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 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the World Health Organization.

Flooding in Sudan

Jens Laerke, for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), read out the following statement:

“Some 54 people have died as a consequence of heavy rains and flash floods that have hit Sudan since the beginning of July, and nearly 194,000 people have been affected across the country, according to Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission.

The deaths are mainly due to collapsed roofs and electrocution.

More than 37,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged and with the rainy season expected to last until October, and more rainfall in the forecast, humanitarians are concerned by the high likelihood of more flash floods.

The worst affected state is the White Nile in the south of Sudan, with more than 66,000 people affected and more than 13,000 houses destroyed or damaged.

In total, 15 of Sudan's 18 states have been hit and reports from government authorities and humanitarian partners indicate that people urgently need emergency shelter, food, health services and clean water and sanitation. There's also need for vector control to limit the spread of water-borne diseases by insects and drainage of stagnant water.

Crucial infrastructures such as water points, schools and latrines have been damaged and some roads have become impassable, cutting off entire villages and communities, especially in the worst-affected White Nile, but also in Kassala, Khartoum and Gerdaref States.

In many places, families have lost their livestock which may aggravate already rising food insecurity. Across Sudan, the number of severely food-insecure people rose to an estimated 5.8 million at the beginning of the lean season in July this year, an increase of more than two million compared with the start of the 2018 season.

The humanitarian coordination is led by the Government and local authorities, and the UN and humanitarian partners are supporting and responding to the floods with prepositioned relief items including medical supplies, food rations and non-food items, mosquito nets, tents and plastic sheeting. However, stocks are quickly being depleted and must be replenished to sustain the response.

There has been a good level of response so far, but the Humanitarian Response Plan which underpins the UN’s and partners’ response is highly underfunded. Of the US$1.1 billion required to respond to the overall needs in Sudan this year, 30 per cent has been provided by donors. While this generosity is appreciated, there’s an urgent case for an immediate injection of additional funding to sustain the operation.”

Answering journalists’ questions, Mr. Laerke reiterated that the priority need was shelter, since so many homes had been destroyed in the floods and many people had been dispersed. The Government and humanitarian agencies were providing emergency response in the form of plastic sheeting and tents, but a more durable solution was needed. Despite the recent political turbulence in Sudan, the Government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission had retained its leadership in the humanitarian response. It was leading the Flood Task Force, co-chaired by OCHA, which continued to coordinate and facilitate flood response efforts, identify response gaps and ensure they were addressed on time.

As far as the funding for the response was concerned, Mr. Laerke said it was hard to identify immediate funding gaps. What was happening in Sudan was an emergency upon an emergency. At the start of the year, the United Nations had already launched a $1.1 billion Humanitarian Response Plan for the country’s existing humanitarian needs, such as the rising food insecurity which predated the flooding. In emergencies, funding was often redirected from one place or activity to another, which then affected the entirety of the humanitarian operation. The priority for OCHA was to identify projects and activities in the Humanitarian Response Plan that donors wished to support.

Congolese refugees return home from Angola

Andrej Mahecic, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), read out the following statement:

“An estimated 8,500 refugees have spontaneously left the Lóvua settlement in Angola’s Lunda Norte province since 18 August with the intention of returning home to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This appears to be a response to reports of improved security in some of their places of origin and anxiety to return home in time for the beginning of the academic year.

More than a thousand refugees have already crossed into the DRC and many others are moving towards the border with the DRC’s Kasai region.

Kasai province is recovering from deadly clashes between armed groups and DRC forces in 2017 that displaced some 1.4 million people from their homes. Around 37,000 refugees from the violence crossed into Angola.

This week’s spontaneous returns from northeastern Angola are linked with presidential elections and follow recent discussions between the visiting DRC officials and refugees, where refugees were briefed about improvements to the security situation in Kasai Provinces.

Until now, the Lóvua refugee settlement had been hosting more than 20,000 refugees. The Angolan Government has provided transport to some of those on the move, but others have left the settlement on their own. Many refugees are camping alongside the main roads in northeastern Angola – these include women and children.

UNHCR is working with partners and both Governments to meet humanitarian needs. We have placed staff along the return routes to monitor, interview and to intervene with help where necessary. UNHCR staff are also providing information to refugees.

Inside DRC, UNHCR is working with local authorities to put in place monitoring systems at border entry points to assess the nature of these spontaneous returns and get first-hand information on what type of assistance is needed for the population once they arrive back home.

UNHCR is currently engaged in tripartite discussions with Angola and the DRC to put in place a mechanism for voluntary, dignified and sustainable returns. The international principle that any refugee return to a country of origin should be voluntary applies. While understanding refugees’ eagerness to return home, UNHCR appeals to both Governments to avoid situations where thousands of refugees could be at risk because of an absence of proper planning, transportation and assistance.

While security has improved in the Kasai region in recent months, elsewhere in the DR Congo insecurity continues to drive thousands from their homes in restive areas of South Kivu, North Kivu and Ituri provinces near the border with Uganda.”

Asked whether UNHCR had confirmed that it was safe for the refugees to return home, Mr. Mahecic said that the main reason that was driving this spontaneous return was the improvement in the security situation on the ground. There were ways to share information about the security between refugees and the people back home.

The movement was spontaneous and people were returning for several reasons, including to ensure that children were able to attend school before the beginning of the new school year. For UNHCR, ensuring proper planning and transport was of key importance; it was, therefore, facilitating tripartite dialogue on the issue with the governments of both countries and was actively monitoring the return process, Mr. Mahecic said.

