The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 13 October 2020
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1:13:43
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MP4
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481.3 MB
Humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said the spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General had expressed disappointment for the reports of ceasefire violations from the region; these violations were unacceptable. The Secretary-General had condemned any targeting and attacks against civilian-populated areas anywhere and regrets the loss of life and injuries. The Secretary-General had again reminded the parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to refrain from any action that could also risk widening the fighting beyond the immediate zone. He had called on all parties again to fulfil their agreements to a humanitarian ceasefire and other commitments announced in Moscow, and expressed the availability of the UN to provide humanitarian support if requested.
On behalf of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Martin Schüepp, ICRC Eurasia Regional Director said that, more than two weeks in a period of intense violence, hundreds of thousands of people across the region were directly or indirectly affected by the conflict. Civilians were dying or suffering life-endangering injuries. Homes, businesses, and once-busy streets were being reduced to rubble. Healthcare facilities and health workers were struggling to cope or even suffering reported direct attacks. ICRC hoped that the humanitarian ceasefire agreement would be abided by, and that it would translate into meaningful relief for those affected. As such, the ICRC remained ready to facilitate the handover of bodies of those killed in action or the release of detainees, but the sides needed to agree on a format between themselves. The ICRC was in continuous discussion with them, passing proposals back and forth, but was not involved in the political negotiations. The ICRC was distributing emergency cash assistance and hygiene kits to hundreds of families, and emergency medical kits to hospitals. Projecting that at least tens of thousands of people across the region would need support over the next three months, the ICRC had issued an emergency appeal for an additional 9.2 million Swiss francs.
Tarik Jasarevic, for the World Health Organization, said continued hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan would cause direct disruption to healthcare and a further burden on health systems that were already stretched during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both countries had seen recent increases in COVID-19 transmission. As of 11 October, Armenia’s newly reported cases had doubled in 14 days, and in Azerbaijan new cases had increased by approximately 80 per cent in over the past week. Escalations in military conflict would create the environment for the virus to spread. The mobilization of troops for conflict, and the related displacement of populations, all added to the ability of the virus to take hold. WHO was, and would continue to, support the COVID-19 response in both countries and was expanding its operations to respond the increased health needs that continued hostilities will inevitably incur, this included preparations for increased COVID-19 transmission.
Mr. Schüepp, responding to a journalist’s question, said the ICRC had front lines workers on both sides of the line of contact, and was looking to further step up its efforts to respond to needs. It had not been able to access all the locations concerned, which prevented it from having a full picture of the situation.
Mr. Jasarevic said that, while WHO had a global surveillance system for attacks on health workers and health facilities which would be deployed soon, it could not, for now, provide figures on this matter.
Nobel Peace Prize 2020
Amir Abdulla, Deputy Executive Director for the World Food Programme (WFP), noting that there were so many actors in the humanitarian sector, said that it was an honour to be recognized by the Nobel Academy. In 2019, humanitarian workers had felt the brunt of conflicts, and this highlighted the difficult conditions in which they worked to deliver much needed assistance. Out of the 13 major food crises in the world, 10 were driven by conflict. Hunger could be an effect of conflict, but it could also be a cause. The prize underscored that multilateralism could overcome many of the crises the world faced.
Responding to questions, Mr. Abdulla said WFP’s funding needs had been increased by the COVID-19 pandemic: not only had there been more people driven into hardship, but people who were already in difficult situations saw their problems exacerbated. WFP still faced serious funding shortfalls in Sahel, Syria and Yemen, notably. Stressing the economic value of building resilience, Mr. Abdulla said that even more important that helping people post-crisis was to prevent them from falling into crises. About one dollar spent to prevent crises could save up to six or seven dollars in money spent to respond to a crisis.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service, recalled that yesterday, the World Food Week had been launched – a message by the UN Secretary-General had been shared with the media. She also recalled that 16 October is World Food Day and on this day this year, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization would also celebrate its 75th anniversary under the theme “Grow, nourish, sustain. Together. Our actions are our future.” In Geneva, a World Food Day Exhibition would take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gare Cornavin train station in partnership with Partage and the City of Genève. A Forum on Sustainable Food was also being organized with several events taking place in the city.
COVID-19
Turning to the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdowns, Tarik Jasarevic for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that measures to control COVID-19 depended on local risk assessments. National lockdowns should not be the default control measure, but movement restrictions might be among a range of measures governments could consider in certain geographical areas. Some countries had needed to use stay-at-home orders to manage rapid increases in COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations. However, WHO continued to view major movement restrictions that kept people mostly at home and curtailed the ability of many to freely work or socialize, as a last resort in suppressing COVID-19 in order to avoid overwhelming health systems. Such measures were not sustainable solutions because of their sizeable economic, social and broader health impacts. The range of public health measures that were known to be effective for preventing transmission should be implemented, including hand and respiratory hygiene, physical distancing, mask wearing and staying home when sick. It was also important to have robust systems for testing, isolating, tracing and quarantining contacts.
Responding to questions, Mr. Jasarevic said herd immunity should be achieved through vaccination campaigns – in other words by protecting people, not by exposing them to the virus. In response to a question about large rallies and political events, he said that WHO had no broad instructions but rather recommended that countries considered their own contexts to put in place targeted and local measures.
Cash grants for refugees in Iran
Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), informed that UNHCR had stepped up its cash assistance to support thousands of extremely vulnerable refugees whose livelihoods have been severely impacted by the continuing coronavirus pandemic in the Islamic Republic of Iran. But further funding was needed to support many more who are facing increased hardship and destitution. Iran hosts nearly a million refugees, mostly Afghans who have sought safety in the country from a four-decade long conflict in Afghanistan and live side by side with Iranians. Iran’s economy had already been under substantial strain during the past two years, but COVID-19 has severely worsened economic conditions. In just one year, the price of basic food items such as oil, rice and eggs has increased by some 21 per cent, while the cost of transportation has soared by some 50 per cent, according to government figures. Although refugees had not been disproportionately infected with COVID-19 compared to the national population, the economic impact of the pandemic on their lives had been particularly shattering. Refugees had shown incredible resilience in the face of COVID-19, but UNHCR was worried that more may resort to negative coping mechanisms, unless they receive more support.
