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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

TUESDAY, 28 JANUARY 2020

In closed consultations today, the Special Envoy for Yemen, Mr. Martin Griffiths, briefed the Security Council via videoconference about the recent alarming military escalation in Yemen.
Mr. Griffiths reiterated the importance of stopping the ongoing military escalation before it is too late. He warned that recent developments jeopardize the progress the parties had made on de-escalation and confidence building.
Meanwhile, UNICEF’s representative in Yemen welcomed the release today in Sana’a by the Ansar Allah of 64 children allegedly captured during military operations. UNICEF hopes that this step also leads to the signing by the Ansar Allah of the Action Plan to end the recruitment and use of children in the conflict in Yemen.

CORONAVIRUS
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros, is in Beijing. Today, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. They shared the latest information on the coronavirus and reiterated their commitment to bring it under control.
Dr. Tedros also met with the Foreign Minister and the Ministry of Health.
Talks with China’s National Health Commission focused on continued collaboration on containment measures in Wuhan, public health measures in other cities and provinces, conducting further studies on the severity and transmissibility of the virus, continuing to share data, and for China to share biological material with the WHO.
WHO will send international experts to visit China as soon as possible to work with their Chinese counterparts on increasing understanding of the outbreak to guide global response effort.
Dr. Tedros stressed that WHO’s highest priority is stopping the spread of this virus both in China and globally. He expressed his appreciation for how China is taking this outbreak, especially the commitment from top leadership, and the transparency they have demonstrated, including sharing data and genetic sequence of the virus.
Dr. Tedros noted that the World Health Organization is working closely with the Government on the measures to understand the virus and to limit transmission. WHO will keep working side-by-side with China and all other countries to protect health and keep people safe.

LEBANON
Jan Kubis, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, met today in Beirut with the Lebanese Foreign Minister, Nassif Hitti.
He said afterward that he brought to the foreign minister’s attention the Secretary-General’s statement following the announcement of the formation of the government, including how important it is to listen to the voices of the people and to try to address their pressing needs. Mr. Kubis also stressed how important it is to follow on the basic obligation of Lebanon related to the respective resolutions of the Security Council, including with regards to the disassociation policy and related issues.

IRAQ
A report published today by the United Nations in Iraq on the trials conducted under Iraq’s anti-terrorism law recognizes the considerable efforts taken to ensure accountability for the atrocities committed by Da’esh fighters and also raises serious concerns about unfair trials placing defendants at a serious disadvantage.
The joint report by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the UN Human Rights Office acknowledged that judicial proceedings against Da’esh defendants were generally conducted in an orderly manner, were well organized, and judges were routinely prepared with investigation files.
But it also found that violations of fair trial standards placed defendants at a serious disadvantage compared to the prosecution – with ineffective legal representation and limited possibilities to present or challenge evidence.

MALI
The humanitarian situation in Mali continues to deteriorate due to increased violence. Over 200,000 people are currently displaced - compared to 80,000 people a year ago.
During this year’s lean season - from June to August-, 1.1 million people are expected to face severe food insecurity in the country.
Humanitarian access challenges have significantly increased. However, access remains possible for humanitarian organizations who rely on community engagement, principled delivery of aid and the use of local implementing partners to reach people in need.
This year’s Humanitarian Response Plan for Mali will reach 20% of the country’s population - 3.8 million people -, and will require US$ 390 million.

BRAZIL
In Brazil, the UN is in touch with the government and is ready to provide support in light of the intense rains over the past days. The rains have caused floods and mudslides and the destruction of infrastructure in many cities.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that as of yesterday, 56 people have reportedly been killed and at least 29,000 people were evacuated to shelters or safe areas from the most affected states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
And the Secretary-General has also written to convey his condolences to the Government and the people.

AMERICAS
The UN Migration Agency said today that at least 810 people died last year while crossing deserts, rivers and remote terrain on different migration routes across the Americas, making the year one of the deadliest on record.
This is the highest number of deaths documented in this region since the agency began keeping records six years ago. Most deaths were recorded in the waters of the Río Bravo/Rio Grande, where 109 people lost their lives in 2019, a 26 per cent increase from the 86 deaths recorded in 2018.

HONOUR ROLL
We welcome two new members of the honour roll, that is Hungary and Sweden, which brings us up to 29.