Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of immediately’s briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

All proper, good afternoon.

**Secretary-General/Travels

I’ll begin off with the travels of our Secretary-General, who as you already know is in Japan.

Very early this morning he addressed the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, which is definitely going down in Yokohama this 12 months. The Secretary-General stated that for greater than three a long time TICAD, because the Conference is thought, has embodied the spirit of multilateralism grounded in mutual respect, shared duty and a deep perception in Africa’s potential.

This assembly, he added, comes at a time of interconnected crises and deep inequalities.  Tackling these crises, he stated, “requires a clear focus not only on development for Africa, but development with Africa”.

On the side-lines, he met with the Prime Minister of Japan, Ishiba Shigeru.  They exchanged views on quite a few points, together with international and regional points.

Mr. Guterres additionally met with Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which is the organizer of the Conference.

In all his conferences and exchanges, the Secretary-General emphasised that enhanced cooperation must deal with areas the place strategic partnerships can drive inclusive progress in Africa, creating respectable jobs and accelerating progress in direction of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

His schedule for tomorrow in Yokohama consists of extra bilateral conferences with attendees of the Conference and a press encounter along with your colleagues in Yokohama.

**Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning to the state of affairs within the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our colleagues on the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) inform us that the state of affairs is more and more dire, with youngsters and adults killed, injured and displaced each single day.  Starvation and malnutrition proceed to deepen.

And for instance, our colleagues at UNRWA have simply shared the most recent malnutrition information with us.  They are the biggest supplier of vitamin screening and remedy in Gaza.  They have, since March of this 12 months, when the ceasefire collapsed, UNRWA has screened over 95,000 youngsters aged 6 months to five years for malnutrition throughout the Gaza Strip.

The prevalence of acute malnutrition has risen 15.8 per cent within the first half of August.

This signifies that in line with UNRWA’s information, malnutrition has tripled throughout the Gaza Strip for the reason that ceasefire collapsed.  And in Gaza City, acute malnourishment has now reached 28.5 per cent, that means a couple of in 4 youngsters in Gaza City is now thought-about malnourished.

According to UNRWA screenings malnutrition in Gaza City is now nearly six instances the extent it was for the reason that ceasefire.

But regardless of the impediments and the systematic restrictions we and our companions are sparing no effort to deliver vital meals and provides into the Gaza Strip to keep away from a fair additional deterioration of the state of affairs.

Today, OCHA launched an replace on what we delivered in Gaza between August 3^rd and 16^th.  A number of highlights for you:

On meals:  Teams introduced in about 12,000 metric tons of wheat flour and different provides and supported greater than 80 group kitchens offering over 400,000 meals each day.

That’s twice as a lot as in late July however lower than half of what we had been ready to usher in April.

On vitamin:  UNICEF introduced in sufficient therapeutic meals for 30,000 acutely malnourished youngsters for one month; toddler formulation adequate for 1,250 infants; and over 3,500 cartons of high-energy biscuits.  Partners additionally continued screening 1000’s of kids for malnutrition, as I’ve simply highlighted.

On well being:  More than 30 truckloads of medicines, blood models, trauma and surgical supplies had been collected; a haemodialysis centre was rehabilitated; 5,400 pregnant girls, newborns and ladies and ladies of reproductive age obtained help; and over 50 sufferers had been evacuated overseas.

On water:  Partners delivered 13,000 cubic metres of ingesting water each day throughout greater than 1,000 areas.  They additionally repaired networks and offered hygiene kits to about 600 households.

More info on-line on OCHA’s web site, however in fact, whereas we’re seeing a rise within the materials with the ability to be introduced in by us, individuals want far more, and our colleagues on the bottom are greater than able to do far more, to the extent that our humanitarian work is facilitated.

A notice on shelter:  Today, companions warned that humanitarian help should not be used to facilitate or legitimize mass displacement.  This follows the latest Israeli announcement that the ban imposed in early March on shelter objects could be lifted, permitting the entry of tents and different shelter objects to renew.

