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UNOG RUSH NEWS Briefing 13FEB2026 CONTINUITY
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Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNHCR , UNICEF , WFP
UN Geneva Press Briefing - 10 February 2026
UN INFORMATION SERVICE GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
13 February 2026
Mass returns to Afghanistan
Arafat Jamal, United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Representative in Afghanistan, speaking from Kabul, said since October 2023, 5.5 million people had returned to Afghanistan. In 2025, the 2.9 million returns to Afghanistan was the largest number of returns to any country ever recorded. In 2026, over 150,000 Afghans had already returned to the country, mostly from Iran and Pakistan. This represented a massive demographic shock and stood at 12 per cent of the total population. Afghanistan had a fragile economy and was a place of recurring natural disasters and droughts. Mr. Jamal explained that a four-percent decline in GDP/capita was expected in 2026 in an economy that was otherwise expected to grow. The difficult situation was compounded by border blockages, which prevented many supplies, including pharmaceuticals, from entering the country. More than half of returnees reported having no identity documents to prove their origin or who they were; a large majority of families lived on less than five USD per day. Some people were forced to leave their country again, after having faced difficult realities at home.
There were nonetheless pockets of hope, said Mr. Jamal, as those who had returned in 2025 had higher education levels and better connections to local markets, and could contribute to Afghanistan’s recovery. UNHCR had access, presence and experience built over the four decades in the country. UNHCR primarily focused on protection, housing and jobs, with a particular emphasis on women. The Agency remained prepared to respond to population movements within Afghanistan but remained deeply concerned by the shrinking asylum climate in the region. With such dire humanitarian situation and increasing population, foreign support was as needed as ever. For 2026, UNHCR needed at least million USD 216 to support displaced people and returnees; to date, this appeal was only eight per cent funded.
Replying to questions from the media, Mr. Jamal said that it had been four to five months that the blockade between Pakistan and Afghanistan had taken place. It affected numerous sectors, including agricultural workers in Afghanistan, who could no longer export their produce to Pakistan. The blockade on medicine was of particular concern. The majority of returnees in 2026 had been from Pakistan, being sent back involuntarily by the Pakistani authorities. UNHCR appealed to all countries not to send back categories-at-risk, including women, social activists, musicians, athletes, etc. The conditions on the ground in Afghanistan were tough, as traditional safety nets had been overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people returning. Returns to Afghanistan was not a narrative of hope, stressed Mr. Jamal; these returns were the result partly of coercion, partly of their exhaustion and lack of options. Following close to four decades of notable generosity by both Pakistan and Iran, the dynamics had changed, not only in Pakistan and Iran, but also across Europe. For 2025, UNHCR had asked for USD 216 million, which had been funded 49 per cent, added Babar Baloch, also for UNHCR.
Human rights impacts of Cuba’s socio-economic crisis
Marta Hurtado, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated that the OHCHR was extremely worried about Cuba’s deepening socio-economic crisis, amid a decades-long financial and trade embargo, extreme weather events, and the recent US measures restricting oil shipments. This was having an increasingly severe impact on the human rights of people in Cuba. Given the dependence of health, food, and water systems on imported fossil fuels, the current oil scarcity had put the availability of essential services at risk nationwide.
Intensive care units and emergency rooms were compromised, as were the production, delivery, and storage of vaccines, blood products, and other temperature-sensitive medications. In Cuba, more than 80 per cent of water pumping equipment depended on electricity, and power cuts were undermining access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. The fuel shortage had disrupted the rationing system and the regulated basic food basket, and had affected social protection networks – school feeding, maternity homes, and nursing homes, with the most vulnerable groups being disproportionately impacted. Access to essential goods and services, including food, water, medicine, and adequate fuel and electricity, should always be safeguarded, as they were fundamental in modern societies to the right to life and the ability to enjoy many other rights.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reiterated his call on all States to lift unilateral sectoral measures, given their broad and indiscriminate impact on the population. Policy goals could not justify actions that in themselves violate human rights.
Full statement is available here.
Responding to questions, Ms. Hurtado said that OHCHR was asking for the lifting of sectorial sanctions, which were impacting the daily life of Cubans. The country’s electrical system relied almost completely on electricity-producing plants which used oil. She gave examples of medical patients who were adversely affected by the lack of electricity, including dialysis patients. The food and water systems were also under extreme strain. OHCHR did not have a presence in the country but maintained relations with the Cuban authorities and offered technical assistance. Ms. Hurtado said that the unilateral US sanctions were not in line with the respect of human rights of Cubans. Measures needed to be in line with the UN Charter and international law, which was not the case here. Rolando Gómez, for the UN Information Service (UNIS), reminded that the UN General Assembly had for many years voted for the lifting of the unilateral US sanctions against Cuba.
Pressure on Special Procedures
On a question related to the special expert Francesca Albanese, Marta Hurtado, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that OHCHR was concerned that UN officials and independent experts were subject to growing harassment and pressure by States. Meanwhile, killing of the Palestinians in Gaza continued, while in the West Bank Israel was not meeting its obligations as an occupying power.
Impact of cyclones in Madagascar
Tania Goossens, World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director for Madagascar, speaking from Antananarivo, said that over past three weeks Madagascar had been hit by back-to-back cyclones, leaving over 400,000 people with acute needs. Cyclone Gezani had made a landfall in the country’s second largest city, Toamasina, this week, which had then been visited by a UN delegation to assess the damage. Toamasina had barely any water or electricity, and first casualties had been now reported. Schools and hospitals, along with the WFP’s own warehouse, had suffered significant damage. Trees had been uprooted and debris was now blocking many streets. A multi-sectorial assessment had been conducted, which allowed to gather additional insights, and the results would be shared in the coming days. Special flights were being conducted for humanitarian actors, and the Government had declared a national disaster.
The lack of clean water and damaged infrastructure increased the risk of diseases, said Ms. Goossens. WFP was providing anticipatory cash assistance to 11,000 most vulnerable households, or some 50,000 people, allowing them to purchase food. In the immediate aftermath, WFP was mobilizing its remaining food stock, which would support 18,000 people. Urgent donor support was critically needed, stressed Ms. Goossens. This was not just an emergency response moment, but a chance to build longer-term sustainability and resilience. Before the cyclones, 1.75 million people had already been food insecure across Madagascar. WFP’s overall emergency response had a USD 18 million gap, which had already forced WFP to reduce its assistance.
