Gaza, UNRWA, Security Council & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: Gaza UNRWA Security Council Security Council/Afternoon Syria Honour Roll Briefing Guest Today and Tomorrow GAZA In a statement today, the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, Thomas White, said heavy fighting near the remaining hospitals in Khan Younis, including Nasser and Al Amal, has effectively encircled these facilities, leaving terrified staff, patients and displaced people trapped inside. Al Khair hospital has shut down after patients, including women who had just undergone C-section surgeries, were evacuated in the middle of the night. Mr. White said the situation in Khan Younis underscores a consistent failure to uphold the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law: distinction, proportionality and precautions in carrying out attacks. This is unacceptable and abhorrent and must stop.  The near collapse of the health system and the lack of trauma care in Khan Younis city are making the humanitarian situation ever more intolerable and intense. UNRWA The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said today that the UNRWA Khan Younis Training Centre was hit by direct fire yesterday at a building housing 800 displaced people. At least 13 people were killed and 56 injured, 21 of them critically, in what should have been a place of safety.  UNRWA says that there are 43,000 internally displaced people registered in this massively overcrowded UNRWA shelter. Throughout the day and into the early evening, ambulances and UNRWA emergency teams were denied access to the site. When they finally reached it last night, they were able to evacuate around 45 people. The near collapse of the health system and the lack of trauma care in Khan Younis city are making the humanitarian situation ever more intolerable and intense. Yesterday’s strike was the third direct hit on this compound. Buildings flying the UN flag have been hit at least twice by tank fire, without warning.  The UN shares the location of its shelters directly with the Israeli authorities and the UN had received assurances that people inside them would be safe.  The UN continues to call on all parties to take every precaution to minimize harm and protect civilians and civilian objects, especially in densely populated areas, and to protect hospitals, clinics, medical personnel and UN premises in accordance with international law.   SECURITY COUNCIL This morning, María Isabel Salvador, the head of the UN mission in Haiti, briefed the Security Council on the situation there. She said the country remains plagued by escalating violence – with an unprecedented surge in kidnappings, rapes and other crimes committed by armed gangs. This, she said, increasingly affects the livelihoods of people and undermines humanitarian activities. Last year, the UN office documented over 8,400 direct victims of gang violence, including people killed, injured and kidnapped. This is an increase of 122 per cent as compared to 2022. Ms. Salvador said she will continue to encourage all Haitian stakeholders to effectively prepare for the deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission (MSS). She also renewed her appeal to Member States to contribute generously to ensure the timely deployment of the multinational mission to Haiti. Ghada Waly, the Head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said that in a report released by her team yesterday, includes more information about the illicit flows of firearms and ammunition. She added that the report found 11 informal or clandestine air strips in Haiti, which represent a blind spot possibly used by traffickers and smugglers. In the current context, Ms. Waly added, it is more important than ever to take every measure possible to prevent illicit flows from further destabilizing the country. Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon...