The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN Geneva Press Briefing - 24 October 2025
/
1:19:23
/
MP4
/
5 GB
/
2
UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
24 October 2025
Eightieth Anniversary of the United Nations
Ms. Vellucci first read out a message of the Secretary General for the 80th birthday of the United Nations:
“‘We the peoples of the United Nations...’ These are not just the opening words of the United Nations Charter – they define who we are. The United Nations is more than an institution. It is a living promise – spanning borders, bridging continents, inspiring generations. For eighty years, we have worked to forge peace, tackle poverty and hunger, advance human rights, and build a more sustainable world – together. As we look ahead, we confront challenges of staggering scale: escalating conflicts, climate chaos, runaway technologies, and threats to the very fabric of our institution. This is no time for timidity or retreat. Now, more than ever, the world must recommit to solving problems no nation can solve alone. On this UN Day, let’s stand together and fulfil the extraordinary promise of your United Nations. Let’s show the world what is possible when ‘we the peoples’ choose to act as one.”
Ms. Vellucci reminded that a ceremony would be held today at 12 p.m. at the Salle des Pas Perdus of the Palais des Nations, where the photo exhibition “Shared Lives, Shared Future” would open. Journalists were invited to attend the ceremony, led by Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Two of the persons featured in the physical exhibition would be in attendance; 200 more testimonies could be watched on the UN Geneva website.
Ms. Vellucci also mentioned the launch of the 2024 Report of the UN Office at Geneva, “Restoring Trust”, reflecting on a year of resilience and commitment to multilateralism.
Update on the Health situation in Gaza
Dr Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory (speaking from Jerusalem), addressed the health situation in Gaza.
WHO was rapidly scaling up operations. Improved access had enabled the movement of supplies and increased reach to hospitals and medical points for assessments. The Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings were open, allowing supplies to flow into Gaza. However, Rafah crossing remained closed. Zikim and Erez crossings also remained closed, limiting direct access to the north and making it difficult to deliver critical support to health facilities at the scale required.
Only a fraction of Gaza’s health system remained in service: there were 2,107 inpatient beds for 2.1 million people. Only 14 of 36 hospitals, 64 of 181 primary health centers and 109 of 359 medical points remained partially functional across Gaza. Several key health facilities lying beyond the ceasefire line, including Kamal Adwan, Al-Awda, Indonesian, and European Gaza Hospital, were inaccessible and nonfunctional.
WHO’s global supply chain had the agility to respond to the evolving needs. Since the ceasefire, WHO had dispatched over 250 pallets of medical supplies to health facilities and 377 pallets of medical supplies had been received via Kerem Shalom. WHO had over 2000 pallets of medical supplies ready to dispatch via Jordan, Egypt, Dubai, West Bank and Jerusalem.
On 23 October, WHO had carried out the first medical evacuation since the ceasefire: 41 critical patients and 145 companions had been evacuated to various countries. Medevac was a flagship programme of WHO, which it aimed to scale-up up to a minimum of 50 patients per day plus companions. Around 15,000 people still needed medical evacuation.
Key prioriites were now: open up all medical corridors; open Rafah crossing into Egypt for daily medevacs while also continuing regular medevacs through Kerem Shalom to Ramon Airport and Jordan; more countries must step forward to receive patients. Re-opening of the West Bank, including East referral route, was vital given this was the most cost-effective route.
There had been no large-scale convoys into northern Gaza since the ceasefire took effect: this was the area where the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed a famine in August. Opening of direct crossings to the north was vital to ensure that sufficient aid reached people as soon as possible. 411 people (including 109 children) had died in 2025 from effects of malnutrition in 2025.
Finally, Dr Peeperkorn mentioned WHO’s 60 Day Ceasefire Plan, by which WHO would scale up its efforts to address urgent health needs hand in hand with rehabilitation of the health system. The plan focused on maintaining and expanding life-saving essential health services; public health intelligence, early warning, and prevention and control of communicable diseases; health emergency coordination; and early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Questions focused on access, including what was being done to open crossings; whether a recent vote of the Israeli Parliament, that raised a concern of annexation, would jeopardize WHO’s work in the West Bank; whether WHO was getting closer to a definitive death toll in Gaza; on the discovery, in the rubbles, of 80 bodies apparently belonging to the same family; on the situation of children with severe malnutrition; on unexploded ordinance; and on the use of Jewish or Israeli aid organisations as potential channels for aid.
In his answers, Dr. Peeperkorn insisted that all crossings should be open as quickly as possible not just for people, but also for goods. The UN and partners had been very clear that this should be implemented.
As a humanitarian partner, Dr. Peeperkorn noted, WHO was potentially extremely concerned about the West Bank and also, unfortunately, since 23 October, about escalations in the West Bank, which also affected health and limited access to health in many areas. WHO was assisting as much as possible the health sector and the health system in the West Bank.
The death toll did not include the thousands which were still under the rubble, Dr. Peeperkorn noted, nor the indirect mortality of people who had not been able to get access to their medication or treatment. It would likely take another ten years before an assessment could be made of all the casualties, Dr. Peeperkorn added.
There was now a downward trend regarding malnutrition, however slow that was. It was hoped that more diversified food would come in, including the specialized food needed for malnourished children and other malnourished people.
The UN and WHO had had a first meeting, last Monday, with representatives of the Civil Military Coordination Center. WHO had asked for the opening of more crossings and for the blanket approval of a list of essential medicines and consumables. WHO also hoped for a different approach to such equipment as CT scan and X-ray devices, and for the elimination of time-intensive procedures.
Outcomes of the World Meteorological Organization Congress
Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said she would soon issue a press release on the outcomes of the World Meteorological Congress that ended yesterday. One of the highlights of the Congress was the visit of the Secretary General, who had stated that “WMO [was] a barometer of truth”, Ms. Nullis noted.
The Congress had adopted resolutions on, among others, the Secretary General’s “Early Warning for All by 2027” initiative, stressing that it was possible to accelerate efforts in this domain using artificial intelligence and machine learning for forecasting.
The Executive Council was now looking at realigning budget priorities to reflect current financial challenges. The Organization was not facing a crisis at the moment; the goal was to avoid such a crisis. A restructuring was under way, involving reducing the number of positions at the senior level or moving staff to regional offices. Cost saving proposals had been submitted, such as WMO relying on State Members’ space capacity, rather than on its own space weather programme.
A journalist asked whether the WMO was under US pressure to cut back on climate monitoring. The United States, Ms. Nullis noted, were still a very active member of WMO, and their delegation was taking part in the Executive Council in a constructive and positive way. “Climate is long-term weather”, she remarked.
Announcements
Ms. Vellucci informed that the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) would hold a press conference on Monday, 27 October, 10:30 a.m., on the coming Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (Geneva, 3 to 7 November 2025). Speakers would be Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention, and Brenda Koekkoek, Senior Coordination Officer.
The Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development would open its 12th session next Monday morning (Room XVI). The session would last until Wednesday. Next, the Social Forum would then hold its 2025 session (Thursday 30 and Friday 31 October, Salle des Assemblées) on the theme “The contribution of education to the respect, promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights for all”.
***
Teleprompter
[Other language spoken]
Welcome to the press briefing of the UN Information Service in Geneva.
Today is Friday 24th of October.
The first thing I want to say is happy birthday, United Nations.
Today the UN turn 80.
We will be 80 for the whole year.
So you will hear speak to us speaking about this important anniversary for quite a while.
And I would like really to start this briefing with the message of the Secretary General for this day.
The Secretary General tells us all, we, the peoples of the United Nations, these are not just the opening words of the United Nations Charter.
They define who we are.
the United Nations is more than an institution.
It is a living promise, spanning borders, bridging continents, inspiring generations.
For 80 years, we have worked to forge peace, tackle poverty and hunger, advance human rights and build the more sustainable world together.
As we look ahead, we confront challenges of staggering scale, escalating conflicts, climate chaos, runaway technologies and threats to the very fabric of our institution.
This is no time for the timidity or retreat.
Now more than ever since the Secretary General, the world must recommit to resolving problems no nation can solve alone.
On this you and I, let's stand together and fulfil the extraordinary promise of your United Nations.
Let's show the world what is possible when we, the peoples, choose to act as one.
And on this that I, I also want to renew my invitation to all of you to come at 12 O clock in the Aldeba Purdue to see to, to, to participate to the ceremony for the 80th anniversary of the United Nations together with the DG, with our director general, Tatiana Balavaya, And we will also launch this exhibition.
I've told you already about UN 80 shared lives shared future.
We will have the pleasure to also host two of the people who are featured in the physical exhibition that were put in the Aldeba Purdue, while 200 more wait for you to watch on the UN Geneva website.
And with that, I like to sorry and I, I just want to finish this sort of introduction about the event just by informing you that today we also launch the annual report of the UN office at Geneva 2024.
So please have a look at this.
[Other language spoken]
It's called Restoring Trust and it reflects a year of resilience and commitment to multilateralism amid global challenges.
And it's available in English and in French.
So with that, let me go to the first topic of this press briefing, and I'd like to turn to WHO Tariq is with us, together with Doctor Rick Peppercorn.
Rick, thank you very much for being with us.
As everybody knows, you are The Who representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and you're joining from Jerusalem to give us an update on the health situation in Gaza.
Rick, you have the floor.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Good morning, members of the press.
[Other language spoken]
So first, since October 23 and as reported by the Ministry of Health, we count in Gaza 68,234 fatalities and 170,373 and injuries.
And the two weeks since ceasefire took effect, the Ministry of Houses reported 88 Palestinians were killed and 3 and 15 were injured.
I want to raise a couple of updates.
First on excess.
So excess has improved slightly.
I'll get back but we need all routes to open.
So WHO is on the ground?
Rapidly scaling up operation.
Improved access has enabled the movement of supplies and increased the reach to hospitals and medical points for assessments.
Currently, the Karen, Shalom and Key Supreme crossings are open and allowing more supplies to flow into Gaza.
However, rougher crossing for people and goods is still not open and Zekem and Aerys crossing also remain closed.
Limited direct access to the North and making it difficult to deliver critical support for us to help facilities on scale required.
So opening up all the crossings is critical and even more so to get diverse food, shelter and all shelter related items.
With the winter approaching, WASH supplies, agricultural products and of course medical supplies.
Both the UN and humanitarian partners are ready and and the the issue is just how to flood the markets as soon as possible.
Of course, the private sector should play a real important role there to an expense.
Second point on the health system, only a fraction of the Gaza health system remain in service.
The bad occupancy in the Ministry of Health hospitals and other hospitals are actually all NGOs field hospital.
They we need more capacity.
There's roughly 2100 inpatient beds for 2.1 million people.
Over 14 of the 36 hospitals and 64 of the 181 primary healthcare centres and 109 of the 350 medical points remain partially to minimum functional across Gaza.
Several key facilities that lie beyond the so-called ceasefire.
This yellow line what everybody's discussing including come out of 1 Al Ada Indonesian European Gaza hospital are inaccessible for for people and non functional WH OS.
We are carrying out assessment of facilities as part of the rehabilitation airport and assessment physically Indonesian come out of one and other and Gaza City are or in the north are plans.
I want to say something about the supplies, medical supplies.
So The Who, our global supply supply line has the agility to respond to constantly evolving needs in this ongoing health emergency.
Since the ceasefire, WHO has dispatched over 250 pallets of medical supplies from its warehouse to various health facilities.
That was a bit easier than in the past and 377 pallets of medical supplies have been received via Herim Shalom, WHO is also doing this for the other HealthPartners, getting them in.
WHO has over 2000 pallets of medical supplies ready to dispatch via Jordan, Egypt, Dubai, West Bank and Jerusalem.
And additionally, as WHO we have 4.5 million worth in supplies stored to the Dubai hub ready for the dispatch depending on the priority of the response.
[Other language spoken]
Last Monday, on 23 October, WHL carried out together with our great partners, the Palestinian Rest Present Society, the first medical evacuation since the ceasefire.
41 critical patients, all children and 145 companion were evacuated to various countries.
I want to stress Medevac is a flagship priority programme of WHL.
We are ready to scale up to a minimum of 50 patients per day plus companions in line with previous ceasefire since October 23, WHO supported facilitators the medical evacuation of 7782 patients to over 20 countries.
However, we've reported on this before.
According to the estimates, leadership health medical, especially still around 15,000 plus people, of which almost 4000 children need medical evacuation.
So our key asks are very clear on this on this file, first all medical corridors need to be opened.
The most important one would be the reopening of the Westland, including in Jerusalem, referral hospitals and referral route.
It is vital and it's the most cost effective route.
If definite opens, it would really be a little game changer.
It was widely used before the crisis exploded and the hospitals had a good discussion with all the directors.
They are ready to receive patients and their companion.
So that is the first one medical corridor E Jerusalem hospitals and West Bank.
The second one is open Rafa crossing into Egypt for as well daily medevac and from Egypt either for staying within Egypt or from Egypt to honour countries when needed.
And third one to continue with a regular medevac through Karen Shalom to Ramon Airport to honour countries and to Jordan.
So key ask all these medical corridors should open.
The other key ask is that we need more countries to step forward to receive patients for next week.
We have two Medifax plans, but as I've stated before, we want to be able to do Medifax every day.
My last point is on The Who 60 day ceasefire plan in line with our overall operational response plan for this year 2025.
So we specifically focused the 60 day ceasefire plan.