Main risks for children in South Sudan amid escalating violence
Obia Achieng, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative (a.i) in South Sudan, connecting from Juba, stated that since late December 2025, a devastating escalation of violence had spread across South Sudan. Some 280,000 people had been displaced in Jonglei State alone, the majority of whom women and children. For some of them it was the second or even third time they were being displaced. Some 53 per cent of those displaced were believed to be children. Most had fled with nothing and were sleeping in displacement camps. In South Sudan, killing and maiming of children, recruitment of children by armed groups, and gender-based violence against children were all prevalent. It was reported that 11 health facilities had been attacked and looted in recent months.
Mr. Achieng spoke of the reported outbreaks of cholera among displaced people, with hundreds of reported casualties. Some 825,000 children across several states were at risk of acute malnutrition, warned Mr. Achieng. Children with acute malnutrition without treatment were 12 times more likely to lose their life. UNICEF, other UN agencies, and NGOs remained committed to remain and respond to the ongoing crisis. The scale of what was unfolding in the country was immense, and what was really needed was a cessation of hostilities and unrestricted, unhindered humanitarian access, concluded Mr. Achieng.
Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that across South Sudan at least 19 attacks against health care had been recorded in 2025, leading to loss of life, injuries and destruction. The consequences for civilians were grave and immediate. Some 1.5 to two million people were facing restricted or no access to health services, including treatment of communicable diseases. Disease surveillance was weakening precisely when it was needed the most. This was a regional and global health security threat, stressed Mr. Lindmeier. Attacks on health care were serious violations of humanitarian law, warned Mr. Lindmeier. The climate of impunity had to be reversed. WHO called on all parties to stop attacks against health care and to respect international humanitarian law without exceptions.
Announcements
Rolando Gómez, for the UN Information Service (UNIS), informed that the Secretary-General was in Ethiopia to take part in the 39th African Union Summit, as well as the Africa-Italy Summit. He would also be meeting several African leaders. The Secretary-General would give a press conference at 3 pm (1 pm Geneva time) the following day.
The Security Council had discussed the situation in Yemen on 12 February, said Mr. Gómez. The Council would address the situation in Syria today and would be briefed by the Deputy Special Envoy and an OCHA representative.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was reviewing today the report of Lesotho.
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights would review on 17 February the report of Australia.
The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee would hold its 34th session from 16 to 20 February 2026 in Room XVI. During the one-week session, the Committee’s 18 independent experts would continue its work on the following mandates: technology-facilitated gender-based violence and its impact on women and girls; implications of plastic pollution for the full enjoyment of human rights; and impact of artificial intelligence systems on good governance.
Finally, today was the World Radio Day, marking the date in 1946 when UN Radio had been established. UN Radio had over time evolved into UN News. This year’s World Radio Day focused on artificial intelligence.
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Teleprompter
[Other language spoken]
Thank you for joining us here at the UN office at Geneva for this press conference today, 13 February.
We have a very important agenda for you today.
We have Afghanistan, we have the situation in Cuba, we have Cyclone Ghazani, Madagascar update and we have a colleague from UNICEF will join us to speak about South Sudan.
So without further ado, I'm going to turn to you, Barbara, maybe you can introduce your guest from HCR in Afghanistan.
Thank you, Rolando.
Good morning and a happy sunny Friday All.
Today we are joined by my colleague Arfa Jamal.
He's a known name to you, a UNITSIA representative in Afghanistan from Kabul to update on the evolving humanitarian situation.
He has been helping to keep you updated all through last year on Afghanistan.
One may think as a country it has seen all in terms of humanitarian situations, but last year added one more to the growing list of challenges with unprecedented mass returns from the neighbouring countries.
Before passing on the mic to Arafat Jamal, he's happy to answer questions in French to over to Arafat.
[Other language spoken]
Bye bye, John and colleagues.
And it's good to be with you again.
Speaking from foggy and wintry Kabul today, the the main news that I would like to convey today is the sheer number of returns that have occurred in Afghanistan to date.
Since October 2023, we have seen 5.4 million people return to Afghanistan.
Last year alone we saw 2.9 million people and this year we have already witnessed the return of 150,000 Afghans, largely from Iran and Pakistan.
I would like to note and underline that the number of returns in 2020, five, 2.9 million, is officially the largest number of returns that we have witnessed to any single country.
This is massive and the speed and scale of these returns has pushed Afghanistan nearly to the brink.
I would underline that this is a country that welcomes it's people for the most part and to which people are attached.
At the same time, the massive demographic shock of this number of people, which is around 12% of the population, is pushing us to the brink over here.
They their country is already facing a large humanitarian and human rights situation, particularly as concerns women and girls.
It has a fragile economy and it is a place of recurring natural disasters and drought.
According to a recent World Bank report, the rapid population growth fuelled by the returns is expected to lead to a 4% decline in GDP per capita.
This is a statistic that in some way comes upon an another potentially brighter statistic, which is that the economy would have grown normally but for the large number of returns.
This high number of returns this year is particularly concerning given the severity of winter with freezing temperatures and have heavy snowfall across much of the country.
This situation is compounded by blockages at the frontier which are enabled, which are preventing the normal trade supplies, including pharmaceutical supplies, from entering Afghanistan.
A recent survey of returnees highlights the scale of challenges faced.
Of those that we have spoken to, just over half reported being able to find some form of work, even if informal.
For women, this figure drops to less than 1/4.
More than half of returnee families report having no civil documentation, for example, identity cards, to prove who they are or where they are from, and more than 90% are living on less than five U.S.
[Other language spoken]
We are deeply concerned about the sustainability of these returns.
While 5% of returnees say they intend to leave Afghanistan again, this figure is slightly belied by the fact that more than 10% seem to know a relative or a community who has already left the country again.
And these decisions, I would_to undertake dangerous journeys are not driven by a lack of a desire to remain in the country.
On the contrary, but the reality that many are unable to rebuild their viable and dignified lives.
And this is something that I do notice as I travel around the country, that when a person centres Afghanistan, they're willing to make a go of it, but nine months on they are already considering leaving simply because of a lack of options.
In this country.
There are none the less pockets of hope.
We have seen that the socio economic profile of returnees is evolving, with those who returned in 2025 generally having higher education levels and stronger links to local markets with sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Returnees can leverage their skills and experience to contribute to Afghanistan's economic recovery and stabilisation.
For UNHCR, we are focusing on the reintegration of returnees this year.
We have access, presence and experience built up over 4 decades of working in Afghanistan to deliver assistance that communities themselves say they need most.
