Source: United Nations (Video News)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
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Highlights:
– Security Council/ Middle East
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Ukraine/Security Council
– Biodiversity
– Deputy Secretary-General
– Senegal
– DR Congo/humanitarian
– DR Congo/peacekeeping
– Chad
– Haiti
– International Organization for Migration
– Financial Contributions
** Security Council/ Middle East
You saw Sigrid Kaag, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Senior Humanitarian Coordinator for Gaza, brief the Security Council. She told the members that this may be our last chance to achieve a two-state solution, reiterating that all hostages must be released and while in captivity, they must be allowed to receive visits and assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross. And she said that the resumption of hostilities must be avoided at all costs. Ms. Kaag called on both sides to fully honour their commitments to the ceasefire deal and conclude negotiations for the second phase.
She told the Council that we are ready to support reconstruction efforts, and that Palestinians must be able to resume their lives, must be able to rebuild, and to construct their future in Gaza. There can be no question of forced displacement.
**Occupied Palestinian Territory
Turning to the situation on the ground in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that our humanitarian partners, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Gaza, yesterday continued to administer polio vaccinations for the third day to 548,000 children under the age of 10. This represents 93 per cent of the target population. The campaign has been extended until tomorrow to ensure full coverage.
Since the start of the ceasefire, our friends at the World Food Programme have brought in more than 30,000 metric tonnes of food into Gaza. More than 60 kitchens supported by WFP across the Gaza Strip, including in North Gaza and in Rafah, have handed out nearly 10 million meals.
For its part, the UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, tells us that its teams have reached nearly 1.3 million people with flour and reached about two million people with food parcels since the start of the ceasefire.
The head of Gaza’s Ministry of Health has said today that six children from the Gaza Strip have died in recent days due to the severe cold wave recently, bringing to 15 the total number of children who’ve passed away from the cold.
And the Food and Agriculture Organization reports that last week it delivered animal feed in northern Gaza for the first time since the ceasefire, benefiting 146 families with livestock in Gaza city alongside another 980 in Deir al Balah. So some in Gaza City and some in Deir al Balah.
Over the past four days, our partners working in education have identified additional schools in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir al Balah that were used as shelters for displaced people. These schools will be assessed and repaired to prepare for their reopening.
And turning to the situation West Bank, OCHA reports that the security situation remains alarming, with the ongoing Israeli operations in the north causing further casualties, mass displacement and generating additional humanitarian needs due to the displacement.
In Jenin governorate, the two-day operation in Qabatiya was concluded yesterday.
The operation was launched with bulldozers, involving exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinians, as well as detentions and significant destruction of infrastructure, including electricity lines, water lines, and the closure of schools.
We once again warn that lethal, war-like tactics are being applied, raising concerns over use of force that exceeds law enforcement standards.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme said it reached 190,000 people in January with cash assistance and has provided one-off cash assistance to more than 5,000 displaced people from the Jenin refugee camp.
** Ukraine/Security Council
Yesterday, Rosemary DiCarlo, our Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Ukraine.
She said that during these three long years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 10 million Ukrainians remain uprooted – they are either internally displaced or refugees abroad. She reiterated our commitment to delivering assistance to those who need it as we’ve been telling you almost on a daily basis.
Referring to the Resolution the Council adopted during the meeting, Ms. DiCarlo said that indeed it is high time for peace in Ukraine. This peace, however, must be just, sustainable and comprehensive, in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and resolutions of the General Assembly, including the one that was adopted yesterday morning.
Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=25%20February%202025