United Nations – 213 –
Gaza, Lebanon/Israel & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations
Summary
1242seconds video
In a detailed briefing, several key topics were covered at the United Nations:
– Tom Fletcher, Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, was available for questions, and briefings on humanitarian issues by Ireland and Nigeria were scheduled.
– The UN Secretary General announced the UN-80 Initiative, aiming to improve organizational efficiencies and assess structural changes.
– In the occupied Palestinian territory, concerns were raised over deteriorating conditions in Gaza, including scarce resources and health challenges.
– Efforts were noted in Lebanon and Israel for diplomatic talks and peacekeeping along the Blue Line, promoting the cessation of hostilities.
– In Syria, access to essential services remains difficult, with UN support continuing in central and coastal areas.
– Ukraine faces civilian casualties and infrastructure damage due to ongoing conflict, with humanitarian convoys delivering aid to affected regions.
– In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, violence and displacement continue with urgent needs for food, shelter, and healthcare due to ongoing clashes and cholera outbreaks.
– The Development Cooperation Forum at the UN headquarters aimed to foster development cooperation and sustainable progress.
– An increase in child trafficking was highlighted in a report presented in Geneva, urging action to address related global crises and organized crime.
– Discussions and questions touched on the UN’s response to international tensions, funding concerns, and specific regional conflicts, such as the situation in Gaza and nuclear talks involving Iran.
The briefings reflect ongoing humanitarian challenges and UN efforts to address them globally.
Full Script
Yeah. All right. Good afternoon. Well, when Tom Fletcher comes to the podium, you’ll be able to ask him questions. As you know, he is our Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. At 2 p.m., there’ll be a briefing sponsored by the permanent mission of Ireland to the UN with NGO Karama, and that is pegged to CSW that is going on right now. Karama is a network of civil society groups and activists in 13 countries across Africa and the Middle East. Finally at 3 p.m., the permanent mission of Nigeria to these United Nations will be holding a briefing on the Inter-Parliamentary Union Women Meeting, Inter-Parliamentary Meeting. Hopefully that makes sense. The Secretary General spoke to you a short while ago. He said that during this 80th anniversary year of the United Nations, it is essential that an organizational system as complex and crucial as ours is subjects itself to rigorous and regular scrutiny to assess its fitness for purpose and carry out its goals efficiently. This is why he informed Member States that he’s officially launching what he calls the UN-80 Initiative. The Secretary General has appointed a dedicated internal task force led by the Under Secretary General for Policy Guy Ryder and composed of principles representing the entire UN system. The objective will be to present to Member States proposals in three areas. First, rapidly identifying efficiencies and improvements in the way we work. Second, thoroughly reviewing the implementation of all mandates given to us by Member States, which have significantly increased in recent years, and third, a strategic review of deeper, more structural changes and program realignment within the UN system. His remarks in the Q&A have all been shared with you. I want to start with an update on the occupied Palestinian territory, and Gaza, our humanitarian colleagues, warned that after 11 days of no humanitarian assistance entering Gaza, the crucial progress made during this first six weeks of the ceasefires continues to unravel. Across the Gaza Strip, it’s becoming more difficult for people to have a decent and sufficient food, water, medical services, and other vital items. Efforts to restore the health system in Gaza continue, but progress is slow. In North Gaza, Governors, only 16 percent of health services points are functioning either fully or partially, that includes three out of five hospitals, six out of 50 medical points, and four of over two dozen primary health care centers. Major challenges also persist in solid waste management. Overflowing trash is creating unsanitary living conditions and obviously heightening public health risks. The problem is compounded by lack of spare parts, which 80 percent of all waste collection vehicles and containers damaged or destroyed. Our colleagues have noted that inadequate management of infectious medical waste as well as the mixture of solid waste with debris contaminated with explosive hazards. Partners are working to move waste from 70 makeshift dump sites into 30 temporary ones, but most are already full access to other sites closer to the border is urgently needed. Meanwhile, our partners are also working on mine action, continue to warn of explosive hazards. This year, three people have been killed and nearly 40 injured and 18 explosions recorded to date. Education efforts are making some headway. Since the start of the ceasefire, our partners have set up more than 200 temporary learning spaces, bringing the total of over 630. Temporary spaces support more than 170,000 children. All school-aged children in Gaza have access to some form of learning, either in schools or in temporary spaces. However, our partners are still unable to bring in any of the supplies and any of the equipment necessary for education, including large tents and student kits. Moving north to the situation along the blue line between Israel and Lebanon, the Office of the Special Coordinator for Lebanon and our peacekeeping mission in Lebanon continue their efforts in support of the cessation of hostilities. Today, Special Coordinator Janine Hennis-Plaschert held a round of meetings with Lebanon’s top leaders, including President Joseph Aoun, the Speaker of Parliament Nabi Berry, the Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Defense Minister Michelle Manasseh. Prior to that, during the week, as you may have heard, she was in Israel, where she met with the Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel, Gideon Saar, the Defense Minister, Israel Katz, and the Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Drummer, among others that she met there. Her meetings with both Israelis and Palestinians focused on the cessation of hostilities understanding and