UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : UN Geneva Press Briefing

A very good morning, colleagues.

Thank you for joining us here at the UN office at Geneva for this press briefing today, Friday, the 30th of January.

As you will have seen, the agenda is very packed.

We have colleagues briefing on Mozambique, Myanmar, South Sudan, Sudan, tropical diseases, and we also have some announcements from UNEP and a special announcement at the end of this briefing.

So without further ado, we're going to shift the order a little bit.

We're going to throw it to our colleague, but maybe Eugene, you can introduce our colleague from the UN Refugee agency who's joining us from Shy Shy in Mozambique.

Thank you very much for joining us this morning.

We have again our representative in Mozambique who is at the affected flood affected area in the Shy, shy since yesterday, who met with the affected population, who is in temporary shelter.

We're going to hear more from Javier if the connection is good.

[Other language spoken]

And we see you as well.

[Other language spoken]

So yes, thanks a lot for the opportunity.

So yes, I'm in shy, Shy, one of the most affected area.

You know that because of very heavy rains over the last two weeks, already 400,000 people have been displaced by the floods.

They have been displaced and they are to flee their houses under tremendously difficult conditions.

Many told us I've been waiting long hours, if not days on the roof of their houses before this two operation would come and save them by helicopters, boat, any transportation means 100,000 of them are now accommodated in temporary site.

100 sites have been established and of course these sites are overcrowded.

We were this morning speaking with a group of women, they have to share a simple classroom, 55 of them in the same classroom and we know what happens in such conditions.

Correction risk are very high, many different form of gender section and gender violence, but also children protection issues.

Families have sometimes been separated and these people in this accommodation centres are of course at risk of different form of exploitation.

I would also like to mention that for many communities are still out of reach.

Some very important infrastructures, mood, schools, health centres have been destroyed and for this more tradition one for the time being left behind.

Production is a absolutely key issues.

We have responding on the ground with many other human interactors, but also with the government, who has LED a very impressive response.

Mozambique is indeed becoming a kind of climate champions, very experimented suddenly into this.

The people we have met on some time at the third displacement as a result of the flood, they were already masked floods on 2 occasions in the last 15 years here.

And every time they lose everything, No, they lose their houses, they lose their belongings, they lose their livelihoods, their farming land is seriously damaged.

Everybody is worried that they won't be able to catch the feeding season on time.

I would like to add to that, that we all know about the conflict in Northern Mooramic at the opportunity to participate to the breast briefing last month, because in the last semester of 25300 thousand people had been displaced by the conflict.

So if you put the two shops together, it's 700,000 people who have been displaced in a bit more than six months.

[Other language spoken]

And I would say that these two crises feed each other.

[Other language spoken]

We are now focusing on the humanitarian response, but this crisis we have very important social and economic implications and we are concerned that the fragilities of Mozambique do not stop increasing.

A lot of shipboard is needed, international shipboard is needed.

He owns humanitarian face.

Thank you very much.

Back to you, Geneva.

[Other language spoken]

We're going to throw now to Mr.

Smith, Ross Smith, who's a WFP director of Emergency preparedness and response, who's joining us from Rome, from WFP headquarters, who's also going to address the the situation of vulnerable populations given these record floods.

[Other language spoken]

Smith, are you with us?

[Other language spoken]

Can you confirm?

[Other language spoken]

So over to you.

[Other language spoken]

Well, thanks very much.

And I just want to compliment my colleague Xavier who's on the ground.

We're working closely at the Royal Food Programme, we're working closely with UNHCR but also importantly the government of Mozambique as he highlighted who I think has been really first in class in both preparing for this response but also supporting the response.

I think 1 aspect has been the preparedness, the early warning messages, the pre positioning that went in to, to help us be ready to, to respond as quickly as possible.

As as, as Xavier has said, there's major, major access constraints on the ground at the moment.

We have the people in more than 100 accommodation centres.

We are as WFP, we are scaling up through a two phase response to meet more than 450,000 the needs of more than 450,000 people.

We are also really working on the logistics backbone to support the whole humanitarian community to do this.

This is the the, the UN aircraft, the helicopters, the amphibious vehicles to reach people that are currently in unaccessible areas.

There's more than 1500 kilometres of Rd that have been essentially washed away and and completely unusable.

We are also procuring using a local response to the extent possible.

So, so procuring food locally using a large network of retailers that did have supplies prepositioned through a voucher programme to allow them to respond in this initial first phase.

And I'd finally like to just emphasise what Xavier said, that this is a shock on top of an existing crisis in northern Mozambique.

So we are currently very, very stretched for resources.

We are borrowing from our resources available for Northern Mozambique, diverting both logistics assets but also food and stocks to the response in the South and central Mozambique.

[Other language spoken]

So the needs are are sky rocketing in Mozambique.

We do need international support.

We do need funding support for ourselves, our operational partners on the ground.

There's a $32 million request for WFP alone as part of the $187,000,000 flash appeal that's gone out to support the Mozambique flood response.

Thanks very much.

Happy to answer any questions.

Thanks very much, Ross.

[Other language spoken]

So over to you colleagues starting in the room, if there are any.

Yes, Is that a hand, Emma?

Yes, Emma from Reuters tentative Hand, because I did have a question for WFP, but I'm afraid it's not on Mozambique.

If we have questions on this important subject, we do have Nick from New York Times.

And if you could tell us who you're pointing the question to, Nick, Thanks.

Yeah, thank you for taking my question.

[Other language spoken]

Where does Mozambique stand in the sort of list of emergency crises that you're are now on your books?

And what is the state of funding across your your programme at this point for for emergency operations?

[Other language spoken]

Thanks very much and thanks Nick for the question.

Yeah, I mean Mozambique is, is obviously it's a it's a sudden onset disaster on top of as, as as I said in existing crisis in northern Mozambique.

You know it, it ranks up there with the responses we've been doing to the Hurricanes in, in the Caribbean and cyclones in in Southeast Asia, for example, the Philippines.

It's not at the same scale of course as Sudan or Gaza, but it is is up there in terms of our rapid response.

We have the capacity on the ground and it really is a funding crisis for us at the moment.

To your question on, on, on the overall picture, I mean, we are at we're 40% less funding than we were a year ago and and that's really straining our ability to to stand up a full scale response in, in places like Mozambique.

And the same time we're stretched across the globe on, on a number of different contexts.

Happy to to go further, but answer other questions as well.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much Ross.

[Other language spoken]

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

Both your briefs were very comprehensive, very helpful indeed.

And, and thank you very much for joining us, Xavier and Ross, as usual and, and thanks for the amazing work you're doing.

So I think we'll have to, but you did, I think is this question for Ross or is it for.

OK, Ross, if you could hang on, maybe we'll do this since we have you connected.

We do have a lot of other subjects colleagues.

So maybe let's just take this quick one from Emma.

Thank you for staying on for that.

Just a quick one, Ross, on your operations in Yemen, I saw my colleagues at AP had a story on the fact that you're having to shut down your operations completely in northern Yemen.

Is that true and why and how will it impact the people there?

[Other language spoken]

Indeed.

[Other language spoken]

First is that we're very, very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

We have populations that we project, you know we'll be in famine like conditions.

So it's imperative that we have the operating conditions to allow us to to work in Northern Yemen.

2nd is we're very concerned about the situation of the colleagues that have been detained in Yemen, and we're doing everything we can to get them released.

We have capacity throughout the region, including our operations in Southern Yemen to, to be to respond in Yemen and to scale back up in Yemen when the conditions allow us to do that.

So I hope that that's clear.

[Other language spoken]

I think it's very clear.

Thank you very much, Ross and thanks again for briefing on Mozambique and again to you Xavier.

OK, we're going to shift going back to the the agenda starting off well going back to the initial item which is on Myanmar, Jeremy of OHCHR is with us very pleased that we have James Rohdehaver of OHCHR is joining us from Bangkok.

But maybe Jeremy, if you want to say a word for us to go ahead.

