REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Rhéal LeBlanc, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section, United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization.

Cyclone Kenneth

Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that, a few weeks after Cyclone Idai had wreaked havoc on central Mozambique and eastern Zimbabwe, a second unprecedented event had taken place on 25 April, when Cyclone Kenneth had made landfall in northern Mozambique, near the border with Tanzania. There was no record of two storms of such intensity striking Mozambique in the same season. There had been advance warnings of the path and the strength of the storm, but it had intensified very quickly. The authorities of Mozambique had evacuated thousands of people. Tanzania had issued red alerts, which remained in place, to warn people of the risks.

According to WMO’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in La Réunion, operated by Météo France, Cyclone Kenneth had intensified into the equivalent of a very strong category 4 storm. Early data indicated that it had still been a category 4 storm at landfall, with average winds of over 185 km/hour. Although it had made landfall in a fairly rural area, it was still an extremely dangerous system. The forecasts, which were based on computer models, had warned of a storm surge of 3 to 5 metres above sea level. The height that the waves had actually reached was not yet known. According to data from the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, there had been the potential for approximately 500 mm of rainfall over a 24-hour period.

Mozambique was still struggling with the aftermath of Cyclone Idai. The cyclone season in the South West Indian Ocean had been exceptionally intense. There had been 15 storms, including 9 intense cyclones. That tied with the record season of 1993/94. There were various reasons for the situation. There was a weak El Niño system, which, experience showed, had a tendency to increase tropical cyclone activity over the west of the Indian Ocean basin. There had also been peculiarities in atmospheric circulation, which had caused the cyclone to hit in an unexpected area.

WMO was preparing to send a week-long fact-finding mission to Mozambique to discuss what had been learned from Cyclone Idai and what could done in the future to improve the effectiveness of early warning and public understanding and action. It was likely that the issue of climate change and its impact on sea levels would be discussed in that context. Filipe Lúcio, the former head of the national meteorological service of Mozambique, would debrief the Council of Ministers of Mozambique at the conclusion of the mission.

Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), read the following statement on behalf of Mark Lowcock, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone Kenneth which first hit the Union of Comoros two days ago before making landfall as a category 4 storm last night in the Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique on the border with Tanzania.

With maximum sustained wind speed of 225 km/hour and gusts that reached 270km/hour, the storm ripped roofs off of homes and continues to generate heavy rainfall resulting in massive flooding as it moves across Mozambique.

The disaster comes only six weeks after Cyclone Idai devastated central Mozambique, killing more than 600 people, unleashing a cholera epidemic, wiping out crops in the country’s breadbasket, forcing a million people to rely on food assistance to survive, and causing massive destruction of homes, schools and infrastructure in one of the world’s poorest countries.

Prior to the storm making landfall in Mozambique, the Government and Red Cross volunteers alerted communities in areas at high risk of flooding, erosion and landslides, and relocated residents most at risk. The UN and its partners pre-positioned supplies and put teams on stand-by to deploy if required.

Today, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is redeploying its leadership and additional staff in Mozambique to Pemba to help coordinate the Government-led response and manage information. Shelter, clean water, sanitation and hygiene kits, food and non-food items, power generation and telecommunication equipment are urgently needed.

Cyclone Kenneth may require a major new humanitarian operation at the same time that the ongoing Cyclone Idai response targeting 3 million people in three countries remains critically underfunded. The families whose lives have been turned upside down by these climate-related disasters urgently need the generosity of the international community to survive over the coming months.”

Outlook for the forthcoming South Asian monsoon

Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that the South Asian Climate Outlook Form had met earlier that week in Kathmandu, Nepal, to issue its annual prediction for the South-west Monsoon season. It had said that normal rainfall was the most likely scenario over most parts of South Asia during the South-west Monsoon season. Above-normal rainfall was likely in certain areas, including northern parts of the region, eastern coastal areas of India and Sri Lanka and southern parts of Myanmar. Below-normal rainfall was likely over some areas of Pakistan and parts of the west coast of India. The monsoon was the lifeblood of the economy in that region. The outlook was based on computer models and the opinions of experts from all over the world.

Shipwreck in the Caribbean Sea

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

“UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply concerned about the fate of at least 21 Venezuelans missing after their boat sank this week en route from Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago.

This tragic incident highlights the extreme risks of sea journeys and other irregular cross-border movements undertaken by refugees and migrants. It also underscores the desperation of those forced to flee their homes and the extraordinary difficulties faced on their journey.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, a vessel called “Jhonnaly Jose” carrying at least 25 people from the Venezuelan town of Güiria towards Trinidad and Tobago capsized in the early hours of Wednesday April 24.