And this is focusing largely on protection, including cash safety Nets, on housing and on jobs.
And our particular focus has always been the women of Afghanistan.
Together with other UN agencies and our partners, we are closely monitoring the situation across the region.
We remain prepared to respond to population movements into Afghanistan, while also continuing to call on neighbouring countries to protect and assist Afghan refugees.
Yet we remain deeply concerned by the shrinking, dramatically shrinking asylum climate in the sub region.
And this is a particular concern as we note geopolitical instability that is prevalent throughout the area.
With this dire humanitarian situation and rapidly increasing population, additional support is urgently needed in 2026 to scale up assistance and to invest in the reintegration efforts that allow people to rebuild their lives with dignity and with hope.
For 2026, UNHCR needs at least U.S.
dollars, 216 million to support displaced people and returnees across Afghanistan.
To date we are only 8% funded.
So dear colleagues, I would just like to end by again noting that the phenomenon of returns is massive.
Last year, the largest number of returns to any country in one world in in the world that these returns are are on are coming into a country that is deeply precarious, that is wealthy of these people, but is very ill equipped to receive them.
If we want to return and we want to turn return into a focus for stability, for economic growth and for coexistence, we need to invest in the families, in the women and in these people who are returning.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Mr Jamal, for this immensely important update on this dire situation.
OK, we'll take questions starting in the room we have.
AFP you haven't listened anything again.
[Other language spoken]
For example, the Schufler advance on team le Schufler Pascre E uplu de Marche or Pakistan Mayor Parsa.
You'll see the medical more a the desert Reviva Pooram police systems humanitarian Pamela Nacional Zeni so to the UNICEF, the OMS El RCL on our U Pamel the Viva the pharmaceutic Dr shows Quiante TE blockey eki de Mel Tujo or Pakistan or Pakistan Merci buku.
Next question you have a follow up.
[Other language spoken]
I don't know if the blade show is online.
Maybe they could.
I don't know if the blade show lower miss the blade show is online.
Maybe they could have an update will miss yes, Christian is connected.
In fact, yes.
Christian, do you want to jump in?
I have nothing to add at this point, sorry.
[Other language spoken]
We'll take a question now for you from Emma Farge of Reuters.
I wanted to know in the case of those returning this year, where are they from and are the returns voluntary?
Could you also describe the conditions that the returnees are, are living in in Afghanistan and how many more do you think could come this year?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much Emma for the question.
So it's 150,000 this year alone and, and, and the year is still young.
The majority of them are coming in from Pakistan, although they there are also Afghans coming in from Iran.
The returns are to a large extent from Pakistan.
There's something called the illegal foreign foreigners repatriation plan which is which is continuing and this is a involuntary return of Afghans.
[Other language spoken]
We are appealing to all the countries to to ensure that those categories who are at risk in Afghanistan are not sent back and these would include on the 1st instance women.
But also are there are other categories, former members of the former government, social activists, musicians, athletes and there is a list and we have provided those lists to both countries and have urged them to exercise extreme caution when dealing with such with such categories.
The conditions on the ground are are tough.
I think that what's happened is that the traditional fabric and the traditional safety Nets that have been able to receive Afghans have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of people returning and also by changes in the climate in the country.
So whereas in the past people from rural areas may be able to go through a village and basically at least manage to subsistence farm, nowadays the lack of water in those areas means that that form of survival is no longer available.
[Other language spoken]
People are basically conglomerating in the outskirts of cities and essentially forming informal settlements where they are trying to engage in day labour.
[Other language spoken]
I think Emma has a follow up for you.
Yeah, I'd love to see the list of categories, if that's possible as a follow up.
But just could you say a word on whether globally, Iran and Pakistan are respecting those categories that you sent them?
[Other language spoken]
So we have a, we have an advisory which is which is publicly available and I'm sure we can circulate that to to any interested people.
And of course we have shared that with both governments.
They are very well aware of it and we do intervene on specific cases.
So I think that to the extent possible we are in a dialogue with both of them.
They have indicated the willingness and we have also seen that to whenever we do intervene, there is generally been a positive response.
[Other language spoken]
We have another question for you from Satoko of Yomiuri Shimbun.
Satoko, yes, thank you very much for doing this.
I would like to know about the funding for 2025.
How much did you appeal for 2025 and how much did you actually receive in 2025, as you said that the year that the country received the largest number of the retirees?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
That's an excellent question and I would kindly request if I can give that to you in writing just because I don't have the exact figures in my head, but it's an excellent question.
[Other language spoken]
We'll we'll get back to you on that.
But bar we'll get back to you perhaps see if there are further questions for you.
[Other language spoken]
I have irrelevant question for UHCR&WHWTOIOM and High Commissioner for Human Rights if they are connected.
We have been informed that Sudan, Sudan Prime Minister.
So we have been informed that the Sudanese Prime Minister visited some UN organisations as WHUIMUNCCR High Commissioner for Human Rights.
So why did they, this organisation conceal the visit from UN accredited journalist?
[Other language spoken]
I'm not sorry Taha.
I'm not sure to visit to where exactly.
I'm not sure if I understand the question.
If you can clarify, please.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, the Sudanese Prime Minister, Dictor Kamlidis visited some organisations, UN organisations such as High Commissioner for Human Rights, High Commissioner for Refugees and Iomi think and they didn't inform as UN journal accredited journalist by this visit.
This is my good thank.
Thank you for raising this.
I will certainly have to have a look into this and maybe my colleagues if they have anything to add afterwards, maybe we could, we'll connect with you.
I'm unaware of this visit, but certainly I appreciate your concern for obviously notifying the media about such a high profile visit.
But we'll look into this and and get back to Taha.
[Other language spoken]
Is this on Afghanistan?
No, it's following up to Tahas question.
Actually a very practical logistical answer to this would be to most agencies to follow what the Durajic's office does very well in New York and give us a paragraph readout statement ideally emailed to us and not post it on social media.
[Other language spoken]
Well noted.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I know this is an issue that you have raised before and we have, I mean has been raised before I should say.
And we do our best to share readouts with you on behalf of the Secretary General.
In fact, we shared three with you in the last few hours.
This is a common practise and we'll certainly keep that up.
And and should there again, if should there be any high level dignitaries coming such as Sudanese Prime Minister, our president, we will definitely make sure we do our best to inform you in advance.
[Other language spoken]
I think we have another, Jamie, is this on Afghanistan because we have other items on the agenda.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Sir, for coming to see us.
I wanted to just follow up on on your, your, your initial news item about the large number of returns to Afghanistan.