Trump administration’s new migrant detention policy

Asked whether the announced policy that would see indefinite detention of migrants in the United States was aligned with international humanitarian law, Andrej Mahecic, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that the Agency was aware of the planned change in the regulation, which would be debated publicly for a period of time. UNHCR would wait for the completion of that process before commenting publicly on the proposal. In principle, UNHCR always advocated for alternatives to detention and for the use of detention as a last resort, and it also always advocated against detaining children.

Amazon forest fires

Responding to question raised on this subject and its consequences on health, Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that this was a very bad scenario for the environment and the future.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, read out the statement by the Spokesperson for the United Nations the Secretary-General of 22 August:

“We are very concerned about these fires, both for the immediate damages they are causing and also because sustaining forest is crucial in our fight against climate change.

All forests are essential for the health of the entire world.

The international community recognizes this importance of the forest, not only the Amazon but also the forests in the Congo basin, in Indonesia.

The wellbeing of all these massive forests is critical for the wellbeing of humanity.”

A young Swiss activist chosen to participate in the Youth Climate Summit in New York on 21 September

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, read out the following statement:

“Marie-Claire Graf, a young Swiss activist who has launched the Sustainability Week Switzerland, the largest student action movement for sustainable development in the country, will be one of the 100 young climate champions selected from around the world by the UN to participate in the Youth Climate Summit, at UN Headquarters in New York on 21 September.

The Youth Climate Summit is a key milestone ahead of the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit, which is calling on leaders from government, business and civil society to boost efforts to tackle climate change and comes just one day after the Global Climate Strike on 20 September.

The Summit will provide a platform for young climate leaders to showcase their solutions on a global stage and engage directly with decision-makers on the defining issue of our time. Youth leaders will present the discussions of the Youth Climate Summit at the Climate Action Summit on Monday, 23 September.

Young people who are unable to attend in person are encouraged to participate in the “My Future, Our Planet” campaign on social media with the phrase “Youth #ClimateAction Summit”, declaring what actions they are already taking to fight climate change.”


Digital Economy Report 2019

Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said the Digital Economy Report 2019 - previously Information Economy Report would be launched at a press conference on 29 August. The Report focused on the creation and capturing of the value in the digital economy, with the emphasis on the role of the United States and China. It examined the implications for developing countries, assessed the opportunities to harness the advantages of the data-driven economy as producers and innovators, and analysed the constraints, notably concerning digital data and digital platforms. The media alert would be sent later this afternoon with the link to all the embargoed material; the Report was under embargo until 5 p.m. GMT on 4 September 2019.

The first United Nations Trade Forum to take place in Geneva from 9 to 13 September

Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said that the very first United Nations Trade Forum, a UNCTAD initiative, would take place from 9 to 13 September in Geneva, with the participation of Heads of Government of three Small Island Developing States, which were particularly vulnerable to climate change. Trade was not a problem but a part of the solution to the climate crisis, Ms. Huissoud stressed and announced a technical briefing on this event on 3 September, a 2.30 p.m. in Press Room 1.

Other Geneva announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that the Special Envoy for Syria would brief the United Nations Security Council next Thursday, while the Humanitarian Task Force and the Ceasefire Task Force were scheduled to convene next Thursday in Geneva.

On Thursday 29 August at 9.15 a.m. in Press Room I, Tatiana Valovaya, new Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, will hold a semi-formal press briefing. The first ten to 10-15 minutes would be on record while the rest of the encounter would be informal, Ms. Vellucci said.

On Wednesday 28 August at 9 a.m. Melissa Fleming, Head of the Global Communications Service and Spokesperson for the High Commissioner, United Nations Refugee Agency, will brief on the UNHCR 2019 Refugee Education Report, which was under strict embargo until Friday, 30 August 2019, 05:00 GMT. This would be Ms. Fleming’s last press conference in her current capacity before she starts her new position as United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications on 1 September.

On Tuesday 27 August at 10 a.m., the Conference on Disarmament would hold its next public plenary.

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities would open next Monday, 26 August, its twenty-second session, during which it would review the reports of nine countries: Albania, Myanmar, Ecuador, India, Greece, Kuwait, Iraq, El Salvador and Australia.

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that Measles Annual Report would be published at the end of next week, while the Global Vaccination Summit 2019 would be held on 12 September in Brussels. Media alert, which would contain information on how to register for the event, would be sent later on.

Press conferences

Friday, 23 August 2019 at 2:30 p.m. in Room III

WHO Ebola Update

Speaker: Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme

Wednesday, 28 August 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in Press Room 1

UNHCR 2019 Refugee Education Report

Under strict embargo until Friday, 30 August 2019, 05:00 GMT

Speaker: Melissa Fleming, Head of the Global Communications Service and Spokesperson for the High Commissioner, United Nations Refugee Agency

Wednesday, 28 August 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in Press Room 1

WHO Measles Annual Report

Thursday, 29 August 2019 at 9:15 a.m. in Press Room 1

UN Geneva

Semi-informal press briefing with new Director-General of UN Geneva, Tatiana Valovaya (only the first part of the encounter will be on the record)

Friday, 29 August 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in Press Room 1

UNCTAD: Publication of the Digital Economy Report 2019 – Value Creation and Capture: Implications for Developing Countries

(embargoed until 4 September 2019 at 5 p.m. GMT)

Speakers: Mukhisa Kituyi, UNCTAD Secretary-General and Shamika Sirimanne, Director, Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD