Welcome to this press briefing.
Just a few things to tell you before we get into the thick of our agenda.
The on behalf of Rolando Gomez from the Human Rights Council.
As you know, the Universal Periodic Review session continues throughout this week.
This morning the human rights situation in Georgia is being reviewed and in this afternoon it will be the EOPR Working group will be adopting the reports for reviews carried out last week for Nepal, Oman and Austria.
Started this morning at 10, the Conference on Disarmament, I believe we, we just sent you the list of speakers.
Sorry for the slight delay, but you should have it now.
So they're holding their plenary meeting under the presidency of Ambassador Mark Pickstein of Belgium and this first part of the session.
Place until the 26th of March.
You will have seen, you may have noticed a note last week from the United Nations mission in Libya that announced that this week there would be a one week.
For the submission of candidacies for the positions of a three member presidency Council and of Prime Minister.
That goes on until the end of this week.
And then the mission has also developed and released technical guidance and related forms for the submission of candidacies in accordance with the eligibility criteria.
Political Dialogue Forum in mid November 2020 Now, following the end of this nomination period this week, the UN Mission will be convening the Political Dialogue Forum here in Switzerland next week for the voting process.
Of February and we will try to provide you more information on the details of this meeting as soon as we can, hopefully within a day or so.
And also I've been asked to give you this information.
We and our colleagues in New York have been getting some questions recently about the investigation related to the former Commissioner General of UNARA, the Relief Works Agency.
So we have this to say regarding this matter.
The five investigation reports concerning senior managers raised issues that fell to be addressed through the Secretariat or ANURAG accountability frameworks.
Accountability actions, to the extent appropriate and available, were taken and the matters are closed.
It can be confirmed that the findings of the reports were management related that did not rise to the level of fraud or misappropriation of funds.
So in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 59 slash 272 from 2010, the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services, or iOS Investigation reports relating to the former UNRAW management have been provided to Member States that requested them by OIOS.
Member States that have not to date requested such information from IOOIOS may do so now or in the future, and for further information on the availability of their reports you can refer to their website oios.un.org/content/reporting.
So those are a few of the.
Things that I wanted to tell you this morning, unless there are any questions, we'll get into.
Do you know where in Switzerland this meeting is going to be next week?
Because you didn't say Geneva, you said Switzerland and.
Is Jean still the go to person because he doesn't didn't answer my emails anyways.
Look, yeah, what I can tell you is it's.
I I don't have more information.
Than that for the moment.
More details may come up shortly.
Yeah, Jean is still the spokesperson for Owen Smith, but you must understand he and his other colleague Mohammed are the only two doing communication for this mission.
As you know, the mission is is working on three streams, the the the finance, the economic, the political and the military.
There are meetings happening daily.
It's just really crazy for them.
So I'm sure that you know, do contact them.
If you have some difficulties.
Don't hesitate to come through me or Alessandra, I will try to.
We'll try to help you as best as we can, but they are really under, under fire at the moment.
We'll try to come back, as I said, with more information about this meeting next week, very, very shortly.
I can get myself organised.
Jennifer Fenton is here from the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria to just give you a brief update on the meetings that are happening this week with the small body of the Syrian Constitutional.
Just a brief, brief announcement.
The fifth session of the Syrian constitutional.
Committee small body convened Monday.
As scheduled in Geneva today.
All members arrived a short time ago at the Palais.
Mr Patterson noted the meetings are planned to continue through Friday.
The committee members will.
As a special envoy noted as agreed.
And in line with the mandate.
The terms of reference and.
Discuss constitutional principles, basic principles of the Constitution.
The Constitutional Committee, as you know, meets in closed session.
But the special envoy noted that he will brief you on Friday if there's any further.
Media availability before then.
I'll make sure to let you know.
Thank you very much, Jennifer, for that update.
Jennifer, thank you for coming.
Conference with Mr Peterson sometimes.
We have few minutes to put question after the press conference.
Sure, I do believe the last press.
Conference on Friday, he remained.
Until all questions had been answered, as with the previous session as well, but I'll make sure.
That we budget enough time for your questions.
