UNOG-RUSH-NEWS Briefing 24AUG2021 Zoom Recording
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14:34
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Press Conferences | UNHCR , UNOG , WFP , ILO

UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 24 August 2021

Food situation in Afghanistan

Anthea Webb, World Food Programme (WFP) Deputy Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific, said that WFP was warning that a humanitarian catastrophe awaited the people of Afghanistan that winter unless the global community made their lives a priority. WFP was usually busy prepositioning food stocks in warehouses and with communities across Afghanistan, which were then distributed to needy families before they were cut off by brutal winter snows. That year, however, with funding levels tight and needs escalating, WFP risked running out of its core supply of wheat flour as early as October. Any further delay in its preparations could be deadly for the people of Afghanistan. Once the snow set in, communities were completely cut off, and WFP food assistance was their only lifeline. The situation in 2021 had been compounded by several years of severe drought, conflict and the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19.

Having worked in Afghanistan since 1963, including under the previous Taliban regime, WFP knew how to prevent a hunger emergency and needed US$ 200 million to deliver life-saving assistance before it was too late. Over the past tumultuous week, WFP had reached 80,000 people across Afghanistan – in addition to the more than 5 million people it had already helped since the beginning of the year. It had been able to bring 600 metric tons of food and 16 new trucks into Afghanistan in the past week alone and stood ready to scale-up operations.

Countries near and far were nervous at the prospect of a much greater refugee outflow. While United Nations agencies had solid plans to respond if people did begin to cross borders, the most urgent step that donors could take immediately was to fund existing programmes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Iran.

Special session of the Human Rights Council on the situation in Afghanistan

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service, drew attention to the statement made by the United Nations High Commissioner for human rights at the special session of the Human Rights Council, in which she had said that the people of Afghanistan were looking to the Human Rights Council to defend and protect their rights. The rapid seizure of much of the country by the Taliban had raised grave fears of a return to past patterns of human rights violations, stoking desperation among many Afghans. In recent weeks, the High Commissioner’s Office had received credible harrowing reports of the impact of human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law on civilians. The United Nations was committed to staying and delivering aid to those in greatest need, supporting efforts to restore peace and stability and promoting the rights and dignity of all Afghans.

The High Commissioner had strongly urged the Taliban to adopt norms of responsive governance and human rights and to work to re-establish social cohesion and reconciliation. She had called on all States to create safe pathways for Afghan refugees and migrants, broaden asylum and resettlement programmes and immediately halt the deportation of Afghans who sought protection. She had also asked States to use their influence with the Taliban to encourage respect for the human rights of all. United and unequivocal action by Member States would be an important signal to the Taliban that the international community would not accept a return to past practices.

The full text of the High Commissioner’s statement is available here.

Shelter needs soar for newly displaced in Marib, Yemen

Aikaterini Kitidi, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that as fighting in the Marib governorate of Yemen forced more people to flee, UNHCR was warning of alarming levels of humanitarian needs among displaced communities. Since the beginning of 2021, close to 24,000 people had been uprooted by armed clashes, shelling and air strikes in a region that was already hosting a quarter of the country’s four million internally displaced people. They had sought safety in urban centres and some 150 informal settlements, whose capacity had been exceeded and where conditions were deplorable. Inadequate shelters had been further damaged by recent floods and fires, and clean water, latrines, electricity and health facilities were in short supply. Only 21 per cent of residents could be reached owing to the prevailing insecurity.

With nine in 10 of the settlements built on private land without occupancy agreements, residents greatly feared eviction. A striking 85 per cent of displaced families, consisting mostly of women and children, were unable to pay rent on a regular basis. Further displacement due to eviction would only deplete their resources and increase their needs. With its partner, the Society for Humanitarian Solidarity, UNHCR was providing basic household items, legal assistance and psychosocial support in seven settlements in the Sirwah district of Marib. It had also distributed cash for rent to over 2,800 families as part of a plan to assist some 6,000 families at risk of eviction.

UNHCR reiterated its call to all parties to the conflict to take the necessary measures to protection civilians and public infrastructure from the impact of the conflict and to provide safe passage for civilians fleeing conflict areas.

The full text of the briefing is available here.

Haiti

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service, on behalf of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that under the leadership of the Government of Haiti, national and international humanitarian partners were scaling up multi-sectoral response efforts in all quake-affected areas. The number of critically injured people continued to grow, stretching the health system’s already limited capacity. Many of those who had survived the quake now found themselves homeless, without access to safe water and sanitation and at greater risk of violence and abuse. Meanwhile, tension was mounting on the ground, as aid trickled into the hardest-hit communities. Additional human and financial resources were needed to respond to the crisis, with organizations stretched thin from responding to multiple simultaneous crises in the country. A flash appeal would be issued on Wednesday, 25 August.

