REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons for the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization.

Attacks on mosques in New Zealand

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that the Director-General extended his condolences to the families and loved ones of all the victims in the day’s attacks on several mosques in New Zealand.

Joel Millman, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), made the following statement on behalf of the Director General of IOM:

“I am deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life due to the attacks at two New Zealand mosques full of worshipers attending Friday prayers. It is believed that among the dead and injured were many refugees and migrants. I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the families of all the victims and to the Government and people of New Zealand.”

Venezuela and neighbouring countries

Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), made the following statement:

Over 5,000 Venezuelans have been relocated from Brazil’s northern state of Roraima to 17 other states in the country, thanks to an innovative internal relocation programme supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee agency, civil society and other UN agencies, including IOM, UNFPA and UNDP. According to official figures, Brazil has received more than 200,000 Venezuelans since 2017. Some 85,000 of them have lodged asylum claims, while some 40,000 have received temporary resident visas.

Venezuelans have left hyperinflation, fuel and food shortages and political instability and sought safety in Brazil, most making the crossing by land. The flights aim to reduce the floating population in border regions, where many Venezuelans have lived on the streets and in hostels, with limited opportunities.

On Wednesday (March 13), an aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) took off with 225 Venezuelans from Boa Vista (the capital of the State of Roraima, some 200 kilometres from the border with Venezuela). The refugees and migrants chose to go to 13 different cities in Brazil and air transport was organized accordingly. More flights are scheduled over the next weeks.

The voluntary relocation initiative began in April 2018 and now involves 50 different cities all over Brazil. It was designed to reduce the pressure on host communities in the north of Brazil, where refugees and migrants have been arriving from Venezuela, compelled to flee their country due the difficult socio-economic, human rights and political situation.

UNHCR plays a key role in the implementation and coordination of Brazil’s internal relocation programme notably by identifying eligible beneficiaries among the residents of temporary shelter sites in Boa Vista and ensuring that people have the required documentation for travel.

The relocation initiative, implemented in coordination with Government, civil society, the private sector and other UN agencies on the basis of the Global Compact on Refugees, is creating new local integration opportunities for Venezuelan refugees and migrants in other parts of Brazil. Other modalities include family reunion and an employment opportunities programme in which refugees and migrants in Roraima are selected in advance by private companies and given jobs in other states. UNHCR is assisting participants with support for house rental and household expenses.”

Joel Millman, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), made the following statement:

“With over 3.4 million refugees and migrants outside Venezuela, Latin America is experiencing the biggest outflow in its recent history. Of this total, nearly 2.7 million Venezuelans are in Latin America and Caribbean countries. South American countries alone host 70 per cent of them. Yet, the figure is likely to be higher as some data sources do not account for Venezuelans with irregular status.

Colombia is hosting the highest number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela, with over 1.1 million. It is followed by Peru, with 506,000; Chile, 288,000; Ecuador, 221,000; Argentina, 130,000; and Brazil, 96,000. Mexico and countries in Central America and the Caribbean are also hosting significant numbers of refugees and migrants from Venezuela.

Latin American countries have granted some 1.3 million residence permits and other forms of regular status to Venezuelans and reinforced their asylum systems in order to process an unprecedented number of asylum applications.

The diversity of routes used by Venezuelan nationals show a dynamic and changing mobility pattern. Apart from land and air, the sea routes have grown in importance in recent years. In the case of the neighbouring Caribbean islands such as Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, short distances facilitate the maritime mobility.

In the case of South America, most movements are by land across the borders. For example, in Brazil the largest Venezuelan inflow has been registered by the State of Roraima. In Colombia, the highest number is registered in the city of Cucuta. Numerous entries of Venezuelan nationals into Ecuador are also registered through Rumichaca, into Peru through Tumbes on the border with Ecuador, and in Chile through Tacna on the Peruvian border.

Thousands of Venezuelans cross various South American countries on foot, generating the phenomena of ‘Los caminantes’, who are in need of specific attention due to the extremely difficult conditions and numerous challenges faced during the journey. It is calculated that an average of 5,000 Venezuelans leaves the country every day. IOM follows up on the displacement of refugees and migrants in Venezuela through analysis of official statistics from the receptor countries and we are present wherever these movements are occurring.”

Responding to questions from the press, Mr. Millman, for IOM, said that Venezuela had undergone a number of difficult situations over the past 20 years. It was known that 3.4 million Venezuelans now lived outside the country and that, of those, some 2.7 million had left Venezuela since 2015. Mr. Baloch, for UNHCR, added that, since 2014, some 408,000 asylum claims had been lodged by Venezuelans; of those, around 248,000 had been lodged in 2018.

