REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Alessandra Vellucci, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was attended by the Spokespersons for the World Health Organisation, International Labour Organisation, World Food Programme, International Organisation for Migration, United Nations Refugee Agency and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Floods in the Balkans

Ms. Vellucci informed that the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, had issued a statement on this subject and copies were available for the journalists in the room.

Elisabeth Byrs, for the World Food Programme (WFP), briefed about the WFP implementation of the operations in the Balkan countries affected by recent flooding. She informed that the WFP had responded to the disaster less than 36 hours after the flood happened and flew to Serbia help from the Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Brindisi, managed by the WFP. Two aircraft could be quickly mobilized thanks to the Italian and Norwegian Governments’ help and assistance.

Ms. Byrs specified that the second aircraft had carried, among other items, 24 generators, 66 water containers, three water purification equipment systems and 10 boats required to reach the affected people. Another aircraft would leave from the UNHRD in Dubai and would transport 75 tons of High-Energy Biscuits (HEB), a strategic stockpile that the affected people could immediately eat. The WFP had also sent logistics and nutrition experts who accompanied catastrophe experts sent by the UN on 19 May. Additional logistical specialists were being deployed in the affected area.

Following an official Red Cross request to assist 7,000 flood affected persons in Serbia, the WFP would distribute 100g of HEB per person per day for an initial period of ten days as a complement to other food items.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the WFP was planning to provide a one-time ration of 500g of HEBs for up to 150,000 people identified as most affected. In addition, the WFP could provide a monthly package of food assistance for 50,000 people as a second wave response, should it be required.

Ms. Byrs explained that this was a USD 3 million operation, out of which USD 1,5 million was for Serbia and USD 1,5 million for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tarik Jasareviæ, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that the regional office for Europe was in contact with Ministries of Health in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia providing them with public healthy advice on what countries could put in place in order to respond to the current emergency and what people could do to protect their lives and health. WHO was sending water and sanitation experts to Serbia, which would work on planning and providing public health advice on procedures to follow when people would return to their homes. There was also a need for medicines and medical supplies; the WHO regional office was working to mobilize medical kits including medicines for common diseases in flood situations, medical supplies and treatment guidelines. WHO was also assisting relevant authorities to prepare for dealing with disaster. The focus was on ensuring that public health authorities were well prepared with plans to do surveillance and prevention of common diseases.

Over the previous ten years, flooding had killed one thousand people in Europe with more than 3.4 million people being affected. Outbreaks were rare but it was very important to have a disease surveillance system in place. Common health issues during and after floods included infections and mental health problems. Longer term effects might result from displacement, shortages of safe water, injuries, disruption of access to health services and late recovery.

Ukraine

Adrian Edwards, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), stated that in Ukraine, UNHCR was seeing a continuing steady rise in the number of internal displaced people (IDPs), which was now estimated to be around 10,000 people. A needs assessment had recently been completed and the UNHCR was working closely with local authorities, other UN agencies and NGO partners to help those who were most affected. So far, that included providing legal assistance, integration grants for 150 families, cash assistance for 2000 people, and improved shelters for 50 families.

Mr. Edwards stated that displacement in Ukraine had started before the March referendum in Crimea and had been rising gradually since then. Registration numbers were being compiled on the basis of data that UNHCR was receiving from local authorities. Among the affected population were people who had been displaced twice - first from Crimea, and then again from the eastern part of Ukraine.

Most of those displaced were ethnic Tatars, although local authorities had also reported a recent increase in registrations of ethnic Ukrainians, Russians and mixed families. At least a third of the displaced were children. Most IDP families were moving to central Ukraine (45 per cent) and western Ukraine (26 per cent), although some were also located in the southern and eastern regions. The number of Ukrainian asylum-seekers in other countries had remained low.

Among accounts that UNHCR was hearing from displaced people was that they had left either because of direct threats or out of fear of insecurity or persecution. Some reported having received personal threats over the phone, via social media, or found threatening messages left on their property. People cited fear of persecution because of ethnicity or religious beliefs, or, in the cases of journalists, human rights activists and intellectuals, because of their activities or professions. Others said that they could no longer keep their businesses open.

Mr. Edwards stated that the main challenges currently facing displaced people were access to social services, long-term shelter, transferring residence registration so that they could access their economic and social rights access to documentation, and access to livelihoods. Help for IDPs was primarily being organized through regional governments, community-based organizations and voluntary contributions by citizens.