Announcements

Isabel Piquer, for the International Labour Organization (ILO), said that on Wednesday, 1 September, ILO would issue its World Social Protection Report 2020-2022: Social protection at the crossroads – in pursuit of a better future. The flagship report provided a global overview of progress made around the world in extending social protection in the last decade, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on new data, it offered a broad range of global, regional and country statistics on social protection coverage and related expenditures. It also identified social protection gaps and set out key policy recommendations. An embargoed virtual press briefing – with ILO Director General, Guy Ryder, and Shahra Razavi, Director of the Social Protection Department – would be held on 1 September, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

On behalf of the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, Special Envoy Geir Pedersen would brief the Security Council on Tuesday, 24 August, at 4 p.m. CEST. The briefing would be carried live on UN TV and the transcript of his remarks distributed to the press.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service, added that the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities would be conducting its virtual review of the report of Djibouti on 27 and 30 August and 1 September, from 12.30 p.m.

Teleprompter
[Other language spoken]
Welcome to this press briefing of the UN Geneva on Tuesday 24th of August.
I would like to start as, as you know, we have had to change the time of the briefing because of the special session of the Human Rights Council on Afghanistan and there is another press conference in Afghanistan soon by WHO?
So I would like to go straight away to Mrs Antea Webb, who is the Deputy Regional Director for the Asia and Pacific for the World Food Programme, who would like to brief you on the food situation in Afghanistan.
Mrs Webb, you have the floor.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
And it's a pleasure to to brief you on the work that our colleagues in Afghanistan are still doing.
And while it may be summer in the Northern hemisphere, WFP is warning that a humanitarian catastrophe awaits the people of Afghanistan this winter unless the global community makes their lives a priority.
Usually at this time of year, WFP is busy pre positioning stocks in warehouses and with communities across the country.
They are then distributed to needier families before they are cut off by brutal winter snows.
This year though, with funding levels tight and needs escalating, we risk running out of our core supply, wheat flour, come October.
We only have a few short weeks left to secure the necessary donor funding to get food in place before the mountain passes are blocked by snow.
Any further delay in our preparations could be deadly for the people of Afghanistan.
Once the snow sets in, it's simply too late.
The communities were cut off and WFP assistance is their only lifeline as they cannot access the markets.
This year.
The situation has been made worse by drought, by conflict, and by the impact of COVID, leaving families even more vulnerable and unable to make even the most basic preparations.
We know how to prevent a hunger emergency despite the current challenges.
We've been in Afghanistan since 1963.
Right now, we need $200 million to deliver life saving assistance before it's too late.
Over the past tumultuous week, WFP reached 80,000 people across Afghanistan, notwithstanding the difficulties.
That's in addition to the more than 5 million people we've already helped since the beginning of the year.
WFP has been able to bring in 600 metric tonnes of food and 16 brand new trucks into Afghanistan just this past week, and we stand ready to scale up and ensure families have what they need to survive the harsh winter.
We know that countries near and far are nervous at the prospect of a much greater refugee outflow than we are currently seeing at the airport in Kabul.
No one wants further suffering or displacement, and while we have with the UN agency solid plans to respond to if people do begin to cross those land borders, the most urgent step we could take right now is for donors to fund our programmes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Iran.
We know what it takes, we can do it, and we're extremely grateful to those donors who have stepped up so far.
But now we're looking to others, new and old, to show the people of Afghanistan that they are not turning their back over.
Thank you very much for this briefing, Mrs Webb.
I would like now to, just before giving the floor to the journalist for question, just tell you about the statement that has just been delivered by the **** Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Michelle Bachelet, at this session of the Council in Afghanistan.
Um among other things, the **** Commissioner said at this critical moment, the people of Afghanistan look to the Human Rights Council to defend and protect their rights.
The need to prevent the Commission of human rights abuses of even greater magnitude and scope make this an essential meeting, Mrs Beshelev went on, saying.
The rapid seizure of much of the country by the Taliban has raised grave fears of a return to past patterns on human rights violation and stoked desperation among many Afghans.
In recent weeks, her office, she said, has received harrowing and credible reports of the impact on civilians of violations of international humanitarian law, as well as violations and abuses of human rights by the parties to the conflict.
And then she has listed the situation of the Afghan people that reports the situation of refugees.
She went on saying the United Nations is committed to stay and deliver aid to those in greatest need, to support efforts to restore peace and stability and to promote the rights and dignity of all Afghans with fundamental human rights in the balance.
Her office will be working urgently to reinstate arrangements for monitoring human rights violations and she has then strongly urged the Taliban to adopt norms of responsive governance and human rights and to work to re establish social cohesion and reconciliation, including the through respect for the rights of all who have suffered during the decades of conflict.
She concluded her statement by calling on all states to create safe pathways for Afghan refugees and migrants, broaden asylum and resettlement programmes and immediately how the deportation of Afghans will seek protection.
She also asked states to use their influence with the Taliban to encourage respect for all, human rights for all and she has then said that united and unique, Sorry, united and unique.
