REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Corinne Momal-Vanian, the Director of the UN Information Service, chaired the briefing, which was also attended by Spokespersons for and Representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Joint Services of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UN Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme and the International Organization for Migration.

Measles Outbreak

Dr. Robert Perry, Medical Officer at the World Health Organization’s Expanded Programme on Immunization, said that Member States in the European and African regions had reported several large measles outbreaks in 2011. In Europe, 40 out of the 53 Member States had reported 26,000 confirmed measles cases in 2011 according to case-based and aggregated routine surveillance reporting and outbreak reports provided to the European Regional Office. France had reported the highest number of cases – 14,000 for the first six months of this year.

In Africa, the Regional Office had reported that large measles outbreaks were occurring in the DR Congo (over 100,000 cases) and in Nigeria (over 17,000 cases). Even though deaths were not routinely reported to the Regional Office, the WHO Country Office in the DR Congo had reported over 1,100 measles-associated deaths in the country in 2011. The situation in the refugee camps in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia was not entirely clear.

In the Americas, the last reported endemic case of measles had been in 2002. However, 2011 had seen outbreaks in several countries, with the largest – in Canada’s Quebec – involving 742 reported cases with 89 hospitalizations, but no deaths. Smaller outbreaks had been seen in the United States, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Chile. Many of these had been linked to Europe and/or Africa.

Measles was a highly infectious disease that frequently caused complications and deaths, even in previously-healthy individuals, but was fully preventable by vaccination. Countries needed to ensure that they reached 95 per cent coverage with two doses of measles vaccine, Mr. Perry underscored.

Fadéla Chaib of the World Health Organization added that the WHO would shortly publish disease outbreak news on this subject.

Libya

Steven Anderson of the International Committee of the Red Cross said that an ICRC team had entered Sirte’s Ibn Sina hospital on 6 October. The team had seen many wounded people, most of whom had been moved from the wards to the corridors, and only a few doctors, while people had also moved into the hospital. The ICRC had so far conducted three visits to Sirte – on 1 October, 3 October and 6 October. Yesterday’s operation had been possible thanks to a lull in the fighting that enabled access the town for a few hours. The ICRC had also evacuated three wounded people from the hospital.

There was a need to return to Sirte as soon as possible because more medical supplies were needed and more people must be evacuated. The situation for the thousands of remaining civilians in the city was very difficult as they were caught in the fighting and have been living without electricity for several weeks and had no food coming in.

Responding to questions from journalists, Mr. Anderson said that it was difficult to give precise numbers of wounded people in Sirte’s hospital – these fluctuated. However, the indication of 200 patients that ICRC had received on 1 October seemed be a valid estimate up until yesterday. Mr. Anderson also recognized the need to bring in more fuel for the hospital's generators as the 400 litres the ICRC had brought on 1 October were running out.

Somalia

Jumbe Omari Jumbe of the International Organization for Migration said that IOM wished to shed light on the hundreds of Ethiopian migrants and thousands of Somalis who had been displaced by drought and famine from South-Central Somalia and were currently in Puntland. Arriving empty-handedly and living in extreme poverty, most of these migrants and displaced people were residing in makeshift camps in Bossasso and other areas in the region. They had limited access to water, food and health care and were in need of psychological support, clean water and shelter.

Over the past two months, IOM had provided fishery training and fishing equipment to over 300 migrants and displaced people in a bid to enable them to develop sustainable livelihood opportunities. The organization had also assisted with refurbishing the Central Garowe Market in the capital of Puntland region to help 6,000 migrants, displaced people and the host community to conduct their lives there. IOM was further involved in the health sector by undertaking awareness-raising activities on HIV/AIDS and sexual and gender-based violence.

South Sudan

Gaelle Sévenier of the World Food Programme said some three months after South Sudan’s independence over 35 per cent of its 8.3-million-population was facing food insecurity, including 10 per cent living in a situation of severe food insecurity. This situation was likely to further deteriorate in 2012 to about 50 per cent of the population living in food insecurity. Adding to this was the displacement of 300,000 people since January due to insecurity and conflicts, as well as the return of 342,000 South Sudanese. Harvests had also dropped by 30 per cent due to the long dry season and irregular rains, and the country would thus produce less than half of what it needed to feed its people.

Another factor contributing to the food insecurity was the poor conditions of roads. WFP had therefore inaugurated a new initiative this week to construct two new roads which were to provide farmers in South Sudan’s Lake District with market access.

Ethiopia

Adrian Edwards said that UNHCR had opened a new camp in western Ethiopia this week to accommodate refugees fleeing hostilities in Sudan’s Blue Nile state. The new camp was located at the town of Tongo, about 200 kilometres south of the main border entry point for refugees at Kurmuk. It had been opened on Wednesday, and so far 533 refugees had been moved there from Kurmuk as well as from the border areas at Bamza and Almahal. The camp had capacity for 3,000 people, with a possibility for further expansion.

In western Ethiopia UNHCR had opened a new camp this week to accommodate refugees fleeing the continuing hostilities across the border in Sudan’s Blue Nile state. The new camp was located at the town of Tongo, about 200 kilometres southeast of the main border entry point for refugees at Kurmuk. It had been opened on Wednesday, and so far 533 refugees had been moved there from Kurmuk, as well as from the border areas at Bamza and Almahal. The camp had capacity for 3,000 people, with a possibility for further expansion.