You will get a copy to scale up efforts to address the urgent health needs hand in hand and rehabilitation of the health system plan, of course is very much in line with the the health cluster plan with WHO leads and coordinates from all partners.
So the first area is maintain an expense life saving essential health services, essential medicines, medical supply scale of the medical evacuations which are already saved daily.
We want to go as far as daily medical evacuations for patients plus companions.
Re establish and support utilities that support service at hospital level.
For example, think oxygen plants, electricity, fuel generators, etcetera.
Improve the referral system, scale up absolutely important rehabilitation services to make a start.
So we we have reported to you for the 167,000 injured people over 4 to 2000 people will need assistive technology and lifelong assist support scale of mental health social support at our levels from primary healthcare level, community level to the referral hospital level.
Maternal and child health care care serves non clinical diseases and assured the preparedness of health facility readiness for the what we of course absolutely don't want at potential another escalation.
The second pillar, public health intelligence, early warning and prevention and control of clinical diseases, expansion of the surveillance for comical diseases support on the the laboratory, hospital laboratory and specifically the central lab.
We getting left, left supplies in for that implement catch up campaign greatly important should start early November for immunisation to target 40,000 plus children under the age of three.
There are missing doses for 0 dose for immunisation together of course with the great our great partners Ministry of Health, UNICEF, Andra etcetera and all the other health partner to provide infection prevention and control support.
And we want to make sure that we control and improve the water quality testing.
The third pillar health emergency coordination, the cluster coordination over 88 HealthPartners scale up linked to that is emerging medical teams.
We want to scale it from the 30 deployed teams to approximately 40.
And we hope to get also specialised medical teams in and in discussion with the, the East Jerusalem hospitals and West Bank hospitals from their the from their side, they want to get in their emerging medical teams into Gaza as well and special medical teams, especially the more specialist medical teams.
And that would be of course, a real welcome addition.
Then the Coordinate European Gaza Committee early recovery that should recall and rehabilitation and reconstruction that should be the largest pillar to start within part of the 60 day plan and focus on primary healthcare, rehabilitation of 10 primary healthcare centre, but also expanded bed capacity of 2 field hospital.
We want to get prefab modular clinics in one is already ready in Jordan to to to expense the hospital, hospital bed capacity.
Think about Shifa Al Aqsa, NASA medical complex, etcetera and support the coordination of the health sector recovery and recovery planning in in coordination with the authorities the the so-called rapid well damage and and and and needs assessment.
Currently the budgets estimate for a health 7 billions, but that was actually there will be now an all sites assessments going on and strengthen and increase the number of the health workforce.
Over to you.
Thank you very, very much Rick for this update.
There are a few journalists in the room and I'll give them the floor.
[Other language spoken]
Associated Press, Doctor Peppercorn, thank you very much for coming back to see us.
Following up on some of your comments during The Who briefing yesterday, we're hearing you say again that the need for access and opening of crossings is incredibly important for your work.
I think we WHO has said that a long time, many other organisations have said that for a long time.
Many countries are saying, are saying that.
My question is, and you're telling it to us as journalists and to the public, what is being done in terms of talking to the Israelis, because they are the ones who are going to decide whether or not those crossings open.
Who is talking to the Israelis?
Who is pushing and encouraging them?
And what kind of political support are you getting to encourage them to open those crossings?
What is being done to get those crossings open?
Thank you, Rick.
Yeah, thank you very much.
First of all, I think you're rightly to say it's the UN and all humanitarian partners have argued for this, that all crossings should be opened and it's also part of the 20 days, the 20 point peace plan.
So our crossings should be open as quickly as possible.
The market should be flooded with all the supplies on each sector, which I described roughly, Incredibly important, not just for people but also for goods.
It's part of the plan.
I think the UN and parties have been very clear that this should be implemented.
I think the question is you should not raise that question to me.
We raise it all the time.
We raise in each and every forum, etcetera.
You should raise it to the authorities which will make decisions about others.
We hope that this will be in place really soon.
There was constantly talk that Rafael would be open, for example.
And then again it was closed.
You've seen the the the news items on that, you produce the news items, etcetera.
I don't think that's it for me to say much about that or leave alone.
I think as as as as myself, we will not have influence on that.
We can just raise these issues constantly and the importance why all these crossings need to be opened over to you.
Have a follow up I do, unless other people in the room have questions.
Thank you for that answer, Sir.
I wanted to also ask you about the West Bank.
There was a vote in the Israeli parliament.
There's some concern about annexation.
You are responsible both for Gaza and for the West Bank.
How concerned are you about that and could that jeopardise WH OS work in the West Bank?
Yeah, I don't want to go into that in the detail.
I mean that's that's probably also not my prerogative as a WHO representative.
We are of course, and I'm not of The Who and I think again, the UN and humanitarian parts have raised us constantly extremely concerned about the West Bank.
And, and, and also unfortunately, since this crisis exploded in, in, in October 23, we've also seen a lot of escalations in the West Bank, which also effects health and limit access to health in many areas.
So yes, we are very concerned and and we are assisting as as much as possible the the health sector and and the health system in the West Bank and a little bit in the same way what we do in Gaza, but much smaller scale and not just WHO but also partners.
So we also talked there about essential medicines and medical supplies whenever needed, trauma care and trauma care and prevention, etcetera, and trading public health and intelligence systems strengthening all along the way and of course the coordination.
So, yeah, very much concerned and I think we're not the only one and we we hope that that this there's access issues and specifically where it affects health, but also education that that will be that will be ameliorated and will be improved.
Over to you.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So if there are, yes, Boris, is that the hand?
[Other language spoken]
Yes, Boris Siegelson, a freelancer, I have very bad hearing, so I hardly can ask question about the factual information you gave.
So I will bounce back on the question of my colleague.
Yesterday at in Geneva at PAL Expo, there was a big show conference about Humanitarian Affairs called ADEX and the concluding remarks were delivered by a former British Minister for Andrew Mitchell, former UK Minister for International Development and he among elves.
He stated that the UN system is perceived as so systemically anti Israeli that there is no way for the UN to be accepted as a partner by Israel.
It's not my stance, it's just his statement.
How do you react to that analysis of even a British minister or former minister?
Yeah, unfortunately I was not there in that meeting.
And so it's a little difficult to react.
I think we have had many times this this conferences and this discussions with with you journalists etcetera.
I think we made it very clear the critical, important role of the UN and humanitarian partners in the occupied Palestinian territory.
And also I think they're very important role of WHO we have constantly reported I think as factual as possible, including on the obstructions.
Sometimes we had the obstructions we had when we tried to carry out as humanitarian support as good as possible, not just by me, I think by all levels of the UN.
So it's critical importance that the UN and we hear this everywhere also from the communities that we will be able to expand humanitarian support, but not just humanitarian support.
I would really and I think we all this the only thing what we have hope that the ceasefire balls that you get to a proper Pisa correct agreement and a political solution and the UN is completely ready to assist.
