HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BYÌýFARHAN HAQ,​
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 22 JUNE 2023
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SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELSÌý
This morning, the Secretary-General addressed the opening session of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact. In his remarks, the Secretary-General said that the international financial architecture has failed in its mission to provide a global safety net for developing countries. It is outdated, dysfunctional, and unjust, he said.ÌýÌý
International financial institutions are now too small and limited to fulfill their mandate and serve everyone, especially the most vulnerable countries, he explained.ÌýÌý
Solutions to their problems are not impossible, Mr. Guterres said, and we can start now. He urged the participants to make this meeting a rallying cry for urgent action. Ìý
On the sidelines of the summit, the Secretary-General had a number of bilateral meetings, including with Presidents Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka; Macky Sall of Senegal; Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno of Chad, as well as Sigrid Kaag, Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, and Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber, Minister of Industry and advanced technology of the United Arab Emirates and COP 28 President Designate.Ìý
The Secretary-General was then hosted at a working lunch by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, before speaking in the afternoon at the Institute of Political Sciences, or Sciences Po.
The Secretary-General will be back in the office tomorrow afternoon.
ISRAEL/PALESTINEÌý
In a statement issued last night, the Secretary-General said that he is deeply troubled by the continued violence and loss of life in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.Ìý
The Secretary-General condemns all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror. This includes the shooting on Tuesday by two armed Palestinians that killed four Israelis in the occupied West Bank and injured others and the ensuing acts of vandalism and torching of land and properties, including a school, by Israeli settlers in Palestinian villages around Nablus and Ramallah. Ìý
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the events in Jenin on 19 June, when an Israeli security forces (ISF) operation and ensuing exchange of fire resulted in seven Palestinians killed, including two children, both students at the 51³Ô¹Ï Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools. Ìý
It is crucial to reduce tensions and to prevent further escalation. Israel, as the Occupying Power, must ensure that the civilian population is protected against all acts of violence, and that perpetrators are held to account.  Israel must abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the proportional use of force and the taking of all feasible precautions to spare civilians in the conduct of military operations. Ìý
Ultimately, only a return to a meaningful political process and ending the occupation will bring an end to this devastating cycle of violence and senseless loss of life.
SECURITY COUNCIL/SOMALIAÌý
This morning, addressing her first Security Council meeting, the Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), Catriona Laing, said that during her travels around the country in her first two weeks on the ground she witnessed the tremendous progress that Somalia has made in state- and peace-building. She told Council members that Somalia has made significant progress in advancing key national priorities, including appointing an Independent Constitutional Review Commission, passing 11 laws, and holding ‘one person, one vote’ elections in Puntland.Ìý
Ms. Laing expressed grave concern regarding the ongoing conflict in Laascaanood and emphasized that the good offices of UNSOM are at the disposal of all parties to help agree on a peaceful way forward. Ìý
On the humanitarian situation, Ms. Laing said that the current operation against Al-Shabaab has created opportunities for humanitarian access to people in need. However, insecurity has also contributed to an extremely challenging operating environment for humanitarian agencies. She noted that Somalia’s overall humanitarian situation remains precarious, with 8.25 million people, almost half the population requiring humanitarian assistance. Ìý
Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), also briefed Council members for the first time. She noted that Somalia was hauled back from the abyss of famine in 2022, because the international community saw the warning signs flashing red and raced to respond. Ìý
But now, Ms. McCain said, we are in danger of losing the precious gains we have made since those dark days last year. She noted that over 6.6 million people – one-third of the population – are expected to face crisis or worse levels of hunger. She called on all Member States to immediately contribute to the humanitarian response plan for Somalia, which is seriously underfunded.
SUDANÌý
In Sudan, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and its partners continue to reach millions of people in need, despite insecurity, bureaucratic hurdles and looting of supplies. Ìý
In the two months since the conflict began, some 85 humanitarian organizations have reached 2.8 million people across Sudan with vital assistance – including food, water, nutrition, health, education, sanitation, hygiene, and non-food supplies, as well as protection services. Ìý
Partners are delivering medical supplies and providing support to health facilities that are still operating. Between 15 April and 15 June, 19 organizations reached more than 470,000 people. ÌýÌý
Since the start of the current hostilities, partners have also screened at least 726,000 children under the age of 5 for malnutrition and treated more than 31,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Ìý
The UN continues working to scale up aid deliveries, including cross-border.
UKRAINE/AGRICULTUREÌý
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the 51³Ô¹Ï (FAO) and the World Food Programme (FAO) have launched a joint programme in collaboration with mine action partner Fondation Suisse de Déminage to support smallholder farmers and rural families most affected by the war in Ukraine. The programme has already started in Kharkivska oblast, and will later expand to Mykolaivska and Khersonska oblasts, focusing on farmers with land plots smaller than 300 hectares as well as rural families growing food for their own consumption.Ìý
The programme is designed to safely release land back to productive use, including by clearing it from mines and other explosive remnants of the war. The aim is to help restore agricultural livelihoods, contribute to Ukraine’s economic recovery, and phase out the need for humanitarian assistance for thousands of rural families.Ìý
According to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, published in February 2023, Ukraine’s production of grain and oilseeds decreased by 37 per cent in 2022. Almost 90 per cent of small-scale crop producers surveyed by FAO in Ukraine reported a decrease in revenue due to the war, and one in four reported having stopped or significantly reduced their agricultural activity.
CLIMATEÌýÌý
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and its partners today warned that climate funding commitments are failing children who bear the brunt of the climate crisis.ÌýÌý
A new report from UNICEF, the Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative (CERI) coalition; Plan International and Save the Children says that just 2.4 per cent of key global climate funds can be classified as supporting child-responsive activities. According to UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index, more than a billion children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis such as water and food scarcity, water-borne diseases and disruption to education and healthcare.Ìý
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