Haiti, Ukraine, Nigeria & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (25 June 2024)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
-Humanitarian affairs
-Deputy Secretary-General
-Middle East
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Security Council
-Afghanistan
-Haiti
-Venezuela
-Democratic Republic of the Congo
-Ukraine
-Nigeria
-South Sudan
-Day of Seafarers
-Guests today and tomorrow

HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
The Secretary-General addressed, by video message, the Humanitarian Affairs Segment of the Economic and Social Council.
He said that conflict, disregard for the rules of war, and a runaway climate crisis are creating appalling human suffering.
Across the world, he said, these factors are driving vast levels of humanitarian need – including record levels of hunger and displacement, adding that for millions of people facing this, the only ray of hope is humanitarian aid.
However, Mr. Guterres said that humanitarian efforts are being undermined by a shortfall in funding, and by the intimidation that many humanitarian workers face when doing their jobs.
The Secretary-General called on all Member States to provide the funding needed for our humanitarian plans, as a matter of urgency.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
In Dalian, in China, today, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, opened the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024. She spoke on “What to Expect from Future Growth.”
In her remarks, she emphasized that accelerating action and investment in the Sustainable Development Goals is the best path for ensuring inclusive and long-term growth. She also underscored the importance of transforming global food systems for addressing various challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, hunger and poverty, and public health concerns.
In addition, she convened a select group of business executives around the Global Africa Business Initiative and on transforming foods systems at the national level.
More on the Deputy Secretary-General’s activities online.

MIDDLE EAST
Back here, Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council via videoconference this morning, and he said that the ongoing hostilities in Gaza are further fueling regional instability.
He said that there must be an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire – that there is a deal on the table, and it should be agreed.
Today’s briefing covers events happening up until 10 June.
He said that effective mechanisms for humanitarian notification, safe conditions for humanitarian operations, and sufficient access to humanitarian needs remain sorely lacking and must be put in place without delay. The UN, he said, welcomes the opportunity to clarify with the IDF on how the current situation can be improved.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that access constraints, security concerns, and the breakdown of public order and safety continue to hamper the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance, affecting hundreds of thousands of people in need.
OCHA also flags that persistent fuel shortages continue to hinder aid operations and the functioning of critical water, sanitation, health and other facilities in the Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of this year, the amount of diesel and benzene fuel entering Gaza on a monthly basis is just 14 per cent of levels prior to October 2023 – that’s 2 million litres compared to the 14 million litres that used to enter Gaza during that time frame.
Just one example of the impact of these shortages was Sunday’s announcement by the Director of the Kuwait Field Hospital in Khan Younis that its main electricity generator had stopped functioning, due to the lack of fuel, and that the facility was now relying on a secondary generator to maintain operations.
Our health partners report that given the critical situation in Gaza, their focus continues to be on lifesaving and limb-saving operations. However, there are currently no conditions in place to bring in prostheses or deploy special medical teams to assist amputees – many of whom are children and adolescents.
Meanwhile, UNRWA - the UN Relief and Works Agency – said that a school in northern Gaza was hit last night, reportedly killing 12 people and injuring 22 others.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=25%20June%202024