Responding to further questions, Mr. Baloch, for UNHCR, said that when Venezuelans arrived in neighbouring countries and sought assistance from UNHCR, the Agency’s staff briefed and counselled them on their options, depending on individual circumstances; one such option was to file an asylum claim. Many Venezuelans lived in host communities in Brazil and other countries that shared a border with Venezuela. Many received assistance from humanitarian agencies, like UNHCR, while some found jobs. However, many were sleeping on the streets and generally finding it difficult to support themselves upon arrival in Brazil. UNHCR targeted various vulnerable groups and relied on a support network that would allow vulnerable people to be moved to different parts of Brazil to facilitate alternative solutions.

Update on migrant deaths and shipwreck in the Mediterranean

Joel Millman, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that a shipwreck off the coast of Morocco had been reported late on 14 March; if the reports of 45 victims were borne out, it would be the most serious event in that area for quite some time. Among the 22 survivors who had been rescued, several persons had claimed that 67 people had been on board the boat initially. IOM continued to investigate the reports. Irrespective of that specific number, the migration corridors in the Latin America had proved to be the deadliest in the world since 1 February 2019, with already 79 deaths – three times as many as in the Mediterranean.

The Missing Migrants Project had been compiling details on a truck accident in Mexico’s southern state of Chiapas, which had killed 24 Guatemalan men and women on 7 March. The year had been a particularly deadly one for Guatemalan nationals. The crash was one of the largest incidents that IOM had reported in the world in the past five years.

Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that every death in the sea was to be mourned. The number of sea arrivals in Europe – 114,000 in 2018 – had gone down dramatically, especially when compared to the peak in 2015, during which 1 million people had crossed the Mediterranean. There had also been a sharp decrease in the number of asylum applications filed in Europe. Nevertheless, lives continued to be lost at sea, with 1 person dying for every 50 people who made it alive into Europe. An average of six people died trying to cross the Mediterranean every day. In its advocacy work, UNHCR consistently called for a new, united collaborative approach to saving lives, based on solidarity and compassion. Saving lives should be the ultimate goal whenever people were in distress.

Responding to questions from the press, Mr. Millman, for IOM, said that it was difficult to draw patterns based on the incidents reported by the Missing Migrants Project. Although the incidents could be described as somewhat random, migrants’ conditions were generally dangerous. Further, smugglers often took risks by cutting corners, for example, by driving unsafe vehicles. Circular migration, in which repeat customers went in search of jobs on a regular basis, had largely ended. Therefore, the relationship of migrants to those who transported them was now much harsher and, on the whole, migrants were now dealing with a more criminal class of smugglers – that was clear from the number of people who died.

Talks on Western Sahara

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that talks on Western Sahara were likely to take place in Switzerland towards the end of the following week. Further details would be made available shortly.

Cyclone Idal

Hervé Verhoosel, for the World Food Programme (WFP), made the following statement:

“Tropical Cyclone IDAI has made landfall near the heavily-populated Mozambican port city of Beira, which has compounded destructive flooding that has already occurred as far inland as southern Malawi and eastern Zimbabwe. The World Food Programme has been stepping up preparations to meet largescale assistance needs.

Over 900,000 people in Malawi and 600,000 in Mozambique have already been affected by exceptionally severe flooding this week caused by heavy rains associated with the cyclone system. Scores of lives have been lost, tens of thousands of people displaced, and homes, roads, bridges and crops washed away. The governments of Malawi and Mozambique have declared emergencies in the impacted areas, and requested outside help.

WFP staff have already been conducting assessments to determine the extent of the damage by the flooding to date and priority assistance needs. Additional assessments are necessary as the cyclone plays out. This second round of assessments has become increasingly difficult due to the fact that landlines are affected, mobile networks are overloaded, and the airspace over Mozambique is closed for the moment due to the weather conditions.

In addition to the helicopters already sent by the South African Government, WFP is sending at least one MI-8 transport helicopter to conduct emergency air operations in Mozambique, focusing on remote locations likely to be cut off by floodwaters as soon as conditions allow and airspace is open.

Food stocks have been identified in the affected countries and elsewhere in the southern Africa region, such as in South Africa and Zambia that can support the response. Twenty tonnes of high-energy biscuits are being airlifted to Beira from a WFP-run UN emergency response depot in Dubai which will arrive tomorrow, March 16th. WFP-funded drones are supporting emergency mapping by Mozambique’s disaster management agency, the INGC.

WFP has deployed additional staff to Mozambique, including an emergency coordinator and an air operations manager. Programming, logistics and telecommunications experts are on the way.

In Malawi, for example, WFP has tapped into its Immediate Response Account, which is a funding mechanism allowing for rapid response. Additional urgent funding will be necessary, WFP will have an idea of the funding needed after the second assessment is complete once the cyclone has passed.”