Yes, good morning everyone and thanks for all of As Myanmar marks five years since the military coup, UN human rights chief Volcker Turk deplores that the conduct of recent military imposed elections failed to respect the fundamental human rights of the country's citizens and that the process served only to exacerbate violence and societal polarisation.

After the military grabbed power from the democratically elected government, Myanmar lost half a decade of peace and development.

The profound and widespread despair inflicted on the people of Myanmar has only deepened with the recent election staged by the military.

Many people chose either to vote or not to vote purely out of fear flatly at odds with internationally guaranteed civil and political rights and with ripple effects on their enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights.

The conflict and insecurity continued unabated in large parts of the country and opposition candidates and some ethnic groups were excluded.

Elections were held in only 263 of 330 townships, often exclusively in urban centres under military control and limited in conflict areas and hence excluding large segments of the population, especially displaced and minorities such as the Rohingya.

Credible sources verified that 170 civilians were killed in some 408 military aerial attacks reported by open sources during voting between December 2025 and January of this year.

For five years now, military rule has been characterised by repression of political dissent, mass arbitrary arrests, arbitrary conscription, widespread surveillance and limitation of civic space.

Now the military is seeking to entrench its rule by violence after forcing people to the ballot box.

This couldn't be further from civilian rule.

The past five years have also been accompanied by disastrous mismanagement of the country's economy.

Almost 1/4 of the population is now faced with high levels of acute food insecurity and over a third are in urgent humanitarian need, and we fear this is only set to deteriorate further.

We call on the international community, particularly those states with influence, to redouble their efforts to end the violence.

Now is the time to find new pathways to restore democracy and respect for all human rights as demanded by the Myanmar people for half a decade.

[Other language spoken]

And now I'd like to hand over to my colleague James, who is in Bangkok.

Thank you very much and good afternoon.

The Myanmar military created the human rights environment in the country today.

As I have briefed you all many times, it is an atmosphere of fear, oppression, violence and despair.

Civilians do not feel safe and they increasingly do not see the hope for their own futures if the military is able to either declare victory or to say that their coup has succeeded.

That sentiment was absolutely key to the elections that the military just forced upon the Myanmar people in the segments of the country that they control.

It was a process intended to win the military legitimacy both for the coup that they perpetrated in February 2021 and the violence that followed it.

It was a process in which the military asks citizens of their country to risk life and limb to cast a ballot in a process whose outcomes were predetermined.

It was a process in which they were threatened, pressured and cajoled and resident and and forced villagers and residents to vote or else face stiff consequences such as forced conscription, the non renewal of passports, the rescinding of university enrollments or cancellations of permits to travel or work abroad.

These elections did not prevent violence from continuing throughout 2025.

Last year was the deadliest year since the coup for children.

It was also the year in which more civilians died from air strikes than in any other since 2021.

Air strikes continued even through the election days, even in townships where voting was going on.

Detentions and other forms of repression were also rife.

As the military seeks legitimacy, we think it is important not just to look at these elections but to look at their five year track record that they have established.

It tells you all you need to know.

Thank you very much, James.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks to you very much.

OK, colleagues, we'll take questions starting in the front from Nina, AFP.

[Other language spoken]

Hi, James, Thanks for the briefing.

It's interesting.

I was wondering if you could say a little bit more about the air strikes that have taken place during during the election.

And what if you've been able to verify the numbers who have civil civilians who've been killed in that.

And how you've gone about that And what that said, what are continuing air strikes during an election.

[Other language spoken]

OK, thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

The the the number of air strikes that have occurred during the election.

We are in the process of trying to investigate those.

We've been working with some partners on the ground to try and verify the numbers of civilian dead.

Right now we just have preliminary figures.

So we've not been able to confirm those.

They did occur of course in several locations of the country in the run up to election days as well as on days in which balloting actually occurred on on the 28th of December, the 11th of January and the 25th of January.

But, but in terms of, you know firm verified figures, we do not have those yet.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you James for the questions.

[Other language spoken]

I actually have a question rather about the, the appeal that will be taking place this week for OHCHR and if I can just go ahead and ask that.

So what, how much is it that you'll be seeking and what exactly will that be for and how hopeful are you that you'll be able to achieve your objectives?

Yes, I, I listen, I'll come back to you on that with some more details later today.

OK, Paula, let's let's obviously Jeremy will get back to you on that.

We have a question in the room.

[Other language spoken]

Contributions from Norway from this and who did he meet when he was in Oslo on the 28th of January this year?

Yes, with respect to the the High Commissioner's visit to Norway, I can share some further details on that.

I know he spoke with the the media in Norway.

So we I can come back to you on that.

Just to let you know that he spoke at the NORAD conference and, and he may well have seen his speech in that respect.

The annual appeal just to come back to that will be on the the 5th of February.

So the High Commissioner will deliver a speech around that as well.

So you you will see and hear that.

Thanks very much Jeremy.

OK, I think we may have questions now for you James, Jeremy of ADEFI or Radio France international channel.

[Other language spoken]

Question for for both of you actually, James and Jeremy, you mentioned that the large part of the population were excluded from the votes and and no, no, can you hear me?

You're you're coming in a little bit muffled.

Sorry about that.

All right.

Trying to get closer from the mic.

Is that OK now it's a Simi Morton, are we Simi OK.

You, you you mentioned that the large segment of the population were excluded from from the votes aiming that the the Rohingya community.

I was wondering, did the members of that community were actually able to vote or vote to vote or no?

Members of the of the Rohingya were actually allowed to vote because of the because of the Janta's policy towards the the this minority.

[Other language spoken]

No, the, the, it's a, it's a, it's a complex answer because mainly because it's, it's the, the, the question itself is, is one that is laced with, with, with a lot of nuance.

Firstly, the, you know, the Rohingya, the vast majority of Rohingya are not able to vote because they're not recognised by the military as citizens.

Secondly, a massive number of the Rohingya, you know, at this point probably over 85% of the Rohingya population of Myanmar is displaced in Bangladesh or in other countries in the region.

And you know, no provisions were made for persons displaced outside of the country to vote.

So even if they had had their citizenship recognised, they would not have had a chance to vote.

And then lastly, they, the, the, you know, most of the Rohingya that are still in inside Myanmar, which at this point is a very small number, probably only close to 350 to 400,000 Rohingya.

They would most likely have not been able to vote either because they are in situations of just displacement or they are from townships where the military is not in control.

That's very clear.

[Other language spoken]

I think we have a couple more questions, Emma Reuters.

[Other language spoken]

Just seeking some clarity please, on your methodology for the death toll and for the arrests.

Could you just say what your sourcing was on that please?

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, we, we work on, in terms of the methodology we use on both, you know, the verification of, of deaths and on arrests.

It is to to work closely with organisations on the ground who have networks where they can put a name to an account of death or detention.

So every individual that who's been either arrested or who has been killed, their their their name and basic details about their identity and their death have BeenVerified.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for taking the question on.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for the briefing.

You, you said it was the the deadliest year since 2021.

And I just wanted to check what, what your sort of overall tally of, of, of civilian deaths for that year was and whether you had any assessment of the number of civilian deaths in custody.

The second question one saw a lot of military operations ahead of the voting.

I'm just wondering a year several months ago you were saying I think that the military were in control of probably about half or even less than half the country.

I'm just wondering whether recent operations have expanded the areas of military control and what you're hearing about the patterns of repression in the areas where they they resume control.

[Other language spoken]

Well, right now I'd say that the, the, of course the numbers of, of individuals killed is always one that is, is quite fraught.

What we can always say is that we know at minimum the number of people that have been killed and that means verified deaths.

You know, last year you had almost the night.

I believe it's close to 1900 confirmed verified deaths.

Whereas, you know, in 2024 that was actually previously the, the deadliest year you had.

It's it's around 1700.

I don't have the numbers immediately in front of me on that.

Around 1700, who were verified as having been civilians, who verified as having been killed.

