UN Daily Press Briefing: Gaza Crisis, Africa Dialogue, Sudan, South Sudan, and Haiti

Secretary-General's Africa Dialogue

• 🌍 The Secretary-General will address the Africa Dialogue on reparations, aligning with the African Union's 2025 theme.
• 💡 He will emphasize that historical injustices from enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade, and colonialism require acknowledgment and redress.
• ⚖️ Reparatory justice frameworks are deemed critical for correcting past wrongs, addressing current challenges, and upholding human rights and dignity.

Deputy Secretary-General's Travels and Climate Action

• ⛰️ Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed attended the High-Level International Conference on Glacier Preservation in Tajikistan.
• 🌡️ She stressed the urgent need to preserve glaciers to maintain the 1.5°C climate target and protect ecosystems and livelihoods.
• 🤝 She called for bold, coordinated action ahead of COP30, emphasizing cooperation, solidarity, and science.
• 🗓️ She will travel to Marrakech, Morocco, for the 2025 Ibrahim Governance Weekend.

Dire Situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory (Gaza)

• 💔 The humanitarian situation in Gaza is described as the worst since the war began, with continued strikes across the territory.
• 🏥 Al Awda hospital, the last partially functioning one in North Gaza, was forced to evacuate due to repeated strikes.
• ⚠️ Civilians and aid workers must be protected, as highlighted by the killing of five workers from the international aid organization IHH.
• 🚶 Nearly 200,000 people have been displaced in the last two weeks, with renewed displacement orders covering significant portions of Gaza.
• 🚚 Humanitarian aid delivery faces crippling restrictions, with only five truckloads collected yesterday out of 60 intended, due to intense hostilities.
• 🆘 Humanitarian needs have exploded following an 80-day blockade, with limited aid insufficient for the 2.1 million people in need.
• 🚨 Looting incidents are increasing as public order breaks down, including armed individuals storming a field hospital warehouse.
• 📈 Israeli settler violence in the West Bank is on the rise, with over 220 Palestinians injured this year, the highest rate in 20 years.

Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

• 💥 World Food Program premises in Alasu were hit and damaged by shelling, underscoring the targeting of humanitarian supplies.
• 🆘 Humanitarian staff, assets, and operations must not be targeted, especially in Sudan where over three million children suffer from malnutrition.
• 📈 WFP is scaling up food assistance to reach 7 million people, prioritizing famine-risk areas.
• ⚠️ Famine has been confirmed in 10 locations in Sudan, with 17 more areas at risk.

Intercommunal Conflict in South Sudan

• 🚨 The UN peacekeeping mission is alarmed by a surge in intercommunal conflict in Tonj East, Warrap state, characterized by cattle raids and revenge attacks.
• 🩸 An attack by armed youth reportedly killed at least 26 civilians and injured 30 others, displacing thousands.
• 🤝 The mission is engaging with local officials to deescalate tensions and calls on the government to deploy security forces.

Cyprus Peace Efforts and Security Council Briefings

• 🕊️ The Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Marangela Hogan, is concluding her visit, meeting with leaders to encourage progress on trust-building initiatives.
• 🇺🇦 Rosemary D. Carlo briefed the Security Council on Ukraine, noting a surge in Russian attacks despite cautious hope for diplomatic progress.
• 💰 Lisa Dorton briefed on funding shortfalls for humanitarian aid, warning that core programs risk suspension.

Hurricane Season Preparedness and Haiti's Vulnerability

• 🌀 The UN is sounding the alarm about an expected above-average hurricane season from June to November, particularly concerning for vulnerable countries like Haiti.
• ⚠️ Haiti faces significant risks due to natural hazards and limited response capacity, with over a million people displaced, many in flood-prone areas lacking basic services.
• 📉 Funding for Haiti's humanitarian response plan is critically low, with only 8% of the $98 million requested being funded.

International Days and Programming Notes

• 🥔 Today is the International Day of Potato, a vital crop for combating hunger and poverty.
• 🚭 Tomorrow is World No Tobacco Day, with calls for governments to ban flavored tobacco to protect youth.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sunday is the Global Day of Parents, highlighting the need for parental support and resources.
• 🗓️ Programming notes include a media stakeout on Monday following the election of the President of the General Assembly and a briefing on the June program of work.