REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Ahmad Fawzi, Director a.i. of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing attended by spokespersons for the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme, the International Organization for Migration, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Syria

Mr. Fawzi said that the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) had met in Munich last night and held a press conference after midnight, announcing its commitment on two issues: cessation of hostilities and a humanitarian task force.

The first meeting of the task force on humanitarian priorities and access would be held today at 4 p.m. at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. It would comprise the ISSG co-Chairs, relevant UN entities, and members of the ISSG with influence on the parties to the conflict. The UN system, particularly the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), would be organizing and chairing this meeting, and representatives of the UN system in Damascus would participate through video-conference. The UN was mandated to report weekly on the progress of the task force.

Responding to questions relating to the delivery of humanitarian aid, Mr. Fawzi said that the UN system had been geared to deliver such aid all along, especially to besieged areas. The task force today would precisely discuss how and when and where humanitarian aid would be delivered. The UN was keen and eager to deliver that aid, and was hoping to start doing so immediately after the meeting. The cessation of hostilities would hopefully take effect as soon as possible thereafter, within one week. In answer to a question, Mr. Fawzi said that the Russian Federation was a member of the ISSG, and had therefore committed itself, through the ISSG’s communiqué, to ensure humanitarian access.

Responding to questions raised on the resumption of those talks, Mr. Fawzi said that the Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, was very keen to reconvene the talks as soon as possible, and his aim was to resume them before 25 February. He had made the commitment to meet with the press when he returned to Geneva, probably on Tuesday, 16 February, to answer questions about the outcome of the ISSG meeting in Munich last night, and his views on the way ahead. Responding to a question, Mr. Fawzi said that the meeting of the humanitarian task force would be a test of the commitment of ISSG members, Mr. Fawzi said.

For the World Food Programme (WFP), Bettina Luescher said that WFP had already reached some 30,000 people in Aleppo with food for a month. Today, 25 trucks with urgently needed family food parcels and 6,000 ready-to-eat rations were crossing from Turkey into northern Syria, to the town of Azaz, where tens of thousands of people had fled from the surge in fighting around Aleppo. Those rations would provide 30,000 people with enough food for five days. WFP was also bringing monthly rations (2,670 family food parcels) for 13,350 beneficiaries in rural Aleppo. Responding to a question, she said that WFP had had difficulties reaching besieged areas. WFP teams on the ground were, however, ready to provide food to people there. This all depended on the outcome of the Task Force meeting in Geneva.

Joel Millman, of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that IOM was boosting aid to over 15,000 people fleeing violence in Northern Syria, and referred to a press release issued by IOM on that issue. He encouraged the press to contact Abby Dwommoh at IOM Turkey (Tel. +90 (0)312 455 1202, Email: MediaIOMTurkey@iom.int) for further information.

Yemen

Responding to a question on a recent visit to Seoul, Republic of Korea, by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Mr. Fawzi said he would check and get back to the journalist. Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed was, however, continuing his consultations with the parties with the aim of convening a second round of the UN-sponsored negotiations on Yemen. The Special Envoy was also recently in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and would brief the Security Council on the situation in Yemen on 17 February.

Refugee Crisis in Europe

Melissa Fleming, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), announced that over 80,000 migrants had reached Europe during the first six weeks of 2016, which was higher than at the same period last year. Hundreds of them had died due to shipwrecks, winter conditions, etc. Fifty-eight percent of those migrants were women and children, also a higher percentage than last year. Ms. Fleming pointed out it was still a refugee crisis, as 91 percent of those people were leaving one of the top ten “refugee countries”. UNHCR had conducted surveys - which would be introduced next week – that demonstrated that most refugees had fled conflict situations.

Ms. Fleming insisted that the stabilization of that situation was essential, and urged European countries to take actions. Relocation processes of migrants had to be effective, while entry points, registration and security screening had to be improved. Regretting that several European countries had reinforced border controls in order to keep migrants out, she insisted on the urgent need for a comprehensive and united European response. She also expressed concerns over increasing xenophobia and physical attacks against migrants in Europe.

Vincent Cochetel, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), responded to questions raised by journalists. The first one was about what would happen if Turkey would let refugees flee to Europe without restrictions. Mr. Cochetel believed that European countries would have to share their responsibilities in a better way. He pointed out that UNHCR was also ready to provide assistance to Turkey. In response to a journalist’s question regarding a NATO naval operation in the Mediterranean, Mr. Cochetel said UNHRC had not received many details about the practicalities. He welcomed that the operation would seek to save lives at sea. On the legal aspects, however, a lot of questions remained unclear about this operation, he said, particularly as regards to which countries rescued migrants could seek asylum.

