Thank you for listening to Pictures Media Radio. Welcome to Policy and Rights,
the show about the government, Policy and human rights. Welcome back to Policy
and Right here in Depictions Media Radio, I'm your host, Michael Cloggs.
Okay, So, first, when we actually do hear from the UN press
floor that there was a UN safety officer who was killed another was injured when
their vehicle was struck on what it is today, May thirteenth, twenty twenty
four. The of course, the United Nations condemns all attacks on any of
their workers, vehicles and such. There are no real details on that so
far. Okay, So we do have a dates from the BBC on the
Trump hush money trial and uh, whilst Stormy Daniels did actually finish her testimony,
up was Michael Cohen, who was one of Donald Trump's fixers, and
he will be giving testimony on on the hush trial and give details about what
it is that he did of course for Donald Trump. Moving on, of
course, there's still trouble happening and brewing in Palestine and we've heard of more
unrest of the The other problem is of course the border crossing into Rafa that
has been closed down to humanitarian efforts, in which case that means that aid
workers are already there are lacking in food, fuel and other supplies needed to
help the Palestinian people. So they are negotiating trying to get those aid trucks
across the border so that they can continue doing the life saving work that they
are attempting to do and moving forward from there. Okay, there's another update
from Russia with the new defense minister. Vladimir Putin has just started his fifth
term as the Russian president and he and his position at the Kremlin is not
under discussion, but the same can't be said for the member of its members
of his cabinet. Defense Minister Sergei Sergoi has been replaced by Andre Belosov,
a severine A economist who has been serving as the deputy Prime Minister after working
for several years as an aid to mister Putin. So some changes in the
Putin's staff, and they're still ongoing protest for for Palestine and the attempts to
make a public outcry for the ceasefire that is needed to so that people can
start to heal from what is happening in in that region. Uh, we're
also gonna hear updates from the Young UH floor of course about UH Palestine being
admitted as a full member into the United Nations. There's still a lot of
debate going on, and of course supporters of Israel and Israel itself are opposing
such a such a thing from happening, claiming that well, the Palestinians are
nothing more than terrorists. So we'll hear a couple of arguments that we're discussed
on that, and why don't we get started with that you I pressed for,
and then we'll hear from what was said in different arguments for Palestine to
become full You and members, the fifty first Planarist Meeting of the Tennis Imagine
Session of the General Assembly is called to order. The General Assembly will continue
its consideration of Agenda Item five entire told illegal Araiety actions in occupied is Jerusalem
and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory. And now give the floor to
the Representative of Nicaragua m h s. Mister President Nicaragua allignes itself of the
statements made by Ugando on behalf of Nam and by Venezuela on behalf of the
Group of Friends in defense of the UN Charter given the continued exceptionalist and obstructionist
policy by the United States and Security Council, furthering genocide and Israel's crimes in
the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories. The international Community and this General Assembly find
ourselves duty bound to take actions and find solutions for justice and for the rights
of the Palestinian people. For more than seventy five years, the Palestinian people
have been subjected to barbarous aggressions, to serious war crimes, and now for
more than two hundred consecutive days, to an unprecedented genocide which is left a
toll of more than thirty five thousand Palestinians dead and more than seventy eight thousand
injured. Children, women and men have been killed in their homes, in
the streets as they flee from the north to the south, in unrubbed refugee
camps, in hospitals, in schools, in mosques, and in churches.
As if there were not already sufficient evidence, recent attacks in Rafa are further
proof that we are witnessing an attempt to eradicate the Palestinian people. The government
and people of Nicaragua reiterate our firm solidarity with the State of Palestine, and
we energetically condemn these atrocities committed against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West
Bank, Rafha, and throughout their historic and legitimate territories occupied and divided by
the government of Israel in violation of the UN Charter of International Law, of
International Humanitarian Law, and of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide. Attacks and shellings of civilian populations must cease immediately. The
delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians is an urgent, vital necessity. The forced
displacement of the Palestinian people must also encir Mister President, Today history is being
made. The General Assembly has begun to hear the cry of the peoples of
the world in support of Palestine and rejecting this genocide. We can hear their
voices in the streets, the protests by students who have set up camps.
The power of reason is on their side. Millions and millions of people are
demanding a free Palestine, a cease fire, respect for life, and an
end to this genocide and to Israeli occupation of all occupied territories. On Friday
morning, an important step was taken in restoring the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people. It became quite clear that a very small minority arbitrarily continue to obstruct
the creation of a Palestinian state. The world wants peace and a free Palestine.
The Security Council must respect and take on board this recently adopted resolution.
It must reconsider the request and accept Palestine as a free and independent state.
The United States cannot continue to deny the recognition of a Palestinian state in the
United Nations. It is unjustifiable and inappropriate. The full integration of Palestine into
our community of nations is a vital act of justice and freedom for the creation
of a Palestinian state and the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
their freedom, their self determination, independence, and their right to live
in peace within the nineteen sixty seven borders with East Jerusalem as capital. Mister
President, More and more countries are recognizing the state of Palestine. We welcome
the recent announcement by Bahamas and Trinity Ad and Tobago officially recognizing Palestine as a
state. We are now one hundred and forty four states who have joined us
and have come together in recent days. Our Latin American and Korean region.
