UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : UN Geneva Press Briefing

[Other language spoken]

We have a big room, big crowded room here.

And maybe on this note, just wanted to signal that we are starting the regular briefing now if I have the green light from the control room, Not yet.

[Other language spoken]

It is a bit warm in here.

[Other language spoken]

So thank you very much for joining us here at the UN office at Geneva for this press briefing today, Tuesday, the 23rd of June.

Apologies for the delay, certainly for a good reason.

We just heard from the Secretary General of the United Initiatives, Antonio Guterres, who delivered a major address on climate and energy in London, which we were streaming here in the press room here at the UN office at Geneva.

And among other things, the Secretary General warned that the world is moving dangerously close to irreversible climate tipping points, underscoring the urgency of stronger action to keep the 1.5 centigrade gold within reach.

He also announced a launch of a global call to action on methane, urging government to industry to rapidly cut methane emissions, particularly from the oil and gas sectors.

This is our moment of choice, our moment of truth, our moment of opportunity, the Secretary General said.

There are lots of rich quotes, lots of important information on the seven points that he outlined in this very important landmark speech, which I strongly encourage you to read.

[Other language spoken]

You've just seen the statement delivered live.

There is obviously no embargo thereafter, but I wanted to make sure you saw that.

And for good reasons.

We were starting this briefing a little bit late.

The agenda for this briefing is rather long, so I just appeal to all of you to keep remarks so much succinct.

But we're going to stay on the subject of climate and heat wave.

Very pleased to have with us here Mary Freel, who's the IFRC senior officer for climate policy here in Geneva.

So, Mary, over to you.

Good morning and thank you for the space and for joining us here in Geneva.

We are all feeling the heat, but the reality is, for thousands of people across Europe, extreme temperatures without action can quickly become a matter of life and death.

That is why IFRC is urging people to take this heat wave seriously and to look out for those most at risk to save lives.

We are speaking as another intense heat wave sweeps across Europe.

Health authorities across regions have issued heat alerts as the coming days pose serious health risks.

And for many living in cities, they are feeling a little relief overnight.

That's why we are encouraging people to firstly stay connected to heat alerts and act on advice from your local authority and then critically to check in with family, friends, your neighbours and people you know who are at risk to keep safe and well.

While heat can affect us all when exposed for too long, we know the most extreme impacts are felt by the elderly, children, pregnant women, people living with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers, people experiencing homelessness, migrants, and people living in housing prone to overheating without access to cool spaces.

And while we may think of protecting ourselves from blistering days outside in the hot sun, which is important, indoor heat is often a hidden threat, especially for people with limited mobility and underlying health conditions.

That's why checking in with your neighbour, a loved one who perhaps has restricted mobility, can make all the difference to act early to keep safe and well.

Across Europe, the IFRC network has already mobilised staff and volunteers to help communities beat the heat with door to door visits, offering safe and well calls, handing out water, establishing cooling stations in cities, providing life saving first aid and sharing practical advice on how people can protect themselves and those around them.

As we speak in Italy, the Italian Red Cross is running a public awareness campaign and mobilising volunteers, prioritising house visits with older people who are housebound and people in migration and informal settlements.

Here in Switzerland, the Swiss Red Cross are working with the cantons and municipalities with a focus on supporting people over 75 with Stephen Welkles and home visits as well.

Whilst in Spain, the Spanish Red Cross are sharing simple actions that save lives, supporting killing centres and providing welfare calls.

And last year alone, the Spanish Red Cross reached over 62,000 people, primarily those over 65, through welfare calls and home visits during extreme heat.

These examples demonstrate an important point.

Early action saves lives and we encourage everyone to act.

Looking ahead and beyond the current heat wave, climate change continues to drive more frequent, longer and more intense heat, and this is becoming one of the defining humanitarian challenges of our time.

Extreme heat is a major public health and humanitarian risk which need people, places and partnerships to work together to protect the most vulnerable and to make our cities and homes more resilient to rising temperatures.

Therefore, C Network stands ready to support governments and communities before, during and after extreme heat events.

And our volunteers are trusted members of the community they serve, reaching those who may otherwise remain isolated.

Our message today is straightforward.

Extreme heat is predictable.

We know who is most at risk and we know what works to protect them.

So with preparedness, Community Action and sustained investment, many heat related illnesses and deaths can be prevented.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Miss Freel.

We have questions for a colleague from IFRC.

Yes, Robin, AFP, thank you.

The the things that your Red Cross societies are doing across Europe, these door to door calls and cooling stations, etcetera.

Is that are you using an existing old playbook or are you seeing a new situation now that you're having to adapt to?

So is this, that's what I'm asking, is this old, you know, an old format or are you seeing something new here?

[Other language spoken]

Thanks very much.

So the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are integrated into heat action plans, which are led by governments and municipalities, health authorities to have a prearranged plan in place whenever early warnings do hit on extreme heat that all actors and communities know what to do.

So we are acting within those heat action plans.

I would say that everyone has a role though to play, particularly for groups that are vulnerable.

Public health messaging is available for all through local public health authorities, but really knowing which groups are most vulnerable and need an extra support is critical in this time.

That's where the Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies focus on, particularly groups who may be isolated, who may not have family or or friend support.

And so to make sure that that people are keeping hydrated, keeping well, and if there are any signs of heat stress, that action can be taken.

This is deadly.

[Other language spoken]

And heat is extremely, extremely serious for those with underlying health conditions that we'd we'd outlined.

So we're working within that existing plan.

As heat continues to rise and the the length of heat waves extend, then the risk rises.

So we would just urge people to continue to act and even in the day or two after heat wave ends, to continue to to check in with neighbours, your friends is also a critical time.

Thank you for your question.

Thank you very much for the questions in the room online perhaps.

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

So thank you very much, Miss Frill, Thank you so much and for being here and for your patience.

Move riding along, moving right along.

Sorry.

We have who's joined me on the podium, very pleased to introduce you to Piro Tomaso Perry, who's FA OS acting representative in the Syrian Arab Republic, who's visiting Geneva, who's based in Damascus, but he has some announcements on FA OS priorities in Syria.

