Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

**Guest

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 (OCHA) in Afghanistan.

She will join us virtually from Kabul to brief on the humanitarian situation in the country.

**Afghanistan

And speaking of Afghanistan, our colleagues at the World Food Programme (WFP) warn that funding shortfalls are forcing life-saving food and nutrition programmes to be scaled back at the very moment they are needed the most.

WFP said that child food insecurity rose to impact 47 per cent 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 Programme pointed out that this year, remaining nutrition programmes were crippled by a 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 will hear more from Olga Cherevko in just a few minutes.

**Lebanon

Today marks six years since the devastating Beirut Port explosion. Jean Arnault, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), 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. Arnault also underscored the importance of advancing structural reforms to strengthen and safeguard the independence of the judiciary as a cornerstone of effective statebuilding and Lebanon's reform agenda.

**Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warn 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. And yesterday, farther north in Beit Lahia, 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 were 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 Masafer Yatta 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 programmes. 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 per cent of the funding required for education support secured this year.

**Venezuela

In Venezuela, the humanitarian response continues to expand more than five weeks after the devastating earthquakes.

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 per cent 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, Edie.

**Questions and Answers

Question: 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?

Deputy Spokesman: We have been talking to various countries that are interested in helping with Cuba in an effort to make sure that for humanitarian purposes, Cuba has the fuel that it would need for, again, for its humanitarian needs.

Question: Has there been any positive response?

Deputy Spokesman: In recent days, of course, as you've noticed, there have been some real problems in terms of 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, please.

Question: 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 operations to remove, crush, and transport the rubble of neighbourhoods and civilian facilities out of Gaza. Are you aware of this?

Deputy Spokesman: 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.

Question: You said there are thousands of people missing, and what do you think, under the rubble, what should be done to ensure their remains are not being destroyed?

Deputy Spokesman: 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.

Question: Thank you.

Does this consider as the removal as a violation of the ICJ [International Court of Justice] order to preserve evidence?

Deputy Spokesman: 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've made their own views known.

Ephrem.

Question: Thank you, Farhan. As you mentioned, questions of impunity and justice are brought back to the fore again by the anniversary, 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?

Deputy Spokesman: Well, certainly we have had our role in terms of pushing, through the Office of the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, for accountability. And 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, and I've already told you what Jean Arnault [Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL)] said about that particular topic.

Namo?

Question: Yeah, just one question on Afghanistan. I know we'll 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?

Deputy Spokesman: 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.

Question: And has she begun working in Afghanistan, the new Special Envoy?

Deputy Spokesman: I don't believe that that has begun yet. We'll put out an announcement once that has happened.

Question: Thank you.

Deputy Spokesman: Are there any further questions?

If not, let me turn to our guest, and so you can actually talk about Afghanistan right away. So we're very pleased to have Olga Cherevko, the spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan, who's speaking to us from Kabul. Welcome.

[briefing not transcribed]