Our zone of peace has always stood firm against colonialism and in support of the
self determination of peoples. Thirty two of the thirty three states in our region
already recognize the State of Palestine, and we hope that very soon the one
remaining state will announce its recognition of the State of Palestine. The United States
and European countries have the moral and historic obligation to recognize and respect the free,
independent and sovereign state of Palestine. The governments and peoples of the region
and the world must call for shared safe coexistence, for all stability and peace
with the Palestinian State. As part of the United Nations, listen to the
voices of all of mankind who cry out peace, justice, for a free
Palestine, for an end to unjustifiable policies of denial and the exclusion of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Nicaragua will stand steadfast in support of Palestine,
and together with the international community, we will continue with every effort and
initiative necessary to move forward the question of Palestine until Palestine is free, Free
so that life can flourish, free, so that peace can prevail. Thank
you, I think the distinguished Representative of Nicaragua. I now give the floor
to the Distinguished Representative of Malaysia. Mister President. My delegation thanks you for
convening today's plenary meeting. Following the joint requests by the Arab Group, Non
Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Corporation, Malaysia aligns itself with the Num
and Oic statements and adds the following remarks in its national capacity, Mister President.
After more than seven decades since the adoption of General Assembly Resolution one one
in nineteen forty seven, which partitioned Palestinians land into Arab and Jewish states,
Palestinians continued to be denied the right to statehood. In contrast, Israel was
accepted as a full member in nineteen forty nine. Since then, the world
has been witnessing turmoil and bloodshed in the Land of Palestine for seven decades.
Israel's illegal, brutal and inhumane occupation has dispossessed Palestinians of their lands, properties,
rights and dignity. It has taken the lives of countless numbers of innocent
men, women and children, and continue to do so to this day.
The current hostilities in Gaza are the latest episode in the already long history of
Palestinian struggle under Israeli occupation. After about seven months of relentless Israeli military onslaught,
more than thirty five thirty five thousand deaths have been recorded, about seventy
percent of whom are women and children. That is, nearly fifteen thousand children
and ten thousand women killed. The discoveries of mass graves in the compounds of
Al Shiva and Nazier hospitals are deeply concerning. The Numbers of death among humanitarian
workers and media personnel have also reached new records. The level of destruct of
civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and un premises, is unprecedented. The
unrelenting destruction of Gaza and catastrophic humanitarian condition of its inhabitants are downright appalling,
and despite warnings of disastrous humanitarian consequences, Israel remains adamant to mount a ground
military assault of Rafah. The carnage in Gaza must stop. The international community
must demand proper accountability processes, starting with thorough, transparent and independent international investigations
on all bridges of international law, including possible acts of war crime and genocide
in Gaza. Mister President, the question of Palestine must be resolved once and
for all. Israel's occupation must end. Justice must be restored. The self
determination of the Palestinian people must be upheld. The fully sovereign state of Palestine
must be recognized. For those of us who still remember the misery of life
under occupation or colonization, and the bitter struggle of our forefathers for independence and
statehood, it is our responsibility to support Palestinian statehood. It is our collective
moral duty to do everything we can to ensure that the State of Palestine take
its rightful place as our equal in this August Chamber. The fundamental United Nations
founding principle of equality among nations must be extended to the State of Palestine without
any discrimination nor further delay. Malaysia's support towards Palestinian statehood and its membership to
the United Nations is long standing. We hold a view that the admission of
the State of Palestine as a full member should have happened when General Assembly Resolution
Wanted one was adopted and Israel was admitted seventy five years ago. The resolution
adopted by the Assembly last Friday, is a significant step forward. It is
a much needed positive development in the face of the Security Council's continued politicization and
paralysis. The adoption of the text by an overwhelming majority is a clear testament
of the enormous support for the Palestinian statehood within the international community. Malaysia shares
the view that the State of Palestine means the full criteria for statehood outlined in
the nineteen thirty three Montevideo Convention. We also firmly believe that the State of
Palestine fulfills the conditions for membership to the United Nations as laid out in Article
four of the Charter. Palestine has consistently demonstrated that it is committed to peace,
even as Israel persists with its brutal and oppressive occupation, continues to erode
its territorial integrity, and attempts to annihilate the Palestinian people. It is also
clear to us that Palestine highly values the opportunities to participate in you N processes,
and it is able and willing to carry out obligations and shrine in the
Charter. Palestine has beyond doubt proven itself worthy of membership of this organization.
In contrast, Israel continues to bridge international law, defy you and resolutions,
as well as vilify and malign the United Nations and its officials. Israel's actions,
which each passing day inevitably raise our doubts if it actually believes in the
UN system and values is membership in this organization. The offensive gimmick of shredding
the UN Charter we witnessed in this chamber last Friday, is just another example
of Israel's utter disrespect of the United Nations. Ironically, it is Israel's credibility
that is being shredded to pieces through the contempt for international law and norms.
No cheap theatrics will ever deny the resounding support for the resolution, as well
as the enduring relevance of the Charters, principles and aspirations. Mister President assertions
that the State of Palestine does not meet the criteria for membership set forth in
Article four after after UN Charter are observed and quite suspicious. Such allegations are
blatant rejection of General Assembly and Security Council resolutions that have recognized Palace Steine as
a state to date. One hundred and forty four members of the United Nations
have recognized the State of Palestine, and several countries have announced their intention of
recognized Palestine in the very near future. We encourage those who have not officially
recognized Palestine to do so without further delay. Mister President, the question of
Palestine has remained an outstanding issue in this organization for more than seven decades.
