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 World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency and the International Labour Organization.

Situation in Libya

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, read the following statement issued on 8 April by Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General:

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the military escalation and ongoing fighting in and around Tripoli, including the aerial attack today by a Libyan National Army (LNA) aircraft against Mitiga airport.

The Secretary-General urges the immediate halt of all military operations in order to de-escalate the situation and prevent an all-out conflict. He emphasizes that there is no military solution to the Libya conflict and calls on all parties to engage in immediate dialogue to reach a political solution. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Libya stands ready to facilitate that dialogue.

The Secretary-General further reminds all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law to ensure the safety of all civilians. All Libyans deserve peace, security, prosperity and respect for human rights.”

Ms. Vellucci recalled that Mr. Dujarric had also said that although some adjustments had been made to the number of international staff, the bulk of the Mission, including Mr. Salamé, remained in Tripoli.

Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), read the following statement:

“The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday reminded all parties to the conflict in Libya of their obligations under international law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, urging them to take measures to ensure civilians do not — once again — bear the brunt of the fighting.

‘The people of Libya have long been caught between numerous warring parties, with some of the most vulnerable suffering some of the gravest violations of their human rights,’ High Commissioner Bachelet said.

‘The attack near the Mitiga Airport yesterday that left many civilians in Tripoli stranded brought into stark focus the imperative for all parties to respect international humanitarian law, and to take all possible measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and prisons.’

Bachelet stressed that the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution must at all times be fully respected. Intentionally targeting civilians or civilian objects as well as indiscriminate attacks may amount to war crimes, she warned.

The High Commissioner highlighted in particular the need to ensure protection of extremely vulnerable civilians, including refugees and migrants, many of whom are already held in horrific conditions in ad hoc detention facilities by armed groups, and may be placed under significant peril.

She also called for authorities to ensure that prisons and detention centres are not abandoned, and for all parties to guarantee that the treatment of detainees is in line with international law.

‘I appeal to all sides to come together to avoid further senseless violence and bloodshed,’ Bachelet said.”

In response to questions from journalists, Ms. Shamdasani said that there was serious concern about the plight of migrants caught in the crossfire, particularly in cases where armed groups involved in the conflict controlled the ad hoc detention facilities. In the past, detained migrants had been used as human shields or been forced to fight. It was important to avoid a repeat of the incident in September 2018 when the Ain Zara prison had been abandoned and 700 convicted criminals had escaped from the facility.

In response to further questions, she said that there was not sufficient information available to determine whether the attack on the airport amounted to a war crime. The main question was whether the responsibility to protect civilians had been respected fully during the attack. Even if the airport had constituted a military target, all feasible precautions should be taken to minimize the loss of civilian lives. The High Commissioner had cited the attack as an example of the need for scrupulous respect for international humanitarian law, especially since the conflict was moving into urban areas

Tarik Jašareviæ, for the World Health Organization (WHO), made the following remarks:

“In the last three days, health facilities reported 47 dead and 181 wounded. Among the dead nine are civilians including two doctors who had been providing critically needed services to civilians in Tripoli. One doctor was reportedly killed while working as part of a field ambulance service.

WHO has documented more than 46 attacks that impacted health workers and facilities throughout 2018–2019 across Libya. These attacks killed 8 health workers and patients and injured 24. WHO reiterates that targeting health care workers and health facilities is against international humanitarian law.

The Health Sector pre-positioned supplies in advance of the escalation of hostilities in order to respond quickly and effectively. Emergency medical supplies and trauma kits were pre-positioned in four strategic sites. The supplies are sufficient to treat up to 210,000 individuals for three months and to enable the treatment of up to 900 injuries.

WHO recently distributed emergency medical supplies to 11 health facilities that can treat up to 1,100,000 individuals and 2,200 injuries. Health authorities activated eight field hospitals that have been providing field ambulance services despite the death of one of the doctors who was killed during the operation on Sunday. The field hospitals operate in Tripoli round the clock in close coordination with WHO and national health authorities.

One of WHO emergency medical teams was deployed on Sunday to Tarhouna hospital to enhance the operational capacity of the hospital. Tarhouna hospital is located south east of Tripoli and has been receiving casualties from one of the frontlines. The hospital was also provided with emergency medical and trauma supplies.

The International Organization for Migration, the International Medical Corps, UNICEF and the International Rescue Committee have also mobilized medical teams and medical supplies as per gaps identified by the Health Sector Working Group (HSWG) that activated the Rapid Response Framework (RRF) to respond to the current crisis.

WHO is concerned about possibility of a prolonged conflict in heavily populated Tripoli. A prolonged conflict will drain the limited available medical supplies. The current health sector appeal of USD 43.5 million is only 6 per cent funded. WHO is appealing to donors for emergency funds to cope with the current crisis.

WHO is concerned about migrants in detention centres in conflict affected areas. Some migrants are on tuberculosis treatment, this is interrupting continuity of their treatment and exposing them to unnecessary risks.

