The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 13 November 2020
/
1:09:36
/
MP4
/
547.2 MB
REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
13 November 2020
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the World Food Programme.
Ethiopia – Conflict in Tigray region
Rupert Colville, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that amid emerging reports of mass killings in the town of Mai-Kadra, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, had expressed increasing alarm at the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Ethiopian region of Tigray. She warned that if the Tigray regional forces and Ethiopian Government forces continued down the path they were on, “there is a risk this situation will spiral totally out of control, leading to heavy casualties and destruction, as well as mass displacement within Ethiopia itself and across borders.” While the details of the alleged mass killings reported by Amnesty International in Mai-Kadra in south-west Tigray have not yet been fully verified, Ms. Bachelet had called for a full inquiry.
Answering questions, Mr. Colville said that it was difficult at this stage to assess the motivations behind the attacks, especially whether they were on ethnic lines.
A press release is available here.
Babar Baloch, for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), added that since early November, more than 14,500 men, women and children had already fled to Sudan in search of safety. More than 4,000 persons had crossed the border with Sudan in one day. The number of new arrivals was outpacing the capacity on the ground: one transit center at the border, with a capacity of 300, was already overwhelmed with more than 6,000 refugees. Furthermore, services for 96,000 Eritrean refugees inside Tigray had been seriously disrupted, and reports indicated that growing numbers of Ethiopians themselves were becoming displaced internally.
A briefing note is available here.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service, said that the UN and its humanitarian partners had called again for full access to reach people in need, as well as for the safe passage for civilians in search of safety and assistance.
Mozambique - Conflict in Cabo Delgado province
Rupert Colville, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet had called on all actors to take urgent measures to protect civilians in Cabo Delgado province, in northeast Mozambique, amid reports of an increasingly alarming human rights situation. Attacks by armed groups, including the killing of civilians, and heavy clashes with security forces in different parts of northern Cabo Delgado province, had increased over the last few weeks. Dozens of people had reportedly died and hundreds had been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in southern areas. More than 350,000 people had been displaced by violence in the last three years – since 16 October alone, over 14,000 people had fled by sea and arrived in the provincial capital, Pemba. Thousands more, including the most vulnerable, were believed to be trapped in conflict areas.
Mr. Colville added that since 2017, armed elements and groups had committed grave human rights abuses and, more recently, violations of international humanitarian law, including killings and maiming, as well as the possible forced recruitment of children. There had also been reports of human rights violations committed by Mozambican security forces in recent years, including extrajudicial killings and unlawful restrictions on the freedom of movement.
Responding to questions, Mr. Colville indicated that, while it was hard to determine exactly who was doing what and why, there did appear to be some extremist ideology behind at least part of these atrocities, and that civilians had been deliberately targeted.
A press release is available here
Babar Baloch, for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), warned against extreme brutality unleashed on civilians by non-State armed groups in the Muidumbe district. Many civilians fleeing these attacks had already found refuge in host communities, with more people expected to flee in anticipation of fresh attacks. Violence by armed groups in the Cabo Delgado province had uprooted at least 355,000 people since 2017, according to UN estimates. Many were seeking safety in parts of Cabo Delgado and Nampula and Niassa provinces.
A briefing note is available here.
Alessandra Vellucci for the United Nations Information Service, said that the Secretary-General had expressed shock over recent reports of massacres by non-State armed groups in several villages in Cabo Delgado province, including the reported beheading and kidnapping of women and children. The Secretary-General had strongly condemned this wanton brutality.
Human rights violations in Belarus
Rupert Colville, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the Office remained deeply concerned more than three months after the presidential election, as the Government continued to use the machinery of the State to commit human rights violations. Peaceful protests by the population had been met with excessive use of force by law enforcement officials, and more than 25 000 persons had been detained. Belarussian authorities were increasingly bringing criminal charges against these persons. For example, students who had supported people on strike were now facing undue restrictions and pressure. Mr. Colville deplored the death, yesterday, of Mr. Roman Bondarenko, after allegedly being ill-treated by security forces.
The latest developments only strengthened the sense that impunity for apparently widespread human rights violations committed during the protests and in detention was continuing unchecked in Belarus, Mr. Colville regretted.
Support to Iraqi returnees amid closure of IDP camps
Babar Baloch, for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said UNHCR was boosting its support to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq, in order to mitigate the adverse effects – at the onset of the winter – of the Government’s decision to close a number of camps. Solutions were needed for 250,000 displaced persons concerned by the closure of ten camps since 18 October, with further closures to be expected until the end of the year. Conflicting information and timelines regarding these decisions created uncertainty for many displaced families. UNHCR had raised its concerns with the government.
Shipwrecks off Libya
Safa Msehli, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that nearly 100 people, among them many women and children, had died yesterday in two shipwrecks off the coast of Libya, pushing the death toll in the Mediterranean past 900 victims. IOM was assisting 47 survivors brought to the shore by fishermen and coastguards. IOM was calling for a change of approach to Libya that would end the flow of migrants to the country and establish safe and predictable disembarkation mechanisms. More than 11,000 migrants had been returned to Libya this year, putting them at risk of facing human rights violations. IOM recommended that restrictions on the work of NGOs conducting rescue operations be lifted, in line with the international imperative of saving lives. IOM recommended that the Libyan Government prosecute smugglers and trafficking networks, as well as dismantle a detention system where horrific abuses were committed.
US Elections
Responding to questions on the election process in the United States, Rupert Colville, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said the OHCHR did observe, with concern, the prominent role played by disinformation on election day and over the following days. Voters should be able to form opinions independently, free of violence or threat of violence. In some cases, there had been calls to disrupt vote-counting through violence and of intimidation of electoral officials: such acts could harm public trust in democratic institutions and in the electoral process as such.
Mexico
Responding to questions on the violent repression of a women's protest in Cancún (Mexico), on 9 November, Rupert Colville, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), called for a thorough investigation into the intervention of security forces, including on the role of the municipal and state police, the chain of command, as well as the National Guard action. Mr. Colville also said that the Office of the High Commissioner was concerned about the continuing attacks on journalists across Mexico, including during the protests in Cancún where at least five journalists were injured, two of them reportedly by gunfire.
Alessandra Vellucci for the United Nations Information Service, added that the Secretary-General remained deeply concerned about attacks against journalists and media workers around the world, including in conflict zones. He condemned all attacks and killings of journalists and called for concerted efforts to tackle widespread impunity for such crimes.