And I see we have a question from Catherine online.
At the press briefing, how can you did address?
Press conference has been handled.
Could you be kind enough?
Please to answer to it in Geneva usually.
The person that first raised.
It's hand has the floor and usually at UN Alessandra and his team are following that process.
So it would be really nice that each person of the press corps has the same opportunity to ask questions.
Thank you for your feedback.
Again, I believe Mr Patterson remained Friday until all.
Believe that everybody who had a question for the special envoy was able to have that question addressed.
Tamar from KUNA Agency, is this a question?
About for Jennifer, why you don't answer?
Our emails coming from Kuna if you have something.
Please say you have something against the agency, say.
We are in a press briefing.
Yes, we need to ask questions and we will answer questions on the issues that are being discussed on the agenda.
If there are other issues, then please let's deal with this off the unis press briefing please.
So is there a question for Jennifer on the meeting of the small?
Body of the Constitutional Committee.
Wondering if Mr Paterson satisfied with the progress of meeting so far, especially yesterday.
How was the first day of the meetings?
I don't want to speak on behalf of Mr Peterson.
You at the end of the week, as he noted.
If there's anything to say before then, I will make sure to communicate.
The meetings are just starting I guess.
A chance to meet and discuss and see what Mr Peterson can share on Friday.
Musa, I see you have your hand raised.
This is a question please.
Effective more interpretation on the the the possible we.
May conference the press service, the prerogative, the moderator the the dunil apparel particularly so it's a long prerogative conference the press don't voila.
Schedule that you have already.
Any indication of approximately?
When you think Mr Peterson.
Because Friday afternoons are always.
That I'll make sure to check.
Before scheduling anything to hopefully.
As possible in previous sessions it has sort.
Of been in the early afternoon as the meetings conclude, but I will work to.
Get that to you as early as possible.
So thank you very much, Jennifer.
We look forward to Friday for a possible press conference on this issue.
Let's go to Margaret Harris from the World Health Organisation, who is joining us online.
About new clinical care guidelines.
As you know, we have expert groups in all areas of work involved with COVID-19.
Constantly search the literature, the research.
And the clinical care group have seen that there's considerable.
New evidence on various areas of.
Care for people with COVID.
19 and they've updated their guidance.
I do have PDFs, but it's.
Better if you have the link, and I'll send the link as soon as I've got it.
Essentially it's the quite a few updates we recommend the probably.
One of the newest ones is that people.
Who have got persistent symptoms after recovering what's often termed longer should have we've in the gun.
What to do and what to look for?
Things in the guidance that are new are that.
People COVID-19 patients at home should have the use of.
Pulse oximetry that's measuring the oxygen levels.
So that you can identify.
At home is actually deteriorating and will will.
Off having hospital care, we also say the use of awake, prone, prone positioning.
Care that's moving somebody onto the front.
That this will improve oxygen flow.
Also, we recommend the use of.
Of low dose anticoagulants preventing blood clots forming the blood.
Dose rather than higher doses because higher doses may lead to other problems.
We also suggest that the decision making on what you change should.
Be very much the clinical judgement of the healthcare providers.
Evidence it's much better if the healthcare.
Providers who are dealing with the individual patients make those.
Decisions rather than just.
Models and for critical care.
Patients, we suggest again the use of that that that decision making process by the individuals.
So these will be available as I said and the.
I'll give you a little bit more on the long COVID because that's a.
Very of great interest to the public, we the reason we have.
Specifically at the lingering chronic impact of COVID-19.
Is that even though the typical?
Recovery time is 2 weeks.
And for up to 8 weeks for severe illness.
And they suffer from things like extreme fatigue, a persistent.
Cough, exercise intolerance and neurological and heart symptoms.
A lot of information is in this guidance on that.
I'll also mention we're going to have a press conference.
Also be having a press conference on the findings of.
Extraordinary meeting on the Moderna.
Vaccine and that will be at 12:30.
That will be shortly after this press conference.
Today and I will stop there and take any questions.
Are there questions for Margaret on this very specific issue that she has just mentioned?
Because it has been two weeks and.