In response to another question, Mr. Cochetel said that many refugees did not want to go through relocation processes, and preferred to go on their own to European countries, such as Germany or Sweden. He pointed out that there was no “plan B” regarding relocation. European countries had to all feel concerned about that issue, and cooperate. Turning to the family reunification issue, Mr. Cochetel said that family reunification was essential for refugees’ integration. European countries had the choice between making it work legally, or letting families of refugees coming in a risky way. In response to another question, Mr. Cochetel said that, according to a survey from January, 24 percent of the Syrian refugees arriving in Greece came from Aleppo.

Joel Millman, from the International Organization from Migration (IOM), announced the support of IOM to the Libyan Red Crescent’s efforts to recover the bodies of many migrants found dead at sea in the Mediterranean and provide them dignified burials. Thousands of bags had been provided with the support of donations from the Netherlands to handle the task of recovering the bodies of victims washed ashore.

Rwanda/ Burundi

Melissa Fleming, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), responded to a question concerning the recent decision by the Government of Rwanda to relocate 72,000 Burundian refugees to third countries, following a UN and United States’ declaration saying that Rwanda was using those refugees to destabilize Burundi.

Ms. Fleming explained that representatives of UNHCR in Rwanda had immediately sought a meeting with the Government to clarify the matter. She added that UNHCR had systematically been raising concerns regarding allegations of recruitment in the Mahama refugee camp, and recalled that the host government had the primary responsibility for securing the civilian character of asylum. UNHCR had increased its staff in the camp, and had put in place security measures to vet Burundians entering the camp. UNHCR had also undertaken awareness-campaigns among refugees, on the absolute prohibition of recruitment in the camp.

El Niño

Bettina Leutscher, for the World Food Programme (WFP), updated the press on the El Nino situation in regards to food insecurity. Fourteen million people were already food insecure and El Niño was described to be one of the worst to be recorded in decades. In many instances this was also the driest season countries had had in years. Aid organizations had geared up to ensure that people were receiving the necessary aid. In this capacity, WFP had been working closely with governments and organizations on contingency plans. Ms. Leutscher described WFP's role in this instance as ensuring that the agricultural industry was not being impacted more heavily by El Niño, as an estimated 70 percent of the people in the affected areas depended on the agricultural industry.

A question was posed asking for more clarity on the term “contingency plan” and WFP's efforts. Ms. Leutscher detailed WFP's work to ensure that - should a situation grow in severity - the necessary supplies were made available. In some instance WFP provided cash so that people were able to purchase food. Ms. Leutscher stressed, however, that WFP looked towards creating long-term plans so that farmers and hungry people were better able to withstand natural disasters in a healthy way.

Malawi

Bettina Leutscher for the World Food Programme (WFP) noted that more children were going hungry in Malawi. She stated that as the drought continued, WFP was worried that millions would become food insecure this year and throughout the next. Increased prices had led to people in Malawi spending more than 170 percent of their income revenue into purchasing food. This in combination with a poor harvest last year (and a bad one predicted for this year) indicated a worsening in the situation.

When asked about the nature of food insecurity, the direct number of people who would be affected, severity of the situation, and WFP’s intended response, Ms. Leutscher said that food insecurity by definition meant that one does not know where one's next meal is coming from. Some 2.4 million people were in crisis mode. It was during these times, Ms. Leutscher said, that aid agencies needed to ensure that they could give them food. This also meant that small children and nursing mothers received special food and nutrients.

Ms. Leutscher was asked to elaborate on WFP’s position on the severity of the situation persisting through this year and the next and the United Nation's position on funding. Ms. Leutscher explained that as yet no specific appeal had been made for El Niño but that aid agencies have raised the request of their appeals to incorporate the situations. As WFP was privately funded, they were always begging. WFP was worried this level of food insecurity would continue through next year.

