United Nations published this video item, entitled “Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (4 May 2023)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
-SG Travels
-Sudan
-Democratic Republic of the Congo
-Ukraine
-Honduras
-Yemen
-Safer Tanks
-Doha Talks
-Financial Contribution
-Noon Briefing Guests
SG TRAVELS
The Secretary-General opened the bi-annual meeting of the UN System Chief Executives Board in Nairobi. The meeting will conclude tomorrow afternoon, after which he will head to Burundi to take part in the 11th High-level meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region.
Early yesterday evening, the Secretary-General met with Kenyan President William Ruto at the State House.
The Secretary-General and President Ruto discussed the peace and security situation in the region, including Sudan, the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Somalia. They also agreed on the need to reform the international financial systems. The Secretary-General thanked the President for Kenya’s deep cooperation and warm welcome to the United Nations institutions based in Nairobi.
SUDAN
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, has wrapped up his visit to Port Sudan. He is en route to Nairobi to continue discussions on practical solutions to the massive humanitarian challenges Sudan faces.
On the humanitarian front, the World Health Organization has verified further attacks on health care in Sudan. So far, 28 incidents have been verified, leading to 8 deaths and 18 injuries among health care personnel. More reports are under verification. Seventeen of these attacks have affected health care facilities, including laboratories.
The types of attacks include looting, obstruction of access to health care, violent attacks using weapons, and the forced occupation of facilities.
The safety and sanctity of health care must be protected at all times, especially in situations of deadly violence, when they are needed most.
Meanwhile, we and our humanitarian partners are working to deliver assistance to those in need in Sudan wherever and whenever it is feasible to do so.
On Wednesday, the World Food Programme resumed its lifesaving operations. A first set of distributions is underway to reach 22,000 people in Gedaref state.
The UN Population Fund continues to support vulnerable women and girls in Sudan. UNFPA partners are making sure that supplies for safe births and reproductive health needs – which had been distributed before this crisis – reach hospitals and functioning health facilities.
Some 90 community midwives trained by UNFPA are helping pregnant women deliver safely, mainly at home, in the capital Khartoum.
The International Organization for Migration says it has set up six warehouses across five states in Sudan. IOM has pre-positioned more than 10,000 core relief kits across the country. The agency is looking at options to set up additional supplies in and around Port Sudan.
In a statement, IOM commended neighbouring countries for keeping their borders open to those fleeing Sudan and calls for increased efforts to improve conditions at border points.
Humanitarians say that more than 11,000 people have crossed into Ethiopia from Sudan as of 3 May. Partners are providing emergency health services, drinking water, sleeping mats, high-energy biscuits, and transportation.
In Chad, the UN Refugee Agency estimates that some 30,000 people have crossed the border from Sudan. UNHCR says they are being provided with food, water, health services and other supplies.
And in the Central African Republic, the Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Ag Ayoya today traveled to Am-Dafock on the Sudanese border with UN agency Heads and Government officials. We are scaling up the humanitarian response there to meet the needs of some 9,700 people who have arrived from Sudan.
The UN Humanitarian Air Service today has transported 4.6 tonnes of emergency cargo from the capital Bangui to Birao, near Am-Dafock. The supplies from five UN agencies included medicine, water and shelter supplies and other essential items.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, received reports yesterday about the presence of members of the CODECO armed group in Blukwa, near Djugu, in the province of Ituri. They immediately dispatched a patrol to protect civilians.
Later, in response to reports indicating that other members of CODECO were present in the same area, MONUSCO deployed a second patrol, forcing the armed group to withdraw.
As part of their protection mandate, peacekeepers also conducted a joint assessment mission with the Congolese defense forces to Bambu, northwest of Bunia.
Full highlight: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=04%20May%202023
United Nations YouTube Channel
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