Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

**Secretary-General’s Travels

The Secretary-General visited Gaza today, and he spoke to reporters at a school run by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Jabalia that had been hit during the conflict this summer.&nbsp He said that he had a deeply moving, unforgettable day and was inspired by the strength and courage of the children he met.&nbsp And he underscored that the Jabalia school is open, and has gone from being the site of terrible tragedy to a symbol of resilience, of learning, and of the possibility of a better day.&nbsp He added that there can be no peace in the Middle East, no security for Israel, while the crisis in Gaza festers.&nbsp The build-and-destroy cycle must be broken.

Earlier, the Secretary-General met with Ministers of the Government of National Consensus in Gaza.&nbsp He told reporters that he emphasized in his meetings with the Israelis and Palestinian officials that there is no hope for the long-term stability of Gaza without addressing the underlying causes of the conflict.&nbsp This includes both lifting Gaza’s blockade and addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns.&nbsp And he said that he was happy to announce that the first truck carrying construction materials was coming to Gaza today, following the agreement on a temporary monitoring mechanism for such materials.

While in Gaza, he also met with a group of families forced from their homes during the conflict who were residing at a shelter for displaced persons and who had lost loved ones in the fighting.&nbsp He shared his concerns with them that winter would be coming.&nbsp And he visited a UN Development Programme project to support Gaza fisheries, where he met with Gaza’s sole registered fisherwoman.

He then went to southern Israel, where he visited the Ein Hash Losa kibbutz and met with about a dozen family members who were affected by rocket fire and tunnel activity from Gaza.

**Ebola

The Head of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Karin Landgren, announced the death today of the United Nations Volunteer who worked in the UNMIL Medical team and was evacuated to Germany last week to receive treatment for Ebola.

This is the second death in the Mission due to Ebola, after an earlier probable case that resulted in the death of a national staff member on 25&nbspSeptember.

UNMIL colleagues are saddened by the tragic news as they continue to serve at this very difficult time.&nbsp Our thoughts now are with the family and friends of the departed.

Anthony Banbury, the Head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), said that this sad loss underscores the importance of an urgent and immediate response from the international community to support the efforts of the courageous health-care workers who are on the front lines in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Meanwhile, in Geneva, the World Health Organization announced that the total number of cases has reached 8,914&nbspand 4,447.

As you know, the Security Council is meeting on Ebola this afternoon.

As for international support against Ebola, let me flag two initiatives from the UN system.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that it will provide specialized diagnostic equipment to help Sierra Leone in its efforts to combat the outbreak.&nbsp That support will later be extended to Liberia and Guinea.

It will consist of supplementing the country’s ability to diagnose Ebola quickly, using a technology known as Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).

Early diagnosis, if combined with appropriate medical care, increases the victims’ chance of survival and helps curtail the spread of the disease by making it possible to isolate and treat the patients earlier.

Another initiative that I would like to highlight is a Conference on Ebola survivors that UNICEF is co-organizing this week at Kenema, in the south-east of Sierra Leone.

The conference will include a meeting between Ebola survivors from Sierra Leone and practitioners in psychosocial and mental health support, to mobilize survivors as helpers and advocates in communities.

**Security Council

This morning, the Security Council adopted two resolutions unanimously, renewing the mandates of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

After that, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, briefed the Council by video link from Mogadishu.&nbsp He said that despite some political gains, Somalia’s challenges remain significant.&nbsp Urgent action is needed to improve the security, development, political and humanitarian conditions across the country.

Today, more than 3&nbspmillion people need humanitarian assistance in Somalia, including some 1&nbspmillion people who do not have enough to eat.&nbsp Mr.&nbspKay’s full remarks are available in our office.

Also on Somalia — the UN, the African Union, the European Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) today welcomed an agreement between the Somali Government and Puntland State of Somalia to resume relations, and work together on peace and State-building priorities.

More on this is available online.