Singapore proposal on food export restrictions
Tomson Phiri, for the World Food Programme (WFP), said that Singapore had been advocating at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in support of WFP by putting forward a proposal which, if adopted at the upcoming WTO General Council in December, would facilitate the export of food procured by WFP for humanitarian purposes. This initiative took place as the world was facing growing food insecurity, exacerbated by COVID-19. “It is estimated that 270 million people require food assistance as a result of COVID19. WPF is gearing up to assist 138 million people and it relies on efficient, uninterrupted flows of food supplies to be able to assist the world’s hungry”, said Mr. Phiri.
Update on Hurricanes in Central America
Tomson Phiri, for the World Food Programme (WFP), said WFP’s initial funding needs totaled US $ 13.2 million, and that the Programme immediate response was expected to assist 448,000 of the most vulnerable people in Central America in the first 30 days. Additional funding may be needed as further assessments on Eta’s impact were finalized, and chances of other powerful storms became clearer over the next few weeks.
Mr. Phiri further explained that in preparation for the hurricane season, WFP had readied emergency food stocks in key locations, and that WFP operations would use these stocks as feasible. Ahead of Eta´s landfall, WFP Nicaragua had prepositioned food in Bilwi, which the government distributed to more than 78,000 people after the storm hit the coastal area. The storm directly affected more than 307,000 people in Guatemala. The government had declared a state of emergency and launched an international appeal; WFP will assist an additional 80,000 people. Before the pandemic, 1.8 million people were food insecure in Honduras: an estimated 500,000 additional people may be severely food insecure due to Eta. In Belize, preliminary reports indicate that between 50,000 and 60,000 people were affected by Eta. If needed, WFP will use prepositioned food in the Caribbean for an initial response. Assessments were currently being done in Cuba and Jamaica to have reliable information on impact and needs. El Salvador was still recovering from Tropical Storm Amanda, one of the first storms of the season: WFP required U$S 4.3 million to provide immediate food assistance through cash transfers to 50,000 people.
Safa Msehli, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that hurricane Eta was menacing 2,5 million people across Central America. Since Eta had made landfall on 3 November, IOM personnel had traveled to the most affected areas to distribute emergency kits, shelters, food kits and hygiene items.
Geneva Announcements
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service, speaking on behalf of the Human Rights Council, said the Universal Periodic Review Working Group had adopted reports on reviews for Marshall Islands, United States of America, Croatia, Libya, and Jamaica. The 36th session of the Working Group would close today at 6 p.m.
On behalf of the World Health Organization, Ms. Vellucci said the 73rd resumed session of the World Health Assembly, having concluded its business earlier than expected, would end today and not tomorrow, as previously announced. The Director-General of WHO was expected to make his closing remarks before 1 p.m.
Ms. Vellucci added that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) would open its 102nd(virtual) session next Monday, 16 November, at 3 p.m.
Also next Monday, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies would hold a press conference to launch its World Disasters Report 2020 (2 p.m.)
The World Health Organization would also hold a virtual press conference to present its new Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer (10 a.m.).
Ms. Vellucci reminded that tomorrow, 14 November, would be World Diabetes Day and Sunday, 15 November would be the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The messages of the Secretary-General had been distributed to the journalists.
Teleprompter
[Other language spoken]
Welcome to this press briefing of the UN Information Service in Geneva.
I would like to start with an announcement on behalf of Rolando Gomez that, as you know, he's busy with the Universal Periodic Review.
He asked me to let you know that the programme for the Universal Periodic Review Working Group at its 36th session for today, Friday 13th of November, consisting the adoption of reports or reviews of the Martian islands, United States of America, Croatia, Libya and Jamaica.
At 6:00 this afternoon, the 36 sessions should come to a close.
And of course, as usual, Roland is available for question if you have any for him.
I'm also going to read to you an announcement that Fadela Shahib has asked me to read on behalf of the World Health Organisation, she says.
I we apologise not being able to attend today's press briefing, but the World Health Assembly closes today and not tomorrow as announced.
As they have progressed fast in their discussions, journalists should expect Doctor Ted Rose to make his closing remarks before 1:00 PM.
As soon as we have a better clarity of timing, we will inform you and also they will send the remarks to all the journalists as soon as they are delivered.
I would like also to remind you, she's asking me also to remind you of the press conference on Monday.
This is Monday 16th of November at 10 AM and the World Health Organisation will have a global aim, a press conference on the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer.
This is embargoed until Tuesday 17th of November at 1201 AMCT.
I think you have received the invitation.
So this is what Fadella asked me to announce to you.
So let's go straight into the first subject of the briefing, which is Ethiopia and the conflict in the Tigray region.
To talk about this, we've got Rupert for OHCHR and Babar on the Zoom platform for UNHCR.
I'll start with Rupert.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I have 3, three items today, Ethiopia, and there'll be a press release coming out on that in, in around half an hour.
Mozambique, and we've already sent out a press release on that.
And Belarus, which will just be in this briefing, start with Ethiopia.
And I understand UNHCR also has material on that and indeed on Mozambique as well.
In a press release we're releasing shortly amid the emerging reports of mass killings in the town of Mycadra in the southwest of the Ethiopian region of Tigre, the UN **** Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, is expressing increasing alarm at the rapidly deteriorating situation in Tigre.
She warns that if the Tigre National, Tigre regional forces and Ethiopian government forces continue down the path they're on, there is a risk this situation will spiral totally out of control, leading to heavy casualties and destruction as well as mass displacement within Ethiopia itself and across borders.
While the details of the alleged mass killings reported by Amnesty International in Mike Cadra in southwest Tigray have not yet been fully verified, the **** Commissioner is calling for a full enquiry.
If confirmed as having been deliberately carried out by a party to the current fighting, these killings of civilians would of course amount to war crimes and there must be an independent investigation of full accountability for what has happened.
However, the first priority right now must be to stop the fighting and prevent any further atrocities from taking place.
Despite the severing of communications of Tigre making it difficult to verify the extent of the damage, So far we've received reports from a variety of sources suggesting increased air strikes by government forces as well as fierce crime fighting between the opposing forces.
The **** Commissioner is also extremely alarmed at reports of cuts to essential water and electricity supplies, in addition to the communications blackout and the blocking of access by road and by air.