Over to you.

[Other language spoken]

Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to brief you on files priorities in Syria on the occasion of the Syrian Mine Action Partners conference that is taking place now in Geneva.

[Other language spoken]

After 14 years of conflict, recurrent droughts, economic hardship, damaged irrigation, weakened services, disrupted markets and widespread explosive ordinance contamination, rural livelihoods remain under severe pressure.

Yet agriculture is one of Syria's most immediate pathways to recovery, with nearly half of the population depending on it and around 13.4 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity.

With the food security situation remaining extremely serious, safe access to agricultural land is essential.

Since 8:00 December 2024, as of last week update 1299 explosive ordinance related incidents have been recorded with 2325 casualties.

Agriculture and grazing areas continue to account for the majority of recorded incidents.

Over the past week alone, 9 out of 11 incidents occurred in farmland or grazing areas, one of which killing three children attending to their herds.

For many rural Syrians, cultivating land, grazing animals, harvesting crops can be life threatening.

Hence, explosive ordinance contamination is both a protection issue and a direct obstacle to food production, safe returns, rural livelihoods and economic recovery.

The link between mine action and agriculture becomes decisive.

Mine action saves lives by making land safe.

Agriculture turns that safe land back into productive land.

Together they help communities move from emergency survival to recovery.

FOUL brings specific added value to this effort.

In a context of vast contamination and limited clearance capacity, one of the most important questions is where to start.

FOUL supports prioritisation by bringing agricultural, socio economic and environmental analysis into mine action planning.

This helps identify areas where clearance can have the greatest impact on food production, livelihoods, safe returns, water access, market recovery and community resilience.

With the general support of Japan, Fawan Unmask, together with the Government of Syria, are working to link explosive hazard clearance with agricultural rehabilitation.

Once the land is made safe.

FOUL supports farmers and herders with irrigation rehabilitation, seeds, animal feed, veterinary services and technical assistance, making the Nexus a reality.

The mining protect lives, agricultural recovery, the stores food, income, dignity and hope.

However, despite its potential, emergency agriculture remains severely underfunded.

In 2025, only 16% of the food security and agricultural livelihood sector targets for emergency agriculture was reached.

As a result, many rural households missed critical seasonal support, missing the planting season, losing animal assets, abandoning productive land and fail, and falling deeper into food insecurity and humanitarian dependency.

VOW Emergency Resilience Plan 20262028 aims to assist 9.8 million people and requires 286 million U.S.

[Other language spoken]

It provides the framework for VOWS work in Syria across time, critical emergency support, resilience, building recovery and transformative assistance, including the rehabilitation of the mined land.

FOUL remains committed to ensure that land made safe can become productive again.

Our pledge is to continue supporting Syrian farmers, herders and rural communities so that agriculture can provide food security, restore livelihoods, support safe and dignified restaurants, and help Syria move from emergency to sustainable recovery.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Mr Petty, do we have questions for our colleague from FAO on Syria checking here?

[Other language spoken]

Maybe just take this opportunity to announce that the Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Mr Claudio Cordone, did brief the Security Council yesterday to which he spoke of the UN engagement with the Syrian government on the political transition, noting it's advancing constructively through those significant work remains.

So this is statements that we shared with you yesterday vis A vis situation in Syria.

But thank you very much, Mr Petty, for being here with us and good luck to you with your work back in Damascus.

[Other language spoken]

OK, Very pleased to have with us Miss Misa Zalbou, who is a Director of Education.

Cannot wait to thank you very much for your patience.

A very important announcement from you.

And I know there's some links to what we heard earlier about climate change.

Over to you, please.

Good morning, colleagues.

Climate change and crises are having a devastating impact on education, putting the lives and futures of children in the most affected countries at acute risk.

Today, education cannot wait.

The Global Fund for Education in Crises in the United Nations is launching a new report, Breaking Barriers Understanding Educational Exclusion in Crises.

The report presents a grim global picture of educational exclusion in crises.

It also provides new evidence of where educational needs are greatest, who is being left behind, and the barriers preventing children from accessing and benefiting from education.

Our new estimates show that 258,000,000 children, school age children and adolescents now have their education affected by crises worldwide.

In just 18 months, the number of crisis affected children has increased by 21 million.

But this report is about more than the scale of the challenge.

The report sharpens our understanding of where educational needs are greatest and where educational exclusion is most concentrated.

It finds that 182,000,000 children live in the world's twenty most severe crisis settings, including 74,000,000 children who are out of school.

This means that nearly 80% of all out of school affected children are concentrated in 20 countries.

This tells us something very important.

While the challenge is enormous, we have a clearer picture than ever where needs are greatest and where investments can have the greatest impact.

The report also demonstrates that educational exclusion is deeply unequal.

Children affected by displacement, disability, and the most severe crises face the greatest barriers to education.

One of the reports most heartbreaking findings is the deeper evidence it provides on disability related exclusion.

Children with disabilities continue to face significantly higher risks of being excluded from education.

Girls also face additional barriers where crisis intersect with poverty, displacement, discriminatory social norms, child marriage and gender based violence.

For example, if you are a girl adolescent with disabilities in South Asia, you are 40% more likely to be out of school than a boy with the same barriers.

At the same time, the report highlights a challenge that extends beyond access.

Millions of children are enrolled in school, but they are not acquiring the foundational skills they need to stay on track and succeed later in life.

Yet perhaps the most encouraging finding is that families have not given up on education.

Even under extraordinary hardship, parents continue to prioritise learning of their children because they see education as the only pathway to opportunity, a source of dignity and a foundation for a better future.

That is why the findings of this report are not only a warning, they're also reason for hope.

Drawing an evidence for more than half a million households interviews across crisis affected countries, the report finds that financial barriers and conflict related school closures account for nearly 80% of school withdrawals.

This tells us something even more important.

The primary barriers to education are not a lack of demand.

Families want their children in school.

The barriers are economic, structural and political, not motivational.

