REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
Michele Zaccheo, Chief of the Radio and TV Section at the UN Information Service, chaired the briefing attended by spokespersons for the United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Mine Action Service, World Food Programme, United Nations Refugee Agency, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization.
Syria
Mr. Zaccheo said that the Special Envoy was on his way back to Geneva this morning and was planning to attend the Ceasefire Task Force meeting scheduled at the Palais des Nations in Geneva today. He had participated in the Humanitarian Task Force meeting via video conference from Damascus the previous day. The Ceasefire Task Force meeting was planned for the afternoon, and would be attended by the International Syria Support Group. There would be no media access, as per request by the ISSG members. The decision on media access was with the co-chairs, namely the Russian Federation and the United States.
Responding to questions, Mr. Zaccheo said that there was no information that the Ceasefire Task Force meeting was cancelled as reported by some media, and it could not be confirmed on when the Syria talks would resume. The Special Envoy was planning to address the media on 22 February, probably in the morning, at a time to be specified. (Note: the briefing has since been postponed until after the 24 February VTC briefing to the Security Council, according to the Office of the Special Envoy).
Christophe Boulierac, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), informed that on 17 February, of the 82,000 people reached by the UN and partners, approximately 37,000 were children. The aid had reached the towns of Madaya, Foah and Kfreya, Moademiyeh, and Zabadani. UNICEF, inter alia, had distributed nutritional and therapeutic items to prevent and treat malnutrition, high energy biscuits, medications to treat anemia, worm and diarrhea, and kits for monitoring of the nutrition status of children. It was an important step and UNICEF was continuing its efforts to reach all children and their families living in besieged and hard-to-reach areas across Syria. UNICEF, like other agencies, was calling for unrestricted access to all areas in need.
Mr. Boulierac added that over two million people continued to face critical drinking water shortages in the Aleppo Governorate. Khafsa water treatment facility in Aleppo Governorate had been shut down on 16 January. In response, UNICEF had scaled up its water tracking operations to provide eight million liters a day, enough to meet drinking needs of over 530,000 people and fuel to operate ground water wells. In cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF was rehabilitating the Ein Al Beida water pumping station. In the south of the country, in De’ra, UNICEF had provided emergency health kits for 35,000 people to six local clinics. UNICEF and partners have sent education supplies for 8,800 children and distributed family hygiene kits for 45,000 people and baby kits for 3,000 children, and 3,500 testers for water quality. Water quality assurance and surveillance services were ongoing.
Bettina Luescher, for the World Food Programme (WFP), reported a humanitarian breakthrough in Syria. WFP had been able to bring life-saving aid to people in Moadamiyeh, an area that had been inaccessible to WFP aid for over a year and a half. Families there had received two bags of wheat flower from the WFP and other food items, including rice, lentils, canned food and cooking oil. WFP had also sent date bars that were fortified with vitamins and minerals.
According to Ms. Luescher, in Moadamiyeh over 21,000 people had been reached, in Foah and Kefraya more than 20,000, in Madaya 39,000, and in Zabadani some 1,000 people. She highlighted the importance of continuing to have access to those areas in order to continue delivering food to as many people in need as possible.
Asked about plans to air drop food, Ms. Luescher said that the WFP was planning an air drop operation to reach up to 200,000 people in Deir Ezzour. It would be a high altitude operation, dropping food with parachutes. Planes would take off from the region and, as it was still in the planning stage, no further details could be provided. WFP would work with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent on this project, which was a part of a larger international effort. The situation in Deir Ezzour was devastating for families living under siege, where food was sometimes sold at prohibitively high prices. It was a complicated operation, as the air drops were always the last resort because land routes were easier and more cost-effective, stressed Ms. Luescher.
On the safety of those flying planes, Ms. Luescher said that the WFP was considering using an experienced, registered company. While everything would be done to ensure the operation was conducted safely, some of the details could not be shared for now. There was a lot of monitoring going on to ensure that the aid reached right people. WFP was voluntarily funded and it was working with many partners to secure funding for this operation. Ms. Luescher could not yet confirm the receipt of USD 10 million from the United States.
Refugee crisis
William Spindler, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that according to UNHCR, UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), an average of two children had drowned every day since September 2015 as their families had tried to cross the eastern Mediterranean. Since previous September, more than 340 children, many of them babies and toddlers, had drowned in the eastern Mediterranean.
