REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Corinne Momal-Vanian, the Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was also attended by spokespersons and representatives of the World Health Organization, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Children's Fund, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Trade Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the Economic Commission for Europe and the International Labour Organization.

Haiti

Christian Lindmeier of the World Health Organization said there had been 18,382 hospitalized cases of cholera and a total of 1,110 deaths as of 15 November. Out of these deaths, 729 had occurred in institutions and 381 in communities. The deaths in the communities had decreased, therefore, in comparison to hospitalized cases. WHO's interpretation of this trend was that efforts to sensitize the population had taken hold and people were now on their way to hospitals earlier than in the past.

Mr. Lindmeier said 953 hospitalized cases and 46 cholera fatalities had been seen in Port-au-Prince alone, 40 in institutions and 6 in the communities. As of 15 November, three regions had not been hit by cholera. Mr. Lindmeier acknowledged that this data was dated and that the data collection system was not yet perfect, but pointed to the importance of having only one line of data, namely Haitian authorities, rather than different sources.

Today, 11 truckloads of material were supposed to go to the departments, from where they would be distributed to the communities or be supplied to hospitals and cholera treatment centers by non-governmental organizations and medical teams. Training was also an important part of WHO's function and the organization briefed staff at hospitals and cholera treatment centers on how to treat cholera patients, how to separate them from other patients, and how to avoid infections. Community sensitization activities were also ongoing, notably to make the population aware of how to wash hands, how to treat people with signs of diarrhea and how to prepare oral rehydration salts for oneself.

Gregory Härtl added that a press release issued by the Pan American Health Organization yesterday was available at the back of the room in English and French. Responding to a question, Mr. Hartl said that, if untreated, cholera could kill between 25 and 50 per cent of severe cases. The 7.5 per cent that one was looking at for Haiti was thus fortunately not as bad as it could be. It should also be noted that an increasing percentage of deaths had occurred in health facilities rather than in communities. This showed that people were realizing that they needed to get to health facilities fast.

Asked about the cholera case load in the Dominican Republic, Mr. Härtl said there were no official numbers yet, but initial samples were being collected. If there were cases, they were probably still in single digits.

Elisabeth Byrs of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said OCHA had launched an appeal and hoped that contributions would soon arrive. At present there was no significant information on the funding of this cholera appeal, but it was clear that the non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies on the ground were urgently in need of financing and materials. There was a lack of nurses, doctors, ambulances, transports and vehicles, and the passage of materials at the border needed to be speeded up. There was also a need for plastic bags, plastic sheets to cover beds, cleaning personnel and for training staff on the ground. It was essential that all United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations should step up their efforts and continue the good work they had been doing since the beginning, but this was difficult without materials. It was thus essential to receive the requested funding.

Marixie Mercado of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said UNICEF and its partners underlined that the violence in Haiti was jeopardizing the cholera response, particularly the delivery of life-saving supplies. The Northern Department already had a hospital fatality rate of 7.5 per cent, which was the highest in the country. According to the Pan American Health Organization and UNICEF this rate could be multiplied by 5 if patients did not have access to health services. Haiti’s Ministry of Health had said that up to 14 November 12 per cent of cholera-related deaths had been among children under the age of five. But this was likely an underestimation of the deaths, Ms. Mercado underscored.

Ms. Mercado added that the challenge for the water, sanitation and hygiene sector was immense - Haiti was one of the few countries where access to sanitation was declining. Before the earthquake, fewer than 1 in 4 people in urban areas and 1 in 10 persons in rural areas had had access to sanitation, and access to drinking water had been 71 per cent in urban areas and just 55 per cent in rural areas. For UNICEF and partners, the number one priority was thus treatment, prevention and improving hygiene practices. To reach the maximum number of at-risk children, UNICEF's focus was to provide hygiene information, soap and access to safe water, and to maintain sanitation facilities at schools, residential care centers, urban slums and camps.

Responding to a journalist’s question, Marçal Izard of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the ICRC had been working in Haitian jails. The first outbreak of cholera in a Haitian prison had been a month ago, leading to 50 cases with five deaths. Four days ago, in the main prison in Port-au-Prince, which housed 2,000 inmates, there had been over 30 cholera infections and 10 dead inmates.

Responding to a question on the origin of cholera in Haiti, Ms. Momal-Vanian said the United Nations had conducted a series of tests in the MINUSTAH camps, all of which had turned out negative. It should be noted, however, that these test results did not constitute conclusive evidence that MINUSTAH was not the source of the outbreak. But as of now, no link whatsoever between the MINUSTAH and the cholera epidemic had been established. Nonetheless, it was clear that some of the protests had been motivated by political reasons linked to the upcoming elections.

