The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 09 October 2020
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1:20:30
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MP4
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628.1 MB
Nobel Peace Prize 2020
Tomson Phiri, for the World Food Programme (WFP), informed that the WFP had just been awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the WFP had been able to deliver help and services to people around the world, who were at risk of both infection and hunger. Thanks to its global logistics network, the WFP had made it possible for several other humanitarian actors to continue to do their work. This was a humbling moment for everyone working and volunteering at the WFP, as well as for the local communities the WFP was serving. Mr. Phiri said that the WFP not only provided short-term food aid, but also assisted people to become self-sustainable and be able to feed themselves. The WFP was entirely voluntarily funded and expressed gratitude to the donors who had provided record support to the WFP this year. They saw how their support for the WFP was making a real difference on the ground. WFP continued to appeal to the donors to continue with their generous support; until the vaccine for COVID-19 is found, food remained the best vaccine and best available remedy to combat undernourishment and hunger and nourish people to health. COVID-19 had left a few places untouched and a few lives unchanged. More people needed food assistance than in the past, said Mr. Phiri.
Mr. Phiri then shared some of his personal experiences from working with the WFP in Zimbabwe and Mozambique for the past nine years. Mr. Phiri also said that
The WFP Executive-Director and the UN Secretary-General would issue statements later. (The UN statement is available here, and the WFP statement is available here.)
Rhéal LeBlanc, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), added that thus far the United Nations agencies and Secretary-Generals had won the Nobel Peace Prize 11 times; the WFP’s award was the twelfth. It was great acknowledgment of the important work done by the WFP to combat hunger and help achieve Zero Hunger, SDG #2.
Millions of migrants stranded around the world
Paul Dillon, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that effective international cooperation was urgently needed to address the circumstances of millions of migrants stranded worldwide due to mobility restrictions imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19. For the first time, global data was available and showed that 2.75 million migrants were stranded worldwide. It should be clear that migrants could be returned to home in an organized manner; many migrants had indeed managed to return home. The data had been collected from over 300 locations in some 101 countries. The data, based on July 2020 figures, as comprehensive as they were, were likely still an underestimate, and represented only the known cases of migrants stranded worldwide. When stranded, some migrants were at a higher risk of exploitation and abuse. IOM has repeatedly called for migrants to be included in national COVID-19 responses. Migrants often face xenophobia, stigma and attacks, stressed Mr. Dillon. Some migrants were housed in unsanitary conditions, where basic distancing and hygiene were not possible. Recently, the UN had highlighted the difficult conditions of over 400,000 seafarers, some of whom had been stuck at sea for as long as 17 months.
Some 200,000 migrants were stranded in the European area, and close to one million in Asia Pacific, Mr. Dillon said in response to questions. Ms. Dillon specified that the 2.75 million figure did not include those people who might have been stranded before the onset of COVID-19. It represented cases of migrants stranded abroad, from public or official sources and direct requests to IOM, in need of different types of assistance including food, water, shelter and/or return assistance.
IOM press release can be read here, while the brief “COVID-19 Impact on Stranded Migrants” can be found here.
Response to the Beirut blast – update
Tomson Phiri, for the World Food Programme (WFP), informed that the WFP was stepping up its response to the Beirut blast by providing cash assistance for up to 50,000 people (10,000 families), to help them meet basic needs such as food items such as bread and rice as well as to pay for healthcare. The blast had come as Lebanon faced its worst ever financial crisis, at a time of soaring unemployment and salary cuts with many families struggling to make ends meet. The pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures had resulted in food becoming a major concern for many people due to rising prices and the devaluation of the Lebanese currency, which had lost 80 per cent of its value since previous October.
WFP was now seeing needs rising, even in wealthy neighbourhoods, and some middle-class residents requesting support. WFP had provided food parcels to local partners and NGOs to support community kitchens providing more than 3,000 meals per day to affected families and volunteers cleaning up debris in the neighbourhoods. In order to help stabilize the flour supply and the price of bread, WFP had also brought into Lebanon 12,500 metric tons of wheat flour. Mr. Phiri said the WFP would continue to accept applications for assistance through a dedicated self-registration website launched earlier in September.
Displacement in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Shabia Mantoo, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), stated that the UNHCR was rushing support to tens of thousands of people who have been recently displaced in the aftermath of brutal attacks and fighting by the armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
More than 50,000 people had fled in the aftermath of a recent upsurge in fighting in North Kivu. The displaced included an overwhelming number of children, including many who were unaccompanied by either a parent or guardian. Brutal attacks blamed on the armed group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) had killed at least 13 people at a site hosting forcibly displaced people in Mbau village, Beni Territory, on 21 September. In fear for their lives, many others had fled from the nearby fields where they were working, leaving everything behind.
To respond to the needs of those forcibly displaced and their local host communities, UNHCR, its humanitarian partners and local authorities were providing aid, including shelter assistance, healthcare, water and sanitation and protection. UNHCR was also assisting forcibly displaced people in Pinga, an area in North Kivu, where ongoing fighting had reached an alarming stage endangering innocent lives. The new displacements in North Kivu and Ituri added to the over 3.4 million persons already internally displaced in the two provinces. There were currently 5.5 million people internally displaced in the DRC, one of the largest displaced population globally and the largest in Africa. UNHCR needed USD 168.2 million to respond to refugee and IDP needs in DRC this year, but had only received 61 per cent to date.
Full press release is available here.
Situation around the Moria camp
Shabia Mantoo, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that four weeks after the fires had destroyed the Moria Reception and Identification Centre on Lesbos, UNHCR was reiterating its call that urgent action and improvements are needed to avoid further deterioration of living conditions for some 7,800 refugees and asylum-seekers currently sheltered in the emergency site in Kara Tepe. Colder weather and the onset of winter would only bring more hardship for the people there. There were critical gaps in drainage, water, sanitation, hygiene and health services that needed to be addressed without any delay.
Heavy rains on 8 October had exacerbated the situation for residents in the emergency site.
The current tented site was not equipped to provide necessary protection against the elements and low temperatures. At the request of the Greek authorities and in support of the government-led humanitarian response, UNHCR was delivering gravel to help lessen the risk of flooding in tented and common areas. As the weather was becoming colder and wetter, UNHCR was providing insulation kits, flooring with pallets and plywood sheets for family tents.
UNHCR urged immediate action on all Greek Aegean islands. On Samos, where almost 4,500 people continued to stay in inadequate and overcrowded conditions, most slept in summer tents or makeshift shelters in the woods, outside the reception centre meant to accommodate only 650. UNHCR was encouraged by this month’s efforts to decongest overcrowded sites across the Aegean islands, through government-led transfers of the most vulnerable asylum seekers and recognized refugees to the mainland.
UNHCR press release can be read here.
