Name: 🇮🇱 Israel - Prime Minister Addresses General Debate, 73rd Session @unitednations
Uploaded: 2024-10-21T08:17:00-05:00
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Description: 🇮🇱 Israel - Prime Minister Addresses General Debate, 73rd Session

🇮🇱 Israel - Prime Minister Addresses General Debate, 73rd Session

United Nations 2024-10-21 | 🇮🇱 Israel - Prime Minister Addresses General Debate, 73rd Session

New Report on Circumstances Resulting in UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjölds Death in 1961

United Nations 2024-10-19 | A new report concerning the investigation into the conditions and circumstances resulting in fatal crash in 1961that killed then-United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld assesses it to remain plausible that an external attack or threat was a cause, a United Nations spokesman said today. The report, written by the designated Eminent Person, Mohamed Chande Othman, notes that the alternative hypotheses that appear to remain available are that the crash resulted from sabotage, or unintentional human error. Spokesman Farhan Haq said the Secretary-General calls for renewed resolve and commitment to pursue the full truth of what happened on that fateful night in 1961.

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One of the most enduring mysteries in United Nations history – the 1961 plane crash that killed Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and all on board as he sought to broker peace in the Congo – will linger on, with a new assessment announced today (18 Oct) suggesting that “specific and crucial” information continues to be withheld by a handful of Member States.

According to the UN’s Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, “significant new information” has been submitted to the inquiry for this latest update.

This included probable intercepts by Member States of communications related to the crash, the capacity of Katanga’s armed forces, or others, to mount an attack on SE-BDY and the involvement of foreign paramilitary or intelligence personnel in the area at the time.

It also included additional new information relevant to the context and surrounding events of 1961.

Over the years, the UN General Assembly has mandated a series of inquiries into the death of Hammarskjöld and those of his party. The most recent, in December 2022, was led by Mohamed Chande Othman, former Chief Justice of Tanzania, with the formal title of “Eminent Person.”

Othman, Haq said, “assesses it to remain plausible that an external attack or threat was a cause of the crash,” and “notes that the alternative hypotheses that appear to remain available are that the crash resulted from sabotage or unintentional human error.”

However, Haq continued, Othman assessed so far that it is “almost certain” specific, crucial and so far undisclosed information exists in the archives of Member States.

He noted that Othman has not received, to date, specific responses to his queries from some Member States believed to be holding useful information.

Haq said, “the Secretary-General has personally followed up on [Mr. Othman’s] outstanding requests for information and calls upon Member States to release any relevant records in their possession,” and added that “with significant progress having been made, the Secretary-General calls on all of us to renew our resolve and commitment to pursue the full truth of what happened on that fateful night in 1961.”

Appointed at just 47 years old, Hammarskjöld of Sweden remains the youngest UN Secretary-General.

Widely regarded as a visionary diplomat and reformer, Hammarskjöld is credited with strengthening the role of the newly established UN during a period of intense global tensions, including the drive to decolonise Africa and Asia.

His leadership was pivotal during the tumultuous events of 1956. He led a ceasefire mission to the Middle East and continued through the Suez crisis, where he helped negotiate the withdrawal of foreign forces from Egypt and oversaw the deployment of the Organization’s first emergency peacekeeping mission, the UN Emergency Force.

Hammarskjöld was known for his integrity and dedication to public service, earning the Nobel Peace Prize for developing the UN into an effective and constructive international organization capable of giving life to the principles and aims expressed in the UN Charter.

Hammarskjöld served as Secretary-General from April 1953 until his death aged 56, when the chartered Douglas DC6 aircraft he was travelling in with others, registered as SE-BDY, crashed shortly after midnight on 17-18 September 1961, near Ndola, then in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).

He was en route to negotiate a ceasefire between UN peacekeepers and separatists from the breakaway Congolese region of Katanga, and possibly even a peace agreement encompassing the whole of newly independent Congo.

Fourteen of the 15 passengers died on impact, and the sole survivor succumbed to their injuries a few days later.

An initial inquiry by Rhodesian authorities reportedly attributed the crash to pilot error but the finding was disputed.

On Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres transmitted Othman’s latest report to the Assembly.

Big Ambitions for Gaza Football Player

United Nations 2024-10-19 | Mohamed Abu Jalda, a player for the Rafah Services Football Club in Gaza, continues his dream of becoming a professional football player despite the war.

Trafficking in persons, gender & security - Press Conference by Special Rapporteur | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-19 | Press Conference by the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Siobhán Mullally.

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Briefing reporters in New York City, a UN expert highlighted that limited progress has been made to integrate measures to combat trafficking in persons into the Women and Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, nearly 25 years after the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325.

Siobhán Mullally, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children delivered a report to the 79th session of the General Assembly that “looks at the intersections between trafficking in persons and Gender Peace and Security, extending beyond the attention on Women Peace and Security to include a wider focus on gender and gender equality, recognizing the significance of gender in the realization of justice, peace and security.”

Mullally said, “the achievement of gender equality requires a transformation of gendered relations of power and inequality and a recognition of the indivisibility of economic, social and cultural and civil and political rights.”
In her report to the General Assembly, Mullally called for effective measures to address the gendered impact of trafficking in persons in the WPS agenda and related action plans and programmes. She presents targeted recommendations to strengthen action to combat trafficking in persons in the WPS agenda, prioritising human rights of trafficked persons, effective prevention and accountability measures, including reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence.

While recognition of trafficking in persons for purposes of sexual exploitation, or sexual slavery, as a form of sexual violence in conflict has increased attention to such risks, other forms of trafficking in persons, for purposes of forced labour, forced marriage, or domestic servitude, receive less attention, resulting in failures to identify, assist and protect victims of trafficking, and failures of prevention, the Special Rapporteur’s report noted.

She also raised concerns about limited attention to rights of persons with disabilities in WPS actions, and in peacebuilding measures, despite women and girls with disabilities being disproportionately impacted by armed conflict.
Mullally said racism and racial discrimination play a pivotal role in increasing the risks of trafficking in persons and in limiting the effectiveness of prevention, protection and assistance measures. She said, “in conflict and post conflict situations, discrimination and violence against indigenous peoples, persons of African descent and racialized and minority communities intersect with gender to increase risks of trafficking for all purposes of exploitation, including by armed groups and armed forces and by criminal organizations and networks.”

The expert concluded by saying the best way to prevent trafficking in persons is “ensuring safe migration, planned relocation, for example, in the context of climate displacement, and effective access to asylum resettlement opportunities without discrimination.”

Palestine - Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-18 | Comments to the Media by Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations & others on the latest situation in Palestine.

Lebanon/UNIFIL, Somalia, Cameroon & other topics-Daily Press Briefing (18 Oct 2024) | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-18 | Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

-Secretary-General travels
-African Union – United Nations
-Lebanon/UNIFIL
-Secretary-General/UNIFIL
-Lebanon/Humanitarian
-Secretary-General/Gaza
-Occupied Palestinian territory
-Dag Hammarskjöld
-Somalia
-Cameroon
-Democratic Republic of the Congo
-Briefings

SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVELS
On Sunday, 20 October, the Secretary-General will arrive in Addis Ababa, to take part in the 8th African Union–United Nations annual conference.
The high-level discussions, to be held on Monday, 21 October, will be co-chaired by Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, along with Mr. Guterres. The meeting will focus on progress in the implementation of cooperation frameworks between the two organizations, but also on the joint action and challenges linked to peace, security, development, human rights and the impact of climate change on the African continent.
Discussions this year will also include the implementation of the Pact for the Future, as well as the operationalization of Security Council resolution 2719 (2023), which, as you will recall, establishes the framework for financing of African Union-led peace support operations through United Nations assessed contributions – something the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission had long advocated for.
The annual conference will conclude with a joint press conference by the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat. It will be available on UN WebTV shortly after.
Later in the day, the Secretary-General will go to the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, where he will take part in the re-inauguration ceremony of Africa Hall, which is reopening after extensive renovations to transform it into a modern conference centre. We expect the ceremony to be webcast live on UN WebTV.
While in Addis Ababa, the Secretary-General is also scheduled to hold meetings with the President and Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

AFRICAN UNION – UNITED NATIONS
Speaking of UN-African Union relations, I’d like to note that on 15 October, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission convened their 7th Annual Consultative Meeting at the ECOSOC Chamber here at UN Headquarters.
The meeting highlighted the collaborative peacebuilding efforts of the AU Peace and Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission for peacebuilding and sustaining peace in Africa, as well as the comprehensive review and progress of the status of implementation of outcomes of the 6th Informal Meeting in November 2023. They also noted that more work still needs to be done in supporting peacebuilding efforts. We have a note with more details on that meeting.