Our companions estimate that assembly the prevailing shelter wants of about 1.4 million individuals requires 3,500 truckloads of tents, tarpaulins and primary home goods.  And that is with out factoring in any future displacement, which might solely drive shelter wants even greater.

In the pipeline exterior Gaza, we at the moment have about 86,000 tents, over 1 million tarpaulins and sealing-off kits, and about 5 million non-food objects ready.

But bringing in these provides stays a problem.  For instance, our companions notice that the continued restrictions on worldwide NGOs, in addition to UNRWA, proceed to dam shelter deliveries.

Finally, our shelter companions additionally harassed that the Zikim crossing, which leads on to the north and to Gaza metropolis, should stay open to make sure that help reaches these areas, together with when there’s intensified army operations.  […]

**Sudan

Turning to Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is alarmed by experiences of assaults on healthcare within the Darfur area, at a time when the nation’s cholera outbreak is spreading.  Yesterday, our mates at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that the group has suspended all of its actions at Zalingei Hospital in Central Darfur, following a grenade assault inside the power. MSF says that they can not resume their operations till clear safety ensures are in place for employees and for sufferers.  Since the start of this month, MSF has led a cholera emergency response on the hospital, treating greater than 160 sufferers in simply over two weeks, in coordination with the State Ministry of Health.  Our humanitarian colleagues underscore that the battle events should respect the safety afforded to healthcare underneath worldwide humanitarian regulation.

The guidelines of battle are clear that the wounded and sick, medical personnel and hospitals have to be protected always.  Meanwhile, we, together with our humanitarian companions, proceed to help the work by Sudan’s Ministry of Health to broaden entry to cholera vaccines.  Authorities report that oral vaccination campaigns, that are set to conclude later this week, have reached greater than 2 million individuals throughout Khartoum, Aj Jazirah State and Sennar State.  In the primary half of this 12 months alone, our colleagues at UNICEF delivered 7.6 million doses to assist comprise the outbreak.  We, together with our companions, are additionally offering important meals help each time and wherever doable, regardless of insecurity and entry constraints.

On 14 August, for the primary time for the reason that outbreak of the battle, WFP reached rural elements of Kutum locality in North Darfur, offering meals help to about 50,000 displaced human beings.  This is vital help for communities which have lengthy been lower off from receiving help.

**Democratic Republic of the Congo

And an replace from our peacekeeping mission within the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  They are telling us about developments in Ituri and North Kivu provinces.  Yesterday, gunfire was reported close to the UN Mission’s base in Bayoo and in addition near the bottom of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in Bule, in Ituri Province.

The UN Mission activated safety protocols and deployed patrols to safe the world and close by websites, internet hosting internally-displaced individuals. Meanwhile, the UN Mission’s Force Commander led a delegation to Komanda, Ituri Province, to satisfy group representatives and honour the victims of the bloodbath perpetrated by the ADF in July.

From 15 to 18 August, the UN Mission deployed a Mobile Operating Base in Soleniama, in Irumu territory, which can be in Ituri, to help demobilization with the assistance of non secular leaders.  That was carried out on the request of native communities.

**Security Council

Just this morning, the Security Council members held a gathering on Threats to International Peace and Security brought on by Terrorist Acts.  The Under-Secretary-General for the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, briefed and stated that the risk posed by Da’esh stays unstable and complicated, with the group and its associates persevering with to adapt and display resilience regardless of sustained counter-terrorism efforts.  He added that whereas a number of Da’esh leaders have perished previously few years, the group has managed to retain its operational capability.

Mr. Voronkov harassed that the persistence of the risk posed by Da’esh, regardless of vital nationwide and worldwide efforts, underscores the urgency of sustained international cooperation by means of counter-terrorism approaches which are compliant with worldwide regulation, grounded in human rights and are gender-responsive.