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
Referring to a message of the UN Secretary-General, Rhéal LeBlanc, for the UN Information Service (UNIS), stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had brought renewed attention to the importance of strengthening disaster risk reduction. Many countries were facing multiple crises simultaneously. To eradicate poverty and reduce the impacts of climate change, the public good had to be placed above all other considerations. For these reasons, the 2020 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was all about strengthening disaster risk governance to build a safer and more resilient world.
Denis McLean, for the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), stated that, looking at the mass casualty events which had occurred in the previous twenty years, the death tolls in each case could have been significantly reduced if there had been greater focus on disaster risk governance for the more effective and efficient management of disaster risk.
The early failures to prepare for a pandemic on the scale of COVID-19 underlined the importance of disaster risk governance as the theme of this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, 13 October. Warnings about the probability of a global pandemic had often been ignored or brushed aside in the daily concerns of government which, considering the human and economic costs of COVID-19, did not seem so significant now.
A virtual press conference on the launch of Human Cost of Disasters Report 2000-2019 would take place on 12 October at 11 am. The speakers would be Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and head of UNDRR, and Debarati Guha-Sapir, Professor at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.
State of Climate Services report on Early Warning Systems
Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that the WMO with partners had compiled a detailed report on the state of climate services around the world, with the focus on early warning systems. Those systems were vital in saving lives due to the changing weather patterns. There were some success stories of how such systems saved lives and limited economic losses. A hybrid press conference would be held on 13 October at 9:15 am, with Prof Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General (briefing virtually), and Dr. Maxx Dilley, Deputy Director, in charge of Climate Services Department, WMO (in Room XIV).
Geneva announcements
Rhéal LeBlanc, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was meeting in private until the public closure of its 68th session, on 16 October, 4 p.m.
The Human Rights Committee would open on 12 October, at 4 p.m., its virtual 130th session, mainly devoted to review of individual communications.
Mr. LeBlanc informed that 9 October was the World Post Day.
10 October would be the World Mental Health Day. Mr. LeBlanc reminded that the UN Secretary-General has issued his latest policy brief on COVID-19 and Universal Health Coverage. COVID-19 had shown that universal health coverage, strong public health systems and emergency preparedness were essential to communities, to economies, to everyone.
Finally, Mr. LeBlanc said that 11 October would be the International Day of the Girl Child. The Secretary-General’s message on this occasion had also been shared with the media. This year’s theme, “My Voice: Our Equal Future” called to amplify the voices of adolescent girls, and put their needs at the forefront of laws, policies and practices in every country and community around the world. The gaps between girls and boys remained unacceptably wide, said the Secretary-General in his message.
Teleprompter
Good morning, Good morning, everyone.
Welcome to this press briefing of Friday the 9th of October.
We have a few announcements to begin with.
First on the list is Paul Dillon from the International Organisation for Migration.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So of Dateline Geneva.
This is regarding the needs and vulnerabilities of 2.75 million stranded migrants around the world as a result of COVID-19 mobility restriction measures.
Effective international cooperation is urgently needed to address the circumstances of millions of migrants worldwide stranded worldwide due to mobility restrictions imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19.
A three month long review of data contained in our COVID-19 Impact on Migrants paper produced by IO Ms Returns Task Force reveals for the first time the scope and complexities of the challenges facing governments and people on the move at a time when at least 2.75 million migrants are stranded worldwide, says IO Ms Director General Antonio Vitorino.
The scope and subsequent enforcement of 10s of thousands of mobility restrictions, including border closures and nationwide lockdowns related to COVID-19 require states to reach out to their neighbours and to migrants countries of origin to address their needs and vulnerabilities.
He goes on to say it should be clear that migrants can be returned home in a safe and dignified manner despite the constraints imposed by COVID-19.
Where governments have taken action, 10s of thousands of migrants have been able to return home in a manner that takes into consideration the significant health challenges posed by the pandemic.
This snapshot of the global situation based on July 13th, 2020 is based on data collected from 382 locations in more than 101 in 101 countries, is largely considered a large underestimation of the number of migrants stranded or otherwise impacted by COVID-19.
For the purposes of the report, stranded migrants are defined as individuals outside of their country of habitual residence wishing to return home, but are unable to do so due to these mobility restrictions related to COVID-19.
It does not include populations reported to be stranded prior to COVID-19.
The figure 2.7 million represents known cases of migrants stranded abroad, including those identified by IO.
Ms missions referred to IOM for assistance by governments, including diplomatic and consular offices, civil society partners, and other UN agencies.
Other sources of information include IO, Ms Returns database, the Displacement tracking matrix, Mobility's restrictions database, as well as trusted media at the national and international level.
Once stranded, some migrants are at higher risk of *****, exploitation and neglect.
The loss of livelihoods going to increase vulnerabilities and expose them to exploitation by criminal syndicates, human traffickers and others.
Taking advantage of these situations, IOM has repeatedly called for migrants to be included in national COVID-19 response and recovery plans.
Too often, however, they are excluded from or due to their irregular status, unwilling to seek health and other social services, a situation which is exacerbated by rising anti migrant sentiment that we're seeing in some countries.
Migrants often face stigma, discrimination and xenophobic attacks, but the extent to which social media in particular has served as an incubator and an amplifier of hate speech is a deeply troubling phenomena.
It is essential to criminalise extreme forms of hate speech, including incitement to discrimination and violence, and to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Additionally, measures such as the use of quarantine to manage the spread of COVID-19 have regrettably also resulted in migrants being warehoused in unsanitary conditions where basic hygiene and physical distancing measures cannot be met, creating a breeding ground for the spread of potentially fatal diseases and a situation where migrants are at risk of facing further discrimination circumstances people find themselves in very enormously.
In a recent joint statement, UN agencies highlighted the critical situation for some 400,000 Mariners who are currently stranded at sea, many of whom have been on board their vessels for up to 17 months, Six months normal than the maximum of 11.
This backlog is a humanitarian crisis that threatens the well-being of seafarers and mire timers.
[Other language spoken]
Nonetheless, it is clear that dialogue and cooperation can produce concrete results.
International cooperation has paved the way for IOM to provide voluntary return assistance to more than 15,000 vulnerable stranded migrants in recent months in a manner that addresses public health concerns related to COVID-19.
Some governments have been proactive in addressing vulnerability issues, allowing migrants, for example, regardless of their migratory status, to have access to medical facilities, particularly those dedicated to COVID-19, and providing food and accommodation to others.
Other countries have adjusted their visa requirements for seasonal workers in light of mobility constraints posed by the pandemic, or are ensuring that that migrant workers in quarantine are receiving their full salaries.
And finally, while mobility restrictions continue to impede the movement of migrant workers globally, exceptions are being made.
In recent weeks, the first of an expected 3400 Mozambican miners have been allowed to cross back into South Africa to resume work after being medically screened and informed about the risks posed by COVID-19 by IOM.
Discussions are now progressing about providing the same facility to thousands of agricultural workers.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Paul.
Are there questions?
Well, not in the room, but we do have some questions online by Ram Altug.