Now 2025, there is still, you know, this was a year in which there was a lot happening, a lot of air strikes conducted, a lot more air strikes than in previous years conducted.

And verification has been a very slow process.

So right now there are close to 4500 incidents that are still under active investigation.

So the number of dead from 2025 is likely to still keep climbing over the coming weeks as as more verifications occur.

But that said, I would say that what we we can say for sure is, is that last year was the deadliest year for children in particular.

Last year there were 287 children killed.

The previous high had been 250 killed in 2024.

The last year it was 287, almost half of which were were girls and and the deaths as a result of airstrikes were worse last year than any other year.

There were 982 verified deaths due to airstrikes last year.

The previous high had been in 2024 when there were 641 civilians killed in airstrikes.

In terms of the percentage of the country controlled by the military that that of course that that's a very speculative figure.

At one point, I think that that a lot of people were estimating that it was even as down as far as 35%.

The military did make a few has made some gains on the ground, but not nearly as many as originally feared that there's been a lot of back and forth.

Territory keeps changing hands.

I would right now.

I mean, I, I know you should never speculate, but I would guess that if the figure has risen, it's closer to maybe, you know, 37 to 40% of the country.

But but that's, that's probably about as close to a figure as I would be willing to give.

And then the last question was deaths in custody.

I believe the, you know, the, the, the deaths in custody we have, we've been trying to track that.

But right now those figures are, we don't have new figures for that yet.

But I would say that the figure is close to 29 to 30% of all civilian deaths since the beginning of this crisis have been individuals in the custody of the Myanmar military.

And that's been a pretty consistent tracking figure over these last five years.

But that individuals who are taken to custody often meet a bad end, or at least 3030% of the people who've died have met a bad end in their custody.

[Other language spoken]

So shocking statistics, absolutely.

We have another question for you from Jamie AP.

Thanks, Rolando, and thank you, James.

I'm sorry, as Rolando just said, we've got shocking statistics.

The, the, the, there are a lot of numbers that you just tried it out.

And I just want to make sure what we're talking about here, because I heard you say at the beginning that you don't have verified figures for some things and you do for others.

So could you just be specific?

I mean, you were, you said that you didn't have verified figures in the context of air strikes, but I just can in the electoral.

Could you just try to really be specific about what you've confirmed and what you've not confirmed when it comes to the figures, particularly with regard to the electoral violence around the violence around the electoral.

[Other language spoken]

OK, So what I can say is this is that this is the as of right now, I mean, I, yeah, we, we of course there are statistics that have been verified, but we don't have it for the full election.

[Other language spoken]

We do know that, that right up until the 25th of January, you know, right before the final Election Day, there had been 408 aerial attacks that had have happened between December and January.

So roughly the period from when the election campaign began and, and then the three phases of voting were nearly complete.

So you had 408 aerial attacks and, and, and up and I and I believe this is up to the 22nd of January, you had 170 verified deaths that had resulted from those airstrikes at that point.

But we're still trying to get the verified airstrikes for the full election.

So it's, you know, and I, and I'm sorry if it does sound like we that I'm prevaricating a bit or conditioning or nuancing that that data.

I just want to be clear that the numbers might very well change because it's a slow verification process.

And that's because of the way in which communications are cut off and because of frankly, the fear of individuals in some of these locations to speak to us, it sometimes takes a lot longer to get that information.

So, yes, and, and I saw the comment, yes, it's at least 170 verified deaths during that period of, of, you know, 1st December through about the 22nd or 23rd of December of January.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks very much for spelling out that methodology, James.

And, and we appreciate that situation so fluid and I'm sure colleagues from your office will continue to keep us updated on these developments.

Maybe just to note, since I think this is the last question, I just wanted to also highlight that we received short while ago a statement which echoes much of the concerns that we just heard from James and and Jeremy about from the the head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, Nick Cungiano, You know about the continuing crimes against civilians.

So I just wanted to flag that as well.

James, thank you very much as always for joining us, my friend and stay well.

And thanks for the great work and same to you, Jeremy.

Thanks very much.

[Other language spoken]

OK, so we're going to shift to the African continent.

We have a colleague from the World Food Programme joining us from Bore in Jonglei State in in central South Sudan, Adham Afendi, who's WF PS acting country Director for the South Sudan.

Adham, we're very grateful for you joining us here.

So over to you for your comments.

Thank you for the opportunity to brief on the escalating crisis in South Sudan.

I am present in board the state capital of Chongle State where active conflict is taking place.

This morning I was on my way to Northern Jonglei to Funjuck where WFP is delivering life saving food assistance by air to over 10,000 people who have experienced conflict, floods and complete lack of access to basics of life.

And based on my engagement with them yesterday, I can inform you the communities are tired.

People of South Sudan are exhausted.

The United Nations World Food Programme is today calling on all parties to to the conflict to urgently halt military operations, de escalate the situation and allow safe humanitarian access to deliver life saving food assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in South Sudan, Jonglei State.

The most pressing of the multiple and growing challenges is the rapidly expanding conflict in Jonglei, which has become a flashpoint of military confrontations between the main parties to the peace agreement.

While the fighting is force on force, civilians are caught in the crossfire, losing their lives and their homes.

Up to 260,000 people displaced by Jongle conflict this month alone.

This is what we are hearing, but again, we need access to make sure we can assess the conditions, the situations and respond and react accordingly.

These vulnerable communities are further impacted by sharp surge in cholera.

Countrywide, almost 98,000 cases and 1600 deaths have been reported since September 2024.

As we speak, not very far from here where I am, cases are being reported, and if the humanitarian community is not allowed to respond, unfortunately, the situation will continue to deteriorate.

Nearly 60% of the population in Jongle is already expected to face crisis levels of hunger during the upcoming lean season, when hunger has its worst.

This military escalation could not have come at the worst time.

Our window to reach the most vulnerable is quickly closing.

The time is to act now and we urge all parties to protect civilians, aid workers and allow the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance beginning in January February.

The pre positioning of life saving food assistance relief supplies closer to the hunger spots is crucial before the lean season which spans from April to July.

August when heavy rains will also cut off the land droughts to reach vulnerable women, men and children.

Currently, both the WFP LED Logistics Cluster and the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service have not received clearance from the authorities to coordinate Rd convoys and humanitarian passenger and cargo flights on behalf of the humanitarian sector.

Without urgent action, entire communities will be left beyond the reach of vital assistance they require.

It is imperative that we immediately address these restrictions to ensure that humanitarian aid can be delivered effectively and without delay, with safe and unimpeded access.

WFPI can assure you has the teams the capacity to reach the most vulnerable families.

Hundreds and thousands of lives depend on it.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very, very much, Adham.

And maybe just a colleague, just a note that we shared with you last night, a statement from the spokesperson for the Secretary General on the same subject, through which the Secretary General expresses a deep concern for the continued escalation of violence in South Sudan, particularly in Jonglei State, which has caused deaths, injuries and displacement.

As we just heard one other note that the Secretary General sounds is is alarmed by the inflammatory rhetoric targeting specific communities and the announcement of expanded military operations.

So this is indeed a very dire situation.

So I just wanted to make sure you saw that statement we shared with you last night.

So let's turn to you for questions to Adham, if any in the room.

We have a question for you from Nick, New York Times.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for the the briefing.

Adam, when you said that you have not received clearance for for to aid deliveries to John Glay, since when has that been in place?

When was the last time you were able to get food into the into the area?

And what kind of conditions on the ground are WFP workers and other NGO workers facing in terms of food delivery?

Is there a lot of harassment from military groups, armed groups on on the ground?

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Nick.

I would say this question has two elements.

1 is when we'll be able to access.

I would say the pause came for humanitarian flights to stop movement into Central Jonglei 3 weeks plus ago.

And since then we have only been able to do some coordinated flights.

Mainly for evacuations of the humanitarians.

We are again in a very close contact with all the concerned authorities.