Also briefing was Natalia Gherman, the Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.  She famous that Da’esh’s use of synthetic intelligence and social media for recruitment, fundraising and propaganda calls for revolutionary responses.  Ms. Gherman warned that as we stand on the crossroads of technological transformation and geopolitical uncertainty, the specter of terrorism is extra diffuse and complicated.

Both remarks have been shared with you.

**Financial Contribution

Lastly, we bought some cash immediately.  […]  There is one place on the planet the place you’ll be able to see the solar rise on the Pacific and the set on the Atlantic.  You keep in the identical place, and also you simply flip.  Panama. […]

We thank Hazel who’s our visitor quiz grasp immediately.

[Panama’s payment brings the number of fully paid-up Member States to 121.]

**Questions and Answers

Spokesman:  All proper.  If you could have a query, go forward.  Use your microphone, please.

Question:  This is Namo Abdullah, a brand new journalist at Rudaw Media Network.  Sorry.  I dropped my telephone.  Actually on this ISIL report evaluation, I simply wished to ask, the place Secretary-General stands on the Syrian Democratic forces in Syria going ahead, their position in countering ISIS and their integration into the Syrian State.  How vital is that this for the combat?  Thank you.

Spokesman:  The integration of all safety forces in Syria is vital.  And as we’ve stated repeatedly, we hope that discussions between the Government and numerous factions will transfer forward.  It is vital for the unity of Syria, and it’s also vital for his or her continued combat in opposition to extremism and terrorism.  Edie  […]  Okay.

Question:  Does the Secretary-General have any touch upon Israel’s giving remaining approval immediately to new settlements that can lower the West Bank in two?

Spokesman:  As you already know, our place has remained regular and constant.  We stand in opposition to all settlement exercise within the occupied territories which we view as unlawful underneath worldwide regulation and in opposition to resolutions.  And we condemn the choice taken immediately on increasing this specific settlement, which as I’ve stated, each those that are for it and in opposition to it agree that it’ll drive a stake by means of the center of the two-State resolution.  And we name on the Government of Israel to halt all settlement exercise and comply totally with its obligations underneath worldwide regulation.  Michelle Nichols after which Sherwin.

Question:  Thank you, Steph.  The Israeli army has additionally simply stated that Israel’s entered the primary phases of its deliberate assault on Gaza City.  Does the UN have any concept of form of what number of civilians may nonetheless be there?  How many employees does the UN have there?

Spokesman:  You know, there are civilians there.  There’s humanitarian employees.  I imply, we’ve seen the type of the political choice transferring in direction of these army operations.  We have stood firmly in opposition to it.  It’s fairly apparent that it’ll simply create one other mass displacement of people that’ve been displaced repeatedly, since this section of the battle began.

Question:  And then I do know, OCHA has been placing out some stuff about making an attempt to get extra shelter tents and shelter, and also you’ve talked about it.  How a lot has gotten in?

Spokesman:  I believe I learn out what we’re in a position to do.

Question:  Oh, did you?  Okay.  Sorry, go forward.

Spokesman:  That’s okay.

Question:  Just to return to the E1 settlement, your place on that’s regular and constant and your condemnation is famous.  But what does your engagement appear to be?  Right?  You’re calling on the Israelis to reverse this.  Who are you partaking with?  Are you partaking instantly with them, with different Member States when it comes to looking for a reverse layer?  What does that appear to be, Steph?

Spokesman:  The settlement challenge will not be one thing that began immediately, proper? And we have now been passing on the identical message to the Israeli authorities for fairly a very long time.  Success of our messaging is evident for all to see.  The settlement continues, and I believe Member States and enormous variety of Member States have held the identical place as a result of it’s consistent with worldwide regulation.  But it’s as much as the Government to really make the choice and reverse the choice.

Question:  The consequence, in fact, of that’s that the Palestinian State is slowly being erased from the map.  The Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the Palestinian State is being erased from the desk not with slogans, however with actions.  So the consequence of your messaging being ignored by the Israelis is that, a future Palestinian State is being impugned by these actions, which implies for a way for much longer can you stand there and discuss a future two-State resolution?

