UN Daily Press Briefing: 9/11 Anniversary, Gaza Crisis, Afghanistan, Sudan, and More

Commemoration and Solidarity

• 🕊️ The Secretary-General will participate in the annual ringing of the peace bell in the Japanese garden on the occasion of the International Day of Peace.
• 🇺🇳 Today marks 24 years since the September 11th terror attacks, and the UN stands in solidarity with New York, remembering the nearly 3,000 lives lost from over 90 countries.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

• 💔 Nearly 1 million people in Gaza City face daily bombardments and struggle for survival following Israeli military displacement orders.
• 📈 Over 25,000 displacements were recorded between Sunday and yesterday, with critical services and humanitarian facilities severely damaged, disrupting aid delivery.
• ⚠️ Child malnutrition is worsening at an alarming rate, with 13.5% of screened children identified as acutely malnourished in August.
• 🏥 Half of all functioning hospitals and ICU beds in Gaza are in Gaza City, which is now under Israeli offensive, posing a severe risk to remaining facilities.
• 🚫 Delays and impediments to humanitarian movement continue, including an increase in denials of Palestinian staff participation in missions.

Updates from Afghanistan and Sudan

• 🌍 Humanitarian efforts in earthquake-affected areas of Afghanistan are scaling up, with over 60,000 people reached with food assistance, but more resources are critically needed.
• 🚫 Restrictions on national female UN staff in Afghanistan are putting essential humanitarian assistance at serious risk, with de facto authorities enforcing these restrictions.
• 🇸🇩 The UN envoy for Sudan is intensifying efforts for de-escalation and a political solution, engaging with Sudanese actors in East Africa.
• 🆘 Funding shortfalls are forcing the World Food Program to pull back support in Sudan, with millions facing acute hunger and aid being cut or ration sizes reduced.

International Engagements and Concerns

• 📞 The Secretary-General spoke with the Foreign Minister of Iran regarding nuclear issues and the situation in Yemen, including the detention of UN personnel.
• 🤝 He also expressed solidarity with Qatar following an attack in Doha, and the Security Council will hold an emergency briefing on the situation in the Middle East.
• ⚖️ In the Central African Republic, a newly constructed court building was handed over to national authorities, marking a first in Enel and improving access to justice.
• 🏠 The High Commissioner for Refugees completed a visit to Myanmar, calling for wider humanitarian access and solutions for the displaced, while UNHCR urgently needs $88.3 million for its response.
• 🕊️ The UN welcomes the release of a deputy head of UNICEF from detention in Yemen and continues to push for the release of other arbitrarily detained colleagues.
• ⚠️ The UN condemns the death of US political activist Charlie Kirk as an act of political violence and extends condolences.
• 🧠 The Secretary-General emphasizes the need for more resources for mental health networks to combat suicide globally.
• 🤝 The UN is concerned about internal clashes in Syria and encourages the Syrian government to engage in discussions with other political forces.
• 🇵🇱 The UN welcomes the release of 52 prisoners in Belarus and acknowledges comments regarding heightened tensions in Eastern Europe, urging avoidance of escalation.
• 📰 The UN emphasizes the importance of journalists having unimpeded access to Gaza, not under the escort of warring parties, to report freely.
• 🌍 The UN welcomes the agreement reached between the IAEA and Iran and calls for continued active diplomacy on nuclear issues.