We have received information that you have offered, including aeroplanes and other things to help Manaus and the government has not.
So what are the status regarding your activities in Manaus?
Margaret, do you want to just note this question and let's.
For the issue that you brought up, OK and welcome.
Just see if other questions.
The connection was very poor at the beginning, so it would be great if.
Provided because I I didn't hear the beginning of what you said.
I had another question which was on the the China mission.
Wondering if we have any?
Information on when the experts are getting out of quarantine and will actually be in Wuhan.
Sorry, I I saw that there were.
Margaret, if you can share your your notes, that would be appreciated.
Yes, we will come to the we're, we're taking questions on what she she talked about first and then we'll come back.
Maybe could people who have a question on what Margaret just spoke about raise their hand 1st and then if there are no questions on this topic, then we'll we'll take them.
You have a question for Margaret.
I'm interested to know if in this new guidance you have updated.
Also, if it's possible, will you be including this inexpensive?
Established the heart drug.
Colloquy of which a Canadian.
Trials showed at dramatically decrease hospitalisation and mortality rates for COVID patients.
That is in this current guidance, but as the way our guidance works is we look at.
Systematic reviews of that.
So I would not expect at this stage that it's in that.
Why we are continually updating?
Every issue as it arises and we review.
At the evidence and make recommendations.
It's actually on on something else.
Back to you then just stay on the line and we'll we'll come back time now.
Hello, Doctor Margaret, a question about the hybrid press briefing.
How many persons are be allowed to be in the room with the three experts?
We don't have any journalists.
In the room with the experts, with our hybrid briefings.
Our briefings are simply our.
Everybody else is online.
Now that we know it, Germany and Austria have implemented officially the need to wear FFP 2 masks.
Guidance on masks will change as well and when should we expect the the changing of the guidance like?
Which one is more effective?
And the second question, if do you have any update about the assessment of the Russian vaccine?
The discussion started on Friday.
So do you have any information about this?
On the guidance that the.
Done by our infection prevention and control groups.
They all talk to each other, and they all do have.
We do update our guidance very regularly.
Seen I think the most recent one was back in November and you could expect don't have an exact.
Date on our next update but as new.
That's exactly the purpose of our our expert groups to look at that new.
Evidence and make recommendations accordingly.
I don't have any any new.
So for Jamil, yes, I have been in contact.
I've now sent some queries over to the country.
Office itself because I think this.
Information you seek will be.
Better from the country office.
They are asleep at the moment, as you know, so I'm.
Hoping to have something.
In the in the near future and I will keep.
On, on, on pushing and thanks for keeping keeping this this query alive, Nina.
Got I will provide my notes.
And I should have the link and I think we can.
Provide the PDF of the guidance as well for you so we can give you.
Information and of course.
Anything you want further?
Please send me an e-mail and I'll send you written stuff as well.
About the team in China, we expect that they'll.
We should be able to give you an update of.
I was just wondering, we keep on hearing cropping up at many press conferences and at many hearings about this South African variant of COVID and it's resistance to vaccines.
Is there anything new on this?
Expert Doctor Fauci mentioned this in in a.
Economic Forum yesterday is there.
Concern about this or is it as it has?
Been all along that it's expected or there's no evidence that any variant is.
More resistant to any vaccines.
I would say actually our concern has been **** right from the start of this pandemic about the potential for for the virus to change.
That's why we always recommend getting transmission right down.
So that you don't give it an opportunity.
Specifically on the South African virus, we have this.
Evolution, I'm sure you've heard.
Speak about it a lot at the at the press.
Briefings and about the framework that they've developed also to assist countries to really watch these.
Variants and to to improve.
Their sequencing so that they can identify where the variants are and also link that to what's happening.
Not seen definitive evidence.
Of any change except in terms.
That's the ability for the virus to jump from.
Does seem to have increased.
Double down on the public health.
Measures the the the physical distancing, the avoiding gatherings, the improving ventilation, the wearing of masks, because these are the things that are bringing transmission down.
Regardless of whether the you.
Know whether it's any of the variants of concern, the new variants or whether it's the the original virus.
If you could give us WH OS assessment.
