Briefing, G77, Ethiopia/Humanitarian & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

Good morning. Did I say something or not yet? No? Okay. Welcome to Siberia. It's cold and it's freezing in here. Freezing. Yes, exactly. We will be open tomorrow, regardless of the weather. All right, good afternoon. Happy Friday. Nice to see you all again after a long week. 00 p.m., Dr. Tedros, the Director General of the World Health Organization, will be here to brief you on the high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. We encourage you to be here. In addition to Dr. Tedros, he will have Professor Muhammad Janabi, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, and Dr. Nedret Emiroglu, head of the Secretariat for Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement. This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the annual meeting of the Group of 77 foreign ministers. saying that the G77 and China, its quest for justice must continue at a time where conflicts are raging, ceasefires are broken, and human rights and international law are flouted with impunity. From the Middle East to Gaza to Sudan, Yemen, and elsewhere, we need an end to the conflicts that are pushing development further out of reach, the Secretary-General said. He noted that this is his last meeting with the G77 in China and added that he will always stand with the group quest for justice and its quest for development and peace. Quick -- sorry, before I get there, just turning to Ethiopia, I can tell you that we remain gravely concerned by the continued deterioration of the security situation in northern Ethiopia and the expansion of the fighting along multiple fronts. We are particularly troubled by reports of the use of drones, as well as incidents of harm to civilians. Once again, we urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint and address their differences through dialogue. The Secretary-General is following developments closely and continues to engage on this issue with leaders in New York, all in support of de-escalation and dialogue. The Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mr. Gwang Kong, is engaging with national and regional interlocutors and is coordinating closely with partners, including the African Union and IGAD, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. All of this to support the resumption of dialogue under the Pretoria framework and help advance a broader process towards sustainable peace and stability. On the humanitarian front, our OCHA colleagues tell us that escalation of conflict in northern Ethiopia risks adding to already substantial humanitarian needs, including for people displaced by previous fighting in Tigray. The area impacted is also experiencing below average rainfall linked to the ongoing El Nino phenomenon. We, along with our partners, are continuing regular humanitarian operations where security allows in Tigray, also in Amhara and Afar. provinces, assessing emergency needs, and developing plans to respond to those impacted by the fighting. However, insecurity is already affecting our operations. This past Sunday, a drone strike in northwestern Tigray hit a truck carrying critical food assistance for internally displaced people. Road closures in some areas have paused or displaced planned humanitarian movements. Our humanitarian colleagues add that operations in the north, particularly in parts of Amhara, already facing significant constraints due to insecurity, including the seizure of humanitarian vehicles and other assets by armed groups. Partners also report major disruptions to phone and internet access in Tigray, which constrains humanitarian operations as well as economic life. We stress that all parties must ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian partners to reach those in need, wherever they may be. this morning back here, our Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, uh, joined by the UNDP Administrator, Alex- Alexander de Krauw, joined member states, representatives to discuss how the Middle East crisis is affecting sustainable development. According to a new report by the UN Sustainable Group that was released today, the economic spillovers are reaching well beyond the region, compounding debt, food insecurity, climate pressures, and limited fiscal space in developing countries. The brief finds that across 130 countries, average retail gasoline diesel prices have risen by 22 to 33 percent Since the conflict began in late February, 55 developing countries now spend more than 10% of government revenues on interest payments, compared to 32 just a decade ago. The brief calls for a shift from repeated crisis response towards resilience, combining better analysis and social protection with strong institutions and access to affordable finance. The policy brief issued today, which is entitled From Shock to Resilience: Protecting Development Gains Amid compounding crisis is available on the internet for your reading pleasure. Turning to Yemen, our humanitarian colleagues on the ground tell us that more than 138,000 people, including more than 70,000 children, 70,000, have now been displaced since the start of August. This is the highest level of new displacement in Yemen since the 2022 truce. And as you can imagine, women and children are particularly impacted as hostilities continue to displace people. Nearly 3,000 thousand pregnant women among the