What can we read into that?
I mean, you mentioned in your comments that you're concerned about the stability of of the returns.
You've also said that just over half have reported being able to find some work.
I mean, are these people being pressured to return to their home country unwillingly or are they actually seeing opportunity and, and, and hope under the Taliban and leadership there?
I mean, has the narrative been international narrative been unfair about the real conditions in Afghanistan that in fact all these people are returning because they hope to build better lives there?
Or is it are, are we missing some other narrative there?
If you could just kind of based on all your travels across the country, if you could just kind of clear up the image there as to what what we should read into these returns?
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, that's an excellent question.
I think the first thing to say is no, it's not a narrative of, of hope.
Unfortunately, the the, the, the over 5 million people who've come back have not come back like in other refugee situations of the past, because there's a, there's a great resolution to 4 decades of conflict and and they're ready to come home and make a go of it.
Rather it has been a a, a combination of some some level of coercion, some level of conditions being made intolerable and a great deal of exhaustion on the part of the asylum countries.
And I'd like to_at this point that it has been 4 decades and it has been 4 decades of incredible generosity on the part of both Pakistan and Iran where they've in their time of need.
They were there for the Afghans.
They open their borders, they open their schools, their hospitals, their subsidised fuel, their subsidised food.
And Afghans have benefited from that and UNHCR is immensely grateful to both countries.
But at this point, the dynamic has changed not only in Pakistan and Iran, but we're seeing this further afield, including in Europe, where the the protections that had previously been accorded to Afghans are no longer necessarily prevailing.
And so people are not coming back in an entirely voluntary manner.
Having said that, I would in my travels around the, the country and so on, what I do note is that the Afghans are willing to make a goal of it.
I think they always knew that this is that they were in asylum, that they were not home in.
So to a certain extent, they're, you could say that they're happy to be home or they, or they are content that they are at home.
But what they're really looking for is some means to make a goal of it.
And that's what's lacking.
And the, the real worry here is that they're, they're coming back.
They, they're willing to try.
But if they don't have a choice after a few months, after a year, they are going to bounce back.
They are going to bounce back to, to, to Iran, to Turkey, to further afield.
And I don't think this is in anyone's interest.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So actually it's just on what you just said now and you had mentioned in your your statements that you got a sense that nine months onwards people are considering leaving.
Are you actually seeing people leaving?
And if so, where you mentioned Pakistan and Iran, are people actually trying to leave to other neighbouring countries?
So as you can imagine, it's it's, it's a bit contentious to try to gather information on departures because many of the departures are undertaken clandestinely.
We what, what we are, what I can say is that anecdotally, this is this is what I notice throughout the country is that when you talk to the people who have gone back, the idea of, of leaving is very much on their minds as a coping mechanism.
Should they not be able to, to support their, their, their families and the the routes are well travelled.
They are often facilitated through different types of agents who will who will make this travel and they they generally these days are going via Iran rather than Pakistan.
But for those who have the means and the and the ability they usually Iran would not necessarily be the first stop.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Before we go back to you for the final question, perhaps Babar has an update on the figure.
[Other language spoken]
Arafat Jamal colleagues have shared last year's figures.
So it the ask was nearly the same 260 million U.S.
dollars and it was 49% funded as Arafat Jamal told you for this year so far out of the 216 million, we are at 8%.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you for that clarification, Emma.
Final question, Thanks for your indulgence.
You took the starting point as October 2023.
I assume that's when Pakistan changed its policy on repatriations.
If you could just clarify why the clock started ticking there for you and the 5 million that you've counted so far since then, what portion is from Iran and what portion from Pakistan?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Indeed, you're exactly right.
That's, that was when the clock started ticking with the illegal foreigners repatriation plan.
And that was that, that is that is why we we use that figure from October 2023.
And in, in terms of the the breakdown between Iran and Pakistan, it's, it's it's a little bit more from Pakistan than Iran.
And we will, we will shoot the exact figures to you, which we have.
And I should have had them on my fingertips, but I forgot.
Sorry.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
We'll Baba, I'll get those to you.
[Other language spoken]
There's one more question, Nick.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, Thank you for taking that.
And apologies, I missed a little bit of your presentation.
So I may be asking something you already addressed.
But I just wanted to check of the quite a lot of the returnees I think went back into the community.
So I'm wondering how many are still living in kind of UN camps or reception centres?
[Other language spoken]
Yes, thank you very much, Nick.
Actually they, they are the, the, the vast majority are, are back in their communities.
We don't have an encampment policy over here.
The camps that you may be thinking of were those that were, that were sort of temporary set up, temporarily set up last year during some of the the mass inflows.
I mean, at one point we had 70,000 people coming in a single day from Iran.
So in those cases, we did set up communal space spots and tents for people, but this was a strictly temporary measure.
Otherwise, people go home and they go back to their communities.
If they're in some cases when they're unable to be absorbed into their communities or it takes them a little while.
There are informal mechanisms, including through religious institutions and others that do that do house them in communal structures.
But as the as the international community, we do not have a policy of of encampment.
We help them in their communities.
Very well noted.
Thank you very much, Arafat, for this immensely important briefing.
And we'll do our best to get the message out.
And of course, do feel free to connect with us at any point in time.
And thanks and thank you, Babar, for in advance for the figures as well.
So we're going to move on from Afghanistan to Cuba.
We have Marta of the UN Human Rights office who's going to brief us on on the socio economic situation in Cuba.
Marta, good morning everyone.
We are extremely worried about Cuba's deepening socio economic crisis amid the decades long financial trade embargo, extreme weather events and the recent US measures restricting oil shipments.
This is having an increasingly severe impact on the human rights of people in Cuba, given the dependence of health, food and water systems on imported fossils fuels.
The current oil scarcity has put the availability of essential service at risks nationwide.
Intensive care units and emergency rooms are compromised, as are the production, delivery and storage of vaccines, blood products and other temperature sensitive medication.
In Cuba, more than 80% of water pumping equipment depends on electricity and power cuts are undermining access to safer water, sanitation and EGM.
The fuel shortage has disrupted the rationing system and the related basic food basket and has affected social protection networks, school feeding, maternity homes and nursing homes, with the most vulnerable groups being disproportionate impacted.
The electricity cuts also affect communications and access to information.
Access to essential goods and services, including food, water, medicine and adequate fuel and electricity should always be safeguarded as they are fundamental in modern societies to the right to life and the ability to enjoy many other rights.
