UN Daily Press Briefing: Gaza Crisis, Pope Leo XIV, Syria, Sudan, DRC, and More

UN Leadership and Global Initiatives

• 🌍 The Secretary-General concluded a meeting of the Chief Executives Board, committing UN leadership to a more effective and efficient UN amidst challenges and fewer resources, aiming for the UN80 initiative.
• 🗓️ The Secretary-General will address the General Assembly on Monday to update them on his vision for UN80 and progress made.

Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV

• 🕊️ The Secretary-General extended congratulations to Pope Leo XIV and Catholics worldwide on his election.
• 🙏 The new Pope's message of "May peace be with all the world" is highlighted as a call for peace, social justice, and human dignity. -🤝 The UN looks forward to continuing cooperation with the Holy See to advance solidarity and reconciliation.

Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

• 🚨 The UN stresses the urgent need to lift the blockade on Gaza and allow humanitarian operations, with a worsening crisis after nearly 10 weeks without aid.
• 👶 Malnutrition is increasing, with the proportion of children suffering from acute malnutrition almost doubling since February.
• 🏥 An UNRWA school was hit, and partners are providing essential supplies like latrines and water tanks; efforts are underway to establish an additional hospital.
• 🔌 A damaged fiber optic cable has crippled data connectivity for humanitarian responders for over six weeks, with repair requests repeatedly denied.
• ⛽ Limited fuel supplies have been retrieved, but OCHA emphasizes the need for facilitated humanitarian movements and access within Gaza.

Conflicts and Displacement in Other Regions

• 🇸🇾 In Syria, over 670,000 people have been displaced since November, with explosive ordnance contamination causing over 900 civilian casualties, including many children.
• 🇸🇩 Humanitarian needs in North Darfur, Sudan, are massive, with over 300,000 displaced people receiving aid, but safe and sustained access is crucial.
• 🇨🇩 The DRC faces a severe funding shortfall, leading to reprioritization of the response plan, while a cholera outbreak has affected over 18,000 people.
• 🌍 West and Central Africa are experiencing escalating hunger, with over 36 million people struggling to meet basic food needs, projected to rise to over 52 million.
• 🇭🇹 In Haiti, a surge in armed violence has displaced thousands, with limited access to essential services; UNICEF is supporting mobile clinics and child-friendly spaces.
• 🇨🇴 Colombia faces mobility restrictions for nearly 50,000 people in the Chocó region due to armed conflict, hindering access to food and healthcare.
• 🇨🇷 Costa Rica's ability to assist Nicaraguan refugees is threatened by major funding cuts to UNHCR, jeopardizing essential integration services.

Emergency Funding and International Days

• 🇺🇬 The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated $2.5 million to support over 40,000 refugees arriving in Uganda from the DRC.
• 🇦🇴 A $1.8 million CERF allocation supports the response to Angola's worst cholera outbreak in two decades.
• 🐦 Today is World Migratory Bird Day, raising awareness for bird conservation.
• 🌳 Tomorrow is the International Day of Argania, celebrating the Argan tree native to Morocco.