It is high time that the you and deliver on its duty and responsibility and
produce a just, lusting and peaceful solution to the question of Palestine. This
should start with the recognition of the State of Palestine based on the pre nineteen
sixty seven bodies, with its Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the
internationally recognized two state solution. We the independent and sovereign member states of the
United Nations, must not renect on our commitment to uphold the United Nations principle
of equality among nations. We must not fail our Palestinian brothers and sisters in
their struggle for self determination. We must not forget most of us here were
once in their shoes. Palestinians too deserve to live in peace, to develop,
and to prosper. We shall not and must not succumb to the pressure
of those who seek to undermine peace in the Middle East. We call on
all member states to be united and support efforts towards lasting peace in the Middle
East. The full membership of the State of Palestine of the United Nations is
a critical step towards this end. Malaysia stands ready to be part of and
support initiatives aimed at realizing the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to freedom and
self determination. I thank you, I thank the distinguished Representative of Malaysia.
I now give the floor the distinguished Representative of Bahraini. Mister President, allow
me to thank you for resuming the tent emergency special session of the General Assembly.
My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the UAE on behalf of
the Arab Group, Mauritania on behalf of the OIC, and Uganda on behalf
of the Non Aligned Movement. Mister President, we welcome the adoption by the
General Assembly last Friday of Resolution A Stroke or e S Stroke ash TAN Stroke
twenty three, with one hundred and forty three states voting favorably on the eligibility
of the Palestinian State to be granted full membership at the United Nations, and
on recommending that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably and grant a Palestine additional
privileges and rights regarding its participation in this international organization. We stress the need
for diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to support the legitimate historic rights of the Palestinian people
to self determination, freedom, justice, equality, independence and ending the occupation
in line with international law. We reaffirm that the full international acknowledgement of the
full international recognition of the Palestinian State and its membership at United Nations is a
political and legal right. It is inalienable and illegitimate historic right of the Palestinian
people to establish their independent state on the borders of nineteen sixty seven with the
East Jerusalem as a capital, based on the two State Solutions, in line
with the resolutions of international legitimacy, the Arab Peace Initiative, and this is
a major step to promote just, sustainable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
Mister President, we condemned the Israeli military operations on Rapha, the last
safe haven for more than one million Palestinian people. We condemned its control over
the Raffa land acrossing in southern Gaza. We warned against the dangerous repercussions of
that on the on innocent civilians. We once again call upon the intern national
community and influential parties at the Security Council to immediately and urgently interfere to ensure
a humanitarian chrus and to stop any military expansion to protect peace and security regionally.
In conclusion, it is important to continue supporting the Palestinian people so that
they can be granted their legitimate national rights. It is important to support every
effort to ensure a ceies fire in Gaza, the delivery of humanitarian assistance to
civilians, and launching a serious and genuine political process to ensure sustainable and comprehensive
peace in the region, in order to establish an independent Palestinian state on the
borders of nineteen sixty seven with East Jerusalem as a capital, on the basis
of the two State Solutions and based on the resolutions of international legitimacy, the
Arab Peace Initiative and granting Palestine full membership at the United Nations. Thank you,
I think the distinguished Representative of Bahrain I now give the flood to the
distinguished Representative of Turkey A Mister President, thank you for resuming the tenth Emergency
Special Session at the request of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Arablic and Non
Allied movement groups. This August body, the General Assembly, as the most
representative organ of the United Nations, has expressed the collective stance of the international
community by adapting the Resolution on Palistine's Admission as a Member to the United Nations
with one hundred forty three positive votes. Turkey is prought to have cost sponsored
this historic resolution. The adoption of this resolution not only marks a significant milestone
in Palestine's percent of statehood, but also highlights the growing disparity between the Security
Council and the collective voice of the international community. Mister President, seven months
into the conflict, the dyed situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank
persists. The Palestinian people are brutally targeted with total disregard of the international law
and international menitarian law. The recent escalations, the recent attacks in Rapha as
well as the wider region are deeply worrying. The discovery of mass graves in
Gaza underscored the severity of the situation. People in Gaza are facing catastrophic levels
of hunger. HONRUA, the backbone of the humanitarian operations in Gaza, is
under political and physical attack. Disrupting unrua's work would not only exacerbate the suffering,
but also stabilize the entire region. Despite this unprecedented humanitarian tragedy, the
inability to hold bloodshed and man made famine in Gaza is deplorable and shameful,
Mister President. Since the conflicts onset, the international community's demands have been clear
and immediate ceasefires, unimpeded humanitarian aid and and to forced displacement. Two resolutions
adopted by this August body as the Secured, as well as the Security Council
Resolution two seven to two eight calling for a ceasfire have not been implemented yet.
The provisional measures by the International Court of Justice, Security Council resolutions on
humanitarian aid and fundamental principles from international law are disregarded. The gravest violations of
the UN Charters is taking place before our own eyes in Ghaza. This has
been coupled with the attempts to insult to UN and its charters. Under this
roof, it is our duty as the international community to make sure that this
lawlessness and impunity comes to an end. We equal on the Security Council to
take serift action, starting with the immediate ceasefire. The brutality and the blood
which that in Gaza have persisted for too long. These must end now and
its recurrence must be prevented through a durable two state solution. A two state
solution offers the sole prospect of breaking the cycle of violence. Mister President TURKEYA
supports the application of Palestine for its admission as a full member of the United
Nations. This step will enable Palestinians to achieve their aspirations for statehood, sovereignty
and independence. For string momentum for a two state solution, which is the
only way to serve through justice, Palestine deserves to be a full member and
to be to read it as an equal member of the international community. Security
Councilar resolutions and vision a region where two states Israel and Palestine lead side by
side within secure and recognized borders. The longer this vision is deferred, the
longer the region will be pushed into vicious circles of violence. And destruction.
