Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
-Ukraine
-Ukraine/Humanitarian
-Secretary-General/Travels
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Lebanon
-Yemen
-Security Council
-West Africa
-Bangladesh
-Hurricane Beryl
-Sustainable development
-Financial contribution
UKRAINE
The Secretary-General strongly condemns today’s missile attacks by the Russian Federation hitting residential and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, including in the cities of Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro and Pokrovsk. The strike reportedly killed dozens of civilians, including children, and injured over 150 more.
The incidents in which missiles hit the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialized Hospital in Kyiv, the largest pediatrics facility in Ukraine, and at another medical facility in the capital’s Dniprovsky district, are particularly shocking.
Directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and any such attacks are unacceptable and must end immediately.
The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the families of all the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.
UKRAINE/HUMANITARIAN
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the children’s hospital in the centre of Kyiv was severely damaged as children were receiving treatment.
OCHA says that rescue workers, hospital staff and volunteers are currently clearing the rubble and searching for people trapped under debris.
Our health partners are helping to move patients to other facilities, providing psychosocial support and assisting with other urgent needs. They are also in contact with the hospital to coordinate any additional support required.
Humanitarian workers are on-site at the hospital to provide water and psychosocial support, among other assistance.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
The Secretary-General returned to NewYork, after his visit to Central Asia.
In Turkmenistan, his last stop before returning to New York, he met with Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan.
They discussed cooperation between the United Nations and Turkmenistan, and regional developments in Central Asia. The Secretary-General thanked the President for providing the UN Country Team in Turkmenistan with a new building.
In a press encounter following the meeting, the Secretary-General said that Turkmenistan is playing a very important role in international relations and commended Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality.
He noted that Central Asia continues to face many obstacles to development – like water shortages, land degradation, natural hazards, and a lack of adequate connectivity.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that people are being displaced from parts of Gaza city after Israeli authorities issued new evacuation orders yesterday and today. These areas had already been subject to a blanket evacuation order issued in October for all of northern Gaza.
The affected neighbourhoods are home to more than 60 shelters that had been schools, as well as two partially functional hospitals, six medical points, and two primary health centres.
Staff and patients have reportedly left hospitals in and around the areas designated for evacuation.
Meanwhile, OCHA reports that active hostilities, damaged roads, access limitations, and the lack of public order and safety continue to hamper movement along the main humanitarian cargo route from the Kerem Shalom Crossing to Khan Younis and Deir al Balah. This has resulted in critical shortages of fuel and aid to sustain humanitarian operations. It is also increasing the risk that stranded supplies – especially food – will spoil in the summer heat.
Humanitarian partners say these shortages forced them to reduce food rations in central and southern Gaza last month – and undermined their ability to keep bakeries and community kitchens running.
Just three of the 18 bakeries they support in Gaza are still operational, all of them in Deir al Balah. Meanwhile, lack of fuel has forced nine bakeries that were working at partial capacity to completely cease their operations.
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