UN Daily Press Briefing: Gaza Aid, Sudan Conflict, Cybercrime Convention, and More

Secretary-General's Travel and UN80 Initiative

• ✈️ The Secretary-General is en route to Hanoi, Vietnam, to attend the opening for signature of the UN Convention Against Cybercrime, a global framework addressing cybercrime.
• 🤝 Before his trip, he met with Francophone Ambassadors in Geneva, providing an overview of the UN80 process and discussing global issues.
• 🗓️ For UN Day, the Secretary-General will participate in a Security Council session via video link to commemorate the United Nations' 80th anniversary.

Gaza Conflict and Humanitarian Aid

• 🕊️ The Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process briefed the Security Council on the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the need to avoid conflict and release hostages.
• 📈 Humanitarian aid delivery has increased by 46% since the ceasefire, but significant needs remain, requiring more crossings, functional relief corridors, and safe passage for aid workers.
• ⚠️ The UN welcomes the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion reaffirming Israel's obligations under international law, urging compliance.
• 💧 In Gaza, urgent needs include repairing latrines, providing clean water, and addressing poor hygiene conditions in collective centers hosting displaced families.
• 🏥 The World Health Organization facilitated the medical evacuation of 41 critical patients from Gaza, with thousands more awaiting care outside the Strip.
• 🍪 The World Food Program is distributing high-energy biscuits to school-aged children, and numerous trucks carrying food, diapers, and shelter materials have been offloaded at crossings.
• ⛽ UNOPS has collected and distributed significant amounts of diesel fuel for critical humanitarian operations.

Sudan Conflict and Displacement

• ⚠️ Escalating violence, including drone attacks and clashes, continues to endanger civilians across multiple regions in Sudan, with the situation in El Faser remaining catastrophic.
• ✈️ Drone attacks on Khartoum airport have impacted its reopening, and aerial weapons in densely populated areas are heightening concerns for civilian safety.
• 🏘️ Hundreds of thousands have been impacted by deadly floods in Niger, with over 120 deaths, thousands of houses destroyed, and vast farmlands inundated.

International Law and UN's Role

• ⚖️ The UN opposes any effort to change the territorial status quo of the West Bank and is aware of the Knesset's vote regarding annexation.
• 🌾 The UN continues to monitor, document, and bring to the attention of the international community violations against farmers during the olive harvest.
• 🌍 The UN's role as a unique experiment in multilateral diplomacy is crucial for acting as guardrails in a world with complex problems and crises.

Other Topics

• ⛈️ Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to bring heavy rainfall and high winds to the Caribbean, with WFP implementing early warning messages and anticipatory cash distributions.
• 💧 A new initiative in Tunisia, funded by the Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund, will promote inclusive local water management, focusing on women and youth.
• 🐆 Today marks the International Day of the Snow Leopard, highlighting threats to the species and the importance of protecting high-altitude ecosystems.