Lebanon & other topics - Daily Briefing (13 August 2020)

Daily Press Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General. Lebanon South Sudan/Peacekeeping South Sudan/Floods Central African Republic COVID-19/Haiti COVID-19/School Handwashing Facilities and Sanitation Tunisia Resident coordinators Therese Gastaut LEBANON In Lebanon, mobile health clinics run by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) are providing medicines and health services to those most in need. More than 2,000 people are receiving medication for acute and chronic conditions. Hundreds more have received first aid services and psychosocial support. A dedicated helpline is being established for timely response to requests for assistance. For its part, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has facilitated the logistics and distribution of 10,000 tetanus vaccines, 42 emergency kits and emergency drugs to primary health care centres in need. Some 5,000 female hygiene kits have been provided to impacted women and girls, following a UNICEF rapid needs assessment. UNICEF is also providing food and water, along with clothes and detergents, to 700 children as well as their caregivers.  The container terminal at Beirut’s Port has re-commenced operations on 10 August at approximately 30 per cent capacity. The first ships have already docked and the offloading of wheat is under way. The capacity at the Beirut Port is expected to increase over the coming week.  A World Food Programme (WFP) shipment of 17,500 metric tonnes of wheat flour is due to arrive by 20 August. SOUTH SUDAN/PEACEKEEPING A patrol from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) arrived in Tonj on Tuesday evening, following clashes over the weekend between the South Sudan’s People’s Defence Forces and local youth. Dozens of people were reportedly killed. The UN Mission says that the security situation is calm although tensions remain high. Peacekeepers met with local officials and military leaders, including the commander of the disarmament forces, as well as with community members and youth groups. Peacekeepers set up a temporary operating base to help deter further violence and are supporting local reconciliation efforts. They are also trying to make their way from Tonj to Romich, which is the village that was reportedly worst hit by the violence. Unfortunately, the road to Romich is currently impassable due to heavy flooding. The Mission is also trying to launch an air patrol instead. SOUTH SUDAN/FLOODS In South Sudan, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that a response is underway to help 26,000 people in Bor impacted by flooding along the Nile River. The total number of people who have fled to Bor to escape flooding and conflict is now around 53,000. The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has sent engineering troops and the World Food Programme (WFP) has sent supplies to repair damaged levees, while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have donated more than 10,000 sandbags. Yesterday, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – together with the Government, donors, and our partners – visited Bor and Pibor, to see the affected areas and to meet with authorities and people impacted by floods. Food, health, water and sanitation hygiene, livelihoods support and protection, among others, have been identified as the main needs. Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon...