UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 4 December 2020

[Other language spoken]

Welcome to this press briefing of the UN Information Service in Geneva on Friday 4th of December.

I would like to start by reading you an announcement that Rolando Gomez has asked me to read for the Human Rights Council.

This morning the Human Rights Council is holding a meeting on the human rights situation in Belarus.

The meeting is being webcast live on the usual platform webtv dot dot org.

By now you should have received the statement by the **** Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, who delivered the statement at the meeting a short while ago.

The meeting should conclude around noon today.

There will be a press meeting somebody at the conclusion of the meeting.

And For more information, you can can either consult the media advisory sent yesterday by Rolando or just give him a call or send him a message.

So this is on behalf of Rolando on the session of the Council.

We have also online with us Alejandro Laguna for an announcement.

Alejandro, you have the floor.

[Other language spoken]

Good morning to everyone.

In fact, well, first of all, I hope you're all doing well.

In fact, I have three different announcements for the for the same price and they all come with interview opportunities and embargoed material.

If you're interested.

I'll start with the emissions gap report.

Most of you are familiar with it because it has been launched in Geneva several times.

This is going to be a virtual launch obviously this year and we will share a media advisory for the virtual launch event which will which will take place on the 9th of December at 11 AM Geneva time.

[Other language spoken]

UNIPS annual emissions gap report has warned us of the growing gap between the global temperature rise that we are headed for by the end of the century compared to pre industrial times and the emission cuts that we would actually need in order to limit this increase in line with the Paris Agreement meaning.

[Other language spoken]

2° or ideally 1.5°.

This.

[Other language spoken]

You of course don't need me to tell you that it's a special year, but the report, the 2020 report is going to discuss the potential impact of green recovery from COVID-19 on emissions going forward.

For those of you who are not familiar with the report, I can share that in the previous edition 2019, the report found that if the climate commitments made by all the countries in the world submitted by then by 20/19 were actually fulfilled, temperatures would be expected to rise by 3.2° by the end of the century, which would have terrible consequences.

The report will also feature solutions, ways of closing the emissions gap.

We can of course arrange interviews and share embargoed materials, so we will be in touch regarding this.

Second announcement is Champions of the Earth and we will announce our Trail Blazers in tackling different environmental challenges, our Champions of the Earth on the 11th of December.

There are 5 categories and past winners include Michelle Bachelet or for example, the outdoor clothing brand Patagonia.

So we've got policy, leadership, inspiration and action, entrepreneurial vision, science and innovation and lifetime achievement.

We have given some clues.

We've written to all of you.

We've reached out with some clues on the European winner.

I'm not going to mention any details now during this live, live cast, but take a look at that e-mail and if you're interested, get back to us.

We can help you arrange interviews, we can share embargoed material.

I can tell you the European champion whom I have spoken with is wonderful, inspiring and I'd say he could give a really good interview.

Finally, the young champions of the earth.

On the 15th of December we will announce the winning seven young champions from the different world regions, Asia and the Pacific at 2 and the price recognises environmentalists who are between 18 and 30 years old.

We offer them seed money, mentorship and a platform to present their ideas and solutions for the planet.

Again, if you're interested in embargoed interviews before we announce them, that is very possible.

We can share embargoed material.

And again, Mark and I have spoken with the European winner, the young champion and he is truly amazing.

So it is a really good opportunity.

Take a look at the e-mail that we shared with you and and you'll see more details.

Thank you very much.

I'm going to stop there.

Thank you, Alejandra, very inspiring indeed.

[Other language spoken]

I think they're for you, Musa.

We as concerned, concerned Lalibi, Libya.

[Other language spoken]

How are you?

I'm not sure it's to Alejandro, but you'll, you'll, you'll let me know if it's not for him.

It's about the summit on the 12th.

Where's the list of participants?

And the second question, have you invited Mr Paulsonaro and has he accepted?

[Other language spoken]

I I don't have this information.

Maybe Alejandro does.

[Other language spoken]

I'm, I'm really sorry, Jamil.

The the best would would be that let, let me check with whom we can, we can talk to have all this information.

I, I would also like to announce them.

Maybe at the next briefing.

