REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Corinne Momal-Vanian, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was also attended by Spokespersons for the Human Rights Council, the International Telecommunications Union, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Organization for Migration, and the United Nations Refugee Agency.

At the beginning of the briefing, Ms. Momal-Vanian said although this was not her last briefing, she would like to introduce her successor, Ahmad Fawzi, who was well known already to the press. He would be the interim Director of the United Nations Information Service. He had a long and distinguished career at the United Nations, including as the Head of the News and Media Division at the Department of Public Information in New York, Head of the United Nations Information Centre in London from 1997 to 2003, and Spokesperson and Communication Advisor for many Special Representatives and Special Envoys, including Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi on Syria. He would officially take over on 15 April.

Ukraine

Christophe Boulierac, speaking for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said many children had been injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance in east Ukraine. At least 109 children had been injured and 42 killed in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine since March last year. These Government-reported figures may not reflect the actual number of child casualties from landmines and unexploded ordnance in eastern Ukraine, as the number would be significantly higher if they included non-Government controlled areas. After a year of conflict, many communities in eastern Ukraine had been exposed to extreme levels of violence, including through the use of heavy weapons – the remnants of which had been left behind in devastated towns and villages. Children in particular were at risk from unexploded ordnance and landmines which may be brightly coloured and small enough to pick up or kick around. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine was actively clearing Government-controlled areas from mines and unexploded ordnance in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. More than 33,717 items of ordnance had been located and removed thus far.

Mr. Boulierac said UNICEF and its partners had launched a mine-risk education campaign in crisis-affected areas of Ukraine to provide 500,000 children and their families with lifesaving information about the risks posed by landmines and explosives. The campaign included risk educational messages in print, video and digital formats as well as the training of 100 teachers and school psychologists on mine-risk awareness. With the 4 April International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action just days away, the situation in Ukraine was a grave reminder that despite global progress in de-mining, children and communities continued to fall victim to mines and explosive remnants of war.

Yemen

Mr. Boulierac of UNICEF, responding to a question on whether UNICEF had information about children in Yemen, where at least 10 countries were participating in aerial attacks, and had there been children victims of the bombing, said that in this difficult situation in Yemen, UNICEF was in the process of gathering information on the numbers of victims, especially children. He did not have any reliable figures to give now. UNICEF was also reminding all parties in the Yemen conflict that they were obliged to protect children.

A journalist asked if tentative figures were available as journalists in Yemen were reporting that scores of children had been killed, Egyptian battle ships were now firing into the country, and there was a blockade, and in some cities people had not had food or water for five days. Mr. Boulierac said they were following these reports but he could not provide journalists with any figures right now. They were getting reliable estimates and would return to journalists shortly.

Cecile Pouilly, speaking for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that OHCHR would be issuing a press release about Yemen later today, but she could already share some parts of it. OHCHR was deeply concerned about the fast deteriorating human rights situation in Yemen. OHCHR was deeply worried about the dozens of civilians killed in the past four days. The High Commissioner was particularly shocked about Monday’s air strike against the Al Mazraq camp for internally displaced people in Harad area of Yemen. These air strikes were apparently carried out by coalition forces. There were different accounts as to how many people were killed, but OHCHR staff on the ground had verified at least 19 fatalities, with at least 35 people injured, including 11 children. In Dhale, the thirty-third armoured division and Houthi affiliated brigades reportedly attacked three hospitals, causing an unknown number of casualties. Heavy fighting was also reported in the streets of Aden, again resulting in casualties. So far, OHCHR had been able to put together the following figures: since March 27, at least 93 civilians had been killed. OHCHR had reports that private homes, hospitals, education facilities, infrastructure in several locations had been destroyed. Civilian airports, as well as electricity supplies had also been targeted by coalition airstrikes, in Sa’da, Sanaa and Hudayda. Hundreds of people had fled their homes. OHCHR urged all parties to the conflict to protect civilians from harm and to respect principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution. In this context again, international humanitarian and human rights law should be fully respected. There were more details in the press release that would be issued shortly.

Joel Millman, speaking for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said IOM had 400 people in Yemen and a number of them were at the Al Mazraq camp yesterday because they operated in mobile units and were able to get there very quickly. They reported that 40 people had been killed, including three soldiers, and 200 had been injured, 25 of those quite severely. IOM expected these numbers to go up as the fighting was spreading. Available at the back of the room was a long release on all the different activities that IOM was doing in the different cities of Yemen. IOM staff spent the night hunkered down because of bombing raids. Internet and telephone links were difficult but IOM staff today were doing what they could in hospitals, restoring water systems. The Governments of Sri Lanka, Sudan, Ethiopia and several other countries had contacted IOM to start operations to help evacuate some of their citizens in Yemen. It was a very fluid situation. IOM concerns focused on migrants and displaced persons, whom it had been serving for many years in Yemen and would continue to do so.

