REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service, United Nations Office at Geneva, chaired the briefing attended by the spokespersons for the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization.

Bangladesh

Joel Millman, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that in collaboration with the British Government, IOM had organized a major airlift of relief items to help some of the estimated 507,000 Rohingya refugees who had fled to Bangladesh in the past month to escape violence in neighbouring Myanmar.

The aid, which had arrived in the southern Bangladeshi city of Chittagong, had been sent by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development. It included 20,000 blankets, 10,500 sleeping mats and 10,000 shelter kits containing two tarpaulins and the rope necessary to fix them.

Bangladesh estimated that 300,000 people were still in need of emergency shelter. Monsoon rains were making it difficult to deliver materials to the refugees. IOM had received USD 36.4 million in assistance from donors around the world and a further USD 40 million had been pledged.

IOM Director of Operations and Emergencies, Mohammed Abdiker, had said that the airlift would provide up to 50,000 people with potentially life-saving shelter, mats and bedding to protect them during the monsoon season’s torrential wind and rain, and that
IOM was greatly appreciative that the UK Government had again decided to work with the Organization to help this extremely vulnerable population.

Asked why IOM was coordinating the response to the humanitarian crisis, Mr. Millman said that the Prime Minister of Bangladesh had invited the Organization to take on that role. IOM worked in close partnership with all the agencies involved in the response.

Responding to questions from journalists, he said that while no precise figures were available, he estimated that the number of people crossing daily from Myanmar into Bangladesh had dropped from 20,000 to around 4,000 or 5,000. The drop in new arrivals stemmed from a range of factors, the main one being the inherent difficulty in moving around during the monsoon season.

Andrej Mahecic, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that with more than half a million Rohingya refugees now in Bangladesh, UNHCR, the Bangladeshi public health authorities and other partners were working on several fronts to treat patients and contain an outbreak of diarrhoeal disease.

On 2 October, a 20-bed diarrhoea treatment centre had opened in Kutupalong Refugee Camp in the south-east of the country, where the refugees who had been living there since 1992 had taken in thousands of newcomers. UNHCR had gathered national and international NGOs under the banner of the Government’s Refugee Health Unit to run the centres.

By the end of the week, UNHCR would have a total of 80 beds in diarrhoea treatment centres in three locations and planned to open two more centres the following week. As of 3 October, UNHCR and refugee volunteers would fan out into the Kutupalong Refugee Camp and nearby informal settlements to find people who might be sick but had not sought treatment.

UNHCR this week also planned to open medical consultation centres with attached oral rehydration “corners” throughout the huge 2,000-acre (809-hectare) Kutupalong Extension Site where many of the estimated 507,000 refugees who had arrived since 25 August were now congregating to receive assistance. This was a move to bring medical care closer to those in need. At these smaller centres, refugees found to be suffering from moderate dehydration could be treated immediately and those who required more intense therapy could be referred to the larger diarrhoea treatment centres.

UNHCR was also supporting an effort by the Ministry of Health to administer cholera vaccinations to refugees. Cholera was endemic in Bangladesh and could easily spread any time hundreds of thousands of people lived in close proximity without proper sanitation.

There were as yet no firm statistics on cases of acute watery diarrhoea among the newly arrived refugees, and UNHCR was taking action to try to prevent severe illness and deaths. The Agency had seen an increasing trend of diarrhoeal disease cases, including cases of diarrhoea with severe dehydration. So far, refugees with these conditions had been treated at clinics run by UNHCR and other agencies and at local public health facilities. Measures to prevent the spread of disease and cut the rate of severe illness and death also included the installation of 32 shallow tube wells and 250 latrines so far, which UNHCR had accomplished with the help of partners. It was vital to provide clean water so that people did not drink from or bathe in contaminated ponds and streams.

In another move to speed up delivery of aid to refugees, UNHCR, working with the Bangladesh’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission, was beginning a family count to collect data on newly-arrived refugees and their needs. Some 100 freshly-recruited enumerators would begin going shelter-to-shelter on 4 October to list each day some 1,000 families, which should include about 5,000 individuals. Each family would receive a card bearing the Commission’s logo. The process would enable the Government, UNHCR and other agencies that decided to participate to target aid to the right people. The process would also give a first indication of refugees with special protection needs, such as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, people with disabilities or elderly refugees on their own.

In response to questions from journalists, Mr. Mahecic said that the Bangladeshi Ministry of Health was taking the lead in conducting laboratory tests to determine whether cholera was present among the refugees. UNHCR was looking to expand its activities in Cox’s Bazar. It had had 40 staff on the ground in the area before the current crisis had begun and had since mobilized an additional 50 staff.