Full press release is available here.
Responding to a question about American sanctions, Mr. Baloch said the economic situation in Iran was very challenging for the refugees and the host population. Iran had been a generous host for refugees for many decades. In providing support to Iran, UNHCR was facing underfunding, with only 36 per cent of funds needed this year having been received even though the end of the year approached.
8th United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer
Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said that every five years, UNCTAD organizes the United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection. The 8th Conference would be held next week in a hybrid format. This quinquennial Conference is the highest-level meeting on competition and consumer protection at the multilateral level. The Conference provides an occasion for members of Government, heads of competition and consumer protection authorities and senior officials from all countries to establish direct contacts and promote voluntary cooperation and the exchange of best practices to continue advancing the welfare of consumers in open markets, leaving no one behind. The surge of e-commerce during the pandemic was increasing the need of strengthening competition and consumer protection in the digital economy. The High-Level segment of the Conference would focus on “Leaving no one behind in the post COVID-19 world: The contribution of competition and consumer policies, in particular in the digital economy.
More information is available on the UNCTAD’s website.
Announcements
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), recalled that today was
International Day of Disaster Reduction, and that, on this occasion, a video message by the United Nations Secretary-General had been shared with journalists.
Tarik Jasarevic, for the World Health Organization, said a virtual press conference would be held on COVID-19 infections among healthcare workers on Tuesday, 13 October 2020 at 12.30 p.m. Furthermore, a press briefing on WHO’s tuberculosis report would be held tomorrow, and a press briefing on World Hypertension day would be organized on Friday.
Teleprompter
[Other language spoken]
Welcome to this press briefing of the UN Information Service in Geneva, Tuesday, 13th of October.
We'll start straight away with an announcement by Angktad.
Katrina Sue is with us in the room.
And then I will move to more substantive content.
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[Other language spoken]
Catherine.
Any question in the room?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much to answer.
Let's go to our first subject of the briefing today, the situation in Nagorno Karabakh.
[Other language spoken]
Sorry, I will start by reminding you that after the humanitarian ceasefire announced in Moscow over the weekend, yesterday, the spokesperson of the Secretary General said that the United Nations.
The Secretary General is very disappointed to receive reports of ceasefire violations from the region and consider such violation unacceptable.
The Secretary General condemns any targeting and attacks against civilian populated urban and urban areas anywhere and regrets the loss of life and injuries.
The Secretary General called on all parties again to fulfil their agreements to a humanitarian ceasefire and other commitments announced in Moscow and we remain at the UN ready to respond to any humanitarian needs if so requested.
On On this subject, we have the pleasure to welcome Mr.
Martin Schweppe, who is the ICRC Eurasia Regional Director, who will tell us more on the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh and afterwards.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, for WHO?
We'll also say a few words on this matter.
So I give the floor to Mr Schwett, please.
Thank you very much.
Today, we are more than two weeks into a period of intense violence as the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh, conflict escalates.
We estimate that already hundreds of thousands of people across the region are directly or indirectly affected.
Civilians are dying or suffering life changing injuries.
Homes, businesses and once busy streets are being reduced to rubble.
The elderly and babies are among those forced to spend hours in unheated basements or to seek safety.
On top of this, healthcare facilities, health workers and ambulance services are straining to cope or even suffering reported direct attacks in places.
There is upheaval, loss and fear in communities on both sides of the line of contact.
It is our hope that the humanitarian ceasefire agreement will be abided by and that it will translate into meaningful relief for those affected.
As such, the International Committee of the Red Cross remains ready to facilitate the handover of bodies of those killed in action or the release of detainees.
The sides, however, need to agree on a format between themselves.
We are in continuous discussions with them, proposing passing proposals back and forth.
Operational and logistical agreements need to be agreed and in place and the safety of our teams guaranteed for such an operation to take place.
We are, however, not involved in the political negotiations.
Our role is strictly humanitarian as a neutral intermediary.
We have a long experience to act as such a neutral intermediary in this conflict and in conflicts worldwide.
In terms of our humanitarian response, we are working throughout the region to ease the suffering of those caught up in this.
We are, for example, distributing emergency cash assistance or hygiene kits to hundreds of families.
We're providing emergency medical kits to hospitals and forensic support to authorities, and we're trying to do field assessments wherever we can.
We project that at least 10s of thousands of people across the region will need support over the next few months.
To this end, we have issued an emergency appeal of an additional 9.2 million Swiss francs and we have already started to receive generous donations from governments and we are deeply grateful for the support.
I will leave you with the experience of 1 mother who spoke to us.
She described how as a child, she sheltered in basements and spent nights in the forest to escape the fighting.
Almost 30 years later, she's once again forced to do the same thing, this time with her own little daughter, barely two years old, as well as with her elderly parents who had once protected her all those years ago.
There are many more like her and it's for all their sakes that we must be there and support and facilitate meaningful humanitarian action where we can.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Martin and I will give the floor now to Tariq.
Tariq, you are online.
I understand you don't have your camera, so we will listen to you.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Good morning everyone and my apologies for not having camera on this morning.
Colleague has already mentioned health facilities reported attacks on health workers.
I will just add few lines that continued hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan will cause direct disruption to healthcare and the further burden on health systems that are already stretched during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both countries have seen increases in COVID-19 transmission.
As of yesterday, Armenia's newly reported cases have doubled over the past 14 days and in Azerbaijan, new cases have increased by approximately 80% in over the the the past week.
Now you have the exact figures in the weekly epidemiological update that has been sent to you last night and has figures for all countries.
As as we have been repeatedly saying, COVID-19 does not respect borders or lines and it will take advantage of any lapse in vigilance.
Any crisis that turns our attention away from the global effort to stop it's deadly March escalations in military conflict will create the environment for the virus to spread.