Ms. Momal-Vanian referred journalists back to the concerns expressed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Sharm Al Sheik over the weekend about the need to protect all civilians.

William Spindler of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), responding to a question on Somali and other refugees in Yemen and whether UNHCR was involved with them, said UNHCR had some 250,000 registered refugees in Yemen, mostly Somalis but also Ethiopians, Iraqis and other nationalities. Just before the recent round of violence started, there were also 334,000 internally displaced people, many of whom had been displaced by previous fighting. The latest information they had was that there had been some movements of people fleeing Yemen for Somalia and Djibouti. UNHCR did not know how many of those were Yemenis, or whether they included Somalian refugees returning to Somalia. The numbers so far were fairly small, but UNHCR was preparing for a larger influx should it occur. UNHCR was preparing a transit centre in Djibouti and making provisions in Somalia. As far as the attack on Al Mazraq camp was concerned, he did not have information more than what Cecile had given them. He wanted to point out that there were two camps for internally displaced persons in Al Mazraq, and in total they were hosting some 5,500 people.

A journalist asked if the bombing of the Al Mazraq camp and the hospitals and the blockade constituted violations of international humanitarian law, or war crimes. Ms. Pouilly said it was too early to say. They were extremely concerned and that was why they were going to issue a statement to remind all sides of what their obligations were. In terms of analysis of what was a war crime and what was not, it was too early to say. OHCHR had staff on the ground but they needed to collect information and they needed to make a clear legal analysis. They would certainly continue to follow-up very closely on the situation and let journalists know about their findings and legal analysis. Obviously, targeting hospitals was a very worrying development for OHCHR.

In response to further questions, Ms. Pouilly said that except under very exceptional circumstances, hospitals should be protected and civilians should be saved. However, a legal analysis had to be made before very serious accusations like war crimes were made.

Asked why the count of dead and injured people had only started from 27 March, Ms. Pouilly said these were the figures they had based on reports of the around 15 persons they had on the ground and it was a temporary figure which would probably increase in the next few days.

Asked if the Indian Government had contacted IOM about evacuations, Mr. Millman said that he would check but he had not heard that it had.

In response to another question, Ms. Momal-Vanian said that the Security Council had not adopted any resolution on the coalition bombing of Yemen and repeated what Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had said on Saturday in Sharm Al Sheik. The Secretary-General said he had listened very carefully to the statements by King Salman of Saudi Arabia and President Hadi of Yemen and said he shared those concerns. He had repeatedly condemned the attempts by the Houthis and former President Saleh to undermine political agreements by military force and he took note that military action had been undertaken at the request of Yemen’s sovereign and legitimate leader, President Hadi. The Secretary-General recalled the presidential statement adopted by the Security Council a few days before that encouraged Yemenis to return to an inclusive political process as soon as possible that was conducted in good faith. The Secretary-General repeated that the negotiations facilitated by the United Nations Special Envoy, as endorsed by the Security Council, remained the only chance to prevent a long drawn-out conflict. He appealed again for the protection of all civilians.

Syria

Ms. Pouilly said OHCHR was deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Idleb, in north west Syria, after the city fell under the control of a coalition of anti-government armed groups last Saturday, 28 March. On Sunday, Syrian Government airplanes reportedly shelled a Red Crescent hospital in Idleb city, killing at least 15 civilians. Further attacks by the Syrian Air Force had been reported on a number of towns and villages in the governorate of Idleb, including Sarmin, Mantaf and Nayrab. Civilian casualties resulting from these attacks had been reported but they did not have a confirmed number of dead and injured at this point. OHCHR had received information about the execution of at least 15 detainees held at a detention centre of the Military Intelligence Branch by retreating Government forces on Sunday. Witnesses reported that hundreds of families were on the move seeking refuge in villages along the border with Turkey. The armed opposition groups now controlling Idleb had also reportedly been evacuating the civilian population from residential areas for fear of further government attacks. OHCHR was also deeply worried about threats by armed opposition leaders to attack the predominantly Shia villages of Al-Fu’ah and Kafraya, north east of Idleb city, in retaliation for the Government’s attacks on Idleb. The two villages were reportedly being besieged by opposition groups and there was a clear risk that their Shia populations would suffer reprisals. OHCHR reminded all parties to the conflict of their responsibilities under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including their obligation to protect civilians.

Ms. Momal-Vanian reminded journalists that there was a statement yesterday by the Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, Yacoub El Hillo, expressing concern at the situation in Idleb.

In response to a question on opposition groups in Idleb and whether it was mainly Al Nusra group, Ms. Pouilly said in fact it was a coalition of a number of opposition armed groups, and Al Nusra was one of these groups.

