HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC​,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 03 SEPTEMBER 2024
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**Secretary-General / TravelsÌý
The Secretary-General just arrived in Beijing, China, where he will take part in this year’s Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on Thursday. There, he will highlight the importance of South-South cooperation to build solidarity and drive progress on shared development goals. While in the capital, he will also meet with senior government officials.Ìý
Earlier today he was in Shanghai, where he spoke at the opening ceremony of a workshop on Artificial Intelligence Capacity Building.Ìý He said that AI capacities are concentrated in a handful of powerful companies – and even fewer countries. Meanwhile, too many countries face significant challenges in accessing AI tools.Ìý
The Secretary-General underscored that to truly harness AI’s potential, we need international cooperation – and solidarity, and we must urgently bridge the AI gap for developing countries.Ìý
Without adequate guardrails, he said, AI could further worsen inequalities and digital divides and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable.Ìý
Over the weekend, the Secretary-General was in Singapore where he met with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and other senior officials.
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**GazaÌý
The Secretary-General has been following very closely the campaign against polio which is now underway in the Gaza Strip. He has been moved by images of young children receiving their vaccinations in the midst of rubble and utter ruin. It is clear to him that the polio pauses are a rare ray of hope and humanity in the cascade of horror that we have seen in Gaza. The Secretary-General commends everyone involved in this polio vaccination campaign, especially the extraordinary humanitarians leading this effort.Ìý
This coordinated action is a contrast to what Gaza has endured since the acts of terror unleashed by Hamas in Israel on October 7, Mr. Guterres said.ÌýGaza has become synonymous with relentless bloodshed - most recently the killing of six hostages, which the Secretary-General utterly condemned.
He added that much of the world has come to know more about those hostages through the stories and advocacy of their loved ones.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the immediate release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire.Ìý
If the parties can act to protect children from a deadly virus, he said, surely they can and must act to protect children and all innocents from the horrors of war.  Ìý
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**Occupied Palestinian TerritoryÌý
In terms of more details about the polio vaccinations, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that local pauses aim to allow us to reach more than 640,000 children under the age of 10 across the Gaza Strip.Ìý
The World Health Organization’s Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said today that around 74,000 children are estimated to have been vaccinated yesterday, on the second day of the campaign. This brings the total number of children vaccinated so far to over 160,000. Dr. Tedros added that day three of the campaign is ongoing.Ìý
In parallel to the local pauses, our OCHA colleagues say that Israeli bombardments, ground operations and heavy fighting continue in multiple areas, resulting in further civilian casualties, displacement and destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure. ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Families continue to flee and find themselves in overcrowded areas with inhumane living conditions, which, coupled with the lack of clean water, sanitation facilities and basic hygiene items, contribute to the spread of diseases.Ìý
Parties must always respect international humanitarian law. This means that civilians must be protected, and their essential needs – including food, shelter, water and health – must be met, wherever they are in Gaza.Ìý
Meanwhile, the UN’s local partners, in collaboration with UNICEF, have been able to repair the main water transmission line running from Israel to Khan Younis, which was damaged during recent military operations. This has led to the partial restoration of water services in several areas, including Al Mawasi. Ìý
Water and sanitation in Gaza continues to be dire, with services and the response hampered by the ongoing destruction of water and sanitation facilities, restricted access, and limitations on the entry of essential resources.Ìý
With the first rainfall experienced over the past weekend, OCHA warns that over one third of the population is staying in flood-prone areas across Gaza. Local authorities and humanitarian partners are worried of seawater flooding tents along the beach and damage to rainwater and sewage networks resulting in additional flooding. Just today, UNICEF, along with OCHA, UNDP and non-governmental organizations assessed the water, hygiene and sanitation situation in four displacement sites located in flood-prone areas in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah. And this is to help with the preparation for the rainy season. Ìý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Moving on to the West Bank, OCHA warns of the continued use of lethal war-like tactics by Israeli forces, including airstrikes, with people being killed, injured, displaced or deprived of access to basic services. Operations have now resumed in Tulkarm, while continuing in Jenin. The Ãå±±½ûµØhas recorded more than two dozen fatalities over the past week, including children.Ìý
Today, multiple organizations mobilized by OCHA were set to carry out an assessment in Jenin but were denied access by the Israeli authorities. OCHA warns that access impediments are impacting the ability to provide meaningful humanitarian response. You will recall that the movement of ambulances and medical teams has been impeded and delayed since the onset of the now week-long operation.Ìý
**Middle EastÌý
Tor Wennesland, the Ãå±±½ûµØSpecial Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said after visiting Gaza yesterday that the scale of destruction is immense, the humanitarian needs are colossal and soaring, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of this conflict. He unequivocally condemned the horrifying civilian death toll in Gaza.Ìý
During his visit, Mr. Wennesland met with the heads of Ãå±±½ûµØagencies and our dedicated staff working tirelessly in extremely challenging conditions. He said that their commitment and bravery in providing critical support to those in need is truly commendable.Ìý
He also visited a polio vaccination centre and welcomed the humanitarian pauses to allow for the vaccination campaigns to take place.Ìý
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**LebanonÌý
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed that earlier today, a contractor traveling to provide services to UNIFIL’s Spanish contingent was injured by gunfire near Sarda. Peacekeepers took the individual to the hospital to receive treatment. Regrettably, this is the second such incident in as many days in which a contractor supporting UNIFIL peacekeepers has been injured by gunfire. Furthermore, yesterday a UNIFIL vehicle carrying peacekeepers in the same area was lightly damaged when gunfire hit the ground causing ricocheting stones to hit the vehicle.Ìý
