REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Corinne Momal-Vanian, the Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was also attended by spokespersons of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Tunisian arrivals in Italy

Ms. Fleming said that UNHCR and its partners from the IOM and Save the Children Fund were in Lampedusa and several locations in southern Italy working with local authorities to manage the recent influx of Tunisians. According to the Italian Government over 5,200 people had arrived since mid-January, with the vast majority (4,400) having arrived during the past few days. While most were young men, UNHCR knew of at least 20 women and over 200 minors, many unaccompanied.

Described by the Italian Government as a humanitarian emergency, UNHCR appreciated the sensitive approach that had been taken so far, with all actors recognizing that among this mixed group there may be some who need to apply for asylum. From discussions with new arrivals it was clear that while most were coming in search of employment, others were citing fear of violence and a breakdown of law and order in their home regions.

UNHCR was concerned that people smugglers in Tunisia were exploiting youth by promising them a better life in Europe. Although the journey was short, high seas and bad weather could make it perilous. Most of the new arrivals were in good health, but some had arrived soaked through, and suffering exhaustion. UNHCR had received unconfirmed reports that at least four people had drowned.

The large number of people arriving over such a short period had put significant pressure on the small island of Lampedusa. A reception centre designed for 800 people was currently holding over 2,000. Following a number of flights to relieve congestion in Lampedusa, UNHCR understood that other reception centres in Italy were also reaching capacity. UNHCR appreciated all the efforts made by the Italian Government to provide shelter and assistance for the new arrivals and hoped that a solution would be found quickly to relieve the pressure on Lampedusa.

The Italian Government had clearly stated its commitment to providing access to asylum procedures for those who were seeking international protection. UNHCR welcomed this commitment and urged solidarity with Italy as it faced this new chapter of mixed migration. UNHCR hoped that any mechanisms designed to control irregular migration would continue to ensure access to asylum for people in need of protection, said Ms. Fleming.

In response to a question, Ms. Fleming said that this was a mixed migration flow and as such UNHCR recommended that people be received and get a fair hearing. UNHCR continued to urge that Europe harmonize its asylum procedures so that everyone arriving at Europe’s shores or borders had the chance to seek asylum.

Jemini Pandya of the International Organization for Migration said that despite the transfer of a small group of 225 Tunisian migrants on 14 February from the Italian island of Lampedusa to migrant reception centers in Puglia and Sicily the situation in the centre on Lampedusa, where 2,000 migrants were being housed, was difficult. With facilities normally for a maximum of 800 people, the migrants in the centre were sleeping wherever they could find space, including in the IOM office, with the overcrowding complicating the distribution of food and other assistance.

To help avoid tension, IOM had been providing general legal information to the migrants and has worked with some of the community elders among the group to explain the rules and procedures of the centre and advice on behaviour around the small island which had a population of only about 5,000 people. IOM and partners, including UNHCR and Save the Children, had also been supporting the transfer of migrants from Lampedusa to Puglia and Sicily. Of those that had been
transferred on Monday, 100 migrants had been taken to Puglia where three reception centres were based in Bari, Brindisi and Foggia. The remaining 125 had been taken to Porto Empedocle in Sicily, among them 20 minors aged between 13-16 years who had been transferred to special facilities for unaccompanied minors.

Of the more than 5,200 Tunisian migrants who had arrived in Italy, the majority were young men aged between 18-30 from Djerba and Zarzis, with a few saying they came from Tunis and Sfax. IOM staff on Lampedusa and in the six reception centres in Puglia and Sicily who were providing the migrants with information on their situation said the Tunisian migrant flow was mixed, although the majority of migrants said they wanted to work. Citing poverty and difficult economic situations, the migrants largely wanted to go to other countries in Europe including France, Germany and the Netherlands. However, some also said that they had left Tunisia because they were afraid, citing insecurity and danger.

On average the migrants had reportedly paid just under USD 1,800 to get to Italy, and some smugglers had been able to make up to 500,000 Tunisian Dinars in one day, Ms. Pandya said in response to a question.

Refugees in Liberia

Marixie Mercado of the United Nations Children's Fund said that UNHCR and the Liberian Refugee Resettlement and Repatriation Commission had registered 36,318 refugees from Côte d’Ivoire as of 7 February. The vast majority of them, 85 per cent, were children and women.

Since the beginning of the refugee influx in early December, most asylum seekers had been sheltered by communities along the border with Côte d’Ivoire. While the refugees had been received like kin -- and some of them were -- many of these communities had already been among the poorest in Liberia, and coping mechanisms had been stretched to the limit.

It was also worth underlining that Liberia was one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 80 per cent of the population living on less than USD 1.25 a day. Liberia ranked 162 out of 169 countries, between Burkina Faso and Chad, on the UNDP’s Human Development Index for 2010, said Ms. Mercado.

In some communities, especially those closest to the border, refugees far outnumbered local inhabitants, and residents said they could not absorb more refugees. Severe food shortages and inadequate shelter aggravated protection risks for children and women, and the threat of disease outbreaks remained one of the most pressing humanitarian concerns. For the majority of refugees and local inhabitants, the nearest health facility was a good four-hour walk away through mud paths and dense forest.