Somalia

Ms. Pouilly said OHCHR strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Maka al Mukarama Hotel in Mogadishu, on 27 March, resulting in the death of at least 18 people, including Ambassador Yusuf Mohamed Ismail “Bari Bari,” who was Somalia’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva and who had played a crucial role in advancing human rights in Somalia. His tragic death came only a day after a Human Rights Council resolution creating the mandate of an Independent Expert on the enjoyment of the rights of persons with albinism was adopted by consensus – a development due in no small part to Ambassador Bari Bari, who was the first diplomat to push for the plight of persons with albinism to be placed on the agenda of the Human Rights Council. OHCHR sent their condolences to his family and the families of all the victims caught up in Friday’s attack.

Ms. Momal-Vanian said journalists had probably seen the statement issued by Michael Møller, Acting Director-General of UNOG, on the death of Ambassador Bari over the weekend.

Bulgaria

William Spindler, speaking for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said UNHCR continued to receive testimonies from people seeking international protection, who had been denied entry, had been “pushed back” or had encountered violence at the European Union’s external borders. UNHCR was concerned over a recent incident where two Iraqi men lost their lives earlier this month at the land border between Bulgaria and Turkey. According to the information received, a group of 12 Iraqis belonging to the Yazidi minority, who were trying to enter Bulgaria from Turkey, were stopped by Bulgarian border guards. The Iraqis had their belongings seized and were badly beaten up. The group scattered and two of the men, who had sustained severe injuries, died later of hypothermia on the Turkish side of the border. According to the reports, a third person who was travelling with the group was taken in a critical condition to a hospital in Edirne, after the Turkish Gendarmerie was alerted and carried out a search operation to locate the victims. UNHCR urged the authorities in Bulgaria and Turkey to investigate this grave incident and was particularly disturbed by the accounts of brutality which may have contributed to the deaths of two people who, being members of the persecuted Yazidi community, were likely to have been refugees.

Reports and testimonies gathered by UNHCR in 2014 indicated that people searching for international protection often attempted to cross the border into Bulgaria multiple times, but had to turn back because of bad weather, were abandoned by the people smugglers they had paid to take them across the border, or were intercepted by the Turkish authorities before they managed to cross the border. Many, however, reported being denied entry or being “pushed back” by Bulgarian border guards. “Push-backs” were not in conformity with Bulgaria’s obligations to admit asylum-seekers to their territory. The use of violence had also been reported and, in many cases, people said that their money and property were confiscated by border police. With few legal alternatives to enter the European Union, many people fleeing conflict and persecution were undertaking increasingly dangerous journeys and using smugglers to reach safety. It was deeply disturbing that people in search of international protection were being turned away, often with violence. European Union Member States at the external border needed to ensure that these practices stopped, and should conduct independent and transparent investigations into allegations of abuses and illegal practices in their border regions.

Mr. Spindler said that Bulgaria was planning to add an additional 82 kilometres of razor wire fences to the existing 33-kilometre fence that was constructed in 2014 in response to an increase in the number of irregular arrivals, the majority of them from Syria. Efforts to reduce the number of irregular arrivals and asylum-seekers in Bulgaria had had a significant effect in 2014 with almost 50 per cent less arrivals than the previous year. According to the Bulgarian authorities, over 38,500 people attempted to cross irregularly the Bulgaria-Turkey border in 2014. Of these, around 6,000 - mostly Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis - reached Bulgaria. This was a significant drop in comparison to the 11,500 irregular arrivals (out of over 16,700 attempts) registered in 2013. The limited access to border posts, combined with the construction of more fences and “push-backs”, were leaving asylum-seekers with very few options. UNHCR had received emergency calls from people, mostly Syrians, who walked for days in harsh weather in remote areas to try to reach Bulgaria. Erecting fences and creating more barriers instead of providing additional legal avenues to reach safety in the European Union pushed people in need of international protection into increasingly dangerous situations with, sometimes, fatal consequences. Elsewhere, UNHCR had raised concerns over reports of border practices that might place refugees and migrants at risk, notably in Greece, where UNHCR had documented numerous accounts of “push-backs” at the land and sea borders with Turkey, especially in the last two years. UNHCR would address its recommendations to the new Greek Government about suggested improvements on various refugee-related protection issues, including a management of the country’s borders that took into account the protection needs of refugees and asylum seekers.

In response to a question, Mr. Spindler said there were not many details but apparently the event took place between 8 and 10 March.