Vaccinations within the European Union if you could just.
Your sort of overview about what the hitches may have been and what the lessons.
Could be learned for other.
The roll up begins there.
Data or fast, slow, whatever but.
Important thing for us WHO?
Is we want to see vaccination in?
Every country of the world.
Within the 1st 100 days of this.
Limited, we want to see it going to the highest risk groups with so that's.
What we want, we want to see the healthcare.
Want to see the people in the older age groups being vaccinated?
Where we are quick follow up and then Gabe Vienna and.
On the on those questions, yes, just to be clear, as you understand, there's some been some criticism of the European Union today and in particular.
With regard to the AstraZeneca.
I know that you're not going to want to name names, but if you could just, you know, give us an assessment as to what you know, you know.
Needs to be done to improve the roll out.
One is I'm wondering if you receive any data or information on trials of the Cuban vaccine?
Soberana is the name of that vaccine in.
And also we, I asked yesterday about health personnel in Mexico that are having the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, but maybe I mean.
Delay for the second dose.
So my question is what is the risk of having only one dose of the Pfizer or any other vaccine and not having the second one?
Have any information on the Cuban vaccine with me?
But if you send me an e-mail, I'll, I'll see where we are.
You know, we have this landscape.
Document of all the different vaccines and what?
Stage they are and whether or not they've submitted data to us so.
If you send me an e-mail, I'll I'll.
See if what we've got and help you with that on the 2nd.
We've got clear recommendations from.
Sage about the Pfizer vaccine.
Regime that they used in their trials.
To indicate efficacy was a two to three-week close regime.
Bit later, so Sage said in exceptional circumstances you.
OK, Margaret, sorry, there's two more hands is written up.
I have Christian here in the room and then Isabel and.
Close there after that, Margaret.
Christiana here, nice to see.
Merck has stopped the development of two.
Candidates, is that a severe?
Set back or are there enough in the pipeline?
Now, as you probably know, we have.
More than 200 candidates in the pipeline and this is a normal thing that happens.
They're going to put their.
Where they're going to put their investment, their research and.
We usually expect with any.
Kind of research into something like a new medication or a new vaccine that you only.
See 10% come to that get to the very.
Come out and become products used in people.
So you would expect to see more announcements like this as companies?
Make decisions about what they're going to do with their.
But the great news is, as you know.
We have so many candidates that have actually come in to the end of their.
Phase three trials and are now being.
Used in human populations.
If what is the research you are aware of?
That seems to have appeared in Brazil and that is a spread in.
If it represents a change in the transmissibility of the.
On the severity of the disease, Thank you, Isabel, that we're certainly.
Of different variants we have.
Severity of disease, but wherever you've.
Got trans **** levels of transmission, whether that's.
Down to the virus itself.
Perhaps public health measures are not being followed in every in every community.
You will see more people.
You've got so many people who have been infected.
To understand the difference that if you've got a lot of virus, if you've.
Got a lot of transmission.
You will see more people with severe disease.
Last question to Ahmed and then we'll move to Mozambique.
Eriel, thank you very much.
Question is on on Pfizer vaccine, Margaret, from the that received by WHO till now, do we know?
Long time it takes the the vaccine after the 2nd.
So the data we have is from the phase three trials.
Vaccine Biontech company.
And that the effectiveness, uh.
Dose regime and they had **** levels of effectiveness I couldn't.
Give you the exact day because what you do is you look at a.
And you give half of them the vaccine, and you give half a dummy vaccine, and you have what's?
Points you're looking to see.
When the people with when you get 150.
People have developed the.
You look at the difference.
Up by the way, I but you set.
Set an endpoint and you look at the difference between the.
Two and if this group have got hardly any and.
This group have a lot of cases.
Then you make your calculation.
Young, can I ask you to contact Margaret privately or stay with us?
And then at the end, if we still have some time, we will come back to you.
But we are now moving to tropical.
3 speakers Yan Lark from Ocha Go ahead and then we'll go to.
And Paul Dillon, thank you.
Real good morning, everyone.
The United Nations is underground and supporting the National.
Made landfall on Saturday with.