With the adoption of this resolution, the Wider Membership has determined that the State
of Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations and recommended that the Security
Council reconsidered the matter favorably. The overwhelming majority in the Security Council is already
in favor. We urge the Security Council to take concrete steps towards realizing a
political solution based on the two State Vision and Pre sixty seven borders, with
East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent, Sourien and contiguous state of Palestine.
In conclusion, I welcome the Palestine Interlegation to participate in the words of
this Assembly. Thank you, mister President and all delegations voted for this resolution
and the distinguished Representative of Tokio. I now give the fraud to the distinguished
Representative of leban Mister President, I thank you for convening this session. Lebanon
aligns itself with the statement delivered by the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the
Arab Group. Mister President Lebanon welcomes the Child Assembly adoption of Resolution on Admission
of New Members today U n Through this long awaited resolution, the Child Assembly
has and right by Palestine by recognizing its right to take its rightful place among
nations, and concluded the discussion regarding its eligibiliberty eligibility for new and membership in
accordance with Article four of the UN Charter. It is up now for the
Security Council to listen to this clear resolution by the General Assembly and to reconsider
Palestine's application positively and without delay. Seventy five years is a long time,
Mister President. The resolution calls for strengthening Palestine's participation inter sessions and works of
the General Assembly, international conferences that are convened under the auspices of the General
Assembly or other organs of the u N. We see in thiseration by the
General Assembly that Palestine is capable to engage positively within the U and with the
Member States in the process of strengthening the principles and goals of DUN including tolerance,
living in peace, and good neighborly relations, and join its will will
with the international community to maintain international peace and security. We reiterate our deep
regret for the inability of the Council on the eighteenth of April to adopt a
draft resolution tabled by Algeria recommending that granting of full membership to Palestine. We
urge the Council to reconsider its position as soon as possible. We see that
this failure would only further prolong this conflict. We salute all states who recently
have recognized Palestine, joining more than one hundred and forty countries who have already
recognized Palestine. We urge more countries to follow suit this noble and principled step,
which undoubtedly would support the efforts to realize peace and achieve the two state
solution. The establishment of the Palestinian state is the key to all crises in
the region. It is the road to stability, paving the way to peace
and security for all peoples of the region. Mister President, it has been
seven long, painful and bloody months for the people in Gaza and southern Lebanon.
Therefore, we call for an immediate and sustainable cease fire without delay,
to avoid a spiraling of matters out of control and a spillover of the conflict
regionally, to say the civilians who are being killed on a daily basis.
We reiterate the demand to comply with resolutions of the General Assembly and a security
Council demanding a cease fire, the latest of which has been Resolution twenty seven
twenty eight. We call on focusing efforts on supporting a successful conclusion of mediation
efforts by Katar and Egypt and that will accepted by Hamas. We call on
for exerting pressure on Israel to accepts mediation efforts without delay and refrain from the
ground invasion of Rapha. Mister President, Lebanon reiterates yet again its full compliance
with Resolution seventeen oh one, exerting all political and diplomatic efforts to implement it
and restore stability and come to its southern borders to allow the residents to go
back to their villages and homes. We welcome the efforts of friendly countries,
particularly the US and France, for all the efforts to prevent a spillover of
the conflict and to contribute towards peaceful settlement of the situation. Mister President,
we call again for serious efforts to revive the political horizon of the two State
solutions to end the Israeli occupation and to recognize the independent Palestinian State. On
the fourth of June nineteen sixty seven, Boarders with its capital East Jerusalem,
in line with the terms of reference, and find a just solution for the
question of refugees and all final status issues in line with international resolutions and the
Arab Peace Initiative that was launched in Beirut in two thousand and two and Israi's
withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories. Thank you, mister Chair. Deeply learn
of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security staff member an
injury to another DSS staffer when their UN vehicle was struck as they traveled to
the European Hospital in Ruffa this morning. The Secretary General condemns all attacks on
UN personnel and calls for a full investigation. He sends his condolences to the
family of the fallen staff member. With the conflict in Gaza continuing to take
a heavy toll not only on civilians, but also on humanitarian workers, the
Secretary General reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release
of all hostages. That statement will be available to you shortly. Turning to
the situation on the ground in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs says that ground incursions and heavy fighting continue to be reported in eastern Ruffa,
as well as Gaza City and the Jibalia refugee camp. The UN Relief
and Works Agency UNRA reports that nearly three hundred and sixty thousand people have fled
Rougha since the first evacuation order a week ago. Many of them have already
been displaced multiple times over the past seven months. Meanwhile, evacuation orders issued
on Saturday for northern Gaza amid ongoing Israelian bombardment there have resulted in the displacement
of some one hundred thousand people so far. We remain deeply concerned about the
lack of protection for civilians and the lack of safety for humanitarian operations. Civilians
must be protected and have their basic needs met, whether they move or stay.
