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 World Food Programme, the United Nations Refugee Agency and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ibrahima-Socé Fall, for the World Health Organization, speaking by telephone from Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that, as of 1 April 2019, there were 1,089 cases of Ebola virus disease in the country, of which 1,023 had been confirmed and 56 were probable. There had been 679 deaths and 331 persons who had survived were being supported in their recovery. In the previous 21 days, there had been new cases in 13 of the 21 health zones that had reported cases during the outbreak, while Butembo and Katwa remained the hotspots. The previous week’s upsurge in new cases – 72 compared to 56 the week before – had been expected because of the disruption suffered in the response two to three weeks previously due to security issues and violence, which had prevented the protection by vaccination of persons who were high-risk contacts.

Different communities faced many different challenges, such as lack of access to clean water and education, and so the dialogue with them around Ebola needed to be tailored to their specific needs. Employment was a problem everywhere, and a positive impact had been achieved in Katwa recently, where 40 persons from the local community had been trained the previous weekend to assist in detection of cases. Some areas were proving more challenging than others, but progress was nevertheless being made and vaccination rates had improved significantly.

Answering questions from journalists, Mr. Fall said that the Ebola response teams had benefited from the assistance of the United Nations security team, which had escorted them to the treatments centres and worked with the local police force to protect the area from attacks by armed groups, thus reassuring both health centre staff and their patients. Dialogue with the communities was the key to improving levels of trust. The response teams included hundreds of Red Cross volunteers and community health workers. Each community responded differently to the dialogue engaged, but that was only way that expectations could be managed and an appropriate response agreed on and monitored. Given the similarities in symptoms between Ebola virus disease and other health problems such as typhoid and malaria, as well as the many other problems that the communities had to cope with, it was understandable that, as had been shown by a study conducted in 2018, they were reluctant to accept that Ebola was such an important issue with a high fatality rate. While the problem had not been overcome in all localities, progress was nevertheless being made: just the previous week a number of local chiefs in Katwa who had previously been very reluctant to engage had agreed to be vaccinated to set an example to their people.

Cyclone Idai

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

“The 900,000 cholera vaccines have been procured in good time and will arrive in Beira today. The vaccination campaign for around 900,000 people is one of several interventions to fight the cholera in Mozambique. We and our partners have been preparing the actual vaccination of people, so it can start soon.
We have to overcome the challenges due to limited road access, but more importantly we have mobilized the population in a vast communication campaign. As we are speaking our communication and mobilization experts are working with local radio stations and community leaders to get the message out about the upcoming vaccination campaign and ways to treat and contain the diseases.

Equally important for the fight against cholera remains the provision of save drinking water in all part of the disaster zone. The fact that, together with the Government and our partner, United Kingdom Department for International Development (DfID), we have rehabilitated the water system in Beira for 500,000 people after only one week will now pay off and save thousands of lives in the city, because it is preventing the further spread of the disease.

The supply of drinking water has largely been restored in Beira. We continue working under high pressure to ensure the provision of safe drinking water in other parts of the disaster zone, as, for example, in 12 accommodation centers in Zambezia province.”

Water supply systems for the small towns of Sussundenga and Nhamatanda have also been re-established.

Access to education has been resumed for 750 students in 8 temporary learning spaces (school tents) in five different locations in Beira and surrounding areas. These are only the first ones up and that UNICEF aims to provide these to all displaced children

During the first week, we were very concerned about many unaccompanied children. The good news is that the majority of those could quickly be reunited with their parents and families. Many of them were only separated for a few days because the rescue teams, in particular the ones in helicopters, had given priority to children, while many adults were rescued later by boat. Still there are a few cases where the parents haven’t been found yet. They have been registered and given into the temporary care of a local partner organization. At this stage we cannot exclude the possibility that still more unaccompanied children will be registered.”

