being repeatedly attacked and lacking adequate shelter and food. She emphasized the need to scale up the international response to the ongoing crisis to meet displaced people’s essential needs.
Patrice Ahouansou, Principal Situation Coordinator for Eastern Chad at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), speaking from N’Djamena, spoke about a little displaced Sudanese girl in Chad whose parents had been killed. She asked Mr. Ahouansou to thank those who were helping and making their survival possible, but at the same time she was worried about the cholera outbreak and that those who had killed her parents could find her again. In order to curb the cholera spread, steps were being taken among the refugee communities in Chad, but with the overcrowded border settlements with inadequate water and sanitation access, cholera was still a serious threat. Without urgent action, including enhancing access to medical treatment, water and sanitation, many lives would be on the line. Mr. Ahouansou emphasized that providing healthcare, water and sanitation, along with shelter and food, remained priorities for UNHCR in Chad.
UNHCR’s full statement is available here.
Dr. Ilham Nour, Senior Emergency Officer at the World Health Organization (WHO), said that relentless violence had pushed Sudan’s health system to the edge, adding to a crisis marked by hunger, illness, and despair. Since the start of the conflict, WHO had verified 174 attacks on health, leading to 1,171 deaths and 362 injuries, and impacting health facilities. Dr. Nour also addressed the challenge of cholera, informing that the disease had swept across Sudan, with all states reporting outbreaks. Nearly 100,000 cases had been reported since July 2024. There were also outbreaks of measles, malaria, dengue, and polio. Exacerbating the disease burden was hunger, with nearly 25 million people acutely food insecure. About 770,000 children under five years were expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2025.
Dr. Nour further said that Darfur and Kordofan had been cut off by intense fighting. In addition to hunger and disease, WHO estimated that three of every four health facilities were no longer functioning, leaving people with little access to essential health care even as needs mounted. On the other hand, some parts of the country, like Khartoum, had become accessible after months and WHO had resumed its operations there; a large cholera vaccination campaign had recently been conducted there with WHO support, and WHO was seeing initial signs of a slowing down of the cholera epidemic. Across the country, WHO was currently supporting 33 hospitals and 60 primary health care centres and planning to expand to 60 more such centres. WHO support included critical health supplies, training, and operational support for some of these facilities. WHO’s efforts and those of its partners were constrained by severely limited access, bureaucratic and logistic impediments and a lack of funding. In conclusion, Dr. Nour urged the world not to look away.
Sediq Rashid, Chief of UN Mine Action Programme (UNMAS), speaking from Port Sudan, said that explosive remnants of war and landmines were a serious implication of the ongoing conflict, as well as of all the previous wars in Sudan. Sudan had experienced a lot of conflict, which had left behind numerous, dangerous unexploded ordnance (UXO). This was mainly an issue in highly populated urban areas: roads, streets, residential neighborhoods, schools, and medical zones. The population was largely unaware of the dangers awaiting them. With new battles every day, there was more and more unexploded ordnance. Just the previous week, six minefields had been identified in Khartoum, three of which with anti-personnel landmines. Mr. Rashid provided an example of a child who had found a UXO and thrown it among other children playing nearby, severely injuring eight of them. The problem was significant and widely present across numerous cities. There were only ten mine-clearance teams operating right now, so there was much more need to rapidly increase these efforts. Mr. Rashid said that in Afghanistan at one point, there were as many as 800 active mine clearance teams.
Responding to questions from the media, Mr. Rashid, for UNMAS, explained that each demining team was composed of four operators, to keep them mobile and agile. Other than Khartoum and Al Jazirah state, many other areas were affected by UXO and required urgent assistance. Once the capacities increased, each team would have as many as ten operators. The cost of clearance was high, as most contamination was in highly condensed urban areas. Some USD 23 million was needed for these efforts in 2025, of which only a very small amount had been received. In just one month of operating in Khartoum, two UNMAS teams had found more than 1,000 UXO, informed Mr. Rashid. He called on various humanitarian partners to help with spreading awareness of the widespread risks of unexploded ordnance. A comprehensive assessment of the problem was needed to estimate potential costs of the cleanup operation. Clearance was a high-cost undertaking while education about risks and threats was relatively low-cost, he explained. On another question, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), stated that the UN had repeatedly called on the warring parties to come to a negotiating table, as well as on all parties with influence to use that influence to bring the conflict to an end.
Reintegrating returnees in Afghanistan
Stephanie Loose, Programme Manager of UN Habitat in Afghanistan, said that Afghanistan was facing an unprecedented returnee crisis. Millions of people had been forcibly returned from neighboring countries, mainly Iran and Pakistan. While humanitarian support was being provided at border points, the real challenge was still ahead: re-integration of people who had lost their homes, their assets, and their hope. Many had no place to go as they had never lived in Afghanistan; nearly 60 percent of these returnees were under 18. What was needed urgently, stressed Ms. Loose, was a coordinated reintegration process in the areas where people would settle.
Ms. Loose explained that Afghanistan was struggling, already before the current crisis, with nearly 50 percent of the population in Afghanistan in need of humanitarian assistance. The human rights situation in Afghanistan was deteriorating, with women and girls in particular facing huge barriers. Afghanistan was also among the top ten countries impacted by climate change: droughts, floods, increased temperatures and heat impact people living in rural areas and reduce rural livelihoods but also threatened people living in urban areas. More than three million people had returned since September 2023. While the numbers changed daily, it was estimated that between 25 July and 1 August alone, more than 85,000 Afghans had been deported from Iran, along with more than 3,000 from Pakistan. Many had been forced to leave everything behind and arrive with literally nothing more than what they could carry. Ms. Loose elaborated on the specific plight of returnee girls, who, once back in Afghanistan, could not attend education beyond the age of 12 or leave house without a male guardian.
Ms. Loose stressed that reintegration was not optional. Without it, returnees remained vulnerable, trapped in cycles of dependency and exposed to serious risks. Rebuilding lives required more than emergency aid; people needed adequate housing and tenure rights, access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, and livelihood opportunities, so they could support their families to live in dignity. Reintegration was crucial for future peace, stability and social cohesion. People needed to understand that the returnees were not simply a burden, but they brought with them a set of skills and could contribute to their local communities. UN-Habitat advocated for an integrated response based on spatial planning for population growth, shelter and housing solutions, and improved access to essential services. Ms. Loose urged the global community not to forget Afghanistan and ensure there was adequate funding so that people could live in a dignified, self-reliant way.
