REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Ahmad Fawzi, Director a.i. of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was also attended by spokespersons for the International Organization for Migration, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Refugee Agency, World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization.

Geneva Activities

The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families started a new session on Monday, 31 August, and yesterday considered Cape Verde in the absence of both a report and a delegation. The Committee would review the reports of Guinea, Seychelles and Timor-Leste this week. A background release with the programme of work is available here.

The Conference on Disarmament would next meet in public on Wednesday, 2 September, 2015, at 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber.

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was meeting in private this week until the close of the session on Friday, when it would issue concluding observations and recommendations for the European Union, which is party to the Convention as a regional organization, and six countries Kenya, Ukraine, Gabon, Mauritius, Brazil and Qatar. A background press release is available here.

Looking ahead, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances would start a two week session next Monday, 7 September 2015, said Mr. Fawzi, in which it would consider the reports of Iraq and Montenegro. A background release would be issued on Thursday.

Mr. Fawzi reminded journalists that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was holding a press conference today, Tuesday, 1 September 2015 at 12.15 p.m. in Press Room 1 to present the 2015 Report on UNCTAD assistance to the Palestinian People. The report found that prospects in Gaza were so dire it was clear from 2020 onwards people would not be able to live in Gaza anymore. Mahmoud Elkhafif, Coordinator of UNCTAD Assistance to the Palestinian People and Randa Jamal, Economic Affairs Officer, would be speaking. The report was embargoed until 1 September at 5 p.m. GMT.

Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), reminded journalists that WMO would issue its next El Nino update in a press conference at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 1 September, in Room III. Maxx Dilley, Director, Climate Prediction and Adaption Branch, WMO, and Rupa Kumar Kolli, Chief, World Climate Applications and Services Division, WMO, would be speaking. Mr. David Carlson, the Director of the World Climate Research Programme would also be speaking, delivering a wider prospective on climate and climate change. The update on El Niño had already been distributed to the media in all languages, but was under strict embargo ahead of the press conference.

United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) would hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 3 September in Room III to launch the 2015 Cluster Munition Monitor Report. Mr. Jarmo Sareva, Director of UNIDIR, would give an introduction. An overview of the report findings would be provided by Ms. Mary Wareham, Advocacy Director, Arms Division, Human Rights Watch and ban policy editor for Cluster Munition Monitor 2015, Ms. Amelie Chayer, Government Liaison and Policy Manager, ICBL-CMC, and Mr. Loren Persi, Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, casualties and victim assistance editor for Cluster Munition Monitor 2015.

The Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic for the Human Rights Council would hold a press conference at 12 p.m. noon on Thursday, 3 September 2015 to launch its latest report, announced Mr. Fawzi. The Chairperson of the Commission, Mr. Paulo Pinheiro, would be speaking along with his fellow Commission Members Ms. Karen Koning Abu Zayd, Ms. Carla del Ponte and Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn.

The report, covering the period of 10 January 2015 to 10 July 2015, detailed recent findings on serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law documented in the armed conflict in Syria. It analysed in particular the impact on a variety of specifically targeted communities and groups in the armed conflict. The Commissioners would also brief the media on their latest activities. The report would be shared with the media under strict embargo on the morning of the press conference at approximately 9 a.m.

Libyan Political Dialogue

Mr. Fawzi announced that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Bernardino Leon, was holding consultations today, Tuesday, 1 September, in Istanbul, Turkey, with representatives of the General National Congress (GNC) to discuss ways to move forward the Dialogue process with a view to reaching a peaceful solution to the political crisis and military conflict in Libya. The meeting in Istanbul, taking place ahead of a planned dialogue round in Geneva starting on Thursday, 3 September, would discuss General National Congress concerns with respect to the political agreement and ways to overcome them.

Mr. Leon reiterated his call on all the Libyan parties to uphold the national interest of Libya and engage constructively in the discussions to expedite the dialogue process, said Mr. Fawzi. The Special Representative also expressed his gratitude to Turkey for hosting the meeting as well as for its continued support for the Libyan political dialogue process. The press release was available here.

Responding to questions about photo opportunities and press conferences during the Libyan Political Dialogue in Geneva later this week, Mr. Fawzi said discussions were undergoing and he would inform the press corps as soon as he had confirmation.

Syria consultations

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, was continuing his preparation for the UN-led working groups, in accordance with the Security Council Presidential Statement of 17 August 2015 and based on the Geneva Communiqué, said Mr. Fawzi. The Special Envoy intended to launch those working groups during the month of September, most likely in the second half. The Special Envoy and his team continued to reach out to Syrian stakeholders: the Government of Syria and the opposition groups, including political and armed opposition groups, to seek their input into his preparations for the launching of the working groups.

Building on the consensus reflected in the Security Council Presidential Statement, the Special Envoy continued his outreach to regional and international Member States to encourage their ongoing cooperation on a way forward for Syria. The Special Envoy had already held discussions with many Member States, including Russia, United States, China, Turkey, France, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands and Germany, as well as the League of Arab States.