And hopefully we we get to say very important to Palestinian solutions and to Palestinian guidance and Palestinian govern governance in this and getting out of this crisis.
And the UN is completely ready to assist in all areas including health, which WHO for the one UN lease and coordinates.
And we've been doing this, I think in in the worst moments of this crisis with all the complexities and obstructions, etcetera.
And we will continue and I hope that now we are getting into a new chapter where we initially because we all know that this will be a long and winding Rd with a lot of setbacks and obstructions etcetera.
But we only can be hopeful that this ceasefire will hold, that we go to peace and if we get to a proper political solution now there for the coming years, I know it will be messy.
And the UN, the humanitarian partners, but also the development partners are critically important to first continue and expand the humanitarian supports, but also to get going immediately.
And that's already happening with early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
And then I really want to make this point.
There should, of course, be the Palestinians on the table.
There should be the Palestinian guidance and leadership, and we should support this as good as possible.
So the UN is there including WHO we've been there for decades and we are here to stay and to deliver the humanitarian support which is will be needed for years to come and the development support which we are just starting over to you.
[Other language spoken]
Really last update and then I'll go to the platform there.
[Other language spoken]
I'm getting some messaging from my colleagues in Gaza about and in the Middle East about finding of 80 bodies under the rubble in Gaza.
[Other language spoken]
Apparently it's from the Ministry of Health.
Is that from a recent incident or is that from if you have any information on that about about what that might be due to you just received that information, Rick yes, OK.
Now bodies are found under the rubble and and we we we have saved my team in Gaza.
We all get the same updates.
I mean, like for the Ministry of Health, it's definitely happening and and and maybe you know that's been there were estimates that that that there will be thousands of people still under the road.
So we're not surprised that's, that's, that comes in and there will be a lot more happening and, and there will be, I also would hope that, yeah, according to the Ministry of Health, actually that was between 15 and 22 of October, 77 bodies were recovered under the rubble and now that's already increased.
So that is an ongoing process, etcetera.
And there will be, I hope that there also there will be time for, for more independent assessments and investigations on that.
And, and just to mention on that as well, I mean, we talk, we always talk about the number of people killed and injured, et cetera.
We did not include indeed like this this estimated thousands which are still under the rubble, including the indirect mortality of people who were not able to actually get access to their medication or treatment as such, which we are currently also busy carrying out an assessment for that.
So you will hear more about that in the future.
[Other language spoken]
Very 8 Jamie saying just eight people from one family 80 8080 people from one family.
If you have heard about that No, we haven't heard about that about the recent we get get constantly updates so we will check on that.
[Other language spoken]
OK, let me go to the platform now.
People have been waiting patiently.
Imogen folks, BBC Yeah, hi Rick and thanks for sharing all this information.
I have two questions for you specifically in the the access of aid to get in.
Is it slow because the crossings are closed or are some items still being turned away for dual route use?
If so, what are they exactly?
Could you tell us from from the WHS point of view?
And secondly, we've got had a statement from centre com you know, the the US military command that they now have troops some in in in Israel and that they are there to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid.
Have you seen any evidence of that?
Can you give us a description from your point of view what they're doing?
Do you talk to them?
Do you discuss that with them at all?
How to get things in?
Yes, thank you very much, Simon.
So, yeah, yeah, there there isn't what what we call a civil that's called a civil military coordination centre and that's meant by hundreds of American militaries.
I believe there's also small rich contingent coming and also the Israeli authorities are very much of course present there as well.
[Other language spoken]
So yes, we already, even as WHO myself, I attended the first meeting with, with the US representatives and also representative from Colgan and CLA with the humanitarian party, UN and humanitarian partners and and my colleagues, my team went there yesterday as well and we will be there very regularly.
Definitely their plan is to facilitate humanitarian supports as good as possible.
So that's very welcoming and to ensure that the, the peace plan is implemented in the best way possible.
So yes, we have had those discussions and actually very pragmatic discussions.
For example, the, the you, you say, what is Hillary?
Well, first we need more crossings to be open and we need more goods to get into Gaza in all the areas I, I discussed.
And that's still too slow and too little.
It's improving, but too slow.
But there's other things here.
For example, on the medical supplies, it's complex.
[Other language spoken]
You talk about trucks and it's bulk supply and it's often one time the medical supplies, sometimes on one truck you have a range of medical supplies and essential medicines.
Everything needs to go through a certain process, the you, the 2720 process, but also a couple of other processes that takes a lot of time and some of that gets them refused.
So one of the first things I raised the point on that meeting who we, we actually, we made a consolidated list of essential medicines and medical supplies and consumables which are absolutely priority items and which are used in every hospital around the world.
And we want to get a kind of a Blanco approval for that list that suffer that would help a lot so that the only can focus on them for example, other supplies which are outside that list that is not yet happening.
But I think I hope they're listening and we've had weird meetings on that as well.
The second part is what you raised dual use and dual use was in place of course before the crisis.
And I think we raised this before how complex it was.
And I've having been here for more than four years, for example, we, we WHO we tried to get, I think there was 8 mobile X-rays into Gaza, a process which took us more than 2 1/2 years, which is insane.
Every hospital referral hospitals have mobile X-rays everywhere and the dual use of mobile X-rays or CT scans, etcetera, I'm not sure what we are discussing.
We made those points.
So we, we hope and we do expect that when we start really talking about early recovery, rehabilitation, recovery, if you get a completely different approach towards his dual use And that's just like anywhere around the world that when we talk about getting there's only two CT scans the gas and we need CT scans in, we need spare parts in, we need MRI's in, we need X-rays in, we need ultrasounds in etcetera.
But then also other parts there's complete different generating solar panels, communication equipment, etcetera.
All of that has been consistently delayed or has been made very difficult and some of that marker dual use.
I do expect with the Civil Military Coordination Centre that this will be facilitated in the future and well, this, this will, this will and should help getting the right type of humanitarian and development supplies into Gaza.
Also, when you look at future, you know, real reconstruction recovery, you talk about of course NASA building equipment, etcetera, which is needed to get into Gaza.
Over to you.
Thank you very much Rick.
[Other language spoken]
Those hospitals that you mentioned which are on the other side of the line in Gaza, like Kamalajwa and the Indonesian hospital, what do you know about those hospitals and the condition that they are in?
Could they be reopened fairly quickly or or have they been stripped of all their medical facilities?
[Other language spoken]
Well, I don't think they can be opened very quickly, to be very honest like that.
I've been so often for example and come out at 1 and the last time I was there that was severely, severely damaged, partly destroyed and damaged etcetera.
So no, that will be taking time.
The same applies for all other Indonesian also to maybe to a little lesser extent European.
Gaza hospital is less, much less damaged etcetera and and we but it's outside that line.
So there's no people there and no people living there.