I'll, I'll, I'll come back to you and possibly to all the journalists.

I guess this is of interest to everybody with the information on the media, opportunities, the person to contact etcetera.

Any other question for Alejandro on this events?

[Other language spoken]

OK, Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Before we leave the issue of climate, I just want to remind you that on Tuesday, 8th of December at 2:30 PM we will have a virtual press conference by UNDP.

Latest figures from UNDP Climate promise covering 114 countries, national determined contributions, what has been achieved since 2015 and how to keep up with climate ambitions with Cassie Flynn, UNDP climate advisor and Sarah Bell is available for questions.

She's actually connected.

So if you have question on this and this is what we have on issue lead related to climate today.

Yes, so let's go now to Ethiopia, We have Babar and Thompson to speak about that.

Should we start with Babar?

[Other language spoken]

Dears, can you hear me Alessandra loud and clear?

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Just a second, thank you very much.

Keeping the focus on Ethiopia's Thigray region unit CR The UN refugee agency stands ready to resume its full humanitarian activities in the Thigray region as soon as the situation allows, following an agreement to restore access.

The agreement was reached on Wednesday between the UN offices in the country and the federal government to facilitate access to aid organisation to provide assistance to civilians affected by the month long conflict in the region.

In the Shire Integre Unity, our staff in the town, together with our partners have already distributed water, **** energy biscuits, clothes, mattresses, sleeping mats and blankets to an estimated 5000 internally displaced people.

However, we continue to receive disturbing reports regarding the Eritrean refugee camps in the region, which remain incommunicado.

The details of damages and disruptions remain unknown until we are able to reach them and verify the information.

Initial is discussing with the federal government's refugee agency on logistic arrangements and the need to assess the security situation before the resumption of humanitarian activities.

Fears are that many Eritrean refugees may have already fled the camp in search of safety.

Meanwhile, inside neighbouring Sudan, Ethiopian refugee arrivals continue, with the total number now have crossed 47,000.

More than 1000 arrived yesterday, the majority in the evening.

Refugees are telling units here of more people on the move in search of safety.

A small, small number of Eritrean refugees have also arrived from the Thigre region In recent days, Unit CR together with the Sudanese authorities has moved some 11,150 refugees from the border points to the Umrakuba camp.

This is some 70 kilometres away from the border inside Sudan.

Many refugees say they prefer to remain near the border to wait for family members still in Ethiopia or are in hope hopes that they will be able to return home soon.

They include farmers who have fled during the harvest season.

But refugees also say they are fearful of more violence inside the thick Ray region.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

And now.

Thompson WFP, good morning.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you so much, Alessandra.

The World Food Programme welcomes the signing of the agreement to enable access for humanitarian personnel and services to areas under the Federal Government's control in Tigray as well as in the border areas of Amara and Dafa.

Now, WFP's priority is to locate some of the 50,000 Eretian refugees who before the conflict received received food assistance in four camps in Tigray.

It is possible, as Babai has said, that some may have fled by now in search of safety.

WFP therefore continues its engagement on how to speed up delivery of food supplies to refugee camps in Tigray, as well as to reach people who may be in need elsewhere.

Before the conflict, WFP provided supplementary feeding to 42,000 people in the region and assisted 210,000 people with insurance based support for smallholder farmers to help build their resilience.

Overall, some 1,000,000 people had been receiving support before the fighting.

Prior to assessment missions by the UN and partners, the United Nations had provisionally estimated that up to 2 million people from Tigray would need assistance.

We note that violence may have disrupted WFP's existing operations in Tigre.

We also note that it may have created new numbers of people in need of support.

WFP is ready to respond to increased caseloads of people in need in Tigre as soon as needs are assessed.

Our main aim is to minimise disruption to existing operations as well as to ensure that we are ready to extend food assistance to people in need because of violence, as well as to support the wider humanitarian community countrywide.

The World Food Programme, non governmental organisations and the Federal Government had enough food to respond to near term needs, but it could not be moved into the region before the agreement had been reached.

It is unclear at this stage how much relief food is in Double FP and government warehouses until assessment missions reach Tigre.

Through the logistics cluster, Double FP is providing logistics support and related arrangements that would underpin the ensuing relief efforts.