LEBANON/UNIFIL
Firing continued across parts of Lebanon and northern Israel today, with Israeli strikes in Saida, Nabatieh, Jezzine, Bekaa, and Mount Lebanon as well as the UNIFIL area of operations, while strikes by Hizbullah into northern Israel, including towards Haifa, and the Israeli-occupied Golan, also continued.
Our colleagues in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) report that the high levels of fire across the Blue Line have persisted, with UNIFIL detecting 966 projectiles over the past 24 hours. The vast majority of these projectiles originated from south of the Blue Line, primarily striking Ayta ash Sha'b in Sector West and Al Wazzani and Mays al-Jabal in Sector East, while 68 projectiles were recorded originating from north of the Blue Line. The Mission also noted 70 air violations by the IDF into Lebanese air space, breaking the previous day’s record for daily violations since October 2023. Furthermore, clashes on the ground between Hizbullah and the Israel Defense Forces within the UNIFIL area of operations continue, with fatalities reported on each side.
Additionally, this morning, peacekeepers reported that one of UNIFIL’s patrols that was resupplying a UN position in Sector East observed an impact less than 50 metres from its location. The patrol returned safely to its location of origin, and no injuries were reported. UNIFIL continues to reiterate the importance of ensuring the safety and security of peacekeepers and reminds all actors of their obligations in that regard.

Full Highlights: un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=18%20October%202024

World Social Report 2024: A Call for Global Action - Press Conference | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-18 | Press Conference: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) on the launch of the World Social Report 2024 - Social Development in Times of Converging Crises: A Call for Global Action, by Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee, Director, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN DESA, and Ms. Wenyan Yang, Chief, Global Dialogue for Social Development Branch (GDSDB), Division for Inclusive Social Development, UN DESA.

Solidarity message to the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon - UN Chief | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-18 | Video solidarity message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, to the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL).

"Dear colleagues of UNIFIL,

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of speaking with representatives of your countries here in New York.

Today I want to speak to you directly.

I want to say to you what I said to them:

I am full of admiration and gratitude to the men and women of UNIFIL.

I am so proud of you -- and I know your countries are proud of you, too.

You should know that here in New York, we are all very aware of your bravery during some of the most challenging moments in the history of UNIFIL.

I have been crystal clear: the safety of United Nations personnel is our highest priority.

And all parties have an obligation to ensure the safety of our personnel.

The inviolability of UN premises must be respected, at all times.

Attacks against UN peacekeepers are completely unacceptable.

They are in breach of international law, against international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime.

Despite all the challenges, UNIFIL remains in its positions.

Every day you keep the blue flag flying -- and ensure the primacy of international law.

I am in constant contact with General Lázaro – assessing the latest developments.

Our path forward is clear.

We need an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of resolution 1701.

The men and women of UNIFIL are tirelessly working to give our diplomatic efforts a fighting chance.

You are not just on the Blue Line in Lebanon, you are literally on the front line of peace.

Thank you for your service".

UNIFIL Website: peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/unifil

Gaza: Catastrophic levels of hunger expected to double - Press Conference | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-18 | Press Conference by Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, told journalists in New York that “the number of people at catastrophic levels of hunger is expected to double in the coming months and the risk of famine persists across the whole of Gaza,” and added that “this crisis is principally the consequences of decisions made by the Israeli authorities.”

Following the presentation of his annual report to the General Assembly, Türk said, “starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited under international humanitarian law. It constitutes a war crime. As the occupying power, Israel has the specific obligations an international humanitarian law to bring into Gaza the necessary foodstuffs, medical supplies and other articles, and to facilitate humanitarian relief by all means at its disposal.”

He said, “there are reports that Israeli forces are preventing humanitarian aid from accessing the north, exacerbating the already desperate humanitarian and medical needs,” adding that Israel's evacuation orders “appear designed to cut off north Gaza completely from the rest of the territory, as bombing and other attacks continue.”

Turning to Lebanon, the High Commissioner said Israeli “daily strikes on residential buildings in urban areas are taking an appalling toll on civilians with significant numbers of casualties, destruction and displacement,” while “Hizbullah also continues to fire rockets into Israel, where many thousands are displaced from their homes.”

He stressed that the risk of a full-fledged regional conflict “remains very high, one that could engulf the lives and the human rights of millions of people,” and added that the “illogic of escalation, must end.”

On the Ukraine war, Türk said, “nearly 1000 days since Russia's full-scale invasion, we continue to see terrible devastation characterised by recurring human rights violations and war crimes,” and noted that July 2024 was the deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since October 2022

He said, “with the ongoing attacks on crucial energy infrastructure, I fear for Ukrainians this coming winter.”

On the situation in Sudan, the High Commissioner said, “the warring parties, affiliated groups and regional actors continue to compete for influence and power, forcing a staggering 10 million people to flee their homes and leaving more than 25 million people facing acute hunger.”

He said, “the situation is desperate, and there is evidence of the commission of war crimes and other atrocity crimes.”

Türk said, “when my office rings warning bells, as we have over many years for all the situations that I referred to above, the international community needs to listen and act to avert catastrophe.”

Intl Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2024 - UN Chief Message | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-18 | Secretary-General's message on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: “Ending social and institutional maltreatment: acting together for just, peaceful and inclusive societies”

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Poverty is a global plague, affecting hundreds of millions of people around the world.

But poverty is not inevitable. It is the direct result of the choices that societies and governments make — or fail to make.

This year’s theme reminds us that people mired in poverty contend with societal discrimination and systemic barriers that make it more difficult to access vital services and support.

Ending global poverty — and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals — requires governments shaping institutions and systems that put people first.

It demands that we prioritize investments in decent work, learning opportunities and social protection that offer ladders out of poverty.

And it calls on us to fully implement the new Pact for the Future by supporting an SDG Stimulus and reforming the global financial architecture to help developing countries invest in their people.

Eradicating poverty is an essential foundation for humane, dignified societies that leave no one behind.

On this important day, let’s re-commit to making poverty history.

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(En français)

La pauvreté est un fléau mondial qui touche des centaines de millions de personnes à travers la planète.

Toutefois, elle n’est pas une fatalité. Elle résulte directement des choix que font, ou ne font pas, les sociétés et les États.

Le thème de cette année nous rappelle que les personnes en proie à la pauvreté sont confrontées à des discriminations sociétales et à des obstacles systémiques qui les empêchent d’accéder à l’aide et aux services essentiels.

Pour éliminer la pauvreté dans le monde et atteindre les objectifs de développement durable, il faut que les États se dotent d’institutions et de systèmes qui placent les gens au cœur de leur action.

Il convient d’investir en premier lieu dans le travail décent, l’apprentissage et la protection sociale, véritables marchepieds pour sortir de la pauvreté.

Il convient enfin de mettre pleinement en œuvre le nouveau Pacte pour l’avenir, en soutenant le plan de relance des objectifs de développement durable et en réformant l’architecture financière internationale afin d’aider les pays en développement à investir dans leur population.

L’éradication de la pauvreté est indispensable à l’édification de sociétés humaines et dignes où personne n’est laissé de côté.

En ce jour important, redisons notre détermination à faire de la pauvreté une histoire ancienne.

UNIFIL Peacekeeper’s Testimonial - United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-18 | Major Mandy Heeren, Military Gender Advisor with UNIFIL, speaks from the UNIFIL bunker about the recent fighting in southern Lebanon and the ongoing efforts on the ground.

UNRWA: Alarm about Israeli measures against it - Media Stakeout | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-17 | Ambassadors from 123 member states today (17 Oct)expressed their support for the Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) and their opposition to two bills before the Israeli parliament that could put a halt to its operations.

Jordanian Ambassador Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud said UNRWA’s role “is indispensable and irreplaceable,” and is “the cornerstone and the backbone of humanitarian assistance to generations of Palestinian refugees through the provision of essential education, health relief and social services programs and emergency assistance in the occupied Palestinian territory, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic.”

Hmoud highlighted the findings of the independent review of UNRWA’s mechanisms and procedures to ensure its adherence to the humanitarian principles of neutrality led by Catherine Colonna, “and welcomed the Agency's commitment to fully implement its recommendations.”

Kuwaiti Ambassador Tareq AlBanai stressed “the serious humanitarian, political and security risks that would result from any interruption or suspension” of UNRWA’s “vital work.”

AlBanai reaffirmed “the shared commitments on UNWRA, which gathered universal support with 123 signatories to this date, and we remain committed to support the ability of the Agency to fulfil its vital mandate.”

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour for his part said, “UNRWA is indispensable. We will defend it. It will continue its mandate stemming from a mandate in the General Assembly until the rights of the Palestine refugees is fulfilled in the basis of resolution 194.”

UNRWA was established more than 70 years ago and supports Palestine refugees in five locations across the Middle East. The draft laws seek to evict the agency from its premises in territories under Israeli control and to revoke its privileges and immunities.