The volatility of the complex situation and the constant shelling and armed clashes are threatening the lives of civilians and complicating access for humanitarian workers. The current clashes are burdening the already overloaded health system with frequent supply chain breaks

As Libya’s years-old conflict has dragged on, hundreds of primary health care centres and more than 20 of its hospitals have been damaged or closed.”

Responding to questions from journalists, Mr. Jašareviæ said that WHO had been working in Libya for some time and had been very active since the 2011 crisis. The conflict was not a new one and supplies had already been in place inside the country.

In response to questions from journalists, Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that UNHCR had received reports that migrants and refugees in detention centres in active conflict zones could hear the fighting and were extremely scared. The Agency was seeking guarantees regarding the safety of civilians, including refugees and migrants. The total number of refugees and migrants in detention in Libya was approximately 5,700; however, that figure did not include those being held in informal detention facilities.

Cholera vaccination in Mozambique

Tarik Jašareviæ, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the six-day emergency cholera vaccination campaign led by the Ministry of Health in Mozambique was coming to an end. So far, the campaign had reached 745,609 people — 82 per cent of the target population.

The oral vaccines, which had been donated from the Global Cholera Vaccine Stockpile by the Gavi Alliance, had begun to be administered within 24 hours of arriving in the country. The campaign had been run by the Mozambique Ministry of Health with around 1,200 volunteers and with support from WHO, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Save the Children. The vaccine had been given to populations that had been identified by the Government as being most at risk — those without access to safe water and sanitation — in Beira, Dondo, Nhamatanda and Buzi districts, and take-up had been high. People who were vaccinated would develop protection around seven days later. One dose of the vaccine provided approximately 85 per cent protection against cholera for six months.

Since 14 March, when Cyclone Idai had struck Mozambique, hundreds of thousands of people had been living in temporary settlements without access to safe water and sanitation. The Ministry of Health had declared a cholera outbreak on 27 March and, as of 8 April, had reported more than 3,577 cases and 6 deaths. The cholera vaccine was just one tool in the outbreak response. The key measures were access to rapid treatment and to safe drinking water and sanitation. There were currently 12 cholera treatment centres in operation, with capacity for 500 beds.

In response to questions from journalists, Mr. Jašareviæ said that any remaining vaccine doses would be administered in house-to-house operations for people living outside settlements. Early treatment at dedicated centres was a vital component in combating the outbreak.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, reminded journalists that the Mozambique Humanitarian Response Plan for 2019 following the cyclone, which was seeking more than USD 337 million, was currently only 21 per cent funded.

Yemen

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, read the following statement issued today, 9 April, by the Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths:

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the tragic deaths of civilians, the majority of whom were young female students attending school, in Saewan area in Sana’a, on 7 April.

I would like to offer my sincere condolences both to those affected by this tragic loss of life, and to Yemeni civilians across the country who continue to suffer the devastating impacts of the conflict.

This loss of life shows the terrible impact that the conflict continues to have on society’s most vulnerable and on the country’s infrastructure and essential services.

I strongly urge all parties to make every possible effort to put an end to civilian suffering and allow young Yemenis to grow up in peace and safety. Only an inclusive political solution will end this cycle of violence and destruction.”

Ms. Vellucci recalled that during 2018, humanitarian agencies had reported an average of 45 incidents of violence each week in Yemen.

Christophe Boulierac, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), read the following statement:

“A blast in Sana’a this week killed 14 children and critically injured 16. This is what UNICEF was able to verify, with the actual number of children killed and injured likely to increase.

The critically injured children, many of whom are fighting for their lives, are now in hospitals in Sana’a. Most are under the age of nine. One girl succumbed to her injuries yesterday morning.

The incident occurred near two schools. It was almost lunch time and students were in class. The blast shattered the windows and unleashed a burst of shrapnel and broken glass into the classrooms.

It is hard to imagine the sheer horror that those children experienced — and the sheer horror and guilt parents may feel for having done what every parent aspires to: sending their children to school.

Killing and maiming children are grave violations of children’s rights.

Yesterday’s blast is another reminder that even schools are not safe in Yemen. One in five schools can no longer be used as a direct result of the conflict. Some came under direct attack, while others are being used for military purposes. For more than 2 million children in Yemen today, going to school is a faraway dream! Yesterday’s blast may further discourage parents to send their children to school.

In the past 24 hours, UNICEF mobilized lifesaving assistance to affected children and families, including providing psychosocial support, covering surgery and medical treatment costs and giving assistance to families for travel to be with their children as they receive care.”

Asked to provide further details about the attack on the school, Mr. Boulierac said that it was unclear what had caused the blast and whether there were any potential military targets nearby.