The UN leadership in the country is, is working very hard with all the actors on all sides to gain this access.

And what I'm hearing as of this morning that potentially we will have some flights planned to a location called Akobo, which again has been suspended by the government.

No fly zone statement which was issued more than three weeks ago.

That's a welcome news that's but that is a conversation where we continue to pursue push for humanitarian access so we can assess the situation and deliver life saving assistance where required.

On your other question, in terms of the overall support or obstacles created by various armed actors, of course South Sudan if you look at the number of incidents which take place could be one of the highest globally.

Again, it's a it's a daily access, negotiations, conversations at all the levels, I would say from a person who is at a checkpoint, whether it's on river or or on land somewhere, from a county commissioner, from a governor of the state, from the president office to the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to a foreign minister and everybody else from top down in the chain, we are speaking to them.

Any movement which takes place, we coordinate with all parties to make sure that we are able to reach without challenges.

[Other language spoken]

This is a daily conversation and there are challenges, there are obstacles and we continue to to work with all sides, actors.

And I must appreciate the role the donors are playing in South Sudan, advocating for unimpeded humanitarian access and also speaking against illegal checkpoints, thesis, taxations, etcetera.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Adam.

And maybe just for the sake of the record, let me just recite one additional line from the statement, which is rather important.

Secretary General calls on all parties to protect civilians and to ensure access for the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance and the security of United Nations peacekeepers, humanitarian personnel and their assets.

Secretary General calls on the Government of South Sudan and opposition forces to take immediate and decisive action to halt all military operations and deescalate the situation through inclusive dialogue.

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Catherine of Franz Foncat.

[Other language spoken]

Could you please, Sir, could you please give us more details about the nearly 60% of the population that is already expected, expected to face crisis as you write in your press release?

What level of of hunger is it?

[Other language spoken]

And also how many humanitarians are left in the field as you just mentioned that some of them have been evacuated?

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

So I would say our plans were to reach approximately half a million people during lean season and these are the people who are facing acute hunger, hunger in that specific period.

Now if unfortunately assistance is not delivered to these communities, the situation will will be catastrophic and it will continue to get worse.

Food is of course one element.

It's not only about food, but also having access to other services, health, water and sanitation, nutrition and all the other supplementary services.

What the environment can allow us to deliver in terms of our capability right now, what we can achieve, that is what we had planned for during this time, which is a dry season right now.

And if we are unable to access, then of course the situation will continue to get worse and that is something we have to monitor.

[Other language spoken]

Please follow up from Catherine.

[Other language spoken]

Adam, regarding the assistance, how long are you able or to, to keep these people in a situation out of acute hunger?

So what's what we are, what is the amount of food that you have that you have access to?

What is the timing?

Thank you very much.

I can tell you what WFP was planning to do.

We were planning to deliver 15,000 tonnes of food in these next months and we have that food in bore where I'm sitting right now.

So if you tell me is WFP or ask me if WFP is ready, Yes, WFP is ready to deliver and reach these communities while we are in the dry season.

Unfortunately, conflict has is is escalating right now and that is causing displacement.

What I've been hearing as well from different sources and formerly women and children leave their origins, go and take shelter in in safe places and then they return.

[Other language spoken]

This was the time where potentially they could have planted, grown some crops and unfortunately, they are missing that window of opportunity where they could have got involved in agriculture or other potential livelihood activities and then WFP would have supported them when when they were waiting for that harvest.

And unfortunately, that window is going to be missed if this crisis, current escalation doesn't stop.

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, my follow up on that is OK.

You just told us that 15 tonnes of food are ready to be delivered.

But how long are these people able to survive without the delivery?

And are we talking about alpha million people who could be facing acute hunger if there's no delivery?

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Yes, it is 15,000 tonnes which WFP had planned for 20/26 to deliver during lean season from May onwards for half a million people approximately.

Now what happens between now and May?

I think that is the question you want to be answered and if there was no conflict, we would expect the communities living in these places to be involved in certain activities to keep them going.

And unfortunately with this conflict, I think that opportunity will be missed by the communities and as a result we will have to readjust the way we need to see the situation.

If this conflict continues, displacement continues, World Food Programme will have to respond and react not only what we were planning to do in May but what would be required by WFP.

Now again, the question is how long people can survive.

And I can tell you on my first hand experience yesterday when I was in Funjak, I exactly asked the same people the the community is the question how do they survive when we are unable to reach them on time?

And they said we survive on water lilies.

It's not easy, but this is sometimes the communities may have to make difficult choices, survive on wild fruits or other means which are available to them.

In this case, fish may be available.

In some cases, they have to walk long distances, they may have to canoe for five hours to reach the right place.

But this is what the reality is on the ground.

[Other language spoken]

It's a difficult reality, of course.

Thank you very much, Adam.

Appreciate, Appreciate us hearing from you on this dire situation.

We'll continue to spotlight the situation in South Sudan, particularly John Glay.

And thank you very much for the important work you're doing as well.

[Other language spoken]

OK colleagues, we're going to move slightly N to Sudan.

I'm going to throw to Ricardo of UNICEF who's going to introduce a guest who's joining us from Port Sudan.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks Orlando.

Good morning everyone.

Yes, just bringing my colleague, Chief of Communication and Advocacy in Sudan, Eva Heinz who's been recently to to the Darfur's and Tawila and we'll report on the very concerning conditions for children there that are continuing for way too long.

Over to you Eva and thanks for for briefing and for waiting until now.

[Other language spoken]

Just checking that you can hear me nicely.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Eva.

[Other language spoken]

In Darfur today, reaching a single child can take days of negotiation, security clearances and travel across sand roads under shifting front lines.

But the work is critical, particularly in places like Tarila from where I have just returned.

But hundreds of thousands of children have fed unspeakable violence.

It's also where also where their families have built an entire city from sticks, hay and plastic sheeting.

Nothing about this crisis is simple.

Every movement is hard won, every delivery fragile.

And still under these conditions, support is getting through.

In just two weeks, UNICEF and partners vaccinated over 140,000 children, treated thousands for illness and malnutrition, restored safe water to 10s of thousands, opened temporary classrooms and provided food protection and psychosocial care.

It's painstaking, precarious work delivered one convoy, one clinic, 1 classroom at a time.

But for children in Darfur, it's the thin line between being abandoned and being reached.

I have just returned from a 10 day mission to Darfur.

Even with years of experience working in emergencies, what I witnessed was unlike anything before.

The scale of displacement, the fragmentation of conflict and the collapse of essential services have created a situation where every child is living on the brink.

Travel across Darfur is extremely difficult.

Roads are mostly sand stones and every movement requires multiple permissions and careful planning to ensure the safety of our teams.

None of it is straightforward, but it's the only way to reach children who have had only very limited access to support for months.

And nothing prepared me for what I saw in Towila.

I had been briefed over 500,000 to 600,000 people are sheltering there.

But standing inside that vast expense of makeshift shelters, hay, sticks, plastic sheeting was overwhelming.

It felt like an entire city uprooted and rebuilt out of necessity and fear.

It's a city rebuilt out of desperation, larger than my hometown, Helsinki.

And every one of those families is there because they've had no no choice but to flee within an immense space.

There were moments that will stay with me.

My colleagues and I met Doha, a teenage girl who had just arrived from Al Fasher with her aunt and siblings.

Before the war, she had been studying English.

Her name refers to the soft light just after sunrise, and she embodies that image.

Hopeful and determined, she told us she dreams of returning to school and eventually teaching English to other children.

At a nutrition site, we met an aunt of a little girl named Fatima who had been brought to for treatment for malnutrition.

Fatima's mother, her sister, had been lost to the conflict.

The aunt held the child close, doing everything she could to keep her safe.

And at the Centre for Women and Girls, I met mothers who had nothing left.

They told me they had no food, no blankets, no warm clothing for their children.

The children are freezing, 1 mother said.

We have nothing to come them with.