Syria/Lebanon, Chad, Women/Peacekeeping & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (17 Oct 2024)

United Nations 2024-10-17 | Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
-Briefings tomorrow
-IPC report
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Lebanon
-Lebanon/Humanitarian
-Syria/Lebanon
-Chad
-Women/Peacekeeping
-Poverty Index
-Eradication of poverty

IPC REPORT
The Secretary-General said that he is alarmed by today’s IPC report findings that high displacement and restrictions on humanitarian aid flows mean that the people of Gaza are facing catastrophic levels of hunger. One year into the conflict, famine looms. This is intolerable, the Secretary-General said.
Mr. Guterres said that crossing points must open immediately, bureaucratic impediments must be removed, and law and order must be restored so that UN agencies can deliver lifesaving humanitarian assistance.
Earlier today, the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization said that the latest findings of the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) report, collecting the work of 16 UN agencies and NGOs, make clear that the risk of famine persists across the whole Gaza Strip. Given the recent surge in hostilities, there are growing concerns that this worst-case scenario may materialize.
Between September and October 2024, the whole territory is classified in IPC Phase 4 - Emergency. About 1.84 million people across the Gaza Strip are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, classified in IPC Phase 3 – Crisis - or above, including nearly 133,000 people facing catastrophic food insecurity, which is IPC Phase 5. Acute Malnutrition is ten times higher than before the escalation of the hostilities.
The report adds that nearly the entire population has been displaced multiple times, risking injuries or death from shelling and aerial bombardments, while many vulnerable groups are unable to relocate or find safe shelter. The majority are living in temporary makeshift camps with an alarming density of almost 40,000 people per square kilometre.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Our colleagues from Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warn that the ongoing Israeli military operations in northern Gaza are putting tens of thousands of civilians in grave danger. OCHA stresses once again that civilians in the north and across Gaza must be protected. Moreover, the military offensive in northern Gaza is also choking off people’s access to the essentials for their survival, including water.
Intense hostilities, evacuation orders, and loss of access to numerous water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in northern Gaza have rendered a number of systems for water production and wastewater collection inoperable. In Jabalya and Beit Lahya, water production from municipal wells is currently at zero. That’s according to our partners, who are also doing everything possible to provide access to water for people throughout Gaza. As of a week ago, they reported that 638 cubic metres of water were being distributed in northern Gaza on a daily basis through water trucking. For your reference, daily water distribution throughout all of Gaza prior to October 2023 was 380,000 cubic metres.
Meanwhile, in central Gaza, we and our humanitarian partners working to support water, sanitation and hygiene services there are preparing for winter and taking urgent steps to mitigate the risk of flooding. These include rehabilitating wastewater pumping stations in Deir al Balah and removing solid waste and cleaning stormwater channels in An Nuseirat refugee camp. Partners are also rehabilitating drainage systems and working to procure dewatering pumps.
Also in central Gaza, the World Health Organization reports that the second round of the polio vaccination campaign there concluded yesterday, with more than 181,000 children receiving the vaccine and over 148,000 children getting vitamin A supplements. Eight health facilities in central Gaza will continue to provide polio vaccines for families who were unable to bring their children to be vaccinated over the past three days.
The second round of the polio vaccination campaign is expected to start in southern Gaza tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, OCHA warns that Israeli settler violence in the context of the ongoing olive harvest season is threatening people's safety and livelihoods. Since the beginning of the month, OCHA has documented 32 attacks by Israeli settlers, during which 39 Palestinians harvesting olives were injured and about 600 trees and saplings were vandalized, sawn off, or stolen.

Full Highlights: un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=17%20October%202024

Greentech Entrepreneur Promotes Clean Energy Solutions in Iraq | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-17 | Ms. Basima Abdulrahman is the founder and CEO of KESK, the first Iraqi greentech company which synergizes green power and cloud computing technologies to build alternative energy projects in the country.

Ms. Abdulrahman was a participant of the panel “Women, Peace, and Security: How to Promote Stability in Conflict-affected Countries by Funding Female Entrepreneurs” at the 5th World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum in Bahrain on 16 May 2024.

Gaza: UN Humanitarian Chief Highlights Humanitarian Challenges & Progress -Security Council Briefing

United Nations 2024-10-17 | Acting UN Humanitarian Chief Joyce Msuya delivered a statement to the Security Council today (16 Oct) in New York City, recounting images of patients and displaced persons near Al Aqsa hospital, engulfed in flames. She said, “if such horror does not awaken our sense of humanity and propel us to action, what will?”

Acting Under-Secretary-General Joyce Msuya emphasized to the Council that only a fraction of humanitarian missions in Gaza had been completed without major disruption. Msuya highlighted that in the first two weeks of October, fewer than a third of the 286 humanitarian missions coordinated with Israeli authorities proceeded without delays.

Msuya also noted progress in health efforts, specifically the polio vaccination campaign in central Gaza, where nearly 157,000 children under the age of 10 were vaccinated on 14 and 15 October. She underscored the critical role of UNRWA, whose teams administered 43 percent of these vaccinations on the first day of the campaign.

Algerian Ambassador Amar Bendjama criticized the situation, stating that "Palestinians are struggling to find food, basic food,” as the international community marked World Food Day. Bendjama also said Israel follows a “deliberate and calculated policy of starvation” targeting the Palestinian population.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield acknowledged witnessing disturbing images from Gaza, noting, “Israel has a responsibility to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, even if Hamas was operating near the hospital in an attempt to use civilians as human shields."

UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward added that the British Government had imposed sanctions on illegal settler outposts and organizations, citing an increase in settler violence and expansion on Palestinian land.

Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya linked the reduction in donor support for UNRWA to U.S. policies. Commenting on needed ceasefire, he said, “we see that all the members of the Security Council are ready to do so. We don’t understand why the remaining members of the Security Council have to share responsibility for the madness underway in Gaza, if it only one member that stopping us from ending this madness.”

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa described the desperation of Palestinians, saying that nearly 400,000 people face the choice to remain in the Northern Gaza under bombing threats or to starve. Mustafa compared the situation to past incidents involving UNIFIL, questioning Israel’s willingness to respect international protection.

Speaking to reporters before the Security Council, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon, said that “terrorists have seized” an UNRWA facility, using it as a “weapons store.” Danon said “over one million tons of aid have been delivered via more than 50000 trucks, including over 700000 tons of food. The problem in Gaza is not lack of aid. The problem is Hamas which hijacks the aid, stealing, storing and selling it to feed their terror machine while civilians suffer.”

Geoguard — A curated dashboard using open-source data | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-17 | Geoguard is an innovative platform from the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs that leverages open-source satellite data to help policymakers and researchers tackle climate, peace, and security challenges.

Introducing Geoguard—an innovative platform from the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs that leverages open-source satellite data to help policymakers and researchers tackle climate, peace, and security challenges.

Geoguard refines raw satellite data into accessible insights, allowing users to track environmental trends like rainfall, temperature, and soil moisture. Covering regions like the Middle East, West Africa, the Sahel, and Central Africa, Geoguard offers decades of climate data to support decision-making in vulnerable areas.

While Geoguard is primarily designed for UN staff, it is also accessible to external partners and researchers working on climate and security issues.

The project is made possible with funds from DPPA’s Multi-Year Appeal and the Complex Risk Analytics Fund (CRAF’d).

We encourage you to explore how Geoguard can help drive data-informed solutions to the complex challenges we face today.

http://app.geoguard.org

Produced by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA), Innovation Cell.

dppa.un.org/en/innovation

futuringpeace.org

Lebanon: ‘1.2 million people… displaced by the war’ - Press Conference | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-17 | Press Conference by Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations of the UN's Children Fund (UNICEF), and Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the World Food Programme (WFP) on their recent visit to Lebanon.

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Briefing reporters on their recent visit to Lebanon, UNICEF’s Deputy Chief Ted Chaiban and the World Food Program (WFP) Chief Operating Officer Carl Skau today (16 Oct) described the plight of approximately 1.2 million people men, women and children have been displaced by the war.

Chaiban told reporters that this figure “includes approximately 400,000 children,” and “nearly 190,000 of those have been forced from their homes into makeshift shelters and are hoping for a semblance of safety there.”

The UNICEF official highlighted the “profound acts of solidarity” witnessed “across communal, sectarian and religious lines,” but warned that as fighting and displacement continues, this solidarity “will become stretched pretty quickly.”

He noted that “the response so far has focussed significantly on the shelters, which is understandable because a lot of the most vulnerable have gone to shelters,” but stressed the need “to support displaced families living with families or friends or renting a small place.”

Chaiban said, “he school year has started in Beirut for private schools, but the public schools are either inaccessible, largely destroyed or used as shelters. There's about 15 percent of the public schools that can be used, but the vast majority of them cannot now accommodate students. So, we need to find a way to work on the issue of education to avoid losing a generation.”

Joining virtually from Rome, Skau said many of the displaced “have lost everything because they know that their villages or towns have been completely destroyed,” and described “a real sense of desperation.”

He noted that during their visit “the fighting escalated, and they could see the “packed minibuses heading north, and we could hear the bombing.”

WFP, he said was “ready for this” and had been “preparing for this over the past few weeks and months.”

Skau said “we were able to quickly step up, working hand in hand with other partners like UNICEF and other organisations. We are now delivering daily to some 200,000 people with ready-to-eat food and cash. And we have the capacity to scale up to a million people.”

UNRWA in need for enabling environment: only 12 trucks of food made to north Gaza | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-16 | Senior UNRWA official Scott Andersen reiterated the need for an enabling environment to bring in aid at scale for people in Gaza, “250 to 300 trucks a day in the south and 30 to 40 trucks a day in the north”, he said.