Those who leave must have enough time to do so, as well as
a safe route and a safe place to go. The UN continues to advocate
for concrete assurances and actionable measures to facilitate the safe and secure movement of humanitarian
cargo via all routes into and throughout the Gaza Strip. The Office for the
Coronation of Humanitarian Affairs reports that as of today, the Rafa crossing remains closed
and there is a continued lack of safe and logistically viable access to the Kurim
Shalom crossing. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization reports that the incursion into Ruffa
has jeopardized the provision of health services, access to health care, and the
delivery of life saving supplies. WHO says that fuel shortages are also threatening the
continuity of humanitarian efforts, saying that partners working on healthcare and Gaza require a
minimum of forty six thousand liters of fuel every day just for their operations.
In case of an expanded military operation in Rufa, WHO warns that there would
be a heightened demand for fuel further on Gaza, The Assistant Secretary General for
Humanchean Affairs, Joisimsuya, warned yesterday that the military offensive in Rauffa spells further
catastrophe for more than a million people would be displaced to the city to escape
fighting disease and hunger elsewhere. Missus Musuya was speaking at an AID conference on
Gaza hosted by Kuwait over the weekend and yesterday. In Kuwait, the Secretary
General met with Sheik Michal A Lamad al Jabra al Saba, Amir of the
State of Kuwait. Through the Amir, the Secretary General thanked Kuwait for its
constructive and consistent role in promoting dialog in the region and its contribution to hu
manage here and efforts, including about the situation in Gaza. The Secretary General
also met with the newly appointed Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Amada ab Da
llah Lama dal Saba. The Secretary General and the Prime Minister discussed issues of
mutual interest, including the situation in Gaza and Sudan. The Secretary General thanked
Kuwait for its support to the United Nations and contributions to peace in the region.
Later in the day, the Secretary General was hosted for a working launch
with the Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Abdallah Ali al Yaya. While in Kuwait,
the Secretary General also met with a special Adviser, doctor abdu llaal Matuk,
who had just taken part in the United Nations ninth Conference for Effective Partnership
and Information Exchange for Better Humanitarian Action. They discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza,
and the Secretary General left for Oman on Monday afternoon he should be arriving
there in the coming hours. The Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed is in London
today where she is taking part in the Google Zeitgeist event as a special guest
speaker. In remarks, she emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and
private sector to scale up innovative and scalable solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals.
She also met with various stakeholders on the actions needed to accelerate the SDGs.
The Deputy Secretary General will return to New York tonight. This morning. Our
Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grunberg, briefed the Security Council members on the
situation in Yemen. Speaking from Aden, where he had discussions with various interlocutors,
Mister Greenberg said he is encouraged by the constructive environment in which these discussions
were conducted. He added that despite the challenges, he still believes that a
peaceful and just solution remains possible. For his part, the Undersecretary General for
Humaniteian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, spoke about the worsening Humanteeran situation in Yemen.
He expressed concern over the cholera outbreak. The majority of cases are in Huti
controlled areas, where hundred of hundreds of new cases are reported every day.
He underscored that we and our partners are taking urgent action to stem the spread
of disease. Turning to Ukraine, the Office where the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
tells us that due to the quickly deteriorating security situation in the Kharkiv region,
local authorities, with the support of the UN and aid organizations, have evacuated
nearly six thousand people from the border area with the Russian Federation. The Kharkiv
region has experienced several ways of attacks in recent days, which have led to
more civilian deaths and injuries, including children. There's also been massive destruction of
civilian infrastructure. Thus, also according to local authorities, our humanitarian partners provided
support and transportation to people being evacuated, complementing the efforts of national rescue and
municipal services. They distributed food, water and hygiene kits es, central family
supplies, arranged accommodation, and provided the health and psychological support. Meanwhile,
people in Donyezk and Sumi regions in the east and the north of the country
also experienced attacks over the weekend and today. Local authorities and humanitarian partners on
the ground said that homes and civilian infrastructure were damaged during the attacks. In
April alone, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine documented more than seven
hundred civilian casualties and forty seven attacks on energy and infrastructure across Ukraine. Turning
to Afghanistan, you will have seen a statement we issued over the weekend in
which the Secretary General said that he was saddened by the loss of life in
flash floods and Bugland province in the northeast of Afghanistan. On the humanitarian side,
our human charian colleagues tell us that search and rescue operations continue with the
support of the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority. Casualty figures are expected to rise.
Bag Lan, Badakshan and Thakar provinces are most affected, with bug Lan
accounting for eighty percent of the recorded deaths. Civilian infrastructure and agricultural land have
also been damaged. We, along with our partners, are coordinating with the
de facto authorities on the response. Fourteen joint assessment teams have been deployed and
humanitarian partners have identified available emergency stocks in the region. On the health front,
unic F, the UN Population Fund, the World Health Organization, the
International Organization for Migration and our Partners deployed twenty seven mobile teams in Buglan,
Badakshan and in Thakar provinces to support the response, who dispatched seven tons of
medicine and medical supplies, including trauma and primary healthcare kits. Health Partners also
provided dozens of kits for pneumonia, acute watery diarrhea, malnutrition and trauma.
The World Food Program dispatched more than fifty thousand tons of food in Bugland Province.