The mobilisation of troops for conflict, the displacement of populations because of it, all adds to the ability of the virus to take hold.
The Who is and will continue to support the COVID-19 response in both countries and is expanding its operations to respond to increased health needs that follow the continued hostilities.
These will obviously include preparations for increased COVID-19 transmission.
We have the deployed staff and will deploy additional experts to support WH operations in both countries.
What main focus of work is it's basically to help coordinate health sector partners to conduct needs assessment and define targeted interventions and support measures.
Monitor essential service functionality, availability and accessibility to support health service capacity in providing trauma care and deploy emergency supplies if requested.
Ensure proper management of COVID-19 outbreaks or any other outbreak of any other disease as applicable.
It's also important that we ensure access to basic health services, including mental health for displaced people and to provide Technical Support to health authorities in order to establish clear patient referral system.
We also establishing based on standard operating procedures that we work with our surveillance system for the verification and reporting of attacks on health workers in affected areas.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Tarek.
I will now open the floor for questions in the room.
I don't see any Byram online.
This is an adult answer.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Alison, this is Byram Auto honourable agency.
My question for Mr.
[Other language spoken]
Last weekend, as Mr Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia stated in Moscow, ICRC has has a mediation role exchanging detainees and bodies.
Martin, have you made any concrete initiatives in this regard?
I mean, has there been any progress at least in exchange of corpses?
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much for for your questions about how we have been able to follow up on the agreement reached in Moscow over the weekend.
The ICRC is not, has not been part of discussions leading to the agreement in Moscow and our role is one of a purely neutral intermediary that we have played throughout history in many conflicts in the world.
And therefore we have not been involved in the political negotiations of the ceasefire or of the activities subsequent to this agreement in Moscow.
We have continued to be in contact with the sides proposing our services as a neutral intermediary to facilitate the exchange of bodies or if agreed by the parties, of course, also of prisoners.
To date, we keep discussing intensely Vista sites on this topic, but no meaningful agreement has been reached yet that would allow us to actually proceed to to such an exchange.
So discussions are going on with all sites, Vista sites and we hope that the conditions will be met in order to actually implement such an operation in the future.
Thank you, Martin.
Another question online from John Zarro, Costas John for The Lancet today.
[Other language spoken]
Martin and Tarek, I was wondering if you could give us a bit of an update on the number of health facilities that you mentioned have been attacked, if they're hospitals or health centres and in which locations and how many and if any health personnel have been injured or killed?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Maybe I'll start with Tarek for answering this question and then Pastor Martin.
John, if you know that had I had numbers with me, I would, I would have said it.
So we don't have precise numbers.
There were, as I said, have been a report.
There were some reports in the media in the context of the current escalation of military operations that that there were attacks on health workers.
We have a global surveillance system for attacks that will be deployed for this conflict as it has been deployed for others.
So I expect that we may have some numbers and details, but we don't have it right now.
Martin, would you like to add something?
I can only confirm that the situation is similar for us.
We're hearing such reports and we're following them with concern.
However, the security situation has also been such for us and our teams that it has not been possible to access all locations that might have been affected and to follow up directly on the ground on what we hear in in various reports.
So we can also not provide figures at this stage.
The next question is from Bianca Ruthier Global TV from Brazil.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
In fact, it's not exactly a question, it's more a request.
I imagine Tarek had some kind of issue today, but I would like to highlight how important it is to have him on camera for the ones that works for TV's like me, Not only because I like to see you, Tarik, but it's very helpful.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, I understand Tarika, the question with this camera, but I think he's well noted that normally WHO, you know, speaks from the studio and the image is very good, but I think this morning was a problem.
[Other language spoken]
Exactly.
And then Bianca, if you really need the, the, the me speaking to you on camera, we can organise that later.
There is no problems.
I can repeat these things with the from the other computer where we'll have access to camera.
[Other language spoken]
And this is also for the other TV journalist in case they need these images.
Next question is from Lionel, Lionel Fatoune, Kyodo News.
Oh, yes.
[Other language spoken]
I have actually two question.
The first one is for both Tariq and Martin, what is what is the nature of your access on the access on the ground, especially inside the regions of Nagorno Karabat.
So do you have access and also how many staff you have in Azerbaijan?
So this will be the first question and then I have another one.
Lionel, it's complicated, as you know.
Please ask your question, both your questions.
[Other language spoken]
The second one is for Martin.
I don't know what kind of question you will give me, but I'm, I'm, I'm a bit puzzled by the your insistence on the fact that you are neutral entity where we know that you are politically neutral entity, which is political.
I'm just wondering why you keep insisting on this fact.
Have you been criticised in recent days for taking side or something like that?
[Other language spoken]
I'll start with Tariq.
Yes, we have offices in both countries.
[Other language spoken]
I will ask my colleagues to confirm that.
Marty, thank you very much.
As to your first question, the International Committee of the Red Cross has been present throughout the region since 1992.
So we have offices, for example, in Baku, Yerevan, but also in Nagorno Karabakh.
We have roughly 200 staff throughout the region of which half of them work on both sides of the line of contact and try to bring help to those affected by the fighting in proximity of the line of contact.
And we have, we have done that throughout the conflict.
And they're now also seeking to further step up our response and bring in additional staff in order to respond to the needs that we that we see.
As to as to the insistence on our neutrality, of course our first and foremost concern is the plight of of civilians affected by the fighting.
And we know that there are intense political discussions going on.
You're all for all following them.
And it is important for us to underline that, that our focus is really on the plight of civilians and that we're not part of the political discussions as a neutral intermediary.
We can be asked by the the sides to help implement measures that they agree on, such as the handover of bodies.
But it is not for the ICRC to lead such political negotiations.
Very clear.
Thank you very much.
I have another question from Moussa Moussa Bonshua.
My question of for ICLC, but not on Nagorno Karabakh on Yemen, it's OK.
Wait a second.
Let me see if there is any other question on Nagorno Karabakh.
And I see Lionel has a follow up.
