UN Confirms It Allowed In FDNY & Ambulance -- But It Did Not Let In Haiti Cholera Legal Paper Servers

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 18 -- Given the UN's claims of immunity, like on bringing cholera to Haiti, it is rare to see New York City emergency services let into the UN. 

 So when Inner City Press saw a New York fire truck at the UN's gate midday on March 18, then some fire personnel allowed in without the truck, beyond running a photograph and running to get the story, some questions had to be asked.

Inner City Press asked the office of UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric:

"Beyond the outstanding questions, I just witnessed the NY Fire Department arriving at UN gates with truck, an FDNY team came into the UN, went down to 1B between Conference Rooms 1 and 2, were stopped, were escorted to the gate and out of UN. Please provide a description of what happened, why FDNY wanted in, if they wanted truck in, on what basis UN let them in on foot, and what if anything was done by them while inside. There were also two ambulances, one inside on the traffic circle and one at the gate."

Two hours later, Dujarric's office answered:

Subject: Your question on the FDNY
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Tue, Mar 18, 2014 at 3:47 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

Regarding the Fire Department of New York's (FDNY) appearance at UN Headquarters, we can confirm that they were responding to a 911 call. We had a serious medical emergency in one of the Conference Rooms, with a delegate whom UN responding medical personnel subsequently assessed needed to be urgently moved to hospital. The FDNY responded first and were shortly thereafter joined by a paramedic team from New York Presbyterian hospital. The patient was evacuated to hospital in an ambulance and the FDNY left the scene thereafter.

Allowing in emergency services personnel of the host country -- the US, here NYC -- is a change of sorts for the UN. But the UN wouldn't allow in those seeking to serve legal papers in the case about the UN bringing cholera into Haiti. So it is selective access. We wish the patient the best. Watch this site.

   

UN Delays Access of Ambulance Responding to Emergency by Security Council

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, April 16 -- The UN delayed entry by a New York City ambulance on Monday after one of its media technicians fell to the ground barely 100 feet from the Security Council, the victim of an apparent seizure.

  Multiple UN staff complained to Inner City Press that despite calling the City's 911 emergency line, when an ambulance and fire truck arrived at the UN on First Avenue they were told that only fire trucks could come in, not ambulances.

  A UN staff member in the basement Publishing Unit died of a stroke after a similar ambulance blocking, as Inner City Press exclusively reported as well as a similar delay for a journalist, Han Janitschek, apparently without follow-up, after which it announced that the UN would henceforth allow Emergency Medical Service ambulances in, and that staff should call 911.

  But this instruction had obviously not been conveyed. And a UN Security officer closest to the technician's collapse on Monday had a walkie-talkie which reportedly did not function.

  Finally, after what witnesses say was more than five minutes, the UN Security guard at the First Avenue gate said he would take it on himself and allow the ambulance in. Even then, the emergency medical technicians were led through the Visitors' Tent, leading to further delay.

  Earlier this year, Inner City Press exclusively reported that UN Security found 14 kilograms of cocaine in the UN mail room and only disclosed it, first to others, after it was reported by Inner City Press. What will they say now?

  The UN fought long and hard not to allow the Fire Department to ever inspect the UN headquarters building, finally relenting only after New York City threatened to block City students from taking paid tours of the UN.

  More recently, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has sat on documented claim that UN Peacekeepers introduced cholera to Haiti; the UN argues it has immunity, some say impunity, from legal requirements that apply to others.

  But to block the access of an ambulance?

  The UN has what it calls a "protection of civilians" mandate in many of its missions around the world, but cannot even protect, or allow the protection of, those in its own buildings in New York. Watch this site.