**Iraq

The Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović, arrived in Iraq yesterday and will be in the country until 19&nbspOctober.&nbsp During this visit, Mr.&nbspŠimonović will assess the human rights situation in the country, call for the enhanced protection of civilians, and discuss ways to prevent further human rights violations.&nbsp He will meet with members of the new Government, members of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, representatives of civil society organizations and displaced groups in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, says that the latest ISIS offensive on the city of Hit in Iraq’s Anbar province has triggered another wave of internal displacement in central Iraq, while the north of Iraq has received a surge in the numbers of Syrians fleeing Kobane in Syria, via Turkey.&nbsp In the past few days, after its capture by ISIS and affiliated armed groups over the weekend, an estimated 180,000&nbsppeople have fled from Hit, 180km from Baghdad, and the surrounding areas.&nbsp Many are sheltering with relatives and friends, as well as in schools, mosques and public shelters that are already hosting Iraq’s mounting numbers of internally displaced.

Meanwhile in northern Iraq, an increasing number of Syrian Kurds from Kobane are seeking shelter in Dohuk province, having crossed the border from Turkey.&nbsp Some 5,400&nbspSyrians from Kobane have now entered Iraq, including 3,600&nbsppeople in the last 72&nbsphours.&nbsp Another 10,000&nbspto 15,000&nbsppeople are expected to cross in the coming days.

**Central African Republic

On the Central African Republic, the UN Mission there, MINUSCA, reports that the situation in Bangui remains very tense.

As you know, since 7&nbspOctober, a series of violent incidents took place in the capital and the Mission has also been the target of protests and attacks.

MINUSCA has taken a robust posture in responding to the events in Bangui, in coordination with EUFOR (European Force) and Sangaris.&nbsp On the political front, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy in the country, Babacar Gaye, immediately engaged with President Catherine Samba-Panza, G-8 members, as well as international partners, in order to contain the violence and call on the parties to return to dialogue.&nbsp Today, he met with the Regional Mediator in Brazzaville.

The Mission has also stepped up its patrols across the capital and continues to work through the Bangui Task Force to address the security situation.&nbsp On 11&nbspOctober, MINUSCA intervened and repulsed an attack by around 100&nbsparmed anti-Balaka fighters near the residence of the Head of State of the Transition, Ms.&nbspSamba-Panza, and patrols have been intensified in the area.

The Mission remains on high alert and continues its work to address the situation and return the parties to dialogue.

And on the humanitarian front, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, says that, according to initial reports, the latest violence has displaced some 6,500&nbsppeople, but that number could be much higher.&nbsp The Agency also calls on all parties to respect humanitarian work and allow unhindered humanitarian access to relief agencies working to support thousands of displaced people in desperate need.&nbsp There is more information online.

**South Sudan

We have an update on the protection of civilian sites from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

UNMISS says that, in all, more than 25,000&nbspinternally displaced persons have been relocated to better-suited sites since June of this year.&nbsp Dedicated protection of civilians’ sites, adjacent to UNMISS bases, have been constructed in the capital, Juba, in Malakal in Upper Nile State and in Bor in Jonglei State.

In Juba, more than 10,800&nbsppeople have been moved since June this year from the UNMISS Tomping compound to a newly constructed site close to UN House.&nbsp The Mission also reports the relocation of approximately 1,500&nbspdisplaced persons from Tomping to UN House.

In Malakal, some 13,500&nbspinternally displaced people have been relocated to the new site.&nbsp And the Mission is supporting humanitarian partners to construct an additional extension to accommodate 5,000&nbspremaining people.

In Bor, 300&nbsppeople have been relocated to a new site since the start of relocation on 9&nbspOctober.&nbsp Current plans call for the relocation of all 2,700&nbspinternally displaced to the new site over the coming weeks.

The Mission also reports that sites where the internally displaced are no longer in need of protection are being closed.&nbsp For example, UNMISS shut the Rumbek site last weekend after UNMISS was able to find individual solutions for the remaining people sheltering there.

As we have said, protection of civilians sites are not a sustainable option for the long-term protection of civilians and should only be considered as an option of last resort.&nbsp In a UN-wide effort, solutions are being sought to help the internally displaced return home, where feasible, or to other places, where they feel safe.&nbsp Plans are being developed for assisting as many voluntary returns as possible during the upcoming dry season.

**Libya

From Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, today warned that human rights defenders, political activists, bloggers and media professionals have been under increasing attack from armed groups in Libya since mid-May.

