UN Daily Press Briefing: Gaza Crisis, Ukraine Conflict, Mozambique Violence, and More

Gaza Humanitarian Catastrophe

• 🚨 The Secretary-General is gravely alarmed by Israel's decision to take control of Gaza City, calling it a dangerous escalation.
• 💔 Palestinians in Gaza face a humanitarian catastrophe with forced displacement, killings, and massive destruction.
• 🕊️ An urgent appeal is made for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and the immediate release of all hostages.
• ⚖️ Israel is urged to abide by international law, including the ICJ's declaration to cease settlement activities and evacuate settlers.
• 💧 Civilians face mounting challenges with extreme difficulty in accessing basic needs like water and food due to ongoing hostilities and destruction.
• 🏥 The convergence of a hunger crisis, collapsing healthcare, and destroyed infrastructure is having a catastrophic toll, especially on the vulnerable.
• 🚚 Aid entering Gaza remains insufficient, with missions facing significant delays; road access is reiterated as the most efficient method.
• ☀️ A severe heatwave exacerbates the struggle for water, with the South Gaza Desalination Plant operating at less than 14% capacity due to damaged electricity lines.

Conflict Updates and Humanitarian Aid

• 🇺🇦 In Ukraine, dozens of civilians were killed and over 200 injured this week, with hundreds of residential buildings damaged.
• 🏘️ Over 6,000 people fled frontline areas in Donetsk region, a five-fold increase in two weeks, with humanitarian organizations providing evacuation support.
• 🇲🇿 The UN Central Emergency Response Fund allocated $4 million to support displaced people in Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique, following escalating violence.
• 🇨🇩 Armed clashes have increased in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, displacing tens of thousands and resulting in civilian deaths.

International Conferences and Appointments

• 🌍 The third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) concluded in Turkmenistan with a blueprint for action.
• 🇱🇾 Richardson of Sweden has been appointed as the new Deputy Special Representative for the UN Support Mission in Libya and Resident Coordinator.

Commemorations and Contributions

• 🕊️ Tomorrow marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, with a message from the Secretary-General to be delivered.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Tomorrow also marks the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, recognizing their role as guardians of knowledge and stewards of biodiversity.
• 🇬🇾 Guyana has made its full payment to the regular budget, bringing the number of fully paid-up member states to 119.