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that WHO was working with its partners to respond to the outbreak of cholera. Seven cholera treatment centres had been set up with 400 beds and patients were being admitted. The vaccination campaign, using the vaccines due to arrive on Tuesday afternoon, was scheduled to begin on Wednesday in Beira City, Dondo, Namatanda and Buzi districts, initially with one dose per person, which would give at least 6 months’ protection. Noting that the area had high levels of endemic cholera, he said that it was hoped that a follow-up campaign could be conducted later in the year, with a second dose to provide extended coverage. Public information on prevention, covering clean water and sanitation, was also extremely important, as was access to immediate treatment – without access to treatment, a child could die within a day of developing symptoms.

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

“WFP is capitalizing on receding floodwaters in Mozambique and aims to reach 1.2 million people this week with food assistance now that roads are opening up in rural areas of the four most affected provinces - Sofala, Manica, Tete and Zambezia – after having provided food assistance to 350,000 victims of Cyclone Idai in Mozambique to date.

It is working in close coordination with the Government of Mozambique and the INGC, the national disaster management agency.

Flood and cyclone victims are to receive a 15-day supply of cereals, pulses, fortified blended food and vegetable oil, in place of the 2-3-day emergency ration distributed until now.

While much of WFP’s support since the cyclone struck on 14 March has been for urban residents and communities isolated by floodwaters, this scale-up will focus primarily on rural areas that can be reached by road. Nonetheless, delivery by air and boat will continue to be crucial.

WFP intends to assist 1.7 million of the 1.8 million Mozambicans in need of emergency food assistance. Food is scarce in local markets, and prices of staples are rising rapidly. Tomatoes, for example, cost 4-5 times more than they did a week ago.

In 2018, WFP led multiple trainings to technical staff from the National Institute of Disaster Management of Mozambique (INGC) and matter-relevant Ministries and national services on how to fly, map, and coordinate use of drones. That action was part of efforts to strengthen national capacities for early warning and preparedness through disaster risk mapping, post-emergency rapid assessment and enable early recovery, which are now being put into practice. The project is funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection in the amount of Euro 800,000.

With 86,000 metric tons of commodities needed in the next three months, WFP is procuring large quantities of cereals, vegetable oil and fortified blended foods elsewhere in southern Africa, and shipping and trucking them into Mozambique.”

In answer to questions from journalists, Mr. Lindmeier, for WHO, said that the official figure for cholera reported by the Mozambican Ministry of Health was 1,052 cases at the beginning of April 2019, but there were also 2,007 cases of acute watery diarrhoea, the treatment for which was the same; it was difficult to identify exact figures and they were, in any case, likely to rise. The 900,000 doses of vaccine were expected to cover the needs of the 530,000 inhabitants of Beira city, 70,000 in Dondo district, 140,000 in Namatanda district and 160,000 in Buzi district.

The risk of malaria was also high: WHO was working to ensure that rapid diagnostic testing and antimalarial drugs were available and impregnated bednets would be distributed. It was important too that health facilities affected by the cyclone should be refurbished. A mass vaccination campaign, covering measles, Vitamin A needs and deworming, was being planned to prevent possible disease outbreaks, which could spread rapidly in the temporary camps.

In Malawi, the heavy rains was expected to continue, hampering the response effrorts. Currently only 15 out of the 28 districts were impacted. Reported casualties included 59 dead, 672 injured, 95,000 displaced and around 900,000 affected. About 173 camps or shelters were known to have been set up. Although health facilities had been relatively unaffected, general sanitation conditions were poor. The Government and partner agencies were setting up mobile health clinics and WHO was sending medical supplies for tens of thousands of persons for several months, including malaria and cholera treatment and body bags.

