UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the International Federation of the Red Cross, the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Trade and Development, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Humanitarian Aid in Gaza
Responding to questions from the media, Jens Laerke, for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that since the Kerem Shalom crossing had reopened, of the nearly 900 trucks approved to enter, almost 600 had been offloaded on the Gaza side. The routes being assigned by the Israeli authorities were often congested, insecure and there were significant delays in approvals. This limited number of convoys was a trickle, drip feeding food into an area on the verge of catastrophic hunger. Gaza was the hungriest place on earth and the aid operation was one of the most obstructed in the world, and in recent history. The tight control of the operation was imposed by the occupying power, Israel. The alternative modality suggested, was neither impartial, independent or workable. OCHA had tens of thousands of pallets of food and life-saving assistance poised to enter Gaza, which had been paid for by world donors. The aid had been cleared by customs and was ready to go. Concerns about aid diversion without real evidence could not justify shutting down an entire aid operation. The UN and partners had strict monitoring systems in place and had seen no major diversion of aid under their watch. What happened outside the system the UN controlled was not their responsibility. Now there needed to be a reopening of all crossing points into Gaza and to deliver food directly to families. All parties needed to respect international law
Tommaso Della Longa, for the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), said
it was deeply upsetting to know there were tons of humanitarian aid ready to enter the Gaza strip, but they could not enter. This was the case on the border of Egypt and Jordan. The President of the Palestinian Red Crescent had visited Geneva a few days ago and explained that the situation in Gaza was worsening every week. There was a lack of medical equipment and electricity. Chronic diseases were no longer being treated in facilities, leading to severe suffering from patients with cancer or those needing kidney dialysis. The suffering was immense; everyone was aware about the situation but action was still lacking, which was unacceptable.
Responding to additional questions, Mr. Laerke said the movements into Gaza were like being in a strait jacket; it was very complicated and obstructed. Requests for trucks with aid needed to be submitted, and some would not be allowed to enter. There needed to be another set of approvals for the trucks inside of Gaza to be able to move. This was very difficult considering that Gaza was an active warzone. Of the 900 trucks approved to enter, 600 entered on the Israeli side of Kerem Shalom and a fewer number were picked up and delivered into Gaza. Many were swarmed by desperate people who had picked off the items. They should not be blamed for this, but it meant aid was not being delivered in the way the UN wanted. The occupying power was blocking aid from entering which was creating the sense of desperation. The alternative modality offered was not working; it created chaos and a dangerous situation. People had been displaced by fighting and displacement orders. At present, 81 percent of the Gaza strip was within Israeli militarized zones or areas under displacement orders. Over the past two weeks around 200,000 people had been newly displaced.
Mr. Laerke clarified that the alternative modality had outlined that only they would be responsible for general food distribution. The UN had been able to bring flour and other items. The problem was that the modality seemed to intend to undermine the UN’s general food distribution, which was what was needed in this situation of acute food insecurity. Food needed to be distributed every single day. The food was ready and cleared but the blockade was there, and the aid could not enter.
Gaza was the hungriest place on earth as it was the only defined area where the entire population was at risk of famine, Mr. Laerke said in response to another question.
Heat Action Day
Tommaso Della Longa, for the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), said
Heat Action Day would take place on Monday, 2 June. A global campaign led by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies would shine a spotlight on one of the world’s deadliest but least recognized climate-related health risks: extreme heat. Today, every region of the world was affected, and the consequences for people’s physical and mental health were significant. Tragically many heat-related deaths were preventable. The Red Cross was mobilizing communities around a shared goal: to help people ‘Beat the Heat’ everywhere through practical, life-saving steps to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
The rising global threat of heatwaves was a major priority, especially for under-served urban communities, where risks were amplified by overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and lack of access to cooling. Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies were responding with a wide range of initiatives, including in Greece, Spain, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh and here in Geneva. On 2 June, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre would release a new report, elevating the voices of those hardest hit by the effects of heat. It would also include the latest figures on the growing health toll of extreme heat, and how this could be prevented. Mr. Della Longa said solutions existed. From Heat Action Plans and early warning systems to urban greening, passive cooling, and anticipatory actions, these approaches saved lives. The IFRC would continue to work side by side with communities around the world to help them ‘beat the heat’.
Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said WMO had been active on the topic of extreme heat in the World Health Assembly, and now had a new joint plan on extreme heat funded by the Rockerfeller Foundation. It was estimated that extreme heat killed half a million people per year, and often these deaths were not recorded. Advanced heat warning systems in just 57 countries could save nearly 100,000 lives per year. Less than one quarter of governments used climate and meteorological data in their health planning, and this had been a key focus of the World Health Assembly. There was an urgent need to work together to align more closely, which would be a focus of the joint plan.
