YouSaid · the spoken record

Talahma

lines on the record

16

first

2023-03-06

most recent

2023-03-23

sittings or episodes

2

sources

un-security-council

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1. “We will continue to do that to support all people in need across Syria, wherever they are located. The needs are great, but our resolve also remains steadfast.”

   2023-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9291 (2023) · source

2. “The mission was a welcome step. We hope to see similar progress with regard to cross-line deliveries in north- west Syria soon. Under-Secretary-General Griffiths has just concluded his second mission to the region since the 6 February earthquakes. The visit provided an opportunity to resume important discussions with Government officials and humanitarian partners about issues related to preserving humanitarian space. It also allowed for further exchanges about the efficiency and transparency of humanitarian programming in Syria. The earthquakes brought about a disaster on top of a catastrophe for millions of people in northern Syria. We have responded to that devastation, mobilizing all available resources to deploy additional staff, raise new funds and advocate for more direct access.”

   2023-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9291 (2023) · source

3. “Sufficient livelihoods remain elusive for too many people in Syria. Those deepening needs will require the continued resolve of the international community. Not surprisingly, the 2023 humanitarian response plan for Syria is the largest worldwide. Yet, at present, it is only 6 per cent funded. The generosity demonstrated in recent weeks must be extended to, and not come at the expense of, the ongoing humanitarian response across Syria to ensure that life-saving and early-recovery assistance reaches all those in need. Further action is required to create a more enabling environment, in which humanitarian assistance can reach communities in a safe, predictable and timely fashion. In late February, a United Nations inter-agency team delivered emergency supplies during a cross-line mission to Ras Al-Ayn town in Al-Hasakah governorate.”

   2023-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9291 (2023) · source

4. “We cannot lose sight of the reality that this immense tragedy struck millions of people in Syria already suffering the poverty, displacement and deprivation of 12 years of conflict, as Mr. Pedersen just said. Some 15.3 million people across Syria, many of whom were affected by the earthquake, have few resources beyond humanitarian assistance and protection support to meet their most basic needs. Women and girls have paid the highest price. Targeted violence against health-care personnel and infrastructure has impeded vital sexual and reproductive health care, taking a far-reaching toll on the health and well-being of women and girls. The pressures show no sign of easing. Food prices have almost doubled in the past 12 months. Adequate water supplies are becoming less certain in many areas.”

   2023-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9291 (2023) · source

5. “Safe, voluntary and dignified returns must be facilitated. Family reunification, community awareness interventions and other protection services must be extended in order to address serious concerns, particularly regarding women and girls. Public health emergencies, in particular the ongoing cholera outbreak, must be monitored. Health and surgical services must be strengthened. The generosity of donors is vital to those efforts. Their support, both financial and in-kind assistance, has been a lifeline for the affected communities. We welcome the European Union and international donor conference that took place in Brussels earlier this week. The approximately €7 billion pledged towards response efforts in both Syria and Türkiye will be essential to supporting the relief efforts in the months ahead.”

   2023-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9291 (2023) · source

6. “We carried out more than 1.1 million medical consultations, and we provided water and sanitation services to almost 380,000 people. We continue to conduct daily missions in earthquake-affected areas, delivering assistance, assessing the structural integrity of buildings and identifying protection requirements. Blanket approvals for staff movements and assessments have already assisted those efforts. The expanded cross-border modality has also proved essential in north-west Syria. More than 900 trucks, with aid from seven United Nations agencies, have now reached north-west Syria from Türkiye via the three available border crossings at Bab Al-Hawa, Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai. Much more needs to be done in the weeks ahead. Collectivesheltersmustbedecongestedandconsolidated. Adequate housing must be supported.”

   2023-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9291 (2023) · source

7. “The recent rain and floods have only compounded the hardship facing many families, forcing many in camp sites to relocate yet again to safer locations. The immediate humanitarian crisis was staggering in terms of not only the speed of the destruction, but also the scale of the needs. The disaster strained existing delivery infrastructure and affected humanitarian organizations already on the ground. Unfortunately, that included the death and injury of aid workers, among them United Nations staff. Despite those challenges, within hours of the earthquakes, the United Nations released $15 million from its emergency fund, increasing that amount to $40 million within days. Working with partners, we provided 2.2 million people with emergency food, ready-to-eat rations and cash transfers.”

   2023-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9291 (2023) · source

8. “Mr. Talahma: The earthquakes of 6 February and their aftermath have been a stark reminder of the speed with which tragedy can strike, altering lives in a matter of seconds. As teams continue to clear the rubble, the death toll has continued to climb, with more than 56,000 deaths currently recorded. Thousands of survivors continue to seek treatment for physical injuries as well as trauma. The physical destruction is staggering. In Syria, the World Bank estimates the total losses at $5.2 billion, with the actual total likely much higher. The damage to housing accounts for approximately half of the estimated destruction, leaving millions of people in temporary living situations, unable or unwilling to return to their homes.”