Replying to a question, Ms. Loose said that 2.2 million people in Afghanistan currently needed support for reintegration, and the numbers were still growing. It should be ensured that reintegration programmes received the support they needed; investments in longer-term solutions were also necessary, she stressed.
Gaza
Responding to a question, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that at the invitation of the United States’ Mission to the UN in New York, UN entities and partners had attended a dialogue on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The chairman of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was in attendance. It was a private meeting. The UN welcome anyone raising their voice for aid to reach civilians in Gaza.
Any decision to expand Israel’s military operations in Gaza was deeply alarming, said Ms. Vellucci in a response to another question. UN was firmly against any escalation of this extremely ruinous conflict. She read excerpt of this morning’s comment by the UN Human Rights High Commissioner who had stated that this escalation did not need to happen. His full statement is available here.
Announcements
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that INC5 negotiations were continuing at the Palais des Nations, and journalists were welcome to access the Palais in the evenings and over the weekend. Two media officers of the UN Environment Programme, Keishamaza Rukikaire and Matthew Bannon, were attending the talks and could be reached for any information.
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Teleprompter
[Other language spoken]
Welcome to the press briefing of the Information Service of the UN here in Geneva.
Today is Friday, 8th of August and we are going to have several guests today to tell you about the catastrophic situation in Sudan.
So we have with us colleagues from UNHCR here on the podium, but also from Port Sudan and Jamina.
We also have WHO to speak about the health challenges in the country.
And as it's been requested by some of you in one of the past briefings, we would like to thank the colleague from UNMAS who is joining us from Port Sudan to tell us about the situation of the explosive remnants in the country.
So we'll have the the three agencies briefing and then I will open the floor to questions.
Let's start with UNHCR.
Eugene, you want to take the floor first and introduce your colleagues.
Good morning, everyone.
As Alessandro just mentioned that the humanitarian situation in Sudan as well as Eastern Chad is worsening by day.
Today's briefing we'll we'll focus on the 2 pressing and interconnected crisis, the recent cholera outbreak among Sudanese refugee in Eastern Chad and the deepening life saving need of a forcibly displaced community in Darfur.
Today's briefing will be presented by Patrice Awansu, U NHSR's Principal, the Situation Coordinator in Eastern Chad, and Jocelyn Knight, our protection officer based in Port Sudan covering Darfur region.
They will give first hand update from the ground describing the worsening condition of displaced population in both Eastern Chad and the food, as well as the daily challenges faced by humanitarian teams trying to deliver aid.
I'm also pleased to be joined by my colleague Sandra Hallas, our Senior Public Health Officer, who is available to respond to any technical question related to the cholera outbreak and our ongoing health response in the region.
Today, we're also releasing a new report that highlights the urgent needs of a displaced community in Dafoot and the critical effort to relocate refugee in Eastern Chad.
It outlines the scope of the crisis, the challenges based on the ground and the immediate funding needed to save lives and scale up assistance.
The full report is a LinkedIn.
The briefing note which you should have received already and then as well as the Bureau is available within the briefing note.
I will give a floor to 1st to my colleague Jocelyn connected from poor Sudan.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I want to emphasise first that the situation in Sudan is really a massive protection crisis, particularly in Darfur, where we have seen for over 2 years now ongoing large scale displacement and ongoing violence and fighting as a result of this conflict.
All of the impacts of that protection crisis manifest in different ways.
So at the moment, of course, cholera is a key concern and we have seen case numbers rising in places like Tamila, but even in addition to to cholera before that and still continuing now concerns about deepening and broadening food insecurity, for example, all of these impacts tie back to the protection drivers of the crisis.
So when we have had such large scale ongoing displacement for so long into really deteriorating conditions where people lack the basics for a dignified survival shelter, you know, a map to sleep on, a blanket, a tarpaulin to keep the rain off, then of course risks of communicable diseases will be higher.
Similarly for food insecurity, people are not safe to be able to engage in agricultural activities the same way that they did before the crisis.
So of course then food insecurity will increase.
We see that agricultural inputs are not available to the same extent, markets are not functioning as well.
So, of course, as a result of the violence, as a result of the protection crisis, all of these impacts are being exacerbated and compounding one another to continue to worsen the situation for people in Darfur.
I was in Tuila in early May, a few weeks after the attacks on Samsung IDP camp that led to displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in a very short period of time.
And one of the striking things that I heard repeatedly when talking to people there is just the continuing insecurity that they feel.
Tuila is regarded as a relatively stable location.
There is a large humanitarian presence there from different agencies.
So in the context of North Darfur, it is considered somehow safe.
But talking to people there, you know, they're very aware that of fascia is not very far away distance wise.
Zamzam IDP camp or what used to be Zamzam IDP camp is also not very far away distance wise.
They're very conscious of the continuing threats that surround them.
They're continuing insecurity that they face.
People told me multiple times that when they were fleeing from Zamzam, armed people would threaten them while they were in flight, saying, sure, flee, go to that place, run here, run there.
[Other language spoken]
We will find you, you know, we will get you wherever you go.
And this insecurity really lives with people, you know, to whichever place they try to go.
I, I, I was talking to a group of children that, you know, were engaged in some of the services and activities that we support there.
Just, you know, a normal conversation about, you know, what is it like you're playing with your friends.
[Other language spoken]
And a tiny boy told me, you know, during the day things are OK here, but I'm afraid to go to sleep at night in case the place where we're living is attacked again.
And this is the fear that people are living with on a daily basis that is really at the root of all of the impacts that are then impacting their lives, whether it's cholera, food insecurity, lack of shelter, you know, other deteriorating conditions.
These, these protection drivers of the crisis are the most fundamental impact on every dimension of the lives of the affected people there.
So this this some effort to really make sure that people understand the need to scale up the response to those needs and and give people better, safer conditions in which to live is is a really important one.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Jocelyne.
And I'll give the floor now to Joshu.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
We do, we can hear you very well.
Thank you very much.
I'm talking to you from from Germaina.
My name is Patrice Vansu, the Principal Situation Coordinator for UN Asia In Eastern Chat.
Exactly 2 months ago on June 3rd, I, I was before this assembly and and brief you about the deepening humanitarian situation in in Eastern chat where the number of Sudanese refugees has has doubled in two years and has tripled in in two in two decades.
I vividly remember that during that briefing I told you about a little girl called Howard.
I told you a story about Howard Howard, whose parents were killed in in Sudan and whose leg was ambited.
I, I met, I visited Howard and her sisters last week in Andreas in the northern part of the of the East settlement.