This means there is already a dramatic impact on the civilian population, in addition to the risk of death or injury as a result of the hostilities.
The UN Human Rights Chief repeated her appeal on the 6th of November to both sides to begin talks with the aim of an immediate cessation of hostilities.
She is strongly urging both sides to realise that there will be no winner in such a situation and calls on them to begin a serious dialogue to resolve their differences without delay.
The **** Commissioner warns that a protracted internal conflict will inflict devastating damage on both Tigray and Ethiopia as a whole, undoing years of vital development progress.
It could in addition, all too easily spill across borders, potentially destabilising the whole sub region.
Thank you very much, Rupert.
I'll now go to Babar.
Babar, you are online.
You have the floor.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, Rupert.
Joining up voices with Rupert Uniciar.
The UN refugee agency is extremely concerned about the worsening crisis in northern Ethiopia.
The ongoing clashes between the Ethiopian federal government and the Thigray forces are driving thousands of people to flee.
More than half of them are children.
Since the violence began early November, more than 11,000 children, women and men have fled into Sudan in search of safety, overwhelming the current capacity to provide aid.
Meanwhile, services for 96,000 Eritrean refugees inside Tigray have been seriously disrupted with reports of growing number of Ethiopians themselves becoming displaced internally.
Unit CR calls on all parties to respect the safety and security for all civilians in Tigre.
[Other language spoken]
Fighting in Tigre yesterday moved closer to Shimilba refugee camp, which hosts 6500 Eritrean refugees, raising concerns for mass displacement from the camp itself.
UNICIAR is making preparations to receive refugees who have already begun arriving at another refugee camp.
It starts 50 kilometres away and is considering further relocation options in the region.
General living and operating conditions inside the Grey are becoming more and more difficult with power outages and food and fuel supplies becoming extremely scarce and as also mentioned, communications have been cut off creating an information blackout.
The numbers of refugees seeking safety in the neighbouring Sudan are increasing rapidly with over 4000 crossing the border in just one day.
The majority have crossed at Hamdiyat border point in the Kasala state and others at Lugdi in Gidaref state in Sudan.
People are arriving with very few belongings, indicating they fled in a hurry.
Arriving children are exhausted and are scared.
The majority originate from Humira inside Tigray, with others coming from the neighbouring towns of Ramian and Dima Unit.
CR and our partners are ramping up assistance but the numbers of new arrivals.
But the numbers of our new arrivals are outpacing the capacity on the ground.
The transit centre at Hyundai Border Crossing has a capacity to accommodate only 300 refugees but is already overwhelmed with 6000 people.
Sanitation facilities are insufficient, impacting hygiene.
The crossing through Lokdi are temporarily hosted at a transit centre site called Village 8, located 35 kilometres away from the borders.
Hot meals are being provided with support from the World Food Programme and Muslim Aid.
Local communities in Sudan are also generously supporting refugees with food.
The Sudan Red Crescent Society has deployed medical staff and essential medicines.
Medicines to Hyundai to conduct health screenings, including for COVID-19 with plans to support help support in in the coming days as the numbers grow.
The government has approved the establishment of a refugee camp at Umra Khuba, 80 kilometres away from the border, with the capacity to host 20,000 refugees.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
And before I open the floor for questions, I'd like to reiterate what was said by the spokesperson of the Secretary General yesterday.
The UN along with their part with partners are repeating our call for full access to reach people in need as well as to conduct needs assessment.
We're also calling for the safe passage for civilians in search of safety and assistance and to guarantee the security for all aid workers.
And we are also calling on the federal and regional authorities to enable humanitarian access to reach people in need in areas under their respective control.
And we are committed to staying and delivering humanitarian assistance.
And the Secretary General has expressed himself several times in the last day on this situation.
[Other language spoken]
So let me open now the floor to questions from the correspondent, if any.
I don't see any hand up for the moment.
OK, so no, there is none.
OK, so let's go to the next briefing.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Oh, sorry, no, there, there are a few hands UPS now.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I I couldn't hear very well because the audio is terrible and I'm in the Palais.
[Other language spoken]
I've missed the comments you made, but has.
John, again, I think yes, the the sound is terrible, but we can't hear you.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So can you please try again?
Otherwise, as last time, send me the question and I'll ask it to Rupert.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
For the moment we can go ahead.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Is that it's bad?
It's really bad.
[Other language spoken]
Send me the question.
I read it to John, to Rupert.
[Other language spoken]
I'll drop around and talk to Rupert.
That's all right.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Has the **** Commissioner had any personal contact with the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean, sorry, the Tigrayan officials?
I mean, both parties seem to be holding pretty fast to their obstinate positions.
There doesn't seem to be much wiggle room there.
What is your impression about that?
Is there any kind of an opening or are you just kind of well, making a plea in the hopes that somebody will hear you?
I'll have to check if there's been direct contact from the **** Commissioner herself.
And of course, we've had, we've had our, you know, contacts of various levels.
And of course, there's a resident coordinator on the ground.
And Ethiopia says, I can assure you there's plenty of contacts going on between the UN and the, and the parties that certainly the Ethiopian government.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, Yes, Lisa, as you may have seen from the nautical correspondent that we sent out on Sunday, the Secretary General had the telephone conversation on Sunday with Prime Minister ABI Ahmed of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.
He also spoke to the Prime Minister Abdullah Amdoc of Sudan in his capacity of Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and also to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Musafaqim Ahmed, in which the Secretary General expressed the readiness of the UN to support the EGAD and the African Union in any initiative to address the situation.
And he also offered the UN Secretary John's good offices to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
These are the contacts I can tell you about.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Yes, we did issue a press release on this an hour or so ago.
The UN **** Commissioner of Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, is today calling for urgent measures to be taken to protect civilians in Cabo Delgado province in northeastern Mozambique, amid reports of an increasingly alarming human rights situation there.
Attacks by armed groups, including the killing of civilians, and heavy clashes as security forces in different parts of northern Cabo Delgado province have increased over the last few weeks, dozens of people have reportedly died and hundreds have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in southern areas.
More than 350,000 people have been displaced by violence in the last three years and I'm sure UNHCR has has more on that since the 6th.
Since the 16th of October alone, over 14,000 people have fled by sea and arrived in the provincial capital of Pemba.
