Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Palestinians, & other topics - Daily Briefing (8 February 2022)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

- Ethiopia
- Security Council
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Afghanistan
- Tunisia
- Tonga
- Madagascar
- Indonesia
- Palestinians
- Honour Roll

ETHIOPIA
I will start off with a quick update on the Deputy Secretary-General, who continues her visit to Ethiopia. Today, she was expected to meet a group of young women entrepreneurs who are part of a UN-implemented project in Addis Ababa. Tomorrow, she will visit the Afar region of Ethiopia before heading back to New York.
Yesterday, she was the Somali region in Ethiopia and she was joined by there by the President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde.
In meetings with the President of the Somali region and his Cabinet, as well as with a range of stakeholders, including pastoralists, displaced people, and community leaders, the Deputy Secretary-General pledged continuing UN support in the provision of humanitarian aid and engagement in the development sector.
As we told you recently, the Somali region is currently suffering from a prolonged drought.
Underscoring the impact of climate change, the Deputy Secretary-General encouraged the Somali region’s President to look beyond agriculture to water innovations to restore the area to prosperity.
She also expressed her deep appreciation to host communities for welcoming and supporting the many displaced people.
The Deputy Secretary-General lauded the government’s efforts to improve its education, health, water and infrastructure sectors.
She commended the Somali region for the peace that it was keeping, noting that this achievement was an example for other countries in Africa and the world to follow.
AFGHANISTAN
On Afghanistan, the UN Human Rights Office says that, nearly three weeks after their disappearances, there is still no news about the whereabouts and well-being of four women activists and their relatives who were detained or abducted in Kabul in connection with the recent women’s rights protests.
In addition to Parwana Ibrahim Khil and Tamana Paryani, who were abducted with their relatives on January 19th, two more women in Kabul – who also reportedly took part in a 16 January protest– were forcibly taken last week.
Our Human Rights Office say they are gravely concerned for the safety of the disappeared women and their family members. We continue to press the de facto authorities for information on these cases, and for an effective, transparent investigation.
PALESTINIANS
This afternoon, the Secretary-General will speak at the first session this year of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
He will say that the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory -- including East Jerusalem -- continues to pose a significant challenge to international peace and security.
He will emphasise that we urgently need to intensify collective efforts to resolve the conflict and end the occupation in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=08%20February%202022

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