Children and families continue to believe in the transformative power of education.

So today we are calling on the international community to match the determination of children and families seeking education.

We're calling on the international community to help us in three ways.

Help us bring focus and attention to the children who are at greatest need.

74,000,000 children in 20 countries.

Help us raise $600 million to reach 10 million children in the most severely affected crisis affected countries and help us spread the message of our campaign.

Hope starts here.

Hope starts with education.

We're calling on the international community to join our campaign and to come together on November 5th here in Geneva to raise $600 million to reach 10 million children over the next four years.

Colleagues, the evidence is clear.

We know where the need is greatest.

We know who's being left behind, and we increasingly know what works.

The question is no longer whether we understand the challenge.

The question is whether we will act at the scale required.

Hope starts here where action is taken.

Hope starts with education.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much for highlighting this important report.

And I see that I have also a handout here, which we've shared with you.

[Other language spoken]

Let's take questions if there are any in the room.

No, I think we overwhelmed you all with our agenda today.

Don't believe there are any, but that was a very comprehensive brief.

They have all the material and they know where to contact you should there be follow up.

So thank you very, very much, Miss Yalabo for your your patience.

So just to let you know, colleagues, we had to shift the order a little bit.

We're going to now turn to our colleague from WHO, Miss Doctor Ayesha Dacosta, who's going to speak to the situation of, let's see here, newborn screening can prevent birth defects.

So birth defects.

Afterwards, we'll go to the situation of Ebola.

[Other language spoken]

And yet we have a couple more briefings on Sudan and also an important announcement from FAO and WFP.

[Other language spoken]

We also have something from Yens as well on the surf.

[Other language spoken]

But over to Doctor Decosta, and thank you very much for being here.

[Other language spoken]

A baby may be born with some conditions that are going to affect this baby for the rest of its life if these are not picked up early and managed.

Some of these conditions may be visible, like club feet, or there may be others that are invisible, for example, hearing impairment or hypothyroidism.

Newborn screening, whether for a visible or an invisible condition in the first days of life, can actually change a child's future.

That is why WHO brought together countries and peoples from around the world to a global consultation to learn from country experience, from persons and families affected as well about how best we can implement newborn screening at scale to save lives and help children thrive.

A new report which is being released today, focuses on exactly that.

It is structured to help countries, particularly low and middle income countries, plan and implement universal newborn screening programmes for one or more conditions that the country perceives as a priority.

While many high income countries have developed well developed screening programmes, many low middle income countries are yet to start these.

Every year, about 8 million babies are born with a birth defect and 90% of these babies are born in low middle income countries.

Therefore, these conditions are one of the most important but less recognised causes of birth, of death and disability among children, particularly in these settings.

For decades now, low middle income countries have made remarkable progress in reducing death from infectious diseases.

But as those deaths decline, another challenge starts to emerge.

Birth defects are now accounting for a growing share of child deaths in many low middle income countries.

In South Asia, the proportion of under 5 deaths linked to birth defects has risen from 3% to 11% since the year 2000.

In sub-Saharan Africa, this figure has gone up fourfold.

This tells us something important that the next frontier in saving children's lives is newborn screening.

That is, screening all newborns through examinations or tests to detect early conditions that children may be born with and ensure access to diagnostic and management pathways.

Yet for millions of babies born in settings that do not have access to newborn screening, these conditions remain undetected till late, often when irreversible damage has already occurred.

That is why WHO is now calling on all countries to plan and implement newborn screening programmes for one or more conditions in their National Health systems to ensure that every baby can be tested, diagnosed and connected to care as early as possible.

Countries are encouraged to prioritise at least one or more conditions based on their own country context.

The new WHO report is grounded in the experience of countries that are already leading the way, particularly in low middle income settings.

Through WHO consultation, ministries of health from low middle income countries came together to share what is working, what challenges remain and how newborn screening can be successfully integrated into routine health services.

Persons affected and their families also participated to tell us how systems can work better for them.

What emerged was a clear message.

Progress is possible even in resource constraint settings when screening is linked to diagnosis, treatment, referral systems and long term care.

Because newborn screening is more than just a test or an examination, it is an opportunity.

An opportunity to detect a serious condition before symptoms appear, an opportunity to prevent disability and in some cases, an opportunity to save a child's life.

Countries are already proving what is possible.

In the Philippines, newborn screening now reaches almost every baby in the country in Kerala.

In India, babies are born with born with congenital heart defects are rapidly identified and transported to life saving treatment.

In Uganda, newborn screening is helping infants with sickle cell disease access care before complications start to develop.

The lesson is clear.

Newborn screening is one of the best investments a country can make in the future of its children because every child deserves the chance not just to survive but also to thrive.

And where a child is born should never determine whether a treatable condition is detected in time.

Thank you all.

Thank you very much, Doctor Costa, very important.

So findings indeed.

[Other language spoken]

OK, I should mention that Doctor Dicos, I've neglected to mention the beginning as a scientist for Newborn, Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn Child and Adolescent at the World Health Organisation.

So do you want to add something Christian?

[Other language spoken]

Maybe just on the embargo.

The report was sent to you all and the embargo lifted already at 11:00.

So everything is free now.

Speaking notes have also been shared.

Thank you so very much.

I just want to double check.

[Other language spoken]

OK, well, thank you again, Doctor Decosta, and thank you for being here with us at this press briefing.

OK, may I kindly ask our briefers on Ebola to join me here on the podium?

There are a few WHO colleagues, IOM colleagues and IFRC colleague.

If you could join us here, we'll make sure.

I'm sorry.

Just give us a second as we arrange the name plates and seating.

[Other language spoken]

Sure, you can please by all means.

And right afterwards, we will go to our colleague Saif from OHCHR on Sudan just to stay tuned for that as well as Yen's in the room and our colleagues from FAO and WFP.

One who I should mention is joining us from Niger, who I thank for your patience.

So perhaps let me just introduce to you, Miss Daniels will go to Daniels, who's the IOM Deputy Director General for Operations.

And thank you very, very much for being here and thank you for your patience.

