West Africa, Brundi, Senegal & other topics - Daily Press Briefing ( 10 January 2023)

SECRETARY-GENERAL TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT The Secretary-General of the United Nations will be taking part in the World Economic Forum in Davos in Switzerland, next week. On Wednesday he will deliver a special address on the “State of the World.” He will also hold a number of bilateral meetings with world leaders and other delegates to the World Economic Forum. On Thursday next week, the Secretary-General is scheduled to take part in the Seventeenth Seminar of his current Special and Personal Representatives and Envoys, and that will take place in Yverdon-les-Bains. WEST AFRICA This morning, the Security Council received a briefing from Giovanie Biha, the Deputy Special Representative and Officer-in-Charge of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), on the situation in that region. She told the Council that, despite efforts by national security forces and international partners, insecurity has again deteriorated in large parts of the region. Consequently, she said, more than ten thousand schools across the Sahel had to close - leaving millions of children unable to acquire the necessary skills and to build their lives and their countries. Ms. Biha added that nearly seven thousand health centres were forced to shut down due to the activities of armed groups, violent extremists and criminal networks. She added that UNOWAS is working with national stakeholders and partners to promote political consensus and ensure a level playing field ahead of elections scheduled for this year in the sub-region. BURUNDI On Burundi, Martin Griffiths, the humanitarian chief, has allocated $3.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help more than 38,000 people impacted by food insecurity. The funds will support two World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization projects bringing food assistance to people in immediate need, but also providing seeds for future planting. During the last part of last year, Burundi was impacted by several climatic hazards. First, a delay of the rainy season, then torrential rains mixed with wind and hail. Farming households - representing more than 90 per cent of the population – and they were unable able to set up the crops for this year’s agricultural growing season. They now face an extended lean season. This new CERF allocation will support the most vulnerable households. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as MONUSCO, is conducting new patrols in the Roe-Drodro area of Djugu territory in Ituri province, after a series of attacks by CODECO militia. The Mission reports that the situation is under control, but remains tense. At least 18 civilians were killed, including 17 on Sunday, thousands have been displaced and are seeking shelter at a site in Roe. Separately, the Mission reports that, while the M23 handed over the Rumangabo military camp in North Kivu to the East African Community Regional Force last week, the armed group remains in a nearby location and continues to be active in several areas south of Rutshuru.  The UN peacekeeping mission reiterates its call on the M23 to abide by the decisions taken at the Luanda mini-summit by withdrawing from the occupied zones in North Kivu to the precise locations identified in the Luanda Communique before 15 January, and immediately cease all hostilities.  SENEGAL The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the Government of Senegal and the families of those killed in yesterday’s horrific road accident that took place in the Kaffrine region of Senegal. He wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. NIGERIA The UN team in Nigeria, led by the acting Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Matthias Schmale, continues to support authorities and civil society organizations to tackle gender-based violence. The problem increased dramatically since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several of the agencies – the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Children’s Fund, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women and partners are supporting women and girl survivors through the Spotlight Initiative, a joint UN and European Union programme. Over 800 survivors received psycho-social support and medical aid between March 2020 and October 2022. The team also supported the creation of a community centre that provided services to 1,100 victims during that same period. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=10%20January%202023


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!