Over the past month more than 27,500 people had fled Blue Nile state to Ethiopia. Around 16,500 of these arrivals were staying among local communities near the border entry points. The rest were in camps. With refugees still arriving, UNHCR was working with the Ethiopian government and IOM to speed the moving of refugees to safer locations - currently this was either to Tongo or temporarily to transit centers that UNHCR had been developing for people reluctant to move into camps.

At the beginning of the influx, the new arrivals had been mainly women, children and the elderly - generally in good health. Men had been staying behind to look after properties. Recently, however, UNHCR staff at the border points had seen larger numbers of men arriving, and more injuries. There had been recent cases involving a young man who had sustained bullet wounds, and a woman injured by shrapnel. Another man had lost his legs in a bomb explosion. All three had been taken to the UNHCR health center in Sherkole camp for treatment.

Refugees were also bringing livestock with them and carrying belongings to help them make a living in Ethiopia, for example grain mills or furniture. UNHCR planned to move around 400 refugees daily from the border to Tongo where UNHCR, Ethiopia's Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs and its implementing partners were providing protection and assistance, including shelter, water and sanitation, as well as food. As development of the site continued, 80 of the 380 available family sized tents had been erected. Up to 40,000 litres of water per day was ready for use while additional water sources were being sought.

Pakistan

Ms. Byrs said that the Central Emergency Response Fund had allocated US$ 17.6 million for urgent help to thousands of the most vulnerable families affected by the floods in Pakistan. The Pakistan Floods 2011 Rapid Response Plan, which had asked for US$ 357 million, was currently only 16 per cent funded, with the allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund being the largest donation so far. Some 5.4 million people – 25 per cent of the population of Sindh province – had so far been affected. OCHA was gravely concerned at the health situation as only 30 per cent of the people in affected areas had access to potable water and water-borne diseases were on the rise, with people were drinking from rain water ponds and irrigation canals with chemical and biological contamination.

Humanitarian Actors killed in the DR Congo

Elisabeth Byrs of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that five humanitarian staff working for an educational NGO in Malinde, South Kivu province, had been killed along with five other people in yet another odious act against humanitarians which OCHA firmly condemned. The incident was one of the gravest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 26 April 2011, when six ICRC staff had been killed. The working conditions for humanitarian workers were growing increasingly difficult in North and South Kivu – this year alone humanitarians had been involved in 140 security incidents.

State of Food Insecurity in the World Report 2011

Silvano Sofia of the Food and Agriculture Organization said that the 2011 edition of one of FAO’s flagship reports – The State of Food Insecurity in the World – was to be published on Monday, 10 October at 10 a.m. Rome time. Embargoed copies of the report, which’s conclusions would be presented by Committee on Food Security from 17-22 October in Rome, could be received at ssofia@unog.ch.

UN Chemical Body set to review three new chemicals for global action

Michael Stanley-Jones of the Joint Services of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions said that the seventh meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee would open on Monday, 10 October in Geneva at the CICG. During that meeting, the Committee would introduce the chemicals to be considered for listing under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Kei Ohno, Programme Officer for the Stockholm Convention, said that the most important expected outcome of this meeting was the final stage of review of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), a flame-retardant used in furniture and electronic devices. The Committee would decide whether to recommend to the Conference of the Parties to consider listing this chemical. If they decided to do so, the chemical would be considered at the Parties’ next Conference in 2013. Hexabromocyclododecane might then be listed under the Stockholm Convention and its production or use may be banned or restricted.

Another expected outcome was the review of newly proposed chemicals. The European Union had proposed hexachlorobutadiene, chlorinated naphtalenes and pentachlorophenol for listing in the Stockholm Convention - these three chemicals were to be considered for by the Committee the first time.

Press Conferences

Ms. Chaib said that WHO would give a press conference at 2.30 p.m. today in Press Room 1 to brief the press on the "Mental Health Atlas 2011" ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10. Information would also be provided on a forum to be held on Monday at WHO with professionals working with people with mental health issues.

Ms. Chaib said WHO would shortly issue a media alert on a conference to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 19-21 October about the social determinants of health. This was an important topic for WHO because it showed that there was ample evidence that factors far beyond the health sector, such as poverty and education, could influence how healthy a person can be. Participating in the conference would be WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, Michel Temer, the Vice President of Brazil, along with representatives of Governments, UN agencies, the scientific community and civil society organizations. WHO may give a press conference on this next week.

Ms. Byrs said that a delegation from Côte d’Ivoire would brief the press on the humanitarian situation in the country and the state of funding on 19 October at 12.30 p.m. The delegation would be visiting Paris, London, Geneva and Brussels and would include the Minister for Labour, Solidarity and Social Affairs, as well as the Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator and the head of OCHA Côte d’Ivoire.

Mr. Edwards said that the High Commissioner for Refugees would hold his annual post executive committee briefing at noon today in Room III.

Other

Ms. Momal-Vanian said that the Committee on the Rights of the Child was concluding its session this afternoon, publishing its concluding observations on the reports of Italy, the Republic of Korea, Iceland, Panama, the Seychelles, Sweden and Syria. The Committee would hold a press conference at 3.15 p.m. in Press Room I and the Information Service would publish a round-up release shortly.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was examining the report of Mauritius today before holding private meetings on Monday and examining the report of Lesotho on Tuesday.