the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701. And as you will have seen also in news reports yesterday, that Lebanon and Israel will begin talks aimed at diplomatically resolving several outstanding issues between the two countries. I can tell you that we, of course, welcome this announcement. Dialogue capable of addressing all outstanding provisions under Security Council Resolution 1701 is critical to ensuring civilians on both sides of the blue line should be able to live their lives without the fear of the resumption of the deadly conflict. Yesterday, UNIFIL hosted the sixth meeting of the cessation of hostilities implementation mechanism in one of its position along the blue line in Nukhara in the afternoon following the meeting of the mechanism. UNIFIL in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Israeli Defense Forces, and the Red Cross, and the mechanism itself facilitated the transfer of four Lebanese nationals from Israel, from Israeli detention into Lebanon. UNIFIL liaison officers accompanied by a Red Cross team who transported the individuals from the crossing point. The released individuals were subsequently taken to hospital in Lebanon for checkups, and on the operations front, peacekeepers observed intensive IDF air surveillance over UNIFIL’s area of operations and as well as gunshots and IDF activities in sector east. The UN peacekeepers are continuing to support the Lebanese Armed Forces in their deployment to the south, including with patrolling and engineering activities. And moving to Syria, our humanitarian colleagues are telling us that access to vital services in central, in coastal areas in Syria continue to be severely challenged with some cities still lacking electricity, and that includes Latakia. Despite that, we and our partners are mobilized in supporting the response in those areas. Water is being distributed via the main network in Latakia Governorate, but rural areas face shortages due to issues relating to maintenance of generators. Bakery’s are operational and shops are reopening, though essential materials and fuel remain scarce. UNICEF has supplied 38 tons of water treatment supplies to Latakia’s water authority, covering over two months of needs. UNICEF is planning on providing five water tanks to Jabalat National Hospital in Latakia Governorate to replace the ones that have been damaged. UNICEF and its partners are also collaborating to maintain the Al-Sin Spring Generator in Tartus to ensure drinking water supply for the population there. Health partners have delivered emergency supplies, including 64 trauma and emergency surgical kits and non-communicable disease treatments to Tartus and Latakia to be distributed as soon as the security situation permits. And moving to Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that attacks early this morning and yesterday resulted in civilian deaths and injuries across different parts of Ukraine. Donetsk, Dnieper, Kreek Viri and Kursan regions were among the ones who were most impacted. Apartment buildings, homes, the hospitals, schools and other infrastructure were damaged. Authorities also report disruptions to gas and electricity networks. This morning in Odessa, we’re told that a commercial maritime vessel docked in the port was hit and four sailors were killed. According to the authorities, the civilian vessel was intended to transport grain to Algeria. In Kreek Viri, in Dnieper, humanitarian organizations responded swiftly and provided first aid, including shelter material and psychosocial support. Humanitarian efforts also continuing in the Kursan region, where continuing hostilities have left many residents without electricity and living in severely damaged homes. Yesterday, an interagency convoy delivered much-needed assistance to frontline communities. The convoy transported generators, medicines, hygiene supplies and winter-related items, including essential supplies for women and for girls. Since the start of this year, we along with our partners have facilitated 13 humanitarian convoys, including six to Kursan, reaching nearly 17,000 residents in frontline communities in the east and south of Ukraine. As needs persist, the situation evolves. Humanitarian organizations remain committed to ensuring that vital aid reaches those most impacted by the conflict. And turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, humanitarian colleagues warn there that clashes and attacks in the east continue to kill civilians and force people to move to safety. In North Kivu, local humanitarian sources tell us that at least 13 civilians were killed in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces armed group on March 9th in Lubeiro territory. Survivors have reportedly been forced to flee to neighboring areas. Despite the continued fighting in several areas, we and our humanitarian partners have continued assessments as security allows us to do it. More than 160,000 people have returned to Lubeiro territory, which has faced chronic instability in recent decades. They need food, they need shelter, water and healthcare. And in the south, in South Kivu, humanitarian partners report an airstrike on Monday in Fizi territory that damaged the Minemwe airport, which is a critical lifeline for the area. Over 1,000 displaced households, which are mostly women and children, are sheltering in the locality amid severe shortages of basic goods. And that’s what humanitarian partners are telling us. In Wulungu territory, ongoing clashes have displaced more than 65,000 people just since mid-February. Local authorities and humanitarian partners are also receiving alarming attacks on civilians, including gender-based violence, which we’ve seen tragically a lot of in the area. And in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, humanitarian partners are highlighting urgent needs for food, healthcare protection services for a large number of displaced people who sought safety on the outskirts of Bukavu after fleeing clashes elsewhere in the region. Needs assessments are underway. As we mentioned, the cholera outbreak continues to spread in the east. In Manema province, bordering South Kivu, the authorities there have declared an outbreak in seven localities and have appealed for urgent support. Resource gaps in the healthcare sector and recurrent floods are the main drivers of this outbreak. And finally, for DRC in Tanganyika province, which is south of South Kivu in Manema, ongoing fighting between local armed groups in MOBA territory have reportedly forced more than 25,000 men and women and