He added that UN human rights staff had received numerous reports of intimidation, harassment, abductions and murder, which has caused some human rights defenders to flee the country or to go into hiding.

Condemning the attacks, High Commissioner Zeid urged Libyan authorities to take all possible measures to conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations, and hold those found responsible to account.

More information on this is available on the Human Rights Office’s website.

**Press Conferences

Today at 2&nbspp.m., in this room, there will be a press conference organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People with Professor Noam Chomsky from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Tomorrow at 12:30&nbspp.m., again in this room, there will be a briefing on Africa Week at the UN General Assembly, taking place from 13&nbspto&nbsp17 October.

That’s it from me.&nbsp You can go yes?

**Questions and Answers

Question:&nbsp Thank you, Farhan.&nbsp There are some reports coming out of Ghana that people have contracted Ebola from Red Cross vaccines.&nbsp Do you have any information on that?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp No.&nbsp I’ve given you the latest updates that we have from the World Health Organization.&nbsp If we have any further information coming out from Ghana, we’ll provide updates as those come in.&nbsp But I don’t have that information with me now.&nbsp Yes, please, Anna?

Question:&nbsp Thank you, Farhan.&nbsp Could you comment on the situation with Kobane and the fact that instead of helping civilians in Kobane from apparent massacre, Turkey instead bombed forces of Kurdish rebels?&nbsp That’s even more weakening Kurdish forces in the face of ISIS.&nbsp Thank you.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Well, we have repeatedly called for those who can play a helpful role in protecting people in Kobane to do so.&nbsp The Secretary‑General has made that clear, and once again, I reiterate that the Secretary‑General strongly believes that it’s incumbent on every Member State of the United Nations as well as non-State actors to do everything in their power, whatever it takes, to avoid a repeat of a Srebrenica-type situation:&nbsp the fall of a city followed by a brutal massacre of its inhabitants.&nbsp The Secretary‑General believes this applies particularly to those countries who have the means to protect this massacre, both those most immediately in the vicinity and those who can contribute through other means to prevent it.&nbsp Yes?

Question:&nbsp Sure.&nbsp I wanted to ask, I was looking at what the Secretary‑General said in Gaza in his press conference.&nbsp And he said, “I, as Secretary‑General of the United Nations, am considering establishing my own Board of Inquiry to investigate the shelling of UN facilities.”&nbsp At least, I thought that Robert Serry says that he plans to do it as an affirmative statement.&nbsp I think yesterday you said that’s the… said the same thing, although for some reason the transcripts are not going up on the Spokesperson’s website, at least since the 7^th.&nbsp I haven’t seen any.&nbsp So I’m just noting that to you.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp The transcripts aren’t going up on the website?&nbsp No, we’ve been putting the transcripts on the website.&nbsp I know I’ve been posting some of them myself.&nbsp So they should be there.

Question:&nbsp I’ll show you.&nbsp My question is, is this a backtracking on his part or is it, is it a misstatement?&nbsp What’s the status of… has he already decided to do the Board of Inquiry or is he considering it?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp This is something that he has repeatedly said that he plans to do and something that he does in fact plan to do.&nbsp We don’t have one set up at this stage.&nbsp We’ll let you know once something has been set up, but this is something that he’s been planning, yes.&nbsp It takes time to set these up, as you know.&nbsp Once a conflict has ended, there’s a standard procedure that we follow.&nbsp Yes?

Question:&nbsp Yes.&nbsp Thank you, Farhan.&nbsp In fact, in 2008, 2009, there was the same story again, Fakhoura School that was bombed by Israel, and there was an investigation, and nothing came out of it.&nbsp And in 2006, [Archbishop Desmond] Tutu led a team to investigate attacking some civilian areas in Gaza and he put that report, and nothing came out of it.&nbsp And it’s not the first time.&nbsp So do we expect serious investigation of attacking UN schools in Gaza this time?&nbsp There are three schools at least with people killed in those three schools, in addition to different facilities and the High Commissioner when he spoke to the Security Council, he said, there must be some accountability.&nbsp That is one question.&nbsp The second is about Jerusalem.&nbsp The incursions into Aqsa Mosque is becoming more frequent and more violent and more repetitious.&nbsp Does the UN have something to say about that?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Yes.&nbsp Well, to take your second question first, the Secretary‑General has said, as you saw from the remarks he made yesterday, that all places of worship need to be respected, and he has called on all to respect the sanctity of these sites and avoid any provocative measures.