After Miss Daniels, we'll have colleagues from WHO and who am I missing?

OK, WHO do we have anyone online?

Just to making sure I have the agenda straight, Thereafter, we'll go to maybe our colleague from WHO, WHO Doctor Mahmoud, who is Director of Health emergency alert Response.

And then Paulo from IFRC is also joining us on the podium.

Miss Daniels, over to you.

Thank you very much.

In the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, everyday life has become fraught with risk.

The journey to feed your family or earn a living can also become a journey into danger.

[Other language spoken]

The virus has become more than a health crisis.

It touches every aspect of daily life, bringing uncertainty and fear for communities already affected by conflict and displacement.

This outbreak is not occurring in isolation.

It's layered onto an already difficult reality, deepening fear and stretching resilience to its limits.

This outbreak is centred on areas where people cross borders everyday.

This is why we must get ahead of the virus.

Responding effectively requires reaching communities affected by conflict, displacement and insecurity.

It requires maintaining surveillance where formal and informal cross-border movements continue.

It requires building trust where fear, misinformation and previous experiences have led communities to question public health interventions.

In some areas, health facilities and response teams have come under attack, further complicating efforts to identify cases, trace contacts and interrupt transmission.

One missed case can change everything, says Blake David, a national medical officer with IOM at Namule point of entry in South Sudan, where teams screen thousands of travellers daily in a highly mobile environment.

Cross-border transmission underscores the need to maintain safe and monitored movement without weakening surveillance, while insecurity and community mistrust continue to affect operations.

Quarantine, isolation and infection prevention capacities also require further support to contain the spread.

These realities demand resources that match the scale and complexity of the situation.

[Other language spoken]

IOM, the UN Migration Agency, is launching a Multi Country Preparedness and Response Plan seeking $55.8 million to support coordinated action across 11 countries over the next six months.

To date, more than 20 million has been received, leaving a current funding gap of approximately $35 million.

The appeal will strengthen border health surveillance and mobility tracking, improved cross-border coordination and support community engagement and preparedness in high risk and displacement settings, with a focus on protecting vulnerable and mobile populations and reinforcing frontline response capacity.

Since the start of the response, we have screened over 1,000,000 travellers at key points of entry and along major mobility corridors.

Our teams are mapping where populations move, supporting governments to strengthen surveillance systems and working directly with communities to ensure that information reaches people in ways that are credible, timely and actionable.

This work is being carried out alongside partners including national authorities, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO and others.

The alignment between regional leadership and operational response is one of our strongest assets and remains essential to preventing further spread.

The funding requested today reflects what is required to sustain and expand these efforts across the region.

This appeal reflects the scale of the challenge ahead.

Communities need protection, countries at risk need support and preparedness efforts must keep pace with the movement of people across the region.

The consequences of underinvestment are clear.

When funding falls short, diseases are detected later, surveillance systems weaken, community outreach is disrupted, and preparedness gaps grow, allowing outbreaks to spread faster than the response.

What is needed in order for us to get ahead of the outbreak is a collective commitment to ensure that the effort is now fully resourced.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Miss Daniels for this important messages.

We're going to move now to Doctor Abdi Rahman Mahmoud and Director of Health emergency alert and Response at WHO over to you.

Thank you so much and good morning.

I return on Friday from one month in the Democratic Republic of Congo working alongside IFRCIOMWHO and partners, another government leadership LED response.

I was based in Bunya with missions to neighbouring health zones Nizi, Yakunde, Rwambara and Bunya's several areas including the large IDP camp that was just highlighted.

Over 900,000 internal displaced population live in Ituri and I'd like to reiterate again the pointless by OM how important it is to reach this vulnerable population.

I'll give an overview of the epidemic, the challenges and how the response is advancing since I last preview on 9th June from Bunya that will continue to expand.

As reported by the Minister of Health, as of yesterday, there are 1048 confirmed cases reported, of which 267 death is the largest number of confirmed case.

In the first month of an Ebola disease outbreak in Africa.

It took 78 days to reach 250 deaths during the 2014 and 2016 South Africa outbreak.

In the previous outbreak, 20/18/19, it took 130 days, but before this outbreak it only took 37 days.

Just portraying the scale, the scope and the intensity of transmission coming back for the media.

The 1000 or there's not an epidemiological number, but it just shows the level of surveillance.

For this outbreak it took 32 days to achieve to reach the sad number of 1000 case.

In the previous outbreak it was 229 days and the largest Africa Ebola outbreak it was 116 days.

The days are not important.

What is important is we need to scale up and this outbreak is moving faster than as we can.

Each health zone I visited and each area within the health zones has a different dynamics from internal displaced population to communities that doesn't trust the response to, to areas that we need to do more and more in security, in accessibility.

So the trends are changing and areas are increasing.

We haven't had any cases in South Kivu for over 3 weeks.

The response needs to expand to keep pace with expanding outbreak.

This beginning to happen.

For example, the number of treatment beds has increased over the last two weeks, going from a handful to over 500 beds across 19 health zone.

I visited several centres, saw the partners working with the local health workers, saw very six patients and those who had recovered.

Surveillance is being scaled up and the laboratory capacity has gone from 30 tests a day at the start of this outbreak in Kinshasa to now over 2000 tests per day through a network of a decentralised lab across Ituri, N Kivu and S Kivu.

It was great pride I saw this new laboratory start to function after WHO was asked to bring in supply along with Africa CDC and facilitate the training and deployment of provisional staff by INRB under the leadership of Professor Placid.

More and more communities are aware of the risk of Ebola and asking for tools or support to protect themselves.

What needs to be done?

Surveillance still needs to scale up so that we can know where areas not reporting cases.

We know what we know, but we also need to find out if they're silent areas.

The current treatment centres are coming under pressure with 84% of the birds currently occupied.

WHO is working with clinical care partners, MSF, Alima, IMST, Samaritan Pass and all the long lists who have been providing care before this outbreak happened and will continue to all the health cluster partners working there.

This needs engineering logistic skills to be built and supply them the identification and training of healthcare workers to stop them and keep them clean and safe.

