Decline in fighting in Syria & other topics - Daily Briefing (19 September 2019)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
- Twitter Q&A with the Secretary-General
- Syria
- Central African Republic
- Afghanistan
- Secretary-General annual report on Reprisals
- Philippines/Polio
- UNICEF
- Food and Agriculture Organization
- Financial contributions
Twitter Q&A with the Secretary-General
This afternoon, at 3 p.m., the Secretary-General will be answering questions on Twitter on the key topics to be discussed during the General Assembly, including Climate Action and the progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. His handle is @antonioguterres.

Syria
Ursula Mueller, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, briefed the Security Council on Syria today and said that, since the 30 August ceasefire in the Idlib area, reports indicate a decline in fighting compared to the period since late April, when the military escalations began. She said it is critical that the much-needed respite for civilians continues, unimpeded humanitarian access be facilitated to all civilians in need and the protected status of civilian infrastructure be respected.
Ms. Mueller said that the humanitarian situation remains alarming. As an estimated 400,000 people fled their homes in northwest Syria from May to August of this year, including many people who have been displaced many times over.
She said that, following months of intensive fighting, the outlook in northwest Syria remains uncertain, while winter is coming. Humanitarian organizations are already planning how to help people in need before temperatures drop and inclement weather arrives. Ms. Mueller said that humanitarians estimate that an additional $68.4 million is required to address the expected winterization, shelter and other needs.
Full highlights: