United Nations published this video item, entitled “Gaza, Lebanon, Mali & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (23 Oct 2023) | United Nations” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Gaza
– UNRWA
– Lebanon
– Mali
– Security Council
– Security Council/Kosovo
– Briefings Today
– Briefings Tomorrow
GAZA
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that 20 trucks crossed into Gaza from Egypt today, according to the Egyptian Red Crescent.
On Saturday and Sunday, a total of 34 trucks were able to enter Gaza with life-saving supplies. This is equivalent to no more than four per cent of the daily average volume of commodities entering Gaza prior to this latest crisis.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, said in a Tweet yesterday that this represents another glimmer of hope for the millions of people in dire need of humanitarian aid in Gaza – but they need much more.
Aid deliveries entering Gaza have not included fuel. The UN Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, by far the largest humanitarian provider in Gaza, will exhaust its fuel reserves within the coming days.
For the fourteenth consecutive day, Gaza remains under full electricity blackout.
The situation in hospitals remains dire, given the shortage of electricity, medicine, equipment and specialized personnel. The Shifa hospital in Gaza city, the largest in the Strip, is currently treating some 5,000 patients, significantly over its capacity of 700 patients.
On Saturday, the Secretary-General, speaking in Cairo, expressed gratitude that a 20-truck convoy of aid was moving from Egypt into Gaza that day. But, he added that the people of Gaza need a commitment for much, much more – a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed. We are working nonstop with all parties that are relevant to make it happen, he said.
LEBANON
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports that tensions remain high in southern Lebanon as several exchanges of fire were observed along the Blue Line over the weekend, including in Ayta ash Shab, Hula, Yaroun, and other locations.
The Mission is deeply concerned about the risks of further escalation and widening of the conflict and urges all actors to cease hostile actions.
MALI
This morning, The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) withdrew from its base in Aguelhok, due to the same security risks highlighted yesterday. The Mission also closed its camp in Douentza, in the Mopti region, on Saturday.
With these developments, MINUSMA has now closed half of its bases in Mali. And as a reminder – the Peacekeeping Mission completed the accelerated withdrawal of all troops and civilian personnel from its base in Tessalit on Saturday (21 October). This was the first camp closure in the Kidal region of northern Mali, amid a deteriorating security situation endangering the lives of hundreds of uniformed and civilian personnel.
Right now, the Mission is still concerned for the safety of a land convoy heading to Gao, a journey of over 550 kilometres.
The UN underscores the responsibility of the Malian Transitional authorities for the safety and security of peacekeepers and call on them to extend all necessary cooperation to facilitate the Mission’s withdrawal.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=23%20October%202023
United Nations YouTube Channel
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