Regarding the first question, I would dispute your characterization that nothing has come out of these previous efforts.&nbsp There has been work done, and as you may have seen, there had been progress made, both on questions of individual compensation and in questions of acknowledgment.&nbsp So that has happened.&nbsp And we will press for accountability in this case, much as High Commissioner Zeid has asked for.&nbsp You’ve seen what the Secretary‑General has had to say, both during the crisis and in his recent visit, and we stick to those.&nbsp We will find some means of looking into what’s happened.&nbsp Yes?&nbsp Way in the back.

Question:&nbsp Hi.&nbsp Today’s meeting about Ebola:&nbsp is there any specific topic that they’re going to discuss on that issue or it’s like a general meeting today?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp It’s the Security Council, so when they look at things, they look at how situation on the ground can affect and can pose threats to international peace and security.&nbsp So it’s in that context that the meeting is being held.&nbsp In this particular case, the Security Council will hear from Under‑Secretary‑General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous, and the Special Envoy, David Nabarro, from the head of UNMEER, Tony Banbury, and from the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr.&nbspMargaret Chan.&nbsp Aside from Mr.&nbspLadsous, the other speakers will brief them by video conference.&nbsp I believe a portion… the initial portion of the meeting will be open and so you’ll be able to see that for yourself.&nbsp Yes?

Question:&nbsp Thank you.&nbsp Continuing the topic about Ebola, we talked about the world situation, but could we talk a little bit about the US situation?&nbsp There has been a report… there have been reports that the nurse who was taking care of Thomas Duncan, she also contracted Ebola, and it raised concerns, because she was taking every precaution.&nbsp She sort of contracted it mysteriously.&nbsp Have there been any explanations or any discussions about this?&nbsp Thank you.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp That’s really more a question to ask the health authorities in the United States, not to us.&nbsp I would just want to echo something that Mr.&nbspBanbury just said earlier today, which is that when he talked about the death of our UN Volunteer, that that loss underscores the importance of an urgent and immediate response from the international community to support the efforts of the courageous health workers who have been on the front lines in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.&nbsp And it’s there especially that they need the most help in terms of being able to deal with matters of how to contain this disease, because it’s a very difficult disease, as the example you just cited in the US shows, to contain.&nbsp Yes, Maria Carmen?

Question:&nbsp Gracias.&nbsp Would the Secretary‑General consider Jews ascending to the Temple Mount a provocative action?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp I’ll just refer you back to what he said.&nbsp There’s nothing provocative about worshippers going to their place of worship.&nbsp There have been specific incidents at different sites, and that is what he was referring to.&nbsp Yes, Matthew?

Question:&nbsp Lately, a number of countries have begun or begin talking about recognizing Palestine, France being the recent one.&nbsp What is the Secretary‑General’s reaction to this?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp That is a choice for every country to make in conformity with their own laws, of course.&nbsp For our part, the United Nations is guided by the relevant General Assembly resolution from 2012.&nbsp Yes?

Question:&nbsp I wanted to ask you on two UN things on Ebola.&nbsp One is it’s reported that the Sierra Leonian peacekeepers were going to go serve in AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia), the UNSOA (United Nations Support Office for AMISOM) supported mission in Somalia, have been placed under quarantine.&nbsp I wanted to know, is that the UN’s understanding, and have there been any other deployments or returns triggered by Ebola, particularly now Philippines seems to be saying they’re going to pull their contingent out of Liberia by 10&nbspNovember?&nbsp I wanted to know, is the UN aware of that?&nbsp Have you received a letter for that?&nbsp What’s the impact of the virus on peacekeepers’ comings and goings?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp We certainly hope the peacekeepers in West Africa will continue to contribute.&nbsp I don’t have anything specific to say about the Philippines’ announcement.&nbsp Of course, we’re aware of that, and, of course, when you’ve asked about the Philippines’ contingents in the past, you’ve heard what we have had to say and that remains the case.&nbsp Regarding the troops going into AMISOM, which, as you know, is the African Union Mission in Somalia, so it’s really more a question for them but I would like to point out that in line with the procedures followed by the Department of Field Support, those incoming troops and outgoing troops follow the same sorts of procedures as UN troops in general do where, going into a country and going out of the country, there’s a standard quarantine procedure.&nbsp That’s not an unusual or new thing.&nbsp And this is not an Ebola-specific thing.&nbsp Yes, please?&nbsp I guess Iftikhar and then you next to him.

