United Nations: West Bank, Earthquake & other topics - Daily Press Briefing - Monday February 27, 2023

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
- Secretary-General/Geneva
- Deputy Secretary-General/Travels
- Libya
- West Bank
- Earthquake
- Mali
- Shipwreck
- UN Interim Force in Lebanon
- Guest Tomorrow
- Financial Contribution
SECRETARY-GENERAL/GENEVA
The Secretary-General is about to wrap up his day in Geneva.  A few hours ago, he spoke at the High-level pledging conference for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and reminded us that today, more than 21 million people – two in three Yemeni children, women, and men – need assistance and protection.  
The people of Yemen deserve our support, he said, but more than that, they deserve a credible path out of perpetual conflict and a chance to rebuild their communities and country. He called for the generosity of the Yemeni people to be matched by our own solidarity with them.
Also speaking at the Yemen conference was Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, who pointed to what he called “small pieces of light.” Mr. Griffiths noted that the truce signed last April led to falling numbers of civilian casualties and displacement, and he called for the truce to be renewed and expanded. He also said that the number of people who need humanitarian aid has dropped slightly, with some of the worst needs having receded.
Mr. Griffiths said this demonstrates very clearly in a very positive and constructive way that in Yemen, as in other chronic crises around the world, progress is possible.
Earlier today, the Secretary-General addressed the opening of the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council and said that as we mark its 75th anniversary, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is under assault from all sides, adding that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered the most massive violations of human rights we are living today.    
Turning to climate, he said that legal challenges against climate-wrecking corporations are an important step forward. Fossil fuel producers and their financiers must understand one simple truth: that pursuing mega-profits when so many people are losing their lives and rights, now and in the future, is totally unacceptable.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, arrived in the capital of Niger, Niamey, today to attend tomorrow’s opening of the ninth Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, which is organized jointly by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Government of Niger. During her three-day visit, Ms. Mohammed is expected to meet with President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger and other senior officials from the government.
Additionally, as the Chair of the Africa Regional Coordination Platform, she will engage with Regional Directors of the UN entities across the system in Africa to continue to seek pathways to strengthen and deliver results at the regional level.
She will also meet with Resident Coordinators from all over the African continent to take stock of the outcomes from various UN processes last year and to see how we leverage on upcoming milestones this year and build momentum for the SDGs as we are at the midpoint to 2030.
As part of ongoing UN country team collaborative support to a core focus of the Government of Niger, Ms. Mohammed will also visit a primary school in the capital to meet with government officials and partners on stepping up efforts to achieve the government’s vision on education. She will hear firsthand from the school children how the joint effort has improved their learning environment and introduced digital technology, which will transform learning.