An updated humanitarian response plan that had been agreed with the government in November for the Tigre crisis estimates total funding to respond to humanitarian needs at 75.7 million United States dollars from a period of about from November 2020 to general 2021, including 26.6 million United States dollars for food and four and a half million United States dollars for logistics.

More resources may be needed once assessments are completed in Tigre.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Thompson and Tariq would like to add something on Ethiopia to Tariq.

[Other language spoken]

Can you hear me, Lisandro?

Very well, go ahead.

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, so I just got some information from our colleagues in Ethiopia, so I would like to share that.

So when it comes to health and to add to what my colleagues have been saying that the conflict has disrupted delivery of health services, health supplies and commodities, including essential drugs.

The health impact the health will impact the, the, the, the health situation will be impacted by this conflict.

And what we can expect is to include worsening of COVID-19 pandemic in the region, injuries, malnutrition, communicable diseases such as malaria as well as as increased needs for non communicable diseases drugs.

WHO is supporting Ministry of Health in the preparation of an emergency response plan.

We have dispatched to degrade emergency health supplies able to treat more than 10,000 patients for three months.

But we also pre positioned trauma supplies at the bordering states.

Additional supplies for trauma, cholera, malaria and severe acute malnutrition are ready for dispatch from WHO warehouse in Adama to degrade as soon as humanitarian corridor opens.

Trauma supplies have been also delivered to MSF in North Gondar.

WHO staff have been deployed to Amhaga and Afar to support the response.

At the eastern, western and southern border of Degree, WHO staff have been repurposed and are on a standby for development for deployment.

Sorry, as soon as the situation permits.

So this is what I have and I will share this with the with a few additional information to to you.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

You have to bear with me because one of our colleagues is also asked for the floor, but without specifying who's the message was coming from.

So I would ask whoever wants to also brief from this to raise the hand on the platform while we are doing this.

Maybe I'll go to the questions.

Lisa, I don't know if I've been am I unmuted?

[Other language spoken]

Good morning, everybody.

[Other language spoken]

First Baba, I have a couple of questions for you.

Why is it that you have been given access to some what 5000?

I believe it is ID PS and not to the Eritrean refugee camps is there is some?

[Other language spoken]

Problem between the government and those camps and do you know how many ID PS there actually are?

And now could you is communication still cut off?

Are you able to get any any kind of information in in regard to that and the conditions of the people?

If you could describe that, that would be very helpful.

And Tarek nice to have have you pop up suddenly that that's good.

Can Tarek do you have I don't you're bobbing around so I'm not sure you're you're listening to me.

[Other language spoken]

Do you have access to to, well, anything that's happening in Tea Grey?

I was wondering whether you knew how many casualties there might be or the extent of the problems regarding COVID-19 and other diseases which may have emerged during this conflict.

[Other language spoken]

OK, let's start with Baba.

Thank you very much, Alessandra.

Thank you very much, Lisa.

So the distributions that we were able to make in Shire, these were from our existing.

[Other language spoken]

And from our colleagues who were already there on the ground in our local office.

So this is just in the Shire and and beyond that, it's very difficult to say how many people are displaced at this point.

So this was immediately what we were able to do within the limited stocks that we had.

But as mentioned, we hope that the recent agreement will allow a full and unhindered humanitarian access to the thick grey region.

[Other language spoken]

As I said, we have our stuff ready to be deployed as soon as the situation permits and then we would be able to to have a proper assessment of the situation.

So I don't have really any figures to give you on health situation in affected region.

But in any conflict, we know that there are a number of issues that will impact health of the population.

Obviously you will have injuries or contract related injuries as almost as a rule the health services will be disrupted and that will that will impact programmes of of immunisation, of Disease Control, surveillance and other and other.

[Other language spoken]

So it is really important as soon as the the access is, is is there to to bring in those, those necessary drugs not only for communicable but also for non communicable diseases and and restore health services.

Yes, good morning, Catherine.

Yes, my question is in fact for the three of you, Tariq Babar and Thompson, but it's regarding rowing, gas relocation.

OK, let me let me give the floor to one.

Yes, I think she has a question on Ethiopia and then we come back to this and yes, I think you have a question on Ethiopia, right, yes, right.

