WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:09.279 Thank you for listening to Pictures Media Radio. 2 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:24.800 Welcome to Policy and Rights. 3 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:29.600 Show. Gosh, welcomer, Policy Human Joy. 4 00:00:56.840 --> 00:00:59.560 Good afternoon everyone, we're. 5 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:13.280 About welcome at the Policy Rights here in Depictions Media Radio. 6 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:17.560 I'm your host, Michael Cloggs. Okay, let's start this off 7 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:23.120 with UH Donald Trump and his tariffs and UH. According 8 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:27.640 to BBC UH the UH, US President Donald Trump has 9 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:33.560 announced a sweeping set of new tariffs targeting countries that 10 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:38.760 export products to the United States. The announcement includes a 11 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:43.560 significant thirty four percent tariff on imports from China and 12 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:47.799 a twenty percent tariff on goods from euro from the 13 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:52.359 European Union. The White House stated that the tariffs are 14 00:01:52.439 --> 00:02:02.519 designed to the reciprocal, aiming to address what it views 15 00:02:02.760 --> 00:02:12.280 as unfair trade practices, to which I some of the 16 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:15.919 trade agreements that are in place today as he is 17 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:19.439 currently in office are were the same trade agreements that 18 00:02:19.479 --> 00:02:24.159 were in place at the time he left office, because 19 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:29.080 he set them up. Now, all of a sudden, they 20 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:33.159 are unfair. But he was the one who signed a 21 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:38.120 lot of these trade agreements. President Biden, while he was 22 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:43.759 in office, he did a lot to build up the 23 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:48.840 commerce within the United States so that he could lower 24 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:57.840 the unemployment rate, increase the income to the American families, 25 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:03.400 so that they could participate in the trade agreements that 26 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:12.759 were set up by the previous administration, which was Donald Trump's. Now, 27 00:03:12.759 --> 00:03:15.400 all of a sudden, Donald Trump is saying they're unfair 28 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:23.560 trade practices. I don't know. Something just isn't right there. Okay. 29 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:28.280 So with that being said, Mark Carney, while he is 30 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:32.120 on the campaign trail, because we are going to be 31 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:36.919 heading into election April twenty eighth here in Canada, make 32 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:39.639 sure you go out and vote. Make sure you cast 33 00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:43.240 that vote, because you need to be heard. This is 34 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:47.639 an important election. It could mean the difference between hey, 35 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:56.960 living well or struggling, depending on who you choose. If 36 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:03.080 depending on who you choose, depending on who you decide 37 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:07.080 it's going to be an Ottawa, depends on what type 38 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:11.960 of way we are going to be seen in the world. 39 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:16.040 Do we want to be seen as another white supremacy, 40 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:19.560 laughing as a joke as the United States is being 41 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:22.480 seen right now, or do we want to see as 42 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:31.160 something prominent and trying not to influence you. But hey, 43 00:04:32.040 --> 00:04:39.759 Mark Carney is talking about building up Canada and mister 44 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:43.480 Povy at the other side of of what he's saying. 45 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:48.720 He he's saying a lot of the exact same things 46 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:52.319 that Donald Trump was saying when he was campaigning for president. 47 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:59.319 Something to think about we have we're coming to that choice. 48 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:04.319 Make sure you cast the vote. Mister Carney is said 49 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:13.079 in response to Donald Trump did nothing is off the table. 50 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:19.240 As in response to the tariffs, they they don't want 51 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:23.319 to this way. Mister Carney does not want to see 52 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:25.439 the tariffs, he doesn't want to see the trade war. 53 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:29.279 But he is willing to defend Canada. He is willing 54 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:34.160 to defend the Canada's workers, and he is willing to 55 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:38.040 go to bat for Canada on the world scene and 56 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:43.879 build new trade agreements that those who want to reciprocate 57 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:49.560 the goodwill that Canada always puts forth into the world. Okay, 58 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:54.240 so let's move on in with that which is on 59 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:57.600 the global scene. We should talk about NATO, and we're 60 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:02.319 gonna hear from Mark Root, the Secretary General of NATO, 61 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:08.879 as he talks about some things, some issues with NATO 62 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:13.240 and what is happening in the world, support for Ukraine, 63 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:17.560 and he talks about a the billions and billions of 64 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:24.399 euros that are being donated to help Ukraine as they 65 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:30.279 are up against a very tough enemy. That he also 66 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:37.839 mentions a very important anniversary and anniversary that this should 67 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:48.199 have never happened, as they discovered camps in Bukharev that 68 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:58.839 where Ukrainian people were being tortured inhumane acts, and with 69 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:05.399 that it is causing it is, it is some of 70 00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:10.120 the causes that we're seeing seeing today that Russia still 71 00:07:10.360 --> 00:07:17.319 wants to quote unquote keep Ukraine under its thumb. Vladimir 72 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:23.279 Putin doesn't even want to recognize Baltimore U Zelensky as 73 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:26.399 the president of Ukraine. He says he's a false president 74 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:33.480 and was put there by Western powers by election fixing. 