The long term sustained impact of sectorial sanctions creates economic hardships and weakens the State's capability to fulfil its core responsibilities, including providing protection and assistance services.
This increases the risk of fueling social resurption in Cuba.
The State, for its part, needs to ensure it is prepared to respond in accordance with international human rights law, being attentive to the needs of the most vulnerable and prioritising mediation, de escalation and the safeguarding of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression for all.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Falka Turk reiterates reiterates his call on all states to lift unilateral sectorial measures given their broad and indiscriminate impact on the population.
Policy goals cannot justify actions that in themselves violates human rights.
[Other language spoken]
Thanks to you Martha.
We have start in the room.
[Other language spoken]
They will go online.
A couple of questions for you from Jamie AP Hello Martha.
Nice to see you again.
Thanks for coming back to see us.
I just wanted to, you didn't mention the United States by name and they are the ones of course, carrying out this blockade.
What is the message of the human rights office to the Trump administration about that specifically?
And could you give us more metrics?
You mentioned 80%, for example, in some of the data you mentioned 80% of water, water pumping equipment.
Do you know, do you what, what are the concrete impacts of this blockade specifically?
If you have any numbers on that, that'd be great.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Apologies if you didn't understand in my first sentence and I'm going to read again for you to clarify what I said.
We are extremely worried about Cuba's deepening socio economic crisis amid A decades long financial trade embargo, extreme weather events and the recent US measures restricting oil shipments.
So what we are asking, as I mentioned at the end, it's to lift all sectorial sanctions because they have a really broad impact and are impacting human rights of and the daily life of Cubans.
For example, like what you were asking about the electricity, The country's electricity system relies almost entirely on thermoelectric plants that requires oil and diesel.
If they don't have diesel, they cannot produce electricity.
There are for example, 3000, almost 200 hemodialysis patients that they not going to get the treatment they need if they don't have electricity.
There might be setbacks in health indications if the cold chain it's broken, there's no deliveries of vaccines and if there's no vaccines, outbreaks of of diseases can appear.
You might recall that a few months ago there were already some communicable diseases outbreaks in the island.
If there's no water, proper water to assist, if there's no vaccines to protect people, this disease can spread rapidly.
There's an in Cuba, there's food baskets, system of operations.
These rations have been already cut it, but it does not feel to put in the trucks to be able to distribute food.
People might not get food, might not be able to eat.
So there's no drinkable water, there's no food, there's no medicines.
So the whole system of protecting the population, protecting their rights to food, to health, to water, it's dismantled.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Yes, hi, Marta, how are you?
Just wanted to ask you a little bit about actually it's, it's more for other agencies eventually.
I mean, the situation has been pretty complicated in, in Cuba now for some years.
And, and I'm just wondering who amongst the agencies or other organisations are on the ground and whether there has been any communication with the, with the US to try to get some aid into the country.
I know that Mexico had delivered some assistance this week.
Is that is that assistance just coming from the Mexican government or are there talks with Mexico or other countries to try to help channel some, some assistance into the country?
[Other language spoken]
Paula, what I can say to you, we don't have a presence in the country, but we have a good relationship with the Cuban authorities and we are focusing of course on human rights and we have organised a human rights agenda with them and we offer some technical assistance.
But as a matter of fact, a colleague was in Cuba recently in a mission in a workshop on racial discrimination and she could see by herself the the reality of the impact of the sectorial sanctions and of course the 64 years blockade in in the island.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
And we do have colleagues online from the humanitarian agencies.
If should you have anything to add, please just put your hand up.
Otherwise, what I suggest is maybe we could double back after this briefing to see if we have anything to add in terms of UN presence.
I don't have that off the top of my head, but we have, I think a small presence in the country.
But we'll, we'll have to get back to you on that.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Yes, sorry.
And I have something and else to to add on that waiting for for colleagues.
As you know as well, the Huracan Melissa struck the island in October, devastating it and colleagues on the grounds humanitarian colleagues are on the ground, but are the the year as well suffering.
We have got information from the UN city, from the UN Resident Coordination Office in Cuba that the humanitarian activities are as well affected by, by the shortage of, of fuel.
And the, the UN system itself doesn't have different access or preferred access.
So the UN activities on the ground are already affected and we are not able to deliver the assistance people need.
[Other language spoken]
We'll, we'll follow up with more details in terms of what we're able to do on the ground with the various agencies there.
Thank you very much, Martha.
[Other language spoken]
In Parle the the bit political decision of the the mesio priest Parlez it as you need.
So yes, we we saw what you were referring and what we say in this case.
But again, in any other case where sectorial sanctions are imposed, we always say that those sectoral sanctions affect the most vulnerable, affected people, are not effective and are they don't comply with the UN charters, an international law, because the sanctions should be imposed by the Security Council, no, by a country.
And in this case again, the sanctions are incompatible with the US obligations he the all estates are obliged to protect human rights everywhere.
So imposing these sanctions are the only thing that is doing.
It's not being able to respect human rights of Cubans.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you once again.
Isabel, Spanish news Agency FA yes, Ola Marta and I would like to know if everything that you have described before represents A collective punishment for the entire population in Cuba in order to to achieve this political objective that all you also mentioned and connected to this, if we can specifically state that US is violating the international humanitarian law.
[Other language spoken]
As I said, the measures need to comply with the UN Charter and international law and it does not appear that this is the case.
But let me as well read to you.
Every year the SG, the Secretary General, issues a report on the impact of the embargo on Cuba.
That could be as well be applied to the case of the unilateral sanctions.
And what the HC, the High Commissioner noted was that the coupled with the cumulative effect of more than 60 years of other sanctioning measures imposed under the embargo and other economic factors continue to have a serious impact on Cuba's ability to fulfil its human rights obligations.
So let me be clear, this as well, an obligation, obligation by Cuba to protect their citizens, but the sanctions imposed on Cuba will undermine the capacity of Cuba or fulfilling its obligations.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
And as, as you just heard, of course, you know that the UN General Assembly has year after year calls for an end to the US embargo on Cuba.
And an ESG, for his part, has original parties to engage constructively in the spirit of dialogue and of course, has just heard respect for international law.
This is well recorded for for more than six decades now.
In fact, Emma, it's not on Cuba.
It's a more general question for Martha, if I may.
Let me just check there are no further questions before we take another subject.
OK, we'll allow it then.
In that case, Emma, on another subject.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
It's whether OHCHR has any formal reaction to the criticism of the Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, from European governments, which she says is based on words that she never uttered.
Criticism of Israel namely.