It's on Ethiopia to Babar.

It's about the what what you say that you you are you seems to be to be waiting for something to to go there to distribute the the aid.

But the agreement gave an impeded aid access to to Tigre.

So what are you waiting exactly?

What is impeding you now to go there?

[Other language spoken]

Thank you, Annias.

I, I hope you answer is around and can add more as far as OK.

So as far as I understand, the agreement is a framework for discussions and assistance and this should always be based on a full assessments of the needs.

So, so any assistance we go in with is with full information.

Maybe hence can can help add more.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, you want to come on the podium while you do, I just wanted to remind you that the Secretary of General expressed is pleased.

He said he was pleased by the fact that the agreement had been reached to the federal government and maybe hence can tell us a bit more.

Thank you and good morning everyone.

The the agreement that we that the UN announced on Wednesday is an agreement with with the government to for enhanced access.

There are still operational issues of a logistical nature, some of them of Social Security nature, that are being worked out so that we can proceed with the mission.

So everyone of course are working full speed to make that happen.

We already have since Wednesday a an assessment mission in neighbouring Afar region, which is also covered by that, by that enhanced agreement that is also an assessment mission.

As as as is always the case, we need to make sure what the needs are before we rush into action.

So they are there as I speak.

We expect them back in the coming days and we will have a read out of what is going on in Afar and of course, the hope is that as soon as feasible we can follow up with missions going into Tigray proper.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for this explanation.

Yes, I don't see any other question on Ethiopia, no.

So I go back to Katherine, maybe stay, I don't know if it's for you.

The question, Katherine, your question, it was on Rohingya.

It was for whom?

Yes, Yes, Alessandra, my question is related to Rohingya relocation on Bashanshah Islands.

I'd like to have some comments of the different agencies know also know if UN agencies have been involved in the planification or in the transportation because apparently families are forced to move to that island.

And I would like also to have some comments of the of someone of human rights if we have someone of the **** Commissioner today.

OK, the answer, sorry, yeah, the answer to your last question is not we don't have anybody from human rights connected today.

But Babar will is going to answer your question and then the others if they want to come in.

Babar, thank you very much.

Catherine on this.

There was a statement already out as far as I what I can say, the United Nations has not been involved in preparations for this movement or the identification of refugees and the UN has limited information on the overall relocation exercise.

Just adding on to this before I move to your other point of your question.

The UN takes this opportunity to highlight it's long standing position that Rohingya refugees must be able to make a free and informed decision about relocating to Bashan Char based upon relevant, accurate and updated information.

The government has indicated that movements to the island will be voluntary and the UN calls on the government to respect this important commitment.

Moving on to the second part, we have heard reports from the camps that some refugees may feel pressured into relocating to Bashan Char or may have changed their initial views about relocation and no longer wish to move.

If so, they should be allowed to remain in the camps.

We have also been we we have also seen troubling images of some distressed refugees during yesterday's relocation process.

We have shared these concerns with the Government of Bangladesh.

We again emphasise that all movements, as mentioned earlier to Barshanchar must be voluntary and based upon consultations and full information regarding conditions of life on the island and the rights and services that refugees will be able to access.

[Other language spoken]

I don't see any other hand up.

[Other language spoken]

So thank you very much to everybody for this briefing.

Before I go to Tariq for his update on Nigeria, I just wanted to answer the question from Jamil about the Climate Emission Summit.

So there is a a web page which is Climate Ambition summit2020.org and there is a part to for the media where you can connect and the results of the name of the people who can answer your questions.

Basically my colleagues Daniel Shepherd at shepherdetuan.org and Matthew Coghlan matthew.coghlanetuan.org, but you find these emails and the name of the people on the page of the Climate Ambition Summit at diminishingsummit2020.org.

So Tariq, you have an update on Nigeria yellow fever outbreak, right?

Yes, thank you, Alexander.

Yes, I would like really to to speak about yellow fever outbreak in Nigeria.

Now that Nigeria has been battling with successive yellow fever outbreaks since 2017 and Nigeria is one of the **** risk countries for yellow, yellow fever, I will go back to that.

