United Nations: Türkiye, Syria, South Sudan & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (2 March 2023)

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
- Senior Personnel Appointment
- Senior Personnel Appointment
- Secretary-General in Iraq
- Deputy Secretary-General/Travels
- Türkiye
- Syria
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- South Sudan
- Lebanon
- Costa Rica
- Briefing Tomorrow
- Financial Contribution
TÜRKIYE
Alvaro Rodriguez, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Türkiye, was in the town of Hatay today, a city almost completely wiped out by the earthquakes. He visited a camp and a field hospital and met with communities impacted by the earthquakes. He also met with Government officials and emergency responders. We and our partners have been providing aid - including shelter, food and hot meals, medical assistance, water and sanitation services and psycho-social support. We also have nine Emergency Medical Teams in Hatay and another one will be established soon. Each team treats 150 to 200 people a day, including performing surgeries. More than 60 Urban Search and Rescue teams, many coordinated by the UN, have come to Hatay and rescued more than 100 people from under the rubble.
SYRIA
Today, 35 truckloads of aid from the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization and the UN Refugee Agency crossed into north-west Syria from southern Turkiye. In total, 535 trucks have crossed since 9 February. Humanitarian partners continue to provide assistance across impacted areas, including family food baskets and hot meals, medical supplies, hygiene kits, tents, blankets, mattresses and winter clothes. Our humanitarian colleagues tell us the availability of basic commodities in local markets and rising costs continue to pose a challenge. Winterization and shelter items remain priorities for aid efforts.
SOUTH SUDAN
And in South Sudan, the UN Mission there, UNMISS, today welcomed the transitional government’s renewed commitment to fully implementing all outstanding benchmarks contained within the Revitalized Peace Agreement. This took place at a meeting of the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission attended by the Government, partners, and stakeholders.
Speaking at the forum, the Deputy Special Representative Guang Cong emphasized the need to begin the delayed second phase of the graduation of the Necessary Unified Forces, as well as the constitution-making process.
He pointed to the need to allow for the reconstitution of the National Elections Commission and other indispensable bodies that are essential for a free, fair, peaceful, and inclusive process.