A key vocal action by Member States will be an important signal to the Taliban that the return to past practise will not find acceptance in the international community, neither now nor in the future.
The Afghan people have come too far for such an outcome to be even tolerable.
And now I would like to open the floor to questions from the journalist, if any, to Missus Webb.
We also have HCR who can answer question on the situation with refugees, Afghan refugees.
I don't see any question on the line or in the room.
So I would like to thank very much Mrs Webb for for this update.
Wish you good luck for your important work.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
You have an update on the situation newly displaced in Yemen's Marib.
[Other language spoken]
Good morning everyone.
I would like to give an an update on the soaring shelter needs for the newly displaced populations in Yemen's Marib province.
As fighting in Marib forces more people to flee UNHER, the UN refugee agency is warning of alarming levels of humanitarian needs among displaced communities, including for shelter.
Since the beginning of the year, close to 24,000 people have been uprooted by armed clashes, shelling and air strikes in Marib government.
This is a region that is already hosting 1/4 of Yemen's 4 million internal displaced people.
They have sought safety in urban centres and about 150 informal settlements in Marib.
A recent UNHR needs assessment showed that conditions at the settlements are deplorable.
They have exceeded capacity, hosting in total nearly 190,000 people.
Their shelters are inadequate and many have been further damaged by recent floods and fire incidents due to open fire cooking.
Given the scarce resources, scores of displaced families have been forced to build their own accommodation using old blankets and plastic shaping.
Clean water, latrines, electricity and health facilities are in short supply.
Only 21% of residents are reachable by aid organisations due to the prevailing insecurity as many people were displaced in the vicinity of active front lines.
UNHER is calling on all parties of the conflict to ensure unimpeded access to the settlements to guarantee the safe delivery of life saving assistance.
With nine in 10 of the settlements built on private land and without occupancy agreements, fear is **** among the residents about the ****** of eviction.
Eviction is also a key concern in urban centres as rental prices have soared after the recent wave of displacement.
A striking 85% of displaced families are unable to pay rent on a regular basis as livelihood opportunities are scarce and the quarter of those displaced in Marib have no source of income.
Further displacement due to eviction would only deplete the resources and increase the needs.
Women and children constitute 80% of the displaced with limited shelter options.
They are the ones who suffer most from the ensuing overcrowding, lack of privacy and limited access to basic services such as toilets and water, particularly in the settlements.
With her partner, the Society for Humanitarian Solidarity, UNHCR is providing basic household items, legal assistance and psychosocial support in seven settlements in Maarib's Silva district, hosting some 20,000 people.
Additionally, we have distributed cash for rent to over 2800 families as part of a plan to assist some 6000 families at risk of eviction.
Ending the conflict is the only way to stop displacement and the suffering of the Yemeni people.
UNHER reiterates its call to all parties to the conflict to take the necessary measures to protect civilians and public infrastructure from the conflicts impact and to provide safe passage for civilians fleeing conflict areas.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
Any question for HCR on this subject?
I don't see any.
So thank you very much for this update.
[Other language spoken]
Isabel, you have an announcement.
[Other language spoken]
On Wednesday September 1st the International Labour Organisation is going to launch it's World Social Protection Report 20/20/2022.
Social Protection at the crossroads in pursuit of a better future.
This flagship report gives a global overview of progress made around the world and extending social protection in the last decade, including during the COVID-19 pandemic and based on new data.
It offers a broad range of global, regional and country statistics on social protection coverage and related expenditure.
The report also identifies social protection gaps and sets out key policy recommendations on social protection.
We will have a embargo virtual press briefing on September 1st from 11 to 12 Geneva time.
And these findings will be presented by the ILO Director General, Guy Ryder and Shahra Razavi, Director of Social Protection Department.
That's it.
We'll have our media advisory later today.
And if you have more questions, you can e-mail us at newsroom@ilo.org.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
I don't see any.
Thank you very much then for this information.
Let me have a few points to read to you.
I would like to start with the humanitarian update on IIT which comes to us from OCHA.
Under the leadership of the government, national and international humanitarian partners are scaling up multi sectoral response efforts in all quake affected areas.
The number of critically injured people continues to grow, stretching the already limited health system's capacity.
Many of those who have survived the quake now find themselves homeless, without access to safe water and sanitation, and at a greater risk of violence and *****, including gender based violence amid protection concerns.
Meanwhile, tension is mounting on the ground as it trickles into the hardest hit communities.
The government is looking to increase the frequency of humanitarian convoys and to set up security measures.
Additional human and financial resources are needed to respond to the crisis, with organisations stretched thin from responding to multiple simultaneous crises in the country.
Therefore, an flesh appeal will be released and that would be on Wednesday 25th of August.
That's the update I would like to share with you on Haiti.
Just a reminder that the Committee on the Rise of Person with Disabilities will begin next Friday, 27th of August, the review of the report of Djibouti, which it will continue next Monday and Wednesday, 1st of September.
And this is what I have for you.
Let me see if there is any additional question to me, to the colleagues or to the colleagues listening from UNDPWHOWMO.
I don't see any hand up.
So thank you very much.
Please continue following the special session of the Human Rights Council on Afghanistan.
Thank you very much and have a nice day.