Do you have any statement of support for her or or what is your reaction to this trend?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
On what you referred the Sr remarks at the Aljazeera Forum, the Sr herself have publicly clarified that her remarks were describing broader systematic threats to ensure the protection of people from repression, upper hate and genocide.
She did not characterise any state as an enemy of humanity.
I quote, I invite you all to to go and and see her remarks or read them.
And let me add that we are very worried.
We are concerned that UN officials, independent experts and and judicial officials are increasingly subjected to personal attacks, threats and disinformation that distracts from the serious human rights issues.
So let me come back to the issue Gaza.
Let me give you the the numbers, the figures we have from on the ground.
Israeli military operations, including air strikes, shelling and gunfire, continue to claim Palestinian lives despite the so-called ceasefire announced last October.
591 Palestinians were killed in Israeli military operations as of 11 February since the ceasefire was announced.
These killings showed that Israel continues to disregard its obligations under international communitarian law and international human rights law.
[Other language spoken]
We issued A Portugalise riffing note last week how this week, actually on Tuesday, no the how Israel is not fulfilling its obligation as an occupied power and how it's policies are threatening and undermining the two state solution.
This is what we were.
We should be talking about the reality on the ground, human rights of the Palestinians and every other person in the world.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Martha.
[Other language spoken]
I think that's it for you, Martha.
[Other language spoken]
You have something to add?
[Other language spoken]
No, just I wanted to to tell you.
[Other language spoken]
Confirm that the High Commissioner did met, meet with the Prime Minister and we did issue a tweet so I can share it with you when I'm down from the podium.
Why you didn't inform us?
We did with the press release.
We, we, we don't inform in advance of all the meetings and all the visit like it's up to the mission to the country to share this information if they want.
We as a matter of policy, we don't inform upfront of the High Commissioner agenda and but usually when he meets with high-ranking officials, presidents, minister, prime ministers, we issue a tweet.
I'm happy to share it with you.
Yeah, I mean, I'll supporting that, that comment.
We, we do the same.
I mean, that's at the discretion of the receiving countries.
Often if they for sometimes for security reasons, for we don't always publicise agendas.
Secretary General, for example, it's the same.
We do our best to share readouts with you in a timely manner if there is a photo opportunity or something that we can share before and we do that.
But we are always very mindful of the wishes of the those that we are meeting with our UN officials.
So in terms of a tweet to take John's point earlier, we'll do our best to inform you in a timely and efficient manner.
And of course, this is something that has been erased before.
So thank you and thank you very much, Martha.
OK, moving on back to the other side of the planet, and thank you very much, Miss Goosens.
Tanya Goosens is World Food Programmes Country Director for Madagascar, who's joining us from Anton Anarivo, who will speak to Cyclone Ghazani.
And thank you very much for your patience and thank you for joining us here.
Miss Goosens, over to you.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you so much for the invitation to comment on the situation here in Madagascar.
So just in the space of three weeks, Madagascar has been hit by back-to-back cyclones.
So right now according to initial estimates, we have about 400,000 people that are facing acute needs because of these back-to-back shocks.
First of all, we had, of course, Cyclone fetia, which brought heavy rains and flooding, and then shortly after we had Cyclone Gizani, which resulted in damages due to its very strong winds with gusts of up to 250 kilometres per hour.
I've just come back from the cyclone hit Tamataf.
So this is where Gizani made landfall Tuesday evening.
Samatab is Madagascar's second largest city and the scale of the destruction is is really overwhelming.
I was on mission with the resident coordinator, with representatives from UNICEF and IOM, as well as a small group of key humanitarian donors to assess the situation.
And we conducted also site visit where IOM, UNICEF and and WP are coordinating an initial response.
In fact, the president of the reform decision that Republic de Madagascar received the delegation by concerned ministers and also briefed us on the situation.
The authorities have reported that 80% of the city has suffered damage.
The city's running on roughly 5% electricity.
At the moment, there's no water.
And in fact, one of WP's warehouses and our office was also completely destroyed during the cyclone.
As I mentioned, assessments are ongoing, but to date, authorities have reported in Tamatov 38 deaths, 374 people injured and over 260,000 people that have been affected.
When I mentioned the 400,000 earlier, that's of course considering also Cyclone Fitia that hit the northeast of the country end of January.
Families have left their homes and what we saw many buildings, businesses and schools, even the hospital having suffered severe damages.
During my visit, I saw families trying to recover the little that was left of their home.
Many are spending actually the night in homes where the roofs have been torn off.
And this at a time when already yesterday we we experienced rain.
Rain was incoming.
There's uprooted trees and debris across the city.
This is blocking streets and fuel is also difficult to to come by with support from the UN Humanitarian Air Service.
So Unhouse operated by WP, a multi sectorial aerial assessment was conducted.
This was facilitated by Onehouse but then of course coordinated by OCHA with different actors that also took place yesterday.
It also took place following SIGLO and FITYA earlier, a few weeks ago.
And this has really allowed us to gather additional insights, of course, about the scale of the destruction, not just actually, in this case, TAMATAF, but also the areas beyond TAMATAF.
And results of that will be available in the coming days and will also, of course, inform the humanitarian response.
UNHAS is also conducting at this moment special flights for humanitarian actors.
The government has declared the situation as a state of national disaster and has actually also appealed for international aid.
Of course, in addition to the urgent need for food, we are concerned about water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, as a lack of clean water and damaged infrastructure raises the risk of disease outbreaks.
There are also rising protection concerns for vulnerable groups, particularly for women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Ahead of Cyclone Gizani's landfall on Tuesday, WP acted early.
We had pre ranged funding from the surf mechanism and also Germany and that was critical to allow us to act in anticipation of the shock.
Together with the government and the Malagasy Red Cross, we are providing anticipatory cash assistance to 11,000 of the most vulnerable households.
So that's roughly 50,000 people to help them withstand the shock from this latest disaster.
And this anticipatory for cyclone was actually the first floor for the country.
This early action allowed, of course, families to purchase some food and to protect essential assets and to better prepare before the storm struck.
In the immediate aftermath, we are mobilising our last food stocks, including fortified biscuits and rice, which we will distribute in close coordination with national disaster relief teams.
And this rapid assistance will support 18,000 people following the two cyclones.
We also have a 6 by 6 truck that is on its way to TAMATAF today to further assist those areas that are difficult to reach.
However, the needs that I certainly witnessed on the ground far exceed our current capacity.