How many states have been gone through the through the vaccination but those unprotected states remain at **** risk for outbreaks.

The latest outbreak that I wanted to mention today was detected early November and has already caused many deaths across 5 states.

The country is facing many outbreaks of other infectious diseases and a humanitarian crisis in the North East of the country.

The response obviously is particularly challenging in a, in a COVID-19 context because it requires an extraordinary amount of time and resources from the country's health system.

Now numbers as of November 24th, the, the, the, the outbreak has been reported in five states in Nigeria, Delta, Enugu, Bauchi and Banu and Ebony.

If you look at the map, these are countries in South and except except Bauchi that it's further a little bit north.

A total of 530 suspected cases have been reported, including 48 that have been confirmed by a lab testing.

Total of 172 deaths have been reported.

Out of those 530 suspected cases, which is like 41% which is quite ****.

Fatality ratio sample testing is ongoing through National Reference Laboratories now.

The response is challenging as Nigeria is currently facing many concurrent outbreaks of lesser fever, circulating vaccine derived poliovirus, measles, monkey pox and cholera as well.

And do not forget the humanitarian crisis that it's ongoing in the North East of the country.

In addition, national and state authorities are currently focused on COVID-19 pandemic response, limiting the human resources required to conduct investigations and response activities for the yellow fever outbreaks.

We are supporting Nigerian authorities to respond to this outbreak.

We work with the state public health teams or rapid response teams as they're called, that have been organised and trained in each of affected states.

Also, hospitals have been identified in each States and and capacity has been increased in those hospitals to manage patients who develop symptoms and complications, preventing outbreaks from occurring.

In **** risk countries, we are preventing preventive vaccination is of key importance.

So in Nigeria, these efforts are based on the introduction of the yellow fever vaccine into the routine immunisation programme.

This started in 2004 and also carrying preventive campaigns to rapidly increase protection.

[Other language spoken]

Still, the population, entire population of, of of Nigeria has not been protected before WHO instituted eliminate yellow fever epidemics initiative and that's a strategy that it's led by not only WHO, but also GAVI and UNICEF, that strategy that has initiative that has started in 2000.

[Other language spoken]

So before that, only three Nigerian states were protected from yellow fever.

As of today, 16 of 37 Nigerian states have completed campaigns, 6 are expected to do so in the first quarter of 21 with six more before the end of 2021.

That would bring the total of states protected from yellow fever to 28.

So this is this is a good news that next year we will have, we will have more states being vaccinated which would then reduce risks of these these outbreaks.

Meanwhile, desensitisation campaign is being implemented in the communities with reported cases on avoiding daytime mosquito bites, keeping home surroundings clean and clearing mosquito breeding sites.

WHO recommends A vaccination against yellow fever for all international travellers from nine months of age that are going to Nigeria.

Nigeria do require a yellow fever vaccination certificate for all travellers aged 9 months and over.

I would just remind you a little bit on a yellow fever because we haven't been talking about it for some time.

So it is it is being transmitted by by Aedis aegypti mosquito.

It comes when a infected person gets into urban area with a dense population and where Aedis aegypti mosquito is present and then then and where the population is not vaccinated and protected and then we have outbreaks.

Symptoms of yellow fever are are fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, vomiting and fatigue.

Only small percent of patients will develop severe symptoms.

But among those who develops severe symptoms, the fatality ratio is is is is quite **** and and goes around 50%.

The virus is endemic in tropical areas of Africa, Central and South America.

So I will stop there.

As you know, there is no specific treatment for yellow fever.

Supportive treatment helps improve fatality ratio.

But vaccine is, is available, is, is highly protected and and only one dose is, is needed.

Thank you very much, Tariq, for this briefing.

I see Lisa has raised her hands.

Yeah, actually I raised it a little bit late.

My question is for Baba and also Thompson regarding the Rohingya situation.

And what I'd like to know is if you have any, any numbers on how many of the Rohingya refugees have been moved to the island?

And since this is not a presumably not a voluntary operation of any kind, would you be involved in providing aid to these refugees in, in the in the island or would this somehow go against your principles?

Babar is still connected, but Thompson has just left the room.

So we'll have to turn to Babar to answer your visa.

