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This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at a meeting of the global counter-terrorism compact focusing on Africa.
He said that in just a few years, Africa has become a global epicentre of terrorism. Across the continent, he added, Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates are exploiting local conflict dynamics and fragilities in advance of their advance their agendas, while shredding the social fabric of entire societies and countries with violence, mistrust and fear.

GAZA
Turning to Gaza, because I know you all wanted a bit of an update. We’re told that a team was sent to assess the situation at an UNRWA Training Centre in Khan Younis that was struck earlier today. The site was sheltering tens of thousands of displaced people. We should have more information for you once our colleagues on the ground have reported back.
The Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim, Jamie McGoldrick, told you this morning that initial reports indicate that nine people were killed and 75 more people were injured.
Still on Khan Younis, our humanitarian affairs colleagues report that the Israeli military issued new evacuation orders yesterday, including to areas where Al Amal and Nasser hospitals are located. The affected area covers some four square kilometres. There are about nearly 90,000 men, women and children in the area, in addition to an estimated 425,000 people who were already internally displaced.
Hostilities are continuing in the vicinity of Nasser Hospitals and an international emergency medical team deployed at the hospital tells us that no one can enter or exit the facility due to the ongoing bombardments. Health staff are reported to be digging graves on hospital grounds due to the large numbers of fatalities anticipated and the need to manage the burials.
Meanwhile, so far in January, the World Food Programme says it has reached 930,000 affected people with food assistance across Gaza. In addition, WFP distributed canned meat, biscuits and wheat flour to more than 13,000 people in the northern governorates of Gaza.

MIDDLE EAST
The Security Council’s meeting on the Middle East which took place yesterday and suspended at 8 p.m. will resume at 3 p.m. today.
You will have seen that the Secretary-General opened the meeting yesterday afternoon, and he once again demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, called for rapid, safe, unhindered, expanded and sustained humanitarian access throughout Gaza and renewed his appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

YEMEN
I’d been asked earlier this week about Hans Grundberg and his work on Yemen. Our Special Envoy this week held discussions in Riyadh with the Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Binmubarak, on current challenges and ways to protect recent progress towards a nationwide ceasefire, measures to improve the lives of people living in Yemen, and the resumption of an inclusive political process under UN auspices.
He also met with the Saudi and Emirati Ambassadors to Yemen, and the Ambassadors to Yemen of the Security Council's five permanent members. During these meetings, he stressed the need to maintain a conducive environment for continued dialogue in Yemen and to sustain concerted regional and international support for Yemen.

AFGHANISTAN
I’d also been asked on Afghanistan. The Secretary-General will convene a follow-up meeting of Member-State and regional-organization special envoys on Afghanistan. That meeting will take place in Doha on 18 and 19 February.
The objective of the meeting is to discuss how to approach increasing international engagement in a more coherent, coordinated and structured manner, including through consideration of the recommendations of the independent assessment on Afghanistan.
The details on format and other arrangements are still being worked on.

UKRAINE
Turning to Ukraine, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report that attacks have continued in the country today, while since yesterday morning, humanitarian organizations have been providing emergency assistance to civilians affected by the latest attacks in the Kharkiv and Dnipro Regions in the eastern parts of the country. This support includes first aid, psychosocial assistance, and shelter materials for emergency repairs.
Our humanitarian colleagues also tell us that attacks on civilian homes and infrastructure have significantly increased in the last two months. And last year, there were 227 incidents impacting hospitals across the country. And just to give you some context, the World Health Organization reports that out of 35 attacks on hospitals worldwide since the start of the year, 14 were in Ukraine.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Earlier today, our peacekeeping colleagues in the Central African Republic held a ceremony to pay tribute to Emmanuel Steve Atebele, who you will recall is the peacekeeper who was tragically killed by an explosive device in the Ouham-Pendé Prefecture on 15 January. Five other peacekeepers were wounded that day and they are now in stable condition.
Relatedly, the Mission also reports that specialized units of the Force, in coordination with the UN Mine Action Service, continue to work to minimize the risks linked to explosive devices. They regularly carry out clearances and destruction of unexploded ordnance operations as well as conduct awareness campaigns for the benefit of the local population.
Elsewhere in the country, peacekeepers have established a temporary operational base in the town of Am-Dafock in Vakaga prefecture, close to the border with Sudan. This base will strengthen our efforts to secure the area and help prevent potential violence and tensions ahead of the seasonal movement of livestocks, known as transhumance.

CAMEROON
In Cameroon, our team, led by Resident Coordinator Siaka Coulibaly, is working closely with the Government to accelerate the elimination of malaria. The country, supported by the UN Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, rolled out its first vaccination programme against the disease this week. UNICEF’s efforts include the acquisition, transportation, and distribution of the vaccines, as well as the organization of training programs for healthcare personnel. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization deployed a total of 36 colleagues to the districts rolling out the vaccination campaigns and supported organization of community engagement meetings. As of this week, preliminary reports indicate that over 1,800 6-month-old children have been vaccinated out of the 250, 000 children targeted for this year.

DAY OF EDUCATION
Today is the International Day of Education. Learn it. It’s a reminder that education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility. Also, without inclusive and equitable quality education, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty.

PROGRAMME TOMORROW
We will have at the briefing the Chief of UNCTAD’s Trade Facilitation Section, Jan Hoffmann. He will join us virtually to brief on disruptions to trade in the Red Sea.
We also expect Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, to speak to you at the Security Council Stakeout following the Council briefing.

HONOUR ROLL
Today we thank Liechtenstein and Estonia, both of which paid their budget dues in full and are on the Honour Roll.