Middle East/Gaza, Afghanistan, Ukraine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (9 Oct 2023)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - UNIFIL - Middle East/Gaza - UNRWA - Afghanistan - Security Council/Ukraine - Democratic Republic of the Congo - Somalia - Ethiopia - Armenia - Internet Governance Forum - World Post Day MIDDLE EAST/Gaza Turning to Gaza. Our humanitarian colleagues report that over 120,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza, due to concerns over their protection and the destruction of homes. You heard the Secretary-General on what we are seeing already in Gaza. Six health care workers have also been killed and four others were injured, with seven health care facilities and nine ambulances damaged. In Gaza, damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilitates has undermined services to more than 400,000 people. The Gaza Power Plant is now the only source of electricity and could run out of fuel within days. Also, as of today, the World Food Programme (WFP) has begun distributing food for up to 100,000 internally displaced Gazans who are seeking refuge in UNRWA shelters with fresh bread and canned food. In the next few days, WFP plans on starting to roll out assistance to up to 800,000 people with food and cash assistance as the situation develops, provided the necessary funding is made available. WFP needs $16.8 million to reach 805,000 people in the next month. AFGHANISTAN In Afghanistan, we, along with our humanitarian partners, are now ramping up the response following the earthquake, which struck Herat province, in the west of the country, on Saturday. Our humanitarian colleagues note that the epicentre of the earthquake was in Zindajan district where reports indicate that 100 percent of homes have been destroyed. According to community-level assessments, nearly 1,300 people have died and 1,700 were injured in Zindajan. In total, an estimated more than 12,000 men, women, and children have been impacted across five districts of Herat Province. Several hundred households have also been displaced to Herat City. The figures are likely to rise in the coming days as search-and-rescue efforts and assessments continue. We have deployed assessment teams and we are providing emergency shelter supplies, blankets, warm clothes, food, hygiene kits, water buckets, chlorine and dignity kits, to those who need it. Our partners have also deployed health teams and are providing trauma and emergency surgery kits. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, Daniel Endres, has approved an emergency reserve allocation from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund of $5 million to support the immediate relief efforts in the earthquake-impacted areas. SECURITY COUNCIL/UKRAINE This morning, the Security Council heard from Rosemary Di Carlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. She noted that in recent weeks, civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine have remained under nearly constant fire. Ms. Di Carlo also said that the immediate impact of such attacks is clear, and just as clear is the fact that international humanitarian law obligates parties to armed conflict to protect non-combatants. She stressed that we will not waver in calling for accountability for anyone responsible for harming civilians during hostilities. Also briefing was Joyce Msuya, the number two at the Department of Humanitarian Affairs [Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator]. She said that since the attack on Hroza, the UN and humanitarian organizations have been on the scene, alongside local Ukrainian authorities, to ensure that people receive some support in the face of these atrocious attacks. Ms. Msuya warned that winter is yet again upon the people of Ukraine, adding that it is disturbing to see that attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have already been reported over the past weeks. Both remarks have been shared with you. Full Highlights: October 2023