Mr. Boulierac, for UNICEF, responding to a question from a journalist, said that the number of unaccompanied children as of that morning was fewer than 10, but that could change suddenly as more might be registered. In respect of clean water, the supply to Beira had been restored except in the 10 per cent of the city where the water pipes had been destroyed. Water was being trucked into the areas of Sofala, Minala and Zambezia, where existing supply points were being rehabilitated and new points set up. The HIV-infection context in all three countries affected by the cyclone should also be remembered. UNICEF was working with its partners to reduce disruption in the access to treatment of persons affected, especially pregnant women, as it could have dire consequences on their health.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that the United Nations Economic and Social Council would be holding a special meeting at 10 a.m. in New York (4 p.m. Geneva time) to discuss the response to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, would address the meeting. The meeting could be followed on webtv.un.org.

Yemen

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that 19.7 million people in Yemen had inadequate access to health care, and the health system was on the brink of collapse. Health and non-health factors had only been exacerbated in recent months. Non-communicable diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer were the leading cause of death in the country, accounting for 57 per cent of total deaths. The medicines needed to treat them were not available in sufficient quantities.

The conflict had also caused widespread disruption of economic activities and dramatically diminished employment and income opportunities. The country’s economy had shrunk by 50 per cent over the previous three years. Over 80 per cent of Yemenis now lived below the poverty line – the figure had increased by one third since 2014.

Poor sanitation and waterborne diseases had left hundreds of thousands ill in 2018 and there were risks of outbreaks of cholera, diphtheria and measles in 147 out of 333 districts. Figures for 1 January to 24 March 2019 showed nearly 138,000 suspected cases of cholera, with 236 associated deaths, of which nearly one third were in children under the age of 5 years. It should not be forgotten that it was only two years since the world’s largest outbreak ever of cholera which had caused 1 million reported cases. WHO had stepped up its response, but many factors – early rains, the complete collapse of the sewage and water systems, the use of contaminated water on crops, and unreliable electricity, particularly for those fleeing the conflict – gave concern that the number of cases would continue to rise. WHO, together with its partners and other agencies, was focusing on 147 priority districts, mobilizing additional health, hygiene and sanitation supplies. It had set up over 400 diarrhoea treatment and oral rehydration centres in those priority districts. Water systems were being repaired and chlorination activities scaled up in another 95 districts to prevent further infection through water. So far 400,000 people had been reached by the cholera vaccination campaign.

Responding to questions from journalists, Mr. Lindmeier said that the cholera vaccination doses, like those sent to Mozambique, came from the global stockpile. Distribution of supplies was balanced to ensure that they were put to best use.

Mine issues in Ukraine

Shabia Mantoo, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), read the following statement:

“UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling for increased efforts to address the dangers and legacy of landmines in eastern Ukraine, one of the most landmine-contaminated areas in the world and where mines continue to be laid in the ongoing conflict. According to the Ukraine Government, the conflict has displaced some 1.36 million people.

Twenty years after the adoption of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention, and ahead of this week’s International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April, UNHCR is today seeking to heighten awareness of the horrifying threat from mines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices in Ukraine.

There is a vital need for the government, humanitarian organizations and all parties to the conflict to expand their mine action work in Ukraine. According to the 2018 Landmine Monitor Annual Report, Ukraine ranked third globally for overall casualties behind Afghanistan and Syria, and landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to kill or injure people.

As in other parts of the world, it is civilians who are particularly at risk. As well as the dangers for anyone forced to flee a conflict, mine contamination also poses serious hazard for refugees and internally displaced people in being able to return to their homes.

In eastern Ukraine, mine contamination affects over two million people, limiting freedom of movement and posing a serious threat to civilians crossing the contact line between government and non-government controlled areas.

The presence of mines and unexploded ordnance means that it is hard, or sometimes impossible, to repair critical infrastructure damaged by shelling, such as water pumping stations that supply water to thousands of people in eastern Ukraine. Mine contamination also impacts people subsistence farming and livelihoods and hinders access to schools and healthcare facilities.

The Ukrainian national authorities estimate that about 7,000 square kilometers in government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk are contaminated but the full extent of the contamination is not clear. The situation in non-government controlled areas is understood to be acute.