Central African Republic

Christophe Boulierac, from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), voiced UNICEF’s call on candidates to the presidential elections in Central Africa to place the interests of children at the heart of the political agenda by making strong commitments and investing in survival, education and child protection. As the elections were being held in two days, Mr. Boulierac recalled that children had paid the highest price in this conflict, and that the main childhood indicators in the Central African republic were alarming. He said that the under-five mortality rate was 164/1000 (8th highest in the world), while 41 percent of under-five children were chronically malnourished, and one third of school-aged children were not going to school. Some 38 percent of the schools had indeed been attacked or looted during the crisis, and 6,000 to 10,000 children had been recruited by armed groups.

Mr. Boulierac recalled that UNICEF was engaged in several programmes in The Central African Republic, including for the reconstruction of the education system, the rehabilitation of maternal and child-health centres, the demobilization and reinsertion of children associated with armed groups and birth registration. UNICEF had also carried out campaigns against violence against women and children and early marriage. Responding to a question on how UNICEF could be sure that candidates would listen to this call, Mr Boulierac said the most important thing was that the next president makes children security and support a priority.

OPT/Israel

Cécile Pouilly, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), expressed OHCHR’s concerns over recent developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel. OHCHR had received worrying news that the Al-Qassam Brigades had executed one of their members, Mahmoud Eshtaiwi, in Gaza on 7 February. Mr. Eshtaiwi had reportedly been detained for months without judicial process, and was reportedly ill-treated during his detention. His killing may amount to an extra-judicial killing and an arbitrary depravation of life. OHCHR called upon the Palestinian authorities, including authorities in Gaza, to quickly launch an independent and credible investigation.

OHCHR also remained deeply concerned about the situation of Mohammed al-Qiq, who had been on hunger strike for 80 days to protest against its arbitrary detention by Israel. His condition was reported to be critical. OHCHR once again called on all persons in administrative detention in Israel to be either charged with a criminal offense or released immediately.

Mexico

Cécile Pouilly, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), answered a question by the press referring to the killing of another journalist in Mexico. Ms. Pouilly said that OHCHR strongly condemned this killing and hoped that authorities would launch an investigation. Impunity for such crimes had prevailed for too long.

Geneva activities

Jessica Hermosa, for the World Trade Organization (WTO), said that agriculture would be the first issue discussed at the forthcoming Special Session scheduled for early March. WTO Director General, Roberto Azevêdo, would continue his visits to senior government officials. Next week, he would be in West Africa, visiting Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. Also next week, WTO members would continue discussing Ecuador’s decision to impose charges which it said were necessary to address the country’s current deficit. Members would also hear from Ukraine’s abolition of a similar balance of payment matter. Some WTO members, on Wednesday next week, would be tackling the expansion of the Government’s Procurement Agreement to possibly include more participants. A press briefing was scheduled today at 3 p.m. on the ongoing steel-related dispute between China and the European Union.

Bruno Donat, of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), announced that the United Nations would for the first time host the International Meeting of Mine Action Programme Directors and United Nations Advisers at the Palais des Nations, from Tuesday, 16 to Friday, 19 February. The press would be invited for the opening part, which was scheduled to take place on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in room XIX, building E. The theme was “Mine action is Humanitarian Action”. In response to a question about the participation of Rose Gottemoeller to the event, Mr. Donat said that the United States Undersecretary of State would make a presentation on how mine action can ensure better protection of civilians. The meeting was informal and technical, opened to various stakeholders, not only for State parties to the Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction.

Ms. Akiko Perona, for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), informed the press about UN Library Talks on “Sketching the Way to Peace: Preventing the Use of Children as Soldiers with the Help of Comic Books”, today at 3.30 p.m. at the Palais des Nations, on the occasion of the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers.

Ms Svenja Vollmer, also for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), said that two comic books would be presented during that event, to raise awareness on that issue, and to convey basic protection strategies for kids, families and communities. Those comic books were a compendium of several stories brought together, and had been developed with former child soldiers in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and had been translated into Swahili and Lingala in order to reach out to communities that were mostly at risk.

Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), announced the publication of the Iron Ore Market Report 2015 on 17 February at 2:30 p.m. There would be a press conference in press room 1.

Before closing the briefing, Mr. Fawzi, announced that the next public meeting of the Conference on Disarmament would be held on Tuesday, 12 February at 10 a.m.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) would hold its sixty-third session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from Monday, 15 February to 4 March 2016, during which it would review reports presented by Czech Republic, Haiti, Iceland, Japan, Mongolia, Sweden, Tanzania and Vanuatu on how they implement the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/1QbZZWy