UN Briefing: Gaza Aid Crisis, Pope Leo XIV Call, and Global Conflicts

UN Secretary-General's Call with Pope Leo XIV

• 🤝 The UN Secretary-General spoke with Pope Leo XIV, congratulating him and affirming a commitment to cooperation between the UN and the Holy See.
• 🕊️ The call aimed to advance human dignity, human rights, peace, and justice globally.
• 🌍 A standing invitation was extended for the Pope to visit the United Nations to discuss joint efforts.

Gaza Aid and Humanitarian Crisis

• 🚚 After 80 days of blocked aid, a trickle of assistance has begun entering Gaza, though insufficient for the immense need.
• ⚠️ The Secretary-General highlighted the risk to UN staff due to the inability to distribute food and wheat flour directly to desperate populations.
• 📍 80% of Gaza has been designated an Israeli-militarized zone or an area for evacuation, complicating aid efforts.
• ⚖️ The UN reiterated its commitment to international law and humanitarian principles, refusing participation in schemes that violate them.
• 🍞 Despite challenges, some aid is reaching people, enabling a handful of bakeries to resume operations.
• 🏥 The World Health Organization warned that intensified hostilities have pushed Gaza's health system to a breaking point, with 4% of nearly 700 attacks on healthcare occurring in the past week.
• 💔 Four major hospitals have suspended services due to hostilities, attacks, or displacement orders, and 94% of Gaza's hospitals are damaged or destroyed.

West Bank and International Conflicts

• 🏘️ In the West Bank, settler violence is escalating, leading to communities dismantling homes to seek safety.
• 🇸🇸 In Chad, $2.5 million has been allocated to respond to the influx of refugees and returnees from Sudan.
• 🇨🇩 The World Food Programme warned that escalating conflict in the DRC has pushed food insecurity to crisis proportions, affecting 7.9 million people.
• 🇲🇿 Over 25,000 people have been newly displaced in Mozambique due to conflict, cyclones, and drought.
• Rohingya refugees perished at sea in two boat tragedies off the coast of Myanmar, marking the deadliest such incidents this year.
• 🇨🇴 In Colombia, the number of people impacted by non-state armed group fighting has quadrupled in the first quarter of the year.

International Days and UN Operations

• 🌍 The briefing noted Africa Day, emphasizing the need to confront legacies of slavery, colonialism, and racism.
• 🗓️ Other international days mentioned include the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula and World Football Day.
• 🇺🇳 The UN headquarters will be closed on Monday, May 26th, for Memorial Day.