At least one boat was capsized, reportedly leaving some 40 people dead, including children.
Thousands more, including the most vulnerable, are believed to be trapped in conflict areas, with many hiding in the Bush for days.
Conflict and displacement have also exacerbated food insecurity.
Public services, including schools and health facilities, have been destroyed or closed in the worst affected districts.
Some areas have been deprived of any humanitarian aid for over six months, as many districts in the north have been effectively cut off from the rest of the province.
The situation is desperate both for those trapped in conflict affected areas with barely any means of surviving and for those displaced across the province and beyond.
Those who remain have been left deprived of basic necessities and that are at risk of being killed, sexually assaulted, abused, kidnapped or force will be recruited by armed groups and those that have that flee may may die in the process.
The **** Commissioner is saying it is paramount that state authorities ensure the protection of civilians inside and outside the conflict affected areas and that humanitarian agencies are guaranteed safe, unhindered access to deliver life saving assistance and protection.
This is particularly crucial given the risk of cholera and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Cabo Delgado is among among the region's most affected by COVID-19.
In the whole country since 2017, armed elements and groups have committed grave human rights abuses and more recently, violations of international humanitarian law, including killings and maiming, looting, destruction of houses and public and religious facilities, abductions and abuses of girls and women, as well as the possible forced recruitment of children.
Over the past two weeks, there has been a string of attacks in several villages and witness accounts indicate that several homes and public facilities were burned and dozens of people killed, including reports of beheadings of women, children and men, as well as kidnappings.
Difficulties in assessing in accessing the affected areas make it extremely hard to to verify all these reports.
There have also been reports of human rights violations committed by Mozambique and security forces in recent years, including extrajudicial killings, I'll treatment, use of force violations, arbitrary detentions, including of journalists, and unlawful restrictions on the freedom of movement.
All alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed by the armed groups and by the security forces must be thoroughly, independently and transparently investigated by the competent authorities and those responsible must be held to account.
The **** Commissioner is stressing that all parties to the conflict must strictly adhere to their obligations under international law and the state must ensure that any forces under its control, including private military contractors, respect these obligations.
Thank you Rupert Babar on the same subject.
Thank you Alexandra units here.
The UN refugee agency is equally concerned about a worsening security situation in Kaba Delgado province in northern Mozambique.
Civilians and especially children bear the brunt of mass human rights violations that include brutal attacks and kidnapping.
Since last week, thousands of people have fled the Mudembe district due to repeated attacks on several villages.
There have been horrifying reports of extreme brutality unleashed on civilians by non state armed groups in the Mudembe district.
Schools, health centres, private houses and government infrastructures have also reportedly been targeted and destroyed.
Many civilians fleeing these attacks have found refuge in Muida district, staying with host communities or family members.
More people are expected to flee in the anticipation of fresh attacks.
The over 3.
150,000 people that have fled attacks since 2017.
Many are seeking safety in parts of Caba, Delgado and Nampula and Nyasa provinces.
Many districts continue to be inaccessible because they are occupied by armed groups or remain **** at **** risk of being attacked.
We are concerned that civilians, including the elderly, people and people with disabilities remain trapped in those areas.
People continue to arrive at Pakitika beach in the Pamba district, mainly from Macomia, Kwisanga and Ebo Island.
The numbers of displaced as mentioned are now over 14,000.
Hundreds are living on the beach in precarious conditions and clean drinking water is the most urgent need, according to UNITIA staff assessments.
On the ground, people also face a lack of hygiene and sanitation as well as overcrowding.
Humanitarian agencies including UNITIA have provided food, water, hygiene services, but more needs to be done urgently due to the new arrivals in the Pemba areas.
As already mentioned by Rupert, access to some areas remains limited to violence and insecurity.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much, Babar.
And you will have seen that on the 10th of November, the Secretary General said that he was absolutely shocked over the recent reports of massacres by non state armed groups in several villages in northern Mozambique, including the reported beheading and kidnapping of women and children.
And he strongly condemned this wanton brutality.
[Other language spoken]
Peter Kenny, you're having an issue in giving you the floor.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I was wondering, Rupert, if you have.
I know you have difficulty getting access in, in this area of Cabo Delgado, but who are the conflicting parties?
I mean, you know, this is the the, the type of killings that are going on in northern Mozambique.
They are going on on an industrial scale.
And is it the ISIS related groups, you know, from Al Shabaab ***** off or is it Renamo or is it just intercommunal violence?
And, you know, can can somebody describe who are the conflicted parties in this situation?
[Other language spoken]
It's, it seems to be a mix of extremist groups, possibly with links to to ISIL, but also there's potentially a criminal element as well.
And of course, on the other side, you have the state security forces fighting against them.
And there've been reports of abuses and violations by both sides.
But obviously the recent ones, as you've seen in the reported beheadings are particularly horrendous.
But this has been going on since 2017.
And I think it began with an attack on a police station initially, and then it's kind of metamorphosed into, into something quite complex and very wide-ranging.
And, and really as, as both UNHCR and ourselves have described today, is is really, really pretty horrendous in terms of scale and the frequency of the attacks, which seem to have increased a lot in the last few weeks.
John, let's give it another try.
Your hand is up.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Is it better this time?
[Other language spoken]
My question was to Rupert concerning Ethiopia.
If you have confirmed, if the office **** Commissioner has confirmed the report by Amnesty International of a big massacre earlier this week in Ethiopia.
[Other language spoken]
It's in the press release which you should be getting shortly.
The answer is no.
We, we can't confirm it at this point.
I mean, we have no particular reason to doubt it, of course.
And but yes, I mean, to get the full details properly analysed will take a little bit of time.
But the the reports are really, really horrific as as presented by Amnesty International and and as as we say in the in the press release, if if concerned, if confirmed as having been deliberately carried out by party to the current fighting, those killings of civilians would of course amount of war crimes.
And and obviously there has to be an investigation to really find out exactly what happened in in the town of my Katra earlier this week.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Following up on on that question, I wanted to ask you about that, whether there were reports that the massacres had to do with the ethnic hostility, that it had an ethnic basis, the tea grey against the Amhara, I believe what what do you know about that?
And then on, on in the situation with Mozambique, are civilians being deliberately targeted?
I mean, is, is that at the core of what is going on?
And if so, why?