You'll have to use your ear earpiece of Paul to listen in.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Hi, Paul, thanks for briefing.
How many migrants standard in Europe, especially in Greece and in background countries?
[Other language spoken]
Thanks for your question.
The data that we've collected has been broken down by the regional offices that IOM has.
So the nine regional offices, pardon me, in the area, the coverage area that includes Greece, which would be the European Economic Area.
In Switzerland, we have roughly 200,000, it's actually 200 and 2578 stranded migrants as of July 13th this year.
There is a further breakdown in Greece.
We reported over 102,000 stranded migrants and in Italy roughly 85,000 migrants.
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Let's now go to Lisa Schlein from Voice of America.
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How are you doing?
Yeah, I have a couple of questions.
You, you say you did your, your report regionally and so forth.
I'm, I'm, I'm interested in knowing which regions are most affected by stranded migrants, the nationalities that be maybe more impacted by this, for instance, African migrants heading towards towards Europe, if you have any numbers on that?
And do you have any numbers regarding deaths among migrants, migrants who from neglect and exploitation because of the COVID-19 pandemic have died as a consequence of that being stranded?
Thanks very much, Lisa.
I'll answer your second question first.
We do not have that kind of data about the number of people who have died as a result of this current situation.
In terms of where the largest volumes of stranded migrants are located, I can say that about 2.25 million migrants are stranded in in the MENA region and about 977,000 in the Asia Pacific.
But to break that down and give you a bit of context to it, the majority of those listened to stranded in MENA, 73% were found to be in the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
And the figures for those respectively are 648,000 in UAE and 280,000 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Asia Pacific, where we have 977,000 people listed as a stranded on July 13th of this year.
About 60 to 63% of those are in Thailand, which of course has a vast migrant labour market between 3, pardon me, between 4 and 5 million people.
And there are about 142,000 migrant stranded as well in Pakistan.
So that takes up sort of the lion's share of, of the caseload in, in that particular region.
Now in terms of the, the breakdown of nationalities and we have done some of that.
But I mean, I think it's safe to say that in many cases, for example, in UAE and in Saudi Arabia, the the make up of the migrant workforce there now in many cases unemployed is well documented.
We have many people coming, of course, from the Horn of Africa and and East Africa and a sizeable population coming from the Asian subcontinent, from Nepal, from Bangladesh, and indeed from the Philippines, Southeast Asia, from Indonesia and other countries.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Good morning, Paul and everybody.
Thank you for that briefing.
So I just wondering, how do you determine that the people in this count are people who who want to go home?
[Other language spoken]
And so does that mean that people, for example, who are trying to get to Europe from Africa would be excluded from this count because presumably they they're seeking, they're not seeking to return home.
So if you could just clarify that for me, please.
Sure, There are a number of caveats around the language that are contained within the report, and I strongly encourage you to read those caveats.
The the 2.7 million figure does not include, for example, people who might have been listed as stranded prior to COVID-19, and it clearly does not include people who are intending to continue an onward journey.
In this case, we're looking specifically at people who've expressed a wish either directly to IOM through their consular services through United Nations and NGO partners, through the diplomatic and consular corps to return home, or who have been identified as wishing to return home by major media.
So it's a conflation of a number of different data sources collated from as I said, 382 different locations in 101 countries around the world.
[Other language spoken]
And just to follow up, if I may you, you mentioned those seafarers who are presumably in the count.
Can you give us any more anecdotes about population groups that are stranded and where they are?
And when you mentioned the UAE example, I mean, is this essentially, is this essentially racism?
I think that I mean, your best bet on the, on the mariner, on the information, the, the specifics of the of the mariner population.
Your question be directed to the IMO which are the authors of the the release that was signed off by IOM and a number of other agencies.
Or it's also safe to say you know there are 10s of thousands of car of bulk carriers.
There are thousands of cruise ships and in many cases well documented.
Back in February, March and April of this year, cruise ships were arriving at port.
Passengers were being kept on the vessels for a period of time until ultimately being allowed to leave, but the fates of the crew were overlooked, shall we say.
You have on each of those vessels sometimes a factor of 1 to 1 crew to passengers.
So you could be looking at upwards of 1500 crew coming from all over the world.
But the principal supply nations are countries like the Philippines and Indonesia and countries in Central America.
And many of those crew, of course, during the course of a regular, their regular work would never actually emerge from below decks.
So consider for a moment, only a small portion of those people on the cruise ships would be allowed above deck.
And you have a situation where, I mean, it's a very dire situation if you're trapped below decks for 17 months or indeed for for six months.
The bulk carriers, obviously the situation is a little bit different.
There's a bit more of a spread, There's a bit more room to move around.
But again, if you, if you fly into Singapore, if there's such a thing as possible these days, you will see hundreds of bulk carriers sitting out in out in the waters as you do in points all, all around the world.
If one goes to to Google and searches out the, the tracking facilities that exist on the Internet to see where vessels are, it's, it's quite astonishing to see these massive clusters of bulk carriers in points around the globe.
In response to your question about UAE, I mean, the, the Emirates have historically been a destination country for hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, construction and services, a range of different, different roles that they play there.
We've seen thankfully some nations have indeed been able to work with the authorities bilaterally in UAE to return home some of their nationals.
[Other language spoken]
I believe the figure is something in excess of 430,000 Indian nationals, migrant workers in in the Emirates have been allowed to return home over the last few months.
So, I mean, the point here is that nations talking to nations opens doors for these kinds of, of, of efforts, not just in terms of returning migrants to the countries that they wish to return to in a respectful manner.
That that addresses the serious public health concerns around COVID-19, but also in a reverse sense begins the dialogue about reanimating economies globally, which of course is a concern to everyone.
As we, you know, as we see the lights going out, as it were, migrants are ski, they are central to a robust global economy without their them being taken into consideration as we move forward.
It has very dire implications for the global economy as well.
[Other language spoken]
We have two more questions and then we'll close on this topic.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I was wondering if you could make a similar breakdown as you did for for Lisa on the the migrants that are stranded in Central America, where where are they from?
Where are they located?
Yeah, thanks for your question.
I don't have a country by country breakdown for you, but what we can say is that for those who are stranded, identified as stranded in the Americas, which is the total is roughly 111,000 people.
Some of this data is of course included in the report.
So I encourage you to to look at the report which is online now at the moment and linked to the presser that we sent out yesterday.
But I can tell you that all those 111,384 stranded migrants as of 13 July 2020, that about 34,000 of them were listed as being in Colombia, about 21,000 in Cuba and about 13,000 in Mexico.
OK Christian Elores from DPA.
Hi, Paul, can you hear me loud and clear?
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I'm sorry if I missed this information earlier.
[Other language spoken]
But the Asia Pacific figure, does that include the Rohingyas in Bangladesh or why is that so ****?
[Other language spoken]
Thanks for your question and it's an important clarification to make.
Again, the the caveats in the report are are really important.