Scott Andersen, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza spoke to reporter today (16 Oct) in New York.

Anderson told reporters that there are about 470,000 people still in the north of the Strip. There are about 170,000 people in the north primarily in Jabalia. Since September 30, only 12 trucks of food have made it to the population in the north. In the south of the Strip in the declared humanitarian zone, there are about 1.4 million people in a very small space.

The UNRWA official reiterated the need to have a corresponding number of trucks that come in from the private sector.

He said, “The things the UN doesn't do that the private sector does very well. We don't bring in fresh fruit and vegetables, we don't bring in eggs, we don't bring in meat, we don't bring in a lot of things. We bring in large staple items. That's our value added. And the value added for the private sectors, they do everything else, and they do it. They do it very well.”

As winter is approaching Gaza, a lot are needed to be done so the families are safe and protected, Andersen said.

He explained, “It's just simple things like road repair, picking up garbage, distributing tents. But this all hinges on our ability to bring things in at the scale that's needed. You need tarpaulin, you need tents, you need blankets for people, and mattresses and all the things that you would very much expect, as well as clothes.”

There has not been an importation for the commercial sector, the private sector close in a year, the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator said, adding that “As all of you know, young children do not remain the same size. They change quite quickly at that age, and there needs to be a way for these kinds of things to be brought to the market or brought to people, so that children can be warm.”

The Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza also said, “We have 100,000 metric tons of food between the World Food Program and UNRWA awaiting to be imported into Gaza. That's enough for everybody for three to four months.”

“So the supplies are there, and the willingness is there, the environment, unfortunately, is not there,” he added.

The UNRWA official continued, “we are coordinating closely with the IDF to try to create an environment. I'd hope we'd have a solution by now, but we're not quite there, but I do think we're very much at a tipping point in Gaza in terms of our ability to continue to fight off what would be the lurking man-made famine.”

Recalling his days in Gaza, Andersen said, “We do see on the ground, big numbers are easy to say, in September, a million people didn't get food, right? And that sounds horrible. It's much different when you talk to the actual family that didn't get the food and they can't feed their child, or they can't feed everybody, and the mother or father has to choose which of them is not going to eat today, so their child can. That's the real-world consequence that we see of not getting aid to people.”

The Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator reiterated that “Israel has a responsibility to provide security in Gaza, because they're the only ones that are able to at the moment, and we need to find that solution. Like I said, winter is not far away.”

Moving onto education, Andersen said, “In primary age education, there are 625,000 children in Gaza that should be in school now. They're about to miss their second year of education, between this and COVID, that's four of the last five years. They're not going to be in a school building, and are very concerned about a lost generation there.”

He concluded, “The one bright spot, I guess we could say, is we do have decent primary health care. UNRWA is doing about 17,000 consultations a day. We're in round two of the polio vaccination campaign. We've added vitamin A to it this time to try to bolster the immune system for children. The first two days we've done just over 150,000 immunizations, we need to get to 560,000, it is what we did last time, and we're trying to make sure that within the community there's immunity across everyone for polio.”

Israel on the Middle East - Media Stakeout | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-16 | Informal comments to the media by Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, on the situation in Middle East - Security Council Media Stakeout (Middle East; Other matters).

Lebanon, Gaza, Occupied Palestinian Territory & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (16 Oct 2024)

United Nations 2024-10-16 | Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
-Secretary-General
-UNIFIL
-Lebanon
-Gaza
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Syria
-Cyprus
-Ukraine
-Sudan
-South Sudan
-World food day
-Briefings today
-Briefings tomorrow

SECRETARY-GENERAL
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke to the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly on the proposed programme budget for 2025. He said that in a context of major global shocks, the United Nations is more needed than ever -- with our unmatched convening power.
He added that the 2025 programme budget proposal reflects the priorities set out in the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.
The Secretary-General also said that the Organization will continue to work to cement its reforms. Some of the proposals he highlighted include continued investment in sustainable development; human rights; boosting support for the unprecedented humanitarian challenges in Gaza; advancing peace and security; and strengthening the UN’s capacities in investigation and ethics.

UNIFIL
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon or UNIFIL reports that intense exchanges of fire along and beyond the Blue Line continued over the past 24 hours.
UNIFIL recorded 58 air violations - the highest number for a 24-hour period since 8 October 2023. UNIFIL also detected 1,279 projectiles across the Blue Line, the third highest since 8 October 2023. 1,208, originated from south of the Blue Line, 71 from the north.
The mission also reported that indirect fire and firing from close to UN positions caused material damage to UN equipment and facilities near Dayr Amis in Sector West and Shab’a in Sector East. Fortunately, no peacekeepers were wounded in these incidents.
These incidents continue to put UN peacekeepers, who are serving in southern Lebanon to support the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), at serious risk. The UN reiterates that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be ensured by all actors on the ground and that the inviolability of UN premises must be respected at all times. 
Meanwhile, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, continues her intensive engagements with all actors to urge an immediate ceasefire and that space be given for a diplomatic solution in line with Security Council Resolution 1701. Following further strikes that resulted in civilian deaths today, near Nabatiyeh, the Special Coordinator emphasized in a statement that violations of international humanitarian law are utterly unacceptable. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times.
The Secretary-General again condemns the loss of civilian lives.

LEBANON
Today, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that multiple airstrikes were reported in Nabatiyeh and nearby areas in southern Lebanon. So far, according to local authorities, six fatalities have been confirmed, including the mayor of Nabatiyeh, as well as members of the Disaster Risk Management Unit killed in the strike on the municipality building during a relief management meeting.
The UN’s health partners tell us that the violence continues to push an already overwhelmed health system to the brink, with devasting impacts on medical care amid huge health needs.
Since 17 September, the World Health Organization says that it has verified 23 attacks on health care.
It also flags the impact of intense bombardment and insecurity which are forcing a growing number of health facilities to shut down, particularly in the south.
Out of 207 primary health care centres and dispensaries in conflict-affected areas, 100 are now closed.
Despite the challenges, WHO and its partners continue to support Lebanese health authorities and to provide medical supplies for trauma care, cholera prevention. WHO also continues to coordinate with the Lebanese Red Cross and hospitals to equip blood banks with adequate supplies and is working with the Ministry of Public Health of Lebanon to establish trauma centres within the existing hospitals.
On education, Lebanese authorities report that 77 per cent of public schools cannot provide education services due to either being used as collective shelters or being in directly affected areas.
Meanwhile, the UN and partners continue to support the response, including by providing food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene assistance – but they warn that they are facing operational challenges due to the volatile security situation.

Full Highlights: un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=16%20October%202024

Enhancing Mine Action Finance in Ukraine | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-16 | The Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme in Ukraine, Jaco Cilliers, briefs on two key solutions to bridge the critical funding gap for mine action in Ukraine.

Colombia: Progress and Challenges in the Peace Agreement -Security Council Briefing | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-16 | The Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMIC), Carlos Ruiz Massieu, today (15 Oct) told the Security Council that “historic progress has been made” in the implementation of the peace agreement, “but much remains to be done.” He welcomed the rapid response plan, or “Plan de Choque” being developed by the Minister of the Interior and other stakeholders.

The plan, Ruiz Massieu said, “is a new instrument that should serve to energize implementation.”

The UNVMIC Chief said, “we remain encouraged by the Government’s commitment to advancing the rural reform chapter of the Agreement – provisions that have a transformative potential, attacking structural causes of the conflict, but which had lagged in their implementation in previous years.”

He said that as a result, “more land is being distributed and formalized for those in need, bringing the promised benefits of peace to landless peasants and those dispossessed of it during the conflict.”

Ruiz Massieu said, “in some territories, signatories to the Agreement and social leaders continue to be the target of violence, pressure and threats from armed actors fighting for territorial control and strategic routes linked to illicit economies.”

He noted that since the beginning of the reintegration process, five former territorial areas for training and reintegration (TATRs) have had to be relocated for these reasons

Ruiz Massieu said, “the difficult situation in some areas continues to impact the lives of communities that are caught in the crossfire and subjected to condemnable phenomena such as the recruitment of minors, displacement and confinement.”

Colombia’s Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo for his part said, “with the firm commitment to fulfil what has been agreed and to territorialize peace, we have developed a new strategic framework for peace, where effective and comprehensive compliance with the 2016 agreement becomes an inescapable requirement, unavoidable for the sustainability of strategic proposals surrounding territorial transformation.”

On women's participation in negotiation and peacebuilding, he said it was “not only is a question of justice, but it is crucial to ensure stronger and more durable agreements.”

For this reason, he continued, “the Colombian government has formulated and is implementing a feminist foreign policy linked to the precepts of the women, peace and security agenda. Included in Security Council Resolution 1325”

Outside the Council, Switzerland’s representative Riccarda Christiana Chanda read a statement on behalf of Ecuador, France, Guyana, Japan, Malta, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States on Women Peace and Security.

Chanda said, “during a visit of the Security Council to Colombia in February of this year, we were able to engage meaningfully with former combatants, victim representatives, women’s organizations, indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities to discuss the progress made and remaining obstacles in the comprehensive implementation of the peace agreement. And what we have witnessed over and over again, was the urgent call for improved security guarantees, equitable land distribution, and the successful social, political, and economic reintegration of former combatants as well as the crucial implementation of gender provisions and the ethnic chapter of the Peace Agreement.”