Lionel Alizi, I'm a shocked for objecting on me.
Martin, so you have an office in Nagorno Carabat.
Do you have do you staff have access inside the region or they are basically blocked in the compound and kind of go outside?
Thank you for for that.
Indeed, we have been worried since the escalation of hostilities about the fact that the intensity of the fighting has not allowed us to access all the places and the regions that we we would have along the line of contact.
So we are following the situation.
We're trying to make assessments also outside of the towns whenever we can.
But the security situation and the continued fighting has limited our movements.
And to date, we have not a full picture of the situation because we have not been able to access all the areas that we would like to.
Gabriella, your question is on Nagorno Karabakh or or not?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So go ahead and then we'll go back to Musa.
Gabriella, Mexican journalist process.
Sorry, just a very quick clarification.
Sorry, sorry for the noise you mentioned.
I don't know if it's for the ICRC or or or Alessandra, but you mentioned that you are ready to help in if if they ask for help.
But can you clarify to whom are you referring, which party?
[Other language spoken]
So I think you you, you want to to no the the comments I made.
Yes, sorry.
[Other language spoken]
The comment that was made by the spokesperson yesterday was, of course, that the United Nations remain available to support any humanitarian request or activity that may be necessary for which we are asked to activate our our system.
But maybe the ICRC has also on your side a specific answer.
No, now said, as as I mentioned earlier, we are present throughout the region since 1992 and all our effort is currently to step up our response.
Reason also why we have launched an additional emergency appeal in order to further bolster our humanitarian response on all sides as we as we move forward.
[Other language spoken]
So this leaves me with the question from Moussa for Martin, although it's not on Nagorno Karabakh, but we'll take it.
So Moussa, yes, my question is about the exchange of prisoners between Houthi and government of Yemen and Arabia, Saudi Arabia, if you have some, some information about that.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
I, I do admit as a regional director for Europe and Central Asia, I've been fully absorbed by the events in in the region.
And while I've broadly followed the events in Yemen, I would refer to my colleagues to, to give you further updates on the, the precise operation in Yemen.
We have, we have in the room Ruth Etherington, would you like to comment on this or maybe from the floor?
Yes, just from the floor.
I didn't hear, I didn't fully hear Moussa's question, but Moussa, I can be in touch with you afterwards to understand a bit more about what exactly you'd like to know and we can and see if I can give you what you.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much in Yemen.
Thank you very, very much.
Thank you, Martin for being with us today.
And briefly Geneva press score on the situation in Agurgaon, Karabakh.
Tariq, you had a few more announcements.
I will go to you and then we will move to WFP.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Alexander, a few announcements.
We have sent you a couple of media advisories.
So I will just remind you of what it is about.
First, today at 12:30, we will have a press briefing just for for you and accredited press on COVID-19 infections among healthcare workers.
I invite you to look her into into epidemiological update, weekly epidemiological update that has been sent last evening.
And I just mentioned when it comes to figures for Armenia and Azerbaijan and there are figures there and there is a section on healthcare workers and COVID-19.
So these figures will be discussed at today's press briefing at 12:30.
So you may wish to go through them a little bit in advance so you can be be prepared.
So that's 12:30.
We will have our Director of Health workforce, Doctor Jim Campbell.
We will have Doctor Benedette Alleghenci who is leading on infection prevention control.
And we will also have Anne per show epidemiologist who worked on collecting this data.
So this is 1230 and I think Eunice will send you the, the, the connection details just just OK.
Then second press conference that we have and we, we sent you this morning the, the, the, the, the media advisory, it's a, it's a release of WHO tuberculosis report.
So we will launch this report tomorrow.
Press conference will be tomorrow at 2:00.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So it's, it's tomorrow at 2:00 and report, press release and other supporting documents are available upon request.
So in the media advisory you will see the the name of the person to contact who will then likely in the afternoon, not before.
We'll send to those who ask TB report under embargo.
That's for tomorrow after the press conference when embargo leaves.
So please have a look and if you are interested send an e-mail asking for the TB report and and press release and supporting documents.
Now the third announcement I have is Friday is a World Hyper Hypertension Day.
So we are planning to organise something for Palais press corps and most likely we will be sending something on that one tomorrow.
But we are planning to do a specific press briefing on Hypertension Day on Friday, either before regular press briefing or after that.
So this is what I have for, for announcement.
But I guess there may be some other questions for me always.
Let's see, let's see if we are right.
Any question for Tarek on this issue or other?
No, in fact, I don't see any question online.
Maybe maybe if I, if I then may just, I would really like to, to, to, to, to stress one thing.
Because we have seen in a, in a news there were, there were, there were articles about the WTO stance on, on, on so-called lockdowns and what actually WTO has been saying.
I just want to really stress that we have been very consistent from the beginning of this pandemic is what we are saying.
And our director general has said it's not a choice between letting the virus run free and shutting down our societies.
Measures to control COVID-19 depend always on a local risk assessment.
National lockdowns should not be the default control measure, but movement restrictions may be among a range of measures governments can consider in certain geographical areas.
Some countries have needed to used stay at home orders to manage rapid increase in COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations.
Reducing the mixing of people, especially at mass gatherings, can reduce the speed that COVID-19 spreads at.
Targeted and time limited stay at home orders can also help reduce transmission by opening up time to implement public health measures that we have been always advocating for.
And this is basically training health workers, putting supplies in place, increasing testing capacity, reducing testing time, and improving care for patients.
However, we at WHO, we continue to view major movement restrictions that keep people mostly at home and curtail the ability of many to freely work or socialise as a last resort in suppressing COVID-19 to avoid overwhelming health systems.
Such measures are not sustainable solutions due to their sizable economic, social and broader health impacts.
We should implement the range public health measures that we know are effective for, for preventing transmission and this includes hand and respiratory hygiene, physical distancing, mask wearing, staying home if you are sick, etcetera, as well as having robust systems for testing, isolating, tracing and quarantine contacts.
I just wanted to make this this precision.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much for this additional briefing.