Question:&nbsp Thank you, Farhan.&nbsp Follow-up on the questions on Ebola.&nbsp Is this Security Council meeting just a hearing or there’s going to be an upshot, a resolution or something?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp That’s always up to the members of the Security Council.&nbsp I’m only aware of it as a series of briefings, but, of course, the matter’s in their hands and they can take further action if they so feel.&nbsp Yes, please?

Question:&nbsp Hi.&nbsp I just wanted to set the record straight.&nbsp I couldn’t be at the briefing yesterday, but I know that a report that I did with my colleague Emmanuel St. Martin for France 24 on cholera in Haiti, it was mentioned in yesterday’s briefing and, in particular, part of that report in which we aired part of an interview that we did with Edmond Mulet.&nbsp There was never any agreement prior to that interview with Edmond Mulet that the interview only focused on certain peacekeeping missions, and I just wanted to say that that… there was never a list of questions given to Mr.&nbspMulet, and we thought that he’d be perfectly equipped to respond to any questions on MINUSTAH, which, of course, he was Head of.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Certainly.&nbsp I take your point, and I’m aware from my peacekeeping colleagues that he did not feel himself to be well prepared on this particular set of questions, but would have been prepared at a different point.&nbsp But I take your point.&nbsp And if you want, you can continue the discussion further with the peacekeeping colleagues with whom you’ve been dealing.

Question:&nbsp But there was never any list… we don’t give a list of our questions before we interview UN officials.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Nor do we expect them, as a general rule.

Question:&nbsp And there was never an agreement that it would only be on certain topics.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp That’s a given.&nbsp We don’t expect it and there doesn’t have to be a list of questions beforehand.&nbsp That we take for granted.&nbsp It’s just that at times we try to prepare our principals for the topics that they’ll be addressing.

Question:&nbsp We would also be delighted to interview Edmond Mulet again regarding this issue, especially as that court date approaches and also the Secretary‑General, we’d love to interview him on that issue, too.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp We will relay your request accordingly.&nbsp Yes?

Question:&nbsp Just as a follow-up:&nbsp Even give then clarification, is it appropriate for… or is it UN practice to once an on‑the‑record Q&ampA has taken place to ask a channel not to broadcast it?&nbsp Yesterday you were saying this is not censorship.&nbsp I was wondering is this routine?&nbsp It seems strange to me.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp What my colleagues told me is they were offering a separate date where he would be better prepared.&nbsp That’s what they have said.&nbsp I don’t believe…

Question:&nbsp I was the journalist involved.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Before you interrupt [talkover] please, please, guys.&nbsp You’ve got to let me complete my sentences.&nbsp We don’t ask for people not to run things.&nbsp And that is not something we would do.&nbsp You know, in this case, I believe that they felt that he would be more secure having a chance to answer them once he was fully briefed, and that was their one concern.&nbsp But, no, we have no problem with that, and, indeed, we have no problem with your coverage.

Question:&nbsp But the exchange was as follows.&nbsp We received an e-mail saying, can confirm you will not air that part of the interview?&nbsp We said, no, we can’t confirm that.&nbsp And we decided to air it.&nbsp But we did also ask if Edmond Mulet would like to do another interview and that was declined.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Well, we’ll see with them how that goes.&nbsp In this case, as you’re well aware, that’s their prerogative to determine the timing of interviews.&nbsp But I’ll let you have that dialogue with your colleagues there.

Question:&nbsp Let’s make it a press conference.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp What?

Question:&nbsp Let’s make it a press conference.&nbsp Actually, have him come and answer… There are many questions…

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp I think you need to resolve that with your colleague Jessica.&nbsp I think her request was for an interview.&nbsp I’m not misinterpreting that, right?

