Gaza, Yemen, Venezuela & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (19 Oct 2023) | United Nations

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Secretary-General/Egypt - Gaza - Security Council/Somalia - Yemen - Central African Republic - Libya - Sudan - Venezuela - Senior Personnel Announcement GAZA In Gaza, the number of people internally displaced is estimated at about one million, including about 353,000 people staying in UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools in central and southern Gaza. They are living in increasingly dire conditions. For the ninth consecutive day, Gaza is under a full electricity blackout. Hospitals are on the brink of collapse. They are operating at a bare minimum capacity and are struggling to keep emergency rooms operational, and are suspending some surgeries, working in darkness and limiting elevator usage. The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented 59 attacks on health care personnel and assets, with 16 health care workers killed and more than two dozen others injured. Twenty-six healthcare facilities have been damaged, as well as 23 ambulances. Water production from municipal groundwater sources is at less than five percent of the level prior to the latest crisis. The lack of fuel, insecurity and road damage have brought water trucking operations to a halt in most areas. UN partners estimate that the average water consumption from all sources and for all needs has dropped to three liters per day per person. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 50 and 100 litres of water per person per day are needed to ensure that most basic needs are met, and fewer health concerns arise. Despite immense challenges, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been providing food and cash assistanceeach day for a total of 522,000 Palestinians since the start of the crisis. WFP says that commercial stocks of essential food commodities are running low. At the shop level, stocks will last only for a few days more. Retailers can’t restock from wholesalers due to widespread destruction and insecurity. YEMEN The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, concluded a visit to Riyadh today where he met senior Yemeni, regional, and international officials and diplomats. Discussions focused on next steps to facilitate an agreement on measures to improve living conditions in Yemen, a nationwide ceasefire, and an inclusive intra-Yemeni political process under UN auspices. In his meeting with the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al Alimi, Mr. Grundberg stressed that Yemen is going through a critical juncture that still has the potential of bringing Yemenis closer to the just peace they aspire for. The Special Envoy also held meetings with the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Al Budaiwi, and with the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohamed Al Jaber, as well as the P5 Ambassadors to Yemen. VENEZUELA In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General welcomed the partial agreement announced by the Government of Venezuela and the Unitary Platform of Venezuela signed in Barbados. The Secretary-General commended the efforts of regional and international partners and encouraged the implementation, in good faith, of Venezuelan-led agreements to lead to inclusive, transparent, and credible elections next year, as well as to address human rights concerns. Full Highlights: October 2023