[Other language spoken]

As mentioned earlier, the United Nations has limited information on the overall relocation exercise.

The UN continues to emphasise the need to be able to undertake thorough protection and technical assessments of Bashan Char, which would include on site visits to the island.

This is to ensure that the island is a safe and sustainable place for refugees to live and that they have adequate access to rights and services, including health, livelihoods and education.

the United Nations is prepared to proceed with the technical and protection assessments if permitted by the government.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Gabriella is next on the line.

Gabriella, for whom is your question?

[Other language spoken]

Yes, in another.

Well, on COVID, is it OK?

[Other language spoken]

And I was wondering whether John had a question on Nigeria, if we can hear John Zarqostas.

And then I give you the floor.

[Other language spoken]

We have an issue in unmuting John, as it often happens.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, thank you, Alessandra.

[Other language spoken]

On Monday, Doctor Tedros said that Mexico is in very bad shape and that Mexico should take the pandemic very seriously.

The government said that if Doctor Tedros have any problem with them, that WTO has to send a diplomatic communication to the government when you if you have any problem with with with the government of Mexico.

So my question is, do you send diplomatic communications to government when you see that there are worrisome situations?

I can only say that we are in contact with all governments through different channels.

Sorry, I didn't hear.

We are in contact with all governments and we are using different channels to communicate.

So but but one, one question, did the government of Mexico send you any complaint from, from, from, I don't know.

I don't know because you know the the in in a press conference, the person that is in in charge to handling of handling the the.

[Other language spoken]

They, he disqualified me, me and, and and the and the media that I represent.

He said my name twice with my name and last name.

And he said that I, I, my question was very tricky.

So I, I don't know why a question could be tricky because I, I asked how is the situation in Mexico and the president doesn't wear a face mask.

And that's a fact.

He doesn't wear a mask and he says that it, it is not essential to use it.

So I don't know where the question is like tricky.

[Other language spoken]

So don't know if this is a question for Tariq really well.

[Other language spoken]

It's for the for for.

[Other language spoken]

Rights or I don't know for whom because possibly, but they are not here today.

Gabrielle, I'm sorry, but I think we now have.

Yeah, that's, I don't think Tariq is much to add to that.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, thank you, Teddy.

Coming back to Nigeria, how long does the yellow fever vaccine last for once a person is vaccinated, if that, if you could give us that?

And secondly, if you have any sit reps from your Afro country office concerning the crisis in Ethiopia, that would be helpful besides the stuff that you gave us today just to give us more depth.

Thanks very much.

Thank you, John for, for Ethiopia.

Really what I said is what I got this morning.

So I hope we will have more and and I'm sure our colleagues from Afro region will, will post on their on their website and if I get something I will be happy to share.

But really?

I wasn't even planning to speak about Ethiopia.

That's why my name was not there.

And then I got it really as the briefing was, was starting.

But if I get something, I will, I will definitely share now yellow fever, you will remember this.

You will remember this story, John, that there was a, there was a time where the booster dose was recommended after 10 years.

And I think many of us got booster because we got one.

And then ten years later for those who were travelling and needed to get a booster, I, I don't know what I have to check what day, what year was that?

But it was few years back when WHO changed the recommendation saying that there is no need for for booster because one dose is providing lifelong immunity.

And as vaccines, obviously you need some time to to, to, to look into the antibodies to make such a, such such a statement.

[Other language spoken]

There is.

Only one dose and it's a lifelong.

[Other language spoken]

The vaccine provides effective immunity within 10 days for between 8100% of people vaccinated and within 30 days for more than 99 of people vaccinated.

So that's, that's about your, your vaccine.

[Other language spoken]

It's safe and, and effective.

Good to know, Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Derek, I would like to request to know not if Mr Tedros had meetings with all governments, but in particular if after or before his statements on Brazil and on Mexico in the same day, whether WTO had meetings with these two countries in separate together, whatever before and after.

It has been, it has been many months since Mr Tedros speaks directly about a situation in a country.

And this time he decided it was very clearly that he requested the floor back, the microphone back to talk about these two countries.

[Other language spoken]

Has WHO reached out to these two particular countries?

I don't want to know the rest of the world.

I want to know about these two countries.

