Gaza, Haiti, Sudan, & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (29 February 2024)

Highlights:
-Gaza
-Haiti
-Deputy Secretary-General/Travels
-Sudan
-Chad
-Ukraine
-UN Environment Assembly
-Press Briefing
-Financial Contributions

GAZA
The Secretary-General is appalled by the tragic human toll of the conflict in Gaza, in which more than 30,000 people have now reportedly been killed and over 70,000 injured. Tragically, an unknown number of people lie under the rubble.
The Secretary-General condemns the incident today in northern Gaza in which more than a hundred people were reportedly killed or injured while seeking life-saving aid. The desperate civilians in Gaza need urgent help, including those in the besieged northern part of Gaza, where the United Nations has not been able to deliver aid for more than a week.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the unconditional release of all the hostages held in Gaza. He once again calls for urgent steps so that critical humanitarian aid can get into and across Gaza for all those who so desperately need it.

We also have a statement from the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, who has warned that life is draining out of Gaza at a terrifying speed, with the reported death toll across Gaza that we have just mentioned.
Mr. Griffiths also said he is appalled by the reported killing and injury of hundreds of people in Gaza during a transfer of aid supplies west of Gaza City today.
I would also refer you to the very strong statement delivered bu the High Commissioner of Human Rights, Volker Turk, on the situation in Gaza.
Yesterday, UNRWA reported that displaced people – including some UNRWA staff – were forced to evacuate from two schools where they were sheltering earlier this week. Some were arrested by Israeli forces, and one woman was reportedly killed.
Our colleagues in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs say there is an urgent need for unimpeded access to northern Gaza to deliver food
and establish stabilization centres for severe acute malnutrition, as well as outpatient treatment programmes.
As we have warned repeatedly – and as you heard from our humanitarian colleagues in the Security Council earlier this week – the risk of death by starvation in Gaza is growing, with children and pregnant women most severely impacated.
The continued hostilities and other challenges continue to impede our efforts to reach civilians in Gaza with life-saving health and nutrition care.

Quite a few of you have been asking about the OIOS investigation and I want to share an update with you. Yesterday, the Secretary-General received an update from the Office of Internal Oversight Services, OIOS, on their work regarding the allegations put forward by Israel that 12 UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency) staff members in Gaza were involved in the terror attacks of 7 October [2023].
I can tell you that OIOS began its work on 29 January, the day the Secretary-General tasked the unit with this effort.
So far, OIOS investigators have reviewed the initial information received by UNRWA from Israeli authorities. They have also been in communication with other Member States to obtain any information relevant to the investigation.
OIOS investigators have also been to UNRWA headquarters in Amman, in Jordan, to obtain and review information held by UNRWA that is relevant to the investigation, including on UNRWA staff and on UNRWA operations. They have also reviewed information and communications technology data, including email records and information on UNRWA vehicles; review of information received from various sources, including that released through the media and other public sources.
The investigation remains ongoing. OIOS will [continue to] seek and to corroborate additional information and to compare the information obtained with materials held by Israeli authorities, which OIOS expects to receive shortly. OIOS staff are planning to visit Israel soon to obtain information from Israeli authorities that may be relevant to the investigation.
Cooperation with the OIOS investigation by Member States has thus far been adequate.
We will keep updating you as often as possible without jeopardizing, obviously, the ongoing investigation by our colleagues in OIOS.

Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=29%20February%202024