Heavy rainfall and flooding in areas already.
Affected by tropical Storm Shaolin.
Ago At least six people have died.
And 12 have been injured.
According to a preliminary figures from the government, but that number may go up as more.
Information becomes available in the extent of the damage is better known more than 176,000.
Affected by the cyclone and the flooding in Mozambique.
Including more than 8000.
Accommodation centres for the displaced have been opened and heavily affected.
Province, including in Byra City.
Accommodation centres have received assistance from the Mozambican authorities and the.
UN is delivering food, health care.
Sanitation and promoting hygiene practises to prevent COVID-19 transmissions.
The cyclone destroyed, damaged.
Or flooded more than 8000.
Six health centres have been damaged.
Large areas of crops have been flooded, which raises.
Concern for the annual harvest.
Which is expected in April.
Results The most urgent humanitarian needs identified.
Tents, drinking water, hygiene kits, COVID-19 prevention materials, mosquito.
As humanitarian partners were already responding to multiple needs.
In Mozambique, including to the conflict in Cabo Delgado in the north and the.
Recent impact of tropical storm shaolin more resources are.
Urgently needed to ensure.
Scale up quickly to respond to the needs from.
The The cyclone also affected other countries in southern Africa.
Zimbabwe has been impacted by heavy rains and there are reports of.
Localised flooding and mud.
Slides and that some people.
Have drowned, but we do not have much detail.
On that, at the moment in South Africa, heavy rainfall and flooding has also been reported, while Isfatini has seen rainfall.
January and most rivers in the country are flooded.
The storm has damaged several roads and bridges there.
In Nesvatini in Botswana, widespread rainfall is also expected in the coming days, so something that we are monitoring closely.
Thank you very much, Jens.
Joining us also is Thompson.
From the World Food Programme who also has an update.
Programme is conducting these.
Assessments with the government and partners in order to have a full picture of the impact of the tropical cyclone.
And the extent of the damage quickly WP supporting both on ground and.
Aerial assessments which have been undertaken withdrawn whilst the full.
Extent of the need would be revealed once ongoing assessments have been.
Concluded early indications that that this storm has aggravated further the precarious food security situation in Sofala.
Proven people need food assistance.
Re establish their livelihoods going forward.
The tropical cyclone comes at a very difficult time in Mozambique.
January to March is the peak of the lean season, when people.
To find food latest statistics.
Which were released on the.
14th of January from the IPC acute food insecurity and acute.
Malnutrition analysis indicates that over.
Levels of food insecurity in both.
Rural and urban areas in southern, central and northern provinces of Mozambique ahead of this.
Stocks to support 100,000 people as part of its immediate response, a total of.
Tonnes of food is available in WP Central warehouse located in Beta City which can easily be tracked.
To affected areas across Sufala province.
As well as in the southern hub in Mapputo.
However, these resources are for.
WPS ongoing lean season response what can be.
However, more resources will be urgently needed to ensure we can mount an.
That's all I had for you today.
Thank you very much, Thompson.
And just to finish off on this topic, we have Paul Dillon from the IOM and then we'll take some questions.
The residents of Beer and surrounding areas are reeling.
Of Cyclone Eloise navigating streets.
Waist deep in floodwaters and littered with debris as the scale of the damage becomes more apparent.
The churches and mosques and some government.
Buildings are sheltering hundreds of.
Displaced families, many of whom.
Fled the storm with little but the clothes on their backs.
Of those, people report losing.
Security in the future Power outages continue across wide swaths of Beira and neighbouring boozy district.
A total of 32 accommodation centres have been activated.
In Saafala province to provide temporary shelter for over 15,000 families now IOMS 100 and.
60 staff in the area are working closely.
With the government of Mozambique.
United Nations and other humanitarian partners to ensure coordination with the humanitarian response assessments began literally within.
Hours of Cyclone Eloise's departure in order to determine the extent of displacement, damage and the needs of local residents, now IO M's.
Working with our government partners.
Say needs their range from.
Tents and potable water to mosquito Nets and COVID-19 prevention materials.
Assessments indicate that more than half of the 71 resettlement centres where people.
