UN Geneva Press Briefing
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section, United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Socio-economic assessment of the Ebola crisis
Damien Mama, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, acting Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), speaking from Kinshasa, said as of this week, more than 1,400 cases and 350 deaths had been confirmed in the DRC and Uganda, with numbers continuing to rise. The Ebola epidemic in the DRC was not just a local health crisis; more than 90 percent of the confirmed cases are concentrated in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak and a major hub for cross-border trade with neighboring countries, particularly Uganda. Latest analysis showed the outbreak would push close to an additional one million people into poverty in a country like DRC, where six out of ten people lived under the poverty line. It could cost Africa up to 3.6 billion USD and put more than 300,000 jobs at risk. The DRC could lose more than 1 billion USD and 55,000 jobs, even if the outbreak was contained, and could reduce the continental GDP by 2.37 billion. The impact was being seen in real time; jobs were disappearing, markets slowing down and families being pushed to the edge. In desperate cases, families were forced to break isolation measures, which was why a medical response alone was not enough.
UNDP was working with the Government, as well as community leaders, to address the health emergency and the socio-economic crisis, and ensure people had access to reliable information. Women were at the centre of the response as caregivers, health workers and community leaders, while bearing a disproportionate burden as income fell and services were disrupted. Supporting women’s initiatives and strengthening resilience at the community level would help to contain the spread. It was currently a critical moment in the Ebola response; if we did not step up, the health emergency risked becoming a prolonged crisis across the region and potentially the continent.
For more information, please see press release.
Humanitarian response to earthquakes in Venezuela
Carlotta Wolf, for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said initial assessments from Venezuela revealed a sharp rise in humanitarian and protection needs following last week’s devastating earthquakes. In La Guaira, the hardest-hit state, food shortages were widespread, basic services had collapsed, connectivity remained limited, and community tensions were increasing, as access to aid remained constrained. UNHCR had conducted a rapid needs assessment across five states on 26–27 June, which found that 75 percent of respondents reported injuries in their communities, while 56 percent reported fatalities. Half of those assessed were staying with relatives or neighbours, 39 percent were living in streets or public spaces, and others were sheltering in churches, schools or improvised facilities that did not meet minimum protection standards. Older people, persons with disabilities and unaccompanied or separated children faced heightened risks, prompting the UNHCR-led Protection Cluster to strengthen child protection, family tracing and awareness efforts.
UNHCR was scaling up emergency assistance by supporting authorities with data management tools, deploying relief supplies from its warehouse in Táchira, and preparing to mobilize more than 20 tonnes of additional aid from Panama. UNHCR partner CARITAS has also established a donation collection and storage centre to support distributions. As of 29 June, authorities reported 1,719 fatalities, more than 5,000 injuries and nearly 16,000 people affected, with widespread damage to homes and infrastructure. UNHCR was appealing for 14.85 million USD to provide protection, emergency relief and temporary shelter to 30,000 earthquake-affected people over the next six months.
The full summary is available here.
Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said health services in Venezuela were currently under extreme pressure, with 38 hospitals affected. There was an increased risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases, including measles, yellow fever and waterborne diseases. The shelters and the displaced population faced elevated health risks due to limited vaccination coverage; as a result, temporary vaccination centres had been established. Several healthcare workers in La Guaira remained missing, exacerbating the situation, including the official responsible for maternal care, which had created a critical gap in maternal care.
Responding to questions from the media, Ms. Wolf said UNHCR had been in Venezuela for 35 years, which was a country hosting more than 210,000 refugees, and had always been working with authorities. The earthquakes had impacted everyone, including those who had been forced to flee. UNHCHR was supporting these people including those who had been displaced by the earthquake. The assessments contributed to the overall response led by the authorities.
Ms. Wolf said as of June 29, more than 15,866 people were displaced by the earthquakes. In the aftermath of such a disaster, there was a lot of commotion and tensions. Assistance was provided first to those who were most vulnerable. The needs assessments were initial and preliminary; the scale of the overall needs were not known. However, it was seen that people were in dire need of shelter, protection and psychosocial support.
The affected communities were in La Guaira, among other areas, Ms. Wolf said. The tensions arose when having access to aid and how to gather information. UNHCR was supporting the authorities to set up multiservice centres where more information could be provided. Affected communities referred to everyone living in these areas, including Venezuelans and some refugees.
Ms. Wolf said the figures provided of those affected or displaced were from the authorities and were being updated on a daily basis. A donation collection storage centre had been established by UNHCR’s partners, as a place to store aid including medicine, garments and relief items. The multiservice centres being established would ensure improved distribution.
