Afghanistan, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

Okay.
Good afternoon, everyone.
In a short while, you will hear from our guest, Olga Cherevko, the spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan.
She will join us virtually from Kabul to brief on the humanitarian situation in the country.
Speaking of Afghanistan, our colleagues at the World Food Program warned that funding shortfalls are forcing lifesaving food and nutrition programs to be scaled back at the very moment they're needed most.
WFP said that child food insecurity rose to impact 47% of the population in the first quarter of this year.
Colliding crises including conflict, unemployment, elevated food prices, and reduced humanitarian funding have driven this alarming rise in malnutrition.
The World Food Program pointed out that this year, remaining nutrition programs were crippled by severe shortage of nutrition products driven by conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Pakistan border for nine months.
In Afghanistan, nearly 3.7 million children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition, while 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are also expected to be malnourished.
Without immediate investment, these figures are set to rise, and we'll hear more from Olga Chevko in just a few minutes.
Today marks six years since the devastating Beirut port explosion.
Jean Arnaux, officer in charge of the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, today expressed his unwavering solidarity with all those affected and paid tribute to their relentless pursuit of truth, justice and accountability.
He said that efforts must be redoubled to advance the judicial proceedings and bring them to a conclusive outcome.
To this end, he calls on all relevant actors to take the necessary steps to facilitate swift progress in the case.
Mr.
Arneaux also underscored the importance of advancing structural reforms to strengthen and safeguard the independence of the judiciary as a cornerstone of effective state building and Lebanon's reform agenda.
Turning to the occupied Palestinian territory, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that Gaza remains unsafe for civilians as shootings and other military attacks continue, including in places where children are trying to learn.
Today in Gaza City, our partners reported that a sixth grade student was taken to the hospital after being hit by a bullet and injured in a tented classroom.
Yesterday, farther north in Betlaya, Israeli forces reportedly demolished homes as well as the last remaining school in what was previously a four school compound.
According to our partners last week, Israeli forces had already advanced towards the area, which is between the agreed deployment line known as the yellow line and the Israeli orange coordination line, which marks areas where restrictions apply on the movement of humanitarian staff.
At the time, troops destroyed the tents of nearly a dozen families sheltering in the schoolyard and placed new cement blocks nearby, marking a further expansion of areas where Israeli authorities have imposed access restrictions.
Our humanitarian partners rapidly mobilized support for people who are displaced.
We stress that under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected and should not be targeted.
Learning spaces must remain safe and protected environments for both students and teachers.
Meanwhile, today in the West Bank, our partners tell us that Israeli authorities demolished parts of a school in the Masafar Ya area of Southern Hebron, where more than 1,000 Palestinian residents are under pressure to leave.
Across the West Bank, more than 80 Palestinian schools are currently subject to demolition or related orders.
So far this year, our education partners have reached more than 60,000 students in the West Bank through remedial and catch up learning programs.
They rehabilitated 30 schools, provided transportation assistance and other protective measures to more than 2,600 students and education personnel in high risk areas, and they delivered education specific cash assistance, psychosocial support, and legal aid.
Still, funding remains critically low with just over 10% of the funding required for education support secured this year.
In Venezuela, the humanitarian response continues to expand more than five weeks after the devastating earthquake.
Our colleagues from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that 200,000 people have received humanitarian assistance and essential services through the joint efforts of the UN, our partners, local communities, and the authorities.
This support includes hot meals, healthcare, safe water, shelter, legal and psychological support for women, children, and vulnerable groups as families begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.
Meanwhile, our humanitarian colleagues note that the Venezuelan government and our partners have launched a needs assessment to help guide recovery, reconstruction, and development efforts in the months ahead.
With the Humanitarian Response Plan currently just 42% funded, sustained international support will be essential so that humanitarian organizations can continue helping communities in the months ahead.
That's it for me.
Are there any questions before we turn to our guest? Yes, S.
Thank you, Farhan.
Is the United Nations involved at all in trying to get fuel to Cuba in the face of intense blackouts during this summer heat? We have been talking to various to various countries that are interested in helping with Cuba in an effort to make sure that for humanitarian purposes, Cuba has the fuel and that it would need, again, it for its humanitarian needs.
Has there been any positive response? Uh, in recent days, of course, as you've noticed, there have been some real problems in terms of black fuel shortages, and we've expressed our concerns about that.
Earlier in other months, we've had some progress in getting limited amounts of fuel in, and we're still continuing to try with those efforts.
Yes.
Yes, please.
Thank you Farhan.
The Euro Mediterranean Human Rights monitor yesterday issued a statement said that Israel wipes genocide evidence in Gaza by carrying out large scale of operation to remove a crash and transport the rubble of neighborhoods and civilian facilities out of Gaza.
Are you aware of this and we're certainly aware of these reports.
Obviously, as you're aware, we've expressed our own concerns about the activities carried out by Israel within Gaza and we'll continue to make sure that we can do everything possible to have the residents of Gaza return to a normal life and that there will be accountability for what has happened to them.
There are thousands of people missing.
What do you think under the ripples? What should be done to ensure their remains are not being destroyed? Ultimately, what needs to happen is that all of the rubble needs to be cleared and hopefully, then we can be able to determine what the fate of so many missing persons has been.
Sure.
Thank you.
Does this consider the removal as a violation of the ICG order to preserve evidence? I believe that all authorities need to abide by the rulings of the International Court of Justice.
And of course, it's for them to interpret how those rulings are being carried out, but certainly they have made their own views known.
Ephraim.
Thank you, Farhan.
As you mentioned, questions of impunity and justice are brought back to the fore again by the sixth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion.
The question is, does the UN have any role to play in investigating or in enhancing the investigation that's being done? What would it take for a fact finding mission to be established after what we've seen as stalling from the judiciary in Lebanon all these years? Well, certainly we have had our role in terms of a pushing through the Office of the Special Coordinator for Lebanon for accountability.
Of course, six years after the Beirut Port explosion, we remember those who lost their lives and we stand with the survivors, the families of the victims, and all those affected by this tragedy.
We urge renewed efforts to ensure accountability and deliver justice for the victims and people of Lebanon and we will continue to offer advice as needed regarding this.
But of course, we are not the judicial authorities of Lebanon.
I've already told you what Jean Arna said about that particular topic.
Namo? Just one question on Afghanistan.
I know we will be talking to Olga.
The Secretary-General recently appointed a special envoy for Afghanistan.
My question is, does the Secretary-General see any circumstance under which the de facto authorities could be seated at the United Nations? Ultimately, those decisions on recognition are made by governments, and we are not that, but governments would determine who they recognize as the government of Afghanistan.
That has not been something that's happened with the de facto authorities.
And I don't believe that as far as I'm aware, there's no movement towards that among the member states here.
Has she began working in Afghanistan, the new special envoy? I don't believe that that has begun yet.
We'll put out an announcement once that has happened.
Thank you.
Are there any further questions? If not, let me turn to our guest.
And so you can actually talk about Afghanistan right away.