The the figure of 2.7 million captured by the Returns Task Force includes migrants who were identified as stranded due to COVID-19.
It does not include individuals who may have expressed the desire to return home prior to COVID-19.
So for example, the the group of the the 800,000 roughly Rohingya in Cox's Bazaar and elsewhere are not captured in this particular report.
I thought Peter Kenny was online, but he's actually in the room.
So Peter, please go ahead with your question.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
You spoke about the return, negotiated return of migrant workers from Mozambique miners.
Do you have any statistics for agricultural workers that are being you said that they are talk talks involved within the at what stage are they at this time do you know?
[Other language spoken]
Thanks for the question.
I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that question.
As I said right now, the initial target group for this for this effort was 3400.
Mozambique and miners returning to the mines in South Africa.
Obviously, I mean these are multi generational miners.
These are people whose fathers and grandfathers and uncles were in country before many of them were in South Africa as COVID-19 began to emerge and were able to return home to Mozambique.
I don't know the details about the agricultural workforce, but I'm happy to look into it and get back to you later on this morning.
[Other language spoken]
I think that's all the questions we have for you this morning.
Paul, thank you very much for having been with us this morning.
Let's bring up Dennis McLean from the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Agency to tell you about International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, which is celebrated every year on the 13th of October, and also to tell you a bit about a new report that will be coming out on Monday on the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
You will have received, I hope, our Secretary general's message, annual message for this day in which he says that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed attention to the importance of strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction.
Many countries are facing multiple crisis simultaneously, and we'll see more of this.
Extreme weather events have risen dramatically over the past two decades.
Of course, for all of For these reasons, many more.
He says that this year's International Day is all about strengthening disaster risk governance to build a safer and more resilient world.
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So looking at the mass casualty events which have occurred in the last 20 years, the death tolls in each case could have been significantly reduced if there had been greater focus on disaster risk governance.
Having a clear vision, plans, the capacity to implement them and the competence to implement them would have led to more effective and efficient management of disaster risks.
Or whether we're not just responding to events, but we're taking pre emptive action to prevent disasters happening.
The early failures to prepare for a pandemic on the scale of COVID-19 underline the importance of disaster risk governance as the theme of this year's International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on October the 13th.
Warnings about the probability of a global pandemic, who are often ignored, are brushed aside in the daily concerns of government, which, considering the human and economic costs of COVID-19, do not seem so significant.
[Other language spoken]
Same procrastination is at work when it comes to concerted action on climate change and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to levels required to keep global temperature at 1.5°C above pre industrial levels.
1 result is that over the last 20 years we we have seen a dramatic surge in the number of major climate related disasters by comparison with the previous 20 years.
This explains why all national adaptation plans developed under the Paris Agreement list Disaster Risk Reduction as a top priority.
So on Monday we will be launching a report entitled The Human Cost of Disasters 2000 to 2019, which will present the available data on major disaster events over the last 20 years and some trend analysis.
The data is drawn from the Emergency Events Database maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, based at the University of Louvain in Belgium.
We had hoped to have Professor Deborati Guhaus appear, the head of this agency with us here in Geneva, but because of the COVID-19 situation, she is unable to travel.
So we'll speak online with Mami Mitsutori, the Secretary General, Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Let me just see if there are any questions in the room or online.
Yes, I see that Lisa Shlyne from Voice of America has a question.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Good morning, Dennis, just a clarification, Well, will you be sending us an embargoed press release on this and an update on?
So Deborah is not going to be participating at all.
Is that right?
There'll be a different speaker.
You'll be sending us an updated information on regarding the press conference, etcetera.
[Other language spoken]
No, we're hoping that Professor Guha Superior will be able to join us online from Brussels.
I'll be discussing the technical details of how we manage that with real after this briefing.
We will receive an embargoed copy of the press release this afternoon together with a link to the actual report itself.
They are both embargoed until noon on October the 12th, which is at the end of the briefing that we'll be having at 11 AM online.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
We'll be sending out the a new announcement.
Yeah, confirming that it will be a a virtual press conference rather than a hybrid 1.
So thank you very much Dennis for being with us this morning.
Let's let's now go to Claire Nullis from the World Meteorological Organisation who joins us online.
[Other language spoken]
Good morning everybody.
To complete the package on Disaster Risk Reduction and follow on from what Dennis has has just said, the World Meteorological Organisation and a lot of other partners, including the UN Organisation for Disaster Risk Reduction.
We've compiled a fairly detailed report on the state of climate services in 2020 and the focus is on early warning systems and risk information.
So Dennis has talked about, you know, the, the, the increase in disasters, the, the human toll of the increase in extreme weather events.
What we in our report will be looking at is the state of early warning systems, which are, you know, vital in saving lives because of extreme weather.
We hear a lot of doom and gloom stories and indeed, you know, it is it is a very, very alarming situation at the moment because of climate change.
But there are also some success stories in, you know, which show how early warning systems, not only have they saved lives, but they've also, you know, limited economic losses.
And so we will be highlighting those in our report.
We'll be having a press, a hybrid press conference on Tuesday morning.
Sorry, you'll have to get up early because we're having the press conference at 9915.
It will be with Max Dilley, who is our Director of climate.
He will be in the room with you.
And then we will be hooking up remotely with Professor Petrie Tallis, who's in Finland at the moment.
I will send out all the media materials for you on on Monday morning.
But just to emphasise, you know, with we are reinforcing the the message of the disaster World Day for Disaster Risk Reduction that, you know, we can do a lot more to save lives and to protect property by better governance and in particular by better early warning systems.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
Claire, are there any questions for WMO?
I don't see any.
[Other language spoken]
We are now going to move right along with our agenda.
Thompson Ferry from the World Food Programme is here to give you an operational update on the World Food Programme's response to the Beirut blast in Lebanon.
Good morning, Thompson, Good morning everyone.
Good morning everybody.
When disaster strike, the World Food Programme is usually the first on site, but we are also one of the few people who stay behind until when people get back on their feet and we are going to keep it, keep it, keep it to disasters this morning apparently and such as the case in Beirut.
And the World Food Programme is stepping up its its response to the blast by providing cash assistance for up to 50,000 people, which is about 10,000 families to help them meet basic needs such as food items.
The most of the people are buying bread, they are buying rice as well as to pay for their health care.
As of mid-september, vulnerable families started to receive a monthly transfer of 1,680,000 Lebanese pounds and an operation that is expected to last for six months.
It will run until maybe February 2021.
People most in need were identified through a combination of assessments that we have conducted that have been conducted by WFP as well as by partners in the affected neighbourhoods such as Current, Dina and others.
WFP is carrying out this assistance in close collaboration with the Lebanese Red Cross as well as with operational support from the Lebanese non governmental organisation SHELLED.
The blast came just as Lebanon was facing it's worst ever financial crisis at a time of very **** unemployment rates with salary cuts amongst many families, with most of them struggling to make ends meet.