Displaced by Cyclone Edai in.
Affected areas with restricted.
Access due to the flooding our staff are distributing.
Supply of cloth face masks to the most.
Vulnerable and providing further information.
About the need to maintain physical distancing, but they say it's.
Very difficult under these circumstances.
Our health staff are very.
For chronic disease patients who lost their medicine or their medications rather in the cyclone and we're monitoring these.
Accommodation centres in order to.
Refer cases to health facilities, but unfortunately many of those facilities were themselves damaged by the cyclone.
Seeing many cases of malaria due to the rainy season.
Thank you very much, Paul.
We have some questions online when the first one from Peter Kenny.
For Jens Jens, you mentioned the impact of Elouise on.
Cabo Delgado is this because?
That tropical storm has reached up that far north, Or is it?
Because it is taking resources away.
It's it is, it is a concern of if I can call it a secondary impact.
In the other direction and.
Currently lingering over over Botswana, but it's expected to dissipate.
The reason why I mentioned couple Delgado is that the agency both the.
Community, they are stretched to the.
Pushing everything they got into.
Capital Delgado, but also to respond to.
The to the to the event of Chalene that happened 3 weeks ago.
So they are pretty much running out of of what they need and and there is a concern that.
Will have to be we can reach a situation.
Will have to rob Peter to pay Paul.
Don't want to do that so that's why we're.
Calling on on donors to to.
Step up because there are.
Additional needs that needs additional.
OK, we have Lisa Shrine from Voice of America.
The first on Cabo Delgado to follow.
Is fighting still going on there or has has this?
Storm chasing some of the.
In in any in any way and then.
Let's see you Paul mentioned something.
About difficulties in social distancing, I did want to ask what sort of preventive or protective measures are being taken.
Pandemic, whether that's even feasible and then.
Deliver aid or WFP and others?
Or are are you really having great?
Difficulty because of the storm.
The difficulty of getting through and and and Thompson.
Please send your notes as soon as you're able to.
Thank you very much Lisa for your question.
Yeah, indeed, as we see, as we've.
Months in displacement settings.
Around the world, maintaining physical distancing and and.
And best practises when it comes to containing COVID-19 is extremely difficult people.
Are in enclosed areas in some cases with that little or no ventilation.
They've had a terrible storm.
And have been locked indoors.
Time now what I can tell you is I mean we've begun distributing.
What stock we have of of cloth masks, we are distributing a soap and other hygiene materials to these accommodation centres and indeed when people are outside of these accommodation centres, our staff.
And and and non governmental.
Organisations are encouraging people to maintain the kinds of distances that they that.
They need and also educating them.
About the about why we're.
Asking them to do that, I'd just like to address the earlier question that that Yance that Yance spoke to.
I don't think we can underestimate the.
Impact of months of response to Cabo to the situation Cabo Delgado has had on this, on this response.
I mean much of our stock of supplies had already been dedicated to that particular issue up north and and I would.
Just like to add our voices to to this appeal before we have to draw down.
Of these of these crises.
And we really need some support to get additional materials on on to the ground so that we can indeed assist on on both.
Of the both of these both of these crises in terms of access.
I mean the flooding is extensive I believe.
The last figure was 147,000.
Hectares, of course this.
Roads Some of the main main roads are open, but.
You know our staff are reporting waist deep.
Water in some areas, which is obviously.
Going to have an impact I imagine that WFP will have.
Have something to say perhaps about the logistics behind moving into some of these areas?
Thank you, Paul, for those additional details.
Are there any further questions?
So thank you very much, Jens Thompson and Paul for briefing this morning on the situation in Mozambique.
I see Lisa has just raised your hand.
I I actually I saw Thompson raise his hand.
You may have miss seeing that.
So if if Thompson has something to add to the questions I asked, I'd appreciate hearing it.
Thompson, do you have something?
We had gained whilst we have gained experience working.
In an active virus, you will remember that the.
Could have prepared us for for COVID-19 and we are battling to be honest to make sure that we are just distribution cycles as well as to reduce the need for large gatherings as well as trying where possible to use.