75 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:40.079 There is there's a lot a lot going on, and 76 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:47.000 the fighting itself needs to come to end, and some 77 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:50.480 sort of long, last, longing peace needs to be put 78 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:56.600 in place. Mister Putin said in some statements a few 79 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:59.600 days ago that he would like to put a infim 80 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:04.519 government in there that is controlled by Russia so that 81 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:11.920 mister Zelensky could be removed from power. I guess the 82 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:16.319 lasting that Ukraine really, the people of Ukraine really need, 83 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:24.800 as I've heard from sources, is another puppet government. Mister 84 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:29.800 Root is going to commend Donald Trump and his team 85 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:32.799 for efforts that they have put forward to bring a 86 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:37.600 long lasting peace. There's a caveat to that, I would say, 87 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:46.639 because if that long lasting piece means that Donald Trump's 88 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:54.480 administration gets to control the minerals and mining rates in Ukraine, 89 00:08:54.840 --> 00:09:00.960 that could be a serious problems. As we saw when 90 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:05.320 when he attempted to bully mister Zelensky in the White 91 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:09.759 House that that was definitely on the table. That was 92 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:12.600 a tool that they were talking about. 93 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:17.399 So we'll. 94 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:23.919 See how all this pans out. Going back to democracy, 95 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:28.679 we would like to it's it's time to congratulate Wisconsin 96 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:34.559 on their victory over the over Donald Trump. I can't 97 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:39.480 see Republicans because he isn't really a Republican. He's his 98 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:40.279 own thing. 99 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:43.840 That they in. 100 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:50.039 The election that they had for certain judge seats and 101 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:54.799 send the seats that they did manage to come out 102 00:09:54.919 --> 00:10:00.360 victorious over uh Elon Musk having putting millions of millions 103 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:03.480 of dollars into campaigns there to try to come up 104 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:08.919 with a victory and take over that state. Okay, so 105 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:12.279 we're back to the global scene again with the world 106 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:16.559 field program, and we're going to hear a report on 107 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:25.440 the Democratic Republic of the Congo as what is happening 108 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:31.440 there for human rights. And part of this report is 109 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:36.600 going is going to discuss the tens of millions of 110 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:43.600 people who are at risk for starvation and how funding 111 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:48.960 cuts to the WHO and the WFP are actually affecting 112 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:59.159 their efforts. That this from the United Nations website. The 113 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:04.720 WF is prioritizing countries with the greatest needs and sketching 114 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:14.440 food rations at the front lines while we are doing 115 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:21.759 everything possible to reduce the operational costs. Make no mistake, 116 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:28.000 we are facing a funding cliff with life threatening consequences. 117 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:36.480 And that was from Nia dash the gash Karma as 118 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:42.559 she is the assistant executive director for the partners and Innovation. 119 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:52.279 So some of what we saw humanitarian aid cuts that 120 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:59.320 were done by the US d O G e a k. 121 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:04.840 A Elon Musk saying that some things needed to be 122 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:10.759 cut out, that they were excessive spending and things like 123 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:16.320 that or having devastating results in other parts of the world. 124 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:21.639 This is what happens when you put in place a 125 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:29.440 wealthmonger instead of a person who understands diplomacy. And humanity. 126 00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:36.039 And this is where the United States is heading and 127 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:40.519 or has headed. They are there, that's exactly where they are. 128 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:45.360 They rather see the White House would rather see money 129 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:53.759 than human their prosperity of the human race. And we 130 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:57.039 need to send a clear and definitive message back that 131 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:01.399 situations like this that are happening with the World Food Program, 132 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:04.360 that they can't distribute the food that they need to 133 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:14.720 because of budget cuts, operational cuts, donation cuts, and that 134 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:19.360 being handcuffed because they just don't have the funding to 135 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:24.559 get the job done as best as they should be 136 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:28.879 able to. That we need to send a clear and 137 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:34.639 definitive message back to global leaders that this is unacceptable. 