children to flee to neighboring areas. Many of those had already been displaced by earlier rounds of violence, and humanitarian sources are telling us the estimated 90,000 people are now displaced in that area. A couple more notes, or just bear with me. The 2025 Development Cooperation Forum is taking place today and tomorrow right here at UN headquarters. The forum is gathering of high-level officials and representatives from member states, along with experts from academia, the private sector and civil society to discuss the future of international development cooperation, taking place under the theme transforming international development cooperation from global dialogue to action. The forum aims to be a catalyst for action, driving reform in policy and practice with greater coherence, country-led solutions, and as we mentioned yesterday, with the fourth international conference on financing for development coming up in Sevilla, it is there to build momentum for high-quality and high-impact development cooperation that aligns with national priorities and delivers lasting progress on sustainable development. You can watch all this on UN Web TV. And I also wanted to flag in Geneva today our colleague Najat Malamajdid, the special representative, the Secretary General on Violence Against Children, has presented her annual report to the Human Rights Council, which highlights an alarming rise in child trafficking. According to the year in office on drugs and crime, children now represent 38 percent of detected victims, with a notable increase in girls since 2019. This Majid said that several interrelated factors contribute to this increase, including the rising vulnerabilities of children resulting from global crises, the growth of organized crime facilitated by new technology, and the increasing demand for child exploitation, both in labor and sexual abuse, to tackle the problem. The report calls for these factors to be addressed simultaneously, and for states to take a coordinated child rights-centered approach. One more member state paid today, or two, in fact, and we have a good quiz for you. Over 260,000 workers from the first country work in the second country. Both are- No? Okay. Qatar, yes, is the second country. What is the first country? The Philippines. So we thank our friends in Manila and in Doha for their payments in full. We are now at 75. Sherwin, do you have a question? Edie. Oh, Edie. You’re yielded to Edie. Go ahead. Thank you, Steph. You talked about cigarette cogs visits. No, Jeanine Hennies-Plusher. I mean, Jeanine Hennies-Plusher. Sorry. Yeah. Dutch as well. Did she at all get any indication that the Israelis might be opening Gaza? Her focus was on the blue line on 1701, so I don’t think the situation in Gaza came in in any major way in her discussions. Is cigarette cogs doing anything to try and press the Israelis? Yes. You know, all of the UN officials in the region and beyond are using their contacts, notably through Kogat and others, to try to get the crossings reopened and reopen as quickly as possible. I mean, every day we tell you about the risk of going backwards and we’re already seeing those signs, notably on prices, on fuel, on generators. The indicators are going in the wrong direction. On a completely different subject, does the Secretary General have any reaction to the results of the election in Greenland? As much as I would like to insert myself into this local parliament election in a member state, I shall refrain. Ibtisam. Follow up on the Gaza situation. What is happening actually with the Rafah crossing? I mean, is the Israelis are the one who are controlling? Why can’t you bring things from the Egyptian side? It remains a – the Rafah crossing works both with Israeli and in Egypt, and – but most of the humanitarian cargo comes through the other crossings. After nothing is open at this point. Michelle. Thank you, Steph. On the Iran-U.S. possible nuclear talks, Iran appears to have rejected the idea of that. Is this something the SG is thinking he could help mediate on? Is he talking to anyone about it? What’s going on? The issue relating to Iran’s nuclear program remain a stress point in the region. We hope that all member states, whether they’re involved in the JCPOA or others, find ways to lower the tension, and we also consistently call on Iran to live up to its commitments made with the IEA. Abdel Hamid. Thank you, Steph. The special rapporteur on the right for food labeled what’s happening in Gaza as a war crime. Do you subscribe to this labeling? Look, the special rapporteurs speak for themselves. We have repeatedly called for accountability for the conflict that we have seen since October 7th, and I think our position has been made clear. But as you know that first Israel shut off all the crossings, then they stopped the inflow of humanitarian aid, and then they shut off electricity. How do you put them together and tell me what kind of behavior from a member state? You will use the adjectives that you want to use. Our focus right now is on trying to solve the situation, trying to get the humanitarian crossings, reopen, trying to get the aid to flow back in at the levels that they have been since the ceasefire, and to see the hostages released. Yes, ma’am. Hi. Rachel Will, Fox News, Digital. Is the UNAD initiative meant as the Secretary General’s response? Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Is the UNAD initiative meant as the Secretary General’s response to concerns about possible funding cuts from the U.S.? Is he worried that Elon Musk is coming for the UN? I think the Secretary General answered that question himself, and I would encourage you to look at the transcript. What the Secretary General is doing is building on the reforms he put in place in his – since he came into office – but also, I think, with a clear-eyed view of the global situation, including the funding resources that we have lost from many countries, who seem to have other priorities. And as he said, I mean, the UN and any organization should always be able to have a critical assessment of the way it operates, so it delivers better for the millions of people that depend on the United Nations to live, right, to survive, and of course, on the global taxpayers who fund us. Evelyn, and then we’ll go to our guest. Yes, thank you. You mentioned that there were schools or places of learning set up in Gaza. Is this UNRWA or everyone? UNRWA is the lead on the education, and of course, other partners are involved.
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