Source: United Nations (Video News)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
– Secretary-General Travel
– Deputy Secretary-General
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Children in Eastern and Southern Africa
– Sudan
– Libya
– Myanmar
– Central America
– Ukraine
– Guest Tomorrow
– Financial Contribution
SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVEL
The Secretary-General traveled to Bridgetown, Barbados today where, this evening, he will speak at the opening ceremony of the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, also known as CARICOM.
In his remarks, he is expected to highlight three key areas where, together, we must drive progress – peace and security, the climate crisis and sustainable development.
Also today, the Secretary-General will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados.
Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will have a closed session with CARICOM Heads of Government, to exchange views on pressing issues in the region, such as Haiti.
He is expected back in New York later tomorrow.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa today to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting on behalf of the Secretary-General. Ms. Mohammed will underline support for multilateral cooperation and the South African G20 Presidency and reinforce the case for dialogue and joint action to address common challenges, including trade, tax, debt, and financing climate action. On the margins of the meeting, she is expected to meet with senior government officials from G20 members and guest countries.
From Johannesburg, Ms. Mohammed will proceed to Nairobi, Kenya, to hold meetings with a wide range of stakeholders and UN entities in preparation of the second UN Food System Summit Stocktaking and to meet with senior government officials.
On 26 February, Ms. Mohammed will return to South Africa – this time to Cape Town to attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting and open the Finance in Common Summit 2025 on behalf of the Secretary-General.
The Deputy Secretary-General will return to New York on 27 February.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The World Health Organization and UNICEF say that the emergency polio outbreak response in the Gaza Strip is continuing, with a mass vaccination campaign scheduled to begin on Saturday and continue until 26 February. The novel oral polio vaccine type 2 will be administered to more than 591,000 children under 10 years of age to protect them from polio. The campaign aims to reach all children under 10 – including those previously missed – to close immunity gaps and end the outbreak.
Meanwhile, partners supporting water, sanitation and hygiene services are working to increase the production and distribution of water for drinking and domestic purposes to improve living conditions in the Strip and minimize public health risks.
There are now more than 1,780 operational water points across Gaza. Over 85 per cent of them are used to support water trucking activities by UN partners.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that UN partners are also training and deploying mobile teams and volunteers at aid distribution points to ensure that vulnerable groups – including people with disabilities – have safe and dignified access to humanitarian assistance. More than 100 such teams are operating at nearly 70 aid distribution points throughout Gaza.
Turning to the West Bank, OCHA says that Israeli forces’ operations in northern areas continue, causing further destruction and displacement among Palestinian residents.
Yesterday, in Tulkarm refugee camp, Israeli forces demolished at least five homes, with several others also slated for demolition.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=19+February+2025