And yes, there are questions as that with Gunilla.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I wanted to ask you about this report in The Lancet about a man who gets COVID twice.
The second time he was much more serious.
How does WHO view this, this report?
How remarkable is it?
And does it in any way change the way you look at how protective antibodies can be?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Obviously, we are following all reports that come from various parts of the world when it comes to to cases of COVID-19 and this builds the body of evidence that helps us shape our our guidance.
We have already received reports on on on people being reinfected and this obviously has to be looked at.
This just really shows that we don't know about the immunity that COVID-19 infection confers to a person.
So we believe that there is an immunity that is being developed once person is infected, but how long this immunity will last and how strong this immunity is, we still don't know.
And we are looking into into studies that are being made serological, looking into serological prevalence to try to to to see this.
Obviously this is very important question.
And this also really is an argument against what some have been advocating and that's building naturally what is called herd immunity, because we don't know.
And just to really make sure everyone understands, when we talk about herd immunity, we only talk about vaccination programmes.
So we we can produce this collective immunity by protecting people, not by exposing them to the virus.
Because as you, as you have just pointed this this example of possible reinfection, we don't know really if that immunity can be can be acquired through through being infected.
[Other language spoken]
Jamil, the room.
[Other language spoken]
Hi, this is Jamil question on your first statement on lockdowns etcetera.
The audit that was done internally at the Double HO at the about the beginning of the response, I think it was up until April or May.
It does mention that it does criticise basically Double HO for not considering situations where distancing was not a reality, meaning peripheries of great of large cities in the Southern hemisphere, et cetera.
And then it also mentions and actually was mentioned during the executive board last week that Double Ho has corrected its message or has adapted its message.
My question was it when was it that the message of WHO was adapted or corrected from this initial statement of lockdown into a more, let's say balanced statement regarding this acceptance that in some cases, actually many cases the complete lockdown is not possible.
This it's not, it's not me saying this was said during the executive board.
So my question to you is when was it that WHO migrated or changed its statement?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Jamil, I'm sorry, I really don't know what statements you are referring to, but we have never really changed message on this and it's enough to look into any press briefings that we have been doing.
And we started on January 14th.
We knew that this was a coronavirus very quickly and we knew that as any respiratory pathogen, it would tend to to, to spread in clusters between people who are in a, in a, in a close context.
We have been always saying that what needs to be done is a basic public health work in fighting the virus.
So we were always saying what we need to do is to know where the virus is.
[Other language spoken]
This is basically by testing, by tracing and by isolating those who, those who are either infected or are potentially infected.
So the idea was always, and our advice was for countries to isolate the virus and not to isolate people from one another.
We do understand that in some countries in some periods, there was no other solution than to really issue stay at home orders to try basically to, to slow down the transmission and to enhance the, the, the, the, the public health capacities to go back to these public health measures that we know that that are working.
So our message was very consistent throughout this that we can understand that sometimes countries have to issue stay at home orders, but these these measures should be done in a targeted way.
So not necessarily on a national level, but more looking into sub national level and local level.
And because we need to know where the virus is, if we know where the clusters are, one of the measures could be to reduce the the movements and avoid the mass gatherings.
But we also what we were always consistent saying that that this is just part of the solutions.
We have other tools, we have also physical distancing, mask wearing.
We have now better knowledge of the virus and how to treat the patients.
We have better diagnostics and this is all what contributed to that, that we may see a little bit of lower mortality rates that that what we have been seeing at the beginning.
Thank you, Derek, I give the floor to Jamil for a follow up.
Then we have two questions.
I'd like to ask everybody to be brief.
[Other language spoken]
So Jamil, your quick follow up and Tariq, a quick answer, please.
Yes, this was on the 6th of October.
This is the interim report on WH OS response to COVID, January to April 2020.
I have the slide, the slide that was presented at the executive board says the social and economic implications of recommendation, of recommending public health measures must be taken into consideration.
And then on the, during the presentation, the lady, which I don't have the name here, by the way, but yes, she presented and she mentioned this.
I watched, I have it recorded as well.
Anyone that goes to the executive board file will listen to this.
And she mentions very clearly that there was a change of message by WHO, which actually she acknowledges that it was the right thing to do to change the message.
But she mentions that there was a change of message regarding lockdowns.
And this is what the interim report on WH OS response to COVID-19 says.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, Jimmy, I'm not questioning that it has been said.
[Other language spoken]
And maybe this person who has presented May 6th of April.
[Other language spoken]
No, but Jimmy, let me finish my sentence.
Can I finish my sentence, please?
And this person who has been presenting may explain more what was the reasoning of her argument?
But again, from, from, from from our perspective, our message was very consistent on this.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I feel this is going to develop a little bit more than what I expected.
So I will ask Gabriella, Jamie, Kentaro and Lisa to hold their questions.
Like please stay with us.
[Other language spoken]
Sorry.
[Other language spoken]
This is complicated.
Sorry.
I would just line out to go to Rome because we have the great pleasure to have a guest who will speak to you from there.
And this is Mr Amir Abdullah, who is the World Food Programme Deputy Executive Director.
As we all know, last week on with Thompson on live on on our on our briefing, the World Food Programme was awarded in the Nobel Peace Prize.
We also know that this week, in fact, starting yesterday, we have started the World Food Week that the Secretary General has announced with a message that you have received.
And this week will culminate in, in the celebration on the 16th of October of World Food Day.
And, and this will also start a year long global dialogue on food system, which will culminate in the summit in 2021.
And Riano Timosi is on the line if you have any question on that.
Well, coming back to the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to the World Food Programme, the Deputy Secretary General, Mrs Amina Mohammed said yesterday that this honour is an important moment for all the Rome based agencies and effect, for the whole human system, for the dedicated stuff we have around the globe and for multilateralism itself.
And with these words, I would like to now give the floor to Mr Abdullah, who, I'm sorry, Abdullah, who is speaking to us from Rome.
[Other language spoken]
I don't know if Thompson wants to put it on, maybe here so that the camera can show it.