Ensuring Ebola does not disrupt the entire house by providing healthcare beyond Ebola.

This community have been suffering for a long time and we need to strengthen the health system and so it becomes more resilient.

This is work we are supporting under the government leadership, providing communities with all the necessary information and timely tests so that they know how to bury their loved ones and the burial teams, ideally from the local community so they manage who have died safely and with dignity.

We are supporting government with all the pillars together with all our partners, supporting research and development and supporting other countries in preparedness.

This remains A challenging and a complex outbreak requires significant collective support and action.

WHO is asking for 115 million to slow and then stop this outbreak.

Very briefly to Uganda on Sunday, the government reported a 20th confirmed case with a total death of two deaths confirmed.

The latest case is a person who has a counter for case in A in DRC.

The outbreak in Uganda is settled with two chain of transmission both linked.

So supporting the government of DRC in controlling will ensure we timely control this outbreak.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Doctor Mahmoud.

Now turn to Paolo Caveiro of IFRC.

Thank you and good morning.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cross and Societies continues to deliver essential materials to areas affected by the Bundabergu Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its proposition in supplies in the neighbouring countries Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan.

As part of the 2.9 million Swiss franc supply and chain operation since the declaration of the outbreak, the FRC has delivered 23 safe and dignified burial kits, which can support over 450 burials and over 300 body bags, in addition to the essential supplies pre positioned in the area.

These early deliveries face the complexities of testing new supply chain corridors given the remote geography of the area, security challenges, closure of local airports and the complex status of the road network.

As needs are growing, the supply and chain operation is scaling up, but the first half of July, the FRC estimates the delivery of a total of 181 safe and dignified burial kits supporting over 3600 burials, 16,450 body bags, 550 personal protective equipment kits and 24 vehicles in the Deer Sea and in neighbouring countries.

The shipments will arrive within phases in Tempe International Airport in Uganda and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and will then be transported by a land to Bunya Ituri Province, a trip that can last over 7 days.

Safe and dignified Dignified burials and PPE Keats as well as body bags are not just operational goods but frontline public health tools to protect health experts, Red Cross volunteers and communities from the spreading of the virus.

Importantly, they're also an act of respect for families in the most painful moments.

Getting the supplies the Red Cross teams in Eastern DRC is critical to allow them to safely and respectfully serve their communities.

The FRC calls on the international community, donors and partners to support the regional emergency appeal to ensure that communities in DRC and across the region receive the full scope of life saving assistance they urgently need.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Paulo, and thank you to all our briefers.

We'll take questions, but I should note that Miss Daniels, I believe you have to leave.

We do have an expert from the IOM who's here, Abdul Aye Wone, who is the senior programme officer and expert.

Thank you very much, Miss Daniels.

But let's take questions as Mr Wone makes his way to the podium.

[Other language spoken]

If this is the largest number of confirmed cases in the first month of an outbreak, is that because surveillance is better than in previous outbreaks or is it something else that you're seeing?

Is it that the outbreak is worse that the virus is more transmissible?

Is it is it the surveillance is better or is it something else?

[Other language spoken]

I think you answered your question.

It includes all all and above 1.

It's where it's happened right now.

It's happened in a large city, Bunya, and the greater Bunya area is large population.

Previous outbreak also started in rural areas before they expanded.

So Mongualu is 80 kilometre from Bunya and intimately connected.

So the population is 1 and as I mentioned and the surveillance has incredibly improved.

Still we're behind the virus in a lot of area, but a combination of a strong surveillance that was ramped up in the last few weeks, high population movement, high population density and, and we don't know yet is this virus different from another studies are going on, but I think a combination of a decentralised lab strengthen surveillance and a highly densely populated area compared to previous outbreak which started in a rural areas before they reached large cities.

Yes, go ahead Robin.

Are you seeing any direct correlation between violence and Ebola cases?

Is there an overlap between the security situation out there and the Ebola virus?

Is that something that you can clearly see?

I think I will turn to our IFSC colleagues who have been, if they can take because several 7 dignified virals have been attacked and the impact it's having, if you can take that like like in any, in any crisis such as any outbreak such as Ebola, the tension tends to grow.

And we have seen violence against our volunteers at SDB sites and that is because, as we discussed last week and has been discussed in in other occasions, there is a lack of trust in the response.

And we're working hard with communities to to bridge that gap.

But rumour and misinformation are creating some difficulties in this.

Thank you, Colin.

And of course, as we've said here from the podium, myself as well, Monusco, our peacekeeping forces is doing what it can in the region, has been deployed in the DRC, as you know, for for quite a long time.

And it's providing as much security whilst contending with this, this virus, providing critical logistical support to try to deliver much needed aid.

It's this very, very complicated theatre.

So of course, these are concerns which sort of compound this, this, this crisis.

Let's see if we have further questions.

We have one online, not in the room.

Robin, I think you're OK with the follow up.

So Emma Farge of Reuters, go ahead.

[Other language spoken]

I have a few questions for one for each speaker for IOM.

Could you please say how many of the confirmed cases have been in the displacement camps and a bit more about what the plan is to counter that the spread in those camps for WHO?

I'd like to know if Bundiboujo is manifesting itself differently in patients compared to the Zaire virus and how this might be affecting the response.

And also, are you going to be able to build new Ebola treatment centres fast enough or is that a concern going forward given the high bed occupancy rate?

And for IFRC, please, you mentioned you're going via Nairobi and then overland.

It doesn't sound very efficient.

Why are you going that route, please?

Thank you, thank you, Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

I'm also coming directly from Bunya where I was deployed for three weeks.

I was very much placed to share the same flight with Doctor Muhammad.

Yes, when it's come to the IDP settlement, you know in Italy, which is the epicentre of the outbreak, we have more than hundreds IDP settlement.

Even in normal situation before the outbreak, they were facing overcrowding because most of the IDP settlement are informal and then they have they are facing access to WASH, sanitation, basic health services.

But now you know that people are living in this IDP settlement but they are moving also for work, for trade, for looking for food etcetera.