Climate- and risk-related conferences
Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said on 2 to 3 June, WMO would host a Global Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) Multi-Stakeholder Forum, as part of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, in the WMO building in Geneva. There would be a wide range of participants, including National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, disaster risk managers, policymakers, technical experts, civil society, and youth. More details would be sent today, and it was by registration only. Additionally, the State of the Climate in South-West Pacific report 2024 would be released on 5 June, with a focus on marine heatwaves and the ocean. Copies would be sent out under embargo, and there would be an embargoed briefing for journalists.
Ms. Nullis also said that World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo had today addressed the opening of an international conference on Glaciers Preservation, in Tajikistan. WMO was co-leading the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, with partners including UNESCO. This was important, as five of the past six years had seen the most rapid glacier retreat on record. The World Glacier Monitoring Service estimated that glaciers had lost a total of more than 9,000 billion tons since records began in 1975, which was equivalent to a huge ice block of the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 meters. Together with ice sheets, glaciers stored about 70 percent of the global freshwater resources, and glaciers depletion threatened these supplies.
In the short-term, said Ms Nullis, glacier melt increased natural hazards like floods, which had been recently seen here in Switzerland where a major glacier collapse triggered a gigantic avalanche which buried much of the small village of Blatten in the southern Alps. This highlighted the importance of early warning action and how these could be used to save people’s lives. In 2022-2023 in Switzerland, glaciers had lost around 10 percent of their remaining volume. Ms. Saulo had also mentioned other regions including Central Asia, where the Van Yakh Glacier, the largest in the region, had lost approximately 16 cubic kilometers in volume and 45 square kilometers in area in recent decades; the equivalent of 6.4 million Olympic swimming pools and 6,000 football fields worth of ice. Ms. Nullis said there were five urgent and practical actions to be taken: tackle global warming; strengthen monitoring systems; unlock the power of partnerships; turn science into policy; and invest in people.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed was in Tajikistan, where today, she would take part in the opening session of the international conference on Glacier Preservation, where she would emphasise the need to accelerate climate action to achieve the 1.5-degree target, to reduce the impact of melting glaciers on people and planet. The Deputy Secretary-General would then visit Geneva next week, to participate in the global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025. She would also meet with senior Swiss government official and heads of delegations.
Responding to questions, Ms. Vellucci said she would check if the Deputy Secretary-General could provide a media briefing to journalists.
UN Ocean Conference in Nice
Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said UNCTAD would be represented at the UN Oceans Conference in Nice next week by Rebecca Grynspan. With over 80 percent of trade being carried out by sea, the ocean was vital to global connectivity and climate regulation. The ocean economy was experiencing unprecedented growth, expanding at a rate of 250 per cent per decade. In 2023, it reached a record $2.2 trillion in combined trade of ocean-based goods and services. However, it faced mounting pressures from pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, damaged marine ecosystems, and fragmented governance. The ocean was heating at an alarming rate, acidifying and losing oxygen. More than a third of global fish stocks were below sustainability levels and an estimated 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean annually.
UNCTAD was advocating for urgent, practical solutions, including: the upscale of blue finance via innovative mechanisms; the reform of environmentally harmful fisheries subsidies; and the advancement of sustainable marine-based innovations to support vulnerable countries. Its recent Ocean Forum put forward 15 action-oriented recommendations to strengthen ocean governance and align trade, investment and sustainability objectives. Genetic resources in the high seas were too important to remain under-regulated and inadequately managed. The timely entry into force of the UN Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) was essential to ensure their fair and sustainable use. Ms. Huissoud clarified the Ocean’s Conference was being organized by the Governments of France and Costa Rica.
Announcements
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that the Committee on the Rights of the Child would conclude its 99th session this afternoon at 5pm and issue its concluding observations on the six countries reviewed: Norway, Indonesia, Iraq, Romania, Qatar and Brazil.
Ms Vellucci, for UNIS, also said that next Tuesday, 3 June, UN Geneva would commemorate World Bicycle Day with a special, first of its kind, event. With the support of the Union Cycliste Internationale and the Permanent Mission of Belgium, journalists were invited to meet at the Pregny Gate at 9:30am for a short bicycle ride down to the Broken Chair, where pictures would be taken.
On Tuesday, June 3, UNOG would also commemorate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers with an event at 4pm in Ariana Park. A flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony would be followed by several speeches, including by the United Nations Geneva Director-General, Tatiana Valovaya.
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