And she, she, she told me that please thank those who are, who are giving you money, literally, you know, to, to, to, for you to be able to support us.
She said, I have my family now have shelter, I can eat food and I can play with what achievement.
But at the same time, she she's afraid exactly what Jocelyne has just described.
She says she's afraid that the perpetrators might might come back.
She's afraid because she's having a lot of nightmares.
And her sister, 18 years old, told me she she's very worried.
She's worried because a deadly cholera outbreak has just hit a refugee settlement in in eastern job.
And as a consequence, all this because in fact, as, as, as as of early early August, 264 cholera cases have been have been reported by the government in duty settlement and 12 deaths.
As a consequence, the UN Asia has suspended the relocation of refugees from from border points in order to prevent new cases and to to curb these these spreads.
You know many activities are being are being implemented.
For instance, soap is being distributed, stations that have been set up to facilitate access to water and also for hand washing.
Medical equipment and supplies and protective also equipment are being distributed by various organisation including with health organisation UNICEF, MSF, UN Asia.
But despite all these actions, you know, border locations where we still have 1/3 of new arrivals still live in other crowded settlement with insufficient water, health facilities, hygiene facilities.
And these border points are seriously at the risk of transmission of, of of cholera, because it is often for instance, the other settlement and that that is very famous that everybody knows about.
We still have more than 230,000 reviews at the border in very difficult situation.
So without urgent action, you know, including enhancing access to, to medical treatment, to clean water, to sanitation, to hygiene and most important relocation from the border, you know many more lives are on the line.
So I would like to urge you and thank you for all the support you have been providing or urge you that the the urgency for us today is to be able to decongest the spontaneous site in in water points and to be able also to provide healthcare and to provide shelter, to provide drinking water, to provide sanitation facilities.
For your information, out of the 153,000 households that have been received by the Italian government since April 2023, only 48% have access to shelter, all the rest, no shelter, exposing them to many risks, including the risk of contamination.
So thank you for your attention and over to you.
Thank you very much, Patrice.
Let's hear more about the the situation in the country with the Christian and Doctor Hilam Noor, Senior Emergency Officer.
I don't know Christian, if you want to start or I go straight to yeah, you said it already.
Thank you very much, Alessandra, and thanks to the colleagues.
I'm happy that we could short notice bring our colleagues, Senior emergency officer here at HQ in Geneva after Ilan Noor and she'll will give an update.
And then of course already good questions.
[Other language spoken]
Good morning, everyone.
[Other language spoken]
Thanks to our colleagues from the NHCR for the sobering briefing.
And we would just this morning would like to provide a little bit more perspective on the overall health situation in Sudan.
So relentless violence has pushed Sudan health system to the edge, adding to a crisis marked by hunger, illness and despair.
Since the start of the conflict of that show has verified 174 attacks on House leading to 1171 death and 362 injuries and impacting health facilities.
Attacks on health care is a violation of international humanitarian law and international the human rights law and should facilities and house workers and patients should be protected.
Cholera has swept across Sudan with all the states reporting outbreaks.
Nearly 100,000 cases have been reported since July last year and thanks to our colleagues in new HCR again for highlighting that situation.
There are also outbreaks of measles, malaria, dengue and polio.
Exacerbating the disease burden is hunger.
Nearly 20.
6 million people are acutely food insecure and famine is present in several areas in therefore and for the fun and including also in noble mountains and called the fun with the risk of further expansion, especially as we are in the lean seasons which run between July and September, The health consequences are alarming.
About 770,000 children under five years are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition or are actually suffering from acute severe acute malnutrition this year.
UNICEF has already reported that in there for the number of children under 5 receiving treatment for severe acute malnutrition has increased by 46% in the first five months of 2025.
Severe acute malnutrition is a life threatening condition as you all know.
As you all know that greatly increases the risk of children dying from common illnesses like diarrhoea and pneumonia and others.
Large part of the countries, mainly Darfur and Klutofan have been cut off by intense fighting.
Reports out of those area speaks of harsh conditions in addition to hunger and disease.
We estimate that three of every four health facilities are no longer functioning, leaving people with a little access to essential health care even as the needs mount.
Some parts of the country like Khartoum have become accessible over the recent months and WHO has re established presence there and also undertook activities there.
A large cholera vaccination campaign was recently conducted there with WHO support and we are seeing initial signs of a slowing down of the cholera epidemic.
However, there remains gaps in disease surveillance and in and any progress is fragile.
And thanks again to our UNHCR colleagues for providing a lot of highlights in On Colour.
But it doesn't stop their recent floods are are also affecting large parts of the country and are expected to worsen the hunger and disease.
The Bloodshield has prepared for the rainy seasons by pre positioning social medicines and supplies, by training rapid response team, by strengthening disease surveillance and early warning systems and also by scaling up some activities related to other sanitation and hygiene interventions.
Overall, the collectively the HealthPartners are supporting around 1244 health facilities all over the country.
This includes WHO, which is currently supporting 33 hospitals and 60 Primary Health care centres and we are planning and expanding to more so the blood show and the HealthPartners.
As UNHCR has also pointed out, we're supporting this critical health supplies, training, even operational support for some of these facilities.
When it comes to my nutrition, the 142 nutrition stabilisation centres that are supported by Double HO have so far treated nearly 20,000 severely malnourished children with medical complications.
But we believe that many, many more remain beyond reach.
Our efforts and also our partners are constrained by severely limited access, especially in that for and could define bureaucratic and logistic impediments and lack of funding.
And just for that, .171 health facilities in the country have been affected by funding cuts was 81 facilities that have already suspended operation.
The areas most affected by these cuts are again the ones that are most in need there for for define So just to wrap up the people living in these areas desperately need respect double it shows committed along with our partners and along with the UN agencies to serving their needs.
And we urge you the eyes of the world to not look away.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
And as requested from about a journalist, I am very happy now to give the floor to Mohammed Siddiq Rashid, who is the Chief of the Mine Action Programme, who's joining in from Port Sudan.
Siddiq, thank you very much for being with us.
The issue of the explosive remnants of war are very important, is very important in Sudan.
So I'll give you the floor to tell us about that.
Very good morning and thank you very much for inviting us.
Indeed, as you mentioned, explosive remnants of war land mines, this is one of the serious implication of the ongoing war, and it was a serious implication of the previous wars as well.
So I'd like to very briefly outline what the problem is now and what is the impact, what is currently happening and what is the gap.
[Other language spoken]
First of all, as I mentioned, Sudan is, has experienced a lot of conflicts.