UNVMIC was established by the UN Security Council pursuant to resolution 2366 (2017), adopted unanimously on 10 July 2017. The resolution followed a joint request for UN support from the Government of Colombia and the then Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People’s Army (FARC-EP).

World Food Day 2024 - UN Chief Message | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-16 | Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on World Food Day (16 october 2024).

"Something is very wrong with a world in which hunger and malnutrition are a fact of life for billionsof children, women and men.

On World Food Day, we remind ourselves of the 733 million people who are short of food because ofconflict, marginalization, climate change, poverty and economic downturns — including those whoface the threat of manmade famine in Gaza and Sudan...

Or the 2.8 billion people who cannot afford a healthy diet — including those who are overweight asglobal obesity rates soar.

The good news is that a zero-hunger world is possible.

The 2021 Food Systems Summit set us on a course to tackle the inefficiencies and inequities built intoour food systems.

Food systems need a massive transformation, with the contributions of businesses, academics,research institutions and civil society, to become more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

Governments must work with all partners to incentivize the production and sale of healthy, nutritiousfood at affordable prices.

On World Food Day, let's step up the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

Let's take action to uphold the right to food for a better life and a better future".

Website: fao.org/world-food-day/en

Yemen: call to release all those detained, including 17 UN personnel | UN Security Council Briefing

United Nations 2024-10-16 | Briefing the Security Council today (15 Oct) in New York City, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, called on Ansar Allah “to immediately and unconditionally release all those arbitrarily detained, including 17 United Nations personnel.”

SE Grundberg said, “in Yemen, Ansar Allah continues to hold UN personnel, civil society workers, and staff of diplomatic missions in arbitrary detention. With all this said, I echo the urgent call of the Secretary-General: an immediate ceasefire and regional de-escalation is needed to halt this widening conflict.”

He also said that four of those peacekeepers detained are women and one of them is from Grundberg’s team. The Special Envoy said, “I am counting on the support of this Council in sending this clear message.”

Hans Grundberg also said, “we must acknowledge the immense burden Yemeni women continue to carry in this conflict and recognize their bravery. Yemeni women have been at the forefront in driving peacebuilding efforts for years, and, now more than ever, it is crucial to amplify their voices. I call on all parties to ensure that women are empowered to shape the decisions that will pave the way for lasting peace in Yemen. To support this, my Office, in partnership with UN WOMEN have to date held specific consultations with over 400 Yemeni women and men to advance a vision for an inclusive peace process in Yemen.”

UN humanitarian affairs acting chief Joyce Msuya echoed the Special Envoy’s message saying, “the potential laying of ‘charges’ against our colleagues is unacceptable.”

On the humanitarian front, Msuya said, “2024 now marks the deadliest year for migrants crossing the sea between the Horn of Africa and Yemen.”

In addition to the food crisis, Yemen is battling a devastating cholera otbreak. Msuya said, “hunger continues to rise. In August, the number of people who do not have enough food to eat soared to unprecedented levels. And severe levels of food deprivation have doubled in areas controlled by the Houthi de facto authorities since last year. Cholera also continues to spread. Since March this year, more than 203,000 suspected cases have been reported and more than 720 people have lost their lives. Women and girls account for 53 per cent of cases.”

Yemen’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, said Houthi militias “have been committing the worst human rights violations. They've been destroying the lives of children by recruiting them and pushing them to the battlefield. By planting millions of mines, they've been pursuing the policy of systematic impoverishment and starvation to humiliate and subjugate Yemenis in areas under their control.”

He also reiterated a call from the Yemeni government for “relocating the headquarters of UN agencies and headquarters of international organizations to the temporary capital in Aiden to ensure environment that allows the agencies to work affectively and serve those in need.”

(EN/ES) Colombia on the situation in the country - Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-16 | Informal comments to the media by Luis Guilberto Murillo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, on the situation in Colombia.

Colombia: Shared Commitments for Women, Peace and Security - Media Stakeout | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-15 | Joint Statement by the Security Council signatories of the Statement of Shared Commitments for the Principles of Women, Peace and Security: Ecuador, France, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, on the situation in Colombia.

Lebanon, Yemen, Statelessness & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (15 Oct 2024) | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-15 | Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
-Lebanon
-Lebanon/Humanitarian
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Yemen
-Ukraine
-Statelessness
-Women/Social protection
-International Day of Rural Women
-Briefings Tomorrow

LEBANON
The United Nations notes with concern the continued strikes across the Blue Line by Hizbullah and the Israel Defense Forces. Launches
In this regard, the airstrike on Aitou in North Lebanon which resulted in at least 23 fatalities, according to Lebanese authorities, is deeply concerning. The Secretary-General strongly condemns the civilian loss of lives.
The UN remains deeply concerned at the impact on civilians on both sides of the Blue Line but particularly in Lebanon. All actors must uphold obligations under international law, including International Humanitarian Law, and to protect civilians.
The UN also notes that clashes continue in southern Lebanon, where the Israel Defense Forces has conducted ground operations since 1 October.
In recent days the UN underscored our alarm about UNIFIL peacekeepers coming under fire, with at least five peacekeepers injured, and UN premises being impacted on at least 20 occasions since 1 October. The Secretary-General reiterates that UNIFIL personnel and its premises must never be targeted. Attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law, including international humanitarian law. They may constitute a war crime.
As the President of the Security Council stated on behalf of all 15 Council members yesterday, “all parties [are] to respect the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises”.
The UN notes that the Council “… recalled that UN peacekeepers and UN premises must never be the target of an attack.”
The UN appreciates the stated support of the Council for the work of our brave peacekeepers who remain in position, in support of efforts to create space for a diplomatic solution to this crisis and support a return to a cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).
The UN reiterates its calls for an immediate ceasefire, noting this is the only way to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers as well as to protect the populations of Lebanon and Israel from further suffering.

LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN
This crisis has a huge impact on civilians on both sides, in Lebanon and in Israel.
In Lebanon, today, a 12-truck convoy carrying vital aid arrived in the villages of Marjeyoun [Marji-yun] and Klayaa in the south of the country.
The inter-agency mission – supported by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Food Programme, the UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF and the UN Population Fund – delivered bottled water, family hygiene kits, blankets, pillows and mattresses, among other essential items.
The UN and partners continue to support the tens of thousands of men, women and children impacted by the ongoing crisis across Lebanon.
WFP provides ready-to-eat food and cash to some 200,000 people on a daily basis, while UNICEF and UNHCR continue to support primary health care services and provide water, hygiene kits, mattresses, blankets and other basic items.
OCHA reports that ongoing hostilities continue to displace people. The national authorities in Lebanon report that 1.2 million people have been affected or displaced.
As of October 13th, the International Organization for Migration has identified more than 740,000 people displaced by the escalation of hostilities within the country.
Of these people, more than 188,000 are staying in about 1,000 government shelters.
UNHCR is working with the Lebanese authorities to upgrade the shelters with weatherproofing and rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities, as well as assessing more sites to host displaced people.
Together with their partners, UNHCR continues to support people in Syria who have fled Lebanon at five border crossings by providing water, food, blankets and mattresses.
The UN reiterates that all civilians, both in Lebanon, Israel and elsewhere, must be always protected whether they leave or stay. And aid must be allowed to reach civilians wherever they are, safely and without impediment.

Full Highlights:
un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=15%20October%202024

Does the UN have an army?

United Nations 2024-10-15 | The United Nations doesn't have an army; instead, it deploys peacekeepers to some of the most troubled places on earth to try and bring lasting stability.

Nobel Peace Prize - Press Conference | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-15 | Press conference by Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, on Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Nihon Hidankyo for its work advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons.

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UN top officials warmly congratulated the grassroots Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo on being awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson today (11 Oct) delivered a statement by the Secretary-General.

In his statement, Guterres said that “the atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as the hibakusha, are selfless, soul-bearing witnesses of the horrific human cost of nuclear weapons.”

“While their numbers grow smaller each year, the relentless work and resilience of the hibakusha are the backbone of the global nuclear disarmament movement,” the statement said.

The Deputy Spokesperson also said that Guterres reiterated, “nuclear weapons remain a clear and present danger to humanity, once again appearing in the daily rhetoric of international relations.”

“It is time for world leaders to be as clear-eyed as the hibakusha, and see nuclear weapons for what they are: devices of death that offer no safety, protection, or security,” the UN chief highlighted.

The Secretary-General concluded, “The only way to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons is to eliminate them altogether. The United Nations proudly stands with the hibakusha. They are an inspiration to our shared efforts to build a world free of nuclear weapons.”

Later in a press briefing, Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs also spoke to reporters.

She warmly congratulated Nihon Hidankyo and repeated her and the Organization’s “sincere gratitude for their tireless work in support of nuclear disarmament.”

“We do receive incredible amounts of inspiration and also courage and energy, I would say, from their movements and from those individual hibakusha, they are incredible people,” Nakamitsu said.