displaced have limited or no access to lifesaving care. Some 200 of them are expected to give birth to babies this month alone. Partners Supporting Women and Girls have run out of dignity kits and urgently need thousands more. Yemen's children are facing horrific conditions. Even before the current escalation, more than 2.2 million children under five across Yemen were acutely malnourished. with over half a million suffering from severe acute malnutrition, which is obviously the deadliest form. The current fighting is escalating those risks. Our friends at UNICEF tell us that nearly 2,900 children screened by their mobile nutrition teams in recent weeks, more than one in four were acutely malnourished, and over 200 suffered from severe acute malnutrition. Meanwhile, more than 137,000 students are out of school due to closures of almost 250 schools in Yemen. The health system is also breaking. WHO says that out of more than 5,400 health facilities they were able to look at, only three in five are still fully functioning. We and our humanitarian partners continue efforts to reach as many people as possible. So far, we've reached 100,000 since August 1st, but supplies are running low, additional funding is needed, and safe, sustained access is urgently needed. Hostilities are forcing more people to flee across borders. Over 3,500 people have made the dangerous journey across the water to Djibouti. That was only between 10 and the 21st of this month. I'm sure more are coming over now. That's what IOM is telling us. We continue here as well, and yet again, to call on all the parties to protect civilians and protect civilian infrastructure, including ambulances, hospitals, and so to allow people safe passage in search of safety. According to the latest report from the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, we warned that settler violence, settler expansion, and displacement and movement restrictions in the West Bank continue to undermine stability and prospects for a viable, sovereign Palestinian state. Meanwhile, nearly one year after the Gaza ceasefire took effect, implementation of Security Council Resolution 2803 remains incomplete, as you know, and early recovery remains in Gaza remains well below the required scale. Dr. Ramiz Alakhorov, the acting special coordinator, says Gaza's recovery and its stability -- excuse me, Gaza's recovery and stability in the West Bank and progress towards a two-state solution are all interconnected. Palestinian institutions create the conditions for self-determination and a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israelis. The report also highlights that nearly one year after the ceasefire, early recovery remains well below the scale required in Gaza, while essential services and infrastructure remain severely damaged. There's an urgent need to restore essential services and infrastructure in Gaza while addressing the environmental and public health emergencies that we've been talking to you about here almost every single day. In the West Bank, report highlights continued deterioration of the situation. including settler violence, the expansion of settlements, and other restrictions. These trends are undermining Palestinian livelihoods, economic activity, and the prospect for a viable and contiguous Palestinian state. A bit more on Gaza. On Wednesday, a UN team went to retrieve a child who had crossed the so-called yellow line. The child was found in distress in an area under direct Israeli control. After bringing the child back in an area under the control of the de facto authorities in Gaza, the team was stopped by armed individuals took the child away from us at gunpoint. UN teams immediately took the step to relocate the child, who was later reunited with his relatives and is now receiving the urgent care he needs. Civilians must always be protected, especially children. And moving north to southern Lebanon, our UNIFIL peacekeepers Tel Aviv continued to monitor developments across the area of operations, including extensive Israeli Defense Forces ground activities and repeated violations of Lebanese airspace and territorial waters. Between Monday and Thursday, peacekeepers recorded 195 airspace violations involving drones, fighter aircrafts, and helicopters. They also observed several airstrikes and detected 368 projectile trajectories, all attributed to the IDF, according to peacekeepers. UNIFIL's freedom of movement continues to be impacted. On Wednesday, a patrol encountered a roadblock north of Kheiam in Sector East. Four IDF personnel informed the patrol that the route could not be used due to what they described as active combat operations. And on Monday, UNIFIL patrol was unable to complete its mission after encountering a roadblock in Sector East, also reportedly resulting from the demolition of a civilian house by the IDF. This week, peacekeepers miners discovered multiple items of unexploded ordnance in Sector West, and in Sector East, previously reported unexploded ordnance was successfully neutralized by UNIFIL's specialized units. On the humanitarian front, UNIFIL, in coordination with OCHA, facilitated nine humanitarian convoys. Turning to Africa and the DRC, our colleagues Our OCHA says they are concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Kingonze displacement site, which is in Bunia, in northeast Ituri Province. According to our humanitarian partners, protection concerns