We are seeing increasing needs even in wealthy neighbourhoods and some middle class neighbourhoods in Lebanon and prior to the blast and the subsequent response, WFP had distributed over 2200 family packages reaching 7600 people.
We had also provided food parcels to local partners and NGOs to support community kitchens that are providing more than 3000 meals per day to affected families and volunteers provided food parcels to local partners and NGO's to support community kitchens.
We, we, we, we also, as you may be aware, moved in to supply flour and the price of bread into Lebanon and we moved about 12,500 metric tonnes.
And also following an agreement with the Ministry of Economic of Economy and Trade, we worked with bakeries in in Lebanon so that they would start to increase the weight of the bag of bread from 900 grammes to 1000 grammes, allowing families to receive two extra loaves in the staple bag of pita bread for the same price for a period of 60 days.
WFP will continue to accept applications for assistance in Lebanon through a dedicated self registration website that we launched in September.
That was all I was going to tell you, but I've just learnt.
I've just learnt that the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the World Food Programme.
Thompson, we couldn't have timed it any better.
You are actually on the podium as this announcement comes in.
Congratulations to the World Food Programme and all the staff working diligently day in, day out.
We will have, of course, a statement by the Secretary General very soon, but I'm going to give you the floor because I see that hands are raising.
So maybe you want to make an initial statement and then we'll take a few questions if you don't mind.
Yes, I will just say this is a proud moment.
The nomination itself was enough and to then go on and be named the Nobel Peace Prize winner is nothing short of defeat.
This is an organisation I've served for nine years.
I've seen the extent to which people who are dedicated across the globe go the extra mile.
Just before I moved to Geneva, I was based in South Sudan where people would walk on foot to serve humanity and it's really a proud moment.
I really feel honoured to be a member of this of this great team.
That's great.
That's great.
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It could be on Lebanon, but I'm sure it's going to be on the Nobel Prize as well.
Gabriela Sotomayor, thank you.
Real thank you.
Yeah, I, I was going to ask about reactions on the Nobel Peace Prize.
That's that's the thing.
Congratulations to you.
And well, that that that was it.
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Thank you, Camillella for that comment.
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Yes, Hi, Thompson.
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I also was going to ask about reactions.
I, I guess you might have said what you had to say, but if you have any more thoughts on on why WFP won this prize, that would be helpful.
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I think the great list of of of organisations that have been nominated do fantastic work and and and and and for WFP as well.
I think for this year we have gone over and above the Call of Duty.
We have been able to support even when other I'll, I mean you saw everything went into shut down following nationwide global restrictions, following COVID-19, the World Food Programme stepped up to the plate.
We were able to connect communities.
At one point we were the biggest airline in the world.
When, when, when, when most when all, most if not all commercial airlines at ground to a halt.
We were able to move assistance to keep people moving.
We were able to deliver assistance and it was through the global common services that we provided that some, most of the aid workers were able to stay in some places and deliver and even in communities where people were at risk of both the infection and hunger.
And I suspect that you will have a statement from the head of your organisation at some point during the day as well.
Emma Farge from Reuters, I think would like to ask you a question as well.
Yeah, it was along the same lines of any further elaboration on on your reaction to this and what it means for the organisation?
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The Executive Director would definitely issue a statement sometime during the course of the day.
And like I indicated, this is really a proud moment.
And the World Food Programme could, I mean, this is a humbling nomination to to, to say the least.
And not only is it for the staff and the people who work for the World Food Programme, but also the many volunteers and the communities that we work in.
Yes, I think, I think Thompson has has given a number of comments will continue.
There are still some hands raised.
If you have also questions on the on the Lebanon situation, which he briefed about, please go ahead.
Catherine Fiancan Boganga Yes, good morning and congratulation for the work you're doing.
So my question is related to both to the Nobel Prize and to Lebanon.
What are the biggest challenges now for you, for the agency in Lebanon and also in the world?
Because you got that price for sharing and the solidarity that you showing in in your action.
So could you please elaborate a little bit on these?
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Thank you so much in Lebanon following this blast.
Lebanon is a country that was already facing financial crisis even before the blast.
It was also very facing the economic challenges from the impact of, of, of, of COVID-19 and, and, and we, we have been already working in Lebanon to assist people there.
And the blast came as a, as, as added pressure.
And to be honest, it is going to be some time before people can actually fully recover.
The World Food Programme is assisting, we are providing immediate needs, but we are also going to be helping people recover.
The ports of Baria is the main gateway in terms of imports.
I think the country depends imports approximately 85% of all these food supplies through that port.
And until it's fully, fully repaired and, and, and, and back to 100% capacity, it is it is going to be it is it, it will need more needs.
It will need more support from from international organisations and others as well because Lebanon is not yet out of the woods in terms of world hunger and the Nobel Peace Prize.
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I'm sure the executive director is going to give a detailed statement on this accolade.
But I just want to say that world hunger for some time had been pushed back.
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We expect the needs to even go to, to become worse as we go forward following, following the impact of COVID-19 as things stand.
And we were, we, we were expect, we were initially before, before pandemic, before the pandemic had hit, we, we, we, we, we had an estimated that about 179 million people would need assistance.
But obviously those needs are going to, to, to, to even increase as we go forward.
And the World Food Programme had been appealing for about $4.9 billion, not to assist all the people, but just to assist 30 million people who were at risk, who were the most vulnerable over, over, over, over over the next, the next couple of months or even one year.
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We'll take Peter Kenny right here in the room.
Good morning, Thompson, congratulations.
You mentioned that you have been with the World Food Programme for 9 years.
I know we're going to get a statement from your chef, but.
Could you just mention briefly the type of disasters that you've been working at the forefront of in those nine years to just give an example of what would happen to a typical WFP staffer?
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I, I started with WFP in Zimbabwe, where we were responding to to food needs as a result of economic challenges, droughts as well as floods.
I've also worked in Mozambique where we were assisting children with school meals in schools, uh, where we were building a resilience of people in, in, in, in Mozambique across the country and WP provide assistance, uh, under our food, food for assist, food for assets programme where we provide food to selected people were able to actually work on the creation or, or maintenance of assets.
And then once that asset has been created, the entire community benefits.
I worked also in South Sudan where we are responding to the needs of people who are affected by the conflict, but also where we are helping areas that are indirectly affected by the conflict to, to, to, to, to strengthen their resilience to future food shocks.
And one of the beauty of, of, of, of, of, of, of WFP activities such as the food for assets work that we do is that not only do we provide food today and tomorrow, but we are also equipping people with the kind with, with, with, with the knowledge, with the, with the means for them to sustain themselves even the next day and the day after.
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Good morning, Thompson.
And yes, I had my congratulations to everyone else's.
It's wonderful news and thank you Peter for your question.
I actually did want to ask you about Africa in particular.