And Mr Abdullah, thank you very much for being with us.
I'll give you now the floor for some remarks on this fantastic Nobel Prize.
You have the floor.
Thank you very much.
I mean, thanks for inviting us today.
Obviously it's a huge honour and and indeed a pleasure to be to be with you today.
I mean, very exciting to hear that the actual announcement came through while you were there discussing.
But I think also, as you've said, what a what a week for it to happen within World Food Week, clearly highlighting the issue of food.
But I think just to echo the words of our Deputy Secretary General yesterday, it is indeed obviously a huge honour for the World Food Programme, for those of us, the Rome based agencies working on matters of food security, but indeed for multilateralism and indeed for humanitarian assistance worldwide.
Not just the United Nations system, but many, many important partners working in that field from the non governmental organisation, NGOs, but also FRC and ICRC, the Red Cross movements and National Red Cross.
I mean, there are so, so many actors in this area that it, it really is an honour to be recognised.
And we are very humbled, but also proud to to, to, to lead this on their behalf.
I think first of all, just to speak to conflict and those people who are actually doing that hugely important work.
And clearly, you know, 2019 was a year where humanitarian workers felt the brunt of what happens at times of conflict within, in, in twenty 19483 humanitarian workers either killed or wounded in 277 separate incidences clearly points to the difficult conditions under which all of our colleagues deliver that much needed assistance.
I think also in, in recognising food and the World Food Programme for this award, the issue and the the complete interlink between food, conflict and peace is, is really, really drawn.
If you think of the 13 major food crises in the world today, 10 of them are driven by a conflict.
And you know, hunger is both an effect of conflict and war.
But it can also be a 'cause I think that inexplicable link is also firmly, firmly embedded and enshrined in Security Council Resolution 2417, which I think really, really makes the the link between hunger and conflict and stresses that, you know, hunger should not be used as a weapon of all food should not be used as a weapon or food supplies.
Food sources should not become subject to attack, but rather we need, you know, at least even at times of conflict, peaceful avenues and peaceful access for people to receive their food.
So just wanted to thank you all for the interest that clearly has been shown and thank the many, many, many partners who have written to us, you know, honouring and, and, and, and sharing in the, the pride and honour.
So as I think you know, in Amina Muhammad's own words, that really was a sign that multilateralism can overcome many of the crises that we have in the world today.
I'll leave it at that just to say thank you again.
And if there are any questions, happy to take them.
Thank you very much, Sir.
Indeed, multilateralism is the only way to solve this incredibly important problems.
So I will now start to give the floor to our journalists from Litton, Stefan.
Busa Stefan, yes, hello and thank you for for your, for your, your briefing on, on, on the World Food Programme.
[Other language spoken]
The World Food Programme had an appeal for up to $4.9 billion.
I was wondering since it's 100% funded by voluntary contributions, how, how does your funding look like today?
And we expect a boost since you you received the Nobel Prize.
Thank you, Mr Abdullah, thanks very much.
I mean, I think clearly there is a lot of interest around the issue of of the, the, the, the 5 billion that's needed was over a six month and we had seen our needs were driven and rose by by the the COVID crisis.
I think, you know, what we actually had found with the COVID crisis was that people who were already in need were sort of had were things were being exacerbated, but it was also driving new populations into to need, which is why those numbers rose.
I don't have the absolute latest figure.
I do know that we were re that we were still quite short on, on much of that, but I think we had about 50%.
I think that our spokesperson is there with you in Geneva who should have the exact number.
But I would say that I think on, on average we had received about 50% of it, which would mean in, in and, and it's not uniform.
There are some, you know, with a voluntarily funded organisation that often receives its contributions directed or targeted to one of the operation.
You can find that you have some operations that are maybe nearly all fund, you know, fully funded for a four or five month period and some that are only funded for a month.
So we we tend to get our brakes in funding are not even.
But our spokesperson there can give you the exact details of where we are and which of the various crises are in in imminent ******.
But I, I, I would just stress that we do have quite serious funding shortfalls in the Sahel, Syria, Yemen, to name three.
I mean, those would be 3.
I believe that we're, we're really, you know, some of them even before the end of the year, getting into a funding crisis.
[Other language spoken]
And Thompson here tells me that he will come back to the journalist with the exact numbers as soon as possible after the briefing.
I have another question from Peter Kenny.
Peter, can you introduce yourself today for whom you're asking the question?
[Other language spoken]
I'm a freelance journalist.
I was just wondering, you had mentioned that the number of humanitarian workers who were killed in 2019.
Do you know how many of these were working for the World Food Programme?
And can you also say how many field workers that you have working for the World Food Broker?
[Other language spoken]
Well, in terms of field, I mean the World Food Programme has a bit, you know, getting towards the 20,000 people working for us and the great, great majority of them are working in the field.
We are closer, you know, it's between our regional bureaus who are closer to the field and country offices and field offices, you know, it's closer to the 17,000 who are actually working, I would say in a location outside of headquarters.
Not all of those are work.
You know, we do have people working in capitals, in country offices and in our regional bureaus.
But I would say that at least 10 to 15,000 of them are in areas where they're directly working in, in areas that are not necessarily all conflict driven, but are at the front edge of delivering food assistance to people who, you know, directly working with partners on the direct food assistance or in many instances also, if not in food in cash or vouchers.
In terms of the exact number of people who were from WFP, we're on that list.
I would want to refer.
[Other language spoken]
It was, it was 2019 was a difficult year for us.
We had seven people on which was of course not a, an, an attack incident, but on the Ethiopian flight ET3O2, we had seven in a single incidents there.
So 2019 for us was a particularly tough year in terms of people that we, we lost, if not in conflict, at least people who were on their way to, to work in, in frontline situations.
Peter, if I could ask our correspondent to our spokesperson to come back to you with an exact number because I, I wouldn't like to, to get it wrong.
But I think 2019 for us was a tough year and it was I think we had lost in, you know, in addition to the seven, I think potentially 8.
But I would I would ask our spokesperson to get back to you.
