UN Daily Press Briefing: China, Papua New Guinea, Yemen, Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan & More

UN Secretary-General's Engagements

• 🇨🇳 The Secretary-General attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus session in Tianjin, China, advocating for principled leadership to strengthen multilateralism and uphold the rule of law in a multipolar world.
• 🇺🇦 He called for a ceasefire in Ukraine leading to a just and sustainable peace, in line with the UN Charter.
• 🇵🇬 In Papua New Guinea, the Secretary-General celebrated 50 years of independence, highlighting the country's diversity and leadership in climate justice, and urging faster global action on climate goals.
• 🇮🇷 Bilateral meetings were held with leaders from China, the SCO, Cambodia, and Iran.

Crisis in Yemen and Detentions

• 🇾🇪 The UN strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of 18 UN personnel by Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen, along with the seizure of UN property.
• 💔 One UN colleague died in Houthi custody in February, and the Secretary-General reiterated demands for the immediate release of all detained personnel.
• 🌍 The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, met officials in Oman, condemning the detentions which endanger UN operations and staff safety.
• 💥 Grundberg also expressed concern over hostilities between Ansar Allah and Israel and their regional repercussions.

Afghanistan Earthquake and Gaza Conflict

• 🇦🇫 The Secretary-General expressed deep sadness over the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, pledging UN assistance but noting insufficient humanitarian funding.
• 📈 Preliminary reports indicate at least 1,400 deaths and over 3,100 injuries, with figures expected to rise.
• 🇵🇸 In Gaza, military activities continue to take a heavy toll on civilians, leading to further displacement and daily reports of malnutrition-related deaths.
• 🆘 WFP resumed digital voucher distribution to vulnerable groups, but organized distribution remains challenging due to violence and congestion at entry points.
• 🚫 Humanitarian teams face significant restrictions on movement inside Gaza, with many planned missions impeded or denied by Israeli authorities.

Sudan and Other Global Issues

• 🇸🇩 OCHA is concerned by a landslide in Sudan's Jebel Marra region, with preliminary reports estimating around 1,000 deaths, though an inter-agency assessment is pending.
• 🌧️ Heavy rains have caused widespread damage and displacement in other parts of Sudan, including Gedaref and South Darfur states.
• ⚠️ Continued shelling in Al Faser has killed at least seven civilians, trapping others due to the absence of safe passage.
• ✈️ UNHAS has ended its fixed-wing air service in Nigeria due to lack of funding, risking the humanitarian response in the northeast.
• 🇲🇲 A UN Human Rights Office report details over 7,100 killings by the military in Myanmar since the 2021 coup, with thousands arrested and detained.

New Appointments and Follow-ups

• 🇧🇦 Arneal Spence of Norway assumes her role as Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• ❓ Follow-up questions addressed the reasons for Houthi detentions, the Secretary-General's meetings at the SCO summit, potential relocation of UN meetings, and the UN's position on sanctions and the JCPOA.