Mr. Spindler added that the stretch of the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece was among the deadliest routes in the world for refugees and migrants. The winter’s rough seas, overloading and the poor quality of boats and lifesaving equipment increased the risk of capsizing, making the journey significantly more dangerous.
Mr. Spindler quoted the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, saying that if we wanted to reduce the death toll, organising ways for people to travel legally and safely, through resettlement and family reunion programmes, for example, should be an absolute priority.
The UN Secretary-General had called for a high-level meeting on global responsibility-sharing through legal pathways for admission of Syrian refugees to take place in Geneva on 30 March. Mr. Spindler concluded by saying that during the first six weeks of 2016, at least 410 people had drowned out of the 80,000 crossing the eastern Mediterranean.
Sarah Crowe, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), speaking by phone from the border between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece, said that they were seeing a lot of activity today, with a high proportion of children coming to the border. The families UNICEF was meeting with were primarily from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, but other countries as well. All families had reported rough seas and being very afraid. There was a rising concern over the number of children exposed to dangerous journeys, the cost of which had gone down; the quality of life vests and boats had also deteriorated. It was intolerable that the families escaping the war had to risk lives of their children on the sea, which was totally preventable.
On the question what was happening with all the people fleeing from Aleppo, Ms. Crowe said that those families had received some assistance at the border, and had been determined to flee to Europe in order to reach safety. That steady flow was likely to continue. The latest information on what was happening on the Turkish-Syrian border would be circulated subsequently. Mr. Spindler added that a number of NGOs were active in northern Syria. Turkish authorities at the border were also providing assistance to people inside Syria.
Ukraine
Giovanna Barberis, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), speaking by phone from Kiev, said that the second anniversary of the conflict in eastern Ukraine was being marked these days. Today, according to the new data and the updated Humanitarian Response Plan, around 580,000 children were the most affected. They were living in non-government controlled areas and on both sides of the frontlines. They had been deprived of their basic rights, including education, housing and the right to play. More than one hundred thousand children were still displaced and unable to return to their homes. Officially, 1.6 million people were displaced at the moment. One in three affected children, or around 200,000 of them, were in need of immediate psychosocial support. All of those children were facing the risk of stepping on mines.
There were still, unfortunately, a lot of challenges and issues remaining. UNICEF had been very active in providing humanitarian support from the very beginning of the conflict. Together with partners, UNICEF had done its best to respond to the needs on the ground in spite of the existing obstacles. The conflict at this moment was affecting not only the eastern areas of Ukraine, but went well beyond that region. The situation in Ukraine should not be forgotten amidst other conflicts around the globe, as thousands of children were still suffering the consequences of the conflict every single day.
Answering to a question on children casualties caused by landmines, Ms. Barberis said that data was very difficult to ascertain as there was no proper system in place for tracking the number of children injured or killed by mines. Some figures provided by the Ministry of Health were far from reflecting the reality. Several months earlier, around 40 children had been reported to have been killed by mines and unexploded ordnance, but that was not a reliable figure.
On whether children had been recruited as child soldiers when the fighting had been at its height, Ms. Barberis said that there were such rumors, but firm evidence on that issue was lacking.
Ms. Barberis explained that social payments from Kiev to non-government controlled areas had been cut long time ago and had not been resumed. Some financial support was coming from Russia and the de facto authorities were trying to address the lack of social support by organizing themselves more effectively.
South Sudan
Andreas Needham, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), informed that up to 26,000 people might had been displaced by fighting in Malakal, South Sudan. Humanitarian partners on the ground had reported shooting, looting of properties and burning of houses. UNHCR staff on the ground had reported that civilians had fled carrying whatever they could and that vulnerable people were left unattended. Many families were separated in the rush to flee. More details were available in the press release.
Mine action portfolio
Agnes Marcaillou, for the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), briefed on the launch of the Portfolio for Mine Action Projects for 2016. Ms. Marcaillou stated that humanitarian action was less effective if mine action did not start first, and quoted the Secretary-General as describing 2015 as one of the most turbulent years in history. Today's world was facing a disregard for the basic principles of humanitarian law, Ms. Marcaillou stressed, and appealed to the press that that was proven by their coverage of the current conflicts. There no longer existed a clear protection of citizens who were now clearly being targeted and a wide range of weapons were being used. The legacy of war was increasing and the deadliness of the conflict was unacceptable. Ms. Marcaillou emphasized that it had to be made clear that the deliberate targeting of hospitals, NGOs and the United Nations—as well as the kidnapping of personal— was not to be tolerated.