So it's hopefully also as part of that 20 point peace plan when Gaza would expand where people can live and go back then that will be definitely an important hospital to rehabilitate and to restart quickly and and WHO and partners are very ready to assist in that area.
When you talk about hospitals in the Rafa area, there were three hospitals, what was called the Emirati MCH hospital, the the PHC hospital because the name and that's that those hospitals were severely damaged and and that will take time.
But again, those hospitals are outsides what we call now the yellow line.
So only when that line would shift, etcetera, we will have proper access.
And it's all, of course, where people live because you want to make sure that there will be services, health services and any other services as close to the people as possible.
Over to you.
Thank you very much, Emma.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
One on the medevacs, please, which Tedros raised last night.
[Other language spoken]
I'm wondering if you have a record of whether any have died waiting since the ceasefire.
Is this still happening even though the fighting has stopped?
And secondly, on the death toll.
I know The Who has always said it's an underestimate, partly due to the number of bodies in the rubble and partly due to paperwork and reporting.
I'm just wondering, are you starting to get any closer to a real toll or will that really take months or years?
Can you give me an indication of the challenges there?
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
I think, well, your first question, no, since the ceasefire, we, we have not been able to, to, to, we are actually we didn't.
Yeah, because you asked how many people died since the ceasefire waiting for medevac.
We don't have any figures on that.
I think the only thing would be what we want.
It can tell that the medevacs, the number of medevacs needs to be rapidly expanded.
Otherwise it'll take another 10 years before we can, you know, we can assist all the people and then definitely many, many people.
Well, first they're, they're they're, they're the disease will deteriorate, but many people will die unnecessarily, many children, many, many women, men, etcetera.
So that's why we are pushing so much to rapidly expand that make sure that all medical corridors are open including two E Jerusalem and West Bank and and really get going.
On your other question on, on, on, on the debt count, I said I didn't get it completely.
I think it's people on the rubble who is not doing that.
I mean recovering that is the authorities in Gaza which are now looking at that and of course people go back to their places and go back to their houses and clearing rubble etcetera.
Yeah, there will be it is very much estimated that they will find and that's the estimate probably thousands of dead bodies.
So that's probably going to happen.
But no as WHO we have nothing to do with that including with the with the estimates though I think that has been a discussion long time.
I think the estimates are, I would say very much confirmed in that side that they're quite clear and and right.
And I think you have seen other analysis on the estimates on the number of deaths and injuries and I think some of them are also publishing the lancets.
And overall the overall estimation is that this is an underestimation.
And specifically when we would get into the indirect depth and we have said we started the process with partners to make assessments on that as well.
Yeah, I'm afraid so the the overall number will rise considerably.
Over to you.
Thank you very much, Rick.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Fedin akas.
[Other language spoken]
I'm afraid that instead of connecting, she has turned off.
Oh, no, she's there.
Lena, I can see you are unmuted, but we cannot hear you.
Maybe you can disconnect and reconnect.
And in the meantime, because we really don't hear a sound.
And in the meantime, I'll give the floor to Moussa ASI Almaydin.
Just for clarification, when you talk about the thousands under the rubble, does that mean that this number is added to the original #68,000?
[Other language spoken]
No, to our understanding they're not added to the.
So the, the one which are reported are the ones which the Ministry of Health could confirm which are reported.
So the the and again, it's difficult to make an estimate of our estimate, estimate of the authorities that there will be a considerable number of people found that under the rubble that's not included in the current figure.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Can you hear me there, Rick?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I was wondering if you could give us an update on what is happening on the ground concerning children with severe acute malnutrition and severe malnutrition.
If you're getting up the number of treatment centres and if you're able to get supplies in the most affected areas.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
So I think, I think all malnutrition, let me just say a few words.
I mean that's so the numbers.
So 411 people died in 2025 from effects malnutrition.
And of them there were one on nine children, including 84 under 5.
So we all, we all hear about this.
Oh, now more, a little more food comes in, more food comes.
And you know, will this change of course, this will take we notice everywhere when, when a child or anyone who's malnourished, this will take quite a bit of time to to restore that there isn't and, and, and, and IPC plans for November and I think it would be really good.
So that should be to, to get a little bit more analysis into details.
[Other language spoken]
A proper downward trends with regard to malnutrition, yes or no?
[Other language spoken]
How slow is that etcetera?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
My team mentioned that they are definitely expanding and not just WHO, but also with UNICEF and other partners, the supplies to get in for this treatment centres to some treatment centres and an expense on, on that one.
There were eight of these treatment centres and, and I think just a month ago they were reduced to four.
[Other language spoken]
And and currently we are expanding another 2.
On that together with partners and definitely try to get more of these supplies is when it is needed.
What we really would hope, of course, that when there's more food coming in that it is also more diversified food, including the specialised food needed for for these malnourished children and and other malnourished people, because that was a real struggle.
And we've reported that over the last month that we get that in as well and that we will see hopefully a downward trends over the coming months.
Over to you.
Thank you very much Nick Coming Bruce.
New York Times Yeah, Thank you for taking my question.
Rick, you said you'd been to the first meeting of the Civil Military Coordination Centre.
I wanted to ask when did that actually occur and in that meeting, what what came through to you as its priorities?
I mean, it's supposed to be there supervising the ceasefire.
The 20 point peace plan calls for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, which isn't happening.
So what was actually discussed at this meeting?
What are the priorities from it and and to what extent are the decisions on access for humanitarian aid going to be taken there or will remain with COGAT?
Second question, we've heard a lot about unexploded ordnance still in the rubble.
Are you receiving a lot of casualties from that?
[Other language spoken]
So on the Civil Military Coordinates Centre cannot go too much into details.
So it was done.
It was last Monday was the first meeting and and I went with two of my colleagues and yesterday our team lead health emergency and the health cluster coordinator went again.
And I think it's a it's a start.
And I really, yeah, that's what we have we for, for me, I want to be also a bit hopeful on this, that this will really facilitate and assist the rapid entry of humanitarian needed supplies and of course in future also development supplies and, and, and massive supplies for recovery and, and, and reconstruction.
The first meeting was a meeting with where the, the UN was very much present, but also very much the, the key NGOs which were present.
And I would say making a lot of coordinated appeal and, and bringing up up all the issues in the various sectors.
I raised if it was a food security, if it was WASH, shelter and, and health.
And we were very specific on health.
And I think I've been very specific in my earlier reply.
I mean like how this in our view could be already very quickly facilitated.
That's what we see with health products.
Well, first of all, the current procedures are very labour intensive and time consuming for health.
You talk about many different items etcetera.
And every for every item you need to get an approval which in my view is insane.
There should be a standard list and WHO we we presented that standard list and priority list.
[Other language spoken]
So we should not discuss about this anymore and then we maybe discuss other items outside this list.
It should also apply to medical equipment.
And I think we were hurt and, and, and it was very much I would say.