I believe that the, that you're, you have probably more operations in Africa than in any other region of the world and may be wrong about that, but perhaps you could speak about that and, and whether there are so many competing needs in the world right now, especially with COVID-19.
Is the WAWFP running a deficit?
Also, do you find it more difficult in this moment to get the money that you need for, for Africa, for other operations around the world?
And are you hopeful, do you believe that this Nobel Prize will perhaps, you know, increase the world's support for your organisation and what you are doing in regard to world hunger?
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Lisa, and good morning to you.
WFP is 100% voluntarily funded.
That means we fundraise as we go in 2020.
Donors have been very supportive to, to the World Food Programme.
In fact, we, they've been supportive of our programme to the extent that we, they provided the, the, the record funding ever to WFP in about 8 billion that they provided.
But here's the thing, that budget had been done before the pandemic had hit.
And, and, and, and, and of course we continue to appeal to donors to, to, to keep us going to dig deeper.
But the same donors as well are are are facing domestic pressures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The next one is Byram Altu from Anadolu News Byram, please go ahead.
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It's a great news for work food programme.
First question for you, Rehan, when was the last time Aun agency received a Nobel Peace Prize?
And my second question for you, Thompson, as you know, Turkey's hosting more than 4 million refugees and we all know that WFP play plays a great role in order to, you know, give them cash assistance and other humanitarian assistance.
So do you think receiving this Nobel, Nobel Peace Prize is in some part of your activities in Turkey, you know, played role in receiving this Peace Prize?
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[Other language spoken]
I will address your second question.
And I think I think this Nobel Peace Prize is a recognition of, of, of, of the efforts not only in a single country, but globally.
WFP is working in in in about 83 countries globally with a range of programmes.
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We are in in areas that are not in conflict.
We are also in developing countries.
We are helping a lot of governments to develop national policies.
In education, we are working in many sectors to, to, to help countries that may be in need.
And regards the other question, I do not have that answer for you on when was the last time the UN organisation got that?
And if it's OK, I would deflect to my colleague.
We are here to, to, to, to provide that response.
Well, it's a little bit of a, I have to do a bit of research, but from what I can gather, this is the, the United Nations, it's specialised agencies and related agencies, funds and programmes have previously received the Nobel Peace Prize a total of 11 times.
Now I guess this might make it 12.
Of course, we've had two Secretary generals, Kofi Annan and Doug Hamoshkold were both awarded this very prestigious prize in the past, and one agency, the refugee agency, has received it twice.
So this is really a tremendous honour for the United Nations and the international community.
As I said, more, more additional statements will be coming from both WFP and the UN Secretary General on this.
But I would also say that this is going to give a tremendous push to the the second objective sustainable development goal, which is to achieve 0 hunger and to a goal to which all countries committed to in 2015 when they adopted the SDGS.
This is really going to put this objective in the limelight and give it some impetus.
Let's we just have a couple of more questions probably on this.
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I just want to know if the Executive Director, Mr Beasley, is in Rome or in the United States at the moment.
And secondly, if you can give us a bit of a breakdown, What percentage of your voluntary funding comes from the United States and how many countries at the moment, according to WFP estimates have severe cases, severe acute malnutrition in children under 5, If you can name the key countries and what are the shortfalls?
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The executive director was most recently in Burkina Faso.
He he has been travelling, but I'm sure he will be coming back to Rome anytime soon.
In terms of the percentage of the, the United States is one of the, is one of the biggest donors among others who are providing assistance to the World Food Programme as, as as we speak in terms of severe acute malnutrition, the problem, the challenges of severe malnutrition are quite, are quite, are quite widespread.
I could check on the exact quant of, of the, on the exact countries and, and get back to you.
But at the top of my mind, there are countries like South Sudan, there are countries like Mauritania, There are countries as well in, in, in other regions where you have a huge cast load of children under the age of five who are severely acute malnourished.
And I'll be happy to, to, to, to respond to you after this briefing.
OK, Catherine Fiancon Bukonga again.
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Yes, Samson, I have to convey the, the, the, the biggest congratulations from AKANU, the Association of Correspondents accredited at UN to Mr.
David Baisley and to to all the staff of your organisation.
Now I have, I have a question among the, the 8083 or 88 countries that WFP is active in, I'd like to have your opinion about the rise of hunger that we see in Western countries, even in Switzerland.
So do you think that WFPII don't know if it's exactly your mandate to, to, to be active in, in, in countries like the Western countries?
How do you see the situation?
[Other language spoken]
Unfortunately, Catherine, on that I might have to get back to you.
We have responded in some countries as the World Food Programme in, in, in, in, in parts of Eastern Europe and I do not have the data at hand on countries such as Switzerland.
And if it's OK with you, I could get back.
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John Zaracosta again, you have a follow up.
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If you could elaborate, you mentioned a few countries like South Sudan and Mauritania.
Can you, you must have more details on what is the situation of malnutrition in Yemen and also in Afghanistan and in Afghanistan.
Why do you have so much malnutrition after decades and billions of aid into that country?
[Other language spoken]
What we have seen happening in countries such as South Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan is that where you have conflict, assistance becomes irregular, it becomes inadequate.
Assistance also sometimes is delayed and in some cases it's even suspended.
The issue of severe acute malnutrition is not only an issue of lack of food.
You also have other factors such as disease, access to clean water sources that come into play.
And in countries that are at conflict, as you rightly say that billions have gone in terms of in terms, in terms of aid.
Aid will go in, yes, but you also need peace.
You also need stability in those countries and that is the bedrock or everything else becomes less daunting when you have peace.
[Other language spoken]
Let's take the last question on this from Gabriela Sotomayor.
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Thank you for giving me the car again.
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Gabriella, for some reason you were muted temporarily.
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I was listening the ceremony when they announced the Nobel Peace Prize and they are saying that in these moments of COVID-19, a World Food Programme will be key to, to, to the for, you know, because the hunger is going to grow.
So if you can comment on these challenges and relate it to, to, to the situation and also the challenging funding that you are experiencing, if maybe a Nobel Peace Prize will help to visualise your your work.
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[Other language spoken]
Well, COVID-19 has left few places untouched and few lives unchanged.
It is, it is, it is, it is an understatement to to actually think the extent to which COVID will go in terms of contributing towards, towards, towards rising hunger in the world.
The economic fallout as a result of COVID has meant that more people than we have had to assist are now looking to ask for assistance.
We are hopeful that we will continue to assist people.
Donors, like I had said earlier, I have been have been incredibly supportive of the work of the World Food Programme.
They have seen how their investments in the World Food Programme have helped stave up famine in some context.
They have seen how we have been able to nest back sick children to health in in some contexts.
And we continue to to to appeal to them to dig deeper into their pockets.
Never mind the challenges that we have everywhere.
Food is indeed the best vaccine that we have until a time when we have a vaccine.
It is our hope that we continue to work together not only with donor governments, but also with foundations, with the private sector in helping defeat hunger.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you so much Thompson.