Spokesman:  We will proceed to speak about it as a result of we don’t see every other different.  We’re very cognizant of the info which are being constructed brick by brick on the bottom, and we’ll proceed to advocate each publicly and privately on our place.

Question:  Can I ask you in regards to the International Criminal Court?  The United States has simply introduced designations of extra judges, two judges and two prosecutors along with designations that occurred in June, focusing on 4 judges because it pertains to the Israeli arrest warrants and points associated to Afghanistan.  What is the UN’s place on the sanctioning of ICC officers by the United States?

Spokesman:  As you already know, for the Secretary-General, the ICC is a separate establishment, proper?  It’s separate from the secretarial distinct mandate.  He has no authority or management over it.  That being stated, we firmly consider that the ICC is a key pillar of worldwide felony justice, and we respect their work.  We’re very involved in regards to the selections taken to additional hit ICC officers with sanctions underneath the order that got here out from the United States. The choice imposes extreme impediments on the functioning of the workplace of the prosecutor and respect for all of the conditions which are at the moment earlier than the courtroom.  Judicial independence is a primary precept that have to be revered, and all these measures undermine the muse of worldwide justice. [inaudible]  I believe that will be the nice choice to make.  Yes, sir.  And then, Georgia.

Question:  All proper.  Thank you, Steph.  With regards to the Secretary-General go to to Japan in the intervening time and his plan bilateral, does his bilaterals embrace any conferences with leaders from the Sahel or and West Africa?

Spokesman:  He can be having bilateral conferences with variety of the African leaders which are there, and people will probably happen tomorrow.

Question:  Any Sahel international locations?

Spokesman:  Once they’ve occurred, I’ll let you already know which of them he’s met with. Please.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  Yesterday, by means of the Cyprus Humanitarian Maritime Corridor transferred greater than 1,000 stones of humanitarian help to Gaza, particularly for youngsters.  Does the Secretary-General help this effort, or do you could have any touch upon that?  Thank you.

Spokesman:  Yes.  I imply, the Cyprus hall which is a vital a part of the humanitarian pipeline resumed yesterday.  It’s being led by the Republic of Cyprus, supported by our colleagues on the UN Office for Project Services at UNOPS as a part of what was designed by Security Council decision 2720.  The benefit of the Cyprus hall is that the Israeli customs clearance takes place in Cyprus.  It came about in Limassol.  So we hope that it’ll velocity up the discharge of the objects that arrive on the Port of Ashdod and get them to Gaza as quickly as doable.

Spokesman:  Okay.  Anyone on-line?  All proper. Dezhi.

Question:  Thank you.  Okay.  It’s actually disturbing.  It’s been reported, the most recent Reuters ballot, confirmed that 58 per cent of Americans consider that each one Member States of the United Nations ought to acknowledge State of Palestine.  What is Secretary-General’s tackle this newest ballot within the US?

Spokesman:  I’ll let journalists equivalent to yourselves touch upon the outcomes of the ballot.

Question:  Should the American Government hearken to their individuals?

Spokesman:  I’ll allow you to write up your story with out feedback.  [cross-talk]

Question:  I’ve yet one more query.  I noticed this poster immediately on the entrance of the UN.  We know, we joked about this on line casino factor for fairly a while.  They’re going to have a public listening to

Spokesman:  Mhmm.

Question:  On subsequent Thursday.  As some of the vital resident within the neighbourhood, what precisely is the intense UN place on the potential development of a on line casino?

Spokesman:  Look.  That can be a choice taken, I consider, finally, by the Governor of the state of New York.  You know, I believe it’s clear that we do consider that this neighbourhood has a sure character, sure seriousness to it, and we hope that it’s preserved.  Abdelhamid, did you could have a query?

Question:  No.  Not actually.

Spokesman:  All proper.  Thank you.