at the site, which holds almost 19,000 displaced human beings, have increased since September 20. There have been reports of armed violence, of threats, intimidation against civilians, arrests, forced displacements, and the destruction of shelters. Humanitarian access has also been severely impacted with organizations repeatedly prevented from entering the camp to assess needs and provide life-saving assistance. OCHA is particularly worried that these restrictions could hamper surveillance and disease control as part of the ongoing Ebola response. And closer to these shores, in Haiti, new data from the colleagues at the International Organization for Migration show the country's displacement crisis is spreading beyond the capital, with some of the sharpest increases occurring in regions once considered relatively safe. Nearly 1.5 million people are internally displaced across the country, with almost 80% now living outside of Port-au-Prince as the violence spreads. In the Artibonite department, once considered a refuge for families fleeing violence elsewhere. Displacement rose by over 16% over the past three months amid increasing insecurity. Meanwhile, we continue to report troubling rise in gender-based violence driven by armed groups. Nearly 600 incidents were reported last month, bringing the total this year long to over 7,000. Sexual violence, including rape, accounted for 60% of all incidents reported in August. Insecurity is also delaying critical care, with 20% of rape victims receiving medical treatment within the first 72 hours, which is a critical window for treatment. We and our partners continue to deliver assistance, including mental health, psychosocial support, case management, emergency cash assistance, and dignity kits. However, the gender-based violence response has received only $4 million, or just 17% of the 24 it needs. More money is needed. And just a month after the devastating floods swept through valleys in northern Nepal, WFP is continuing to assist to provide lifesaving lifeline to impacted communities that remain highly vulnerable. In the most impacted districts, WFP has been using trucks where roads are accessible and helicopters to reach communities that are completely cut off. And for the first time, WFP has been using humanitarian cargo drones to airlift food and relief items to communities where even helicopters cannot land. As part of the response efforts led by the government of Nepal, WFP has now completed the first round of food assistance, providing more than 15,000 flood-impacted people with 127 metric tons of food. The next round of WFP's food assistance is being delivered in the form of cash, reaching approximately 38,000 people. Just to read into the record, a personnel, senior personnel appointment. The Secretary-General yesterday appointed Torly Korbanov of the Russian Federation as the new Deputy Special Representative of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan, as well as Resident Coordinator in South Sudan, and as well as Humanitarian Coordinator. He will be one of those people we call triple-hatted. He succeeded, as you know, Anita Kiki Gbeho of Ghana, who is now the SRS-G. And Mr. Kobarnoff brings over 30 years of experience in international diplomacy and humanitarian action. Most recently, he has been serving as the executive coordinator for the UN Volunteers. A couple of international days to flag for you. Tomorrow, the International Day of the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. marked this year by what the Secretary-General calls an immediate and growing threat of nuclear catastrophe. In his message, he says nuclear weapons provide no lasting security and that their use would inflict consequences no nation and no people should ever endure. He calls on states possessing nuclear weapons to honor their disarmament obligations and commit to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Sunday, this building will be closed. because there will be no meetings and also because it is World Tourism Day so go see something Sunday World Tourism Day which this year focuses on artificial intelligence and algorithms deciding where you go on a holiday I've used it. In his message, the Secretary-General says AI can create new opportunities, but left unchecked, it can funnel tourists to the same few places and platforms. He adds that technology must serve humanity and that tourism workers, local communities, and emerging destinations must help shape what comes. Quick update from our colleagues at the Treaty Section in the Department of Legal Affairs. The Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, better known as BBNJ, has now reached 101 signatory parties. The agreement will make a historic contribution to addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity, and pollution. Before I take your questions, we have a quiz. Geographers often describe the shape of this country's borders as resembling a giant butterfly. I'll give you an easier hint, or not an easier, a different hint. There are three countries in the world that are bordered by eight other countries, right? That's the record. Three of them tied eight other countries. Two of them are in Europe, Austria and Serbia. The third one is not in Europe, and they paid their regular budget dues today. It is in Africa, but Africa is not a country, so you've got to try a little harder. No, no, no. No, it's landlocked.