138 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:43.159 So with that being said, we're going to hear first 139 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:57.399 from the the WFP on the uh Dominic Democratic Republic 140 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:01.679 of the Congo, and then we are going to hear 141 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:08.000 after that a human rights statement from the United Nations 142 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:09.399 Human Rights Office. 143 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:20.600 Excellent, the hi to both of you, Well, thank you 144 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:23.840 so much for joining us, and thank you to those 145 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:26.440 of you who are in the room. So, as we 146 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:29.919 mentioned a little bit earlier today, there's a new Integrated 147 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:34.039 Food Security Phase Classification Analysis, better known as the IPC 148 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.879 report that was published earlier today on the Democratic Republic 149 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:40.200 of the Congo. So we're very pleased today to have 150 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:43.720 someone that you know very well, that you've seen very 151 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:48.120 often here Jean Martebauer, whom you have seen in his 152 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:52.399 previous role many times as country director for WFP and Haiti. 153 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:55.440 He's now in Rome and he's the Director of Food 154 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:59.320 Security and Nutrition and Analysis still of course at the 155 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:03.480 World Food And we also have Shelley Tackrel who is 156 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:08.799 WFP spokesperson in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and 157 00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:12.919 she is joining us from Kinshasa. Jean Marte I think 158 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:15.000 we will be able to see you on the big 159 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:17.559 screen over here. Let me give you the floor first. 160 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:22.840 Hi, Stefaniely, thank you. You cut out at the end there, 161 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:27.559 but I think it's it's over to me. Good afternoon everyone. 162 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:31.080 I'd like to take a few minutes to talk you 163 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:36.039 through the highlights of the latest IPC release for the 164 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:41.200 Democratic Republic of Congo. What's of note is that this 165 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:46.120 new data shows how this conflict in the eastern Democratic 166 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:49.799 Republic of Congo is affecting food security in the country. 167 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:54.679 The data shows that twenty seven point seven million people 168 00:15:55.639 --> 00:16:01.960 in the DRC are facing acute food insecurity. This is 169 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:06.559 an unprecedented level. This is the highest level on record 170 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:11.519 that we've seen in the country. We've been monitoring food 171 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:15.320 security in the DRC with the IPC system since two 172 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:18.320 thousand and eight, and this is the highest number we 173 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:18.720 have ever. 174 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:22.240 Then one second, if you don't mind, and I apologize 175 00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:26.360 for interrupting, but here in the room, we're hearing We're 176 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:28.879 hearing some other sound. Is there somebody maybe that is 177 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:35.279 not muted on the zoom. I don't know if our 178 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:41.799 technical colleagues can check. They're telling me to wait a second, 179 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:52.879 just wave at me when we can resume. Sorry about that. 180 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:55.200 It should be fixed very shortly. 181 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.720 Of the East. 182 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:10.799 Go ahead of the IPC, showing that they are a 183 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:16.160 subset of the population with very very high needs. The 184 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:19.440 factors that have contributed to making this crisis what it 185 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:24.279 is are, of course displacement. It's been conflict, but it's 186 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:27.720 also been the economic impacts of the situation. This has 187 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.599 moved quite quickly in the past few months. Since December, 188 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:36.599 we've seen these accelerated displacement in the east of d 189 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:39.720 r C. We've seen a disruption to trade and markets. 190 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:43.960 Banks in the East of dr C have been closed. 191 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:47.720 That's causing a liquidity crisis. That's having an impact on 192 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:52.039 commodity prices. It's having an impact on people's ability to 193 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:57.519 survive and to implement their livelihoods. The insecurity is also 194 00:17:57.559 --> 00:18:00.599 affecting farming in the east of the DRC. So the 195 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:03.880 situation is bad now, it could possibly get worse. 