Source: United Nations (Video News)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General/Colombia
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Haiti
– Sudan
– Floods in Spain
– Security Council
– Mpox
– Noon Briefing Guest
– Briefings Today
– Briefings Tomorrow
FLOODS IN SPAIN
Images of the torrential rains that have caused severe floods in and around Valencia, in the south of Spain are devastating.
The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and expresses his full solidarity with the Government and the people of Spain.
The UN stands ready to assist in whichever way it can.
Valencia is hosts the UN Global Service Center base, which is an important logistics hub for the entire UN system.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Moving to Gaza, further to that situation, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is urging the Israeli authorities to urgently grant access for critical humanitarian activities in Jabalya, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun in North Gaza. OCHA emphasizes the need for secure conditions to deliver aid and conduct rescue operations safely, given the ongoing military operations there.
The UN and the humanitarian partners are set to urgently implement critical activities in those areas as soon as Israeli authorities reopen North Gaza.
The Secretary-General is deeply shocked by reports of an Israeli air strike in Beit Lahia, in North Gaza that took place early yesterday reportedly left at least 90 Palestinians killed or missing, including at least 25 children. This tragic loss of life, he said particularly among vulnerable people, yet again underscores the devastating human impact of the ongoing conflict, which is intensifying in the north of Gaza.
The Secretary-General unequivocally condemns the widespread killing and injury of civilians in Gaza and the ongoing displacement of the population. All parties to the conflict must comply with their obligations under international law, including the obligation to respect and protect civilians. This includes humanitarian workers and first responders, who play a vital role in mitigating suffering and providing life-saving assistance.
The obstruction of their work only deepens the suffering of the population. Aid must flow freely and safely.
The toll of the violence in Gaza is unconscionable. There must be an immediate ceasefire. And he reiterates once again his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The time to stop the bloodshed is now.
Also throughout October, we’ve noted that North Gaza governorate has been largely inaccessible, with very few exceptions, amid reports of high casualties, direct hits on overwhelmed medical facilities, and widespread family displacement and separation.
OCHA also emphasizes the need for direct supply routes from Erez West to these areas, rather than routing all aid through Gaza City, which is the current imposed practice.
Meanwhile, in the south, OCHA today visited two locations in Absan, east of Khan Younis, to assess the situation of displaced families. One was the Saudi Centre for Cultural and Heritage in Abasan Al Kabira, which provides mental health support for children, internet access for students, and operates a community kitchen for more than 500 families. The second location was in the Al Mharaba site, which hosts 2,000 people. At this site there are no health services, limited power and insufficient water facilities.
LEBANON
On the humanitarian front in Lebanon, a joint OCHA-UNICEF mission today delivered essential supplies to approximately 800 households in the village of Sarafand, in southern Lebanon. The supplies include water bottles, hygiene and dignity kits, water testers, children’s clothes and first aid kits.
Also, today, a convoy by UNRWA delivered 5,000 liters of fuel for generators to ensure the operation of water wells and sanitation facilities in the Burj Shemali Palestinian Refugee Camp along the South Litani River.
The situation continues to deteriorate amid escalating hostilities and displacement orders. Today, the Israeli army issued displacement orders for all residents of Baalbek city in the east of the country, to evacuate the entire city immediately.
This prompted mass displacement and panic among residents. Strikes subsequently began after several hours. Displacement orders were also issued in several localities in Nabatieh, in the south.
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, deplored the extensive harm inflicted on civilians and the destruction of critical infrastructure. He called for the violence to end immediately and reminded parties to the conflict that they must take all feasible precautions to avoid and minimize harm to civilians and civilian objects.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=30%20October%202024