What?

Landlocked. All right.

What?

No.

Zambia.

Who was about to say Zambia? All right. Good job, Mona. We thank our friends in Lusaka for their full payment to the regular budget, 141 now. They paid $190,738 American dollars, and we thank them for each one of those. Sirife, welcome back.

Thank you, Stefan. It's good to be back.

Excuse me. Thank you. Yes, Sufi.

I don't know if you followed it yesterday, but Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu brought a pager to his speech at the General Assembly to brag about an attack that actually killed many and maimed thousands of people in Lebanon in 2004. Actually, it's considered a terrorist attack by many, and I don't know, probably by international law as well, as civilians were also killed. I just want to know, how do you feel about a country who's using the UN platform to turn it into a propaganda of aggression? or even continuing to be a member of this organization, which was, as far as I know, built, you know, to promote and maintain peace around the world.

Look, we've heard from a number of world leaders. We continue to hear from them today and tomorrow. They are free to say what they want. It is not for us to limit their freedom of speech. We do wish that all world leaders who speak here respect the solemnity of the hall and the occasion. Pam and then Greg.

Thanks, Steph. You mentioned Tigray, the peace, there was a calm for almost three years.

The Pretoria agreements.

Yeah. And now Tigray is coming back. I mean, there's conflict again. Do you have anybody on the ground that's dealing with this?

Yes, as I mentioned, we have a Secretary-General has an envoy for the Horn of Africa, Kwon Kong, who's been dealing with this and actively, especially since the resurgence of fighting that we're seeing.

And do you ever deal with Dr. Tedros on this? No.

Dr. Tedros has, I think, a pretty firm mandate on the World Health Organization.

Yeah, but he is too grand. All right, thank you.

Greg.

Thanks, Steph. Can I ask, has the Secretary General had any involvement in the talks between the United States and Iran? And then second question, what conversations has the SG or his team had on the situation in Yemen? And when was his last contact with Hans Grunberg? Thank you.

I can't tell when his last contact was exactly with Hans Grunberg, but I can tell you the Secretary General stays in very close contact with all his personal and special envoys. The Yemen file is quite big and has many facets, notably the fact that we still have 73 of our colleagues illegally being detained by the Houthi authorities. He's met he met with the government of Yemen representative, in fact, earlier today, if I'm not mistaken. On Iran, the Secretary General will have a meeting with the President of Iran this afternoon, and he has been staying in contact with American counterparts and others. His message is clear, de-escalation, dialogue, diplomacy, and he keeps pushing very hard in that direction.

Was anyone from the Secretary General

No, your microphone, sorry.

Was anyone from the Secretariat in the room for the conversations, the talks between Iran and the US?

Thank you.

Thank you, Stephen. So as we know, China is hosting a high-level dialogue today at UN headquarters to mark the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative. How does the sector general view the contribution of the GDI to the advancing the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development?

I think it is a very important contribution, I'm sure it will be raised. in the meeting between the Secretary General and the Vice President of China, where they will meet later today. Yes, sir, and then we'll go up to Deepak.

Thank you, Stefan. My name is Deepak Khurora from the Tribune Online, New Delhi. Secretary General, in his speech at the UNGA, clearly advocated a Security Council seat for Africa. Now, India has a unique position. Recently, when President Xi was in India, he's finally supported India's case, candidature for UN Security Council, and P4, other P4 countries have already done so. And there are many countries that are supporting India's case as a permanent member for the UN Security Council. So what do you have to say on this, the Secretary-General?

Well, it's not for the Secretary-General to take position on the individual candidacies or proposals for specific member states for a permanent seat on the Security Council. I think the broad message that the Secretary General has is that we need to have better representation from all parts of the world, and that member states and the people of the world need to look at a Security Council where they feel they're represented either directly or broadly, which is currently not the case. Abdhamid. Sorry.

The kind of support which India has gained over a period of time, do you think that the Secretary-General would have some soft corner?

Well, no, as I said, it really is not for the Secretary-General to support one country or another. But I think his message on the reform of the Security Council is pretty clear. Yes, Abdhamid.

Thank you. I have three short questions. First. Was there any UN official in the General Assembly Hall when Netanyahu gave his speech?

Yes, there are always UN officials.

Not on the podium, sitting like that.

Yes, I'm sure there were UN officials.

Okay. Second question, was it?

Appropriate-- I was there, and I listened to a number of the speeches.

Was it appropriate for a prime minister to insult 70 delegates withdrawing from the I.

Would I would refer you back to what I my answer to serif and.

My last question in his speech President Trump said we I reform the UN we cut down 15% of the budget we let 5,000 staff go And the same thing when they appointed the director of WFP, it's the US who announced his name first before the UN. What is the situation? I mean, doesn't that look like kind of degrading or insulting the UN?