It has been noticed that very soon that we have more than 25 cases which has been confirmed unfortunately within the IDP settlement specifically in Easy Health zone and also in Bunya.

And among this we have 14 deaths.

Unfortunately as IEM and you know we are leading the the CCCM cluster and along with WTO we and we did a field visit and then we are coming with a multisectorial response to see how we can increase and improve the way we are detecting case, isolating them but also referring to avoid any further speed of the disease within, within this IDP settlement.

[Other language spoken]

In terms of the clinical presentation, we haven't seen any major difference from like another filovirus where the Spondubujo Ebola, Zaire or Ebola or Marbach.

Currently the dry symptoms are non specific.

So it is the early detection and early referral.

We see more time from the case onset, the population state in the community that increase the community transmission from a clinical presentation, we have not seen any major difference, but that data has been analysed and hopefully we will hear more from the clinical partners and the what they're seeing.

But the initial from a surveillance perspective, we haven't seen any major change to to your second question about building capacity, I want to recognise all the partners now doing the construction is being built and increased and been decentralised, but strengthen all aspects, not only the building but more beds, but also increasing the Community Trust and so that they can refer cases early and then getting the result early.

So it's an integrated approach and I want us to focus from the IDB what interventions we do to all the building.

The trust is well integrated and each of those pillar needs investment and increasing at the heart of it to be the Community Trust and engagement.

Thank you for your question.

The first shipments went from Entebbe to Bunya by land.

As the airport in Bunya was closed following its opening.

Things were flown in directly and why this why we're why the the decision to keep on land route and Tebbit to Bunya.

Now that I would probably need to have a chat with the colleagues on supply chain and get back to you for what concerns the route through Nairobi.

There were a number of goods that were part of a preparedness plan and pre positioning.

So they arrived in the in the port in in Mombasa and this they were shipped from Shanghai before the beginning of the of the of the outbreak.

That's why there's part of it that are going through through Nairobi.

But I'm happy to to take this offline and and get put you in touch with colleagues from supply chain.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you all.

[Other language spoken]

Abdi, having come back from from the field, what Ebola fighting tools that you need are you having difficulty getting?

So where are the where are the gaps that you see now?

[Other language spoken]

That's the $800 million question.

I think the, for me, we're coming back from the field is how do we sustain our humanitarian interventions?

That has the biggest gap.

Every donor would like to support us and we appreciate all the donors who come and supported the Ebola response where we asked.

But at the heart of it, it's the vulnerability of the population with the malnutrition, the lack of access, 1.5 million people have lost prior access to primary healthcare.

So and then makes them more vulnerable to malaria, to malnutrition for me to take away almost after a month is how as a global community, I know it's complex, it's conflict going on, but how did we allow 25% of humanitarian response needs only funded?

So my main way is the country has the experience this day, 17th outbreak.

They will respond.

It may take them time, but they will respond.

I've seen clear leadership from the ministry, from the government, from the president, it will.

But as a global community, do we come in for this neglected crisis, support the 1,000,000 internal displaced population there the humanitarian situation and the conflict.

Peace is the best medicine.

So unless we have, we will be dealing again with 18th outbreak and you'll hear me talking about conflict and crisis to address.

This is the root cause of this conflict, peace.

Peace is the best medicine to interrupt, to detect alien to contain outbreaks like this before they become large absolutely pieces and do the best medicine.

Thank you so very much.

I think that exhausts the questions on this issue.

Just want to double check that's the case.

So thank you all very much for joining me here on the podium on this important subject.

OK, we're going to move to the next subject.

Before we do that, I just wanted to ask Alejandro Laguna, our colleague from UNEP.

Just join me very briefly.

Thereafter, we're going to go to situation in Sudan and then we have our colleagues waiting patiently from Niger and Rome.

But Alejandro, please go ahead.

Hello, I, I thought I should do this in person.

I, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you.

I'm, I'm leaving Geneva physically, I'm going to be around for the next two months.

As you know, I work for the United Nations Environment Programme.

I want you to know that there will be no longer a regional information officer for UNIP in Europe.

We actually won't have regional information officers in other regions either.

If you need anything from UNEP, please contact my colleague Mark Grassi, who is still on board.

And in case you need anything from the Montreal Protocol and substances that deplete the ozone layer, I will be working for them for an implementing agency called Ozone Action with UNEP.

So if you need anything ozone related, you can always reach out to me, I will have the same e-mail.

And when you go to the Partite de Nacion and visit the exhibits, you might Remember Me when you see the Montreal Protocol part of the story on which coincidentally, I did work before knowing I would end up working for the Montreal Protocol.

Thank you very much to all of you, All the best.

I will be around as regional Information officer until the end of the summer, but I won't be in Geneva.

Thanks, Alejandro.

Muchas Gracias, thank you so much for everything.

Merci Boku, it's been a pleasure working with you and we'll see you around.

[Other language spoken]

We'll see you around.

So thanks very much for taking this.

[Other language spoken]

All right.

OK, colleagues, Yance has joined me.

But before we go to Yance, I do want to turn to our colleague Safe from the human UN Human Rights Office, who's joining us from Nairobi.

On to brief on the situation in Sudan, which deserves lots of attention.

Safe, over to you and thanks for your patience.

Yes, thank you very much, Rolando.

I think my approach will be good.

Everyone can hear me.

[Other language spoken]

Good morning everyone.

A report we are just issuing this morning lays bare the brutality and magnitude of conflict related sexual violence in Sudan since the fighting broke out more than three years ago and its profound long term impact on civilians, families and communities.

There were at least 546 incidents of conflict related sexual violence in Sudan between the 15th of April 2023 and mid-april this year, affecting at least 838 victims according to our own verification.

But these figures represent only the tip of the iceberg as most cases go unreported.

Almost 1/4 of the cases.

Almost 1/4 of the incidents documented involved downgrade.

In one case, a girl was gun raped by at least 10 men.

Other acts that have been committed besides rape and gun rape include sexual violence, forced marriage, forced prostitution, sexual torture, and trafficking for the purpose of sexual violence.