196 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:04.799 So to. 197 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:09.119 Give you the highlights again, twenty seven point seven million 198 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:14.519 people in IBC Phases three and four in DRC, three 199 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:18.319 point nine million in Phase four. The problem is concentrated 200 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:21.400 in the east of the DRC. The IDP population, the 201 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:25.079 internally displaced population, is quite affected and we've seen an 202 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:27.839 increase of two point five million people since the last 203 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:30.839 time we did an IPC in the DRC. I'd like 204 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:33.759 to hand it over to my colleague Shelley and kinshasa 205 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:39.680 over to you. Shelley, so much. 206 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:47.039 Tramata, Yeah, pretty bleak picture. I'm talking to you from Kishasa, 207 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:52.519 the capital. I have spent time in Goma and it's 208 00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:57.680 really hard to basically understand the fact that this isn't 209 00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:00.599 also a new crisis. This has been going on for decades. 210 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:03.920 Others will tell you that, you know, they are now 211 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:07.079 having to sell what little they have to find food. 212 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:10.440 Many will go without food to feed their children. They're 213 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:16.279 forced into malnutrition, higher risk of disease and mortality. Let's 214 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:19.839 not forget that we already have cases of empos more 215 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:24.279 than eighty thousand and cholera more than seven thousand. Crime 216 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:30.079 has reached an alarming level. We have seen that security 217 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:34.880 has just paralyzed the local economy and as Gen Martin mentioned, 218 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:38.559 you know, banks are shuttered, shops are shuttered, and you 219 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:41.039 know this has had a massive knock on effects on 220 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:44.640 the local population who are just also living in this 221 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:49.720 climate of fear, of deep uncertainty. And although some schools 222 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:54.640 have resumed activities, it's super irregular. Food prices have gone up, 223 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:59.000 everything from maize, flower, cazava, cooking oil all up by 224 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:02.519 nearly forty percent since December last year. The cost of 225 00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:07.720 fuel supply chains are tough for us. We've been able 226 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:11.759 to resume some operations in parts of North and South Kivu, 227 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:15.079 and just to give you a snapshot, we've been able 228 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:17.799 to reach six hundred thousand people so far in twenty 229 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:22.160 twenty five. Don't forget we're almost four months into this 230 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:25.359 year and in December alone, in twenty twenty four we 231 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:30.039 were reaching one point eight million. So this is having 232 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:35.079 a massive effect on the humanitarian need to get to 233 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:41.160 people when you've got such alarming numbers that the IPC 234 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:45.920 is showing us today. And I just want to give 235 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:49.000 you just finally, you know, a couple of a couple 236 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:52.240 of thoughts. Let's not forget this country is one of 237 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:59.279 the world's most fertile. It only, however, has ten million 238 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:03.240 of eighty min an arable land that's cultivated. Fifty percent 239 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:06.799 of Africa's water resources are here. You fly over the country, 240 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:09.400 you say, you see the congo basa, you see you know, 241 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:14.240 you see fertility, you see things growing. But despite the 242 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:18.079 fact that we've got enough resources to feed the people 243 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:21.839 here and beyond in Africa, we could export food, we 244 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:25.279 could really help the local economy. But it's a combination 245 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:31.240 of efforts of factors. The conflict, food prices, fuel prices, 246 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:37.400 poor infrastructure, tarmac roads has just basically pushed these people 247 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:41.839 further and further into hunger. And you know that potential 248 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:45.960 has just been unexploited. I just want to leave you 249 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:49.000 with a couple of quotes from people that we've met 250 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:54.240 just recently Blinda left Goma two weeks ago. She's now 251 00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:58.119 back in Missisi Province in North Kivu. She said, I'm 252 00:21:58.119 --> 00:22:01.319 struggling to settle down because i don't have anything, and 253 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:05.440 everything I had has gone. I've got to restart. Piece 254 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:08.759 is my number one priority. It would allow me to 255 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:12.160 continue farming, which would allow me to cover our needs 256 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:15.359 and the needs of our family. And then Sifa, who's 257 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:18.799 now back in Sake. She told us, many of our 258 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:21.720 houses have been burned. This is the most pressing concern. 259 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:26.400 We returned home. We've got nothing. My home is burnt down, 260 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:29.319 my land is just destroyed. I'm living with my mother, 261 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:32.599 and I still don't even know where my husband is. 262 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:36.519 He fled and the conflict has left many of us, 263 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:39.279 you know, almost like widows. We just don't know where 264 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:43.000 our families are. We've lost many men and many husbands. 265 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.799 So I'll just pause there. 