The Government has taken positive steps by adopting Ukraine’s Mine Action Law which came into force on 25 January and a set of National Mine Action Standards for organizations conducting mine clearance operations, based on international best practice, which took effect on 1 April. Adequate funding is now needed to implement the law’s provisions.

UNHCR reiterates the importance of broadening the scope of mine victim assistance to ensure a comprehensive cover for all victims, in line with the United Nations Policy on Mine Victim Assistance. Currently under Ukraine’s Mine Action Law only those under 18 are entitled to financial assistance. The United Nations Policy recommends that landmine victim assistance includes data collection, medical care, physical and other rehabilitation, including psycho-social care.

As a preventative measure, it is essential that all children and adults in eastern Ukraine are taught to identify landmines and explosive remnants of war and shown how to avoid or minimize the risks.

Humanitarian mine action partners in Ukraine started to recruit and train women for demining positions and by the end of 2018 some 20 per cent were female deminers. Many women come from mine-contaminated villages and are working to improve the safety and economic future of their own communities.

In many conflict-affected settings across the world, refugees and internally displaced people remain particularly vulnerable to the threat of mines. Whether fleeing from, through or into contaminated areas, these hazards continue to kill, injure and traumatize individuals and communities.

Mines are also a critical obstacle to safe and dignified returns, posing tremendous dangers for refugees and displaced people around the world who want to return home and inhibiting wider efforts to rebuild communities after the conflict has ended.”

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, recalled that the United Nations Secretary-General, in a statement on the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, noted that the United Nations had launched a new strategy and a campaign -- “Safe Ground” -- to ensure that no one, no state, and no war zone is left behind. He had called on States that have not yet acceded to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and on everyone to reaffirm their commitment to eradicating the horrendous damage caused by landmines and assisting those who had been harmed by their use.

Responding to questions from journalists, Ms. Mantoo, for UNHCR, said that around 2,000 civilians had been injured by mine explosions since the start of the conflict in Ukraine and, of those, more than 400 had died. As noted in the 2018 Landmine Monitor report, Ukraine had the third highest number of casualties caused by landmines in the world. UNHCR was appealing for more action to be taken to address the problem of landmine contamination and to provide assistance to victims.

Syria

In answer to a question on the situation in the Al Hol refugee camp in Syria, Shabia Mantoo, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said there were currently around 73,000 persons, or about 21,000 households, in the camp. They were being triaged on arrival to facilitate the provision of immediate assistance to those in need; emergency shelter and bedding were provided and mobile protection teams monitored the camp on a 24-hour basis to ensure security.

"Day of Cities", 8 April

Jean Rodriguez, for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), made the following statement:

“We will welcome some 40 mayors and deputy mayors from all over our region for our Day of Cities. The day will start with open with a press conference with the mayors of Geneva, Glasgow, Tirana and Nur-Sultan, and the deputy mayor of Tbilisi. Other present will include the mayors of Annemasse, Bonn, Baku, San Marino and A Coruna, and the deputy mayors of Madrid, Turin, Oslo and Cascais.

In the UNECE region, a large proportion of the population lives in cities – including more than 75 per cent in Europe, 80 per cent in North America and close to 50 per cent in Central Asia. Cities are leading engines of economic growth, generating more than 80 per cent of global gross domestic product. Over the last few years, cities have emerged as increasingly key actors in addressing major issues, including climate change, environmental degradation, social inclusion and mobility.

UNECE’s policy and normative work helps to address sustainable development challenges, which are key to cities, in particular:

· Air pollution, which kills 7 million people worldwide every year and is a severe problem in urban areas – addressed thanks to our Air Convention.
· Ageing: with almost 195 million people in the region aged 65 or older, the impacts of population ageing on public services need to be actively anticipated. UNECE has developed road maps for mainstreaming ageing to help countries adapt to the needs of ageing populations for Georgia and Armenia; the road map for Belarus is in development.
· Access to affordable and decent housing - UNECE provides recommendations to governments, local authorities, investors, private developers and civil society on affordable housing.
· Energy efficiency in buildings - which consume 70 per cent of electrical power generated in developed countries - addressed by our Guidelines for energy efficiency standards in buildings.
· Road safety and public transport.
· Public participation in decision making thanks to UNECE’s Aarhus Convention.
· Infrastructure – thanks to our standards and best practices on the use of Public-Private Partnerships.