These personal stories reflect only a small part of much of A wider situation in North Darfur.

Sudan is the largest humanitarian emergency yet one of the least visible.

Limited access, a complex conflict and competing global crises means the suffering of millions of children is going on.

Seeing what I witnessed is a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding on a massive scale, Sudan's children urgently need international attention and decisive action.

Without it, the forest facing the country's youngest and most vulnerable will only deepen.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Let's turn to you colleagues for any questions you might have.

Yes, Emma of Reuters.

Yeah, I had a question on whether you had any testimonies of child rapes from those in Defor and whether you knew anything about access to pregnancy, kids, abortion services, that sort of thing.

[Other language spoken]

I did not speak directly to any survivors of, of gender based violence this time, but we do have child protection colleagues on the ground.

We provide support for, for women and girls in, in spaces that are specifically for for women and, and girls where they can speak and and have contact with with counsellors.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you, Eva for the questions for a colleague from UNICEF in the room or online.

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

So on that note, I'd like to thank you very much.

Thank you Kardo for for delivering ever Hinds to us.

So we're very pleased to have the brief and of course, we'll continue to report on this situation in Sudan.

Thank you very much.

And once again, Christian, we have two guests from from WHO who are very pleased to to have with us, but maybe Christian, if you want to introduce them and then we'll take the questions.

Yeah, thank you very much, Rolando and and colleagues here.

We have two guests on very different topics today.

On the far left of me is Doctor Daniel Danya.

He's team lead for the malaria neglected and neglected tropical diseases topic.

And since today's World Neglected Tropical Disease Day, we'll hear an update from him.

And then one of the topics which has made the tours recently, NEPA virus outbreak in West Bengal, India.

So we thought we bring Anas Ligon, who's the high threat patrons team member of the Wjohealth Emergencies programme and to give you an update on what's going on there.

So, but we're going to start with Daniel.

Thank you, Christian.

Happy well LED day today.

Today Marcus and the well LED observers the the World NTD Day and all, everywhere the global NTD community and all stakeholders supporting people affected by the neglected tropical diseases are observing this important day.

And this day offers to reflect on the progresses that have been achieved with regard to in the fight against neglected tropical diseases and the challenges that we are currently facing in moving forward.

So in order to observe the day, WHO has a dedicated world LED entity today campaign site.

We invite you to look at this campaign website in.

In general, the entities are comprised of around 21 diseases and conditions.

They are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites including toxins like snake bite and Veneming is also is considered as one of the neglected tropical diseases.

They are prevalent in subtropical and tropical areas affecting mainly people living in the low income and middle income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia and parts of Latin America and South Asia.

The global burden Around 1 billion people are affected by these diseases so-called neglected tropical diseases and around 1.4 billion people are at risk of these diseases.

Diseases cause over 120,000 diseases annually and and actually they cause significant long term morbidity, death and disability.

The risk of the out pocket expenditure due to the long term morbidity is is very high and the disease also contributed to the vicious cycle of poverty.

They also impose significant psychological impact due to isolation, stigma or discrimination on these patients.

WHO has launched Essential care package for to address the mental health burden and there will be a webinar on the 4th of February to to address this package, to launch this package.

With regard to progress, significant progress has been made.

WHO established this programme, the NTD Control and Elimination programme in 2005.

[Other language spoken]

Significant progress have been achieved.

There is a reduction by 36% of the number of people requiring interventions against NTD.

That means from 2.19 billion in 2010, right now 1.94 billion people require some sort of interventions against neglected tropical disease.

So, this is a very significant progress with regard to disease impact.

Around 58 countries have eliminated at least one neglected tropical diseases across the world.

This is also another significant progress showing that neglected tropical diseases are preventable, curable and also eliminable.

[Other language spoken]

Treatment is a pillar of this fight.

Over 880,000 million people are annually treated in the fight against these diseases and we thank our pharmaceutical partners who are donating the medicines.

Over 19 different types of medicines within a range of 1 billion medicines are provided free of charge to WHO and also directly to the people benefiting from this donation.

No challenges.

All these successes are not with challenges.

We are now facing increasingly new challenges, low prioritisation.

That is why the name neglect neglected.

So they're neglect at all levels because these are, this is affecting the remote population and low, you know, segment of the population in a remote area.

So prioritisation usually in the national agenda, in the international agenda, we don't see them unless a crisis occurs.

The funding has reduced significantly.

Also recently with the US withdrawal, the overseas development assistance to this area has decreased by 41% from 2018, resulting in uneven progress.

Other factors, capacities, the climate impact are also affecting this disease.

So on the way forward, we have a very ambitious achievable 2030 target goals and we use this well LED entity today for a call to action to sustain the progress that has been made so far and mobilising of new funding and leadership and also to accelerate innovation and integration of the health services, including approaching the mental health into the overall NTD responses.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much Daniel.

Do we have questions for Doctor Daniel?

Yes, Catherine Francois Count.

Yes, good morning Doctor.

My question is related to the reduction of funds.

Could you please be more precise on that?

[Other language spoken]

How much is the the global, the total amount needed?

Could you be more precise on the reduction of funds and how, how far does it affect the campaign and the actions?

[Other language spoken]

As I said, with regard to medicines, we are receiving a significant amount of medicines only in 2024 we received around 1 billion treatment test.

However, this medicines need funding to for the operations the math Drug Administration as well as the distribution of the medicines to reach to the people in in the in the regions.

So right now we estimate over $1 billion is is required round.

That amount is required to address all the entities.

However, the amount varies by regions and also by programmes and also the targets of the disease elimination or eradication.

Right now, the gap that has been created in the past one year is amounting around $500 million.

This is the new gap that we are trying to fill in and in order to sustain the achievements, not only the achievements, the progress that has been already made.

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, a follow up about the estimate.

You just mentioned that 1 billion is required.

On which.

Is it for?

How long is it for one year?

Is it for the the campaign?

How long is the campaign going to last?

What are the projections?

[Other language spoken]

The 1 billion people are the people currently affected.

So it's a current the number of people affected.

However, the number of people at risk and who require intervention against neglected tropical disease is 1.4 billion people required require some sort of intervention, preventive chemotherapy it could be or individual case management, it could be vector control and etcetera.

So the plan is the target.

The goal is to reduce this number by 90%.

That is the SDG goal, also the UNSDG goal and The Who road map goal to reduce this number by 90% by 2030.

Thank you for that.

We have a couple more questions for you on oh, is that another?

[Other language spoken]

My question was regarding the amount of money needed.

You spoke about the number of people affected and I'd like to know what is the amount of money needed and how much you lost or you need because of the reduction of funds.

Thank you, Doctor.

OK, so with regard to the amount of money it as I said, it varies by the different programmes and the different diseases and it's, it's right now it's not fixed because the countries, the affected countries are also we see encouraging trends that affected countries are coming up by allocating domestic funding.

However, the amount lost over the last year is, as I said, over $400 million.

[Other language spoken]

So right now the amount of money required, the amount of funding required varies by by year, but this amount that I'm, I'm mentioning is in order to achieve our road map target, that is the gap that we assess and we estimate.

OK, I think that's clear.

Thank you very much.

We still have a couple of questions for you, Satoko of Yomiuri Shimbun.

Satoko, yes, thank you very much for doing this.

You talk about the, the reduced funding in relation to the US withdrawal overseas development assistance.

So I'm, I'm just wondering if you are actually talking about the, the loss of US voluntary contribution on this area.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, the 41% funding reduction in overseas development assistance is not only due to the US withdrawal, but before the US withdrawal there was also a withdrawal by the UKFCDO in supporting neglected tropical diseases.

The two major government donors were the United States and the United Kingdom.

The UKI think support was topped some four years back, so this is addition.

However, despite the two governments being the major supporters, there was already a gap.

So it does not mean it's only their withdrawal that has caused this huge gap.

But there was already a gap.

There are new partners coming, encouraging and new governments are coming.

