UN Daily Press Briefing: Pope Francis Funeral, Mother Earth Day, Gaza Crisis, Ukraine War, and More

UN Secretary-General's Travel and Mother Earth Day

• ✈️ The Secretary-General will travel to Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.
• 🌍 On Mother Earth Day, the Secretary-General highlighted that last year was the hottest on record, urging all countries to create new climate action plans aligned with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5° C.
• 🤝 Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will co-convene a virtual meeting with President Lula de Silva to discuss strengthening global efforts to tackle the climate crisis and accelerate a just energy transition.
• 👗 A fashion show will unveil a new collection of tour guide uniforms, a collaboration focused on sustainable lifestyle, fashion, and innovation.

Senior Personnel Appointment and UNRWA Review

• 🇬🇧 Ian Martin of the United Kingdom has been appointed head of the strategic assessment for UNRWA as part of the UN80 initiative.
• 🎯 Martin's role is to review UNRWA's impact and mandate implementation under current constraints, risks, and consequences for Palestine refugees.
• 🏛️ This review is not about changing UNRWA's mandate, which is set by the General Assembly, but about assessing how the agency can best deliver its services in a complex environment.
• 🌍 Strategic reviews are a tool used by the Secretary-General to improve efficiency, often in peacekeeping and political missions.

Humanitarian Crises: Gaza, Haiti, Bolivia, and Ukraine

• 💔 The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen, with ongoing hostilities impacting civilians and infrastructure, halting waste removal services.
• 🏥 Despite extreme challenges, humanitarian partners are working to support people in Gaza, including installing a desalination plant at Alshifa Hospital and operating community kitchens, though many face imminent closure due to lack of cooking gas.
• ⚠️ Families in Gaza are resorting to burning plastic for cooking due to a lack of cooking gas, and access to fuel remains a major concern.
• 🌊 In Haiti, a surge in armed violence has displaced over 51,000 people, disrupting public services and education, with schools being used as temporary shelters.
• 🆘 Humanitarian response efforts in Haiti are hampered by power cuts, communication disruptions, and armed groups, but efforts are underway to provide health kits and water trucking.
• 🌧️ Bolivia is experiencing major flooding, with overflowing rivers claiming 55 lives, destroying homes, and impacting nearly 700,000 people, with a significant funding gap for response efforts.
• 💥 In Ukraine, civilians continue to suffer from hostilities, with nearly 190 civilian casualties reported over the Easter period, despite a declared ceasefire.
• 🇺🇦 Attacks have damaged homes, schools, and even a marked aid vehicle, with frontline areas in Kherson and Donetsk continuing to be hit.

Other Briefings and Announcements

• 🇨🇴 In Colombia, despite ongoing challenges, the peace agreement has led to a more inclusive political system, though violence and insecurity persist in certain regions.
• 🎨 The UN campus mourns the loss of artist Zorababeli, creator of the sculpture "Good Defeats Evil," a powerful anti-nuclear weapons statement.
• 🕊️ Mediators in the Gaza conflict have proposed a new formula to end the war, with the UN hoping for a swift resolution benefiting both Palestinians and Israelis.
• 🗣️ The Secretary-General and the late Pope shared common values on climate change, migration, and human dignity.
• ⚖️ Regarding clerical abuse, the UN emphasizes a victim-centric approach, transparency, and accountability, hoping all organizations facing such issues continue these efforts.