So when we talk about explosive reminisce of war or land mines, it is linked.
It is something that is left behind from armed, armed battles.
You know, when when the conflict happens, you know, please be reminded that in most cases, in most cases, they leave behind very dangerous unexploded ordinance.
And the sad reality of this ongoing conflict is it is not happening in the rural areas.
It's mainly happening in urban areas, in the areas which are highly populated.
And so, so that's the implication of the unexploded ordinances very, very severe because the contamination is on the roads, in the homes, in schools and air strength medical facilities, humanitarian bases.
So and also another point to note is that the the people who are affected are people who are in the urban, urban areas.
They were not exposed to the mine action services in the past because the explosive has a problem in the past was in the rural areas.
So this is the, you know, the population is largely unaware of the dangers that are waiting for them.
So the other problem is that as the conflict is ongoing, so this problem is only growing every day.
So every day we hear about new battles there are unexploded ordnance.
And also just to tell you that last week 6 minefields were confirmed in Khartoum, Three of them contains anti personal landmine, which is the first time we hear so far the main problem was unexploded ordnance.
And we had heard quite a few reports about the use of anti vehicle land mines, but now it's anti personal land mines are also confirmed.
When we find one or you know, few more are expected.
It's not in Khartoum, but other also in other, other urban areas.
So, yeah, in terms of impact, injuries and deaths, unfortunately already we are hearing receiving a lot of reports about casualties.
One of them, just as an example, happened last week when one of the kids actually found a unexploded ordinance on the top of the roof, throw it, you know, drop it down.
Among other children in eight kids were seriously injured.
So they are currently hospitalised and under treatment.
So this is just one example.
It's happening a lot, but we don't hear about this because nobody is talking about this Media is only reflecting few of those explosions.
So in terms of blocking access for civilians, it's the, it's, it's blocking access to humanitarians operators.
It is blocking access to, you know, in terms of recovering the critical infrastructure, essential services, livelihoods, in terms of recovery.
I think it's going to become, is becoming a big issue.
So, yeah, so that's what just briefly how the problem looks like.
I can only summarise that.
[Other language spoken]
It's everywhere.
Khartoum was the epicentre, but it's it's in many towns like S Kodafan and obeyed many other cities.
Darfur, all of Darfur has a lot of contamination in the plan.
Actually the programme, it also was affected severely.
All the equipments were lost in.
It's just restarting now with a very small capacity.
I can tell you that there are only around 10 survey and clearance teams which are operating, which is really, really small and only dealing with the most critical areas.
So there is a need for expanding efforts.
We are working on raising awareness of the population also among the aid workers so that they are sensitised that because they will be going to the conflict affected areas.
So, So this is I think just in brief.
So the problem is, is big, the capacity is very small.
I could give you just an example that when in Afghanistan we were dealing with this problem, we had hundreds of teams, more than 800 teams and and around 15,000 people were, were working.
But in Sudan the the programme is really, really small.
So with this I will start, but looking forward to the questions.
Thank you very much Siddiq for this and I'll open now the floor to question.
I just wanted to add to what has been said that The Archers Director of Operations and Advocacy, Adam Wosorno is in Sudan at the moment and she will be briefing reporters today, I think it was.
It's going to be at the noon briefing in New York and it will be, of course, webcaster.
So if you want to hear more from Arch on the situation of Sudan, from Mrs Wosorno describing the situation from there, please connect to the new briefing.
I'll open the floor to questions.
But we have an issue with the hand, with the raise hand function.
So some of you can see it, some others cannot.
I can see it, for example.
So we are looking into the question, but could you please use the chart if you want to ask questions to our colleagues so that I can give you the floor as I won't see your hand.
But I see the hand of Catherine Fiancon.
[Other language spoken]
I will start with her.
Catherine.
[Other language spoken]
Alison, how do you hear me?
Not really.
That is OK.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
In the earpiece we can hear, but go ahead.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, I have that issue also with the hand, but you have to enlarge your screen and then you see the hand.
I have a couple questions for Mr Seddiq Rashid.
Thank you so much for your briefing, Sir.
The first question is regarding the teams.
You mentioned that you have 10 teams, if I'm not mistaken.
So I'd like to know how many people are composing one team?
So how many people do you have in one team?
You spoke also about the fact that the teams were only working in certain areas.
Could you be more precise?
Is it only in Khartoum or is it also in other places of the country?
And I'd like to know what is the cost of 1 programme, because you mentioned programmes that you have larger programmes in Afghanistan.
So I'd like to have an evaluation of the cost of 1 programme.
How much money do you need in order to enlarge your action in Sudan?
You also said in your briefing that some areas are highly populated regions.
Which regions are you talking about?
Could you be precise also?
And you, you spoke about the fact that populations are unaware about the danger.
Do you intend to have any information programmes?
And how do you intend to explain to the people what's what's going on and the danger?
Because of course I suppose that there are no media, maybe radio, local small radio in in, in local languages.
And you spoke also about the fact that children played with mines and were hospitalised.
So I'd like to know if there are medical facilities able of monitoring people injured by land mines because I suppose that it's not the case.
And so where are those people evacuated to?
Thank you for your answer, Sir.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much for all those very good questions.
First of all, in terms of you asked about the team structure, at the moment we have designed the team smaller, so it's a team of four operators in.
The reason for that is because the priorities are too many and the teams needs to be small so that they could quickly be moved and address the explosive hazard from for example, from the critical infrastructure if the water source is is being blocked or affected.
So make sure that it's clear, quickly clear and but, but as we move on, we are not at the stage of systematic clearance.
Actually the city, not only the capital city, which is we know heavily affected, but many other areas.
I will mention which areas requires requires urgently a systematic clearance operations make sure that all the residential areas actually are are completely clear from from explosive hazards and then people should go.
But the reality is that it's not happening.
People are going and so, so that's a team and, and when the systematic clearance is started, then the structure of the team will be bigger.
For example, 10 operators in each team.
I mean you know, 10-15 people with all the support staff.
So where the teams are working now, the moment work is in terms of survey clearance is I would say it's concentrated in Khartoum.
Most of the teams are there.
We also deployed teams to Al Jazeera state in the some other areas as you know in all the western, western part of the country is remains inaccessible.
So in the whole of Darfur, there is nothing in the whole of South Kodafan where the conflict is currently going on.
We we have no resources.
So there are the teams are only operating in certain very few, few areas which are now accessible.
So yeah, the cost of the programme you mentioned there are certain elements of the mud action programme which are cheaper, for example, rescue, education or you know sensitisation of the population that is the low cost activity.