So I'm let me say, let me I'm a bit hopeful about that, that this process and and the civil military Coordination Centre, which segment with American militaries.
I understand there will be small bricks contingent as well.
Israeli authorities very Mr.
President Kogan and CLA, that we work together with the humanitarian development partners, etcetera.
And that we indeed will be able to facilitate and expense in a much more in a faster way.
But also that we that we get rid of this endless forms and labour intensive and time consuming procedures which we have seen in the past and that we get a complete different view on dual use and dual use items in the in the future that's absolutely needed.
I explained that already in my first answer because otherwise the, the, any early recovery and rehabilitation reconstruction will be incredibly complex.
On the unexploded ordinances, I'm sorry, this point.
No, I, we, we are of course getting also some information.
Not I don't have any specific details on that.
And it's a good point that that's right now.
We'll get back to my team to see if you get more on that in future.
Over to you.
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
There's just an update question from Jamie, who is who has left the room, but he's still connected.
And he says how many bodies have been found in unmarked grave sites since the ceasefire begin.
Would you have that number?
No, I don't have that number.
I'm sorry.
[Other language spoken]
OK, I'll answer it to him.
Erratic Boris.
Yes, sorry.
I go back to my favourite source of information, which is a conference who can show, I told you yesterday, Adex, among the flux, dozens of NGOs and agencies, including UN agencies which were taking part in roundtable, there was a lone Jewish relief organisation.
And this kind of organisation rarely show in the public in the past 2-3 years.
Even journalists really can get information from this channel.
So I'm sure that you, your organisation know this kind of Jewish, sometime Israeli.
That one, it was not Israeli.
[Other language spoken]
I'm sure you have contact with them, you know them.
To what extent are the mere spokespeople for the Israeli government and to what extent could there be channel for facilitation, for solution?
Yeah, that's basically my question.
[Other language spoken]
I I don't have the information on that etcetera.
So, you know, no comment from my side because I really do.
Any information on this.
[Other language spoken]
I think you said it before.
Thank you very much.
So Rick, I think this is this was the oh, no, Catherine Fiancon, sorry, I don't know if Catherine, is it a question for Rick?
Catherine, good morning, Alessandra and good morning, Rick.
No, it's a question, another question related to Syria.
But for W2, I mean for all the agencies and and yourself, Alessandra, we haven't been briefed in Geneva on Syria for a long time.
The last time we saw the Special Representative Peterson was in December 2024.
So I'd like to know if there are still have people in Geneva that would kindly accept to come and brief the press in Geneva.
Madame Roshdi did brief the Security Council the 22nd of October, but I don't know if anyone could maybe come and kindly brief the Geneva press if they still have an office in Geneva.
OK, so I can answer maybe on the OSC and I don't know if Rick or the other colleagues connected want to add anything on their side for what concerns the officer of Mr Peterson.
As you surely know, he informed the Secretary General on the 18th of September that he wanted to step down from his charge for personal reasons and that he's been with us six year and a half.
And now he has now announced this.
And of course, he is remaining fully engaged in his responsibility until this final day in office.
Jennifer Fenton is very much still here.
I will transmit your request to her.
And I don't know if well, I don't think Rick is covering also that maybe I'm wrong, but maybe Tariq or other colleagues online, I don't know if they want to say something about Syria, but for on my side I will definitely ask Jennifer.
[Other language spoken]
I'm missing the chat.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
All right.
[Other language spoken]
What what we can do is definitely I, if there is interest, we can invite our our Rep being Sarah representative, representative in Syria to come and speak to you.
[Other language spoken]
You will remember her name is Christina.
She talked to you a couple of months ago and and we can definitely ask her to provide an update.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
And Catherine, we will definitely come back on that, Rick.
So thank you very, very much for this very expensive and interesting briefing and good luck as usual.
Stay safe and good luck with your extremely important work.
If I may say even more now that with all these updates that you've given us, well, let me, thanks.
Let me turn now to our second speaker was Claire.
Claire, you have an update on the outcome of the of the Congress where we also had a chance to to assist and to which the Secretary General spoke on the 22nd of October.
You have the floor.
[Other language spoken]
Good morning, everybody.
Sorry, I'm doing this via Zoom rather than in the press room because I'm following our Executive Council, which is now taking place immediately following the Extraordinary Congress.
We will shortly be issuing a press release on the main outcomes of Congress, which finished last night.
But just to give you a very quick, quick summary here, Alessandra said.
The highlight of the extraordinary Congress was obviously the visit by the UN Secretary General, and I would like to reiterate some of his words here that WMO is a barometer of truth, so please bear that in mind in all your reporting.
A large part of Congress was devoted to our top overriding priority, which is the UN Secretary General's Early Warnings for All initiative that aims to ensure that everybody is covered by early warnings by the end of 20/20/27.
We are at the halfway stage.
We've made a lot of progress.
We still need to make much more and that was one of the reasons for the Secretary General's intervention and it was one of the reasons why we held a high level segment on on the opening day on on on Monday.
There are many ways we can accelerate early warnings and one of them is by leveraging artificial intelligence.
So we had a couple of very important resolutions.
These are the first time we've passed Congress resolutions because it is rapidly evolving subject.
So we had two important Congress resolutions on artificial intelligence and machine learning, how we can improve, how we can use them to improve the the accessibility, the accuracy and the lead time of forecasts.
Nobody is suggesting that AI forecast should replace the more traditional met tools that we have, but they are a very, very, very important additional tool that we that we do have now at our disposal.
There's a lot of work ahead, obviously, but one of the main tasks in the coming weeks and well, months and and years will be to try to ensure that that AI, you know, is, is rolled out in the global forecasting, but in the, in the global global forecasting system in a way which is reliable, which is equitable.
We want to make sure, and this is something that we've heard time and time again.
We want to make sure that nobody is left behind in this, in this revolution.
WMO we have and it's, it's, it's quite technical.
It's called the WMO Integrated Processing and Prediction System with the acronym WHIPS that basically is the engine for, for all the global weather forecasts.
So we want to do a lot of work now in the, in the coming months to assess, you know, how we can now incorporate AI tools into, into this, into this system.
It will be explained in more detail and better in the in the press release which we which we will be issuing another item, we endorsed a youth action plan for the first time and this will also give details of that in in the press release.
As I mentioned, the WMO Executive Council is now meeting immediately following Congress and one of the decisions which it took just but as literally as this, this briefing started was to approve a budget for the biennium of 20/26/2020 seven.
It's not a, we're not revising the budget figure, but we're the, the reason Executive Council is looking at it is, you know, obviously given the, the current financial constraints, we need to sort of realign budgetary priorities.
So Executive Council looked at that this morning, but it's still, it's still, it's so it's approved the, the, the budget of 138.7 million for the 2 for the two year.