Turning to Sudan, the Undersecretary General for Humancheeran Affairs, Martin Griffiths,
warned that Sudan is at a tipping point amid more alarming reports from El Facher,
the capital of North Darfur. In post on social media, mister Griffith
said that the Office for the Coordination of humanchaer Affairs has told the parties how
they should protect civilians from this carnage and the UN now expects them to do
with the world and international humanitarian law expect He warned that countless lives are at
stake in Elfacher, which is home to some eight hundred thousand civilians. Healthcare
in the city is already coming under threat and medical supplies are running dangerously low
in the Southern Hospital. In the Central African Republic, a conference is being
held today in the capital Bangi to find sustainable solutions to reduce the insecurity and
violence associated with the seasonal by migration of cattle and people, also known as
trans suments. The conference is organized at the Central African Authorities in partnership with
Our Peacekeeping Mission MANUSCA andcludes representatives from the government, un colleagues as well as
local leaders from the prefectures where the seasonal migration takes place. The head of
our Peacekeeping Mission, Valentine Ruguagbisa, recalled that this topic is one of the
five specific issues set out in the peace Agreement, which underlined the need for
an efficient and equitable management system for trans sumonts to make it a secure,
peaceful and prosperous activity. In Haiti, the Office where the coordination of Humanchean
Affairs warns that people in some neighborhoods of the capital of Porta Prince are extremely
vulnerable, with armed groups continuing to perpetrate coordinated attacks. Last Friday, the
commune of Grecier, south of Portaprince was attacked and several houses were set on
fire. According to local authorities, an unknown number of residents were forced to
flee. Our partners are conducting assessments both in Grecier and in neighbour in nearby
areas where people fled. There are current one hundred and sixty two thousand internally
displaced people, half of them children, in the country, with one hundred
and sixty thousand of them in the metropolitan area of Porto Prince. According to
the International Organization for Migration, between the eighth of March and the ninth of
April, some ninety five thousand people fled the capital, sixty percent of them
to the southern departments. Despite the volatile situation, humanitarian organizations continue to provide
emergency assistance to thousands of people in the capital and other areas of the country.
Since the first of March, the World Food Program has helped more than
eight hundred thousand people across the country through its school feeding, emergency and resilience
programs. The agency has distributed more than eight hundred and twenty five thousand meals
to over ninety five thousand displaced people in the Portobronce metropolitan zone. The UN
Office on Drugs and Crime today released the third edition of its World Wildlife Crime
Report, which says that wildlife trafficking has not been substantially reduced despite two decades
of concerted action. According to the report, seizures during the period between twenty
fifteen and twenty twenty one indicated the legal trade in one hundred and sixty two
countries and territories, affecting around four thousand plant and animal species. Wildlife crime
is interconnected with the activities of large and powerful organized crime groups operating in some
of the world's most fragile and diverse ecosystems, from the Amazon to the Golden
Triangle. UNODC said that to tackle wildlife crime, more consistent enforcement to tackle
both supply and demand, effective implementation of legislation, and stronger monitoring and research
are needed. The full report is online and do we have any questions?
Yes, Edie, thank you for Hahn. A couple of follow ups on
the incident with the Department of Safety and Security employees. First was do we
know how serious the injuries are of the man who was injured. We're hopeful
for recovery. And second, do we know country? At this point,
we are in the process of informing uh, you know, the relevant governments
and the relevant family members, So I wouldn't share any names or nationalities.
And is there any indication of I think you said they were heading to a
hospital. Do we know why they were heading to a hospital? Well,
as part of the regular work they go to different locations to to assess security
conditions, and this was the European Hospital in Ruffa. Yes, Emily,
still follow up on that. What you said means that they are not Partisanians.
I believe that they are international staff. But again I I'm not I
don't have the nationality structure. Do you I mean you said their vehicle was
struck? To you by what I mean? What happened? No, this
happened fairly recently. We're still accumulating details. We expect to get reports,
including from the relevant authorities. And last last one, do you have with
this new casualty the laterst toll of the number of un personal killed in Gaza
since the seventh of October, Well, this adds one more person. As
it is, we have I believe close to around one hundred and ninety UN
personnel who have been casualties, most of them national staff of the UN Relief
and Works Agency Honra. Yeah, surein Faran. What is the UN doing
to seek justice for the almost two hundred YU and staff that were killed in
the war. What is the process that UN now follows staff members been killed
by a striking gaza? How do you seek justice for your staff member in
all cases? We are going to set up measures for accountability. A lot
of that, as you know, requires ultimately for an end to the conflict
so that we can work these out. But we will be in working with
the authorities on the ground to get a restitution for all of those who have
been killed. Yes, abdelamit, thank you for Hahn. I have a
few questions. First, issued a statement about being accused of hiding hostages and
this said, I think the word they use is absurd or crazy or something.
Are you aware of this a new Israeli accusation against Honor. Yes,
And and again what the UN Relief and Works Agency says is something we support.
Obviously, they are doing their work professionally under extremely arduous circumstances, and
we need to appreciate the work that they're doing. And the main office in
Jerusalem has been set on fire twice. Is the undoing anything? And you
know, Les Arenia decided to close the office. So what is the next
step. Well, you'll have seen what we said last Friday about this incident.
Certainly this was something that was outrageous and mister Lasarni took the decision to
close the compound until our security can be insured. And this is something we
stand firm on. Obviously, the security of UN staff as they go about
their work has to be insured by all host countries everywhere. Can I have
more? One more? Yes, one more, and then we'll go around.
Okay, Yeah, The number of bodies recovered from those graves now reached
five hundred and twenty five new massic graves had been discovered also in the Shifa
compound. And I've been asking again and again and you, as she said,
should be investigating. Yeah, where we go from here? I mean,
we keep calling for investigation. Who to investigate? The Israeli will investigate
themselves. We have insisted on a credible investigation obviously, as the Secretary General
himself has said that would need to be independent. And we need to see
what format that will take Benna. Thank you. A few more follow ups
to the incident in Gaza. Were these two people part of the larger convoy.