266 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:47.559 Thank you, Thank you so much to both of you. 267 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:52.519 Let us open here for some questions. I'll give the 268 00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:53.799 floor first to Gabrielle. 269 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:56.839 Hello. 270 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:00.400 This is Gabriel Alexander from Aldasera English. Thank you so 271 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:05.519 much for the very important and timely briefing. Excuse me 272 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:10.319 two questions and sobering, I should say as well, two 273 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:14.960 questions for Shelley. I just wanted to confirm some numbers 274 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:17.880 that you gave to make sure I heard them correctly. 275 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:22.519 You said in December of last year you were able 276 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:26.519 to reach one point eight million people, and so far 277 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:32.599 through today of twenty twenty five, all this year, it's 278 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:35.279 six hundred thousand. Did I hear that correctly? 279 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:40.319 You did, indeed, And just bearing in mind that twenty 280 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:42.880 fifth of January is when Gomer was seized, and then 281 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:46.599 it was about three weeks later that Bukavu fell, So 282 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.079 there was a whole period. 283 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:49.039 Of real. 284 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:53.119 Insecurity where we weren't able to get on the ground. 285 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:56.559 The safety of our staff was first and foremost. We 286 00:23:56.680 --> 00:24:00.359 also had warehouses that were looted almost five We had 287 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:04.200 a vast number of stocks that were taken. So we've 288 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:07.200 had to really do a couple of things, get stuff 289 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:10.359 to safety, think about when we can resume operations in 290 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:12.799 a safe and timely manner. And we were really only 291 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:15.759 able to get going towards the end of February. So 292 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:19.880 that's where we're seeing figures. Yes, you know, we'd like 293 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:23.000 to be able to get up to higher numbers. A month. 294 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:25.039 But we're going to have to do this, you know, 295 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:26.799 one day at a time, one step at a time, 296 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:31.839 because of security restrictions, because of funding, and just because 297 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:35.480 of you know, just the humanitarian challenges that we are 298 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:38.759 facing right now in the eastern side of Congo. 299 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:42.640 There's a lot of challenges right now in and around Goma. 300 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:44.960 There's probably could spend an hour talking about them all, 301 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:47.759 but can you tell us about the top one from 302 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:49.920 your perspective, that's really hindering your work. 303 00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:55.880 So the airport's been closed since January, Goma Airport and 304 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:59.759 as you can imagine, that has for us, as you 305 00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:02.119 Mu Panetarian workers. We need to get in, We need 306 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.640 to be on the ground. We need to make sure 307 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:09.000 it's not just for WFP, but we operate the United 308 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:13.759 Nations Humanitarian Air Services for all of NGOs. And the 309 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:15.680 NGOs want us back, you know, they want the U 310 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:19.519 went back. They need us to kind of continue to help, 311 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:24.119 you know, really rally and rally that support. We need 312 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:25.920 to be there. We need to be there for the people. 313 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:31.519 The banks have been shut. That causes some massive liquidity crisis. 314 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:34.279 People you go to a market, they can't even afford 315 00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:37.720 you know, a banana or you know, a kind of 316 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:40.480 can of water. You know, people have lost their livelihoods, 317 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:43.039 and you know, as this is encroached further into the 318 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:45.680 urban center as well, and you know, just just to 319 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:50.960 talk about Goma, whereas you would have had up until December, camps, 320 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:55.160 makeshift camps and circling Goma and then twenty kilometers away 321 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:58.880 camps of a million people. People told to go home, 322 00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:01.799 go back to you, go back to your villages. You 323 00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:04.279 know we're not. This is the M twenty three, the 324 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:08.680 armed groups. You know we're not. We're not putting up 325 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:11.119 with the camps anymore. So off they had to go. 326 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:14.119 And where are they going? They don't know, they don't 327 00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:15.759 know what they're turning up to. And these people have 328 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:20.160 been multiply displaced over years. You'll meet people who went 329 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:23.160 to Uganda, came back, they went to Sake, they then 330 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:26.759 went to Goms. They're now go they've gone back to Tsake. 331 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:30.640 So it's really tough for these returneys, it's really and 332 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:33.480 they've lived through trauma and they tell us how much 333 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:35.079 more do I have to live through? 