However, it is not sufficient and to the scale needed to to implement the interventions.

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

So the executive board is going to be meeting next week.

[Other language spoken]

I'd like to know, you know, what you're expecting to what decisions would be expected.

I mean, given what we've been discussing, just what you were discussing just now, I'm just wondering with regard to the undue unpaid fees by the US, whether which you say they would need to pay in order to be able to exit formally from the organisation, whether you expect some participation of the US during this, this week at the executive board.

[Other language spoken]

And and also, sorry, one, one other thing.

Will we have any access to those those board meetings and when is it that you should be publishing the agenda?

Thank you very much, Paula.

Actually, we did send the media advisory nearly already this at the beginning of the week, which details that, which also gives an overview to the programme with some annotation.

It gives the link to the annotated agenda for the executive board, which will tell you what's what's up and coming.

All the issues that you mentioned are on the agenda for the executive board.

Please have a look for and that gives me the moment for for the access to the executive board.

First of all, it's all online so you can watch everything online.

Plus we have a media space reserved at the at the WTO headquarters.

So whoever wants to come in person here, UN registered journalist can just show up at the reception and then get the access for the day.

Outsiders would have to do a special registration process.

But again, those here registered at UNOC, you can just come.

We have a workspace available, but maybe easier to watch it online.

[Other language spoken]

The could you tell us now though, when the issue of the US is going to be coming up?

Because I couldn't see that clearly from the agenda.

Yeah, it never is clearly, as you may recall from previous assemblies or boards, basically on the first day there, there's the annotated agenda, agenda and it's up to the member states.

And you never know how long a topic takes.

And they will basically decide as they go along, maybe even to pull a a topic earlier or pull it, put it later.

So you just will have to follow every now and then to see what the what the situation is.

[Other language spoken]

So watch that broad space.

I think that's it for Daniel Adeleko.

Is this a Paula?

Is this for Christian?

Because because we also have another briefer Miss Legan who's also is briefing on another important subject.

[Other language spoken]

It is for Christian.

So on, on the US participation, have they have you heard from them or are they going to show up next week?

What's what information do you have?

I have no further information and we would have to wait and see.

Basically no indication or information at this point.

[Other language spoken]

OK, let me just take the opportunity to thank you very much, Daniel, for this briefing on this important occasion.

So thank you and always feel free to come back and join us here.

Miss Lagante, over to you for an update on Nipah virus in West Bengal, India.

Good morning, everyone.

I think we're still in the morning.

Thanks a lot for the opportunity to brief you on Nipah virus disease in India.

I will start with the epidemiological situation.

On 26th January, India notified WHO of 2 confirmed cases of Nipah virus disease in West Bengal state.

As of today, no additional cases have been reported.

The two cases are in a health facility receiving supportive care and didn't travel while symptomatic.

No cases have been reported in any other country associated with this outbreak.

Indian health authorities are implementing outbreak control measures including enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, patient management, and strengthen risk communication and community engagement.

Nearby is a serious but rare disease.

It was first reported in 1998 and since then has been reported in limited occurrence in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore.

The virus usually transmits from infected bats, fruit bats of the theropious genus if you're interested, and other animals like pigs to humans through direct contact consumption of contaminated fruit of food products such as raw date palm SAP.

It can also be transmitted directly between people in specific circumstances.

There has been previous small outbreaks of Nipah virus disease reported in India.

The country has demonstrated experience and capacity to contain such outbreaks.

Over the past five years, a dozen of confirmed cases were reported in India or in Kerala state.

Field investigations are currently under way to ascertain the source of infection of those two confirmed cases.

To date, over 190 contacts of the two confirmed cases are being closely monitored.

None of them have developed the disease and none of them have tested positive.

Infection prevention and control measures have been strengthened in health facilities in the affected area.

Risk communication is underway, including providing people with guidance to avoid bats and foods that that may have been contaminated by bats, as well as the importance of getting symptoms checked as early as possible with a healthcare provider.

WHO is in contact with Indian health authorities to conduct a risk assessment of the situation and we provide any Technical Support as needed.

At present, based on current information, the risk at national, regional and global levels is considered low.

WHO will continue to closely monitor the situation in India and other countries, regularly continuing to assess the risk and provide Technical Support to local health authorities as needed to ensure timely detection, response and public communication.

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

OK, maybe FA 1st and then we'll take you afterwards.

Catherine.

[Other language spoken]

I would like to know if you know if the virus is as lethal as in previous occasions?

Also, if there is any danger of mutations of the virus and also if you approve the controls that are being done in the region from the for to the travellers from India.

Thank you very much for the question.

So the current situation as I mentioned is 2 confirmed cases.

The both of them are currently hospitalised, 1 is still in serious condition while the other one has been shown some improvement.

So currently out of two cases all our life.

So that's the situation right now.

Is it more or less pathogenic than previous outbreak?

I guess we will have to see the outcome of the patients as part of your question around evolution or change in the virus.

As you all very well know, I suspect yes, when virus replicates sometimes it can be some changes in in their genetic sequences.

For the time being we are not, we have.

So we are waiting for India to release the sequence to assess any potential mutation.

But there is no specific evidence that would make us worry for the time being.

And based on the information that we have regarding on measures that countries have been implemented as far as we are aware, we understand that some country decided to strengthen border screening in in at the entry of their territories from traveller coming from from some states in India.

Border screening is a choice that country can make when people enter The Who wants to recall that the most effective way to control Nipah virus disease outbreak is at the source with a local response.

That includes good care for sick people, close monitoring of contacts and informing the public about how they can prevent getting infected or what to do in case they show symptoms at the same time, while strengthening infection prevention in controls in healthcare setting in affected areas.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks to you, Catherine.

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The de buzzo problemo is your best formation actual risk univo national regional global a considerate Feb low miss continue the three less situation low miss continue develop the risk the Fournier technique necessary for assuring detection at all in reports at all in communication Mercy book mercy.

[Other language spoken]

I was wondering if you could say in these specific cases, do we know how they were infected?

Do we know, I mean, you mentioned the fact that there can be transmission between people.

Were they in contact with each other or do we have any other ideas about that?

And you said that the risk is considered low.

Are you I assume monitoring this for for changes to that if and what would, what would make you change that assessment?

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for the question.

So around the, the, the potential exposure of those two cases.

So as I said investigation are ongoing in India with the support of WHO as as we mentioned with field colleagues the again those cases are not unusual at this time of year in that specific state.

All hypothesis are being assessed including consumption of all pan SAP as we usually see and or potential exposure through healthcare facilities.

And yes, I said that the virus can transmit human to human.

This is true.

And this happens in limited instances through prolonged contact with a sick patient without wearing adequate clothes, clothing.

And your last question was how we monitor the risk.

Yeah, of course.

So yes, WHO has per standard practise and for any outbreak we keep reviewing information that we receive, we request for specific information that can help make us this assessment.

What would what would be the reason that the risk may increase?

Obviously it would be sustain and prolong human to human transmissions that is adequately documented and especially outside of health facilities.

That would be if there were some specific gaps in country response which we are not seeing for the time being and obviously additional information on the pathogen itself that would make us realise that something has changed, which again is not what we are currently seeing over.

Thank you, Emma Reuters.

[Other language spoken]

Just a clarification on what you said on in answer to the last question.

All hypotheses being considered including a consumption of something.

And then I have a question after that.

Sorry, it's my terrible English accent.

I suspect the conception of raw palm SAP, palm juice.

[Other language spoken]

So my question was, I'm struggling to understand why countries are putting in place these measures on the border, the airport screening and so on if it's not more serious than than other outbreaks.

Do you have any thoughts on that?

And then does The Who ever in any conditions recommend airport screening and in what conditions please?

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much for your, your answer.

I think this is a very interesting for the time being case study on how some information went viral.

And I'm sorry, I'm not a communication expert, so I cannot explain you why suddenly we saw all these social media posts and and all of that as WHO again, our role is to share timely and evidence based information, recalling the important measures that can be done are being implemented to respond to this outbreak.