Some of these abhorrent acts may amount to war crimes, and in Darfur in particular, there are reasonable grounds to believe that some of the acts of sexual violence committed in the context of widespread and systematic attacks against the civilian population may amount to crimes against humanity.

Most of the incidents we verified were attributed to men in RSF uniforms and RSF affiliates and Arab militia.

Some have also been attributed to Destiny's armed forces and affiliated security actors and militias.

This report was that unless these patterns and impacts of conflict related sexual violence are addressed through justice, victim centred responses and efforts to tackle stigma and discrimination, peace and social cohesion in Sudan risk being undermined for years to come.

We call for all perpetrators, including those exercising command responsibility, to be fully held to account and for victims to be guaranteed access to effective remedy, including repression.

We add the fact that we add the parties to the conflict to, among other things, take concrete and verifiable measures to prevent sexual violence.

The international community should ensure that justice and accountability remains central, with support to efforts towards a ceasefire and resolution of the conflict.

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

I think you already have the report in your inboxes.

[Other language spoken]

If you haven't received the report, do reach out to our colleagues at OGHR.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, Robin, thank you.

With with reports of paramilitary forces massing outside El Obeid, do you feel that there is that this could potentially result in a repeat of the reported sexual violence on the scale that happened in El Fascia?

The short answer to that is yes, we are deeply concerned, as the High Commissioner said last week.

About the build up of troops and around, around and Abate, which points to likelihood that there will be a crowned offensive anytime soon.

On on El Abate and as you may have had, there have already been attacks on on albeit like yesterday, there were major attacks on on albeit that affected social services.

I think a fuel station was heat as well as a sanitation area.

And that is absolutely why the High Commissioner remains seized of this matter and concerned about the situation.

If I can say something looking at my notes, yesterday a drone reportedly struck a fuel truck in Alcofa Market, killing an adult and a child.

There was also a separate strike which reportedly killed the civilians in the Alcoba neighbourhood.

So there is a grave risk of atrocities, including killings, sexual violence, abduction and detention and detentions.

And we call on the social community to be seized off the matter and on the parties to the conflict to ensure also the offensive that we believe is imminent, giving what is what we're seeing, and to enable civilians to safely leave the city.

As their commissioner said, states with influence must exercise that influence now to stop preventable human rights catastrophe and a further deterioration of the human rights situation.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Safe, our colleagues, I refer you to the statement we did issue last week from the spokesperson for the Secretary General, which echoed many of these messages, including the safe passage of civilians.

And obviously the SG continues to call for all parties to take measures to protect civilians and and seize the fighting.

So this is a statement we issued last week.

Further questions for safe.

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

If you can indulge me, Deanne's one more briefer before briefers before we go to you because we've been thank you so much safe.

Thank you very much for joining us and thank you for your patience.

And and we'll certainly highlight this important story as it develops.

Our colleagues from FAO and WFP.

I'd like to thank you very much for joining us.

And again, apologies for the long wait we have on the line.

Maxwell Siphen Sana, who is FA OS, Deputy Director of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience is joining us from Niger.

And we have Richard Shularton, excuse me if I didn't pronounce it right, Shularton, Director of Climate and Resilience at WFP, joining us from Rome.

Maxwell, over to you.

And thank you again for your intervention.

Good day and thank you so much.

We are anticipating what could become a strong El Nino event, one that is expected to affect millions of people across multiple regions through droughts, floods and storms.

But what makes this moment particularly alarming is that this El Nino effect is not happening in isolation.

Across many of the countries we are focusing on, people are already facing record levels of hunger driven by conflict, economic shocks and repeated climate extremes.

At the same time, rising cost of fuel, fertiliser and other inputs linked to the Middle East crisis are placing an additional strain on already fragile food system.

This convergence of risks is creating a perfect storm for vulnerable communities, particularly a smallholder farmers whose lives and livelihoods depend on agriculture directly.

But we are not powerless in the face of this crisis.

We know from experience that acting early works During the last El Nino, FAO and WFP has supported more than 3 million people ahead of peak impacts.

We saw a clear results.

Households were able to protect their crops and livestock, as well as maintaining food consumption.

They also avoided a negative coping strategies.

Anticipatory action allows us to act before disaster, strike when it is still possible, to protect the livelihoods and also to avert the escalation of any crisis.

It is more effective, more dignified and more cost efficient than responding after losses.

They have already occurred.

That is why we have just launched the first ever joint FAOWFP in Global Anticipatory Action Appeal.

Together we are seeking a $202 million to protect 8.8 million people across 22 high risk countries.

But let me be clear, timing is critical.

The window for anticipatory action is narrow and linked to agricultural cycles.

In some countries this window is already open.

If we miss it, we lose the opportunity to prevent losses and both human and financial costs will increase significantly.

We have the systems, the partnerships and the evidence in place, working closely with governments and partners across the humanitarian system including Ultra and the self supported frameworks.

We are ready to act as soon as early warning triggers are reached in each of the countries.

Delivering early warning information with tailored advice, case support, stress tolerant crop varieties, livestock assistance and water management solutions are tailored to local risks.

This appeal is not about building something new, IT is about scaling up what we know works and doing so in a more coordinated and efficient way.

It also reflects A broader shift in how we responded to crisis, moving from reactive to proactive, from crisis management to risk management through a more unified, system wide response.

FAO and WFP bring complementary strengths.

Protecting agricultural livelihoods and food production while safeguarding food consumption and copying capacities for populations that are at risk.

[Other language spoken]

We have the forecast, we have the evidence, and we know what works.

What we need now is timely and flexible funding to act before this El Nino Feda aggravates food insecurity globally.

[Other language spoken]

I'll turn over to my colleague Richard.

Thank you very much, Mr Sibin.

Sana, very important brief indeed, which ties into our earlier comments.

But Richard, over to you and thank you again for joining us.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you, Maxwell, and good morning or good afternoon now everyone.