Palmyra, Syria

Mr. Fawzi drew the media’s attention to a damage assessment of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, Syria, by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)’s Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT).

In its analysis UNOSAT confirmed the destruction of the main building of the Temple of Bel as well as a row of columns in its immediate vicinity. The assessment was based on satellite imagery acquired on Monday, 31 August 2015, and provided by UrtheCast. UNOSAT had made its ‘before and after’ satellite imagery available to the media, and would soon be uploaded onto the website http://www.unitar.org/unosat.

Women and children Greece/The former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia border

Christophe Boulierac for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said the number of women and children fleeing violence in their countries of origin and passing through The former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia to seek refuge in Europe had tripled in three months.

An estimated 3,000 people were transiting through The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia daily. A third of them were women and children – up to 10 per cent in June. Some 12 per cent of the women were pregnant. According to figures from the Ministry of Interior of The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 80 per cent originated from Syria while five per cent were from Afghanistan and another five per cent were from Iraq.

Since June 2015, more than 52,000 people had been registered at the border’s Reception Centre in Gevgelija after entering from Greece. It was estimated that just as many transited through the country without being registered, said Mr. Boulierac. Many families had been on the move with their children for months, enduring searingly hot days, arriving with only the clothes and shoes they were wearing. They were physically exhausted and in desperate need of a place to rest. Many were suffering dehydration, blisters, cold, diarrhoea and sunburn.

Despite the best efforts of the Government and partners on the ground, including UNHCR, they needed more water and access to sanitation and hygiene facilities. Many of the people were deeply distressed and some needed medical assistance.

UNICEF had dispatched water bladders and two 72-square-metre tents to Skopje, said Mr. Boulierac, adding that the water could also be used for washing facilities and the tents would be used as child-friendly spaces, providing art, play and educational materials for children. Since the first child-friendly space was set up on 23 August it had received 1,200 children, he noted. UNICEF continued to monitor the situation on the ground closely and work with local authorities to ensure children were protected, advocating that all actions must be guided by the best interests of the child.

Mr. Boulierac reminded journalists that earlier this year UNICEF had put forward a 10-point plan to the European Union to be guided on the best interests of children who were migrants or refugees. The press release can be found here.

Adrian Edwards, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), also responded to a question on the route refugees and migrants were taking through Europe, saying that UNHCR was seeing people arriving in The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and moving on almost immediately by bus or train up to Serbia and then onwards from there. It was very much a “through train”, he said.

Ukraine

Adrian Edwards, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), briefed on the delivery of UNHCR humanitarian assistance following fighting in eastern Ukraine during August. Recent heavy fighting to the north of Donetsk had caused significant displacement in the town of Horvlika, where 40 per cent of the population had departed, according to local authorities and only 150,000 to 250,000 of the population remained.

For the first time in several weeks UNHCR managed, this past weekend, to deliver humanitarian aid to Horvlika and nearby areas in eastern Ukraine which were not controlled by the Government. Thirteen UNHCR trucks carrying 260 metric tons of shelter materials and basic relief items travelled with support from the World Food Programme (WFP).

Despite a ceasefire agreement signed in February 2015, fighting since the beginning of August around Horvlika had caused damage to residential areas and forced local residents to retreat into the basements of their ruined homes. More than 1,200 private houses were destroyed by shelling in Horlivka and many family homes and been left without roofs, windows or walls, said Mr. Edwards. According to local authorities over 260 multi-story buildings were damaged including 17 hospitals and 82 schools and kindergartens.

The aid would provide help to over 5,000 families, said Mr. Edwards, adding that more information can be found in the briefing note: http://ow.ly/RkH3x.

Chad

Cécile Pouilly, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said OHCHR deeply regretted the resumption of the death penalty in Chad. Ten people were executed by firing squad on the morning of Saturday, 29 August, after being sentenced to death under the new anti-terrorism law the previous day. It was the first use of the death penalty in the country since 2003.

The execution was particularly disappointing given that, in September 2014, the Government of Chad had announced that a penal code aimed at abolishing the death penalty had been approved by the cabinet. However, on 30 July 2015, the National Parliament of Chad adopted a new law on terrorism that introduced the death penalty.
The use of the death penalty was an extremely unfortunate development and went against recommendations on the abolition of death penalty that were accepted by Chad during its Universal Periodic Review in the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2014. OHCHR called upon the Government of Chad to introduce an official moratorium aiming at abolition of the death penalty.

There are also serious concerns regarding the speed with which the executions had been carried out, said Ms. Pouilly, emphasizing that any trial that could lead to the imposition of the death penalty must rigorously comply with all aspects of a fair trial.
OHCHR also called upon the Chadian authorities to review the anti-terrorism law adopted last July as it contained a very vague definition of terrorism inconsistent with principles of legality, and potentially put many people at risk of execution, she concluded.