So we'll come back to you on both issues.
Lohon Sierra from the Swiss news Agency.
[Other language spoken]
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Besides the immediate humanitarian needs, there is more and more that discussion about building resilient societies and the way humanitarians have have to become also more closer to development actors.
What do you expect with that Nobel Peace Prize in the way WFP is seen by the broader public and in the way you're going to be able to engage more with the beneficiaries in order not only to help them on the short term, but also to build resilient societies?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I mean, I think you're picking on a hugely, hugely important point.
Clearly we recognise within our mandate of saving lives but also changing lives and working on the longer term.
Both are hugely important.
I think quite often the focus ends up being on the issue of immediate response and where people are, you know, in in danger of immediately losing life and therefore the life saving elements.
And we we recognise that as a hugely important part of what we do.
But as I said earlier, you know, food security can not only become the effect of conflict, but can become one of the the causes.
So the work that we do post conflict in terms of recovery or helping people rebuild and build food security, build up their resilience after a crisis is hugely important.
And we want to use this opportunity to amplify and magnify that side of our work.
And of course, even more important than helping people post a crisis is to stop them falling into crisis.
So the work that we do in the preparation measures in actually improving food security in areas that could fall into conflict are going to be hugely, hugely important.
So we, we will be amplifying that message to the extent that we can and saying that, you know, the, you know, and, and we also have very hard economic doubts, not just WFPS, but also from many other, whether it's academic institutes or other agencies who've done these numbers.
And, you know, quite honestly, the broad or the generally accepted term is that about $1.00 spent in prevention or preparation or avoiding a crisis can actually stop you having to spend six to seven dollars as an impact of the crisis.
So there's a very, very sound economic reason as to why, you know, building either whether it's the recovery to help people regain their resilience or better still to do it, to build up the resilience to people so that they don't fall into to conflict.
And you know, you know, the unfortunately we, you know, history has shown that over 50% of conflicts that get ended reoccur and sometimes that's happens in less than six or seven years.
So, you know, it's it, you know, and one of the drivers in that recurrence is that people have not seen the peace dividend.
People have not felt that their their lives have necessarily changed and then slips back into conflict and too often become an easy recruiting ground for those who would perpetuate conflict.
So, you know, thanks very much for for your particular question there, because I think that is something that we will be amplifying.
We'll be looking to our partners to amplify it with us.
It'll be very important for those that contribute and fund not only the World Food Programme, but, but, but other agencies as well recognise that hugely important.
Uh, you know, we refer to it as the Nexus of, you know, humanitarian development and peace, uh, all working to get the same dividend, which is basically achievement of our sustainable development goals.
So we will, we will do what we can to make sure that part of our messaging remains strong.
Mr Abdullah, thank you very much.
This concludes the questions from our journalists.
I would like to really thank you very much for being with us from Rome to speak about the issue of food and this fantastic Nobel Peace Prize.
And before I end with the issue of food, I just would like to remind you that as I said before, on Friday 16 September, the international community will celebrate the World Day, World Food Day 2020.
And Adriana Timosi for the FAO asks me to remind you that it's also the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation.
The theme of this year's celebration is Grow, Nourish, Sustain.
Together, our actions are our future and a series of event will be taking place worldwide.
Adriano has shared with you a broadcast last Friday, but I just would like to remind you that in Geneva a World Food Day exhibition will take place from 11 from 11:00 to 3:00 Fifteen O'clock at the Gap Corner Bantry Station.
This is in partnership with Partaj and with the City of Geneva and a Forum of Sustainable food is also being organised with several events taking place in the city and Adriano is available For more information if you require.
So thank again for all this information to our room based organisation.
Thompson, you come back to the journalist with the information required requested.
And before I give the floor to our last speaker was Baba.
I would like to go back to our three last questions for Tariq who are Gabriella Kentaro and Lisa, if you could please be brief so we can hear from Baba from UNHCR soon.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So if you can just give your say ask your question to Tariq.
We also have for Tariq Cantari and Lisa and then we will go to the bar.
Try to be brief please.
Thank you very much.
Yes, I just wanted to ask about the treatment that Mister Trump received.
One was dexamethasone, the other the other Remdesivir, but he received a cocktail of Regenerons or something like that.
That is, it was like a trial or something like that.
It was it was not approved already by the FDA.
So if you can talk about this.
[Other language spoken]
No, I cannot talk about this capital because I don't know exactly what it is.
And we are.
Looking into different trials that are being conducted on different, different therapeutics and once we have some results, we will make them public as we have done for dexamethasone.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
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[Other language spoken]
My question is about The Who reform.
Can you tell me, can you give us an update on how many proposals are are currently submitted by the Member States and by which country?
And also can you give us an idea of how this proposals will be discussed, any timelines?
[Other language spoken]
We have our governing bodies, we have Executive Ward, we have a World Health Assembly that countries may discuss and we're always happy to hear that countries are discussing among themselves global health issues and how to improve the collective work on those issues.
We normally would have a Member states proposing resolutions, discussing those resolutions among them and bringing them to the World Health Assembly.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Yes, good morning, everybody.
Good morning Tarek, a quick question for you.
What is the World Health Organisation position regarding large political rallies, whether held indoors or outdoors, where thousands of people are crowded together, most without masks?
Is this advisable or is it a recipe for disaster?
And also, how long after such a rally takes place is it known that a person has become infected with COVID-19?
[Other language spoken]
Our advice is general and our advice is to countries that need to look into a particular context.
So as I have already said that the response and measures should be targeted and should be local.
It's not the same thing.
If you have a intense transmission in one area, you may not recommend the same measures as in other areas where there is no known circulation of the virus.
We obviously recommend in the areas with the intense community widespread transmission that people keep their distance if not possible to wear masks to to to avoid crowded indoor places and to obviously practise hand hygiene and be aware of of of the situation around.
But again, it all depends on what is the situation in that particular area and how widespread the transmission is.
[Other language spoken]
And the second point on how many, how long you have to wait to know if people are infected, I guess they.
So according to West, it's short incubation period is up to 14 days, but we know that on average that that.
Is shorter and that people do develop symptoms earlier than that.
There was a question in the room that I had forgotten of and sorry, Jamie, I'll give you the floor now for a question to Carrick.
[Other language spoken]
I hope you're well.
[Other language spoken]
I wanted to follow up on what you said.
You believe that there is some level of immunity once people are infected and you said that there's still questions about how long and how strong it is.
Can you just give us at all any minimum number of days that you have established so far in terms of that immunity?
[Other language spoken]
Unfortunately, no, I can't really give you any any number of of of days, weeks, months.
This is being looked at.
This is the really the key issue that will give us the answer on, on, on, on what's that natural immunity, but it's also something that's very important for the, for the vaccine manufacturers who are who are working day and night now to develop vaccine.
So, so this is the area that it's that it's really important for everyone to to study and, and we are following all the studies that are being currently done.
But again, the point is that and that we always go back to is that for the time being, we don't know how long this immunity is lasting.
[Other language spoken]
We don't know how much it prevents reinfection.
And for all those reasons, we think that we need to continue with the robust measures of tracing, testing, isolating and providing medical care.
Thank you very much.
Terry Can.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Baba, for your patience.
And Baba has a point of briefing on Iran, please.
Thank you very much, Alexandra.
[Other language spoken]
Dears Unit CR, the UN Refugee Agency, has stepped up its cash assistance to support thousands of extremely vulnerable refugees whose livelihoods have been shattered by the continuing coronavirus pandemic in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
With growing needs, further funding is needed to support many more who are facing increased hardship and on the brink of destitution.
Iran hosts nearly 1,000,000 refugees, mostly Afghans, who have sought safety in the country from A4 decade long conflict in Afghanistan and live side by side with their Iranian hosts.
Iran's economy was already has already been under substantial strain during the past two years, but COVID-19 has severely worsened economic conditions.
In just one year, the price of basic food item such as oil, rice and eggs have increased by some 21%, while the cost of transportation has soared up by some 50%, according to official figures available.
Like elsewhere in the world, many people have also lost their jobs.
Refugees, who usually rely on precarious and unstable jobs for their income, have been particularly hit the hardest.
Unitial estimates that the main breadwinner in approximately 1/3 of all refugee households in Iran has been left unemployed.
Many refugees who are already struggling to make ends meet find it more and more difficult to fend for themselves.
With our Iranian counterparts.
We have supported more than 20,000 refugees since the beginning of the pandemic.
Some 9000 among those have recently benefited from a cash assistance scheme through a pre through prepaid cash cards.
These refugees are suffering from serious health conditions and are in need of urgent support.
Each individual receives some 300 U.S.
dollars, a one off payment, enough to cover up to three months of basic expenditures.
Although refugees have not been disproportionately infected with COVID-19 compared to the national population, the economic impact of the pandemic on their lives has been particularly shattering.
The impact of job losses on refugees lives are mounting.
Some have had to take the children out of schools and send them to work, while others a report having to borrow money or reduce the number of meals they eat each day.
Approximately 2/3 of refugees approaching Unicia for support in recent months needing financial assistance.
Most said they were unable to afford enough food for their families, while others asked for help to pay rent and and for medical treatments.
More support from the international community is urgently needed so that UNICR can further assist Iran in protecting refugees and supporting the Iranian host community.
There's some more details in the note as well.
I'll stop here.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Babar.
Is there any question for HCR?
[Other language spoken]
Jimmy, that's not the handle.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
In fact, it was to Tarek, but I'm afraid he's left.
Sorry.
[Other language spoken]
Sorry, I couldn't hear you.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
No, sorry.
[Other language spoken]
After the briefing.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I just wanted to ask how much are American sanctions on Iran complicating your efforts to attract financing for refugee relief there?
[Other language spoken]
Dear Nick, The economic situation and conditions in Iraq, in Iran, my apologies, have already were very challenging for refugees and for the host populations as as well.
And that's the reason that we quite often come here asking for support and also ask for humanitarian operations, for devil, the level of funding we need.
And as we know, Iran has been a generous host for refugees for many decades on for other refugees, nearly 1,000,000 who still live in that country.
Iran is a country of refuge as well.
So the point here is to keep asking the international community and others who can support Iran as a generous host, but also to realise the impact of the economic conditions which Iran is undergoing currently.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Just to to press the point, but are you finding that potential donors are reluctant to give you money because Iran is so heavily targeted and so intensively targeted by the Trump administration?
Any kind of financial support runs the risks of of coming into reaching treasury controls on financial contacts with Iran.
So is this a major issue for you?
Is this a problem in terms of raising support?
Are donors telling you it's difficult for them to help you?
[Other language spoken]
As far as unit CR is concerned, indeed we are facing underfunding for our operations in Iran.
For this year so far, we have needed nearly 100 million U.S.
dollars to run our operations.
And currently we are at 36% as as we approach the end of the year and as I was mentioning, more and more refugees are coming to us because of COVID and economic conditions approaching us for help.
The $300.00 that we are able to provide to individuals who are among the most vulnerable is a lifeline for them.
But indeed, there's a need for more humanitarian funding for places like.
I'll stop here.
[Other language spoken]
And I don't see other questions for you unless there is in the room, No.
So thank you very much, Babar.
This leaves me with a couple of announcements.
As you know, the 13th of October, today is International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
You have heard yesterday at the press conference by our colleagues of the UN office on Disaster Risk Reduction and we have sent you a video message by the Secretary General on this International Day.
Otherwise I think I don't have any other message, not the committee have told you.
We have told you already last week.
So that is all for me.
If there's any question, I don't see any.
So thank you very much and have a very nice day.
And remember The Who press conference that's Tariq has just announced and which will take place virtually at 12:30 Bianca, you'll be able hopefully to ask you a question.
And this is at 12:30 virtual and you have just received the link from Cecile.
Thank you very much and have a nice day.
[Other language spoken]