People were being accommodated in shelters provided by local authorities, or staying in privately owned spaces, such as sanatoriums or hotels. Others were being hosted in private homes. However, the capacity of host communities to support people was fast becoming exhausted. There were pressing needs for more permanent shelter, more employment opportunities, and support for community-based and local organizations in developing long-term solutions for people who had become internally displaced.

Mr. Edwards said that the UNHCR welcomed a newly adopted law on the rights of displaced persons from Crimea. The law included safeguards relating to freedom of movement of Ukrainian citizens between Crimea and the rest of Ukraine. It also allowed for identity cards to be restored and covered voting rights. Further work would be needed to ensure that displaced people enjoyed full equality and the same rights and freedoms under international and domestic law as other citizens of Ukraine.

Answering a question on internal displacement trends, Mr. Edwards responded that the main displacement was happening from the east towards the west of the country. It was not known whether ethnic Russian IDPs had Ukrainian citizenship or not. He stressed that the main group being displaced right now were the Tatars.

On the number of IDPs, and whether up to 30,000 could be expected by the end of the year, as some observers were predicting, Mr. Edwards said that at the moment they could only see a gradual rise in displacement rather than a sudden spike.

Mr. Edwards said that he did not have breakdown statistics on people accommodated in private versus community shelters. There was certainly a need for more shelters, which UNHCR would have to look at, together with its partners and local authorities.

Answering a question on who was threatening the IDPs, Mr. Edwards said that the UNHCR was not in a position to respond on who individually was threatening them, but in the overall conditions of lawlessness prevailing in the area, there was no very reliable picture of whom the threat was coming from and whether it was an organized effort.

On the conditions of the Tatars, Mr. Edwards responded that there were no reports of difficulties for Tatars leaving the area; they were essentially fleeing from it. The threats against Tatars were individual, people were not feeling safe for their lives which was why they were escaping.

South Sudan

Mr. Jasareviæ provided an update on the cholera situation in South Sudan, where the outbreak was intensifying. There were more cases, which was expected, and there was a risk of the epidemic spreading to surrounding areas if interventions were delayed. The Ministry of Health had activated national tasks force and was coordinating cholera control efforts with all health partners. Case measures were currently on their way to Juba teaching hospitals and community based prevention interventions were being delivered at different suburbs of Juba city.

The cumulative number of cases so far stood at 188, but 130 of these people had already been discharged while 9 had died. The first case had been confirmed on 6 May, with a probable infection on 28 April. The Ministry of Health had declared the outbreak on 16 May. 56 per cent of those who had been admitted to hospitals were between 15 and 34 year olds.

The main risks factors for cholera was drinking untreated river water, poor latrine use and eating food on the road side at the markets. The national task force was meeting on a daily basis and was chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Health. The response was centered around several areas. WHO provided medical supplies, and participated in case management together with non-governmental organization and the Ministry of Health.

Answering a question, Mr. Jasareviæ explained that the term “epidemic” was used when there was a sustained transmission of a disease in a community.

Christophe Boulierac, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), stated that, on the eve of the Oslo Humanitarian Pledging Conference for South Sudan, UNICEF warned that hundreds of thousands of children in South Sudan’s three most conflict-affected states were at imminent risk of death and disease, including the threat of cholera.

Already, around 80 per cent of children under of the age of five in these states - Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity - were at heightened risk of disease and death.

Mr. Boulierac explained that, despite 80,000 people having been fully vaccinated against cholera, the Ministry of Health had confirmed a cholera outbreak in Juba. The cholera caseload was doubling every day, providing troubling proof that the deadly disease was spreading. UNICEF had helped set up a cholera treatment centre, was supplying tents for triage and patient care, hygiene equipment, clean water and oral rehydration solutions. Over the previous 24 hours, hundreds of people had been trained to inform and mobilize communities over this problem.

More generally, across the country, as many as 50,000 children could die from malnutrition; 740,000 children under the age of five were at high risk of food insecurity. Many were already resorting to eating wild foods such as bulbs and grasses.

More than half a million children had fled the violence. Women and girls were increasingly sexually assaulted as targets of gender-based violence. Schools and hospitals had been attacked or used by parties to the conflict. More than 9,000 children had been recruited into armed forces by both sides. Thousands of children were separated from their families, within South Sudan and in neighboring countries.

Mr. Boulierac said that, although tireless efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance continued, without an all-inclusive political solution and a broader peace-building framework for promoting social cohesion, the crisis would deteriorate further, with profound consequences and impact on the most vulnerable, especially children.