Answering a question, Mr Mahecic said that UNHCR was aware of the reports of an agreement between the Governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar for the return of refugees to Myanmar, and was keen to learn more details about any bilateral discussions that had taken place. Any returns should be voluntary and conducted in a safe and orderly manner and conditions on the ground needed to be conducive. He also said that while it was for a sovereign government to grant actual refugee status, during his visit to Dhaka the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had made it clear that the people crossing into Bangladesh from Myanmar were refugees and required immediate assistance and protection.

In response to a question, Alessandra Vellucci recalled that the group that had made a visit to northern Rakhine State had included the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the World Food Programme Representative and Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and a senior UNHCR official.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Andrej Mahecic, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that UNHCR was concerned about growing violence in parts of south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which had driven more than 3,360 refugees into northern Zambia since 30 August. This was the largest influx of Congolese refugees into Zambia in the past five years. UNHCR was worried that the insecurity in the DRC may lead to further displacement.

The refugees and asylum seekers were escaping inter-ethnic clashes, as well as fighting between Congolese security forces and militia groups. Those arriving in Zambia reported extreme brutality, with civilians being killed, women raped, property looted and houses set alight. They were mainly from the DRC provinces of Haut-Katanga and Tanganyika.

Many had already been displaced internally before they had crossed the border. The lack of roads and the long distances in the areas from which they were fleeing made it difficult to monitor the situation and provide them with assistance. With the rainy season approaching, UNHCR warned that the humanitarian needs of those displaced could intensify on both sides of the border.

Some 60 per cent of those arriving in Zambia were children. Many showed signs of malnutrition. Malaria, respiratory problems, dysentery and skin infections were common among the refugees, who were in urgent need of protection and life-saving support. After they had been registered by the Zambian authorities, most were relocated to the Kenani transit centre in Nchelenge district, about 90 kilometres from the border. Some of the new arrivals remained close to the border, waiting for their families to cross.

The Zambian government, UNHCR and the Zambian Red Cross were distributing hot meals and identifying those with specific needs, as well as providing psycho-social support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The humanitarian response team was delivering basic items, including tents, shelter materials, mosquito nets, blankets, buckets, hygiene kits and soap. Temporary shelters were being erected, boreholes were being drilled for drinking water and temporary latrines were being constructed.

Because of overcrowding, UNHCR had started work on a second transit facility to receive the growing number of new arrivals.

Responding to questions from journalists, Mr. Mahecic said that since the beginning of 2017, approximately 5,760 Congolese had crossed into Zambia. Zambia’s overall refugee population numbered around 60,000 people, of whom 27,000 were Congolese. UNHCR had deployed emergency teams after an earlier influx of 500 arrivals in a 24-hour period but faced huge logistical challenges due to the remoteness of the area.

Preparations for winter in the Middle East

Andrej Mahecic, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that there were nearly 15 million Syrian and Iraqi refugees and internally displaced people scattered across the Middle East. The Agency estimated that as many as four million were in the extreme risk category and needed timely and substantial help to properly prepare for the forthcoming winter. Of these only one in four was likely to get the assistance they needed.

The USD 245 million Regional Winter Assistance Plan for 2017/2018 covered the winter needs of Syrian and Iraqi refugees and internally displaced people in Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. The plan, implemented with governments and partners, was currently only 26 per cent funded.

For many Syrian refugees this would be the seventh consecutive winter in displacement. Enduring the extreme cold, snow and heavy rains had become an annual hardship and survival battle for millions of forcibly displaced people living in tents and makeshift shelters in locations such as the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, northern Iraq and Syria.

The needs of refugees and the internally displaced were significantly higher during winter. Without proper help, many refugee families ended up being pushed further into debt and came under increased pressure to resort to desperate steps to try to make ends meet. Women and children were especially affected.

More than 50 per cent of the assistance package was scheduled to be delivered in cash which would allow refugees and the internally displaced to address their priorities and meet urgent needs.

Upon being asked by journalists to elaborate on the desperate steps displaced people might take in order to provide for themselves and their families, Mr. Mahecic cited child labour, early marriage and survival sex as examples.

Dramatic drop in summer arrivals in Italy of irregular migrants leaving Libya by sea

Joel Millman, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that 3 October marked the fourth year from the Lampedusa sinking in which more than 360 people had perished. That event had been the catalyst for the gathering of detailed statistics under IOM’s Missing Migrants project. Since 1 January 2014, 14,866 deaths had been recorded, around 13,000 of which had occurred on the central route between Libya and Italy. During July, August and September 2017, IOM had counted just over 10,000 arrivals and 312 deaths, down from around 62,000 during the summer months in 2015 and 2016, when there had been 907 and 589 deaths respectively. Despite the remarkable reduction in the number of arrivals, much work remained to be done.

Iraq

Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that more people from Hawiga in Iraq were being displaced as military operations to retake the area from ISIL continued.

Over the weekend, the number of people who had fled the fighting had increased from 7,000 displaced during the first week of the operation, which had begun on 21 September, to some 12,500 people as of 2 October.