The briefing note can be found here: http://ow.ly/RkEON

Responding to a question Ms. Pouilly said OHCHR had been in contact with the Chadian authorities for a long time urging the abolition of the death penalty, and asking Chad to adopt the Second Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which would create a de facto moratorium. Therefore these events represented a big step backwards in Chad.

Yemen

Cécile Pouilly, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said OHCHR was alarmed by the steep increase in the number of civilian casualties in Taiz in recent weeks, as well as the untenable humanitarian situation, which was being made worse by the blockage of supply routes into Taiz City by Popular Committees affiliated with the Houthis.

In the past two weeks, according to information gathered by the United Nations Human Rights Office, an estimated 95 civilians had been killed and 129 injured in Taiz. Fifty-three of those civilian deaths occurred on 20 August, reportedly as a result of a series of airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition forces that hit 20 homes near Salah Palace in Taiz. According to local reports, active fighters in the Houthi popular committees were believed to be based in the Salah Palace at the time. The other 42 civilians were killed as a result of sniper and shelling attacks, reportedly by members of the Popular Committees affiliated with the Houthis.

OHCHR was also concerned about the near collapse of the healthcare system in Taiz, where all six public hospitals were no longer operational due to fighting between parties to the conflict in the vicinity or because Popular Committees affiliated with the Houthis have taken up military positions nearby and hospital staff and others are fearful of the associated risks. Smaller private hospitals with limited capacity had been overwhelmed with the vast number of severely injured patients, as well as the outbreak of Dengue fever in the area.

In another serious incident, on 18 August in Amran governorate, an estimated
21 civilians, including four children and two women, were killed and 28 others injured, reportedly after an airstrike by coalition forces hit the office of the Teachers Syndicate. The teachers had gathered to prepare for the final examinations of primary and secondary students.

Since the escalation of the armed conflict on 26 March and up to 27 August, OHCHR had documented some 6,631 civilian casualties, including 2,112 civilian deaths, and 4,519 wounded. Those were conservative figures based on information gathered by OHCHR field monitors and the actual numbers were believed to be much higher, warned Ms. Pouilly.

Finally, she said OHCHR was very concerned about the disastrous impact on the humanitarian situation of attacks by coalition forces on Hodeidah port, which was a key entry point for humanitarian supplies and commercial imports into Yemen. OHCHR urged all parties to allow and facilitate unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief.

The briefing note can be found here: http://ow.ly/RkEON

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), warned of an ‘extreme spike’ of cases of Dengue fever in Yemen. The number of cases in the populous Taiz governorate had more than tripled in the past two weeks, from 145 cases in mid-August to 421 cases as of 25 August. Due to the ongoing crisis 103 deaths and 628 injuries had been reported between 15 and 27 August alone, which were also a great concern. The risk of other communicable diseases, such as cholera, also remained high because of the poor water and sanitation conditions.

Mr. Lindmeier said on Sunday, 30 August, that WHO had dispatched to Taiz governorate 20 metric tons and 60 cubic meters of life-saving medicines, which included surgical kits to cover the needs of 6,000 wounded patients and other surgeries such as caesarean sections, as well as emergency health kits to cover the needs of 20,000 people for three months.

Ebola in Sierra Leone

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that after almost three weeks with zero Ebola cases, on Saturday, 29 August, a woman in Sella Kafta village in Kambia District, in northern Sierra Leone, was tested positive for the Ebola virus in a post mortem.

The death triggered the use of the experimental ‘ring vaccine’, which uses the experimental Ebola vaccine. On 30 August a team of experts travelled from Guinea, where there was a large vaccine trial underway, to join a large WHO and Ministry of Health team already in the district. Another team in Freetown, who were trained and prepared to investigate any new Ebola infections, also travelled to the village. The source of transmission was being investigated and contact tracing was underway. Of course nobody wanted to see any more cases of Ebola in Sierra Leone but WHO had kept all teams on alert and ready to respond, and close to the location in order to close down any new transmission as soon as possible.

Responding to a question, Mr. Lindmeier noted that the woman had not been vaccinated against Ebola. The ring vaccination was not ongoing for the contacts and the close contacts.

World Hepatitis Summit

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), announced that the first World Hepatitis Summit, co-sponsored by the WHO and the World Hepatitis Alliance, would take place from 2 to 4 September in Glasgow, hosted by Scotland. The Summit would be the first high-level meeting to focus specifically on hepatitis and it was attracting delegates from more than 60 countries. Mr. Lindmeier said that it was now known how to prevent viral hepatitis, with an effective vaccine for hepatitis B, with medicines to cure people with hepatitis C and control hepatitis B infections. At the Summit, WHO planned to launch a manual for the development and assessment of national viral hepatitis plans, which would help Governments adopt and develop national health programs that could ultimately eliminate hepatitis as a public health problem. WHO would issue a press release at midnight, and a public information officer would be on the ground in Glasgow to help with any media requests, he noted.
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The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog010915