Haiti, Sudan, Afghanistan & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (13 May 2024)

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
-Secretary-General/ Gaza
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Secretary-General/ Kuwait
-Deputy Secretary-General/ Travels
-Security Council/ Yemen
-Ukraine
-Afghanistan
-Sudan
-Central African Republic
-Haiti
-World Wildlife Crime

SECRETARY-GENERAL/ GAZA
The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member and injury to another DSS staffer when their UN vehicle was struck as they traveled to the European Hospital in Rafah this morning.
The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on UN personnel and calls for a full investigation. He sends his condolences to the family of the fallen staff member.
With the conflict in Gaza continuing to take a heavy toll – not only on civilians, but also on humanitarian workers – the Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that ground incursions and heavy fighting continue to be reported in eastern Rafah, as well as Gaza city and the Jabaliya Refugee Camp.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that nearly 360,000 people have fled Rafah since the first evacuation order a week ago. Many of them have already been displaced multiple times already over the past seven months.
Meanwhile, evacuation orders issued on Saturday for northern Gaza, amid ongoing Israeli bombardment there, have resulted in the displacement of some 100,000 people so far.
The UN remains deeply concerned about the lack of protection for civilians – and the lack of safety for humanitarian operations.  Civilians must be protected and have their basic needs met, whether they move or stay. Those who leave must have enough time to do so, as well as a safe route and a safe place to go.
The UN continues to advocate for concrete assurance and actionable measures to facilitate the safe and secure movement of humanitarian cargo, via all routes, into and throughout the Gaza Strip.
OCHA reports that as of today, the Rafah crossing remains closed – and there is a continued lack of safe and logistically viable access to the Kerem Shalom crossing.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the incursion into Rafah has jeopardized the provision of health services, access to health care, and the delivery of life-saving supplies.
WHO says that fuel shortages are also threatening the continuity of humanitarian efforts – saying that partners working on health care in Gaza require a minimum of 46,000 litres of fuel every day just for their operations. In case of an expanded military operation in Rafah, WHO warns there would be a heightened demand for fuel.
Further on Gaza, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, warned yesterday that the military offensive in Rafah spells further catastrophe for more than a million people who had been displaced to the city to escape fighting, disease and hunger elsewhere. Ms. Msuya was speaking at an aid conference on Gaza hosted by Kuwait over the weekend.

Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=13%20May%202024