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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 2020

VICTIMS OF TERRORISM

This morning, the Secretary-General said that the third commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism takes place while the world is in turmoil.

Vital services for victims, such as criminal justice processes and psychological support, have been interrupted, delayed or ended while governments focus their attention and resources on fighting the pandemic.

This includes the first UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, which has been postponed to next year because of the virus.

Despite that, the Secretary-General said, it is important to keep a spotlight on important issues.

He said the UN will continue to support Member States’ efforts to draft and adopt legislations and national strategies to help victims, adding a call to move forward on the establishment of a voluntarily funded programme to support Member States to provide long-term, durable assistance to victims.

Victims should remind us every day of the importance of our counter-terrorism efforts, he concluded. Let us put in place measures that uphold their rights to justice, protection, support and rehabilitation, so they can rebuild their lives better, he said.

Also speaking at the conference was Mr. Voronkov, the Under Secretary-General and head of the Counter-terrorism department.

MALI

Yesterday evening, a team of UN Human Rights Officials from the Peacekeeping Mission gained access to President Keita, as well as other detainees, held by the mutineers since Tuesday. The Mission continues to closely monitor the situation and reports that Bamako remains relatively calm, with no major security incidents, despite the ongoing rally in support of the recent days’ events. The UN Mission reports that the CNSP, which is the Comité National pour le Salut du Peuple - has ordered Mali’s borders to be reopened, including the airport. Two UN flights took off today. We repeat our call to reject violence, to respect the rule of law and to preserve the rights of all Malians, including those of the President and the senior Government officials who remain in detention.

In Northern Mali, the UN Mission reports that intercommunal riots and looting took place in Gao overnight. Peacekeepers are on high alert as they patrol the city. The Mission is also reinforcing its good offices and meeting community leaders to prevent an escalation of violence.

The UN can confirm that the MINUSMA logistics convoy hit by an improvised explosive device in the Gao region, and came under attack by unidentified assailants. Four UN Peacekeepers were injured, but others successfully repelled the attack and the Mission was able to successfully carry out medical evacuations for the injured.

LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN

The first shipment of 12,500 metric tons of wheat flour from the World Food Programme was offloaded at the port in the Beirut today. The shipment will help to stabilize national bread prices and supplies. WFP has also distributed food for some 3,600 people.

The World Health Organization has distributed 25 tonnes of personal protective equipment to 25 hospitals receiving both trauma and COVID-19 cases in Beirut and surrounding areas.

The UN Refugee Agency has distributed more than 2,500 shelter kits.

For its part, the UN Children’s Fund and its partners are engaging more than 1,100 young people, including Palestinian volunteers, to clean and rehabilitate homes.

As of today, the $565 million appeal for Lebanon is 8 per cent funded, with a total of $43 million received. This amount is likely to increase as Member States continue to report their contributions.

The High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has just wrapped up a four-day visit to Lebanon. He reaffirmed UNHCR’s immediate support to the more than 100,000 people who were severely impacted by the blasts in Beirut.

During his visit, he saw the devastating impact of the blast and met with Lebanese and refugee families. He also called on the international community to continue their generous support and stand by the people of Lebanon at this trying time.

LEBANON/PEACEKEEPING

UN Peacekeepers are helping to address the COVID-19 pandemic and help people in the wake of the explosions.

Peacekeepers serving with the UNIFIL in southern Lebanon have donated four ventilators to intensive care and pulmonology units in public hospitals in Tyre in south Lebanon.

One hundred peacekeepers have donated blood for the victims of the explosions. The initiative, organized in coordination with the Lebanese Red Cross, seeks to address gaps in blood supplies.

There was a similar event last week in the Mission’s headquarters, during which nearly 100 others peacekeepers also donated their blood.

YEMEN

The UN and its partners are unanimous in saying that they can and are delivering principled aid across Yemen, despite the challenges. The biggest problems that aid agencies are now facing is the lack of funds.

The acting Deputy Relief Coordinator for the UN, Ramesh Rajasingham, warned the Security Council this week that key humanitarian programmes are shutting down because of lack of funds. As you will recall, Lise Grande, the Humanitarian Coordinator made a similar appeal later in the week. The Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen is only 21 per cent funded out of $3.38 billion requested – the lowest funding level ever, this late in the year. Much of this gap is due to the decreases in support from Yemen’s neighbours in the Gulf. The UN calls on all donors to pay outstanding pledges immediately and call on those who did not pledge, or pledged less than last year, to increase their support.

UNHCR said today that some 300,000 people in the country have lost their homes, crops, livestock and personal belongings in the last three months due to torrential rains and severe flash floods. Among those who are newly displaced are people who already had to flee due to conflict and who are once again having to rebuild their lives and communities.

EBOLA

The number of cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Equateur province have now reached 100, including 43 people who have died. The cases have also spread from the city of Mbandaka to 11 of the province’s 17 health zones. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa, said that with 100 Ebola cases in less than 100 days, the outbreak in the Equateur Province is evolving in a very concerning way. WHO says the outbreak presents significant logistical challenges. It can take days to reach affected populations, with responders and supplies often having to traverse areas without roads and requiring long periods of river boat travel. Most of the responders have been mobilized locally under the leadership of the Congolese Government. There are currently 90 WHO experts on the ground, as well as experts from other 20 partner organizations. Since the beginning of the outbreak, WHO has supported the vaccination of more than 22,000 people at high risk. Despite these efforts, WHO said the response is underfunded and there is a critical need for additional support.

BURKINA FASO

According to new estimates, about 3.3 million people are currently facing acute food insecurity. This is an increase of more than 50 per cent since March. The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme are calling for urgent action. Two provinces in the Sahel region – Oudalan and Soum – have been driven into the Emergency phase of food insecurity. Some 3 per cent of people in these northern areas are said to be experiencing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity. They face extreme food consumption gaps, also resulting in alarming levels of malnutrition. While urgent lifesaving humanitarian assistance is needed to address immediate needs, the agencies says, longer-term investment in rural livelihoods and social services are also essential – especially so they can help reinforce social cohesion and contribute to peace.

COVID-19/SOUTH SUDAN

UN Peacekeepers in South Sudan continue to help local authorities in their fight against the virus. The UN has donated 6,000 face masks to internally displaced people at the protection of civilians site in Malakal and other locations.

Together with our partners, the Mission also commissioned the local production of large numbers of face masks to be given to displaced people and others in need.

LATIN AMERICA

A new survey released today by the UN Migration Agency found that almost 60 per cent of those intending to migrate decided to postpone or cancel their plans due to the pandemic. In addition, over 20 per cent of those already living as migrants are considering returning to their country of origin as soon as their economic conditions or the health measures adopted by their countries allow them to do so. About half of all migrants in Central America and Mexico lost jobs due to the pandemic.

More than 1,600 people participated in this survey, which was launched in June to measure and understand the impact of the pandemic on migration plans.

The survey also found that four out of 10 migrants with jobs saw their working hours cut or had their wages reduced due to the virus.