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that WHO, together with the health cluster partners in Mozambique, had been preparing medical supplies to ship to Mozambique; it was also stepping up surveillance on waterborne diseases, which were also a likely consequence of the cyclone and associated flooding. WHO was assessing damage to health facilities in order to be ready for any outbreaks or other emergencies on the ground.

Responding to questions from the press, Mr. Verhoosel, for WFP, said that while it was difficult to predict the damage before the cyclone had run its course, the Zambezi River was expected to have flooded many of the numerous villages and towns that lined its banks. Those areas would be the most heavily affected and some would be difficult to access. Some deaths had already been reported, but the numbers were far from final. WFP had carried out a very limited distribution of food in the areas affecting by the previous week’s flooding. Because of the cyclone, communication was very difficult, the airspace was closed and access was very limited. WFP would continue to provide support and would monitor the cyclone’s path once it left Mozambique and headed towards Zimbabwe.

Mr. Lindmeier, for WHO, added that, typically, after the passing of a cyclone, together with the risk of drowning, there was a risk of crush and trauma injuries and waterborne disease risks. In the mid to long term, certain types of assistance, such as that provided to pregnant women and diabetes patients, was likely to be hampered. Therefore, the assessment of health facilities, in addition to the emergency supported provided to immediate victims, was eminently important.

Yemen

Hervé Verhoosel, for the World Food Programme (WFP), made the following statement:

“After months of WFP lobbying, the MV Elena completed its first discharge operation early this month of containerized humanitarian cargo at Yemen’s Hodeidah Port – the first UN World Food programme contracted container ship to arrive in Hodeidah since May 2018.

No container arrivals since May 2018 at Hodeidah port has meant that all containerized food aid has been going to Aden Port, a much smaller port which quickly became congested. To alleviate the congestion, WFP also started using Salalah port in Oman. This only refers to container shipments, as bulk and break bulk (wheat and grain) shipments for WFP have been arriving regularly to Hodeidah port for the last few months.

The first voyage brought 440 containers of WFP vegetable oil to the port of Hodeidah from the port of Salalah in Oman. The vessel returned to Salalah for a second voyage where it loaded 481 containers/8338.132 Metric Tonnes of Veg. oil which has arrived this week. After this second voyage, the vessel is expected to begin a new route to bring more WFP humanitarian containerized cargo to Hodeidah from other ports.

Bringing in humanitarian assistance by sea is the fastest & most cost-effective way of getting the right food to the right people at the right time. WFP welcomes the fact that humanitarian containers can return to Hodeidah port. As you know, Hodiedah port is very important to Yemen, 90% of food is imported into the country, 70% transits via Hodeidah port.”

Human Rights Council update

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, speaking on behalf of the spokesperson of the Human Rights Council, said that on the morning of 15 March, the Human Rights Council was expected to adopt the outcomes of the human rights reviews of a number of countries by its Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, specifically, Belize, Chad, China and Malta. The Council would then hold a general debate on the universal periodic review. At 4 p.m., the Council would hold a panel discussion on countering nationalist populism, which would feature an opening statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. On Monday, 18 March, the Council would hear the presentation of a report by Michael Lynk, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, followed by a report of the commission of inquiry on the 2018 protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, speaking on behalf of the spokesperson of the Economic Commission for Europe, said that more than 600 participants representing governments, civil society, youth, academia, the private sector and the regional United Nations system would gather on 21 and 22 March for the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, to be held at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG). Participants would include United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, the Minister of Health and Social Protection of Albania, and Director-General Michael Møller. With a practical focus on peer-learning, the Forum would explore progress and provide regional input on the five Sustainable Development Goals under review at this year’s High Level Political Forum: SDGs 4 (education), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 10 (reduced inequalities), 13 (climate action) & 16 (justice and strong institutions).

First meeting of WHO expert advisory committee on developing global standards for governance and oversight of human genome editing

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), announced that, on 18 and 19 March, the first meeting of WHO expert advisory committee on developing global standards for governance and oversight of human genome editing would be held in Geneva. The Committee will examine the scientific, ethical, social and legal challenges associated with human genome editing. The aim would be to advise and make recommendations on appropriate governance mechanisms for human genome editing. On March 19, at 6 p.m. in Geneva, following the meeting, the Co-Chair of the Committee would hold a virtual press conference from WHO headquarters in Geneva to present the initial recommendations with interested journalists. Speakers would include Dr. Margaret A. (Peggy) Hamburg, Co-Chair of the committee, and Dr Soumya Swaminathan, WHO Chief Scientist.

Responding to a question from a journalist, Mr. Lindmeier said that the expert advisory committee would consider all possible instruments, but it was not possible to prejudge the outcome of the meeting. Concerns over ethical legal challenges were voiced whenever a new technology was introduced.

Announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, recalled that, on 14 March, the Secretary-General had announced the appointment of Khawla Matar as the new Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, and had thanked Deputy Special Envoy, Ramzy E. Ramzy, for his contribution. Referring to a statement provided by the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria, Ms. Vellucci said that Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen was delighted that Ms. Matar would be joining his Office soon. He was looking forward to her contribution, as she brought with her a wealth of experience on Syria. Special Envoy Pedersen extended his deep gratitude to the outgoing Deputy Special Envoy, Ramzy E. Ramzy, for his outstanding contributions and dedication throughout his service since 2014. Ms. Vellucci recalled that Ms. Matar had been Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Cairo and that she had also come to Geneva in her capacity as a spokesperson for the Office of the Joint United Nations-League of Arab States Special Representative for Syria. She had worked as Director of the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria in Damascus and, more recently, had had worked at the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, in Beirut and at the United Nations Development System Transition Team in New York.

Ms. Vellucci announced that the next public plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament would be held on Tuesday, 19 March, at 10 a.m. It would be the first plenary meeting under the chairmanship of the United States of America.

Ms. Vellucci also announced that on 18 March, at 10 a.m. in New York, the Secretary-General would release his report on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), drew attention to a new feature story on the WHO website entitled “8 ways WHO supports health in Syria”.

Fernando Puchol, for the World Trade Organization (WTO), said that, on 2 April, at WTO headquarters in Geneva, WTO would release its 2019-2020 trade growth forecast and 2018 trade statistics. The timing would follow the pattern of previous years: at 10 a.m., the lockdown would start for journalists wishing to see the press release before the lifting of the embargo. Hard copies of the press release would be available in the room, and journalists would be able work on it, on condition that they did not leave the room and did not communicate information about the press release’s content to anyone outside the room until the embargo was lifted at noon, Geneva time. At 11 a.m., a press conference would be held by WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, WTO Chief Economist Robert Koopman, Economist Coleman Nee and Spokesman Keith Rockwell. At noon, the embargo would be lifted, so journalists would be able to publish their information at that time; the press release would be available on the WTO website immediately afterwards. Both WTO badges and United Nations press badges would be honoured for access to the building.

Mr. Puchol announced that, during the week of 18 March, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo would travel to São Paulo for meetings with private sector representatives and others, and would also participate in the SEB Nordic CEO Conference 2019. In addition, he would take part in a seminar at the Brazilian Institute of Competition Studies (IBRAC) and in an ICC event titled “Brazil wants more”.

On the regular agenda, various meetings to be highlighted, specifically: the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Council for Trade in Services, the Trade Policy Review Body of the East African Community (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda) and the first Working Party on the Accession of South Sudan.

Press conferences

Monday, 18 March at 11:00 a.m. in Press Room 1
WIPO
International Patent System in 2018. International Trademark & Design Systems in 2018.
Speaker:
• Francis Gurry, WIPO Director General

Tuesday, 19 March at 3:45 p.m. in Press Room 1
U.S. Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations
Press briefing on the human rights situation in Venezuela
Speakers:
• Carrie Filipetti, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
• Delsa Solorzano, Elected Member of the National Assembly of Venezuela
• Edison Lanza, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Organization of American States

Wednesday, 20 March at 11:00 a.m. in Press Room 1
World Health Organization
World TB Day Press Conference

World TB Day is observed on March 24 each year to raise public awareness and understanding about the world’s deadliest infectious killer -tuberculosis (TB) and it’s devastating health, social and economic impact on people around the world. World TB Day 2019 follows a year which generated concerted high-level commitment for the fight against TB. Heads of State came together at the first-ever UN high-level meeting on TB in New York last September, and agreed to bold targets and urgent actions to end TB.

TB remains the top infectious killer in the world claiming nearly 4500 people lives each day. The emergence of drug-resistant TB poses a major health threat that could put at risk the gains made to end the global TB epidemic.

At the press briefing WHO will present a special End TB Accelerator package.
More information and communications material can be found at this link:
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2019/03/24/default-calendar/world-tb-day-2019

Speakers:
• Tereza Kasaeva, Director, Global TB Programme, WHO
• Steve Otieno, TB advocate and musician, Kenya
• Madhusudan Kaphle, Youth Advocate, Nepal

Thursday, 21 March at 11.00 a.m. in Press Room 1
The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva and the United Nations Office in Uzbekistan
To present the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region as well as to address the Aral Sea crisis and its multi-dimensional human consequences, consequences for the nature, environment and population in the Aral Sea region (territories of the Central Asian region)
Speakers:
• H.E. Badriddin Abidov, Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan
• H.E. Helena Fraser, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan
• H.E. Jusipbek Kazbekov, First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan

The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog150319