And what it's looking at now is setting up a task force to examine, you know, how we can best, you know, have realignment of, you know, WM OS strategic and operating plan just to reflect ongoing realities, ongoing opportunities with AI and, you know, and the many challenges we face.
So that's probably all for now.
And I see a question from Reuters probably on the on the finances.
Thank you very much, Claire, for this update.
I see him as a question for you.
Yeah, thank you, Claire for your engagement on this important Congress.
I had a question on the financial Task force, which I'm still trying to get my head around.
So is that set up to kind of review all of WM OS work and when will it report back?
And are there any areas of the WM OS work which is deemed so important that it's going to be kind of ring fenced from this process?
It's definitely going to be preserved despite the constraints.
[Other language spoken]
So it's it's not really a financial task force.
It's a task force and the exact title is, it's got a quite a long title.
Wait a minute, I'm just trying to get it in front of me.
It is the well.
So it's a task force on the on WMO strategic and operation operating plan.
So basically what it's going to do is to look at WMO programmes and just to ensure that they do feed into, into all the strategic priorities, whether there are certain activities which now are perhaps less important because of the, you know, the rapidly rapid evolutions in, in artificial intelligence, just to, just to quote you one example.
So, and I think it's worth stressing and that there were quite a few comments on that this morning in Executive Council.
We WMO, we do not face an immediate liquid liquidity crisis.
We're in much better position, I think than you know, than some other UN organisations.
But what we're trying to do is to make sure that we don't face the crisis to, you know, to avert, to avert, to avert a crisis.
And that's one of the reasons that the WMO secretary general has, you know, embarked on a pretty extensive restructuring process of the secretariat, just to make sure that, you know, we're already pretty lean and fit for, for purpose.
We don't have much fat to trim.
But it's, you know, we are currently in a restructuring process just to, you know, just to make sure that the, the secretariat in Geneva, you know, has all the right, that, you know, the necessary skills at the right that the necessary levels to, you know, given, given the current environment and the fast changes in, in technology.
So this task force, they're currently discussing the, the composition of the task force.
It will start its work in January.
It won't it, it will not change the strategic plan and it won't change our operating plan because you know, that was set by the last Congress and it's valid until 2027.
But what it will do is within that overall strategic plan, you know see where we can you know have had possible possible realignment some of the discussion.
Yesterday, and I think you probably followed it was we have a space weather programme.
So space weather is, you know, when you see the, you know, the amazing, amazing, amazing skies, which are, you know, fabulous to, to what to look at, but you know, they can interfere with, you know, with, with airlines and the communication systems.
So one of the areas where, and there was a lot of discussion on that yesterday was, you know, the space, whether it is it's highly, highly technical, there's only a limited number of countries who have the space where the expertise, you know.
So could WMO save money by perhaps not having a space where the programme rather rely on the countries that do have the expertise?
The counter view of that is that, yes, you know, in countries such as the USUK, China do have expertise, but there is a role for WMO in in coordinating it, you know, bringing, you know, bringing these countries together to make sure that they're all talking together, which is what we do on a routine basis with on satellites.
So it's that sort of question that that the task force will be will will be will be looking at and what is ring fenced?
I mean, as I said, the IT won't change the overall strategic direction of of WMO, but it it will tweak it.
You know, we will still carry on our, you know, main overriding mission is to save lives, to protect economies.
And at the top, a key priority remains the early warnings for all initiative.
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I was just wondering how new the whole restructuring process is that that that's being that's under way right now.
Is that, is that new?
Is that this year?
When did that start?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I mean, we are obviously AUN specialised agency.
So we have our own procedures.
But you know, the restructuring of WMO, the secretariat is in line with the, you know, with, with UNAT.
You know, we do need to make sure that, that, you know, that we, that we, that we are fit for, for purpose, that we, you know, that we can, we can face, so we can face the future.
WMO is 75 this year and we need to make sure that you know that the structure of the secretariat is fit for purpose for the next 75 years.
[Other language spoken]
We hope to have most of it done and in place by by, by the end of by the end of this, by the end of this year.
And there will be cost savings as a result of the restructuring.
And it is, you know, it is intended that the savings from staff costs will go to, you know, to, to to budget priorities and to develop, you know, develop capacity in members and at regions.
That is, you know, we want to do much more to to support regions.
Thank you very much, Elaine.
Hi Claire Lane Fletcher from Health Policy Watch.
Is the US pressuring you to cut back on your climate work, which is a very big part of your, a growing part of your portfolio?
And how much will the loss of US weather or climate monitoring affect WMO?
That's my first question.
And then just to clarify, in the budget, you said you have a budget of 138.7 million.
I'm assuming that's about 69,000,000 a year, if that's correct.
So you're saying you've got enough income for next year or are you, do you have a target for cutbacks?
Like are you trying to cut back 10% or 20%?
Do you have any?
But the main question I want to ask you is about the US, OK, What's, what are they saying?
Because I'm, I'm guessing they're not very happy with the emphasis on climate.
Well, the climate is the, the, the one of the points of the WMO secretary restructuring is it's sort of one Earth approach.
You know, recognises that in a weather, water, climate, it's all part of one Earth system.
So the restructuring reflects that approach.
Climate is it feeds, it feeds into, you know, it feeds into, into all our work.
You can't really, you know, climate is long term weather.
So it's, and we are the US specialised agency on weather, climate and, and, and water.
So, you know, we can't suddenly change our mandate overnight.
[Other language spoken]
There has been AUS delegation present at Congress.
They've played a very, very active role, constructive role.
the US spoke is still speaking in executive council this morning.
But one of the things they they said and I and I wrote it down is you know, the US appreciates the efforts by WMO secretary general to make, to restructure the organisation to, to make it less top heavy.
And then the delegates said, we have a lot of hard work ahead of us in the task force and the US stands ready to support WMO and its members.
And then they made specific reference to, you know, their strengthening the work of the regional associations.
So the US is, you know, is still very active member of WMO.
We need their support.
We count on their support.
And the, the US also needs WMO in terms of observations, data sets.
Obviously it's an area that we are watching very, very closely.
To date, we haven't noticed significant impact, but obviously it's, you know, it's something that we are that we are watching very, very closely.
But just to just to underline, as I said, you know, the US has been present at Congress.
They're taking part in the Executive Council at the moment, you know, in a very constructive and positive way.
Thank you very much, Claire.
[Other language spoken]
Nina, yeah, thank you for taking my question.
I just sorry if I missed it, but are you discussing specific staff staff cuts or layoffs within this restructuring?
Yeah, well, executive councils what not discussing that because that is already that that is already working in progress.
So they're not you know they're not executive council is going into that level of detail you knows to on individual on individual staff.
But yes that the as part of the restructuring that has been realignment and the intention is to save money by reducing the number of senior directors.
So that's AD two level in in UN speak.
So we are reducing the number of D2 directors.