The second question was more generally the border screening.

I'm sorry on that.

I would defer on that one.

I'm not a border health specialist, but probably we can have some follow up with our specific colleagues on that.

But may be important to what Anna has said before.

We WHO did not recommend border closures and we don't no, no WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restriction in link to this event.

And just to to clarify, as far as we as are aware, there is no travel restriction measures that are being implemented by countries.

Border screening again is a choice a country can make checking the temperature of incoming traveller for many reasons and for many different pathogens.

But this is not travel restriction, just to make it crystal clear.

[Other language spoken]

So transmit the person person.

Catherine, OK, we have still a few more briefings, as you know, for that guy, just to be clear.

Oh, now I forgot.

No infection from person to person.

[Other language spoken]

Does it mean that it is a skin contact or is it body fluids also protection?

[Other language spoken]

Are the 2 cases local people or are they foreigners?

And so I see Christian next to you.

[Other language spoken]

And what are the symptoms?

Because as you say, that incubation is quite long.

If a person goes back to its country and get fever a month after, how do they know that it is this virus?

And is there a test existing test?

That's a a lot of question, but I will be very happy to to understand to to, to, to understand.

[Other language spoken]

And to answer most importantly.

So on the again, human to human transmission in English.

[Other language spoken]

So indeed it has been documented mostly in health facilities or in caregiving contact.

The transmission between people can may occur through contacts with indeed body fluid or secretion.

So in case for healthcare worker, the usual contact precaution apply, including Indeed, wearing a mask, glove and for NIPA and for many other.

Yes, regular and washing at the right time at the right moment is always encouraged by for healthcare worker and anyone for this disease.

We really recommend that people in affected areas with signs and symptoms are referred to care early, most importantly to improve the care they they can receive and to hopefully improve survival rate.

So that was I think your first question on yes, the symptoms.

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, I, I was advised to insist on the fact that the contact need to be prolonged.

So this is based on on previous epidemiology where people and there is a beautiful study I can share if you're interesting to read this paper looking at the risk of being for caregivers or healthcare worker again, not wearing the adequate PPE when caring for the patient that have stayed with the patient for more than 12 hours in very close contact PPE and the PPE for healthcare worker.

Yes, it's mask gone gloves and face shield which is the the stand out precaution in for, for this type of of transmission.

Yeah, Yeah, I'm coming to the symptoms.

We have done that on symptoms.

So your question is very right As for many of our diseases and especially of our fever at the beginning the symptoms are not necessarily very distinguishable.

So first symptom you will have in most patients will be fever and then in in cases you will have symptoms that will involve the brain, neurological symptoms such as headache or confusion.

In some patients you will have also lung involvement like a difficulty breathing or cough and other symptoms more frequently reported include chills, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea.

So these symptoms are not really specific except for the brain involvement.

And this this is this is often reported as acute encephalitis.

And that's why again, in affected areas or ecological areas that are at risk of this of virus circulation, it's very important that healthcare worker be trained to recognise early those symptoms for for diagnostic.

And yes, there are RTPCR assays along with serologic.

So either you will detect the RNA of the virus or within the patient who will look for antibodies that are on on the market to, to test and confirm this disease, this virus.

I think that exhausts all the questions that were posed to you.

Lots of very, very good.

Thank you very much for the comprehensive response.

So, and thank you for joining us, Miss Lagande, very important subject indeed on lipovirus.

[Other language spoken]

A very nice one at the end.

Maybe Alejandra, I don't know if you want to join me or I can just introduce your guest.

[Other language spoken]

I thank you again, Miss Lagande and of course, Christian.

So we have with us from the UN Environment Programme, Tessa Govers.

I hope I pronounced that correctly.

Tessa, head of the Interim Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution, she has an announcement for us.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much and good morning.

I'm pleased to announce that next week, the first session of the plenary of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution will be hosted by the Government of Switzerland from the 2nd to the 6th of February at the Geneva International Conference Centre, the CICG.

This will be the first time that the Plenary, which is the governing and decision making body of a new science policy panel, will come together after three years of negotiations convened by the UN Environment Programme, UNIP, the Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution, ISPCWP was established on the 20th of June 2025 in Punta de les, Uruguay.

It's objective is to strengthen the science policy interface to contribute to the sound management of chemicals and waste and prevent pollution.

It's establishment in 2025 closed a long standing gap in the chemicals and waste landscape, and it's complemented the global trio of scientific panel panels addressing the environmental crisis alongside the IPCC, the Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Climate Change established in 1988, and IPES, the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, established in 2012.

At it's very first meeting, the plenary is expected to elect the Chair of the panel and it's first Bureau, designate the physical location of the secretariat of the panel with two offers on the table from Kenya and Switzerland, Finalise and adopt the Rules of Procedures for sessions of the Canary and advance on other policies and processes critical to fully operationalised new panel.

The panel currently has 125 members and this number is growing by the week.

This, and the fact that the panel has its first meeting only 7 1/2 months after its establishment, shows the appetite from countries for the panel to get on with his important work.

Once fully operational, the panel will work with experts from all of the world and from various disciplines to provide countries with independent policy relevant advice on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention.

It will do so through global assessments, horizon scanning, identifying knowledge gaps, supporting communication between scientists and policy makers, and facilitating information sharing.

Chemicals are used daily in modern life, but it can be unintended negative impacts on human and environmental health as well as on the economy.

And although there are big knowledge gaps, there's also a lot of science and evidence out there, but not necessarily in the hands of policy and decision makers who would need it most to take action on the ground.

This panel is about science for solutions.

The start of the session on Monday will be briefly open for media to cover.

The government of Switzerland will be speaking as the host of the meeting following a short performance starting at 10:00 AM.

If you're interested in attending, please contact my colleague Alejandro, who is with you in the Palette.

And later that day, on Monday, the Executive Director of UNA will speak and we will publish her speech on our website.

Note that the sessions will not be streamed.

UNA will communicate on the outcomes of the sessions through a press release that we aim to make available by Friday night.

And For more information, please consult our website or reach out to Alejandro.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks to you, Tessa, and thanks very much for your your patience.

It's been a long briefing and I appreciate you staying here.

We do have a question, Jeremy from ADEFI Ready, France international, Jeremy Merci, Rolando, Mike, a couple of housekeeping issues.

Do we need an accreditation to come at this PCJ?

Is there any press briefing organised on Monday or later that week?

You said that we are welcome, I think at the openings at 10 AM.

That means that we are not welcome after 10:00 AM.

So just a couple of details on what to expect from a media perspective that's noted.

And maybe while Alejandro makes his way up, I think maybe Nina, you had another logistical question.

I had the same questions as Jamie.

But also I was wondering if if you could give a little bit more in the way of details on what if there are any expected outcomes that we would, you know, what can we expect to have?

And also for the press conference that was it was asked about if there will be one at the end.

[Other language spoken]

I'll take these.

I believe Tesla still online, so maybe she can speak about the outcomes for Monday.

You just contact me if if you haven't registered for the event, you can contact me.

If you're accredited media, I'll put you on a list.

And then on Monday, you'll have access to the opening.

There will not be a press briefing.

There will be a press releases as Tessa mentioned on Friday.

That's what we're aiming for.

And what was your other question the the outcomes?

If Tessa's around, I'll let her speak.

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, in terms of the outcomes expected for the meeting, the meeting is to is expected to elect the chair of this panel and its first Bureau.

So the governance structure of the panel is going to be put in place.

It's also expected that the meeting will designate the physical location of the secretariat.

The secretariat will be hosted by by UNIP.

But there's two offers on the table on where the secretariat would be located from Kenya and from Switzerland.

And then there's an expectation that the rules of procedure for the sessions of the tenure itself will be finalised and adopted.

So alongside some of the other policies and and procedures and intersessional work that may need to be agreed leading up to the next session or sessions, there's a lot of fundamental work that needs to be done to set this panel off on a good footing.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks to you, Tessa.

