Flydubai, Ethiopia & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

Good, good, good. Thank you. God, it's cold in here. All right. Good afternoon. Just a reminder, tomorrow, 1 p.m., after our briefing, Ambassador Aglaia Baltou, the permanent representative of Greece to the United Nations, will be here to speak to as president of the Security Council for the month of October, she will -- and just as a note for those of you who are watching this via Zoom, they will only take questions in the room tomorrow. But obviously, the YouTube -- the UN Web TV link will be working. I just want to say that, of course, we are following the situation involving the Fly Dubai plane that was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. We're thankful that a major tragic incident was averted and will continue to monitor developments. Turning to Ethiopia and the escalating conflict in the northern part of the country, both the UN relief chief, Tom Fletcher, and the UN resident humanitarian coordinator in Ethiopia, Osania Ogielo, today voiced their concerns over the protection of civilians, pointing out that growing insecurity in the north in recent months has already disrupted humanitarian operations and put aid workers at greater risk. And they've warned that renewed fighting risks deepening suffering in a region still bearing the scars of the last conflict. While humanitarian access is being negotiated in hard-to-reach areas, our partners are working to expand assistance. In the Afar region, we and our partners are working with the parties on using transport corridors for humanitarian work in and out of Tigray. Humanitarian teams are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to assess needs and scale up response as security allows. It is, of course, imperative that all parties allow for safe and unhindered humanitarian access wherever it is needed and forever for whomever it is needed. It is also essential that essential services be restored so that we can help reach the people who need to be reached. Meanwhile, Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grunberg just concluded a visit to Egypt. In Cairo, he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Barda Abdelati, and the Secretary General of the Arab League, Nabil Fahmy. They discussed the recent escalation in Yemen and its impact across the region, including the Red Sea, as well as our efforts to bring this conflict to an end. Mr. Grunberg expressed his gratitude for the continued support of Egypt excuse me, of Egypt and the League of Arab States for the UN's political mediation efforts. Mr. Grunberg had previously visited Riyadh and Muscat, where he discussed with representatives of the government of Yemen, as well as the Houthis, as well as with senior and Saudi and Omani officials, as part of his continuing efforts to identify ways to prevent any further escalation and to keep all channels of communications open. On the humanitarian front and on the in Yemen, the situation, as you can well imagine, remains extremely concerning. We and our partners continue to deliver humanitarian aid amid the ongoing insecurity. So far, humanitarians have provided emergency assistance, including food, shelter, water and sanitation, and healthcare, to more than 125,000 people who were displaced by the recent fighting. At the same time, displacement is rising. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 148,000 people have now been uprooted, with many families forced to move multiple times in search of safety. We again call on all parties to protect civilians, protect civilian infrastructure, and allow for humanitarian access wherever it is needed. And in Cairo, also in Cairo, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hana Tete, also met with Nabil Fahmy, the Secretary-General of the Arab League. She briefed the Secretary-General on recent and security dynamics in Libya, including the recent outcomes of agreements of the smaller convening and the way forward. Meanwhile, the UN Mission's Mine Action Program tells us they helped implementing partners clear more than 14,000 items of explosive ordnance from an area near Misrata between January and September of this year. That's what the field report presented by the Libyan Peace Organization during a visit by the UN team to Misrata. The UN Mission Mine Action Team and its partners met with the Misrata Municipal Council to discuss how we can support to help protect civilians from explosive hazards while also promoting good practices and raising awareness on safe ammunition management as well as safe ammunition handling, two very important points. Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our OCHA colleagues tell us that we and our partners continue to help families in Gaza prepare for the rainy season. Since Monday, our partners have assessed three possible relocation sites for temporary shelters for people who choose to move from flood-prone areas toward damaged buildings at risk of collapse. In parallel, we are examining over 450 existing displacement sites identified as being high risk of flooding. sites are hosting about a fifth of Gaza's population. Before any voluntary relocation can happen at scale, teams say that explosive ordnance contamination must be addressed at the newly identified sites, sandy ground needs to be leveled, drainage must be installed, and water and lighting provided, as well as access roads established and land ownership issues resolved, among other challenges. Our humanitarian partners also stress that the main obstacle is restrictions on access of 65% of Gaza's land. The remaining 35% is already overcrowded. More Israeli approvals are also needed for humanitarian partners and the private sector to import machinery, spare parts, engine oil, and other critical supplies. More funding is urgently needed for fuel and shelter, alongside longer-term solutions such as solar energy and hardened materials to repair damaged homes and shelter. Meanwhile, Health partners are training and equipping local medical staff to better manage non-communicable diseases, but they warn that the critical shortage of medicines and other critical medical supplies are limiting early detection as well as treatment. Life-threatening gaps remain in specialized cancer care, including shortages of essential chemotherapy and radiotherapy supplies. Diagnostic services are also being severely affected by a lack of engine oil for generators, as well as spare parts, among other things. Turning to Haiti, in light of the recent violent episode in the Artibonite Department, I can tell you that the Secretary-General condemns the reported gang attack on Monday in Gromorne, which is one of the communes in that department, which reportedly left at least 11 people dead. This horrific attack is another reminder of the heavy toll that gang violence continues to take on Haitians living in areas under the control or just under the influence of armed gangs. It also underscores the urgency of strengthening security efforts in Haiti, including through the full deployment of the Gang Suppression Force, which is there in Haiti in support of the Haitian National Police, as well as we need to improve the broader efforts to address the drivers of violence and instability that we've seen in Haiti. According to our colleagues at the Human Rights Office, more than 3,000 human beings were killed in Haiti between January and June of this year. We and our partners continue to provide food, healthcare, psychosocial support, emergency cash assistance. However, humanitarian needs continue to outpace available resources. As you can imagine, more funding is needed. A couple of peacekeeping updates from Africa. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and following what we told you yesterday about violence and displacement that is ongoing in Ituri Province, our peacekeeping colleagues from MONUSCO tell us that more than 5,000 civilians sought temporary protection at our missions base following fighting and reports of armed movements in Djugu territory. On 27 September, some 3,100 people found protection at a temporary UN base near the Ru displacement site. That followed fighting between the CODECO armed group and the Convention for Popular Revolution armed group. Peacekeepers also provided emergency medical care to nine people. The following day, another 2,000 civilians found shelter at the MONUSCO base in Drodo amid reports of gunfire and suspected movements of armed people nearby. Most of the people who were looking for protection have since voluntarily left our bases. The mission remains vigilant and continues to deploy robust patrols in response to the increasing insecurity in Ituri Province. And our colleagues in Abyei, the peacekeeping force UNISFA, tell us that following the deadly violence in the Amiet Common Market earlier this month, our peacekeeping colleagues in the Interim Security Force in Abiet say that the situation is now relatively calm, although it remains fragile. The market has reopened following an agreement reached among communities in the area. Peacekeepers also tell us that 40 people were reportedly killed and more than 100 injured in the violence on September 15th, and an increase in the toll we reported on 17th September. Our peacekeepers are continuing to reinforce patrols and around the market, in and around the market, are engaging with traditional leaders to rebuild trust, prevent renewed violence, and promote peace and cooperation. They continue to prioritize the protection of civilians and efforts to prevent retaliation, further escalation. No money today, but we do have a quiz. It is one for International Translation Day, which we're marking today. Which document holds the Guinness World Record as the most translated document in the world?