Question:&nbsp No.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Okay, great.&nbsp Yes, Go?

Question:&nbsp Thank you, Farhan.&nbsp Some update on Gaza.&nbsp Did you hear any problem or physical troubles throughout SG’s visit to Gaza, because I heard there were dozens of people protesting outside of the UNRWA school against his visit?&nbsp And as far as I remember, in his last visit, someone threw stones on his convoy.&nbsp So did you hear anything, in trouble this time?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp No, on the contrary.&nbsp I’ve been in touch with Stéphane [Dujarric].&nbsp We were trying to have him call in, which is why that screen has the nice UN seal on there.&nbsp He’s not able to call in now, but what he said was he was actually very warmly received.&nbsp He stayed a bit longer than had been initially expected, because he was trying to meet with the sort of people… many of the types of people who have been affected one way or another by the fighting, and he was actually quite moved and quite touched by what he’d seen.&nbsp I don’t have any incidents to report, but from what Stéphane said, it seemed to have gone quite well.&nbsp Yes?

Question:&nbsp You might have covered this yesterday, Farhan, but when the SG… we only get half the transcript when he spoke to [Benjamin] Netanyahu and the Jerusalem Post has Netanyahu accusing the UN of giving the rockets that were found in schools over at Hamas so they could reuse them.&nbsp I’m just saying this is what… you know, it would have been nice to have the full discussion from the UN point of view.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Yeah.&nbsp I can see how that’s more convenient for you, but when we have… many times when we have joint press encounters with other Heads of State or other senior officials, we leave it to them to transcribe their principal, just as we transcribe the Secretary‑General.&nbsp Essentially, it’s a matter of respect for the country that’s hosting this.

Question:&nbsp But anyway, Netanyahu made quite an accusation, which I assume the UN might have thrown back or something, that the rockets scored in UNRWA schools were given back to Hamas.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp As you’re well aware, we have spoken out fairly extensively about how the crisis was you going on about how we were handling this.&nbsp It’s something we took quite seriously, and we created a set of guidelines on how to handle rockets when they were found.&nbsp And once again, just for the record, I would like to point out:&nbsp these were rockets found in schools after they had been abandoned because we had to flee from schools because of the fighting.&nbsp When we returned back, we detected the rockets and reported them there.&nbsp Yes?

Question:&nbsp Follow-up to Evelyn’s question, though.&nbsp It was reported that the rockets that were found were turned over to local authorities, local authorities being Hamas.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp The initial batch was turned over to local authorities in accordance with the standard procedures, which is that you turn them over to the local police.&nbsp And I would say it was the local police.&nbsp As you’re well aware, we changed the procedures.&nbsp If you’re interested, you can look back on the record of all the things we’ve said about this over the summer.

Question:&nbsp Follow‑up?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp No, actually, Oleg?

Question:&nbsp Thank you, Farhan.&nbsp There seem to be new demonstrations and clashes in Kyiv in the last two days.&nbsp This time, it’s soldiers that were fighting in the east of Ukraine.&nbsp Does the Secretary‑General follow these events, and does he have any comments?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp I don’t have any specific reaction on this at this stage.&nbsp Clearly, in order for a protest to be conducted, we would want them to be held peacefully, and we would want them to be respected… the peaceful nature of protests to be respected by the authorities.&nbsp Beyond that, I don’t have anything specific on this.&nbsp Yes?

Question:&nbsp I wanted to ask about Mali and Tajikistan.

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Why don’t you ask them separately, since they’re not related?

Question:&nbsp They are.&nbsp I wanted to make sure I get to ask&nbspthe Tajikistan question…

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp You’ll get to ask all of your questions.

Question:&nbsp All right, good.&nbsp On Mali, it’s been reported that Mr.&nbsp[Bert] Koenders is leaving his position to return and be the Netherlands Foreign Minister.&nbsp I wanted to know:&nbsp What’s the process for appointing another Special Representative of the Secretary‑General?&nbsp Has it begun?&nbsp When he is leaving?&nbsp And does it in any way prejudice the operations of the mission?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp I don’t actually have anything to announce concerning Mr.&nbspKoender’s departure.&nbsp At this stage, I believe there’s a process under way in the Netherlands concerning the determination of the Foreign Minister, but that process is not completed.&nbsp Until then, I have nothing to say about him.&nbsp Yes?