We still have a couple of actually several hands are popping up.

Let's go back to Catherine, Nina, and then we have a question online.

[Other language spoken]

Will there be any press opportunity, opportunities of interviews?

Because if I understood there's no press, there won't be press conference.

So what is, I would say the interest for the press to attend?

If there's nothing that we can do, I'll cover you.

If you want an interview, do let me know and we'll see if if that can happen.

Indeed, it is not a media event.

And Monday, even the opening is not really a media event for this meeting.

But if you're interested in interviews, we'll we'll let you know if that's possible if the officials are available.

Certainly, Nina, I, I just wanted to, to clarify.

So on Monday for the opening, he said at 10:00 the, the Swiss would open and then later there would be the Director general.

Are we, would we have access to that speech?

And if you're saying that there'll be a press conference, a press release on Friday, would we also have maybe that speech on Monday or would we have to wait until Friday to to get that thing?

The press, sorry, the speech from the from UNEP's executive director will be available on Monday.

So you don't need to wait until Friday for that.

But you won't be able to see the speech.

It will be released.

I will share it with you, but it, it won't be part of the of the opening.

[Other language spoken]

And last question, Michelle, do you need a solutions?

[Other language spoken]

Just the one for the clarification on on how it's going to work.

Does that mean that during the whole week we won't be able to access even if the meetings are closed?

I'm just trying to see if we can access the conference centre if you, I don't know if there are other stakeholders that might be present, for example, observers.

And then just lastly on the decisions that you mentioned, will those be released, should we wait until Friday for those to be released or will they be taken throughout the week?

How will that work?

[Other language spoken]

If you think that you need to, that you would like to to attend in order to interview other stakeholders, please let me know.

Right now that is not expected, but we'll try to do what we can to accommodate specific requests.

Contact me and see.

And As for the decisions, yes, I believe that will be Friday.

Some of them might happen before, but I think what is expected and planned is that on Friday, everything will be on that final press release.

Thank you very much, Alejandro.

[Other language spoken]

And Tessa, thank you very much.

Another question, OK, I'm sorry, just Nina's question on outcomes.

They just sounded really procedural, what you described.

Tessa, I was wondering is there anything in terms of content expected on chemical waste and pollution, which sounds like a really important topic?

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, thank you for the for the question.

The panel will need to come to an agreement or the plenary actually the decision making body on the work programme for the for the panel in order to start implementing that.

And for for that points to to arrive at some of the, you know, the rules and and policies and procedures need to to be put in place.

So This is why this first meeting is, is in a way very much an enabling meeting to ensure that the panel can, you know, start it's important work at the earliest.

[Other language spoken]

And last, last question, Jeremy Adefi, go ahead.

Really quick one.

Do you know when the chair will be elected?

Which day, Tessa, do you want to respond to that?

Maybe So the, the, it's foreseen that the election of the, of the chair, the agenda item will be opened on the first day.

Of course, it's in the hands of the of the members, but the item will be opened, you know, as one of the first orders for business at this meeting.

OK, I think that's very clear.

A lot of interest in this important to me.

So thank you Alan for being here.

Tessa, thank you and thanks again for your patience.

OK, I, we have one final announcement, but before I will call Catherine, we saw of the UN trade and development up here.

But let me just in the meantime, let me just announce a few of my own before I I turn to you, Catherine, if that's OK.

Just colleagues very briefly.

It's been a long briefing, however, I wanted to make sure you saw the important transcript we shared with you late last night from the Secretary General's press conference yesterday in New York announcing his global priorities.

He touched on many, many important subjects, multilateralism, humanitarian funding, climate change, AI, and so on.

[Other language spoken]

Lots of good holding lines there.

For you To refer back to meetings here we have the Committee on the Rights of the Child ending its hundredth session this afternoon.

After having reviewed Maldives, Ghana, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Colombia, Spain, Malaysia, I understand that they will adopt in private the concluding observations this afternoon, which will be shared with you next week, next week.

Speaking of that Mark, a Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women's Sea Doll will open its 92nd session this coming Monday, the 2nd of February.

Lots of countries to be reviewed, including Vietnam, Iraq, Lithuania, Netherlands, Argentina, the Czech Republic, El Salvador and Lesotho.

That's it for the meetings or notes.

Sorry.

One more announcement from the Human Rights Council.

The UPR Working Group also concludes its session this afternoon after having reviewed many states.

I'm not going to recite them all now you've seen them.

There are 13 states in total whose records, human rights records have been reviewed.

So that that session concludes today.

Another announcement from our Council colleagues, Human Rights Council colleagues, Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durbin Declaration and Programme of Action will hold its 25th session in Geneva here from the second of 6th of February.

And there is more information in the background note which you will have received.

Just to give you the background, the Durban Declaration on the Plan of Action was adopted in 2001 aimed to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and it is celebrating this year its 25th anniversary.

So important date rather gathering next week as well.

Without further ado, turn to my distinguished colleague on my left.

To Catherine, over to you.

Thank you very much.

Good morning, everyone.

I think we have my colleague Abby Solomon online.

He is not in Geneva, but I would like to introduce him if we can have him on screen.

Welcome Abby, to this, to the press briefing.

[Other language spoken]

If Abby is it, maybe if Abby Solomon is online, maybe if you can turn your camera on and maybe we can unmute him.

I think I don't know if you want to say something, but maybe the.

[Other language spoken]

Distance continues to come back.

[Other language spoken]

Catherine, let me just say before we, there's also some comments from the floor.

[Other language spoken]

But let me just say on behalf of Eunice, this day ends an extraordinary chapter.

Of course, we've known each other for a while.

I know not as long as some other colleagues in this room.

But your professionalism, you're calm under pressure, your institutional memory, the genuine respect for the press and reciprocal press, the respect from press to you.

[Other language spoken]

And you know, your integrity, your clarity, your grace, all these things, you'll be truly missed.

And of course, you're going to be close by.

Like you said, the world is small.

So please come back as a guest briefer perhaps, or just to join us online at any point in time, depending on your next steps.

But maybe before we take, maybe Catherine Fionn Khan, our president of Acunnu, wanted to say something as well.

So over to you Catherine.

[Other language spoken]

We Catherine port parole Francophon key respectively du long the travais at the Organisation de Naciones ageneve E CIA tujorete dysponi blau Jean TI professional la font Kia tujor Ponce chacon dontre nu alantere que nupuvion avoir pure le suje Evoque para cusete para cusete para cusete.

Yeah, Catherine, you can put those on display and maybe just before final words, Moussa also is connected online.

And I think you want to say something.

[Other language spoken]

OK, this is not the end, OK.

We have other colleagues who want to say things.

[Other language spoken]

And yes.

The.

May could I just sorry, I just wanted to say something else because we also have other colleagues leaving your, your live.

You will leave big empty shoes, but there are other big empty shoes to be left behind on the 2nd row there.

Miss Fegley, I'm going to put you on the spot.

Kathy, who's been with the unis for 30 years, something like this 3032 years, who's counting, you know, serving.

I've, I've known you as well for many years.

We've become friends, the countless stories, relationships that that I'm sure many of you have with Kathy, the moments that helped shape our work, her work really will resonate and your dedication and quiet strength will leave a lasting mark.

Other colleagues are also leaving Eunice, as you might know, Sylvie Blettre, who's been a long institutional, her institutional memory with us is.

[Other language spoken]

Gilles Sereni and Jean Marc also left at the end of last last month, providing invaluable services to you, the media.

We are already feeling their loss.

We will miss you all.

We'll miss you all very much.

So on behalf of Eunice, really, we'll do everything we can to make sure your legacy lives on.

You're nearby, so we'll see you soon.

And if we is that right?

And if I can do that to to Kathy, to Jean, Marc to yield to Sylvia and of course the to you, dear Cathy, thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

This meeting is now over.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 30 January 2026