The Bible?

Nope. In a sense, it is partly our, not, but you're close.

Harry Potter?

Not Harry Potter, Noreen, not Harry Potter. I mean, it's not a bad guess. It is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. which exists in more than 500 languages, thanks to translators. And I do want to take the moment to thank our gifted translators and interpreters here in New York and around the world who make our work reachable for so many, for millions and millions of people. And today is also the last day of one of your esteemed colleagues, Noreen. At least I hope that the information I've been given is true. that you'll soon be heading home. So just on behalf of all of us in the spokesperson's office, in the room, I just want to wish you all the best in your new adventures. More importantly, I want to thank you for the work you've done to help the readers of IPS better understand the UN. And I think while many reporters here are focused on peace and security, you've always stayed focused on development, on socioeconomic issues, which are extremely important and underreported. So thank you, and we look forward to reading you in your next job. On that note, I think I left Noreen speechless, so it's up to you, Edie, to say something.

Thank you, Noreen. We will all miss you, too. I think it's a surprise to a lot of us.

Sometimes we actually have news on the podium.

Exactly. Steph, a couple of follow-ups. First, on Haiti, can you get us some figures on how much money is actually?

Needed? Yeah, I'll give you those.

And is the UN assessing in any way how effective the gang suppression force is?

We do not have a role in monitoring and assessing the Gang Suppression Force. Obviously, as you know, following the vote yesterday, we have a renewed mandate to support the force through the UN office that has been established. We are doing that and we will continue to do that and work closely with them in helping them implement their own mandate.