The document UNMAS had launched, on behalf of the United Nations, was a credible and vetted Portfolio which detailed the projects that required funding. UNMAS categorically dealt with everything that exploded. Prevention measures were necessary and it was important to ensure that vulnerable communities were protected. The populations affected needed to be properly trained and educated so they were not blown up. UNMAS's duty was described as ensuring that people did not become victims.
The Portfolio reported on the situation in 23 countries and territories. Due to what had been seen this year already, the appeal for funds had increased from USD 286 million last year to USD 357 million this year. Ms. Marcaillou stated unequivocally that investment in mine action would have a direct and immediate effect. Clearance was the name of the game, and indeed, clearance was expensive, but not as expensive when compared to the price of war.
In addition to launching a monetary appeal, Ms. Marcaillou asked the press to do their part and draw attention to the seriousness of the situation. With the upcoming humanitarian conference, Ms. Marcaillou stated that it would be unacceptable to talk about migrants and refugees and not to address the flood of people who were crossing unmarked mine fields. Every page of the Portfolio detailed what could be done to save lives right now. The people who were dying today could not wait for a political solution and for the peace talks to present results. If mine action was duly supported, it would help the peace talks get their roots into the physical terrain.
A website was available for the details on specific countries as well as the press release and further information on the Portfolio.
Asked about victims’ assistance, Ms. Marcaillou said that an increase had indeed been seen in funding for victims’ assistance. Clearance was expensive and in order to ensure safe movements of everybody – displaced, returnees, peacekeepers, humanitarian workers – mapping had to be done. Deployment with heavy vehicles was expensive. Local communities were being engaged and countries encouraged to adopt right legal framework for victims’ assistance. USD 198 million were needed for clearance and USD 18 million for victims’ assistance. Every place that Da’esh was leaving was booby trapped, stressed Ms. Marcaillou. It had to be ensured that those deployed to help on the ground would not die in the process. The previous day, an initiative had been launched to move efforts into digital age to make the impact more effective.
Geneva activities and press conferences
Mr. Zaccheo informed that today at 11.30 a.m. in Room III, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) would hold a press conference on the 2016 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan. The plan aimed to provide critical and life-saving assistance to 13.6 million people affected by the conflict in Yemen. The speaker would be Jamie McGoldrick, Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen.
Fadela Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that today at 2.30 p.m. in Room III, the World Health Organization would hold a press conference to provide an update on global response to microcephaly, neurological disorders and Zika virus. WHO had launched a global prevention and control strategy to guide its international response to the spread of Zika virus infection and the neonatal malformations and neurological conditions associated with it. WHO would also give an overview of the vector control measures that work to prevent Zika as well as blood donations. The speakers would be Dr. Bruce Aylward, Executive Director, Outbreaks and Health Emergencies (ai), WHO, and Dr Pedro Alonso, Director Global Malaria Programme, WHO. Ms. Chaib also informed that Dr. Margaret Chan would be in Brazil the following week.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which had opened its 63rd session on 15 February, was reviewing the report of Mongolia today. In this session (ending on 4 March), the Committee had yet to review reports of the Czech Republic, Vanuatu, Haiti and Tanzania.
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights would open its 57th session on 22 February, during which it would successively review the reports of Namibia, Canada and Kenya.
The 16th session of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee would take place from 22 to 26 February 2016. UNIS had issued a background press release on it, but it would not provide press coverage of the meetings.
Jessica Hermosa, for the World Trade Organization (WTO), announced WTO First General Council Meeting of the year with the participation of the entire membership. A report from Director-General Roberto Azevedo, as the Head of the Trade Negotiations Committee, would be on the agenda. Ms. Hermosa announced the appointment of various Ambassadors as the new Chairs and Vice-Chairs of WTO Committees and other Bodies. On 24 February at 1 p.m., the WTO Spokesperson would hold a press briefing after the General Council Meeting. Meetings on dispute settlement, rules for trade and services and the routine review on Fiji’s trade policies and practices would also be on the agenda the following week.