Violence and state of emergency in Guinea

Rupert Colville of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said OHCHR was deeply concerned by the manner in which Guinea’s security forces, while reacting to a series of demonstrations linked to the presidential election, had used excessive force and resorted to live fire, with four confirmed killings that OHCHR staff had been able to confirm directly and at least 300 people reported injured. Members of the security forces had also been injured, including one who had lost an eye.

Violence was widespread in the capital Conakry from 15 to 17 November, in the wake of the announcement of the provisional election results. Agents of two forces, the Force Spéciale de Securisation du Processus Electoral (FOSSEPEL) and red beret troops had fired on crowds with live ammunition in several parts of Conakry. OHCHR Human Rights Officers had witnessed heavily armed red beret soldiers and FOSSEPEL police and gendarmes brutally beating, arresting and shooting at unarmed civilians in various locations. The FOSSEPEL agents in particular completely disregarded the presence of OHCHR staff and international journalists at the scene. Houses and business had been burned down and a local hospital had treated over 140 civilians, mostly for bullet wounds.

On 15 November, in the Koloma neighbourhood, neighbours stated they had witnessed a 32-year-old man being shot dead by a FOSSEPEL gendarme as he left his house. The neighbours said that the gendarme clearly specifically targeted the victim, lying on the ground to get a better shot.

On 16 November, a 29-year-old man had been shot dead in the Cosa neighbourhood. The victim had reportedly left his home to buy water at a nearby street stall when a FOSSEPEL agent had got out of a pick-up truck and shot him. Eyewitnesses stated that the officer had deliberately targeted the victim, who was hit in the neck at close range and died instantly.

On 17 November, a 16-year-old boy in the Bantunka I neighbourhood had been shot dead by a red beret soldier. The soldier, allegedly an ethnic Malinké who lives in the same neighbourhood as the victim, had opened fire from close range at a group of ethnic Peuhls. The boy had been shot from behind, the bullet entering the back of his neck and exiting through the front.

Also on 17 November, in the Hamdallaye Pharmacie neighbourhood, police officers -- reportedly shouting “we will kill everybody” – had climbed out of a pick-up, seized an 18 year-old man and beat him with their rifle butts. One police officer then shot the victim in the back of the neck, execution style, in front of many witnesses. The police officers then threatened the witnesses with their rifles before speeding away in their truck.

OHCHR Human Rights Officers had received several reports that ethnically-motivated violence between Peuhl and Malinké youths had been taking place in various neighborhoods. According to victims interviewed by OHCHR, red beret troops had been collaborating with groups of ethnic Malinké youth to target property and homes owned by members of the Peuhl ethnic group.

Mr. Colville said OHCHR urged the authorities and security forces, political leaders and their activists to refrain from violence and from inciting ethnic hatred. OHCHR called on the transitional Government, which proclaimed a state of emergency, to scrupulously adhere to international norms regarding states of emergency including the respect of all rights and obligations. OHCHR also called on the Government to ensure that members of the security forces adhered to international standards governing the use of force and firearms.

Concert for Pakistan Flood Victims

Ms. Byrs said the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, in partnership with OCHA, was organizing a fundraising event for the victims of the floods in Pakistan. The event would take place on Friday 26 November at 6.30 p.m. at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices, 2 Place des Volontaires, 1204 Geneva. The use of the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices for this event had been kindly offered by the Canton of Geneva and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. Renowned Pakistani musicians would perform music, followed by a dinner with traditional Pakistani cuisine. Tickets for the event were 50 Swiss Francs. The silent crisis in Pakistan continued, Ms. Byrs said, underscoring that 14 million people were still in need of humanitarian emergency aid.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Iolanda Jaquemet of the ICRC put the spotlight on Equateur, a particularly under-reported part of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the north-east of the country. In October 2009 there had been violent clashes between two local communities in that province, resulting in a number of deaths, a huge destruction of property and more than 160,000 people who had to flee their homes, becoming either internally displaced persons or refugees in the neighbouring Central African Republic or Congo Brazzaville. Now, thousands of these people were coming back. The International Committee of the Red Cross assisted these, but it was a huge challenge to get aid to the displaced, notably due to their poor accessibility. The assistance was currently for 25,000 people. The ICRC also had a cash-for-work programme that assisted people in rebuilding their houses. So far, 700 families had benefited from this programme which would be offered to another 1,000 families in the future. A bulletin on the topic was available at the back of the room.

UNAIDS 2010 Report on the global AIDS epidemic

Edward Mishaud of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) announced that UNAIDS would release the UNAIDS 2010 Report on the global AIDS epidemic next Tuesday, 23 November, at 11.30 a.m. UNAIDS Executive Director Mr. Michael Sidibé would preside over the launch, joined by UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Dr. De Lay. Press kits were available at the back of the room and in the Press Room, but the information contained therein was embargoed until 11:30 GMT on Tuesday 23 November. The media advisory also included the link to a website where the report could already be downloaded.

Cape Verde Migration Profile

Mr. Bloch said IOM had conducted a new migration profile on Cape Verde. The profile showed a decrease in emigration and an increase in immigration. This, combined with a growing young population and unemployment issues, may lead again lead to net emigration in the near future. More information was available in the press note at the back of the room or on the IOM website.

Geneva Activities

Corinne Momal-Vanian said that the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights would today conclude its session and would make public its concluding observations on Monday on the reports examined during this session.

The Committee against Torture, for its part, would make public its concluding observations on the six countries reviewed during this session today.

The Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers would open its two-week session next Monday, examining the reports of Albania, Ecuador and Senegal. On Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning the Committee would review the report of Albania. A background release had been issued yesterday.

WHO would hold a press conference to launch the World Health Report 2010, entitled "Health Systems Financing: The Path to Universal Coverage", in the presence of Dr. David Evans, Director of Health Systems Financing at the WHO, today at 2 p.m. in Press Room I.

On another note, Ms. Momal-Vanian said the Women’s Guild Bazaar would take place on 23 November from 10 a.m. onwards at the Palais des Nations.

Ms. Momal-Vanian added that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would travel to Lisbon, Portugal, this weekend to attend a high-level meeting on Afghanistan, held under the auspices of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Mr. Ban would hold a number of meetings with leaders, including Afghan President Hamid Karzai, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

WMO Agenda

Clare Nullis of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said WMO had been holding a major tropical cyclone workshop in La Réunion this week. According to the programme, issues as the structure and the intensity changes of cyclones and disaster mitigation forecasting had been discussed, Ms. Nullis said. She added that journalists were offered the possibility to interview one of WMO's cyclone experts upon their return on Monday.

On another note, Ms. Nullis said the WMO Annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin would be released next Wednesday 24 November and was under embargo until 12.00 a.m. A press conference would be held at 12 a.m. in Room III.

ECE Agenda

Jean Rodriguez of the Economic Commission for Europe said the Committee on Sustainable Energy would meet from 24-26 November at the Palais des Nations. On Wednesday and Thursday it would hold round table discussions on the topic of gas and non-conventional gas resources. Representatives of several companies, Governments, the International Energy Agency as well as other experts would also be present. A press conference would probably also be held at about 1.15 p.m. on Wednesday, 24 November.

WTO Agenda

Janina Borges of the World Trade Organization said the Dispute Settlement Body would meet next Tuesday, to be followed by a briefing, and from Wednesday, the Market Access Negotiation Group would be convening. On Thursday, the Council for Trade in Services would meet, Ms. Borges said. She added that there would be a briefing by the Director of the WTO Services Division. Details would be announced by email.

ILO Agenda

Corinne Perthuis of the International Labour Organization (ILO) reminded journalists that a joint WHO/ILO/UNAIDS press conference to launch the guidelines on improving health workers access to HIV and tuberculosis prevention would take place today at 11.30 a.m. in Press Room I. These guidelines, the first of their kind, were very important since treating those who treated others helps to prevent HIV and tuberculosis in communities more generally.

The South-South Exposition to Showcase Successful Development Solutions would take place from 22 – 26 November, being held this year for the third time. Several heads of United Nations agencies as well as Ms. Michele Bachelet and numerous Ministers would be present on Monday, Ms. Perthuis said. She added that a media advisory was at the back of the room and that the programme was available at www.southsouthexpo.org

On 23 and 24 November professionals of the tourism industry would gather at the ILO, Ms. Perthuis went on to say. At present, the tourism industry was almost the only sector where jobs were being created, but the experts would highlight that these jobs were often of poor quality. There would be a dialogue between Government officials, employees and workers. More information, notably whether Ms. Bachelet would be able to give a press conference or not, would be provided shortly.