Gabriella, I guess she wants to know as well.

This is a matter of transparency.

[Other language spoken]

I promise you request governments to be clear with their populations.

You are not clear with your activities towards countries.

So please let us know if these meetings happen.

If they did not happen, let us know as well.

Please let us know if they did not happen as well.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much for coming back to to Gabriella and Jamil on this.

All right, if there are no other question for Tariq, I have a few announcements for you.

Let me start with the press conference of today.

At 2:00 PM, you will have a virtual press conference by Waipu on the launch of Waipu's 2020 World Intellectual Property Indicators report.

This is with Waipu Director General Darren Tang and Karsten Fink, Chief Economist of Waipu.

At around 4 O clock, Around 4 O clock, we will have a press conference by the Special Envoy for Syria on the fourth session of the small body of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, which is expected to conclude today around 3:30.

Bear with us with the timing.

We will try to stick to that.

The special envoy remark will be live web casts.

You'll be able to see them on webtv.un.org.

Also available with Arabic interpretation.

The Syrian Co chairs may also individually choose to provide an update to the media also from this rumour.

So this will be this afternoon.

You have received a note to correspondent on that and Jennifer can answer your question if needed.

Also on press conferences, I would like to remind you that next week we have quite a few of them.

The first one I would like to mention is not being announced formally yet, but we have the information for you.

I'm just retrieving it, sorry.

This is going to happen, sorry, here.

So we are going to have in advance of the World Press Freedom Conference which as you know is scheduled for the 9th and 10th of December, virtually organised by UNESCO and in connection with World TV Day 2020 that it was as you know, 19 of November, UNESCO and UN Geneva partner with European Broadcasting Union to hold a press conference and a hybrid press briefing.

So we will have the press conference on Tuesday, 8th of December at 1:30 PM Geneva time.

And then we will also have a sort of a teaser by the people who are going to hold this press conference at the press briefing in the morning.

The press briefing at 1:30 PM will be on the subject of world press freedom and public service journalism in the viral highlighting the upcoming Press Freedom conference and also the findings of the recently published EBU 2020 news report.

The briefing will be given by Vanson de Furnier, our colleague Director of the UNIS Collision Office in Geneva, by Liz Corbin, Head of News at EBU.

And we will have also other speakers, including the author of the report of EBU.

So that's going to be on Tuesday, 8th of December at at 1:30 from this room.

It's going to be a hybrid press conference and we will have Vanson in the morning at the press briefing.

Also for the media, I would like to inform you that on 8th and 9th of December, the United Nations will organise the 2020 International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East.

This will be held virtually from 4:00 to 5:45 PM Geneva time on Tuesday and from 4:30 to 6:00 PM Geneva time on Wednesday.

It is organ, it's a, it's a seminar that is organised every year by the UN Department for Global Communication and it will bring together journalists, media experts, think tanks, representative diplomats and members of academia from Israel, Palestine, whether Middle East, Europe and the United States and other parts of the world to discuss media related issues and trends connected to the Israel Palestinian conflict.

You will be able to follow this on webtv.un.org about it.

There's also a link in the media advisory that we have sent you to get more information, participants biography and follow also the discussions.

So these are the 2 events for the press.

I wanted to mention another press conference is on Wednesday too.

That's Wednesday 9th of December at 10:30.

The **** Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, will talk to you on reflections on 20/20 and looking ahead to 2021 on the heap of Human Rights Day.

And she will speak on the need to recover better and stand up for human rights.

And you have received the invitation to that.

Another invitation we have communicated to you is on is for a virtual session.

[Other language spoken]

This is on climate change impact on global and local security governance, learning from local experience on the security sector.

This is not specifically for the press, but the press is invited.

It's on 10th of December at 3:00 PM in time to 4:30 PM in Geneva.

And I think we've sent you the invitation that I have committed to update you on the number of cases of a confirmed COVID cases in the UN Secretariat in Geneva regularly.

We have sent you on Wednesday an update, but today I just wanted to update the numbers.

We have 16 new UN Secretary of Staff cases in Geneva and since that's since our update of the 17th of November.

So the total of the positive cases in the UN Secretariat in Geneva is 174 from March to dates.