Switzerland on Lebanon - Media Stakeout | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-15 | Informal comments to the media by Pascale Baeriswyl, President of the UN Security Council for the month of October and Permanent Representative of Switzerland, following the Lebanon/UNIFIL Consultations.

Lebanon: UNIFIL would stay in all its position - Media Stakeout | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-15 | Informal comments to the media by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, on the situation in Lebanon.

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Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters today (14 Oct) after the Security Council closed consultations in New York City, “the decision was made that UNIFIL would currently stay in all its position, in spite of the calls that were made by the Israeli Defense Forces to vacate the position that are in the vicinity of the Blue Line. I want to emphasize that this decision still remains.”

The Under-Secretary-General emphasized ongoing communication efforts. He said, “the liaison mechanism continues to work,” adding that he would be meeting with the Israeli Permanent Representative on Tuesday (15 Oct) for further discussions.

Lacroix also underscored the importance of maintaining open routes for UNIFIL’s operational needs. He said, "the movements that need to be carried out by UNIFIL with the purpose of resupplying position, with the purpose of supporting the civilian population, those movements need to be deconflicted, and they need to be also cleared by the parties, including the IDF."

Despite security concerns Lacroix reaffirmed the mission's commitment to peacekeeping in southern Lebanon. He appealed to all parties saying, "our main call to all the parties is to respect their international obligation when it comes to protecting the safety and security of peacekeepers."

Lacroix reiterated UNIFIL’s mandate, which is to aid in the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He said, “it's for the parties to implement resolution 1701. UNIFIL are not mandated to implement, and certainly not to enforce, resolution 1701.”

Nobel Peace Prize, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-14 | Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Nobel Peace Prize
- Noon Briefing Guest
- Secretary-General
- Lebanon
- Security Council
- Lebanon/Humanitarian
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Ukraine
- South Sudan
- West and Central Africa Floods
- UNHCR
- International Days

Nobel Peace Prize
The Secretary-General warmly congratulated the grassroots Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo on being awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. 
The atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as the hibakusha, are selfless, soul-bearing witnesses of the horrific human cost of nuclear weapons. While their numbers grow smaller each year, the relentless work and resilience of the hibakusha are the backbone of the global nuclear disarmament movement.  
In a statement, the Secretary-General said that he will never forget his many meetings with them over the years. Their haunting living testimony reminds the world that the nuclear threat is not confined to history books.  Nuclear weapons remain a clear and present danger to humanity, once again appearing in the daily rhetoric of international relations. 
It is time for world leaders to be as clear-eyed as the hibakusha and see nuclear weapons for what they are: devices of death that offer no safety, protection, or security. The only way to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons is to eliminate them altogether. 
The United Nations proudly stands with the hibakusha.  They are an inspiration to our shared efforts to build a world free of nuclear weapons.  

Noon Briefing Guest
Izumi Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs briefed reporters on the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Nihon Hidankyo for its work advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons.

Secretary-General
The Secretary-General this morning addressed the ASEAN-UN Summit in Vientiane. He underscored the importance of the relationship between the two organizations which, he said, is a strategic partnership. In a world with growing geopolitical divides, with dramatic impacts on peace and security and sustainable development, the Association of South-East Asian Nations [ASEAN] is a bridge-builder and a messenger for peace, he said.
He also underscored how much the United Nations is grateful for ASEAN’s important contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. The Secretary-General took the opportunity to express his solidarity with Indonesia, as two of its peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL were wounded yesterday by Israeli fire in south Lebanon. 
The Secretary-General outlined the key areas of the recently adopted Pact for the Future, which offers a strong vision for the time ahead. 
In a press conference, the Secretary-General was asked about the wounding of the two peacekeepers in Lebanon, and he condemned the shooting against the UN premises in which the two peacekeepers were wounded, adding that it was a violation of international humanitarian law. Peacekeepers must be protected by all parties of the conflict, he said.
Prior to the meeting, the Secretary-General also held bilateral meetings with the President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thongloun Sisoulith, and with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Pham Minh Chinh. We have issued readouts of those meetings.

Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Website
un.org/sg/en/spokesperson

Full Highlights
un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight

GAZA/Hospital, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

United Nations 2024-10-14 | Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

- GAZA/Hospital
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Lebanon
- Lebanon/Humanitarian
- Yemen
- Nansen Award

GAZA/HOSPITAL
Good afternoon. Let me start off with a couple of updates. First, I will start off with Gaza and then with Lebanon.
We are aware of the disturbing reports about an Israeli attack on the grounds of a hospital complex in central Gaza. 
The Secretary-General condemns the large number of civilian casualties in the intensifying Israeli campaign in northern Gaza, including at schools sheltering displacing Palestinians civilians. 
He strongly urges all parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law and emphasizes that civilians must be respected and protected at all times.  
Humanitarian assistance into Gaza is woefully inadequate and is at the lowest level in months.  The Secretary-General underscores that the parties must ensure the safe and secure delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need, at the level of which they need it. There must be a safe environment as well, for the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza which is to be completed - and more details on polio in a moment.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Despite all of this, the second round of the polio vaccination campaign began in the middle area of the Gaza Strip. Over the coming 12 days, colleagues at UNRWA, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other aim to vaccinate around 590,000 children under ten years of age with a second dose of the novel oral polio vaccination type 2.
This follows a first round – as you will recall - which was successfully implemented from 1-12 September, which reached more than 559,000 children, or an estimated 95 per cent of eligible children at governorate level, that’s according to independently conducted post-campaign monitoring.
As with the first round, the second round will have three phases, each involving three campaign days and one catch-up day.
The polio vaccination campaign began, as I mentioned. UNRWA renews its urgent request to all parties to the conflict to implement the necessary humanitarian pauses in Gaza for the second round of vaccination to be successful.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that escalating violence in northern Gaza is having a disastrous impact on food security for thousands of Palestinian families. WFP says that the main crossings into the north have been closed and no food entering since 1 October.
Food distribution points, as well as kitchens and bakeries in North Gaza, have been forced to shut down due to airstrikes, military ground operations and evacuation orders.
The last of WFP’s food supplies in the north – that includes canned food, wheat flour, high-energy biscuits, and nutrition supplements -- have been distributed to shelters, health facilities and kitchens in Gaza City and three shelters in North Gaza.

LEBANON
Turning north to the situation in Lebanon, I can tell you that the Secretary-General is in very frequent contact with Force Commander of UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping mission and that’s Lt. General Aroldo Lázaro.
The Secretary-General is extremely appreciative of the courage and dedication of the more than 10,000 uniformed peacekeepers and civilian staff serving in the mission.
Our UNIFIL colleagues continue to monitor the situation. On Sunday, the mission detected 1,557 instances of firing across the Blue Line – that’s the highest number in one day since 8 October 2023 - 1,441 of these originated from south of the Blue Line, primarily striking areas in Sector East of the UNIFIL area of operations.
There were 116 instances of firing from north of the Blue Line into Israel, with a Hizbullah drone strike near Haifa reportedly killing 4 IDF soldiers and injuring several others.
Over 30 people have been killed in southern Lebanon since 10 October.
UNIFIL continuously assesses and reviews all factors to determine its own posture and its own presence. The mission is taking all possible measures to ensure the protection of its peacekeepers. UNIFIL’s role and its presence in southern Lebanon, as you know very well, is mandated by the UN Security Council. In this context, UNIFIL is committed to preserving its capacity to support a diplomatic solution based on Security Council resolution 1701, which, as far as we are concerned is the only way forward.
You saw over the weekend a series of events happening along the Blue Line, in which our peacekeeping mission positions there were impacted, and some of the peacekeepers were hurt. Our UNIFIL colleagues say that since 1 October, UNIFIL positions have been impacted on 20 occasions, including by direct fire, and, on one occasion, breached by two tanks from the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).

Full Highlights:
un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=14%20October%202024

Lebanon: Situation put peacekeepers at serious risk - Security Council Briefing | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-13 | Remarks by Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, on the situation in the Middle East - Security Council, 9746th meeting.

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Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, for his part said, “this situation has put our peacekeepers at serious risk” and reported several incidents, including the wounding of two peacekeepers earlier today who were “hit by tank fire.”

Also this morning, Lacroix said, “IDF soldiers fired on a UN position [UNP 1-31] from an opening in the fence made by the IDF the previous day during adjacent ground works. Several vehicles and a communications system were damaged.”

The peacekeeping Chief said, “previously I have highlighted that Hizbullah activities in the vicinity of UN positions held the potential to draw return fire. Now, we face a similar situation with the Israel Defence Forces installing positions directly adjacent to UN positions – a development that we strongly protest.”

He reported that the UN Mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL’s operational activities “have virtually come to a halt since 23 September” as peacekeepers “have been confined to their bases with significant periods of time in shelter” limiting the Mission’s monitoring and reporting ability.

UN Chief urges efforts to advance peace in Myanmar

United Nations 2024-10-13 | Declaring that the people of Myanmar need peace, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries to leverage their influence towards an inclusive political solution to the conflict there. In remarks to reporters in Laos, he also said priority should go to the protection of civilians in line with international humanitarian law.