   2023-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9291 (2023) · source

9. “To this end, I am pleased to note the recent strengthening of the Office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator through the establishment of the integrated office to support the role of the triple hat in cross-pillar cooperation and advancing joint peace, development and humanitarian outcomes. That will bring greater alignment and avoid more silos. Thirdly, the CERF and the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund continue to play an important role. In 2022, the Emergency Relief Coordinator approved $54 million through the CERF for South Sudan, which makes it the second-largest recipient globally. We would like to reiterate our call for the Council’s continuing general support for the humanitarian operation in South Sudan through the provision of flexible, unearmarked and early funding to scale.”

   2023-03-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9274 (2023) · source

10. “This year, the humanitarian response plan requires the number of people being assisted to go from 1.7 million of the most vulnerable people to 6.8 million. To date, the response, as indicated by the Special Representative, is only 3.5 per cent funded. Let me conclude by reiterating three key messages. First and foremost, we urge all actors to ensure the de-escalation of violence and uphold their commitment to protecting civilian and civilian assets. We emphasize the importance of providing safe and unhindered access so that people in need can be reached and helped. Secondly, international support for South Sudan needs a strong peace and humanitarian and development cooperation if it is to address the drivers of the protracted crisis and the multiplicity of people’s needs.”

    2023-03-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9274 (2023) · source

11. “Allow me to extend my deep appreciation to the humanitarian partners who are working in extremely difficult environments and who have shown an unwavering commitment to staying and delivering, as pointed out by the Special Representative. South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous places for aid workers. Sadly, in January this year, three aid workers were killed in the line of duty. Nine lost their lives in 2022, during the escalation of intercommunal violence in different areas; these casualties came mostly from the non-governmental organizations. Yet despite these challenges, humanitarian partners reached nearly 5 million people with assistance and services in 2022. Over 4 million people received food assistance and livelihood support. Together we need to do more in 2023.”

    2023-03-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9274 (2023) · source

12. “Over 2.2 million people remain internally displaced — some since 2013, that is, for almost 10 years. Over 2.3 million South Sudanese refugees live in neighbouring countries. Sustainable solutions are needed for affected people to return, integrate or move to another location, which is a determination they make for themselves. There are already many good examples of places to go, such as the Western Bahr El Ghazal, where the governor and her team devised a four-year strategic development plan to support conflict- and disaster-affected communities, in alignment with the Government’s strategic development plan. The launch of the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement and the selection of South Sudan as a pilot country also presents an opportunity to reinforce sustainable-solution mechanisms for displaced people.”

    2023-03-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9274 (2023) · source

13. “Early action is vital to intervene ahead of predicted shocks to safeguard lives and assets. For example, in the capital of Unity state, flood waters did not recede, leaving its population, including people in the largest camp for internal displaced persons, on an island protected only by dikes. Severe flooding impacts were lessened by humanitarians collaborating with the Government and other actors to reinforce fragile dikes, averting a humanitarian catastrophe. The early release of funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund in May 2022 further supported early action. As a humanitarian community, we commit to protecting more lives and livelihoods throughout by expanding early-action measures. Extended and repeated displacement is deepening vulnerability.”

    2023-03-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9274 (2023) · source

14. “In 2022, thousands of people were newly displaced, of whom 70 per cent were children and women, as highlighted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. During the last quarter of 2022, conflict in northern Jonglei and Upper Nile states caused major displacement, cutting people off from essential services and resulting in serious violations against women and children, in particular violations linked to gender-based violence. Climate change has further driven humanitarian needs. Last year, the country experienced a fourth consecutive year of intense flooding. Over a million people were affected as water swept homes and livestock away, flooded farmlands and submerged water resources, all of which further exaggerated the already dire food-insecurity situation.”

    2023-03-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9274 (2023) · source

15. “The latest food-security assessment projects that an estimated 7.8 million people will face crisis levels of acute food insecurity during the April to July lean season, with 43,000 people in Jonglei and Unity states likely to be in catastrophic or famine conditions known as Integrated Phase Classification level 5. An estimated 1.4 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition. More than 675,000 pregnant and lactating women are expected to be at risk of acute malnutrition. These numbers of malnourished and severely food-insecure people have reached a record high, surpassing what was seen during the conflict in 2013 and 2016. Violence continued to be one of the many drivers of displacement and food insecurity, with incidents of armed conflict and intercommunal violence recorded across the country.”

    2023-03-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9274 (2023) · source

16. “Mr. Talahma: I thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in South Sudan. Since we briefed the Council in June last year (see S/PV.9067), the humanitarian situation has worsened. Violence, displacement, hunger, climate-related shocks and public-health challenges continue to drive humanitarian needs, as already highlighted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. This year, a record 9.4 million people, which is actually 76 per cent of the country’s population, including 350,000 refugees, may need humanitarian assistance, which is an increase of 5 per cent since last year.”

    2023-03-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9274 (2023) · source