And then would you and also you Babar, please be sure to send us as soon as you can your notes on Ethiopia, etcetera, etcetera.
It would be very helpful.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Let's start with Rupert.
Yeah, in, in terms of OK Grey and the the motivation if you like of the attack, there are there are theories coming out.
I think Amnesty International itself is a little bit tentative in, in how it's characterising it.
So again, I think it's a bit early to to pronounce some why these killings happened.
We do need more details as to whether or not it was on ethnic lines.
There is of course, you know, that is a, is a fear in Ethiopia that, that there'll be a splintering of sort of national solidarity, if you like, along ethnic lines.
But it's, it's, it's a little bit early to, to, to say for sure what happened in in the town of Mike Adra and whether it can be characterised that way.
[Other language spoken]
I mean, I, I think clearly civilians are being deliberately targeted.
I mean, women and children are among those who've who've been killed and, and you know, hundreds of thousands of people have have fled in the in the last three years.
And those are civilians.
So again, it's, it's, it's quite hard to determine who's doing what exactly.
Why exactly There does appear to be some extremist ideology behind at least part of those, a large part of those perhaps carrying out these atrocities and crimes.
And yes, they don't seem to distinguish between the civilians and and military opponents.
Barbara, you wanted to add something?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So thank you very much.
I think these were the questions.
Rupert, you have another point on Belarus.
Right on Belarus We remain deeply concerned at the situation in Belarus more than three months on from the disputed presidential election, as the Belarusian government continues to wield the machinery of the state to commit human rights violations.
Since the 9th of August presidential election, Belarusians have taken to the streets across the country in peaceful mass demonstrations to voice their grievances.
In response, they've frequently been met by unnecessary or excessive use of force by law enforcement officials.
[Other language spoken]
To date, to the estimated, more than 25,000 people have been detained, including more than 1000 who took part in solidarity protests in the capital Minsk and throughout Belarus on the 8th of November.
Many of those detained have faced administrative charges, in some cases being held for up to 15 days.
But the Belarusian authorities are increasingly bringing criminal charges against people.
For example, some 231 individuals, including three journalists, were reportedly detained on the 1st of November as suspects in a criminal case concerning the organisation and active participation in actions that, quote, grossly violate public order unquote, a charge that potentially carries a prison term of three years.
In recent weeks, the authorities have broadened the scope of those being targeted, the students and medical workers in particular, now facing undue restrictions and pressure.
Students who've rallied in support of people on strike have been threatened with expulsion from their educational institutions.
And since the 26th of October, at least 127 have reportedly been expelled from their courses, jeopardising their right to education and prospects for employment.
Medical workers and doctors who've taken part in solidarity chains and professional marches to denounce the violence and I'll treatment perpetrated against protesters have also been detained.
During a peaceful protest in Minsk on the 7th of November, for example, at least 57 medical workers were reportedly detained within 5 minutes of the demonstration beginning.
And this week, reports have surfaced that some 60 victims of violence and torture who had received financial assistance from a charity fund had had their bank accounts frozen on the orders of the authorities.
And sadly, I have to announce something that we've just learned in the last few hours, which is the reported death of of a man called Mr Pondarenko.
Sorry, I don't know his first name.
He appears to have been taking part yesterday evening in a spontaneous, spontaneous action in Minsk to honour the memory.
Sorry that's got that wrong reporting On Wednesday evening masked men resumed to be part of the security apparatus.
But we can't confirm this.
I would stress came to remove some ribbons and at a I think it was some kind of protest and Mr Ponderenko was among the individuals in the in at the scene and reportedly, again, we can't fully verify it, he was violently confronted by one of the masked men who struck him on the head.
He was arrested and subsequently transferred to from a police station to a hospital with serious brain injuries and despite attempts to save his life, he died yesterday in hospital.
As I say, we haven't been able to fully verify all the all the details here.
The Ministry of Interior has stated it is checking quote the circumstances of the incident.
Yesterday evening, there was spontaneous protests in in Mr Ponderenko's honour, apparently thousands of people gathering.
And the latest statement from the Investigative committee that's an investigative body in Belarus continues to indicate that the authorities for now do not acknowledge that those who attacked Mr Ponderenko were police officers or otherwise associated with the security apparatus.
So that's very sad news.
And I think, you know, takes what's already been happening to another level.
Thank you, Rupert Liza.
[Other language spoken]
What role is Russia playing in all of this?
The Belarus Russian people, I think have by and large, you know, been supportive of Russia.
There hasn't been any particular animosity there.
And if Russia's support of the of the president of the government continues, do you believe that this risks alienating their support for Russia and complicating the situation even more?
I don't really have information on that, Lisa.
I think, you know, primarily this is clearly an intra Belarus situation, a disputed presidential election, mass protests repeated over over a long period and as as I've said today, you know, continued very heavy-handed reactions by the the authorities.
So to what extent Russia is involved politically or behind the scenes, I really can't tell you, I'm afraid.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I have a question, but on another subject, if may I go ahead?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
One, Speaking of elections in the United States, the current president refuses to recognise the result of the election that gave Joe Biden the back the victory.
So he says that there were illegal votes without showing strong evidence.
So this with this attitude is inciting his base.
And do you think that this is dangerous for democracy and stability in that country?
And then I have another question.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, on the US I mean, there are, there are human rights angles to, to the election process.
Of course we had, you know, and we have been doing our best to, to monitor, I mean not physically on the ground, but to monitor in general if there are generalised human rights violations of any time.
We, we don't believe the word, we haven't observed the existence of any kind of generalised human rights violations that could have a negative impact on the enjoyment of the right to vote, even though there might be some isolated incidents.
We do, however, observe with with great concern, I would say, the prominent role played by disinformation during the on Election Day itself and the days following it.
And despite the measures being taken by social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter and fact checking by by mainstream media and so on.
You know, misleading and inaccurate information was spread and is still spreading widely in the United States.
And voters should be able to form opinions independently and free of violence or ****** of violence, compulsion, inducement or manipulative interference of any kind.
And the you know, the word, the word calls to disrupt vote counting through violence in some cases and the intimidation of election officials, which are alarming.
That said, I think you you may have seen the statement by the Department of Homeland Security in the last few hours saying, well, I'll leave you to read their statement.
