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Deputy Secretary-General/Travels, Niger, Democratic Republic of the Congo & other topics - Daily Press Briefing
**BrazilAs part of her visit to Brazil, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will today travel to Santarém, in the State of Para, in the Amazon region.On the first two days of her trip to the country, the Deputy Secretary-General and her delegation had a number of meetings with the federal Government in Brasilia, including with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Luiz Viera; the Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, Marcio Macedo; the Minister of Environment and Climate, Marina Silva; and the Special Adviser to the President for International Affairs, Celso Amorim. She also met senior officials representing the ministries of financing and planning, amongst others.Ms. Mohammed commended the Government’s efforts to strengthen the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and discussed the importance of raising ambition at the global stage for the 2030 Agenda, climate action, and reforming of the international financial system.The Deputy Secretary-General also engaged with the President of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, and with the representatives of ABDE — the Brazilian Development Financial Institutions.Ms. Mohammed also met with the UN country team on the Organization’s collaboration with the Brazilian Government to achieve the SDGs.**NigerOn Niger, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and its partners remain committed to delivering assistance to the most vulnerable people in the country.Humanitarian operations continue uninterrupted and road movements are possible and have been authorized.On Monday, the UN humanitarian air service — UNHAS — organized special flights to Diffa, Tahoua and Agadez to transport staff from the UN and our partners, following authorization previously obtained by the transitional [sic; see below] authorities.As you’ll recall, some 4.3 million people in Niger, the vast majority of whom are women and children, need humanitarian aid.OCHA stresses that all parties must continue to respect humanitarian principles and allow for unhindered access for humanitarian workers to all people in need, across the country.**Democratic Republic of the CongoAt a press conference in Kinshasa today, the head of our peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita, highlighted the challenges ahead for MONUSCO’s transition, including the significant insecurity that still plagues 13 territories in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, the provinces where the Mission is still present and which require sustained joint action by national security forces and UN peacekeepers.Ms. Keita described 2024 as the “year of transition”, where the Mission will increasingly transfer its responsibilities, including the protection of civilians, to the Government of the DRC.nbsp; In that regard, MONUSCO is working closely with the authorities to ensure that national capacities meet minimum-security requirements to allow for a responsible drawdown of the Mission.nbsp; The expertise and resources of the UN family are also being leveraged to help the Government implement national plans to support humanitarian needs and development.**MaliWe have an update from Mali, where more than 460 peacekeepers from MINUSMA’s (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali) Egyptian combat and convoy escort battalion have left the town of Gao in the country’s northern part.nbsp; For more than a year, they operated in a difficult environment, escorting convoys from Gao to Tessalit via Kidal and Aguelhok, under constant threat from improvised explosive devices by armed groups.nbsp; Their work contributed to safe passage for logistical convoys and helped to protect civilians.The departure of the Egyptian contingent was planned before the Security Council resolution that terminated the Mission.nbsp; But it is a step towards the complete withdrawal of MINUSMA by 31 December.nbsp; In the coming weeks, peacekeepers from the Senegalese, Burkinabe, Ivorian and Bangladeshi contingents will also leave as the outlying camps of Ogossagou, Goundam, Ber and Ménaka are closed.**South SudanAt a press conference in Juba today, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan and Head of the peacekeeping mission there (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, welcomed recent progress on the Peace Agreement, including the establishment of the Government-led Joint Taskforce for the Implementation of Constitution-Making and Electoral Processes, and Parliament’s consideration of the National Elections Act.However, Mr. Haysom warned that time is running out and critical decisions must be made urgently by political leaders if South Sudan is to meet the December 2024 election timeline.He also expressed concern about the impact of the Sudan crisis on South Sudan and condemned continuing intercommunal violence and cattle-raiding.Mr. Haysom reiterated the UN’s full support to the people of South Sudan and issued a call for urgent action to complete the transitional period of the peace agreement to create the foundation for peace and sustainable development.**SudanTurning to Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that hunger and displacement due to the ongoing war are spiraling out of control.More than 6 million people in Sudan — about 13 per cent of the population — are now one step away from famine.nbsp; This is according to the latest analysis today from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC.Across the country, more than 20 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity.nbsp;This is due to the conflict, economic decline and mass displacement.And on that note, just to give you a sense of how many people continue to flee the violence in Sudan:nbsp;More than 334,000 people have been internally displaced in just one week, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).IOM also tells us that since the war started, more than 3 million people have been displaced inside Sudan.nbsp; Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says that more than 855,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries.**Central African RepublicOur peacekeeping colleagues in the Central African Republic tell us that the arrival of Chadian refugees in the border area with Chad, in the north-west of the country, continues to generate tensions, as well as additional pressure on an already dire humanitarian situation.UN peacekeepers have stepped up patrolling in the area and are supporting humanitarian actors, who are assisting those in need.nbsp; They have also established a security perimeter and provided medical treatment to civilians who sought protection at a nearby MINUSCA (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic) base, following an attack by armed elements in Nana-Bakassa, in the Ouham prefecture.nbsp; The Mission is continuing to patrol in the area, which is now calm.Peacekeepers are also conducting robust long-range patrols in Sam-Ouandja and Ouanda-Djalle in the north-east, in response to a tense security situation there.nbsp; The presence of UN personnel has helped reassure the population to go about their daily activities.**Financial ContributionAnd we close today with thanks to our friends in Montevideo, who have paid Uruguay’s regular budget dues in full for this year.Uruguay becomes the 127th Member State to pay up and we say gracias to them.