But when it comes to the clearance that is sophisticated in the nature of the contamination in Sudan is now urban areas, you know clearing houses with a lot of rubbles.
This requires a lot of efforts.
So the cost is high and I would say that So what we propose for this year during the humanitarian needs overview, humanitarian needs planning was around $23 million.
So from that a very small percentage has been, has been funded.
So even the programme needs to to to grow to we, we need hundreds of teams to be deployed at the same time to to many areas of the country.
So the programme needs significant resources where the current resources is, is we can only do you know, very limited work.
So in terms of you mentioned ask about which area.
So as I said, Khartoum is what remained the epicentre.
So and we undertow poor assessment missions.
Our colleagues when they went everywhere they went, they either saw an exploded ordinance physically or they saw the evidence of the presence of an exploded ordinance.
So now we have reported the landmine contamination also reported.
So, for example, other areas, Jazeera state city itself is not heavily affected, but there are a lot of rural areas and it is a, you know, bread basket of Sudan.
So a lot of rural areas, villages were attacked.
So there is unexploded ordnance expected in those areas.
And then, for example, N Kodafan al obeyed was under, you know, a lot of attacks, unexploded ordnance, possibly landmine are are expected to be there.
And, and we should not forget, you know, Al Fashir has a very, very difficult situation now and it's besieged.
You know, a lot of every day you look at the, the news, you, you hear something that an attack happened.
So every attack is actually leaving behind unexploded ordinance.
[Other language spoken]
Because generally you know, up to 10%, even if the ammunition is very, very new, 10% of the ammunition will not be detonated when it's used.
But when you know there are other factors like you know, time, you know the quality, this percentage will go up in Sudan.
You know, most other, most of other factors that will lead to into leaving behind a lot of unexploded ordinance are there.
For example, in just one month, 4 weeks operations, two of our very small teams found more than 1000 unexploded ordnance.
You know clearing university in also schools in clearing some of the United Nations offices like UNDP, UNICEF and IUM.
So only in those areas they they found more than 1000 items of unexploded ordnance.
So most of them are very dangerous.
So I think, I think, yeah, in terms of children, yes, it's a very, very, very difficult situation.
And we are, you know, you know, we are not a health organisation.
So we are only doing a certain element.
We are trying to collect data.
We are also as soon as when we hear about an accident, we make sure that those people who are injured are receiving assistance as quickly as possible.
So we refer refer the cases to the other service providers and and I can tell you that the report infrastructure is completely is not there is not there.
So we are only getting information about some of those accidents and then we do follow up on that.
But that certainly needs to be to be improved and a lot of many other sectors, many other organisation needs to step up their work on helping the people who are being killed and injured by an exploded ordnance or land mines.
And also there is a need to integrate mine action into their work.
I think the mine actions, as I said is programme is small and we have many other other operators, many other front frontline aid workers that they could at least disseminate basic messages to the population.
[Other language spoken]
So here I'm also calling on those organisations that they need to extend their health, they need to consider this when, for example, food is distributed, they can also distribute some basic messages to the population.
And, and, and yes, I think we are working, working closely with UNSF and they are leading us in terms of awareness raising.
We need to integrate risk education into the education system because now the risk is so widespread and and we cannot, you know, raise the awareness of the people without so integrating man action in the work into the work of other relevant organisation.
So I will stop here.
I hope I answered some of your questions.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you Alessandra and thank you to Mr Sadiq Hashid.
My, my question is regarding the amount of money needed.
You spoke about $23 million and you see that a very low percentage was funded.
What is the the figure of the pun said percentage?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
And the cost and the cost because you said that sensibility, sensitation of population is lower cost as clearance.
What is the cost?
What is the cost?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Sorry, I had problem with a new meeting method.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
The the in terms of cost at this stage I cannot give you inaccurate figure because first of all we need to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the of the problem and identify, know how big the contamination is.
We're using the open source data now which is which is available for example, the number of battle events that take place.
[Other language spoken]
But at this stage I cannot tell you how much in precise figures that it will cost.
So I can tell you that the, the significant amount of money is required and it's required urgently to clear, you know, all the urban centres, but we we cannot also forget the rural areas that have contamination.
So, yeah, I think, yeah, in terms of risk, education is low cost, clearance is high cost.
In the terms of what percentage we have been funded, we were around 50% funded.
But you might remember the funding crisis that came because we were heavily relying at the before March this year on the US funding and actually all of our 100% of the funding that we have were cancelled immediately.
So we just put us, we were about to close in the month of March this year, 30th of March was the last day for us.
And when this was a time when Khartoum became accessible, people were giving back.
So after that we had to do because also, you know, the, the voice of Sudan is not prominent, you know, in international forums, you know, no, no one is talking about Sudan in particularly.
And also our voice in terms of explosive hazard is, is very low.
[Other language spoken]
So this problem is so big and we, we, we, we actively try to engage with the other donors and with with thanks to Canada who stepped in and saved the programme.
And then echo in other donors serve in SHF contributed divine action.
So I would say, you know, about half of the what's what was required.
Actually the, the, the figure that we put together as a required was also we consider the factor that you can expand to a certain degree because you know, another challenging issue for man action is bringing in equipment from outside because the technical equipment we had was all lost during during the war.
So we could bring in, you know, you know, a certain amount of equipment.
But actually now we are in a better position.
The programme is established and the programme can scale up quicker.
So, so I would say yeah, more, more resources are definitely needed and sales of urgency is very high.
Ideally the areas must be cleared before people go to the areas to the and use the areas in in Lebanon, areas that he used to be before the war over.
Thank you very much, ****.
Let me see, I don't know if it's because of the issue with the hands or I can't see any other question on the platform.
Is there anybody who would like also to ask?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
OK, Nick, sorry, I can't, I really can't see even your face.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Nice to see you.
I, I just wanted to ask you about the the minefields that you said were identified.
Could you just say a little bit more about their location in relation to Khartoum?
[Other language spoken]
Are we talking about small kind of scattered mined areas?
And could you just say a little bit of word also about the mines that you're finding there?
Are these new imported mines?
Are they old things from stockpiles?
Do we have any sense of where they came from?
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Nick, thank you for your questions.
Minefields as I said that's sex minefields are so far discovered in confirmed in the capital city in Khartoum.
Most of them three of them are in an area called Mogran.
Mogran is is an area where the two rivers meet and this is this is an area highly residential area.
