Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Yemen & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (6 Jan 2022)

The United Nations of Earth reporting on this issue: "Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Yemen & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (6 Jan 2022)"
The topics: Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Kazakhstan - Ethiopia - Yemen - Journalists - Lebanon - Food Price Index - Security Council KAZAKHSTAN Starting off with Kazakhstan as I’ve been getting quite a few questions already this morning. I can tell you that we of course continue to follow the situation very closely. We’ve also been asked about contact the UN has had and I can tell you that there have been several contacts between the UN and the authorities in Kazakhstan, including a call this morning between the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Central Asia, Natalia Gherman, and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Akan Rakhmetullin. During these exchanges, appeals to exercise restraint, refrain from violence and promote dialogue to address the situation were reiterated by Natalia Gherman on behalf of the Secretary-General. ETHIOPIA Our humanitarian colleagues say that the situation in the northern part of the country remains unpredictable and volatile. In Tigray, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with tensions restricting the movement of humanitarian supplies along the only available route from Semera to Abala to Mekelle. No trucks carrying humanitarian supplies have been able to enter Tigray since December 15th. To recap, since July 12th, only 1,338 trucks have entered Tigray, which is less than 12 per cent of the trucks we need to get in. As we’ve been telling you many times, we need about 100 trucks every day to meet the humanitarian need of people in Tigray. As of January 3rd, our partners who have been distributing food in Tigray have only have around 10,000 litres of fuel left. At least 60,000 litres of fuel are needed to dispatch the limited food supplies that are currently available in Mekelle. Several UN and non-governmental organizations will be forced to cease operations if humanitarian supplies, fuel and cash are not delivered to Tigray very soon. Our humanitarian colleagues say that people continue to be displaced, including from Afar, Amhara, and the Western Zone of Tigray. People are also returning, along with those people needing food, water, sanitation and shelter. Our partners continue to work with authorities to ensure that the returns are well planned, voluntary and dignified and that returnees have adequate support. Aid organizations continue to provide critical assistance, despite challenges. In Amhara, more than 33,000 people received shelter and other aid during the past week, bringing the total number of people helped to 586,000. Food distribution continues in Afar, Amhara and Tigray, but obviously remains far well below the require levels. We urgently call on all parties to allow unimpeded and sustained access to people in Tigray, Amhara and Afar. YEMEN Our humanitarian wing says that funding shortages are continuing to affect the humanitarian operation in Yemen. The 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan received 58 per cent of its funding requirements, leaving a $1.6 billion shortage. As a result, aid agencies are being forced to scale down and close vital programmes. As we reported to you back in December, emergency food assistance is being reduced for 8 million people across the country. Reproductive health services, water, protection and other programmes are also scaling back. We urge donors to sustain – and wherever possible increase – their funding to the humanitarian response in Yemen, which represents a lifeline to 16 million people. In 2022, we will also be working closely with all stakeholders to promote a stronger economy in Yemen, as economic collapse is the main factor causing greater humanitarian needs. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=06%20January%202022


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