In response to a measles outbreak that had killed five Liberian children in Nimba County, where 97 per cent of the refugees were hosted, UNICEF had supported a Ministry of Health-led campaign that had reached 150,000 children -- both refugees and Liberians -- between the ages of six months and 16 years old.

The campaign had also integrated malnutrition screening in areas with large refugee populations, said Ms. Mercado. Of 4,659 children between 6 months and 5 years old who were screened, 1,363 (29 per cent) were refugee children and 3,296 were from the host communities. Of 102 children diagnosed as severely malnourished, 52 were refugees, and 50 were Liberians. They were now being treated at UNICEF-supported Ministry of Health nutrition facilities.

UNICEF also led the water and sanitation sector, which had improved access to safe water for over 32,000 refugees and Liberians and had constructed 100 latrines and supported hygiene awareness in all of the affected communities. UNICEF had distributed nutrition, health and HIV/AIDS medication to public health facilities and partners, and trained child protection actors on procedures to get separated children back to their families.

To date, UNICEF had received no external funding, outside of an 850,000 Euro pledge, against its USD 5.7 million appeal. All funding received to date had come from UNICEF and its national committees. These funds included a USD 1.5 million UNICEF emergency programme fund loan, USD 300,000 from the United States Fund for UNICEF, and USD 272,420 from the French National Committee for UNICEF; totalling just over USD 2,000,000.

In response to a question, Ms. Mercado said the overall appeal was for USD 55 million, covering seven United Nations organizations and IOM. Ms. Fleming added that UNHCR was also appealing for money, and Ms. Pandya underscored that IOM had received minimal funding in response to its USD 3.5 million appeal.

New camp for IDPs in western Côte d’Ivoire

Ms. Fleming said that UNHCR began work yesterday on clearing ground for a new camp for displaced people in western Côte d’Ivoire, where UNHCR had so far registered 38,600 uprooted individuals. Humanitarian conditions had deteriorated with the shortage of shelter and UNHCR hoped that the new camp would ease pressure, in particular for the most vulnerable.

Ms. Fleming said that the new camp was located near Duékoué town and would accommodate up to 6,000 people, relieving crowding at a nearby Catholic mission which had been a main site for the displaced. Heavy rains last week had destroyed a number of makeshift shelters in the mission compound and UNHCR had provided tents to some of the affected families.

Many of the displaced had been surviving on the generosity of local families and charities, said Ms. Fleming. In some districts people were sheltering up to 25 people each and struggling to make ends meet. UNHCR was looking for additional sites to accommodate more internally displaced persons.

Civilians remained traumatized by the recent troubles, which many see as reminiscent of the civil conflict of 2002. As a result, many families had left their homes in anticipation of possible attacks. They told UNHCR that they feared becoming trapped in case of renewed war and would only consider returning to their homes once the political deadlock was resolved and their security assured.

Meanwhile, continued tension was driving some families to move closer to the border with Liberia while others were crossing the border to seek asylum. So far UNHCR had registered 36,318 arrivals in Liberia. Responding to a question, Ms. Fleming said that the refugees were moving to Liberia rather than to other countries due to the proximity and the relative ease of being able to cross that border. UNHCR was preparing for up to 100,000 refugees in Liberia and, although a significant influx was not seen in the other countries, UNHCR was also prepared if that should happen.

Cyclone Bingiza in Madagascar

Elisabeth Byrs of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that Cyclone Bingiza had yesterday hit Madagascar with winds of 160 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 220 kilometers per hour. The damage caused by this first major weather system this cyclone season was yet to be established, but from the information gathered so far it seemed that the district of Northern Mananara, with 150 to 300 habitants/km2 the most densely populated district, had been most affected.

According to unofficial sources, many houses had been damaged, including the hospital, and an aerial investigation mission was scheduled for this morning. The contingency plan for Madagascar had been revised in early November and UNICEF and the WFP had pre-positioned assistance and goods.

Agenda

Corinne Momal-Vanian said the Conference on Disarmament was this morning holding a plenary session. This was the last week under Canada’s presidency before Chile took over for four weeks.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, for its part, had yesterday opened its 78th session at the Palais Wilson. This morning the Committee held an informal public meeting with NGO representatives to discuss the situation regarding the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in the countries who had submitted reports for examination this week.

Ms. Momal-Vanian said the Secretary-General continued travelling in Latin America, leaving Ecuador yesterday night and currently being in Peru. This was Mr. Ban’s first official visit to both Ecuador and Peru. Ms. Momal-Vanian added that the Secretary-General’s latest reports on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan and Chad were out and could be provided to interested journalists.

Ms. Momal-Vanian said UNEP's press conference for the pre-launch of its Green Economy Report (under embargo until 21 February) would take place today at 12.30 p.m. in Press Room 1.

Jean Rodriguez of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe said that at 6 p.m. today in the Salle des Pas Perdus there would be a vernissage of the exhibition entitled “The Art of Trees – A forest gallery”. The exhibition showcased some 70 living trees from 27 different species from Europe and North America. Journalists were invited to participate at the vernissage, to which were invited UNOG Director-General, the Ambassador of the United States and the Assistant Director-General of the FAO, as well as UNECE’s Deputy Executive Secretary.

Ms. Byrs said that the United Nations Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Neil Buhne, would give a press conference on Friday 18 February at 12.30 p.m. in Press Room I.