Responding to a question from the media, Mr. Lindmeier said as of 27 June, operational status for 21 health facilities had been collected. Three were in critical condition, six had partial damage and the rest remained operational under significant strain. All were marked by overcrowding and severely stressed staff.
Ms. Wolf said UNHCR were leading on the protection cluster. More coordination was happening with all actors involved, including with the authorities, and humanitarian partners on the ground.
New edition of UNCTAD’s Hormuz Monitor
Marcelo Risi, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said UNCTAD was releasing the fourth edition of its Hormuz Monitor, examining the consequences of reopening the Strait after more than 100 days of disruption. While energy markets may recover more quickly, freight contracts, supply chains and food systems would take longer to adjust. Higher fuel, gas and fertilizer costs were likely to continue affecting transport, food prices and household budgets well after the initial shock. The impact extended beyond major economies. Many vulnerable countries, particularly least developed countries small island developing States, faced simultaneous increases in energy, food and transport costs with limited capacity to absorb them. UNCTAD estimated that 61 vulnerable economies were exposed to both oil and cereal import shocks.
Countries heavily dependent on imported fuel, such as Cabo Verde, were especially at risk, as rising energy costs fed into electricity, transport, food prices and public finances. Higher food prices also had a human cost, including an increased risk of acute child malnutrition, particularly among poor and rural children. UNCTAD stressed that reopening the Strait was necessary but not sufficient. Many vulnerable economies continued to face high debt, exchange-rate pressures, weaker remittances and declining aid, limiting their ability to protect households. The report called for greater support to help countries manage higher import costs, cushion food and fuel price shocks, and strengthen resilience to future disruptions. UNCTAD would also launch its flagship World Investment Report on 7 July at the Palais, with embargoed media materials to be distributed this week.
Responding to questions, Mr. Risi said there 33 least developed countries, with 1.1 billion people spread over Africa, Asia and small island developing states. 61 vulnerable economies were exposed to oil and cereal import shocks. If countries were hit by higher energy prices it left them exposed and more vulnerable than they already were.
The impact of climate change on transport infrastructure
Jean Rodriguez, for the United Nations Economic Commission of European (UNECE), said today UNECE were launching the Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for Inland Transport. The current extreme heat across western Europe highlighted the growing impact of climate change on transport systems. High temperatures had caused train delays and cancellations due to rail deformation, overheating of signalling systems and onboard equipment, while roads had been affected by melting asphalt, traffic signal failures and congestion. Inland waterways had also experienced navigation disruptions. The report found that by 2051–80, inland transport systems across Europe, Central Asia and North America, including roads, railways, inland waterways, ports and airports, would face significantly greater climate risks from flooding, extreme heat, reduced snow, ice and permafrost, and sea level rise. It identified critical transport networks requiring targeted adaptation and projected that many areas would experience 10 to 50 additional days each year above 25°C, with some facing up to 200 such days, increasing the risk of infrastructure damage and wildfires.
The report emphasised the high cost of inaction. Floods accounted for an estimated 73 percent of expected annual climate-related damage globally, while the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season caused an estimated US 232 billion USD in losses. By contrast, climate adaptation delivered significant returns: according to the World Resources Institute, every 1 USD invested generates more than 10.50 USD in economic, social and environmental benefits. Given worsening climate projections and the long lifespan of transport infrastructure, the report called on public and private stakeholders to prioritise climate adaptation and resilience through continuous risk assessment, targeted investments and regular monitoring.
Human Rights Council Update
Pascal Sim, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said the secretariat of the Human Rights Council had received 27 resolutions to be adopted over the sessions with adoptions beginning Friday afternoon (July 3), and continuing on Monday 6 July and Tuesday 7 July the following week.
Additionally, on 29 June, a request was made by a core group of countries including Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom, for an urgent debate regarding the situation in El Obeid in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. A draft resolution would be presented to the Council for adoption as an outcome of the debate. The Bureau of the Council would discuss the issue as a matter of urgency today and determine an appropriate date and time for the discussion to take place.
Responding to a question from the media, Mr. Sim said the urgent debate would most likely take place this coming Friday.
Announcements
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section, United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva, said UNIS had shared the remarks of the Secretary-General to the Fourth High Level Conference on Counterterrorism in New York.
Additionally, this afternoon at 4pm Geneva time, 10am Geneva time, the Secretary-General would deliver remarks to the Ad hoc Committee regarding voluntary contributions to UNRWA.
Next week, the Global Artificial Intelligence dialogue, the World Summit on Information Society and the AI for Good meetings were all taking place at Palexpo. Media were required to register if they wanted to attend.
Finally, Mr. Gómez said the Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence report was being released tomorrow, and media could register for the press conference, which was being attended by the panel’s co-chairs.
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