The front lines had initially moved through sparsely-populated outlying villages but were now moving towards Hawiga town itself and more people were expected to be displaced in the next 24 to 48 hours as fighting pushed into more densely populated areas.

The exact number of people still in Hawiga was unknown but could be as high as 78,000. OCHA remained concerned for the lives and well-being of these vulnerable civilians and reminded those doing the fighting that civilians must be protected at all times and allowed to safely leave Hawiga.

Humanitarian partners were on the ground at various checkpoints to help those fleeing and provide shelter and assistance in camps and emergency sites. Space for some 72,000 people had been prepared in these camps and sites.

Of the original 7,000 people displaced, more than two-thirds were currently in camps in neighbouring Salah al-Din, Ninewa and Kirkuk governorates, while others had found refuge in host communities. Humanitarian partners reported that as of the end of September, more than 7,000 vulnerable people had been reached with emergency food, water and hygiene supplies.

OCHA’s Iraq Appeal for 2017 for USD 985 million was currently only 52 per cent funded.

Plague in Madagascar

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that pneumonic plague had been detected in Antananarivo and several port cities in Madagascar since August 2017. Previous outbreaks had been restricted to rural areas. The risk of the disease spreading was considered high at the national level, moderate at the regional level and low at the international level. WHO advised against any travel or trade restrictions for Madagascar.

WHO was rapidly upscaling its response to the outbreak, which since 1 August had seen 133 cases and 24 deaths; 73 of the cases had involved pneumonic plague and 17 of those had been fatal. Pneumonic plague was easily transmitted and could kill within 12 to 24 hours of onset if left untreated. Common antibiotics could cure the disease if they were administered quickly enough. People in affected areas who were experiencing respiratory symptoms or suspected that they had been exposed to the disease were advised to immediately attend a health centre, where treatment was being provided for free. WHO was concerned that the outbreak could spread, given that the epidemic season which usually ran from September to April had only just begun.

WHO teams were proving technical assistance on the ground and doing everything they could to support the Government’s efforts. WHO had so far released USD 450,000 in emergency funding and was appealing for a further USD 1.5 million to support the response. Plague was endemic to Madagascar, where around 400 cases were reported annually but which tended to be cases of bubonic plague, a less severe form of the disease.

In response to questions on cholera in Bangladesh, Mr. Lindmeier said that the latest projection was that the 900,000 oral cholera vaccines that had previously been announced would arrive in Cox’s Bazar on 6 October.

Sudan

Asked to comment on reports that legal experts in Belgium had deemed the return of refugees to Sudan to be illegal, Joel Millman for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that, while he was not familiar with that particular case, IOM opposed deportation and provided assistance to migrants who expressed a desire to return voluntarily to their home country.

Yemen

Responding to a question on the plight of migrants from the Horn of Africa who had travelled to Yemen, Joel Millman for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that the Organization’s Director-General had just visited Yemen, where he had held talks with representatives of both sides of the conflict. IOM had previously highlighted the dangers facing migrants in Yemen.

Secretary-General’s Reactions to Recent Events

In response to a question about the referendum that had been held in Catalonia, Ms. Vellucci recalled that the Secretary-General had said via his deputy spokesperson, that he trusted that the democratic institutions of Spain would find a solution.

In response to questions from journalists, Ms. Vellucci said that the Secretary-General had been shocked and alarmed by the horrific attack that had taken place in Las Vegas and would be writing a letter of condolence to the Government of the United States to express sorrow at the large number of deaths.

Announcements (WHO, ILO)

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that at 1.30 p.m. on 3 October a briefing would take place in Room III on the upcoming launch of the strategy “Ending Cholera – A Global Roadmap to 2030”. A number of high-level speakers would be in attendance and the event would be broadcast live on Facebook.

Hans Von Rohland, for the International Labour Organization (ILO), announced that the World Employment and Social Outlook 2017 report would be launched on 9 October. The report focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly with respect to job creation in such enterprises over the past 20 years and the role of investment in SMEs as a tool for reducing unemployment. A press conference would be held at 10 a.m. on 9 October in Press Room I regarding the report, which was under embargo until 10 p.m. Geneva time the same day.

Geneva Events and Announcements

Ms. Vellucci recalled that the last thematic session of the Global Compact for Migration would take place in Geneva on 12 and 13 October.

She also announced that the International Trade Centre would hold a press conference on Wednesday, 4 October at 11 a.m. in Room III to launch their 2017 SME Competitiveness Outlook.

Ms. Vellucci said that the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child would also hold a press briefing on Wednesday, 4 October at 1:30 p.m. in Press Room 1 on its concluding observations on the reports of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Ecuador, Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Cyprus, Guinea and Vanuatu.

Finally the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights would meet in private until Friday, 6 October when it would conclude its work and make public its observations on the reports of Colombia, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova and the Federation of Russia.

The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog031017