UNICEF repeated its call for all parties to provide unhindered and safe access for humanitarian assistance; and to respect their own agreements to stop violence against children, sexual and gender-based violence, and the recruitment of children.

Central African Republic

Chris Lom, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), drew attention to the positive developments of a project in the area of reconciliation that was being carried out in two areas, the 3^rd and 5^tharrondissements in Bangui. Funded by the European Union, the 18-month project which had begun with a street cleaning program was now employing 300 young people from both Christian and Muslim communities. The initiative aimed to support mixed communities in Bangui and to increase social cohesion and dialogue by facilitating the rehabilitation of community infrastructure.

The project was now being expanded with EU funding, along the lines and priorities established by the communities themselves.

After the civil war broke out in the Central African Republic in December 2013, much of the community’s public infrastructure had been destroyed or abandoned. Therefore, the community outlined various priorities that they wanted to be invested in including: maternity clinic and the mayor’s office conference hall; installation of street lights and public garbage bins on the main thoroughfares; and repair of bridges. IOM would work on those projects in the coming months with the community and the EU.

Finally, Mr. Lom said that IOM was urgently appealing for USD 500,000 to help a particular group of Chadian people who had fled from CAR to Cameroon. They had been stranded in Garoua Boulai and Kentzou on the Cameroon side of the CAR-Cameroon border for several months, under desperate living conditions. The Chadians were expected to join IOM road convoys between 24 May and 16 July 2014, to return to Chad. The problem was that in Chad there was no sufficient funding to provide them with what they would need upon their arrival in Moundou. The money would be needed to expand the reception site for the people, to register the returnees, to provide emergency medical assistance and to facilitate their onward transport to their places of origin.

Tanzania

Mr. Lom briefed about an ongoing operation in Tanzania that consisted in organizing the repatriation of 220 Ethiopian irregular migrants held in six Tanzanian prisons to return home.

The project was being carried out in close cooperation with the Tanzanian Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was funded by the United States and Japan. It would be completed by the end of May.

Mr. Lom highlighted that hundreds of irregular migrants caught up in the massive migration routes trying to reach South Africa ended up in overcrowded prisons in Tanzania. As the country lacked specialized facilities to host irregular migrants, those who were caught were thrown into jail. He added that such a situation put them in considerable risk because they were living in prisons amongst criminals. The humanitarian operation funded by the Americans and the Japanese was probably the only solution to their immediate problem.

One of the factors that was compounding the problem within the migration routes from the Horn of Africa to South Africa was the closure of Saudi Arabia’s border in 2013, this made it more difficult for people in the Horn of Africa to get jobs in the Gulf, and persuaded more of them to try to get to South Africa via Tanzania. The war in Syria was also cutting off access to Turkey and Europe.

IOM’s voluntary return operation included medical screening, flights to Ethiopia, reception in Addis Ababa, onward transport to their places of origin and reintegration assistance.

World Health Assembly

Fadéla Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the delegates in plenary session today were continuing to discuss climate and health.

Today, at 12:30 in Room XII there would be a technical briefing (open to journalists) on quality of care around child birth and preventable maternal and infant deaths. Speakers would include Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General Dr Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director-General for Family, Women's and Children's Health at the WHO;; Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as high-level representatives and ministers of Nepal, Zambia, Cambodia, and the USA.

At 2.30 p.m., Dr Christine Kaseba-Sata, First Lady of Zambia and WHO Goodwill Ambassador, would speak to the Assembly on gender-based violence, to be followed by Melinda Gates. The two speeches would be electronically distributed to the press.

Dr. Kaseba-Sata would also address the journalists in Press Room III at 1:30 p.m.

Ms. Chaib informed that all the details were available in the second issue of the World Health Assembly Journal.

Answering a question on the possibility of having a press conference by Dr. Chan, Mr. Jasareviæ said that efforts were being made to ensure that she addressed the press corps.

Ms. Chaib added that if there was a particular topic of interest to journalists, they should bring it up and WHO spokespeople would be happy to organize a briefing with relevant experts.

Mr. Lom announced an IOM event on Tuberculosis (TB) on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, which would take place on 21 May at 5.30 p.m. Representatives of Governments, Global TB Programme, the Stop TB partnership and the IOM would participate. IOM had one of the world’s largest TB screening and treatment programmes.