And finally, I wanted to remind you that on the on Tuesday 8th of December, we will also have in the morning.

So in the morning, not in the afternoon, I think we will have the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at the paladin Ession.

This is again, not a media event, is the annual commemoration of this International Day.

Tatianna Bello via our Director General will open the meeting with introductory remarks and and then read the statement of the day from the Secretary General and there will be a number of other speakers from the diplomatic community.

You have more information on the invitation that we have sent, We have shared with you.

[Other language spoken]

And I see that Jamil has a question, Miss.

And the apologies.

It's about this press freedom event, not the press conference itself, but can you explain a little bit better what is the event itself and whether you have invited the government of Brazil, since they daily attack journalists, so are are they going to be banned from your meeting?

Because that will not be a government to be invited.

OK Jamil, I'm afraid I can't give you this information, not because I don't want to, but because this is an UNESCO organised conference and that is why we have organised basically this briefing.

And Vince and De Furni will be there on the on the 8th to update you.

Also on the conference, there is a website which is really very complete with the names also of the speakers.

And if you want to have some other information ahead of the press conference, you can ask Van Som.

But the idea is that they come here on Tuesday to tell us about the press conference and the reports that EBU is putting out on this issue.

So I hope you will have all the answers to your question on at the press conference on Tuesday on the 8th.

And I've said it right, yes, Tuesday, yes, Alison, thank you very much.

Catherine.

Yes, this is a follow up on on Jamil's question, the reports you just spoke about what is the, when it will it be launched?

And and please, could you could you make sure it's not only for you, but for all the the new?

The the.

UN agencies, please send us reports in advance and the embargo.

And please don't brief us the the days when an an event occur.

There's no need to to organise a press briefing on something when we are on the day because the press needs to have the elements in advance.

[Other language spoken]

OK, so as I said, the conference is a UNESCO organise conference.

The report is a report of EBU, the European Broadcasting Union, which is called World Press Freedom and Public Service.

Sorry, the report, the title of the report, I was mentioning the subject of the press conference.

The title of the report is Fast forward Public Service Journalism in the Viral Age.

I have to check the release date and but you will have all the information on the report at the press event by Mike all EG who was the author of this report and that will not be the day and that we'll be speaking about the day before.

But I will check about the availability of the report with Ebu Katherine for you.

[Other language spoken]

So I don't see other questions on all these announcements if this is the case.

Thank you very much.

Kathleen, your hand is still up.

Is is it a follow up?

Yes, it is a follow up.

Thank you so much Alessandra for giving me the floor back.

It is related to the relation between EBU and UNI.

Think if I remember well, eunuch did sign an MOU with EBU couple of years ago.

Would it be possible to have a copy of that agreement because we don't know exactly what kind of agreement it is that you have between EBU and and UNOC and it it would be interesting to to know about before.

[Other language spoken]

So it was just to correct you slightly.

It wasn't a memorandum of understanding.

It was just a letter of intent to cooperate.

Basically, the idea is that we have been cooperating with the EBU for a very long time.

And the journalists in fact, are benefiting from that cooperation because through this cooperation we can make available to journalists, especially the member, the member bodies of EBU, what happens basically the palace.

You know, we have been working with EBU on a number of events.

We, we, we work with them every day.

We, we distribute the information.

So it was not more, more than just a, a, an expression of wishing to cooperate between it was indeed Miss Moeller who had made this.

It's not an agreement, it's really a letter of, of intent.

And we just have a work programme every year that we implement together.

For example, last year, sorry, this year, I don't know if you remember, when we did the first UN 75 dialogue on multilateralism in the time of COVID, the director of EBU was one of our speakers.

It's the kind of cooperation that we are organising together on this particular event.

The cooperation is more with UNESCO, as I said, but we also associated ourselves because as you know, every year we commemorate TB Day.

This year because of many other events, we we didn't do it on the date.

So this was a good occasion to come together with UNESCO on the occasion of the of the conference on Press freedom and EBU on the release of this report to come all together and have a press event on Tuesday to speak to you about all these important subjects.

Thank you very much to everybody for everything with us today and have a nice weekend and we will see you this afternoon for the various press conference.

[Other language spoken]