United Nations's video: Ukraine Yemen Ethiopia other topics - Daily Press Briefing 17 February 2022

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Ukraine - Deputy Secretary-General/Haiti  - Yemen - Ethiopia - Democratic Republic of the Congo - Sahel - Cameroon/Schools - UNEP - Mongolia/COVID-19 - Senior Appointment - Financial Contribution UKRAINE Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefed the Security Council by via videoconference from Munich, in Germany, where she is accompanying the Secretary-General who is attending the Munich Security Conference. She warned that the current situation in the region is extremely dangerous, noting with concern the reports of fresh ceasefire violations across the contact line over the past several hours. If verified, she said, these must not be allowed to escalate further. Ms. DiCarlo said the Secretary-General has remained fully engaged with key actors and has reiterated the same unambiguous message: There is no alternative to diplomacy. Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders must be respected in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions. Ms. DiCarlo also told the Members of the Security Council that the world is looking to the collective security mechanisms in Europe but also to the Security Council to help ensure that the only skirmishes will be diplomatic skirmishes.   DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/HAITI Our Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is concluding her visit to Haiti today. This morning, she took part in the Technical Conference on Cholera Elimination. Ms. Mohammed noted that the efforts of the Haitian people over the past 11.5 years have brought Haiti to the brink of a historical moment. As we look to eliminate cholera in Haiti, she said, the country will be the first in modern times to do so following a large-scale outbreak. The Deputy Secretary-General said that Haiti’s efforts have made it an example to the world, and the country has led the way and confirmed that national expertise and leadership can implement the changes that are needed. She stressed that we must remain focused and determined as we look ahead, and that the final mile is never an easy one. Also, this morning, Amina Mohammed had a meeting with religious leaders and took part in a townhall with UN staff in Haiti. Yesterday, in her closing remarks at the International Event for the Financing of the Reconstruction of the Southern Peninsula of Haiti, Ms. Mohammed welcomed the fact that close to $600 million was pledged, surpassing the immediate target for the conference. The Deputy Secretary-General emphasized that the reconstruction of the southern peninsula needs to be framed as part of a greater commitment to put Haiti on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Later today, she is expected to speak with the media, and she will be arriving back in New York late this evening.   YEMEN The high-level pledging event for Yemen will take place on 16 March and will be virtually co-hosted by the United Nations and the Governments of Sweden and Switzerland. This is the fifth year that Sweden and Switzerland are co-hosting the event, and we are very appreciative for their continued support. This event will be a key opportunity for the international community to demonstrate its continued commitment to the people of Yemen. We call on donors to pledge generously at the high-level event, and to commit and disburse funds even before the conference so that we can avert a further reduction of vital assistance. As you will recall, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, two days ago mentioned the risk of further cuts of humanitarian aid to Yemen if funds were not received. Also, I’d also like to mention a more positive development: We can confirm that the UN worker who had been detained in Ma’rib since mid-November was released on Monday, on 14 February. An NGO worker who had been arrested in a separate incident in Ma’rib has also been released. Regrettably, the two UN staff who were arrested in Sana’a last November remain in detention. We continue to call for full respect of UN privileges and immunities and for their immediate release. Also, in a separate incident, as you will recall, last Friday, five other UN staffers were detained by armed men. They, unfortunately, remain in detention and we continue to work for their release. Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=17%20February%202022