Middle East: Region on the brink of an all-out war - DPPA Briefing | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-12 | Remarks by Ms. Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, on the situation in the Middle East - Security Council, 9746th meeting.

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The Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council that “the devastating conflict in Lebanon, coupled with intensified strikes in Syria and the raging violence in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, points to a region dangerously teetering on the brink of an all-out war” and said, “our collective inability to stop the violence and stem the bloodshed is damning.”

DiCarlo said, “Hizbullah and other non-state armed groups must stop firing rockets and missiles into Israel. We urge Israel to stop its bombardment of Lebanon and to withdraw its ground forces. The parties must seize the diplomatic options put on the table before them, not the weapons by their side.”

She urged the parties to commit to a return to a cessation of hostilities, and the full implementation of Security Council resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006).

DiCarlo said, “the Lebanese state must have control over all weapons within its territory. We see what happens when it does not. The political impasse for the election of a president is approaching two years. At this time of crisis, I urge Lebanon’s political leaders to take resolute steps towards addressing the vacuum.”

She added, “the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Lebanon and Israel must be respected.”

ASEAN: “a bridge-builder and a messenger for peace” - UN Chief’s Press Conference | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-11 | Press encounter by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, to reporters in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, that with "geopolitical tensions rising, climate chaos battering countries, and deepening inequalities ripping the social contract to shreds,” the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “is a bridge-builder and a messenger for peace.”

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Secretary-General António Guterres today (11 Oct) told reporters in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, that with "geopolitical tensions rising, climate chaos battering countries, and deepening inequalities ripping the social contract to shreds,” the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “is a bridge-builder and a messenger for peace.”

That peace, Guterres said, “is more necessary than ever, when see the immense suffering of the people in Gaza, now extend to Lebanon, and not forgetting Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and many others.

The Secretary-General, who is attending the ASEAN-UN summit in Vientiane said, “our challenges are inter-connected, we all can and must be part of the solution,” and noted that ASEAN countries “have much to offer.”

On climate change, he said, “we need look no further than the devastating effects of Super Typhoon Yagi for a glimpse of the supercharged climate dangers we are facing. The coming year is crucial for climate action. Every country must produce a new national climate action plan – or NDC – that aligns with limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

Guterres commend ASEAN “for its ongoing constructive role in seeking to defuse tensions from the Korean peninsula to the South China Sea – and for doing so by putting the priority on dialogue and respect for international law.”

Nevertheless, he expressed concern “about the worsening political, humanitarian and human rights situation in Myanmar,” and said, “the people of Myanmar need peace. With one-third of the population needing humanitarian assistance, and almost 3.5 million people internally displaced, skyrocketing poverty and food insecurity are compounding the already dire reality on the ground.”

Asked about the peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that were wounded by Israeli fire in Lebanon, the Secretary-General said, “the two soldiers that were wounded were Indonesian. They belong to ASEAN. And obviously, I condemn the fact that there was shooting against the UN premises, wounding two peacekeepers, which is a violation of international humanitarian law. Peacekeepers must be protected by all parties of the conflict, and what has happened is obviously condemnable. There was naturally a reaction from many sides in solidarity with the peacekeepers that were wounded, and in telling Israel very clearly that this incident is intolerable, and it cannot be repeated.”

After the presser Guterres attended a presentation by local coffee growers supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) alternative crops project

During his visit, the Secretary-General met with President Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, as well as the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Pham Minh Chinh.

Full Remarks: un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-10-11/secretary-generals-press-encounter-asean-summit

The Colour of Memory: Reviving Photographs of Hiroshima Survivors

United Nations 2024-10-11 | Since she was in high school, Ms. Anju Niwata, a university student from Hiroshima, Japan, has been working on the "Rebooting Memories" project, which uses AI technology to colorize black-and-white photographs of Hiroshima's atomic bomb survivors.

Over the years, many atomic bomb survivors (hibakusha) have overcome hatred and sadness, and now hope that human beings should never repeat the same mistakes.

Through dialogue with survivors, researching past documentary records and the use of AI technology, Ms. Niwata carefully revives the monochrome photos as she spreads the hope of peace in a nuclear weapons-free world.

Gaza: Press Conference by UNFPA Palestine Representative | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-11 | Press conference by Nestor Owomuhangi, UNFPA Palestine Representative, on his recent visit to Gaza.

Unparalled devastation in Gaza takes severe toll on pregnant women and mothers

United Nations 2024-10-11 | Describing the scale of devastation in Gaza as unparalled, a UN official in the region details the severe consequences for mothers and pregnant women. Nestor Owomuhangi, Representative in Palestine of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), says the odds of women miscarrying or dying in childbirth have tripled, while malnutrition stalks mothers trying to breastfeed.

Understanding Conflict-related Sexual Violence: The Stories Behind the Statistics

United Nations 2024-10-11 | In this compelling video, Artificial Intelligence (AI) re-enactments bring to life the testimonies of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) from Burundi, Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Iraq. These accounts shed light on the barriers that survivors/victims face in reporting, and the challenges practitioners face in responding to and documenting CRSV cases in conflict settings. The video highlights the entrenched gender inequalities that disproportionately affect women and girls, and recognises that men and boys are also survivors/victims. The video explores the international legal frameworks in place and the crucial role of Senior Women Protection Advisors in peacekeeping settings, emphasizing the criticality of comprehensive CRSV prevention and response to protecting women, girls, men and boys from CRSV and to achieving peace and security.

More information on how UN Peacekeeping addresses CRSV: peacekeeping.un.org/en/conflict-related-sexual-violence

#EndRapeInWar

Cleantech Entrepreneur Revolutionises the Food Industry in Sudan | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-11 | Interview with Dr. Alaa Slih Hamadto, a cleantech entrepreneur from Sudan.

Dr. Alaa Slih Hamadto is the CEO and founder of Solar Foods, a clean technology startup and pioneer in the dried food industry in Sudan. Solar Foods purchases produce from smallholder farmers, dries it with solar energy, and packages it in an environmentally friendly manner that meets the needs of both the retail and wholesale market.

Dr. Hamadto was a participant of the panel "Women, Peace, and Security: How to Promote Stability in Conflict-affected Countries by Funding Female Entrepreneurs" at the 5th World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum in Bahrain on 16 May 2024.

France on Lebanon - Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-10 | Media stakeout by Nicolas de Rivière, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, on the situation in Lebanon.

Lebanon, Syria & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-10 | Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

- Lebanon
- Lebanon/Humanitarian
- Syria
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Secretary-General Travel
- Deputy Secretary-General
- Sudan
- Central African Republic
- Myanmar
- Protection of children
- World Mental Health Day
- Guest today

Lebanon
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) issued a statement this morning saying that two of its peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall. The injuries are fortunately - this time - not serious, but the peacekeepers remain in hospital.
In a separate incident, Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers also fired on UN position (UNP) 1-31 in Labbouneh, hitting the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, and damaging vehicles and a communications system. An IDF drone was observed flying inside the UN position up to the bunker entrance.
Also, UNIFIL says that, yesterday, IDF soldiers deliberately fired at and disabled the position’s perimeter-monitoring cameras. They also deliberately fired on UNP 1-32A in Ras Naqoura - where regular Tripartite meetings were held before the conflict began. Lights and a relay station were damaged.
UNIFIL reminds the IDF and all parties of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times. UNIFIL peacekeepers are present in south Lebanon to support a return to stability under a Security Council mandate. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and of Security Council Resolution 1701. Our peacekeepers are following up with the IDF on these matters.
This comes as the recent escalation along the Blue Line is causing widespread destruction of towns and villages in south Lebanon, while rockets continue to be launched towards Israel, including civilian areas.
In the past days, our peacekeepers say incursions from Israel into Lebanon were seen in Naqoura and other areas. IDF soldiers have clashed with Hizbullah elements on the ground in Lebanon.
Later this afternoon, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, and the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, will brief Security Council members on the situation in Lebanon. That meeting will be followed by consultations.

Lebanon/Humanitarian
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that despite the challenges and a tense security situation, humanitarian organizations continue to deliver aid in coordination with national and local authorities.
Today, a joint mission comprising UN and NGO partners delivered 12 trucks of aid to the towns of Rmeish, Ain Ebel, and Debel in the south of the country. The supplies included food, water, hygiene kits and will support more than 4,000 people. This was the first mission there since July 2024.
UNICEF has also delivered 33 tons of medical supplies to the Ministry of Public Health, including emergency health kits to ensure safe deliveries for pregnant women, as well as essential medicine.
To maintain these efforts, additional funding is urgently needed. While commitments are appreciated, immediate contributions to the $426 million Flash Appeal – which is 12 per cent funded – are vital to continue the response.

Full Highlights: un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=10%20October%202024

Promoting Mental Health at Workplace for UN personnel

United Nations 2024-10-10 | UN personnel often work under incredibly challenging circumstances, especially in the deep field where the security situation is volatile and emergencies or critical incidents are the norm. On this #WorldMentalHealthDay, we celebrate all stress counsellors who promote #MentalHealthintheWorkplace.