The day will allow us to exchange practical examples and success stories that demonstrate the benefits of integrated planning and comprehensive solutions for smart, sustainable and resilient cities and highlight the impact of relevant UNECE instruments that support this approach.”

Detention of Moncef Kartas in Tunisia

Responding to questions from journalists concerning the detention in Tunisia of Mr. Moncef Kartas, a member of the Panel of Experts of the Libyan Sanctions Committee, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that, as the spokesperson of the Secretary-General had stated, the United Nations was in touch with the Tunisian authorities to ascertain the reasons for Mr. Kartas’s arrest and detention and the conditions under which he was being held. She recalled that Mr. Kartas, like all experts carrying out missions for the United Nations, was covered by the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

World Autism Day

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, recalled that the Secretary-General had issued a statement to mark World Autism Awareness Day on 2 April 2019, in which he had said that supporting people with autism to achieve their full potential was a vital part of efforts to uphold the core promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: to leave no one behind. He had noted in particular the importance of removing the major barriers that still existed to accessing affordable assistive technologies.

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that WHO had issued an updated fact sheet and would be holding a live session on Facebook on the subject that afternoon.

World Health Day

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that World Health Day would be celebrated on Sunday 7 April, with a press briefing, chaired by WHO Assistant Director General Peter Salama, at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday 4 April 2019 to launch the publication of the latest world health statistics. A solidarity chain in support of universal health coverage, the theme of World Health Day 2019, would be formed between WHO headquarters and the Place des Nations, Geneva, at 12 noon on Friday 5 April 2019.

Geneva announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that the forty-seventh round of the Geneva International Discussions would take place on Wednesday, 3 April 2019.

Ms. Vellucci recalled that the next public plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament would be held on Tuesday 14 May 2019.

She also said that the Committee on Migrants Workers, which opened yesterday its 30th session (Palais Wilson, 1-12 April), was concluding this morning its review of the report of Albania. This afternoon, it would begin consideration of the report of Guatemala.

Press conferences

Tuesday, 2 April at 2:00 p.m. in Press Room 1
WHO/UNICEF
Embargoed - 3 April 2019, 00.01 GMT, 02:01 CEST (Geneva time), 08:01 pm EDT (New York time, 2 April 2019)
WHO/UNICEF release first estimates on water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities
Speakers:
• Bruce Gordon, Coordinator, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Department of Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of Health, WHO
• Tom Slaymaker, Sr. Statistics and Monitoring Specialist (WASH), Data & Analytics Section/Division of Data, Research and Policy, UNICEF

Thursday, 4 April at 10:00 a.m. in Press Room 1
UNICEF
Release of a UNICEF report on climate change in Bangladesh: “A Gathering Storm -- Climate change clouds the future of children in Bangladesh”
Speakers:
• Simon Ingram, report author
• Luc Chauvin, Chief, Inter Agency & Humanitarian Partnerships, UNICEF

Thursday, 4 April at 12:30 p.m. in Press Room 1
OCHA
Update on the humanitarian situation in Mali
Speaker:
• Ute Kollies, Head of the OCHA Mali Office

Monday, 8 April at 9:15 a.m. in Room III
UNECE
Cities as drivers of sustainable development
On the occasion of the Day of Cities organised by UNECE (https://www.unece.org/index.php?id=50283)
Speakers:
• Olga Algayerova, UNECE Executive Secretary
• Sami Kaanan, Mayor of Geneva (Switzerland)
• Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council (UK)
• Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Tirana (Albania)
• Bakhyt Sultanov, Mayor of Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan)
• Maia Bitadze, Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi (Georgia)

The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog020419