Question:&nbsp On Ebola, you mentioned two different projects, UNICEF and something else.&nbsp Is the UN operation in Ghana coordinating all of that or is everyone falling all over each other?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Certainly, the UN mission, UNMEER, is doing what it can to coordinate efforts on the ground.&nbsp Of course, that’s a very difficult thing to do, and there’s many different parties involved, but UNMEER, along with its colleagues in the World Health Organization, is trying to coordinate a response.&nbsp Yes, Matthew?

Question:&nbsp Hi, Farhan.&nbsp I have read reports that there is debate on whether the Security Council or the General Assembly should be taking the lead on the combat for… against Ebola.&nbsp Does the Secretary‑General have an opinion on this?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp I think, as with all issues involving decisions taken by Member States, we’ll leave it in the hands of Member States.&nbsp You’ve seen that the Secretary‑General believes that this matter serious enough that on his own authority he created the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response and informed the Security Council and the General Assembly accordingly.&nbsp He believes that much more needs to be done to make sure that this disease can be contained and brought under control and any steps forward that can help to that, he would welcome.&nbsp Yes, Sara?

Question:&nbsp While the Secretary‑General has stated on Gaza that the cycle of destroy-rebuild, destroy-rebuild must end and I agree, what assurances do we have from the Israeli Government that they’re going to allow these materials into Gaza and what assurances do we have from the Palestinians that they’re going to use these materials specifically for rebuilding and not for nefarious purposes, such as tunnels underneath the city?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp That’s a good question and the best answer I have to provide is that the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority have agreed with the United Nations in a series of… after a series of discussions brokered by our Special Coordinator, Robert Serry, on a tripartite agreement that sets up a temporary mechanism that would help allow us, the United Nations, to play a role in making sure that the construction materials going into Gaza will not be diverted to any improper uses.&nbsp So the Secretary‑General has been very appreciative of Prime Minister Netanyahu for supporting and agreeing to this arrangement and he has spoken to the Palestinian Authority, including just today, about the need to make sure that works effectively and that there’s no diversions.&nbsp But the onus will be on all three parties, therefore, and on us as well, therefore, to make sure that this can work.&nbsp Today the Secretary‑General was happy to announce that the first such shipment of construction materials was arriving, and let’s hope that this can continue.&nbsp Yes?

Question:&nbsp Sure.&nbsp I wanted to ask about Tajikistan.&nbsp And I’m glad to get to do it.&nbsp Since 5&nbspOctober in Tajikistan, news sites such as Asia Plus news agency but also now YouTube and a variety of social media have been all been blocked inside the country, and I wanted to know particularly since the UN has that regional centre in Turkmenistan, is there any response…

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Turkmenistan, which is, of course, a different country.

Question:&nbsp I understand but it’s called the Regional Centre in Central Asia and Tajikistan is a country in Central Asia.&nbsp Since they turned the Internet off, I want to know if it was within the mandate of Mr.&nbsp[Miroslav] Jenca, who is the head of the regional agency of Central Asia, if he has any reaction to this or if there’s any response by the UN system whatsoever to any this?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp There’s been no response from Mr.&nbspJenca.&nbsp Beyond that, of course, we oppose any efforts to block the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media and we continue to do so in all cases.&nbsp Yes, please?

Question:&nbsp Thank you.&nbsp IAEA offered help on Ebola.&nbsp Do you have any details on that?&nbsp And also, WHO predicted that by December, the cases on Ebola in West Africa may jump to 10,000&nbspper week.&nbsp Do you have any comment on that?

Deputy Spokesman:&nbsp Yes, I can refer to what the World Health Organization was saying.&nbsp At start of the briefing, you might have missed but did I mention that the IAEA announced it will provide specialized diagnostic equipment to help Sierra Leone in its efforts to combat the outbreak and that support will later be extended to Liberia and Guinea and it consists of diagnose Ebola quickly using a technology known as Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Have a good afternoon, everyone.