I don't have the full details of whether this was part of a large
convoy or not. I believe it was in a convoy that was moving and
this was the DSS vehicle that was his okay? And can you tell me
was the car they moved in marked with the U N Yeah, all all
vehicles were un marked vehicles. Yes, yes, please thank you for han.
With regard to the WHO statement, and they say that the current situation
impacts the delivery of healthcare service, et cetera. In previous statements, WHO
said that the medical infrastructure Inza is totally destroyed. In addition to other reports
about epidemics, a fear of epidemics such as cholera, and even somebody went
even to the stage of fears of plague. Can we have doctor Tedros from
the WHO to have a briefing with us, whether virtually or in person,
to clarify and given exact and precise evaluation of his organization to the medical and
health situation in Gaza. Well, I don't know whether it will be doctor
Tendras himself. But we'll ask the World Health Organization whether one of their senior
people dealing with Gaza can do a briefing with you. So we'll try to
set that up. Yes, Gabriel. Thanks Varhan. There's some reporting that's
come out that says, quote, the UN has half halved the number of
casualties has It's a hard word to say, you know what I'm talking about.
Yes, I do know. Cut in half, cut in half.
Thank you. The casualties from Gaza. Is that true? It's not quite
the case. No. What I can tell you is this the overall number
of fatalities that's been tallied by the Ministry of Health in Gaza, which is
our counterpart on dealing with the death tolls. That number remains unchanged and it's
at more than thirty five thousand people since October seventh. What's changed is the
Ministry of Health and Gaza has updated the breakdown of fatalities for whom full details
have been documented. So what they recently published was that they gave figures for
twenty four thousand, six hundred and eighty six out of three hundred out of
thirty four thousand, six hundred and twenty two overall fatalities recorded in Gaza,
and those twenty four thousand, six hundred and eighty six people are the ones
for whom full details have been documented, in other words, people who have
been fully identified those. Out of those, then out of that smaller number,
that subset of identified bodies, you have seven seven hundred and ninety seven
children, four thousand, nine hundred and fifty nine women, nine hundred and
twenty four elderly and ten thousand and six men, And the Ministry of Health
says that the documentation process of fully identifying details of the casualties is ongoing.
Meanwhile, as you can see if you do the math, that there's about
another ten thousand plus bodies who still have to be fully identified, and so
then the details of those, which of those are children, which of those
are women, that will be re established once the full identification process is complete.
We are teams in Gaza are unable to identify, unindependently verify these figures
given the situation on the ground and the continuing combat and the sheer number of
fatalities, and so we cite the Ministry of Health as the source for our
figures. And do you have any reason to believe that the Ministry of Health
numbers are incorrect based on the years that the UN has worked with the Ministry
of Health of Gaza. Unfortunately, we have the sad experience of coordinating with
the Ministry of Health on casualty figures every few years for large mass casualty incidents
in Gaza, and in past past times their figures have proven to be generally
accurate. Yes, Deshi, Yeah, follow up on the on the incident
happened in the on the convoy. You said it's a one death of international
stuff. Uh, how how many international staff of the UN were killed after
seventh of October in Gaza. I'm he's not the first one. I'm not
I'm not aware of a previous I'm not aware of a previous international so that
the first of the UN. As you know, there were international casualties involving
workers for the World Central Kitchen. Yes, but but of UN staff.
I believe I've not been previously aware that this could be the first international staff
as far as I'm aware. I mean, my colleagues can correct me if
if I've missed one, Okay, I have. I have a couple of
other questions. Last week we talked. We're talking a lot about the the
eight convoy, the difficulties in the to border crossings and the third one eras,
do you have any update? Does the UN have any new humanitarian deliveries
in Takaza through the all three crossings, including fuels. Uh? Yeah,
As I mentioned at the start of this briefing, Uh, there's still no
traffic of humanitarian goods going through the Rapa crossing which is closed, and there's
still a lack of safe and logistically viable access to the Currem Shalom crossing.
So we're trying to get things, including through the Areas crossing, but the
amount of stuff traveling has been very small in recent days. The wild is
the situation of the fuel for for for UN agencies in Sadgasa at this stage
where we're rationing fuel. I believe that there was a small amount of fuel
that was able to arrive over the weekend. So we're not we're not in
a shutdown mode, but but we are we are very low on fuel.
Yes, behind that doesn't meet please, yes, you you haven't had a
chance. It's Georgia from Athens and Cypros Agency. Thank you for hand.
Thanks are there any updates in the wake of missus oligin visit to Cyprus.
What will the next steps be? She said that she will compile a report
on the results of your contacts with the two side. So what will this
report can take? Thank you? Yeah, Well, as you know the
the special envoyment, Miss Wilgin will will also brief the Council and keep them
informed about her work. So that will be the next update you'll get about
the visits that she's had, Pam, thanks Arhan. On the Brazil front
on the floods, there's been an increase, particularly in the south as of
this morning. How much has the UN been able to get in and what
are the efforts to help? Thank you. I believe we gave an update
last Friday about our efforts and so we are coordinating and we have been doing
some efforts on the ground in conjunction with the Brazilian authorities. I'll see whether
we can get a further update this week. Yes, please. According to
some news stories, the Iraq's Prime Minister, mister Studni, has requested UN
Secretary General to permanently and the mandate of the United Nation assistance for Iraq by
end of twenty twenty five. So the question is has Secretary General received such
a letter and if yes, what he thinks about this request? Thank you.