We reiterate that all relevant actors must comply with their obligations under international law, including the applicable rules of international humanitarian law, and that civilians must be respected and protected. ÌýÌýÌýÌý
The Mission continues to contact the relevant actors on both sides of the Blue Line to de-escalate the situation and call for the safety and security of personnel.Ìý
**SyriaÌý
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that in the north-east of the country the Ãå±±½ûµØcarried out a cross-line interagency assessment mission to Al-Kisrah district in Deir-ez-Zor for the first time since 2018. That took place on September 1st.Ìý
The inter-agency team met with local communities and visited essential service points, including water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, health facilities and markets.Ìý
Al-Kisrah was impacted by the recent escalation of hostilities in Deir-ez-Zor, which resulted in at least 25 civilian deaths.Ìý
The resurgence in hostilities, along with the closure of crossing points along the Euphrates River, have interrupted access to healthcare, water and food, and driven up already-high prices. Ìý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
More than 85 per cent of the population of Al-Kisrah, which is on the eastern side of the Euphrates, needs humanitarian assistance, including those at seven sites hosting some 22,000 displaced people.Ìý
**YemenÌý
This Friday marks a grim milestone. Three months ago, six of the Ãå±±½ûµØHuman Rights staff in Yemen were detained by the ‘Ansar Allah’ de facto authorities. Ìý
Their whereabouts remain unknown, and the Houthi de facto authorities have not permitted physical access to any of them, despite our repeated requests. Ìý
Today, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, again demanded their immediate and unconditional release, and the release of all human rights and humanitarian workers similarly arrested and detained without legal protections.Ìý
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**MauritaniaÌý
In Mauritania, the Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, has allocated $3 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support Malian refugees who have sought safety there.Ìý
The funds will support the provision of life-saving assistance, including in the health and nutrition sectors, for more than 100,000 people – both Malian refugees and host communities - in the Hodh Chargui region, in the east of the country.Ìý
As of July 2024, this region was hosting over 260,000 displaced people, putting severe pressure on local resources and services and the health sector.Ìý
Mauritania has hosted a significant number of refugees, mainly from Mali, since 2013.ÌýÌý
**UkraineÌý
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that aid organizations continue to provide emergency support to people impacted by the latest attacks across the country over the weekend.Ìý Ìý
Kharkiv City, in the northeast, was particularly affected and sustained two attacks, on August 30th and September 1st. According to authorities, 6 people were killed and 150 others were injured, including 30 children. Ìý
The Ãå±±½ûµØhumanitarian partners on site also noted large-scale damage to civilian infrastructure – more than 90 residential buildings, a shopping centre and sports facilities, as well as two education facilities, were damaged in the attacks.Ìý
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, condemned the repeated attacks impacting residential areas and causing multiple civilian casualties.Ìý
Aid workers in Kharkiv mobilized immediately and provided medical and psychosocial support. They organized the delivery of hot meals for both impacted people and rescuers. Ìý
In the last two days, more than a dozen non-governmental organization delivered repair materials and covered over 400 shattered windows. Our partners also started the registration process for cash assistance. Humanitarian support continues today.Ìý
Other parts of Ukraine — particularly Sumy and Donetsk regions and Kyiv, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia cities — also suffered from deadly strikes and attacks over the weekend and on Monday. Ìý
A new attack today struck Poltava, in the centre of the country. Initial reports indicate there have been multiple casualties. We will let you know when we have more information on this.Ìý
**DPRK KoreaÌý
UNICEF is supporting a nationwide vaccination campaign by the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea – DPRK.ÌýÌý
The campaign targets more than 800,000 children and 120,000 pregnant women who have missed out on vaccines since the COVID-19 pandemic.ÌýÌýÌý
With support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF assisted the DPRK’s Ministry of Public Health with the delivery of over four million doses of vaccines, including Measles-Rubella (MR), Tetanus-Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, and Polio.ÌýÌý
UNICEF also supplied new freezers, fridges, and other supplies to keep vaccines effective in even the most remote areas. Additionally, over 7,200 health workers were trained to manage vaccination campaigns and handle any potential vaccine reactions.Ìý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
UNICEF is also supporting the campaign by overseeing vaccine delivery and administration, and tracking coverage to ensure its success.Ìý
To sustain progress, the UNICEF Acting Representative for the DPRK, Roland Kupka, urged the authorities to swiftly allow the return of UNICEF and Ãå±±½ûµØinternational staff in the country.ÌýÌýÌý
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** Senior Personnel AppointmentÌý
Today, the Secretary-General is appointing Georgette Gagnon of Canada as his new Deputy Special Representative (Political) for Afghanistan in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).ÌýÌý
Ms. Gagnon succeeds Markus Potzel of Germany, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated service in support of the mandate of the mission.ÌýÌý
Ms. Gagnon brings to the position more than 28 years of experience in supporting peacebuilding processes and leading strategic initiatives on human rights, humanitarian action and development in conflict and post-conflict settings.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Since 2021, Ms. Gagnon has served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya in the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya.ÌýÌýÌý
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** Resident CoordinatorsÌý
The Secretary-General has appointed new Resident Coordinators to Bolivia, the Dominican Republic and Cameroon, all of them followed by host government approval.ÌýÌýÌý
Anna Marttinen Pont of Finland began her new function as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bolivia.ÌýÌý
Julia Sanchez of Peru is now Resident Coordinator in the Dominican Republic.ÌýÌý
Finally, Issa Sanogo of Côte d’Ivoire is the Ãå±±½ûµØResident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon.ÌýÌý
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**Financial ContributionÌý
Bahamas has paid its dues to the regular budget in full. There are now 127 Member States who have paid up in full.
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** Briefing – todayÌý   ÌýÌý
Today, at 1pm, there will be a press briefing by Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, Representative of Slovenia to the Ãå±±½ûµØand Security Council President for the month of September. ÌýÌý
He will go through the Security Council Programme of Work for September. ÌýÌý