But basically they seem to say there's nothing, nothing at fault in the in the voting process or nothing significant.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Then in Mexico, in the city of Cancun, the police dispersed a demonstration of feminists protesting against the feminine femicide of Alexis with a shootout with firearms.
And there were 4-4 people were injured, including two journalists.
So what do you think of the life abomination shooting against women protesters?
And on the other hand, the National Guard did nothing to prevent and repression against women.
So this is a National Guard that is supposedly Madame Bachelet and your office, they you sign an agreement with them.
So is this agreement still in force?
[Other language spoken]
I have those two questions on that.
And then in there is a in addition, they have murdered another journalist in Mexico.
There are seven this year so far.
So situation is getting really worrying.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
No, we're, we're very concerned by the violent repression of the women's protesting in Cancun.
And we call on the authorities to ensure the right to freedom, peaceful assembly, especially of women claiming their rights and, and, and you know, asking for freedom, for violence and then they're met with violence.
So there should be a thorough investigation of the intervention of the security forces at the protest, including on the role of the municipal and state police, the chain of command and as well as the actions by the National Guard.
And so all of that's really important to to avoid further human rights violations of this type.
It's also of course important that the authorities prevent excessive use of force by any, any form of security forces or any, any form of official state bodies.
And, and the repression of demonstrations and police interventions need to be gender sensitive.
And recourse to force should always be based on the principles of necessity, proportionality, prevention and accountability.
And we, we we ask that adequate and effective resources to stop violence against women are are provided there should.
So this is in a sense what they were protesting about, which is violence against women.
Women at risk need to be protected and they need effective access to justice and remedies for victims.
So, yeah, as I said, it's a it's a terrible irony that a protest about violence against women was met with violence by the authorities.
In terms of the National Guard, I'm not quite sure where we stand there.
I mean, it was always a question of which is something we do in many countries is to try and improve the situation.
So try and make sure that police forces or security forces of one sort or another.
Are, are, you know, aware of their obligations under international law and international guidelines such as those I mentioned?
And that was the spirit of the, of the agreement on the National Guard a couple of years ago.
But I don't quite know where that stands now, whether that's ongoing or not.
So I'd have to look into that for you.
But you know, irrespective of whether one's been working with authorities of any sort, if they then proceed to to commit violations, they've committed violations.
And that's that must be investigated and there must be a kind of penalty.
And on the issue of journalist Gabriella, I will recall that on the 11th of November, we have issued a statement by the Secretary General where he said he remained deeply concerned about attacks against journalists and media workers around the world and in particularly in conflict zones, but in general too.
And he condemned all attacks and killings of journalists and called for concerted efforts to tackle widespread impunity for such crimes.
There was more in the statement on the issue of the violence against women.
I just would like to remind everybody that on the 25th of November, the international community celebrate commemorates the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women.
And traditionally this is also the day when the United Nations launched the 16 days campaign on against violence against women and girls that normally that will end up on the 10th of December, Human Rights Day.
We will make you, we will send you more details from this campaign soon to add as well.
Just just to compliment what I just said, Gabriella, our office in Mexico, which is, you know, is quite active, issued a statement on the 9th of November, very on this, on this episode.
It was actually done by Twitter.
They condemn the excessive use of force by the municipal police.
They urge the authorities to respect and protect the right to peaceful assembly.
They call on the authorities to launch an investigation into the police operation, including the attacks against journalists, because in addition to killings elsewhere in the country, at least 5 journalists were injured during this this event in in Cancun 2, apparently by gunfire.
And there is concern, I think among journalists that such attacks against them, you know, might not be accidental that way.
So there's, there's quite a detailed comment by our office in Mexico on the on the 9th of November.
If you can't find it, we can supply it.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
The incident happened last week in French town Albertville.
Last week four children, two of them from Turkish and one from Algerian family, terrorised by police for 11 hours.
According the families I interviewed myself for children aged 10, aged 10, detained by police for apology for terrorism and questioned 11 hours, says father of children detained.
And so is this practise by French police for 10 years old children, 9 with human and children rights.
What's your comment on this Bahram?
I'm afraid I'm not on top of that issue.
We'd have to look into that and get back to you.
I haven't seen, I haven't seen the reports of that.
So apologies for not being able to respond, but we will look into that and get back to you.
Thank you, Rupert, Paula, yes, good morning.
OK, OK, let's go ahead and then I think Madam has a follow up.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So the I, I actually saw the statement that was made by the UN human rights office on the protests in Peru.
But I was wondering if there were any statements that the UN and perhaps the secretary general may have made regarding the new, the, well, the impeachment of the of President Martin Viscara and the, the rather expedited inauguration or yeah, pronouncements that Manuel Medino will be taking over or has taken over as president.
[Other language spoken]
I don't recall it like this on the top of my mind, but I'll, I'll have a look and I'll come back to you on that.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Thank you for giving me chance again.
[Other language spoken]
I after I reported this incident in France, many French media outlet contact me and they reported as well.
If you want, I can send you the links of the incident.
[Other language spoken]
Yeah, that that would be helpful.
Baron, thanks.
Thank you very much, Rupert.
We'll follow up on this.
So thank you very much to everybody.
And I go back to Babar who has also another item on Iraq, I think.
[Other language spoken]
Yes, thank you, Alexandra.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Talking about the the camp closures for ID PS The internally displaced people in Iraq UNICR is boosting support to internally displaced people in Iraq who are returning to their towns and villages in an effort to mitigate some of the adverse effects of the government LED large scale camp closures so near to the onset of winter.
Following the government's announcement to accelerate solutions for over 250,000 internally displaced people, the authorities initiated the closure of 10 sites in Baghdad, Karbala, Diyala, Ambar, Ninwa and Kirkuk govern raids Since October 18th, the government has signalled that more camp closure should be expected before the end of 2020.
So far around 48,000 displaced people have been informed that the camps where they shelter will be closed before the end of this month.
Government information about camp closures and timelines have changed rapidly, creating uncertainty for many displaced families.
Many have objected to leaving camps so now over concerns about conditions and destruction, tensions and insecurity in the areas of return.
Some displaced people say they were given only two days notice to leave their shelters.
Some Idps have moved from the camps to rented accommodation but fear eviction given their limitless resources.
Others, citing lake of information about alternatives and unable to return to their homes, have joined overcrowded accommodations with friends and families.