Ambulance Responds Too Late for Journalist at UN, Hans Janitschek, 24 Minute Delay as Fire Truck Is Stopped at 1st Ave Gate, Another Investigation

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1ambulance022108.html

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 21, updated Feb. 22 -- A journalist was taken out of the UN by an ambulance, apparently too late, on the night on February 21. Hans Janitschek, a correspondent for Austrian media, had recently returned to the UN press corps, asking questions ranging from the bombing of the UN in Algiers to a more recent February 17 death at the UN Headquarters. Janitschek had long covered and been affiliated with the UN, and his fellow journalists appreciated his expertise and sense of humor. He was still smiling when, at 7:10 p.m. Thursday, he fell to the floor. A co-worker, according to his written statement which Inner City Press has seen, immediately called the UN operator on three occasions "to report what had happened to Mr. Janitschek, however, they could not provide any assistance." Regular New York City "911" emergency services were not called, due to previous difficulties and delays in them gaining access to the UN campus, which is international territory. Only after UN Security and Safety Services were called directly did anyone appear, and even then, with oxygen equipment that was less than functional.

According to the written account, in which a senior UN Security official was involved, it was fully 24 minutes until Emergency Services Technicians arrived, and by then it was too late. Another reporter on the UN's press floor at that time states that the ambulance was held for precious minutes at the gate from First Avenue, as for example the bottom of its chassis was inspected with mirrors. The reporter questioned why ambulances responding to medical emergencies are searched for so long.

Han Janitschek had spent his Thursday at the UN asking questions. At the day's noon press briefing, he asked about another death at the UN, four days previous, alluding to discordant reports in the Viennese press. Spokesperson Michele Montas replied that there was no indication of foul play. Later in the briefing, a staffer handed her a note, and she amended her answer to say that the investigation is still underway. Video here.

Thursday night, the room in which Mr. Janitschek had been was strewn with medical emergency detritus. UN Security said that, in order to conduct an investigation, the room would have to be sealed, so that nothing could be taken, including computer files, the UN security official said. So, another investigation. One wonders if this investigation will also extend to why ambulances responding to medical emergencies at the UN are searched for so long, and the impact on this case.

Update: on Feb. 22 at the UN noon briefing, Inner City Press asked:

Inner City Press: How long did it take and what is the policy of the UN on letting emergency medical personnel on the UN property?

Associate Spokesperson Farhan Haq: First of all, there were emergency medical personnel on hand at the time. As I just mentioned, three UN security officers who are qualified EMTs performed CPR on Mr. Janitschek, and there was no sign of life at the time. A defibrillator was used to try to start his heart, to no avail, and appropriate medical protocols were followed. The person who was with Mr. Janitschek, Mr. Casella, your colleague, had immediately called the UN operator, who called security, who then called the emergency responders, including a direct call to New York hospital. The first responder was actually a fire engine truck. They were not allowed in, because they could not provide the level of care needed, compared to the trained EMTs, who were there on site already, the three UN security officers. An ambulance arrived 10 seconds later, and that ambulance and paramedics were let in directly. Like I said, all of that was to no avail, ultimately. Mr. Janitschek gave no sign of life throughout this process.

Inner City Press: First of all, who decides whether to let in or not to let in a New York City fire truck? And what is the policy of the UN in terms of this? Does it automatically allow emergency or fire personnel without [searching or blocking them]?

Associate Spokesperson: We have the protocol to call in emergency responders when there is an emergency in the building, and that protocol was followed. As far as checking vehicles that come in, that is a standard security procedure, but that did not result in any significant delay. Like I said, the ambulance and paramedics were let in directly.

The UN later added that [After the briefing, the Spokesperson’s Office confirmed that the ambulance was not stopped at the front gate at all.]

Editor's note: beyond that fact that several witnesses continue to describe the searching of the ambulance, no one has rebutted or even denied the 24 minute response time. In the UN's scripted statement at Friday's noon briefing, highlighted above, it is said that a fire truck was denied entry. A UN security officer after the briefing confirmed that when FDNY vehicles come to the UN, the policy is to not let them in unless there is / the UN is aware of a fire. There's a problem: FDNY took over EMS ambulances some time ago, and FDNY personnel are trained in the procedures which were needed Thursday night. So why have a policy that includes turning away official NYC emergency responders from the FDNY? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1ambulance022108.html