As Maxwell said, since the start of the decade, vulnerable communities have faced the way of compounding shocks, with no time to recover COVID-19, the impacts of the Ukraine war on grain and fertiliser markets, the 202324 El Nino and now rising fuel and fertiliser and food prices linked to the Middle East.

These waves of crises create hunger traps, every crisis eroding families abilities to cope, forcing them to skip meals, sell assets and think deeper into debt.

And as we brace for another El Nino, those already on the brink being pushed even deeper into more entrenched food insecurity and acute food crisis, we can't afford to let these happen, especially when we have strong and reliable forecasts.

As Maxwell said, we have the systems ready to respond, and we have the window of opportunity for preventive and anticipatory action open now.

What WP and FAO are proposing through this global Anticipatory action appeal, as Maxwell highlighted, is a proven model that we have already begun to scale, one that flips the script, enabling communities to prepare and receive support as soon as early warnings are triggered, rather than waiting to provide aid after disaster strikes on the ground.

We are already seeing the first anticipatory actions linked to El Nino in Central America's Dry Corridor.

WP has provided assistance to more than 76,000 people, cash and food support and practical guidelines ahead of the drought to help them protect their livelihoods.

And in the Sahel, 290,000 people have already been supported with cash transfers and early early warning information, allowing them to buy essential supplies and prepare before a forecast drought.

Climate shocks are hitting hardest in the areas that we call hunger hotspots, where El Nino can compound the vulnerabilities at a critical moment.

In Somalia, for example, flood threatens communities already under severe strain.

And in Sudan, lack of rainfall and extreme heat could put crops and livelihoods at further risk.

And here, climate stress worsens conflict driven hunger, stretches fragile systems to the breaking point and deepens food insecurity for those already struggling in these countries and many others.

As Maxwell highlighted, the windows of opportunity will not stay open for long.

To assist governments and communities to withstand the droughts, the floods and the storms ahead, we are combining anticipatory action with disaster risk financing tools, preparedness and risk reduction activities so that when we deliver anticipatory action, we're ready.

And when disasters strike, we can provide life saving assistance and help families get back on their feet as soon as possible and out of cycles of food insecurity and crises, bridging the entire response cycle.

Just to reiterate Maxwell's critical point, we have the capacity at this stage.

What we are asking the international community to do is to strengthen its commitment, mobilise the financial resources so we can act.

If we fail, we will be delaying assistance and generating higher, higher needs in the future.

If we act now, we can reduce the cost of humanitarian assistance later.

Thank you very much.

Thank you gentlemen, both of you, very much for these important briefs.

[Other language spoken]

Any questions from our colleagues here room or online?

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

Mr Sibensana, Mr Charlatan, thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Also, apologies for the long wait.

This is a very important brief which you delivered and we'll make sure to amplify this loud and clear to make sure people hear these important messages.

Thank you so very, very much for joining us.

[Other language spoken]

OK, last but certainly not least, Jens is supposed to be on the podium who has an announcement for us.

Over to you, Jens.

Thank you, Rolando.

Good morning, Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for your patience.

[Other language spoken]

I acknowledge that.

I sent you a briefing note where you'll have some of some of the numbers I'm going to read out, but here we go.

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has just announced a $10 million funding package from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support women and girls in some of the world's most severe humanitarian crisis.

The allocation spans 8 underfunded emergencies and will help women and girls access protection, healthcare and other vital services.

A key feature of the funding is that it will be delivered in close partnership with local women LED organisations.

These groups are among the first to respond.

They know their communities, they understand the risks and they're often the most trusted source of support.

As you know, women hold up half the sky.

For us humanitarians at least, they hold up half of the response.

So of the 10 million, Ethiopia and Syria will receive one and a half million each, booking a Faso and Haiti 1.4 million each, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar 1.3 million each, Mozambique 900,000 and finally Mali $700,000.

Taken together, these allocations will improve access to services for survivors of gender based violence.

They will provide sexual and reproductive healthcare, psychosocial support and other forms of protection.

The role of women LED organisations is crucial.

In Ethiopia, around 80% of the funding from us from the SERF is expected to go to these groups.

In Myanmar the figure is around 70% and in Mali it's about 60%.

And substantial funding is also planned for women LED groups in the other recipient countries that I mentioned.

So these organisation will help identify women and girls who are at risk.

They will support survivors, deliver services and gather feedback from the communities to ensure accountability to the people we serve.

And the projects have also been chosen for their potential to be scaled up in the future.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks to you Yens.

Do we have questions for Yens?

No, again, we overwhelmed you all with the agenda today, which is now nearing a close.

So thank you so very much, Jan Thank you for your patience.

And it's just to remind you of Ken colleagues, the address of the SG, you have it, which was at the top of this briefing.

I just also want to highlight our briefers from FAO and WFP, very important notes, which unfortunately got pushed down to the agenda, but the very important messages there in which fold into the larger message on climate action, the need to address the the, the situation of climate change.

Colleagues, housekeeping note just to remind you, as I did Friday, that the registrations for the global Dialogue on AI governance, the meeting taking place at Pell Expo 6 and seven July, Please do register.

If you can do this by the end of this week, that would be helpful.

We will make an arrangement where you can pick up your badges ahead of time to avoid any bottlenecks at PAL Expo on the 6th and the 7th.

So that is a very important gathering where the Secretary general will be attending.

Human Rights Council, as you know, is well under way.

It's, it's more than, well, nearly halfway through, I should say, 62nd regular session, not halfway through, just after the first feels like it's halfway through, I should say.

[Other language spoken]

In connection with that, we have a press conference which will take place here just over an hour from now.

It's the Commission of inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory, including E Jerusalem and in Israel, to launch their latest report.

The three members of the Commission will be sitting here at this podium briefing you.

That's at 1:30 today and on Wednesday, sorry.

Thursday, the 25th of June, we have the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Al Salem, who will be briefing on her report entitled or it's subject of violence against mothers.

So that's 3:00 PM on Thursday.

That's all I have for you.

Any questions for me?

[Other language spoken]

See you here on Friday.

[Other language spoken]

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 23 June 2026