Gaza: widespread suffering persists, humanitarian situation worsens - OCHA briefing | UN

United Nations 2024-10-10 | Security Council briefing by Lisa Doughten, Director, Financing and Partnerships Division, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in both Gaza and the West Bank.
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The past year has brought unimaginable suffering. It has been one year since the horrendous attack by Hamas and other armed groups in Israel. And rockets continue to be fired indiscriminately into Israel.
Few times in recent history have we witnessed suffering and destruction of the size, scale, and scope that we see in Gaza. In the past year, this Council has been briefed repeatedly on the horror unfolding in Gaza, at least monthly on average.
Once again, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. Unfortunately, much of what I am about to say mirrors what we reported a month ago. Widespread suffering persists while the humanitarian situation worsens.
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Nearly every one of the more than 2 million people in Gaza receives some form of aid or service provision from UNRWA, along with nearly one million Palestine refugees in the West Bank. If approved, such legislation would be diametrically opposed to the UN Charter and in violation of Israel’s obligations under international law.
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Evacuation orders are meant to protect civilians, but the exact opposite is happening. As we have said so many times, there is no safe place in Gaza.
Three of the ten partially functional hospitals in the north have been ordered to evacuate all patients without providing alternatives for relocating them. We have not been able to get fuel to other hospitals in the north.
There has been no electricity since October last year. Without electricity, or fuel for the generators, everything shuts down: medical facilities, water, sanitation, and other essential services.
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Humanitarian partners report that women and children are hard-hit by the trauma of this war.
Each day, according to UNRWA,10 children are losing one or both of their legs. Gaza is home to the largest cohort of child amputees in modern history. Women are three times more likely to miscarry, and three times more likely to die from childbirth.
And, yet humanitarians are not giving up.
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Urgent diplomatic efforts are needed to de-escalate the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to prevent a wider regional descent into bloodshed.
Member States must take steps to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a path towards sustainable peace.
These atrocities must end.

Gaza: graveyard for tens of thousands of people - UNRWA briefing | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-10 | Security council briefing by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

Lebanon: humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions - Press Conference | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-10 | Press conference by Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and Imran Riza, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, briefing reporters on the country.

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, today (9 Oct) said, “Lebanon finds itself facing a conflict and a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions,” and called for a “realistic roadmap for the implementation by both sides of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.”

Briefing from Beirut together with the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, Hennis-Plasschaert said, “unrelenting bombardment is now part and parcel of daily life in Lebanon, with the latest blasts not even 30 minutes ago. Far too many people are paying an unimaginable price with over 2,000 killed, many more wounded and hundreds of thousands displaced.”

Meanwhile, she continued, Hezbollah, “continues to launch rockets and missiles into Israel, preventing tens of thousands of Israelis from returning home.”

The Special Coordinator said it was “clear that 7th October changed everything, including the threat perception in Israel,” but stressed that “a continuation of the death and destruction we have seen so far will not, cannot bring about safety or security.”

At the end of the day, she said, “it is the lack or non-implementation even of Resolution 1701 over the past 18 years that led to today's harsh reality.”

Riza for his part said, “healthcare and frontline workers have come under attack, as have civil defence centres and water supply systems, pushing essential services to the brink of collapse. The killing of over 100 paramedics, healthcare workers, and public servants impairs Lebanon's emergency response capacity.”

He said, “this must stop. Even wars have rules.”

Responding to a journalist’s question, the Humanitarian Coordinator said, “the trauma, the fear, the anxiety here is very much about Gaza, whether we go on that route, whether that's where it's going right now,” adding that “the lessons are to have member states really exert everything they can, on the one hand towards the ceasefire,” but in the meantime, “respecting international humanitarian law, respecting protection of civilians, respecting that, protecting humanitarian workers, frontline workers and the like. And that is what we really need at this time.”

Asked about whether 1701 was still relevant, Hennis-Plasschaert said, “the question is not whether 1701 is still relevant. The question is how to implement it and how come it was not implemented in the past 18 years. And therefore, I am pushing, or hinting, or suggesting that a serious discussion on the implementation and enforcement mechanisms will take place.”

“What we would like to avoid,” she continued, is “a period of relatively calm or return to the cessation of hostilities, and then after ten, 15, 18 years, we have a similar situation as we are facing today.”

More than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon in the past year, including at least 100 children and 300 women. At least 1 million people have been directly affected, many of them displaced – often multiple times -- enduring the loss of loved ones, homes, livelihoods and their sense of security.

More than 600,000 people are internally displaced across the country – over half of them women and girls. At least 350,000 children have been displaced in total. Most children remain out of school, with the start of the new year postponed to 4 November as 75 percent of the country’s public schools have been converted into shelters.

At least 185,000 people have sought refuge in 1,000 shelters – 80 percent of which are already at capacity.

And over 300,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries, such as Syria, and many of them are also moving to Iraq and Türkiye as well.

Israel on the Middle East - Media Stakeout | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-09 | Media Stakeout by Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, on the situation in the Middle East.

Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

United Nations 2024-10-09 | Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

- Lebanon
- Senior Personnel Appointment
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Lao PDR
- Deputy Secretary-General
- Libya
- Sudan
- South Sudan
- Zambia
- Ukraine
- Nepal
- Haiti
- Senior Personnel Appointment
- Nansen Award
- Post Day
- Briefings today and tomorrow

Lebanon
We have an update from our peacekeeping colleagues in southern Lebanon. Over the past 24 hours, the exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces and Hizbullah have continued to intensify. Peacekeepers observe large-scale air strikes by Israel, mainly across southern Lebanon, concurrent with its ground activities in the areas of Marun ar-Ras, Bint Jbeil, Aytarun, Kafr Kila and Labbouneh. They have also continued to observe fire by Hizbullah towards Israel.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed that yesterday [8 October] IDF personnel vacated their position in the vicinity of UNIFIL post UNP 6-52, although movement of IDF personnel and vehicles continues on a nearby road.
Some UN positions have been impacted, sustaining damage from numerous incidents, including to a security camera at UNP 1-31, damage to perimeter walls, gunshots on a vehicle, and shrapnel damage to prefab accommodation. Fortunately, there are no reports of peacekeepers wounded.
As we have been saying repeatedly, the safety and security of our peacekeepers is a paramount priority and is a shared responsibility of all parties.
All parties must abide by their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.
We also reiterate our call, both for immediate de-escalation and for the parties to return to a cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of Resolution 1701.

Occupied Palestinian Territory
Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has an update on the situation in the northern areas. In recent days, Israeli authorities once again ordered more than 400,000 people who remain north of Wadi Gaza to move south, while at the same time tightening access restrictions and expanding military operations in the north. Crossing points into northern Gaza have been largely closed for both humanitarian and commercial supplies. Checkpoints inside Gaza are only permitting civilians to move south -- and allowing just a trickle of humanitarian movement into the north.
OCHA warns that these developments are forcing services critical for people’s survival to shut down one by one. According to the UN Relief and Works Agency, seven schools sheltering displaced people are being evacuated, and only two of eight water wells in the Jabalya refugee camp remain functional.
The north is also facing severe shortages of bread and food supplies. Explosive munitions burned down the only bakery supported by the World Food Programme in Jabalya refugee camp.
Today, OCHA and the World Health Organization tried to reach northern Gaza to support the Kamal Adwan hospital, after Israeli authorities ordered its immediate evacuation. After receiving a green light from the Israeli authorities for the mission, the team was forced to wait at a holding point for many hours. Ultimately, the mission had to be aborted.
Despite these challenges, aid workers are seizing any opportunity to support people in northern Gaza. UNRWA is utilizing limited stocks already in the north to distribute high-energy biscuits from WFP to children in designated shelters and delivering bread bundles to families in certain areas. Hot meals are being distributed by our partners to newly displaced families, some of whom are also receiving tents. And water is being delivered using trucks.

Ukraine
Turning to Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says intense attacks in the south and east of the country this week have killed and injured dozens of civilians and damaged homes, a hospital and schools.
Authorities and partners on the ground in the southern city of Kherson report that about 20 civilians – including children – were injured in attacks on Monday. At least 280 apartments in 10 buildings were also damaged.
NGOs have mobilized emergency assistance – including first aid, food kits and shelter materials – to help families cover the damage to their homes as winter approaches.
Aid workers continue to provide emergency support, including in Chornomorsk Town in the Odesa Region, where attacks yesterday and today injured five civilians and damaged multiple homes and a hospital. Those affected received emergency shelter kits and psychosocial support, as well as child protection and case management services.
OCHA saus that inter-agency convoys also reached war-affected communities in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions this week, delivering essential hygiene supplies, winter clothes, blankets and charging stations.

Full Highlights: un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=09%20October%202024

GAZA: AFTER ONE YEAR

United Nations 2024-10-09 | One year after the war in Gaza, violence persists, and the humanitarian crisis continues. Over the past year, UN officials have condemned Hamas’s attacks, called for the immediate release of all hostages, and urged for ceasefires. Gaza remains sealed off, leaving no safe areas for civilians. The UN is fully committed to staying and delivering aid to the people of Gaza.