I mean, listen, I will let you do the analysis. The official, let's be clear, the official announcement of the new WFP director came from this podium first, right? Member states often announce who they're putting forward, but the confirmation that Luke Lindenberg was named as the new executive director of WFP came from this podium first. I think, listen, it's not for me to provide color commentary and all the remarks that are made in the GA. I think the Secretary General and his representatives have been very clear what they've been able to achieve working with member states on better management of the resources of this organization. Yes, sir.

Thank you so much, sir. This is from ARY News, Pakistan. The UN Security Council passed resolution supporting the right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir many decades ago. And Kashmiris in Indian-occupied Kashmir still look to the United Nations for the realization of that right. I'm wondering whether those resolutions still carry the same significance today. Does the UN Security Council still support the right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir?

Well, I mean, a Security Council resolution is a Security Council resolution. You need-- the question you asked needs to be asked of the Security Council members and the presidency. Yes, sir. And then we'll-- then I'll go back. Yeah, go ahead.

Thanks for doing this briefing.

Is the UN special envoy for Yemen in contact with the Houthis?

What are they telling him about the current conflict?

Well, I mean, yes, he's in contact with the Houthis. He was in Oman not too long, a couple of days ago, meeting with Houthi leadership. It's not for him to speak on their behalf. I mean, I think all of you journalists who work for large news organizations are in touch with the parties. The point is that this conflict is continuing, and the point is that it needs to end, and we need to return to a and led political process, because there was a moment of calm in Yemen. There was a moment where we had better humanitarian access, right, where we could help the people that we needed to help, and where the parties were engaged in dialogue. Thank you. Yes, sir.

And then. Thank you. My name is Nasir from 92 News, Pakistan. Pakistan is playing a continuing role, a go-between role between Iran and U.S. conflict in the Middle East. And, um, yesterday Pakistani Prime, Prime Minister met with the, uh, Iranian President and, um, they agreed on the 14 point agenda, which was, uh, drawn in, uh, Islamabad, well, how do you see this, uh, positive development where, uh, uh… Some good things are coming up. What United Nations Secretary-General Office has to say about this?

Sure. I mean, we're obviously, the Secretary-General has been very clear in expressing his support and his gratitude for the mediation efforts led by Pakistan, which, as you mentioned, led to the Islamabad understanding, which provided, yet in a different context, provided a moment, a period of calm, a period where energy and food and other items were flowing more easily through the Strait of Hormuz. I think it's important to go back to that period. We understand, we've seen reports of various discussions going on, and we hope that they will bear fruit. Yes, ma'am. Oh, sorry. Would you -- Okay.

Thank you. My name is Maria Hlyton. I'm a Ukrainian TV channel, Prymy. So, sir, could you please comment on whether UN is planning to facilitate or help secure a humanitarian corridor for civilians in Oleshky, Ukraine, given the worsening humanitarian situation, reports that food supplies have been cut off, and Russian side isn't cooperative.

Well, I can tell you that our team on the ground has been doing whatever they can to reach people in the frontline areas, in the hardest hit areas, the people who, for whatever reasons, have stayed in their homes, which is also understandable. We will continue to do that. We are also working, and as much as we can, in deconflicting to ensure that humanitarian convoys are kept safe. We have seen, unfortunately, a number of cases where, whether it's UN convoys or some of our partners or the Ukraine Red Cross, come under direct fire. Volodymyr.

Thank you, Stefan. Lavrov, a Russian minister, has said that Russia is not prepared to pause so-called special military operation for the duration of negotiations in any format. What does the Secretary General would respond to this position?

Well, I mean, the Secretary General keeps calling for an end to this conflict with the parameters that we've been talking about, international law, relevant U.N. resolution, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine's internationally recognized borders. And that was that was again the point he made in his meeting with the foreign minister last night. Okay. I think -- oh, I see a question online. Is that Abu Sufyan? I don't have my glasses. Yes, go ahead.

Yes, thank you, Steph. As you know, that former Pakistani Prime Minister now is in jail for last three years, and his supporters are, you know, on the street. Does UN Secretary feel that the protests should be in -- with security and safety?

Everyone has a right to protest peacefully, and the authorities everywhere have a responsibility to ensure that those rights are preserved. Thank you.