So the areas we have deployed the the only available team to make sure that at least to undertake a quick survey of the area, make sure that it's marked.
And in, in terms of so far we have found, you know, 3 anti personal contamination.
These are the mines that are in the photos that we have received so far are the mines that used to be, you know, left behind from the previous conflicts.
But so far the actual clearance has not begun.
So I cannot give you precise information about the, you know, the type of the mine when they were brought in, you know, how in those those things.
But it's very, very concerning, very worrying.
It seems that the borrowing sides have minds in their position and they have also intention of using it.
And, and this is, you know, as you know, the minefields are more and more complex compared to an exploded ordinance when it comes to the clearance.
And they are not used in a pattern.
These are just randomly used based on, you know, those people who were involved in the war, they see that they see a threat from a site, they think that the enemy will come from this direction.
So they go and plant a few mines there.
These are, as you know Nick, are very difficult to deal with compared to minefields that are laid in a proper pattern.
Once you find, you know, one corner of the pattern then you can easily, you know, identify the real boundary of the minefields.
But yeah, this is very complex.
And then we have a lot of reports which are not yet verified about the use of anti tank mines with a relatively organised manner.
But so far only three of them have been confirmed, which are in in the capital of Sudan.
So there were reports from other areas as well.
As I said that access for us is very limited.
I think it will take some time to, you know, to get more precise information.
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
I'm looking at my colleague if they by chance see any.
No, there is no other question.
No questions for WHO in unit CR, Let me look at the chat.
No, there's no other question.
So thank you very much for this very extensive briefing.
Thanks for the present.
They did the brief from our colleagues in the field and at WHO.
And let's stay with another crisis that is taking the headlines at the moment we move to Afghanistan.
We've already heard from UNHCR on Tuesday about the situation of the returnees from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
And I have the pleasure to let me, sorry, just take this off to welcome on the podium.
Our colleague Stephanie Lewis was the country programme manager for UN Habitats Afghanistan.
Yes, it's under strong pressure.
So we'll hear from you about the integration efforts of the for the refugees, please, Stephanie.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Alexandra, and thanks for everyone for for coming on for the interest.
My name is Stephanie Lewis.
I'm heading the Afghanistan office for Yuan Habitat.
And I do understand that you don't often have people from Yuan Habitat speaking to you.
So I was advised to at least tell you what the agency is doing.
We are the UN entity which is responsible for cities and sustainable human settlements.
And so our aim is to improve the lives of people living practically in any settlement of any size, and this includes really in crisis settings like in Afghanistan.
My key messages today is that Afghanistan is, as you've heard from colleagues, from UNHCR, from IOMUN, women, from a lot of different actors actually, that Afghanistan is facing an unprecedented retinue crisis.
Millions of people have been forcibly returned or voluntary repatriated from neighbouring countries such as Iran or Pakistan.
And while humanitarian support is provided at border points, I just want to highlight that the real challenge is still ahead of us.
So we're speaking about the reintegration of people who've lost their homes, who've lost their assets and also their hope.
And many in Afghanistan don't have a place to go because they've never actually lived in Afghanistan.
60% of those who are returning now are below 18.
So they don't have any social ties, they don't have any networks.
And there is a real risk for them, you know, like sort of taking negative, negative coping mechanisms.
And for many of them, it's actually not a reintegration, but it's a really new start in a country which, as you all know, is very complex.
So we need urgently A coordinated reintegration process, not only at the border points, but in areas where people will live, where they will settle.
And from your habitat perspective, and I think most of the humanitarian actors would also agree, it actually starts with shelter.
It starts with having a home just four points about the country context.
You've heard that many times Afghanistan is struggling due to fragile political, economic and also social state of the country.
And even before the Caiuses, 50% of the population have been classified as need.
The humanitarian situation is dire, but also the human rights situation is deteriorating, specifically for women and girls.
And then on top of that, Afghanistan is among the top ten countries that is impacted by climate change.
So droughts, floods, heat waves, you have it all impacting the rural population, but also those who are living in the informal settlements in urban areas.
And that is up to 80% of the population living in urban areas.
That means you have 80% of the population in the city like Kabul, which is about 5 or 6,000,000.
No one actually knows.
And now on top of that, you know, not for Kabul, but all over the country, you add another 3 million people who are in dire need of support and not only when they enter the country, but actually when they start settling in in order to move forward.
So just to give you some figures, you've heard them before and UNHCR has kindly just provided me with the figures as of today.
So we have 2,000,000.2 people who've come since September of 2023.
But just actually, you know, like speaking about, no wait, you have 3,000,000 that came from September 2023, but you've got 2.2 million who've just come since beginning of 2025 S 2.2 million people added to a population where 50% is ready, like classified it as need.
And as I said, many arrive without anything, just what they can carry.
I've just recently accompanied our special representative of the Secretary General for Afghanistan and the head of your Nama Rosa onto Baeva to the border crossing to Iran.
And I have to be very honest, I think it was just heartbreaking.
It was one of those days where we had like 40,000 people crossing the border, arriving at a border point and you see families, you see men, you see women, and you see, you know, like kids arriving to a country.
It's like 35°, it's dusty, it's windy, and they arrive with everything they can carry.
And I mean, I have a daughter.
So I look at, you know, like those teenage girls and I know they're being pushed back into a country where there's no education for girls beyond 12, where they don't actually know where to go and where there's actually specifically for women and girls, no social and no economic development opportunities.
And we also have woman headed households who return to the country.
So you can just imagine actually what it means to them.
They cannot actually leave their houses without being accompanied by Maharam, a male guardian, even if they want to go and see a doctor.
And so, well, sorry, let me just say what is needed.
So reintegration efforts are not optional.
Rebuilding lives takes more than just emergency supplies and it takes more than just humanitarian approaches.
It needs integrated approaches for those areas where people live.
It needs adequate housing and tenure rights.
It people need access to basic services, to water, to sanitation and overall they do need livelihood opportunities for having a long term perspective and for also allowing them to, you know, lead their lives in dignity and to support their families.
Reintegration of large number of displaced people is a humanitarian crisis for the individuals, but it needs systematic, systemic and locally grounded approaches and specifically for those that move to the to the urban areas, to the fringes of those areas, to the informal settlements which have not been planned, which are informal, which are completely undeserved.
You do need an integrated approach which is based on an urban planning and urban extension.
Reintegration is also critical for a peaceful future in Afghanistan.
Because if you come back to a country where resources are already scarce, where there's a lot of competition among people are ready for jobs, for land, for housing, for any sort of services.