And on the Secretary-General's follow-ups to the general debate and many, many leaders talking about, especially about the need for reform and backing multilateralism, at least in their speeches. What are the Secretary-General's plans to follow up on all of...?

Well, I mean, one of the things he's very much focused on, and he will be until the very last minute of his mandate, is to continue to push through the UN80 initiatives for which we need member state support. There was the merger of a number of training entities that was successful. There are other issues that need to be completed, and he will continue to do that because it's very important to him.

Yes, sir.

Thank you very much, Mr. Stefan. I have two questions.

Go ahead.

Thank you very much. As you know, Mr. Kurt is here. Suncom says U.S. troops have left Iraq. How is the U.N. addressing Kurdish and religious minority concerns, and how does it view the Kurdistan role in peaceful coexistence?

Well, it is the U.N. does not have a security responsibility in Iraq. As you know, we closed the political mission. We have a country office that works closely with the federal authorities, as well as the regional authorities. It is the primary responsibility, as I said here yesterday, of every state to ensure that all of the citizens that live within its borders are kept safe.

And second one, can UN human rights teams and the IAEA visit Iran and directly access the information they needed.

Visit Iran? Yes. Well, that is, obviously, as you know, the Iranians have commitments vis-a-vis the IAEA. We've always called for their full implementation. That is, the issue of visiting inspectors is one that has to be dealt with between the government of the Islamic Republic and the IAEA. On human rights, we have continued to speak out and raise our concerns on the human rights situation in Iran.

Linda Fasulo.

Thank you, Steph. Apropos of Iran, what are the latest developments regarding the UN's role with the Strait of Hormuz?

The The issue of the mechanism was raised in a number of bilateral meetings that the Secretary-General had. Jorge Mario de Silva participated in a number of them. He also had his own meetings. We continue to pursue that. And obviously, the Secretary-General himself, as you know, has had a lot of contacts with the various countries that are around the Gulf, and we continue to push in the direction of a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict. Madame.

Thank you, sir. First of all, I would like to wish the best of the luck to our colleague, Noreen. I would like I know that the Secretary General has consistently called on government to allow people to exercise their right to protest their grievances peacefully. We've seen, and I'm so sorry if you've already mentioned this, but we've seen yesterday, for example, the massive protests happening in France over education conditions and budget cuts. And similarly, we are seeing a similar problem in Morocco, the use of force against young protesters calling for an end to normalization with Israel. Does the Secretary General -- is he planning to engage with the governments involved, given how important these issues to these young people?

Well, I mean, I think these are the kinds of issues that the Secretary General routinely raises in meetings that he has with government officials. But I think, as you rightfully said, Our position is the same in every country from A to Z, that people have a right to demonstrate peacefully. They have a right to demonstrate vocally. And we've seen around the world in different countries young people expressing frustration at the political situation, the economic situation. The rights of these young people, even if they're under 18, need to be respected. Violence should not be used against peaceful protests. And I mean, I think this is a theme the Secretary-General has touched on a lot, is that governments need to listen to young people, right? I mean, we saw, you know, let's be honest, I think the, despite all the climate gloom, the progress that has been made on climate, notably reaching the Paris Agreement, young people played a huge part in mobilizing older folk to actually do something. I was gonna say, speaking of older folk, but Alex, go ahead.

First of all, the best of luck for our wonderful colleague, and for you, just a quick follow up on the, that's for you. Yeah. That's for you, flight Dubai incident. Are you guys in touch with the relevant parties? Are you able to do that?

I mean, not Not at this point. You may want to check with the International Civil Aviation Authority. I think this is still -- the facts are still coming out. And as I said, we're monitoring the situation right now.

Has anyone contacted you?

Not us directly, as far as I know. Thank you. Thank you. Lenka.

Thank you, Stefan. Please, one more question today on Ukraine. Given the latest contacts between Russia and the US on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, does the SG believe there is now a window for the resumption of direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv? And would the UN be ready to mediate such bilateral talks if requested from both sides? Thank you.

As you know, Lenka, because I've been asked that question a number of times over my last 12 years on this podium. The UN is always ready to mediate or to serve as a bridge between two parties in conflict, should both parties wish it. That is a standard answer because it is a standard position. You know, the window for bringing peace in Ukraine can never close. We don't believe it has closed. And we still believe in the fact that this conflict needs to be resolved through diplomatic dialogue along the framework that we always read out here. All right. On that note, I shall release you. And have a great day.