UN Chief António Guterres on Sudan Crisis, Gaza Conflict, and Social Development Summit

Urgent Crises in Sudan and Gaza

• ⚠️ The UN Secretary-General opened the press conference by highlighting the horrifying and spiraling crisis in Sudan, with civilians trapped, facing hunger, violence, and displacement.
• 🚨 He called for an immediate end to the violence in Sudan, unimpeded humanitarian aid, an end to the flow of weapons, and a negotiated settlement.
• 🕊️ Guterres also expressed deep concern over continued ceasefire violations in Gaza, emphasizing the need for all parties to abide by agreements and work towards a two-state solution.

Qatar's Role in Global Peace and Development

• 🤝 Qatar is recognized as a committed partner of the UN, generously supporting humanitarian relief, advocating for education (especially for girls in Afghanistan), and acting as a peacemaker in the Middle East and globally.
• 🌍 As host of the Second World Summit for Social Development, Qatar is playing a decisive global role, with the Doha Declaration representing a commitment to place people, dignity, and social justice at the heart of sustainable development.

Key Actions for Social Development

• 💰 The UN Chief outlined four key areas to bring the Doha Declaration's "people's plan" to life: accelerating the fight against poverty and inequality through targeted investments, focusing on job creation and employment, supercharging global finance for development by tripling multilateral development bank lending and easing debt burdens, and ensuring no one is left behind in development efforts.
• 🎯 This includes massive investments in training, skills development, economic diversification, closing the digital divide, and ensuring equal opportunities for women.

Addressing Reconstruction and Future Stability

• rebuilding efforts in Gaza, emphasizing that education must be a central pillar of any reconstruction project.
• ⚖️ Regarding Gaza, the UN is actively engaged in increasing humanitarian aid and supports the principle of a ceasefire leading to a two-state solution, with any future entity in Gaza needing legitimacy from the Security Council.
• 🌍 The UN is working with international partners, including the US, AU, and EGAD, to push for a ceasefire in Sudan and hold accountable those committing horrendous crimes.