Answering questions from journalists, Mr. Boulierac recalled that in 2019 to date, the worst single incident in Yemen had been an attack in Hajjah on 9 March which had claimed the lives of 12 children and injured 14 others, while the most horrific attack that had occurred in 2018 was that on a school bus in Saada. He said that between the beginning of the escalation in the conflict on 26 March 2015 and December 2018, 2,672 children (1,782 boys; 744 girls; 49 sex unknown) had been killed and 4,371 (2,977 boys; 1,087 girls) had been injured, according to figures verified by the United Nations. The actual numbers were likely to be much higher. There were 1.8 million children in Yemen who were acutely malnourished, including 360,000 under the age of five years who were suffering from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition. In addition, one child died every 10 minutes from preventable causes including cholera. Around 2 million children were not in school, and 1.2 million children were living in 28 active conflict zones.

Sudan

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, read the following statement issued on 8 April by Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:

“The Secretary-General is following closely the demonstrations in Sudan. He appeals to all actors to exercise utmost restraint and avoid violence. He calls for full respect for human rights, including the freedom of assembly, the freedom of expression and the release of detained protestors. He further calls on the Government of Sudan to create a conducive environment for a solution to the current situation and to promote an inclusive dialogue.

The Secretary-General affirms that the United Nations stands ready to support any efforts agreed by the Sudanese to peacefully resolve the current crisis.”

In response to questions from journalists, Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that OHCHR had received reports of tear gas and live ammunition being used by the security forces. Despite the involvement of a number of elements, including the security forces, the military and pro-Government militias, the Government had an over-arching responsibility to protect the protestors. The High Commissioner had on many occasions expressed concern about excessive use of force against the protestors since the situation had first escalated in December 2018. It was unclear how many people had been killed in the clashes; some human rights groups had put the figure at 70, while the Government had said the death toll stood at 46.

OHCHR called on the Government and the security forces to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression was respected, and that genuine dialogue took place to resolve what was a very complex situation arising from real economic and social grievances.

Security in South East Niger

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

“UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is extremely worried over the alarming increase of attacks in the south-east of Niger, affecting locals and refugees in the region. In the month of March alone, some 88 civilians were reported dead in the escalation of violence.

We are dismayed to see the population’s suffering increase with each passing month since early 2019. The beginning of the year has brought a resurgence of violent attacks by Boko Haram, targeting security and defence forces as well as the civilian population in the region of Diffa, near the Nigerian border.

Since 2015, the number of people forcibly displaced within the Diffa region has risen to almost 250,000; almost half of them are refugees from Nigeria who had fled similar attacks and sought refuge across the border in Niger.

Recent attacks have displaced more than 18,000 people, many of them on the run for a second or third time, many seeking safety in Diffa town.

UNHCR is currently working with the government of Niger and our humanitarian partners to assist the newly displaced. We are trying to immediately relocate some 10,000 refugees from locations close to the border to the Sayam Forage refugee camp, some 45 kilometres away from the border. The camp is already hosting more than 15,000 refugees.

Additionally, UNHCR is supporting the Government to seek alternative solutions for the remainder of the newly displaced and highly vulnerable people in desperate need of safety and humanitarian assistance.

UNHCR has mobilized psychosocial support workers to respond to the immediate needs of the newly displaced who are highly traumatized, in particular women and children.

Reports also suggest that the latest round of violence is displacing more people across the border into Nigeria, including to the towns of Damasak and Maiduguri. They are leaving due to fear of the increasing insecurity in the Diffa region, as well as to search for humanitarian assistance.”

Answering questions from journalists, Mr. Baloch said that there had been displacement on both sides of the border. Around 120,000 Nigerians were now seeking safety in the Niger owing to clashes between the security forces and Boko Haram. Civilians were being caught in the crossfire or were being targeted by Boko Haram.


ILO Centenary celebrations

Rosalind Yarde, for the International Labour Organization (ILO), said that events marking the centenary of ILO were continuing.

On 10 April, a special session of the General Assembly would take place in New York. On 11 April, the date that the 1919 Paris Peace Conference had accepted the convention that had established the constitution of the Organization, a 24-hour global online event would take place, beginning in Suva, Fiji, and ending in Lima, Peru. In Geneva, there would be a panel discussion on the future of work, with the participation of the Director-General of ILO, Guy Ryder, and representatives of the Graduate Institute and McKinsey, among others.

The International Labour Conference, which would be held in Geneva from 10 to 21 June, was expected to attract a number of Heads of State.

Geneva announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, recalled that the Committee on Enforced Disappearances had opened its sixteenth session on 8 April. On 9 April it would conclude its consideration of the report of Italy. During the session, it would also consider the reports of Chile and Peru.

Ms. Vellucci announced that the Conference on Disarmament would hold its next public plenary meeting on 14 May, when it would begin the second part of its 2019 session.

Ms. Vellucci also announced that on 10 April, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Michael Møller, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe, Olga Algayerova, and the UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Philippe Cori, would speak at a meeting held at the Palais des Nations together with the Lions Clubs International. The theme of the meeting would be “Protecting our future: the health of our children”.