Beyond the anticipatory actions that I mentioned and the rapid responses planned, there is no funding currently available for cyclone response and urgent donor support is essential to secure rapid delivery and bridge pipeline gaps in support of these people that are affected by cyclones.
Of course, a cash based response is critical because it can allow us to quickly assist at scale, also restoring purchasing power for affected households and stimulate local markets.
Families are telling us that they have lost everything.
Many are sheltering, as I mentioned, in damaged homes or temporary sites and uncertain about how they can access their next meal.
This is not just an emergency response moment.
We will need, of course, sustained support over the coming months to help people recover, to rebuild and strengthen their resilience against further shocks.
And in fact, we are in at the start of of the cyclone season.
So we are also, of course concerned that this is only just the beginning.
And on top of this, this comes on top of an already very critical food security situation before the cyclones.
Latest IPC data demonstrate that 1.51.57 million people were food insecure across Madagascar, including 84,000 facing emergency levels of of hunger.
And that number is projected to rise to 1.8 million.
Given that we're also in the peak of the lean season here in Madagascar and funding shortfalls remain of course alarming, our overall emergency response and that by that I mean our lean season response as well as cyclone response faces Ausd $18 million gap over the next six months.
And these constraints have already forced us as WP to reduce lean season assistance elsewhere in the country, particularly the South and southeast of the country to just 10% of planned beneficiaries.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
And OK, we'll see if we have questions for you.
And of course, this is immensely important appeal.
And sadly, far too often we're we're short of cash and the needs are immense.
So thank you very much for highlighting those.
Let's see if we have questions in the room.
Firstly, I don't see any online.
No, I don't see any questions for you.
So I think you were very, very comprehensive.
And of course, so we appreciate you briefing us and we'll definitely share your notes with our journalists here and do our best to highlight this important entire situation.
So thank you very much, Tanya for joining us from Montana Narivo and do join us anytime.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Moving slightly north, we have, well Ricardo Pirez of the UNICEF is here to introduce a guest who's joining us from Juba in South Sudan.
So Ricardo, over to you.
Thanks, Orlando.
Hello, everyone.
[Other language spoken]
Just to introduce our country representative AI in South Sudan, Obia Acheng will be briefing on the dire situation of children amid violence escalation in parts of the country since late last year.
Over to you, Obia, and thank you very much for the patience and for waiting.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Since late December 2025, a devastating escalation of violence has swept across South Sudan.
That is in the northern and the central parts of South Sudan, specifically in the Junglee State.
It is estimated that at least 280,000 people have been displaced in Jonglei state alone.
The majority are women and children.
For some, unfortunately, this is not the first time that they've been displaced.
It is the second time, and for some, it is actually the third time.
It essentially means that the violence has led to a situation where children have no place to run.
All community members have no place to run.
We believe that about 53% of those displaced are children, which is a high number.
Most of the ones who fled, like I said, have fled for the second and third time.
They've fled with nothing.
They're sleeping in displacement camps that have been left but that are far away from their homes where they used to be.
And in the camps, they basically have services.
And when I say camps, these are not like our usual organised camps.
These are like more informal settlements in remote locations.
Just to reiterate again, this is an escalating crisis and the impact of children is grave.
We continue to see it every day.
Unlike other countries where we have children who could dream of a future, in South Sudan we are seeing more of killing and maiming of children, recruitment into armed groups, separation from their families.
GPV is happening and there is profound psychological distress that will mark these children for several years to come.
The health system in the country is challenged and that's because of the movements that they have unchallenged because of the economic situations that they have.
Once the conflict is exacerbating the health situation, we estimate or it is reported reportedly, that around 11 health facilities have been attacked and looted since the fighting escalated.
In general, nutrition centres that were keeping children alive have been forced to close.
This week.
For example, in Borough Hospital, our teammate, a young mother, just to relate the story to a person called a helding, she was breastfeeding her two year old son.
She told us that when the fighting started, her family stayed at home for over a week.
They kept cattle they found, they sold crops.
They had a life which they are living.
Unfortunately, all that is gone.
She fled into the thick Bush with her child.
When she finally reached Bor, she had no milk, she could not afford to buy anything.
She was exhausted, she was in pain and she was visibly in a state of shock.
I hail, although in a state of shock, she's one of the lucky ones to make it alive.
She reached a hospital.
Many have not reached the hospital and in the locations where we are having this conflict, they've been reported.
Outbreak of cholera since January.
This has climbed to about 479 countrywide and in Jonglei State 125.
With treatment centres that are overstretched and critically under resourced.
It is a challenge that they live with every day.
We estimate that around 825,000 children across Jungle Unity, eastern Victoria are now at acute risk of at at risk of acute malnutrition and these are locations that they've been having acute nutrition for several years.
And here is a number that should keep all of us awake.
A child with acute malnutrition without treatment for me to underline, is 12 times more likely to lose his or her life.
Pregnant and lactating mothers like Aheo are increasingly cut off from any maternal and newborn care, and the humanitarian infrastructure that could help these families is also under attack.
On 3rd February, the MSF supported hospital in Lankien was bombed, its warehouse and essential supplies completely destroyed.
Across the conflict zone, humanitarian assets and supplies have been looted such as vehicles, food, communication equipment.
Access remains constrained.
Actually in non government controlled areas utilise or humanitarian assets, they've also been loss of lives from the humanitarian factors.
Despite all this, UNICEF, other UN agencies, NGOs both international and national are committed to respond.
We were one of the UN agencies to get supplies after the violence renewed.
Like I've indicated, this was in partnership with other UN agencies and NGOs.
We reached a Cobo for the first time and delivered about 2.5 metric tonnes of emergency health and nutrition supplies.
We are responding to the cholera outbreak in Duke County.
We are running primary healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitation and child protection programmes both in Eastern Equatoria and Unity and in Boar.
UNICEF has supported nutrition centres that are treating children like a health sun, screening them, providing ready to use therapeutic food and pulling them back from the edge.
But these are isolated windows.
They cannot match the scale of what is unfolding in the country.
The solution is an immediate cessation of hostilities and that is what UNICEF and other actors are asking for.
Apart from the cessation of hostilities, we need rapid, unhindered humanitarian access across all affected areas.
Hundreds of thousands of children are depending on the cessation of hostilities and #2 provision of unhindered access.
Mothers like Ahil are depending on it.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Mr Ajing.
Truly heartbreaking the statistics you just shared with us.
And thank you very much for the life saving work you're doing at UNICEF in in South Sudan.
Let's see if there are any questions for you.