I think there is a reduction also in the number of D1 directors.
So it's the restructuring, it's, you know, with, with Celeste Salo, you know, didn't want to reduce the number of, of junior level staff.
It's, you know, but but she has, you know, made a concerted effort just to through sort of merging posts through retirements, etcetera, and restructuring to to reduce the, the number of, you know, senior level positions, which are obviously the most costly.
And Elaine is a, I mean to, yeah, just a quick follow up again on the budget.
Is there a, do you have enough income for 2026 to cover the budget you've got now or by how much do you need to cut like by 10 percent, 15%?
[Other language spoken]
No, the, as I said, Executive Council, you know, did confirm the budget for 20/26/27, which is the same as the budget which was approved by, by Congress.
So we're not talking about cutting the budget, but we are talking about and at the moment, you know, we, what was said this morning was, you know, for 2026 there should be, you know, there should be enough, enough, some money, you know, some countries have paid ahead of time.
We've had quite a big increase in voluntary contributions.
So we are not, you know, we're not envisaging cutbacks in the, in the budget to cuts in staff, yes, and especially for senior staff, but that, you know, that's not the same as cuts in the budget.
I'll put in the chat.
I will put a link to something we've got on the website about the Secretariat reorganisation just so you've you can see that because you know, we have been very transparent about about the whole thing.
And last up, follow up by Tina.
Yeah, sorry.
It's just I was just wondering if you actually if you have actual numbers on, on the on the senior various levels of staff who will be cut?
[Other language spoken]
I'm just trying to think from so D2 level we had four I think and that will be look I need to check.
I think it will be reduced to two anyway.
And then D1 level I need, I need to check on that.
But as I said, some, some of it will is through retirement, some is through merging, you know, merging emerging posts and then P5 level again it's, you know, merging, merging some, some positions, retirement, etcetera.
Claire, thank you very much.
Oh, Catherine has a question.
Catherine, by the way, OK, let's ask you a question.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you so much, Alessandra.
[Other language spoken]
In fact, could you be a little bit more clearer about the fact that there is staff cuts?
So these staff cuts correspond to budget cuts because if you reduce your staff, why are you reducing your staff?
So could you, because you say that in fact, I, I, I'm a bit confused.
Could you please elaborate a little bit on that?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Katherine and, and Elaine is asking the same thing in the chat.
Claire, cuts in staff is same as cuts in budget spending at least.
So I'm confused.
No, it's, it's, it's not the same.
Quite a quite a high proportion of WM OS budget does go on staff costs.
So the rationale is that if we can reduce the proportion which is spent on staff costs, that leaves more money for for programmes and capacity development on the on the ground in countries.
So we've got a process which is also going on in other UN agencies, you know, to, to move only a limited number of staff from Geneva to regional offices where you know, where it's where it's cheaper.
So it's, it's not, it's not the same cuts and stuff is definitely not the same as cuts in budget.
And that clarifies also for you, Catherine.
[Other language spoken]
You haven't raised your hand just to answer your question from Jennifer before I I can.
There's one more for you, Sir.
Just Katherine to let you know that I informed Jennifer, she said she will let you know quickly if they are able to do a briefing and when.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Alison.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Alison.
In fact I had, I had my mic was muted.
So that's the reason why I couldn't answer to you.
And thank you for answering, getting back so quickly.
And, and, and the other thing regarding what Claire just mentioned.
Thank you, Claire, for this explanation.
And you spoke also about the fact to reduce costs.
So how many people will be moved outside of Geneva and where to could you please give some indication on, on, on this information?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
And also maybe the total number of stuff being cut is asked in nature.
OK, so document secretary, it's pretty small.
We're talking about, you know, sort of 3 or 400 people rather than 3 or 4000 people.
It's the restructuring process is still ongoing.
It's not going to be a massive move to, you know, to, to, to different locations.
But ever since the secretary general took office, she has said she wants to strengthen our regional offices.
So I've got a colleague who is moving I think next month from Geneva to our regional office in Singapore, another colleague who will be relocating to the regional office in, in, in Costa Rica.
So it's being done in a fairly structured, in a fairly structured way.
At the moment.
There's no talk of say, you know, moving our HR department or IT department out of Geneva.
That's not that, that's not, that's not being considered like just one very, very last question because I, I have to go and moderate the event in 5 minutes.
So I really, Catherine, is that really quick please?
Because I, I really need to close.
Yes, I'm so I'm sorry, Alessandra, but I mean, if Claire could be very clear by articulating figures, data, what is the percentage of people or what is the number of people?
Because you, we know that you are a very small team, but how many people are going to be moved from Geneva or sent to early retirement and not replaced?
Could you please give us numbers?
Thank you so much, Alessandra.
Enjoy your moderation.
Let me send it to you in, in writing because it is, it is quite complicated with, you know, we are creating some new posts in new areas.
But you know, for instance, you know, AAI is 1 area.
So it's not, it's not, it's not, it's not as straightforward as that.
But let me, I'll, I'll put it in writing to you and I'll check it with our, you know, chief financial officer who presented some slides this morning with some figures.
So I can I'll, I'll send it to in writing.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Claire.
And there is also FA Antonio's asking at what time your press release will be sent.
And please send to They're also saying that to send it, please to all of the journalists, not just those who have asked.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
No, Hopefully, hopefully we'll send it by, by, by by midlaton.
[Other language spoken]
Christian, I I need to close in 5 minutes.
Is that for Claire?
[Other language spoken]
I have to be in the podium in 5 minutes.
When In another room.
Sorry, Alexandra.
My question was whether Catherine is there and whether there's any explanation to the weird events of the middle of the night.
No, I can tell you because I was there that there were a lot of delays in the closing ceremony and that is why we had to delay the press stake out several times waiting for the closing ceremony to be completed.
However, you've send my your request in in writing and I've send it to Katrina and Amelia.
And please follow up with them.
[Other language spoken]
Just very, very quickly remind you, Monday's press conference on the Minamata Convention, Mercury, what to expect at the 6th meeting of the Conference of the Parties with the Executive Secretary of the Convention and the senior Coordinating officer.
That's 27th of October, 10:30.
And just to remind you that the expert mechanism on the right to development will open next Monday at 10 AM.
It's 12 session in room 16 of the Paladinacion, while the Social Forum will hold its 2025 session Thursday 30th and Friday 31st of October in the Assembly Hall of the Paladin.
Assume under the thematic the contribution of education to the respect, promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights for all the human.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights and among others will address the forum.
The opening of this important meeting, you have more information on their website.
Thank you very much.
I hope to see you very, very soon, like in 5 minutes in the ALDEEP Purdue for the ceremony for the 80th anniversary of the UN and to watch the stories of an important people who are very of every kind of people who have been, whose life have been touched by the action of the United Nations.
Thank you very much to everybody and have a nice weekend.