It's very clear that if you don't foster dialogue between the local population and those who are arriving, this feeling of competition will grow and it will really reduce the social cohesion in the country, which is like creating another root cause for war and war and and conflicts.
And the country has really seen enough of that.
So for human habitat, one of the messages actually is that also for reintegration efforts, you have to make sure that people understand that returnees, displaced people are not just a burden.
They come with skills, they're part of the solution for social economic stability.
And you know, they, they just have to be part of this society.
Overall.
Your inhabitor is part of a coordinated and joint approach that is led by the RC and together with the other UN agencies and also our partners under the leadership of the resident coordinator and of course in cooperation with the political mission.
We advocate for an integrated response based on spatial splash urban planning that includes population growth from the very beginning.
We need more shelter slash housing solutions for people where they settle.
So it's not short term solutions, but it's longer term solutions, longer term thinking people need improved access to services and all of that can only be done in a participatory approach that includes the community where people settle.
Indian Habitat has a long, long, long history on this in Afghanistan.
So let me just advocate, as my 4 speakers also did, don't forget Afghanistan, even though it's not active fighting, don't forget the people of Afghanistan, specifically the women and girls.
And please make sure that there's at least adequate funding for ensuring that people can live in dignity and also on their pathways to actually get out of humanitarian support and live in a dignified way and self reliant.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Stephanie.
[Other language spoken]
It's so important to continue highlighting this dire situations, as you said, even if they are not, you know, under the physical fire, but the needs elements and the suffering is to I see that there is a solution for the hand raise button.
It's in the heart reacts under under at the bottom of the of the screen.
So I see two hands up image and I understand your question is not on Afghanistan.
Let's so let me go to Elaine Fletcher human health policy.
[Other language spoken]
I also had trouble finding the button.
But it's also on Sudan, not Afghanistan.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, that's that's an issue because I think our colleagues, well, it would geniusly, yeah, but I apologise, I wasn't able to find the button fast enough when you were asking.
OK, let me see if there are question on Afghanistan and then I come back to you and to Imogen.
Is there any, now that we know where the race and function is, is there any?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
It's nice to see you back in Geneva.
Congratulations for all the work you're doing.
I'm following you everywhere and you're doing an incredible work.
Really congratulation for what you're doing everyday.
And I'd like to, to, to know more about the conditions of your work and the money needed and also about the funds.
We, we often speak about the funds cutting.
How much are you affected and have you found solutions in order to fill the gap?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
And yes, it is.
It's nice to be back in Geneva.
And I'm actually leaving to Kabul again tomorrow.
So it's a real pleasure for me to be here today.
Well, what to say, I mean, I cannot shoot out a number.
You know, we're speaking about, well, two point 2.2 million people who need support for reintegration.
The UN in a coordinated approach, actually under the leadership of the resident coordinator and also the Durable Solutions advisor of Yanoma, we launched an appeal in May where we didn't have those numbers.
We had really smaller numbers.
And I think the overall amount was really like, I don't know, 120 million.
So, you know, whatever number I now put forward, I know that in the current situation and you know, with all the other crises, which we do acknowledge are also really pressing, it's very difficult to say yes.
For Afghanistan, we need, you know, like 250 million on the spot.
We all know it's not, you know, it's not going to happen.
What we do need is actually to make sure that the reintegration programmes do receive like support, financial support, because a lot of the donor countries and which I also understand, you know, they support the humanitarian response at the borders, which you know, like is very imminent because you can easily measure it.
You can say we've handed out so many kids, we've handed out, you know, those sort of things.
But what is actually needed is investments in longer term solutions.
So I mean happy on the UN habitat side of course give you a number, you know what we would need, but would that cover it?
Can 1 agency cover it?
[Other language spoken]
So it needs actually a coordinated cross sectoral approach from not only the UN but also, you know, the NGOs, everybody acting in the country.
And as I said, I mean, I can put a number forward like 250 million, but that's, you know, that's never going to be accurate.
So what can I say, we have been of course all impacted by the funding cuts.
And I mean Young Habitat is a technical agency.
So of course our teams have already like been, I would say cut dramatically when there was the break, when there wasn't takeover from the Taliban, because we're a development oriented agency.
And you know, we used to be the biggest agency in Afghanistan.
Now we're a technical agency.
So of course, everybody and now with the cuts from the US side, but also of course all the other major donors, of course, we're all facing the impact.
And at the moment, of course, for our agency, we didn't have US funding.
So the impact is not immediate, but we're a small agency and we're 100% project funded.
So I don't know if you know what that means, but 100% project funded means that whatever you do, you first need to have the money.
And I think our approaches are very long term.
They're oriented towards helping people actually to get out of being in need.
I think that's actually what's needed in a country context like Afghanistan.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Stephanie.
Let me see if there are other questions specifically on Afghanistan to your habitat.
I don't see other hands up.
So thank you very much, Stephanie.
Thanks for having thought about coming to the briefing during your stay in Geneva.
Have a nice trip back and good luck with your important work and keep us informed.
Now that you know that you can do it from Kabul, I will.
[Other language spoken]
So yeah, I see that Doctor Noor is still connected.
Eugene has come back on the podium.
[Other language spoken]
And so then we will see to whom it was and if we can get an answer, please.
[Other language spoken]
Thanks very much.
Elaine Fletcher from Health Policy Watch and I apologise I missed part of your briefing, but I had wondered, I wanted to ask why I don't hear more condemnation from the UN as to the UA ES role in supporting RSFII.
Don't I don't hear as much accountability to the parties.
As you know, in Gaza we hear when when Israel does something, we hear very clear Clarion calls to that Israel should cease.
But I don't hear the same kind of moral clarity or on on Sudan.
And so we we wind up with an impression or accounts of what's going wrong on the ground, but we don't have any sort of narrative about how to fix it.
That's coming from UN parties.
[Other language spoken]
Well, I, I can't really agree with you that there has not been a strong call from the UN on the solution of the conflict.
As you know, we've also, we have been working all along this conflict to try and bring the warring parties to the table of negotiations we've had.
The secretary general has been very vocal on on this issue.
I don't know if there's anybody who wants to add something.
I could send you a few information about what has been said and what has been done.
But the reality, the bottom line is that we have here 2 warring parties and there is what is lacking is the will to stop.
This is a totally, totally man made conflict.
There is absolutely no reason for which you should not stop tomorrow morning.
So obviously this is what we have been invoking and I think our colleague on the on the ground, I don't know if we still have any of them.