I don't, I don't see that's the case, Mr Aucheng.
But once again, it's, it's immensely important that that you, you connect with us and we'll do everything we can to address this really difficult situation in the country.
Thank you very much for the work that you're doing at UNICEF.
And of course, sure that we have questions afterwards.
We'll liaise with you and maybe at Ricardo.
We do have a colleague from WHO who wanted to add something.
So let me just take that comment from Christian from WHO, if you can stay with us.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, thank you very much, Ron, and thank you very much.
Colleagues from UNICEF.
I do actually have a couple of points as they they appeared recently in a statement by our Director General on the attacks on healthcare in South Sudan.
So, across South Sudan, WTO documented at least 19 attacks on healthcare in 2025, resulting in deaths, injuries, destruction of critical infrastructure and the fight of health workers from insecure areas.
The flight, obviously, the consequences for civilians are immediate and severe.
As we also heard from the UNICEF colleagues.
Based on health facility catchment areas affected by the attacks, displacement and service suspension, an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people are currently facing reduced or no access to essential health services, particularly in Jonglei, up in the Isle Unity and parts of the equatories.
These disruptions affect the emergency and trauma, trauma care, maternal and newborn services, immunisation and nutrition programmes.
Treatment of cholera, measles, malaria and other communicable disease.
Patients are abandoning treatment.
Outreach services have stopped.
Disease surveillance is weakening precisely when it is needed most.
As of early February 2026, more than 365,000 people have been newly displaced, with over 280,000 drunk guys stayed alone.
Many fleeing areas where health facilities have been attacked or rendered non functional.
These population movements are occurring alongside a rapidly worsening cholera outbreak, creating ideal conditions for cross country and cross-border disease.
Spread as they move along with the disease, knowing or not knowing that they're affected.
Delayed detection of outbreaks.
Increased preventable deaths in a highly interconnected region.
This is not only a national crisis, it is a regional and global health security threat.
Attacks on healthcare are serious violations of international humanitarian law.
Medical personnel, facilities and transport are protected under the Geneva Conventions and UN Security Council Resolution 2286.
The repeated nature of these attacks reflects a dangerous erosion of respect for those for these norms and the climate of impunity that must be reversed.
We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately seize attacks on health care and humanitarian operations to guarantee safe, sustained access for health workers, patients and supplies, and to respect international humanitarian law without exceptions.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Christian.
So, colleagues, I mean, these are multiple crises.
You know, this is what we do with the United Nations.
We, we put our lives on the line for the to help others.
And, and we've heard very pointedly from Christian and from Mr Aucheng, who's in Juba, the crises we're dealing with malnutrition, cholera, 53% of children displaced, tax and health workers, health facilities, horrible situation.
So thank you very much for your attention to these these issues, colleagues, and thank you very much Mr Aucheng and of course Christian for highlighting this, this situation.
We'll do what we can to to generate some sort of humanitarian response.
So thank you very much for joining us again, Sir, and please feel free to do so in in the future.
[Other language spoken]
No further questions, no questions on this situation.
But we'll we'll move on to just a few announcements before we wrap up this press briefing.
Just to make sure you're aware of all the goings on.
We have the secretary general who's currently in Addis Ababa.
He arrived there yesterday.
Mr Guterres is in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian capital, to take part in the 39th ordinary session of the African Union Summit that's taking place tomorrow.
Today, he's also taking part in the second Italy Africa Summit which had taken place on the sidelines of the African Union Summit.
He is also taking the opportunity whilst in Addis to meet with several leaders.
Several bilateral meetings are being scheduled.
As I alluded to, we have readouts from the the SGS meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, President of Burundi and the President of Ghana thus far which we shared with you and we will certainly and tomorrow, I'm sorry, tomorrow.
The Secretary General is scheduled to do a press conference at 3:00 PM and that is and at this time, I believe it's one hour ahead.
So we will certainly share those comments in the transcript with you thereafter.
I also wanted to mention that yesterday we had a Security Council briefing on the situation in Yemen.
We shared with you remarks from the Special Envoy of the Secretary General, Hans Grunberg, on the situation in Yemen, as well as from OCHA on behalf of Tom Fletcher.
So those are obviously important to read for your attention today.
Here in Geneva we have two committees which are continuing its work.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
SEDOL is reviewing today the report of Lesotho, and the Committee on the Economic, Social, Cultural Rights continues its session to next Tuesday.
The what day is that?
17th it will review the report of Australia.
I also have a note which you should have received in your inbox a short while ago from the Human Rights Council.
The Human Rights Council's Advisory Committee will hold its 34 session.
This come starting this Monday the 16th of February throughout the week 16th to 20 February.
So the Human Rights Council's Advisory Committee is holding its annual session and this is addressing many important issues, including artificial intelligence, narrow technology, plastic pollution and sea level rise, among other topics.
So very important meeting from the Human Rights Council's think tank.
We issued a statement last night from the Secretary General on the appointment of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, which was created by the General Assembly earlier.
Now there are 40 members of this newly established body which has just been appointed.
So the Secretary General issued a statement to that effect and these are leading AI experts from across the globe.
We will be providing independent and impartial assessments of a is opportunities, risks and impacts, including on the global dialogue on AI governance.
Now, he says in his statement, in a world where AI is racing ahead, this panel will provide what's been missing, rigorous, independent scientific insight that enables all member states, regardless of their technological capacity, to engage on equal footing.
End Quote, colleagues, today or before I move to that, let me just mention that the Security Council is addressing the situation in Syria today.
Just to make sure you're aware, since this is an issue which of course has been raised here many times, the Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Claudia Cordone, will be briefing as well as a representative, Ocha.
So do watch that space.
We will share with you any statements that come our way.
And now lastly, today is World Radio Day 13 February and now the this date marks this date marks the day in 1946 that UN Radio was established shortly after the creation of the UN itself.
Now as you know, UN Radio has evolved into UN News, which is a multimedia platform which is offering Daily News and multimedia content in multiple languages.
Now, UN News products are distributed by thousands of media partners, including more than 2000 radio stations worldwide, which is immensely important, particularly for audiences in developing countries.
So this year's World Radio Day focuses on artificial intelligence, and it's an opportunity to really talk about how, when used responsibly, AI helps broadcasters reach more listeners, build stronger connections and put out great content in a timely manner.
To a shout out to our colleagues at the UN News putting out immensely important news stories for your consumption.
That's it for me.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
That's a case of I wish you a good afternoon, nice weekend and see you here on Tuesday.