Order to to to stop or reduce the further risk of spreading Kovid.
COVID-19 is sweeping across southern Africa as I.
But flooding is definitely presenting a challenge.
Taking to disguise, we are using drones for assessment, but we will have of course to use roads.
Where possible to actually deliver.
And get to people who have been displaced by the floods.
We are also looking at all the constraints that exist on the roads, trying to map not only for ourselves but also to share with other partners in Mozambique.
But to be honest, we are stretched, we are, we need additional resources and and we are battling to make sure that we have.
Thank you very much Thompson and sorry for missing your raised hand.
OK, thank you to the three guests, 3 spokesperson with us this morning.
I just have a few additional things to share with you.
I think I mentioned last Friday that the Secretary General was calling a **** level replacement replenishment conference on for the Peace Building Fund today.
It starts at 3:00 PM Geneva time, 9:00 AM New York, and you can follow that on webtv.un.org.
In terms of other meetings happening at the Palais or happening virtually, the Committee on the Rights of the Child is, is currently holding it's 85th session.
So as such, they're not reviewing any country reports, but it will hold it's next, next public meeting Thursday on the 4th of February in the afternoon around 5:00 PM for the public closure of its session and press conferences.
So we've just got gotten some clarifications on a couple of press conferences.
Margaret told you about the one at 2:30, at 12:30, sorry.
And in fact, this has and I think it's been share communicated to you.
This is actually going to be now a virtual press conference.
And next Tuesday at, well today actually at 2:00 PM UNDP also has a virtual press conference on their report, the world's largest survey of public opinion on climate change.
Majority of people calling for wide-ranging action.
That's at 2:00 this afternoon with Casey Flynn, the UNPDP climate advisor.
And we have just also sent you the announcement of the UNHCR press conference on this tomorrow, Wednesday at 10:30 AM.
It's going to be a virtual one.
It's about the release of UNHCR strategy and appeal for refugees on routes towards the Western and Central Mediterranean with Vasant Kostel.
Morelli and Jean Paul Cavallieri.
That's, those are that's it for press conferences this week.
And finally, just a reminder that tomorrow is the International Day of Commemoration in Memory to the Victims of the Holocaust.
As we've mentioned, there will be a ceremony, an official ceremony tomorrow at 12 noon virtually.
You can follow it on webtv.un.org or on our Facebook Live channel.
The Secretary General's has put out a message for the day in which he says that this year's anniversary obviously takes place under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, which unfortunately has revealed long standing fractures and injustices in our societies and contributed to a resurgence in anti-Semitism and xenophobia.
He says the COVID-19 pandemic has given them new opportunities to target minorities based on religion, faith, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, disability and immigration status.
Talking about white supremacists and neo Nazis that are resurging and organising and recruiting across borders and intensifying their efforts to deny, distort and rewrite history, including the Holocaust.
So he concludes by saying as we consider the recovery from the pandemic, we really must address the fragilities and gaps exposed by the pandemic and strengthen our mutual bonds based on our common humanity.
And also today there is a senior new at 5:00 PM this afternoon, which you can also follow.
You must register to listen to the film and then there will be a panel discussion.
5 This afternoon and yesterday began a wonderful exhibition, the projection of these interactive biographies by Holocaust survivors on the exterior walls of the Beth Yakov Great Synagogue of Geneva every evening this week.
If you go by, you can listen to and see the the the interactive biographies from 5:00 to 10:00 PM and this.
We try as as as COVID friendly as we as we can be.
I don't know if Jan Haberman is still with us and if.
Or maybe you've taken care of it with Margaret directly.
I mean don't see his hand raising.
Hello, do you still have your question?
Between the EU and AstraZeneca, I was wondering whether you have some comments on this the.
Quite angry that Astra Seneca is not.
Delivering according to the contract.
They have and the the US paid sorry, more than €300 million in advance for guaranteed orders and now the company is delivering elsewhere.
I was wondering whether you have a comment on this and whether.
Fear that this will set a precedent for the future.
Comment on this I think for something like.
That to the EU and AstraZeneca.
Thank you very much everyone.
Have a good afternoon and we'll see you on Friday.
