UN Daily Press Briefing: Myanmar Earthquake, Gaza Crisis, Sudan Conflict, and Global Issues (April 4, 2025)

Myanmar Earthquake Response

• 🌍 Tom Fletcher, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, arrived in Myanmar to assess the impact of the recent earthquake.
• 🏥 Medical teams and supplies, totaling over 100 tons, have been deployed, with more than 25 search-and-rescue teams actively working.
• 🏠 The UN Refugee Agency is distributing essential supplies like plastic sheets and kitchen sets, but urgently needs to replenish stocks to meet massive needs.
• 💰 A new appeal for $1.1 billion has been launched, with less than 5% received so far, while UNHCR is seeking $16 million to assist 1.2 million people.

Occupied Palestinian Territory Crisis

• ⚠️ Thousands of families have fled Gaza City following new displacement orders, leaving civilians exposed to hostilities and without essential services.
• 🚫 All crossings into Gaza remain closed for the second month, halting the entry of crucial supplies.
• 📉 Food stocks are critically low, with WFP-supported bakeries closed and food parcel distributions ending soon; even hot meals are dwindling.
• 🦠 Worsening sanitation conditions in makeshift displacement sites are leading to public health risks, including infestations of fleas and mites.
• 🚨 Criminal looting and general insecurity are on the rise, with a UNRWA distribution point being looted, signaling a breakdown in civil order.
• 🏠 In the West Bank, tens of thousands remain displaced due to ongoing Israeli military operations, with humanitarian partners providing aid and psychosocial support.

Sudan and South Sudan Humanitarian Concerns

• 😥 Civilians are fleeing Khartoum due to violence and fear of extrajudicial killings, with thousands arriving in North Kordofan State urgently needing food, water, shelter, and healthcare.
• 📉 Funding constraints are forcing a scale-back of data collection, delaying reporting on new displacements and early warning alerts.
• ⚠️ The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs expressed outrage over escalating attacks against community kitchens and safe spaces in Sudan.
• 🕊️ In South Sudan, efforts are underway to de-escalate tensions and preserve the peace deal, with renewed clashes reported in Upper Nile State.

Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti

• ⚠️ The situation in eastern DRC remains critical, with reciprocal attacks between militias targeting civilians near displaced communities and in mining areas.
• 🤝 The UN peacekeeping mission is pushing for local political dialogue to negotiate the release of abducted civilians, including children.
• 🏘️ In North Kivu, renewed hostilities have displaced approximately 7,500 people, many fleeing for the second or third time.
• 🏥 In South Kivu, armed individuals raided a hospital, vandalizing facilities and injuring staff, marking the second attack on the facility in a month.
• 🆘 In Haiti, WFP is providing hot meals to displaced populations following attacks, with countrywide efforts reaching over 15,000 newly displaced people in the past week.

Ukraine and Global Issues

• 💥 Civilian casualties and destruction continue in Ukraine due to ongoing attacks, with drone attacks on Kharkiv resulting in deaths, injuries, and damaged homes.
• 🌾 The FAO Food Price Index remained largely unchanged in March, with declining cereal and sugar quotations offset by increased vegetable oil prices.
• ⚠️ On International Day for Mine Awareness, the UN highlighted the critical role of mine action in rebuilding communities, citing examples from Syria and Colombia where mine contamination poses severe risks.
• 🕊️ The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is recognized for its power in fostering change and bridging barriers.
• 📈 The Deputy Secretary-General is in North Macedonia chairing a retreat on accelerating SDG implementation and discussing sustainable development with government officials.