WHO report on Sexually Transmitted Infections & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (6 June 2019)

Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Daily Press Briefing:
- Secretary-General in Russia,
- Madagascar,
- Libya,
- Horn of Africa,
- Iraq,
- STIs,
- Food Index,
- Contributions
SG IN RUSSIA
The Secretary-General spoke at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia today and he drew attention to the need to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieve Agenda 2030, noting that there are several factors – including slowing economic growth and trade conflicts – that are obstacles to realizing those goals.
He underscored the need to provide education to prepare people better for the jobs of the future, saying that we need to base things on lifelong learning and we need to create a new generation of safety nets for many people who have difficulties adapting. And he added that climate change is a major threat to us all and a major limitation to our capacity to deliver in relation to the Goals.
The Secretary-General is traveling to Moscow from St. Petersburg, where tomorrow he will meet with President Vladimir Putin before heading back to New York over the weekend.

MADAGASCAR
The Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ursula Mueller, has wrapped up a three-day visit to Madagascar, calling for urgent action to tackle climate change and for increased investment to help the country address acute humanitarian needs as well as their root causes.
Ms. Mueller noted that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense in Madagascar, with already vulnerable people bearing the brunt of climate change.
In the past 20 years, Madagascar has been struck by 35 cyclones, 8 floods and 5 periods of severe drought – a three-fold increase over the previous two decades.
The country is also grappling with food insecurity and disease outbreaks, with 1.3 million people severely food insecure. Measles broke out last September and the outbreak is still continuing, with more than 1,200 people – mostly children – having died.

LIBYA
The UN has received reports that a field hospital in Al-Swani in Libya’s Tripoli District was hit by shelling today, injuring a doctor and two paramedics. Details of this incident are still being verified.
Two more ambulances were also hit this week, resulting in the complete destruction of one ambulance, though no casualties were reported.
This brings the number of health worker casualties since the start of hostilities in April to six people killed and 10 injured. Sixteen ambulances have been damaged or destroyed and three health facilities have also been fully evacuated due to the conflict.
This high incident rate is of deep concern and humanitarians continue to call on the parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law. Medical personnel trying to reach and assist casualties must be respected and protected in all circumstances, as must medical facilities and transportation.
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