UN Daily Press Briefing: Nelson Mandela Day, Cyprus, Gaza Crisis, Syria, Haiti & More

Nelson Mandela International Day

• 💡 Today marks Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrating his legacy of reconciliation, peace, and unity.
• 👏 The Secretary-General congratulated the laureates of the 2025 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, Brenda Reynolds and Kennedy Odede, for making a difference in the lives of others.
• ✨ The UN's 80th anniversary is highlighted as a time when Mandela's legacy of transformation continues to inspire.

Cyprus Peace Initiatives

• 🤝 Constructive discussions were held on Cyprus, reviewing progress on six trust-building initiatives agreed upon in March.
• ✅ Four initiatives have been achieved: a technical committee on youth, environment and climate change, restoration of cemeteries, and an agreement on demining.
• 🚧 Discussions continue on opening four crossing points and solar energy in the buffer zone, acknowledging a long road ahead.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

• ⚠️ The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns of normalized onslaught and mass deprivation in Gaza, with daily preventable deaths and desperation.
• 🏘️ Israeli authorities issued another displacement order for parts of North Gaza, and hospitals are receiving malnourished children with limited resources.
• ⛽ The energy crisis deepens due to limited fuel imports, leading to paused solid waste collection and shut down water wells, impacting essential services like dialysis.
• 🚚 Despite resuming limited fuel imports, only 14 trucks have been allowed over the past week, far below the hundreds of thousands of liters needed daily for life-saving operations.

Global Conflicts and Crises

• 🇸🇾 Syria: Grave concerns were raised over continued violence and targeting of civilians, urging restraint and accountability.
• 🇨🇴 Colombia: The implementation of the peace agreement faces challenges, including limited state presence and persistent violence, underscoring the need for international support.
• 🇭🇹 Haiti: Widespread insecurity drives displacement, with nearly 1.3 million people internally displaced, facing precarious conditions due to limited funding and access.
• 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ongoing violence in the east has caused civilian deaths and new displacement, with a severe funding shortage threatening humanitarian operations.
• 🇦🇫 Afghanistan: A surge in forced returns of Afghan refugees is creating a human rights crisis, with calls for an immediate halt to forcible returns.
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Criminal groups are shifting business models due to the war, increasing trafficking risks and demand for synthetic drugs, impacting recovery efforts.

Nuclear War and Refugees

• ⚛️ An independent scientific panel of experts has been appointed to examine the physical and societal consequences of nuclear war, given the heightened global risks.
• 📉 The UN Refugee Agency warns that up to 11.6 million refugees risk losing access to humanitarian assistance due to major budget cuts, rising displacement, and shrinking funding.

International Days and Events

• ♟️ Sunday marks World Chess Day, celebrating the game's accessibility and inclusivity.
• 🌕 Sunday is also International Moon Day, commemorating the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar landing.
• 🌍 On Monday, a briefing will be held ahead of the ministerial meeting and launch of the Africa Sustainable Development Report 2025.