International Labour Conference

Hans von Rohland, for the International Labour Organization (ILO), announced that the International Labour Conference would take place from 28 May to 12 June at the Palais des Nations, and would be attended by about 4,000 government employers and workers delegates.

This year, the main issues would be: strengthening action to end the forced labour; moving from informal to formal economies; employment and social strategies with special attention on investments in more and better jobs and social protection measures.

The Director General’s report on migration would also be presented.

The report would show ILO’s concerns about the existence of disconnected systems of labour market policy and migration policies.

The Conference would also discuss on the issue of Child Labour, and on how that problem would be addressed to reduce the number of children workers.

More precisely, the Conference would discuss how to strengthen the existing Convention against Forced Labour, adopted by ILO in 1930, which called on member States to suppress the use of this kind of labour. Mr. von Rohland specified that nowadays the practice of forced labour still existed in different forms and it was necessary to address implementation gaps to advance prevention, protection and compensation measures to effectively achieve its elimination.

Regarding the second item, ILO would approve a new recommendation defining policies on how workers could move from the informal to formal sector, thus formalizing their employment situation. The recommendation was expected to be approved in June 2015.

Mr. von Rohland also announced that the Standards Committee would discuss 24 important cases the list of which would be made public on 4 or 5 June.

Finally, Mr. von Rohland announced two new ILO reports: the World of Work Report which would be launched on Monday 26 May at 10 a.m. in Press Room III, and the World Social Protection Report, which would present the latest social security trends worldwide, and would be launched on Monday 2 June, at 10 a.m. in Press Room 1.

Newborn health

Mr. Boulierac informed that a ground-breaking series of papers released by The Lancet at UNICEF Headquarters today showed that the majority of the almost 3 million children who died before they turned one month old could have been saved if they received quality care around the time of birth.

Newborn deaths accounted for a staggering 44 per cent of total mortality among children under five, and represented a larger proportion of under-five deaths now than they had in 1990. Those deaths tended to be among the poorest and most disadvantaged populations.

According to UNICEF, 2.9 million babies died each year within their first 28 days. An additional 2.6 million babies were still-born, and 1.2 million of those deaths occurred when the baby’s heart stopped during labour. The first 24 hours after birth were the most dangerous for both child and mother – almost half of maternal and newborn deaths occurred then.

Mr. Boulierac said that The Lancet’s Every Newborn series identified the most effective interventions in saving newborns, including breastfeeding; newborn resuscitation; ‘kangaroo care’ for premature babies – that was, prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the mother; and preventing and treating infections. More funding and adequate equipment were also vital.

Countries that had made the most progress in saving newborn lives had paid specific attention to that group as part of the overall care extended to mothers and under-fives. Rwanda – alone among sub-Saharan African countries – had halved the number of newborn deaths since 2000. Some low and middle-income countries were making remarkable progress by, among other methods, training midwifes and nurses to reach the poorest families with higher quality care at birth, especially for small or ill newborns.

Mr. Boulierac explained that the highest numbers of newborn deaths per year were registered in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with India (779,000), Nigeria (267,000) and Pakistan (202,400) leading. For the highest burden countries, every dollar invested in a mother’s or baby’s health gave a nine-fold return on investment in social and economic benefit.

Mr. Boulierac informed that, the following month, UNICEF and the World Health Organization would roll out the Every Newborn Action Plan which aimed to end preventable maternal and child deaths by 2035.

Geneva activities

Ms. Vellucci informed that the Conference on Disarmament was holding a public session this morning. It was hearing an address by Michael Møller, the Acting Secretary-General of the Conference. He would present his views on the work of the Conference six months after assuming that role.

The Committee against Torture and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights had completed their consideration of country reports, and were holding private sessions this week until the closing of their sessions in public on 23 May.

The Committee for the Rights of the Child would start its session on 26 May. It would consider reports of India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, United Kingdom and Saint Lucia. A background press release would be issued on 22 May.

Ms. Vellucci said that a press conference to launch the World Economic Situation and Prospects Mid-2014 would take place in Press Briefing Room S-237 at New York Headquarters on 21 May at 11 a.m. EDT (5 p.m. Geneva time). Speakers would come from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The conference would be webcasted on http://webtv.un.org/

Ms. Vellucci also announced the press conference of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on the health crisis currently affecting Palestine refugees in Palestine, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. It would take place in Press Room III at 11:30 a.m. today and the speaker would be Dr Akihiro Seita, UNRWA Director of Health.