UNICR has raised its concerns with the government, stressing that some of the closures have been conducted without adequate notice and consultations with the displaced representatives and aid agencies working in on those sites.
They are particularly worried about the displaced people who say they are unable to return in in absence of an organised dialogue with the communities and local authorities in their return areas in central and western Iraq, which were heavily affected by the years of terror and fighting.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I'm sorry for jumping, but can I just clarify something please on Ethiopia, you mentioned sorry, I'm you're asking this question to you, to Rupert or Babar.
Babar, sorry.
[Other language spoken]
OK, So I can free Rupert.
Babar, go ahead and Babar will answer.
I was just wondering about this 4000 spilling over the border in one day.
Is that included in the 11,000 count, please?
And also can you tell us more about this risk of mass displacement from the camp in of Eritreans within Ethiopia?
Are they being targeted or is it just the violence is getting close to the camp?
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Indeed, the 4000 are included in the total of more than 11,000.
The numbers are changing by the hours.
I mean, thousands are arriving at the both border entry points inside Sudan.
So far, Sudan is the largest recipient or or or actually the only place where Ethiopian refugees have arrived.
And the fear is as the fighting continues, there could be many more who could arrive as as days go by with, with with more fighting.
And in terms of our our concerns for the refugee camps inside the Tigray region, now the fighting has reached the proximity of the camp.
So the concerns are that it could affect the refugees and other civilians living around around the camp itself.
As it was mentioned, excess is a huge issue in in those areas.
So we are trying to see some of refugees have all already left.
One of the campaign have arrived at another site.
We are trying to see how to make sure that refugees remain safe in, in, in this situation as as fighting goes on and, and trying to see if possible in this very, very difficult situation to, to move them somewhere else.
Thank you, Babar, I don't see any other question for you if this is the case.
Thank you very much.
And let me go on my right.
Welcome, Safam Ali for the IOM on the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.
Thank you and good morning.
We have an update on a series of shipwrecks that we reported on in the central Mediterranean.
2 shipwrecks off the coast of Libya yesterday claimed the lives of nearly 100 people, pushing the death toll in the Mediterranean past 900.
A change of approach to Libya and the most dangerous maritime route on Earth that ends the return of migrants to the country establishes predictable safe disembarkation mechanisms and tangible evidence of state solidarity is needed to prevent further senseless loss of life.
At least 140 people were aboard the two vessels that sank on Thursday off the shores of Homs and Surman, among them many women and children.
IOM is assisting 47 survivors brought to shore by fishermen and the Libyan Coast Guard.
31 bodies, including that of a toddler, have been recovered yesterday.
Staff have just also informed us that at least 23 more bodies washed ashore overnight.
Since the 1st of October, IOM has recorded a series of tragedies involving at least eight other shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean.
More than 11,000 migrants have been returned to Libya this year, putting them at risk of facing human rights violations.
Thousands of people continue to pay the price for inaction both on land and at sea, The worsening humanitarian conditions of migrants, detained and overcrowded centres, widespread arbitrary arrests and imprisonment.
This is including raids on residential areas.
Extortion and ***** are truly alarming.
In the absence of any safeguards for migrants returned to the country, the Libyan search and rescue region must be redefined to allow for international actors to conduct life saving operations.
Iowa maintains that Libya is not a safe port for return and reiterates it's call on the international community and the European Union to take urgent and concrete action to end the cycle of return and exploitation.
Continuous restrictions on the work of NGOs conducting crucial rescue operations must be lifted immediately and they're crucial interventions recognised in line with the humanitarian imperative of saving lives.
Thank you very much Safa.
[Other language spoken]
Safa, how are you doing?
I was wondering whether you were whether you're concerned that the few survivors of this tragedy will be turned over to Libyan officials and put into detention and if anything can be done to prevent this from occurring.
And can you speak a bit more about what, what was the cause of of this ship these shipwrecks were?
Were the boats in very bad condition?
Were they overcrowded?
Do you have any more information about that?
[Other language spoken]
So we are concerned obviously, that survivors, and not only of this shipwreck but of previous shipwrecks, ultimately end up in detention where they become part of of the same cycle of ***** and exploitation.
Many of them have to pay ransoms and some sometimes try again to go on these difficult journeys.
For the time being, we understand that those survivors are in the security directorate in the city of Homs.
They have not yet been taken to detention and we call on on authorities to at least release them while providing a minimum degree of of safety and safeguards to prevent them from falling in the hands of of smugglers and traffickers.
[Other language spoken]
To give you a little bit of overview, the boat departed on on Wednesday night from the shores of of Alhoms.
The shipwreck happened yesterday afternoon.
We understand that one of the boats was carrying at least 123 people.
These are rubber dinghies on sea where the vessels that are usually used by smugglers in in in Libya.
The second boat we understand was a wooden boat that departed from Surman carrying roughly 23 people.
3 we understand survived this shipwreck, while twenty other people remain missing and are presumed dead at sea.
On on prevention.
It is very important to to clarify that Libyan authorities have ultimately the responsibility to protect the people on on their territory.
That includes obviously migrants and asylum seekers.
We believe that one of the steps other than prosecuting smugglers and, and, and these trafficking networks is also to dismantle the detention system.
And we've called for many years on, on Libyan authorities to dismantle this abusive system where the UN has documented horrific abuses over the past few years.
We renew our call again to to the Libyan authorities as well as to the international community and the European Union for a general change in approach to the situation in Libya.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Give me a second.
There is none.
So thank you very much for this briefing and I'll turn to Thompson for WFP.
You have something on WTO General Council?
[Other language spoken]
I have two items this morning on on on WTO General Council and then later I will talk a bit about Hurricane ETA and Central America.
I thought probably it would be good to just give you an update.
There is there is a proposal that has been put forward by Singapore to to the World Trade Organisation General Council on humanitarian food export restrictions.
Every year the World Food Programme feeds some 100 million hungry people worldwide.
The bulk of that food that we distribute is bought in surplus producing countries, most of whom are developing economies and the World Food Programme.
Food procurement has had a positive impact, particularly for small, older farmers.
However, over the past few years, the World Food Programme has experienced various episodes of export restrictions on food commodities such as rice and maize in different regions of the globe.
Now this has resulted in increased costs and longer delivery times, sometimes hampering the efficiency and the effectiveness of our humanitarian actions.
Now, the world is facing even more food insecurity.