Answering other questions, Mr. Spindler said that UNHCR was in touch with Bulgarian authorities and they were carrying out their own investigation and UNHCR was waiting to hear their version of events. UNHCR was calling for transparent and independent investigations by the Bulgarian and Turkish authorities. UNHCR was saying that European Union countries which were at the external border of the EU should refrain from actions that could endanger the lives of people. UNHCR was not against immigration control, but it needed to be done in a way that respected human rights, particularly the right to claim asylum. There seemed to be a trend of people being pushed back, apparently along this area between Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, and UNHCR was very concerned about this.

In response to another question, Mr. Spindler said those who make it into Bulgaria often claimed asylum there. The number of asylum requests in Bulgaria had gone up last year. Some of them continued their journey and claimed asylum in other European Union countries, unless they were prevented from doing so. Reception conditions in Bulgaria had improved somewhat, but they continued to be difficult. UNHCR was not asking the European Union to be involved, but it was asking that the EU as a whole look into the problem, not just this specific incident, but the fact that a number of measures had recently been taken lately that seemed to restrict access to EU territory by asylum seekers. UNHCR had recently issued a number of proposals for dealing with increased arrivals through the Mediterranean. Many of these proposals would also apply to land borders. The emphasis in Europe as a whole seemed to be on closing borders, and looking at it from the point of view of security and preventing access to Europe. UNHCR understood that there were security concerns in Europe, and huge concerns about immigration, in particular irregular immigration, but these concerns should not get in the way of people claiming asylum.

World Health Day Events – 7 April

Mr. Lindmeier, speaking for the World Health Organization (WHO), said World Health Day was celebrated on 7 April. This year, under the headline “From farm to plate, make food safe”, the Day would be launched in a global event in Paris on 7 April at Rungis’ International Market, in the presence of Dr. Margaret Chan. On Thursday, 2 April, there would be a media briefing at 10.30 a.m. in Press room 1 in Geneva to outline how globalization and the international reach of the food safety chain offer great opportunities – and threats – for human health. An embargoed press release was already available and could be used after the briefing. Also on 7 April, there would be another launch event, in parallel to the Rungis event, at WHO headquarters in Geneva at 1.30 p.m.

Geneva Activities

Ms. Momal-Vanian said the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities this morning would be concluding its consideration of the report of Croatia; this afternoon, it would start its review of the report of the Czech Republic, and tomorrow afternoon the report of Turkmenistan. The reports of the Dominican Republic, Mongolia, and the Cook Islands would be reviewed next week starting Tuesday, 7 April in the afternoon.

The Human Rights Committee would be concluding its one hundred and thirteenth session on Thursday, 2 April after adopting its concluding observations and recommendations on the reports of Russian Federation, Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Croatia and Monaco. On Wednesday, 1 April, the Committee would adopt its annual report in a public meeting. The Committee would give a press conference on Thursday, 2 April at 1:30 in press room I.

Ms. Momal-Vanian reminded journalists that Friday, 3 April was a day off in Geneva and there would be no briefing. The next briefing would be on Tuesday, 7 April.

Special Session on Boko Haram

Cendric Sapey, speaking for the Human Rights Council (HRC), reminded journalists that tomorrow, 1 April, the Human Rights Council would be holding its twenty-third Special Session on Boko Haram, as announced last week. Among the dignitaries who were expected to attend were Pierre Buyoya, former President of Burundi and High Representative of the African Union for Mali and the Sahel; the Minister of Justice of Chad; and the Minister Delegate in charge of the Commonwealth of Cameroon. They were still waiting for confirmation from dignitaries from Benin, Nigeria, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the African Group. The draft resolution was being presently discussed in informal meetings. Once it was public, he hoped to send the draft to journalists later today. The African Union would hold a press conference once the Special Session concluded tomorrow, in the presence of the above mentioned dignitaries. Rolando would not be available tomorrow so he would be dealing with any questions from journalists.

In response to a question on whether the High Commissioner would be making an opening statement, and if the list of participants with the full names would be sent out shortly and if it was already known who would be speaking when, Mr. Sapey said he did not have confirmation yet on who would open the Special Session. The order of speakers also depended on which dignitaries would sign up to speak. At this stage, they did not know how long the session would last, but he was sure there would be more details as they advanced in time. He would send out regular updates as details became clearer.

At the end of the briefing, Cecile Pouilly, speaking for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said indeed the High Commissioner would be opening the Special Session.

Preparatory Meeting for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015

Sanjay Acharya, speaking for the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), said he had a brief calendar item. ITU presently had a preparatory meeting in session for the forthcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 2015, which would be held in Geneva from 2 to 27 November. More than 1,100 delegates had been meeting since last week to identify solutions for the issues that would be considered by the Conference. A press briefing would be held on the outcome of this meeting on Thursday, 2 April, at 12:30 p.m. at the International Geneva Conference Centre, Room 18.

The Spokespersons for the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Development Programme were also present, but did not brief.
The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog310315