334 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:39.640 Kerrie, same stuff. 335 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:44.279 Hi, Carrie Notton from radiol and Lamonde. Thank you Shelley 336 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:46.960 for telling us so many details, because it's hard for 337 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:50.039 us also to have a good accounting on what's happening 338 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:52.200 in the ground. I have a question for Jean Martin, 339 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:55.359 because Joe Martin, in your previous role, I interviewed you 340 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:58.920 when you were in Aiti, and I remember it was 341 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:01.400 a Satain type of problem. You were in a very 342 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:05.160 fertile country where you have a lot of crops. You 343 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:09.839 were talking about dozens of thousands of mangoes which were 344 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:13.240 rotting in haitis and et cetera. So I guess it's 345 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:16.920 a very frustrating solution, but I remember also that in 346 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:19.960 it you managed to put in place some solutions and 347 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:24.240 some tactics. Are you managed to harvesting on these solutions 348 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:27.920 and tactics and are you able to already implement them 349 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:32.400 in RDC or the airport being closed? It really is 350 00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:34.599 the number one blockage, as you just told Gabrielle. 351 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:40.319 So I'll give you. 352 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:46.359 An initial answer and Shelley will help us with the 353 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:49.039 situation on the ground in the RC. But I can 354 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:54.319 tell you that unfortunately the situation is too common. The 355 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:58.079 number one cause for acute food and security worldwide is 356 00:27:58.200 --> 00:28:02.319 conflict weldwide, you've got three hundred and forty three million. 357 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:04.359 People who are facing a cute food and security. 358 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:08.960 Sixty percent of them are in fragile contexts, places like 359 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:11.519 the DRC, places like Haiti where there is a potential 360 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:18.279 for agriculture, but where violence unfortunately disrupts markets and throws 361 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:23.160 people into a situation of vulnerability. This is again what 362 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:26.359 hunger is like in our day and age over to 363 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:28.160 Shelley for the details about DRC. 364 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:34.920 Indeed, and you know, beyond the emergency, you know, I 365 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:39.720 can absolutely, you know, rest assured. You know where we 366 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.799 want to We want to be helped to support farmers. 367 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:43.480 We want to be able to support women. We want 368 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:45.519 to get them the skills that they need to run 369 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:49.720 their businesses, to have better market practices, to be able 370 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:53.480 to kind of get their produce to markets. But you 371 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:55.400 know what, when you haven't got a bank that you 372 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:57.519 can go to, when you can't get money out and 373 00:28:57.640 --> 00:29:00.880 you just don't know, you don't even know if you 374 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:04.680 can kind of feed feed your kids. Yes, what we 375 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:07.640 will continue to do, and we do this with FAO 376 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:11.839 as well, is to kind of encourage kitchen farms, you 377 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:14.720 know where we can do school feeding but all this 378 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:17.680 is is just it's a tiny portion of what this 379 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:20.920 emergency is right now. And if you don't have peace, 380 00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:23.079 if you don't have peace on the table, if you 381 00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:25.519 don't have a cease fire, if you don't just call 382 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:28.480 a sensation to all of this, it's those people that 383 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:30.759 will continue to suffer. 384 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:39.119 Questions in the room. No, So then thank you so 385 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:42.119 much to both of you for joining us. The full report, 386 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:44.640 as you know, is available online. So thank you to 387 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:47.519 Jean Martin Bauer, who's the Director of Food Security and 388 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:51.200 Nutrition Analysis at the World Food Program, and also to 389 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:56.400 Shelley Thackrol, who is the WFP spokesperson in the DRC, 390 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:59.559 and she spoke to us from Kinchassa, and Jehan Martin 391 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:02.160 spoke to us from Rome and Italy. Thank you so 392 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:05.160 much to both of you, and thanks to you for 393 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.240 being here in the room. 394 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:09.359 Thank you, Stephanie, thank you. 395 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.880 Thank you so much. 396 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.359 Thank you. 397 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:21.519 Thank you. 398 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:24.440 Mister President Distinguish, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of 399 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:26.880 the Voluntary Fund for Technical Corporation in the Field of 400 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:33.400 Human Rights, Mister Santiago Corsuera, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Human 401 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:37.319