Yeah, we in fact did receive a letter from the Prime Minister of
Iraq last Thursday about the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, and
we've transmitted that letter to the President of the Security Council. Ultimately, as
you know, our mandates are set by the Security Council and it will be
the decision of the Security Council to to determine the future of the mission.
Now, we have been doing work in Iraq since two thousand and three and
as you know, last year we were requested by the Security Council to conduct
an independent strategic review of UNAMI, and on the twenty fourth of March of
this year, the Secretary General reported back to the Council on the outcome of
the independent strategic review. So the Council can take into account the results of
the strategic review as it determines the next mandate of UNAMI. The current mandate,
as you know, expires at the end of this month, and will
see how they proceed. But we trust that Council members and the Rocky government
will now find the best way forward and as they do that that they'll take
into a consideration the recommendations by the Independent Strategic Review in the back. Thank
you, mister Farahan. I'm Camellia from the Independent Persion, mister Varahan.
Yesterday Secretary Office State Antony Belincoln told the ABC which is Royal's attack on Rapha
will not destroy Hamas. Based on this comment, what is the United Nations
position? And I would love to know when was the last time the Secretary
General who spoke with President Biden? Thank you, He has spoken with him
intimidately. I don't have the last time, but we've been in touch with
our US counterparts on a very regular basis, including by the way through the
US mission here at the United Nations, and so we remain in close contact
with the US. Sorry, and Secretary of Lincoln's comment about Rapha. Our
comments on RAFA, as you know, are are unchanged, and we've warned
against any offensive in Rapha and and so we appreciate efforts by other countries to
also warn about the adverse impact of an operation on Refa. Okay, Dan
Abdelhamide, again, thank you for two follow ups. First on the Strategic
Review on Iraq. Can we get any details on what the review actually found
or is recommending? And then I have one more course. Yeah, I
mean, obviously the US, the United Nations doesn't intend to stay in countries
indefinitely. So what we try to do is devise ways that are essentially conditions
backed plans to withdraw our presence. And so this is what the Strategic Review
was working on. So this was a report that the Secretary General sent back
to the Security Council on the twenty fourth of March, and so now they're
they're evaluating it. We'll see whether the chair of that Strategy Strategic Review,
our old friend, Vulgar Perthes, is willing to talk at some point to
the press about it. And going back to what you said about the Secretary
General's meeting and meetings and Kuwait you talked about an AID conference that he attended.
Was I believe he did not attend that conference. He delivered a video
message to the conference. That's why I just told you about his meetings with
Kuwaiti officials. So that's what he was doing at the time. What was
who were they raising money for? And do we know how much money was
raised? Well, it was Kuwait who organized that conference, And I believe
they can tell you about the figures. But we had sent as I pointed
out, our Assistant Secretary General for Ocha, Joycemsuiya, and she was there.
We quoted her here and like I said, the Secretary General also contributed
a video message to that. Yes. Absolutely, follow up to this question,
did the Secretary journal discuss the financial crisis of Honora with the Kuwaiti officials
and on many officials as well. He's been discussing the needs of the UN
Relief and Works Agency with a wide number of interlocutors, so he does this
as a regular feature of his meetings with different leaders. My second question today,
Adnan Abhasna, the media adviser of Honora and GUS, said the following
that within twenty four hours were run out of fuel and within seventy two hours
were run out of food. If Rafah crossing continues to be closed, so
what is the We are in touch under our counterparts, we're trying, including
our Israeli counterparts, and we're trying to get fuel in. We've made it
very clear the need for fuel for our basic operations. No one should be
surprised if because of a lack of fuel, we have to shut things down
and we want to avoid getting to that point, and we've made that very
clear. By the way, I have the confirmation this is in fact the
first international UN casualty say, and I wanted to ask you if you have
a comment on the videos that are depicting settlers in the West Bank attacking aid
convoys and emptying out the aid materials that are heading to Kaza. Well,
this is this is appalling. Obviously there should be no attacks on humanitarian convoys
anywhere, and we stand firmly against them, and of course you know our
position on settlements. I believe online we actually have a question from if the
Car Thank you for Ron. Do you have an update on the figures then?
And the mission has result the situation? We don't. Yeah, we
haven't been tracking the figures in Afghanistan, those who were provided by the authorities,
the relevant authorities in Afghanistan. We believe that there have been several hundreds,
several hundreds of people reported dead in the floods so far, but we
will get that information from our Afghanissan counterparts. Thank you, Gabriel, Thank
you for hun There's video circulating on social media purporting to show the UN vehicle
there was attacked in this incident. Do you know of this video that's circulating
and can you confirm that that's the incident. I wouldn't be able to confirm
that at this stage where we're getting information and trying to get reports, including
from the parties on the ground to see what their own actions have been,
so I wouldn't have a narrative ready at this stage. Amily I mean sorry,
just a phototow up on that again. And at the beginning you said
you believe they are international staff. Now you say it is the first international
staff, So yes, there they are sure they are inter national staff.
They are international, there are international casualties. Yes, they are international staff.
I don't have nationalities to share with you, but they're not Palestinian.
Yes, And just to double check, because we talked about the wording that
you said it was struck, is it fair to characterize this as an attack?
Yes? Uh? And if we're and if that's it, then I
shall see you all tomorrow. Have a good afternoon. The show has been
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