They are growing food insecurity levels that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
And it is estimated that 270 million people require food assistance in 2020, and we are gearing up to assist 138 million people.
[Other language spoken]
For us to be able to mount effective responses, we rely on efficient, uninterrupted flows of food supplies to be able to assist those who are hungry now.
Export restrictions, for example, just to give you a bit of context, that were placed by some countries in 2020, affected double FPS procurement activities.
The restrictions LED, for example, to delays and, in some cases, cancellations of rice procurement contracts to support vulnerable people.
There was an increased risk of food waste and losses due to longer transportation times and changes to the supply chain and and obviously there were higher administrative, transport and distribution costs as a result.
Now, Singapore has been advocating at the WTO in support of WFP by putting forward a proposal which if adopted at the upcoming General Council sometime in December, would facilitate the export of food procured by WFP for humanitarian purposes.
The proposal has received the support of a good number of Member States.
It is our view that the proposal will not only be beneficial for the war Food programmes operations, but will also help in accelerating the achievement of SDG 2 towards elimination of hunger.
Now I just wanted to give you this update and I will come back sometime in December and update you with more information.
Go ahead with your second point, Thompson, and then I'll ask the journalist if they have questions.
[Other language spoken]
Now it's been a tough year for, for, for everybody in this year.
It's been an extraordinary year in in in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Hurricane ETA is is the 29th storm and hurricane since May, in a year where the hurricane season started earlier and is likely to end later.
The fact that Claire Nullis and my colleagues at World Meteorological Organisation have actually gone through all the names in the traditional alphabet and are now in the Greek alphabet for names speaks for itself.
I just wanted to give you a quick update on what we are doing in response.
In preparation for the hurricane season, WFP had raided emergency food stocks in key locations and WFP operations.
We use these stocks as feasible.
Last week, I updated you about what we were doing in Nicaragua, and today I just want to focus on Guatemala and Honduras, where WFP will similarly scale up its COVID-19 emergency response activities and by extension, assisted additional people.
We have also been affected by the hurricane.
The storm directly affected more than 307,000 people in Guatemala.
The government has declared a state of emergency and launched an international appeal.
WFP will assist an additional 80,000 people as access to remote areas improves and further assessments are completed.
The number of people in need is expected to increase.
Before the pandemic, 1.8 million people were food insecure in Honduras.
An estimated 500,000 additional people may be severely food insecure due to the hurricane and WFP is using its emergency food stocks in the country for rapid response activities in the most severely affected areas.
Preliminary reports indicate that between 50,000 and 60,000 people were affected by the hurricane in Belize.
If needed, WFP will use pre positioned food in the Caribbean for an initial response.
Assessments are currently being conducted in Cuba and Jamaica to have reliable information on impact and needs.
And finally in El Salvador for it's part which continues recovering from from Tropical Storm Amanda.
If you remember one of the first storms of the season, WFP has been assisting vulnerable people in need and requires approximately 4.3 million for that country to provide immediate food assistance through cash transfers to some 50,000 people.
Now we are concerned that the multiple and simultaneous emergencies that the region's governments are responding to are placing an additional strain on their already overburdened social protection systems.
Now the impact of these of of the Hurricanes in that region is just an additional layer of shock that is combining with other climate related challenges such as drought and of course COVID-19.
There have been multiple challenges in that region and we can already see with fresh storms being anticipated that it's going to be, is it the situation will actually deteriorate before it gets better.
That's all I was going to tell you today, quite a lot, but I also have Safa on my right that has a comment on the hurricane situation.
Yes, just an update on IMS operations as well.
The International Organisation for Migration has joined the efforts of the United Nations system and other humanitarian and governmental actors to respond to Hurricane ETA, an emergency impacting 2.5 million people across Central America, as authorities monitor a new storm emerging in the Caribbean.
Iowan personnel in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Belize have travelled to the most affected areas since ITA made landfall on the 3rd of November to distribute thousands of emergency kits, including kitchen sets, mattresses, sheets and hygiene items.
In Honduras, where 1.8 million people have been impacted by the Category 4 storm, IOM has already delivered more than 39,000 personal protection items in an effort in an effort to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, as well as hygiene kits, blankets, clothes and water bags.
And Nicaragua, IOM, in coordination with local NGOs and civil society organisation present, is present in affected areas and will assist the delivery of food kits and hygiene items.
In Mexico, Iowa will distribute humanitarian aid to 7 shelters in the South of the country, while evaluating the extent to which shelters in Shiapas have been affected.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
I'll open the floor to questions.
Let me see any question on both of the items from Thompson or Safa.
I don't see any.
So I would like to thank you both very much.
Thanks for being with us here in Room 14.
This leaves me with a couple of further announcements for you.
First of all, let me remind you that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will open it's 102nd session next Monday at 3:00 PM and this is going to be a virtual session.
I would also like to remind you that in addition to the press conference of WHO on Monday, 16 at 10 AM, we will also have another press conference also on Monday at 2:00 PM, again a virtual press conference.
This is going to be held by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to to launch their World Disasters Report 2020, which is that will come heat or **** water.
The report is embargoed until Tuesday 17th of November, 6 CET, and the speakers will be Jagan Chapagain, the IFRC Secretary General, and Kirsten Hagen, Senior Analyst at the IFRC and editor of the report.
And last but not least, we have a few international days coming up.
Tomorrow, 14th of November, All Diabetes Day, we have sent you the message of the Secretary General that reminds us the many efforts have been made to prevent and treat diabetes, yet the number of people with this condition is going up.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional pain.
Next year, the World Health Organisation will launch the Global Diabetes Compact, a new initiative that will bring structure and coherence to our complementary efforts to reduce the burden of diabetes.
And the Secretary General calls for all of us to work together to make sure that through this ambitious and much did collaboration, we will soon be talking about the decline in diabetes as a public health problem.
And also I would like to remind you that on Sunday 15th of November, the international community commemorates World Day of Remembrance for Rd traffic victims, road traffic collision, says the Secretary General.
In the message that we've distributed to you are a major health and development concern.
We need to remember this as we resolve to build a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our mobility system must have safety at their core.
This is the only way we can achieve the ambitious goal of Alving Rd deaths and injuries by 20-30.
The message have been distributed to you and this is all I have for you today.
I don't see any other question on your side.
So thank you very much and have a nice weekend.