We have, if I just might ask though, Alessandra, has there been any pressure applied to the UAE, to the UAE as such?
[Other language spoken]
We hear about the RSF and we know the UAE is supporting them, but I haven't heard much condemnation or pressure applied to the UAE regarding their support for RSF, which as we know was the genocidal partner in Darfur years ago too.
So has there been anything said to the UAE, any approaches, any I don't even understand myself fully why the UAE is so engaged there.
And I, I think there's more elaboration on that would be really helpful.
Well, I leave the analysis to you on, on this particular point, but I think we've said, it has been said several times that we are really calling on all the parties who have an influence on the warring parties to use this influence in the, in the sense of going towards the end of the conflict.
I, if I can find something more specific on, on your question, I will, Elaine.
But please refer to to all the things that have been said even here when we hosted several speakers that we've been talking about the the conflict.
But I'll see if I can find you something more specifically on your question.
But I think we've been advocating very clearly for all the parties who have an influence on the conflict to use it to bring the warring party to talk and, and bring an end to this awful conflict.
I don't know if there's anybody who wants to add anything.
I don't know if Siddiq or our colleague from UNHCRWHO now that we know where the hand function is, if you if you want to add something, please just raise your hand and I'm not seeing let me let me check with the platform, which I don't know if you want to say something more.
[Other language spoken]
So thank you very much for this question.
I see that we are left with questions from Imogen and Jamie.
I understand both are not on Afghanistan or Sudan.
So thanks very much to the colleagues.
Imogen, let me see if we got Yens because I, I think your question was for Archer.
I have contacted Yens, but he has not connected yet.
But if you want to ask your question, please go ahead and I'll eventually bring it to him.
Yeah, thanks for taking my question.
Can you confirm that UN officials met with GHF on Wednesday in New York to discuss ways of working together?
So you're referring to a dialogue on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which happened, I understand, in New York.
That's right.
Is that why to discuss, to discuss ways of working together, apparently, with the GHF?
[Other language spoken]
What I can say is that at the invitation of the US mission, the UN entities and partners attended the dialogue on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The chairman of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was in attendance.
It was a private meeting and of course, we welcome any initiative, anyone raising their voice to, to help the civilians in Gaza.
This is what I can say.
This was a private meeting, but I can confirm it happened and the we were in attendance.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Alexandra.
I might as well pick up on that from Imogen who was in attendance for, for, for and you for, for OCHA and, and, and what was the result, if any from that meeting?
And if you could, if could you just also you, you said that it was the US mission.
I, I take it you're talking about the US mission in New York.
Is that what you're referring to?
So please just give me, give us tell us who I mean, was Mr Fletcher there himself?
[Other language spoken]
So unfortunately, the, what I've just said is all I have about this meeting.
And yes, I can confirm you.
I'm speaking about the US mission in New York, but I don't have more details to share with you, unfortunately, Jamie.
[Other language spoken]
Well, I want to go back to my original question.
Can you give us some?
Obviously, we've got this announcement from the Israeli Cabinet overnight about Gaza.
It'd be very useful to have a statement from the United Nations about what the impact that is and and what, if any concerns you may have about it.
Yes, indeed.
Yes, of course, we have seen the announcements of the Israeli Cabinet and I can say that if confirmed, I mean this, this we'll see what happens.
But any decision to expand Israelis military operations in Gaza are deeply alarming.
And obviously it is clear that this would risk catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
It has to be really clear, we really stand firmly on any against, on any escalation of the conflict.
This has been an extremely ruinous conflict.
We've seen the huge amount of victims only in the last two years.
And level of humanitarian suffering is beyond imagination.
So obviously any possible escalations would bring more suffering, would bring, you know, the, the, the starvation situation that we're seeing to higher levels.
It would make our support, the provision of humanitarian aid, even more difficult.
So it is really important to underline that we do not need more escalations of the conflict in Gaza.
And I will refer you to the statement, to the comments of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for Katuk, who has just been sent to all of you, where he says again, it would have just said that these escalations should not, does not have to happen.
He says the war in Gaza must stand now and Israelis and Palestinians must be allowed to live side by side in peace.
He says instead of intensifying this war, the Israeli government should put all its effort into saving the lives of Gaza and civilians by allowing the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid.
The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally by Palestinian armoured groups and Palestinians arbitrarily detained, but Israel must also be immediately and unconditionally released.
If we have more on this matter, of course, we will send it to you today.
Any other question for me or for colleagues?
I don't see any other hand up, so thank you very much.
I just wanted to add that as you know, we are continuing to have the negotiations on the plastic pollution treaty here at the pallet.
I repeat what they said last time there is that the journalist are very welcome to use the facilities in to stay in the pallet, to access the pallet in the evening and stay in the evening and if needed over the weekend at least Saturday for sure.
Sunday, I think we will never recess.
We have in Geneva 2 communication officers, the head of news and media and the communication officer for the talks.
They are here.
So if you need anything from them, just let us know.
We have Keisha and Matt, I think I've already introduced them to you.
But otherwise we can give you their contacts so that if you have any specific question about the talks, please don't hesitate to let us know what we're putting on contact with them.
Elian, I don't know if it's this is for you, but I see that Siddiq has raised his hand.
Siddiq, you wanted to add something maybe on, on one of the questions.
[Other language spoken]
Sorry for not being able to reflect at that time, but I would like to reflect on the questions in relation to the United Arab Emirates.
I think there are many other states that they provide weapons.
You know, the weapons are coming from different countries, ammunitions are coming from different countries.
I would say there is a need for, you know, a bit of work in terms of informing those at least informing those states that what is the implication of those weapons that are used in in mainly in the urban settings of of Sudan and leaving the behind the dangerous unexploded ordnance that will last for ages.
It's not going to be a short term problem.
[Other language spoken]
And you know, even future generations will be affected by this, this problem.
So we had the just three days ago we had a we reached out to the office of the personal envoy of Secretary General in Addis.
We had a meaningful discussions there and we actually provided some information in the you know, key points that to be considered for by the personal envoy of Secretary General for Sudan for his engagement with the relevant states in the.
I think, you know, in terms of there is a need for in terms of advocates work, there is a need for reminding the states about the relevant and that international humanitarian laws and you know, their responsibilities for when it comes to, you know, those contamination that is left behind for years to come.
So this is this is just wanted to add.
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Thank you very much.
I think this would be useful.
I hope for Elaine any other question or any other speaker would like to add something.
I don't see any hands.
So thank you very much for following the briefing.
I wish you a good weekend and we'll see you on Tuesday.
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