Again, our heartfelt congratulations to the World Food Programme and all the staff.
It's a tremendous honour that you're receiving.
We'll, we'll wait for more statements in the over the course of the day.
I realised that this came just as you were briefing on Lebanon, which was your main topic of briefing.
So I don't know whether we had to give precedence to the, to the, this major announcement.
But are there any questions for Thompson on Lebanon OR shall we continue with the rest of our briefing?
I don't see any hands on that, but I'm sure you people will contact you For more information.
Again, congratulations Thompson, thank you so much for you.
[Other language spoken]
We have Sharia Mantour from the refugee agency with us.
Also, who to tell us to give us an update on the a month after the Moria fires, how UNHCR is preparing to deal with worsening conditions ahead of winter And also to tell us about how thousands have lead armed group attacks in eastern DR Congo.
Good morning, Shabiya, good morning, everyone.
And congratulations to our colleagues at WFP as well.
So if it's OK, we'll start with DRC where we have some news.
UNHCI is rushing support to 10s of thousands of people who've been recently displaced in the aftermath of brutal attacks and fighting by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo's N Kivu and Italy provinces.
More than 50,000 people have fled in the aftermath of a recent upsurge in fighting in North Kivu.
The displaced include an overwhelming number of children, including many who are unaccompanied by either a parent or a guardian.
Brutal attacks blamed on the armed group Allied Democratic Forces killed at least 13 people at a site hosting forcibly displaced people in a village in Beni territory on September 21st.
In fear for their lives, many others fled from the nearby fields where they were working, leaving everything behind.
The following day, the same armed group reportedly looted and burnt down a health clinic at Masuka village.
A health practitioner and several other civilians have not been since seen since September 22nd.
As the violence continues to affect civilians in the eastern parts of the country, there is a sense of shock, panic and fear in many areas, with people anticipating more attacks and not wishing to return to their homes.
A large number of the displaced have now fled for the second time this year and have found shelter with host families in Mangina Town who are already struggling to meet their own basic needs.
Some have taken refuge in an overcrowded church, while others lack proper shelter or are forced to sleep in the open.
Civilians are caught up in a vicious cycle of violence and displacement with no hope insight, making the region a constant epicentre of human suffering.
To respond to the needs of those forcibly displaced and their local host communities, UNHCR, its humanitarian partners and local authorities are providing aid including shelter assistance, healthcare, water, sanitation and protection.
UNHCR is also assisting forcibly displaced people in Pinga and Area N Kibu where ongoing fighting has reached an alarming stage, endangering innocent lives.
Clashes following the split of different factions with an armed group have also displaced between 40,000 to 60,000 people since July.
There were UN interagency mission during August in the area and ongoing protection monitoring.
UNHCR partners have received reports of human rights violations, including killings, **** and kidnappings.
Over 270 children associated with armed groups were identified and allegations of child recruitment, killings and mutilation of children and sexual violence against children were also documented.
At least 54 children who were recently released by 1 armed group were then apparently forced to join an opposing faction in the area.
UNHCR is reinforcing its presence in the area and preparing the distribution of relief items for at least 15,000 people, as well as the construction of emergency shelters, and is also working with communities on strengthening their protection mechanisms.
In Ituri province and and in the southern territory of Irimo, there has also been a sharp increase in violence with the emergence of a new armed group and an intensification of attacks by other armed groups and militia.
These groups all apply the same destructive methods of looting and burning houses to the ground, which makes it difficult for the displaced to return to their villages.
Since July this year, more than 120,000 people have been displaced by the surge of violence in the Southern Territory.
In July and August, peace consultations led by local authorities had concluded with a unanimous call to cease hostilities by all armed groups in the area.
However, the efforts could not bring peace with the long standing land disputes between different communities result remaining unresolved and without a disarmament process.
Armed groups have continued their attacks in September, killing at least 43 people and kidnapping 17 more in the territory.
The new displacements in North Kibo and Italy add to the over 3.4 million people who are already internally displaced in the two provinces.
There are currently 5.5 million people internally displaced in the DRC, one of the largest displaced populations globally and in Africa.
UNHCR needs 168.2 million U.S.
dollars to respond to refugee and IDP needs.
India in DRC this year, but it's only received 61% to date.
Thank you very much, Sabia.
We have a question online from Freddie Malongo.
Really.
We sample Republic Democratic Congo Liverpool mapping.
The population civil.
Hello Freddy as I be able to respond mail that we point on enlarge the fortune to enter pretty thank you for your question.
Indeed this is this is the issue with these ongoing attacks.
It makes it difficult you know to provide humanitarian assistance that makes it difficult for people to return to their homes.
So this is really the issue and, and humanitarian responses are, are just, and you know, they're there to support civilians.
But we were, you know, asking to address the, the root causes of, of displacement of conflict to we appreciate it's an extremely difficult situation.
There's a proliferation of armed groups there.
You know, the environment is, is extremely challenging.
So I mean this is a huge concern for us and that's why we we think it's so important for there to be to be peace and security and and safety and of ready Shabiades effective context.
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[Other language spoken]
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What has triggered this recent upsurge in fighting.
I mean, these armed groups have been fighting for decades, I believe, but why now in particular?
And what is behind the horrific, brutal treatment of children?
[Other language spoken]
I I know that there's terrible atrocities against the civilian population in general, but children?
Thanks, Lisa for your question.
Look, it's these are very important and and also very difficult questions.
I think I mean, we're seeing that this displacement continue.
It's a side of, I mean, as I mentioned, one of the, the biggest displacement context in Africa.
But for the specific, you know, this recent movement, I don't have the specific details that prompted that, but we know that there was a, a split of different factions within another armed group and that displaced 40 to 60,000 people since July.
And that was in North Kivu.
So I mean, it could be dynamics, I mean, to all sorts of different dynamics there.
[Other language spoken]
And and likewise, I mean, I echo exactly what you say.
It defies understanding of why children are being targeted and why such brutal attacks are occurring.
I mean, it's, it's horrifying, A mutilation, sexual violence.
There's a litany of, of, of, of abuses there.
So this is extremely worrying.
[Other language spoken]
I think you, you phrased it very well.
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We have Paula Dupras as well.
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I my question is actually regarding Guatemala and whether you may have some comments to make on the situation there regarding the, the human caravan that came from Honduras last week and it was stopped in the country and thousands of people were actually sent back by the police and military there.
There were actually reports that UNHCR was told to withdraw from the border as the people had entered the country illegally.
Do you have any comments to make about that?
And you know what's what's the situation right now for the UNHCR in the country regarding those that's caravan.
[Other language spoken]
Sorry, having problems with the mic.
[Other language spoken]
No, I'm aware of those reports and I don't think that that's exactly the case.
But I just I don't I need to double check and I'm perhaps if it's OK we can maybe touch base on this as soon as the briefing is over and I can check and get back to you.
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OK, I think we're done with the questions on this topic.
