UN Noon Briefing: Occupied Palestinian Territory, World Bank/IMF Meetings, Afghanistan & More

World Bank/IMF Meetings and Global Finance

• 🌍 The Deputy Secretary-General is attending the World Bank/IMF Fall Meetings in Washington D.C. to advance commitments from the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.
• 🤝 She spoke at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, welcoming the G20 Africa Engagement Framework and discussing international cooperation on financial architecture reform.
• 📈 The UN's partnership with the World Bank and IMF was highlighted, with a call to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals implementation.

Humanitarian Situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory

• 🚨 The vital role of the Cairo-Rafah route for life-saving aid into Gaza was emphasized, with a call for all crossings to open for a massive scale-up of assistance.
• humanitarian teams are preparing for large-scale delivery but face challenges with Israeli authorities not issuing visas for some international NGOs.
• 🍎 Despite challenges, humanitarian teams distributed nearly 960,000 meals, over 100,000 bread bundles, and over a million baby diapers on a single Tuesday.
• 🏥 WHO delivered essential medical supplies to Al-Shifa Hospital and deployed an international emergency medical team for orthopedic surgery and trauma care, planning to expand hospital capacity.
• 🛣️ UN teams are clearing main roads to the Erez and Zikim crossings in anticipation of their potential reopening for direct aid into northern Gaza.
• 🏠 In Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, residents expressed determination to rebuild, with humanitarian priorities including access to water, food, shelter, and debris removal.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Cameroon

• 🕊️ The Secretary-General is concerned about armed clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, welcoming a temporary ceasefire and calling for dialogue to protect civilians.
• ⚠️ UNAMA is monitoring the situation, with current information indicating at least 17 civilians killed and 346 injured in Spin Buldak, and 16 civilian casualties from an earlier cross-border clash.
• 🗳️ Regarding Cameroon, the Secretary-General calls on stakeholders to maintain a peaceful environment following the 12 October presidential elections and address disputes through legal mechanisms.

Madagascar and World Food Day

• ⚖️ The UN condemns the unconstitutional change of government in Madagascar and calls for a return to constitutional order, noting the African Union's suspension of the country.
• 💧 Madagascar faces severe humanitarian challenges due to drought, cyclones, and locust infestations, with nearly 29,000 people experiencing emergency levels of hunger, projected to soar by 2026.
• 🌍 FAO marked its 80th anniversary on World Food Day, with the Secretary-General warning that progress against hunger is stalling and calling for global solidarity.

Other Briefing Points

• ✈️ Two Moroccan citizens who were on board the Flotilla de Gaza were returned to Casablanca.
• 🇸🇴 Somalia is the world's largest producer of frankincense, with Oman being the second largest.
• 🚚 Regarding truck numbers into Gaza, Kogat reported 716 trucks crossed Israeli-controlled crossings on the previous day, with an estimate of about a third being UN-coordinated.
• 🛡️ The UN has seen a dramatic drop in looting incidents, with WFP managing to deliver a full convoy of trucks to a warehouse without incident.
• 🇻🇪 The UN has seen press reports regarding CIA covert operations in Venezuela and emphasizes the importance of member states fostering constructive engagement and adhering to international law.
• 🇺🇦 The UN reiterates its position of working for an end to the conflict in Ukraine, leading to a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace.
• 🇾🇪 The UN categorically rejects accusations of UN personnel or operations in Yemen being involved in espionage or activities inconsistent with their humanitarian mandate, emphasizing the risks such accusations pose to UN staff.