The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard said four people had been rescued in a joint search and rescue effort with their Venezuelan counterparts, although other reports suggest a total of nine people have been saved. At least 21 people, among them women and children, are still unaccounted for and rescue efforts are continuing.

More than three million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have left their country since 2015, mostly to neighboring countries, including islands of the southern Caribbean.”

Responding to questions on the figures quoted in his statement, Mr. Baloch said that 3.7 million Venezuelans were living abroad. Around 3 million had left since 2014. That figure included some 414,000 asylum seekers. Estimates of the number of Venezuelan refugees and asylum seekers in Trinidad and Tobago ranged from 40,000 to 60,000. The total number of Venezuelans who had fled Venezuela by sea was not known.

Responding to further questions, Mr. Baloch said that a similar incident had been reported in early 2018. Sea ferries continued to transport people to and from Venezuela, but Venezuelans had also been using fishing boats. Details of the incident that had taken place the previous week were still emerging. The rescue had been carried out with the authorities of Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. It seemed that the four people who had been rescued had been returned to Venezuela. UNHCR could not currently confirm whether it had been possible to access the people in question. UNHCR was concerned that Venezuelans would continue to undertake risky sea journeys if they had no legal pathways open to them.

Increase in school closures in central Mali

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

“In Mali, the sharp deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the central region of Mopti is increasingly affecting the most vulnerable children.

In addition to growing concerns about grave violations against children, such as the unprecedented killing of 46 children in Bankass, UNICEF is particularly concerned about the increase in school closures. Throughout the 2018/2019 school year, UNICEF and partners have observed a systematic and steady increase of school closures in Mopti. At the end of March 2019, 525 schools were closed in the region of Mopti (out of 866 schools closed in the country).

Nearly a third of all schools in the Mopti region are now closed due to insecurity, compromising the right to education of over 157,000 children (out of a total of 260,000 children affected by school closures in Mali).

School closures are linked to the overall deterioration of the security situation in Mopti, specifically to direct and indirect threats to communities, schools and teachers, though other factors such as a lack of pedagogical material or the absence or displacement of teachers are also at play.

UNICEF is working closely with the education cluster and the Ministry of Education in order to provide uninterrupted learning for affected children through temporary mechanisms such as informal community learning centres, and is also rolling out innovations such as the training of teachers through tablets.

UNICEF and partners also advocate for school reopening wherever conditions allow, which has led to the recent reopening of over 150 schools.

UNICEF has also been working closely with the Government of Mali as well as other humanitarian actors to support the increasing numbers of displaced families and children in central Mali.

As of today, according to the Government and IOM, nearly 70,000 displaced people are registered in the Mopti region, mainly in areas close to the border with Burkina Faso. This is an increase of more than 13,000 people since the end of 2018. The region of Mopti now accommodates the vast majority of all IDPs in Mali (70%).

In the towns of Mopti and Sevare, which have seen an influx of displaced families, seven displacement sites have been set up, including three temporary learning spaces set up with UNICEF support.

Despite community resilience and sustained efforts of the Government and humanitarian actors, the overall situation for children in central Mali remains bleak, with fear and insecurity compromising the ability of families to move around, farm, trade, and access basic social services including health centres.

Rising food prices and the threat of food insecurity have also put additional pressure on vulnerable families and their livelihoods. In short, the protracted crisis in central Mali is impacting all aspects of children’s lives – jeopardizing children’s right to safety, protection, wellbeing, health and education.

Humanitarian actors are supporting the Government and communities to respond to needs, but the crisis in Mali remains one of the least funded in the world: UNICEF’s appeal for 2019 is only 16% funded.”

Responding to questions from journalists, Mr. Boulierac, for UNICEF, said that the overall humanitarian situation had deteriorated in the Mopti region. Insecurity was the main reason for school closures. Tensions existed between communities, and had already led to the murders of civilians, and armed groups were also present in the region. UNICEF was on the ground and, in addition to reopening 150 schools, had been able to engage with communities. It was important to understand the specific reasons for each school closure. In Mali, there were approximately 2 million children outside the education system.

Rohingya refugees

Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that, in a recent joint press release, three top United Nations officials – the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock; the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), António Vitorino; and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi – had reiterated their commitment to the formulation of safe and sustainable solutions for Rohingya refugees in Myanmar. They had called upon the international community to continue supporting the critical needs of 1.2 million people in south-eastern Bangladesh, mostly Rohingya refugees but also including generous host communities. The three officials had noted that almost half of the 540,000 refugee children aged under 12 years were currently missing out on education altogether, and the remainder had access to very limited schooling. Only a handful of teenage children were currently able to access any form of education or training. The full text of the press release included quotations from the officials concerned.