You have another another topic on the Moria fire, so please go ahead.
So a month after the fires destroyed Moria Reception and Identification Centre on ****** UNHCR is reiterating.
Sorry, UNHCR is reiterating.
It's called that.
Urgent action and improvements are needed to avoid further deterioration of living conditions for some 7800 refugees and asylum seekers currently sheltered in this emergency site in Karatepe.
Colder weather and the onset of winter will only bring more hardship for the people there.
There are critical gaps in drainage, water, sanitation, hygiene and health services that need to be addressed without any delay.
Heavy rains on 8th of October have exacerbated the situation for residents in the emergency site.
Some have seen their tents flooded with water.
UNHCR conducted protection monitoring visits to assess the situation in the site following the heavy rainfalls and prioritised tarpaulins for people whose tents were affected by the rain.
Refugees themselves also found other interim solutions such as digging water channels and trenches around their tents to prevent flooding as proper drainage throughout the site is lacking.
Moria Reception and Identification Centre was devastated by fires on 9th September for seeing some 12,000 men, women and children onto the streets.
The Greek authority swiftly mobilised the Hellenic Army and humanitarian partners worked also to establish an emergency shelter facility.
Significant efforts have been made by national authorities and aid agencies working on ******.
However, living conditions in the emergency site remain in urgent need of improvement.
UNHCR and other humanitarian partners have alerted the Greek authorities to safety hazards and risks in the emergency site, requiring their immediate action.
The area is prone to flooding and the current tented site is not equipped to provide necessary protection against the elements and low temperatures.
At the request of the Greek authorities and in support of the government LED humanitarian response, UNHCR is delivering gravel to help lessen the risk of flooding in the tented and common areas.
As the weather is becoming colder and wetter, we are providing insulation kits, flooring with pallets and plywood sheets for family tents.
However, these are only short term interventions that cannot be deemed adequate or sufficient to withstand the winter.
We have stressed to the authorities that large scale efforts are required, including to promptly ensure proper drainage throughout the site and ensure better shelter solutions for the most vulnerable and their families.
At the same time, we continue to call for more transfers to the mainland and suitable accommodation.
With the onset of more rains and harsh weather, UNHCR urges immediate action on all Greek Aegean islands.
On Samos, where almost 4500 people continue to stay in an adequate and overcrowded conditions, most sleep in summer tents or makeshift shelters in the woods outside the reception centre, which is meant to accommodate only 650.
Suffering of these people can be avoided through winter preparations and more transfers to adequate accommodation.
Meanwhile, UNHCR is encouraged by this month's efforts to decongest overcrowded sites across the islands through government LED transfers of the most vulnerable asylum seekers and recognised refugees to the mainland.
We continue to support and encourage acceleration of these efforts at a time of heightened needs for appropriate housing for asylum seekers in Greece.
UNHCR is particularly concerned about the announced plans to close down facilities on Lesmos Island that have been dedicated to shelter hundreds of the most vulnerable families, women and children.
These include the Municipal accommodation centre in Kara, Tepe and Pikba, a self organised solidarity space.
One of the founders of the space received the UNHCR ***** and Refugee Award in 2016.
Greek volunteer Effie Luxuri has worked tirelessly to help thousands of refugees arriving on Greek shores, providing a safe haven for the most vulnerable after they reached until more comprehensive and dignified solutions are secured.
UNHCR calls on the Greek authorities to ensure that such initiatives are in place to provide protection and address the specific needs of particularly vulnerable refugees.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Sabia.
Are there any questions?
[Other language spoken]
So thank you very much for coming this morning.
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That's all we have on the formal agenda.
I just have a few additional announcements to make.
Just a reminder about the press conferences that are coming up next week.
As our colleague Dennis McLean from UNDRR has mentioned, there will be the launch of Human Cost of Disasters Report 20/20/2000 to 2019 on Monday at 11 AM.
And this will now be a virtual press briefing with the the head of UNDRR and Demarati Guasapir, a professor from the University of Louvain, Belgium.
Then on Tuesday, the World Meteorological Organisation will hold a press conference on the State of Climate Services 2020 report on disasters and early warning systems around the world.
That's with Professor Peteri Talas, the WMO Secretary General, and Doctor Max Dilli, deputy director in charge of Climate Services Department.
And this will be a hybrid briefing, the meetings being covered by Eunice.
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is meeting in private until the public closure of its 68th session on 16th of October.
And the Human Rights Committee will open next Monday, 12th of October at 4:00 PM.
It's virtual 130th session, mainly devoted to review individual communications.
There are a number of international days.
We've told you earlier on about the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Today, 9th of October, is World Post Day.
You will have received the message of the Secretary General in which he says that the COVID-19 pandemic has touched every aspect of our lives, testing us all.
He has found inspiration in the essential workers who have kept our communities and societies running smoothly in extremely difficult circumstance circumstances.
This includes, of course, the world's postal workers who've continued to deliver during days of trial and challenges.
He thanks postal workers and postal operators for their efforts, particularly during this pandemic.
And he concludes saying the United Nations will continue to build on its partnership with you and the Universal Postal Union.
It's in its efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Other international days being commemorated over the next few days is World Mental Health Day on 10th of October, that's tomorrow.
The Secretary General has also issued a an important message on this, saying that around the world nearly 1 billion people live with mental disorder.
Every 40 seconds someone dies from suicide and depression is now recognised as a leading cause of illness and disability among children and adolescents.
Of course, this was all true before the COVID-19, but we are now seeing the consequences of the pandemic on people's mental well-being, he says.
And this is just the beginning.
He concludes by saying we can no longer ignore the need for a massive scale up of investment in mental health.
We must act together now to make quality mental health care available for all who need it to allow us to recover faster from the COVID-19 crisis.
And you will recall that this week the Secretary General did issue his latest brief on COVID-19 and universal healthcare coverage.
The report made clear that the pandemic had shown that underinvestment in health can have a devastating impact on societies and economies.
The pandemic is costing the global economy $375 billion a month, with some 5500 million jobs having been lost so far.
The report added that at least half of the world's population still do not have full coverage of essential health services, and over 800 million people spend at least 10% of their household budgets to pay for healthcare services.
This was the last of the policy briefs that the Secretary General was issuing.
Then.
Also on the 10th of October is World Migratory Birthday.
We have also shared the Secretary General's message on that.
And on the 11th of October is the International Day of the Girl.
This is on the 11th of 11th of October.
As I've said, the Secretary General says that as we celebrate this day, we must, as we strengthen the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and plan for a strong recovery, we have an opportunity to create a better, fairer and more equal world for girls everywhere.
The best way to achieve this is by following the leadership of girls themselves.
So the full message has been issued to you, as well as his message on the International Day for Disasters Reduction on the 13th of October.
And that is all I have for you today, unless there are any final questions.
I shall wish you a happy Friday and a very good weekend.
Thank you everyone.
Thank you, Dennis.
You found that you found.