Second Global Summit on Religion, Peace and Security

Rhéal LeBlanc, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that the second Global Summit on Religion, Peace and Security would be held at the Palais des Nations, Room XX, from 29 April to 1 May. It was a follow-up to the first Global Summit on Religion, Peace and Security, which had been held in November 2016. It would focus on building bridges, fostering inclusivity and countering hate speech in order to enhance the protection of religious minorities, refugees and migrants. It would also seek to establish an international platform on religion, peace and security with a view to connecting relevant stakeholders and enhancing their cooperation on issues relating to peace, security, human rights and religion. The Global Summit would begin with an event at 3 p.m. on Monday, 29 April, at which the speakers would include H.E. Adama Dieng, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide; Dr. Liviu Olteanu, Secretary-General of the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty; and Michael Møller, Director-General of United Nations Office at Geneva.

UNCTAD announcement

Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said that, on 1 and 2 May 2019, the Multi-year Expert Meeting on Trade, Services and Development would hold a session in Geneva. The experts would focus on the connection between the services sector and the Sustainable Development Goals. The services sector was particularly important in developing countries and was critical to the labour market and to foreign direct investment.

WHO announcement

Tarik Jašareviæ, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, would soon travel to the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to visit areas affected by the Ebola virus outbreak. He would be accompanied by the WHO Regional Director for Africa and other senior WHO officials. Journalists who wished to learn more about the visit should get in touch to discuss the possibility of arranging an interview with one of the officials involved.

Geneva announcements

Rhéal LeBlanc, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that, that morning, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination would conclude its consideration of the report of Guatemala. The Committee’s meeting that afternoon would be closed. On Monday, 29 April, the Committee would hold an informal meeting with non-governmental organizations on the situation of racial discrimination in Hungary, Lithuania and Zambia, three countries whose reports would be considered the following week. On Monday afternoon, the Committee would begin its consideration of the report of Hungary. The Committee had opened its ninety-eighth session on Tuesday, 23 April, in Room XVI of the Palais des Nations.

Mr. LeBlanc also said that the Committee against Torture was holding a closed meeting that morning. That afternoon, it would conclude its consideration of the report of Mexico. The Committee had opened its sixty-sixth session at the Palais Wilson on Tuesday, 23 April. On Monday, 29 April, the Committee would begin its consideration of the report of Germany. That same week, the Committee would review the reports of South Africa and Benin.

Mr. LeBlanc added that, on Tuesday, 30 April, beginning at 6 p.m., there would be a screening of the film Samba at the Auditorium Ivan Pictet, Maison de la Paix, Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2. Following the screening, there would be a discussion involving Eric Toledano, Delphine Coulin, Felwine Sarr and Jean-François Bayart.

Mr. LeBlanc further added that, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, on 3 May, an event would be held at the Palais des Nations, Room XXV, from 11.15 a.m. to 1 p.m. The issues that would be addressed included the impact of digital technologies on electoral communications and the role of media in democracy. The participants would include Abdulaziz Almuzaini, Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office in Geneva; Bodi Hugger, President of the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the United Nations (ACANU); Coly Seck, President of the Human Rights Council; and journalists accredited to the UN in Geneva, among others.

Press conferences

Monday, 29 April at 2:00 p.m. in Press Room 1
Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions (UNEP / FAO)
Clean Planet, Healthy People: Opening of the meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), 29 April-10 May
Speakers:
• Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary (UNEP), Basel, Rotterdam & Stockholm Conventions
• Hans Dreyer, Executive Secretary (FAO), Rotterdam Convention
• Paul Rose, Explorer and Broadcaster
Wednesday, 1 May at 1:15 p.m. in Press Room 1
Office of the Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect & International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDRL)
The second Global Summit on Religion, Peace and Security: Building bridges, fostering inclusivity and countering hate speech to enhance the protection of religious minorities, refugees and migrants
Speakers:
• H.E. Adama Dieng, United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
• Dr. Liviu Olteanu, Secretary-General, International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty

With the participation of:
• Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL), General Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church
• Mr. Rudelmar Bueno De Faria, Secretary-General of ACT Alliance
• H.E. Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi, Islamic scholar and religious leader
• H.E. Ammo Aziza Baroud Djibert, Ambassador of Chad to the European Union, United Kingdom and Benelux

The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog260419