UN Daily Press Briefing: South Sudan Crisis, Syria, Mozambique Cyclone, and Global Affairs

Deputy Secretary-General's Travel

• ✈️ Amina Mohammed will travel to Abuja, Nigeria, to deliver a keynote address and meet with government officials.
• 🌍 She will then proceed to Addis Ababa for the African Union Heads of State and Government session, co-chairing a dialogue on sustainable development.

South Sudan Crisis

• 🕊️ Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed the Security Council on South Sudan, highlighting political deadlock fueling tensions and armed clashes, particularly in Jonglei.
• 🤝 The UN Mission continues to engage political leaders and protect civilians, urging international pressure for dialogue.
• 🆘 The humanitarian situation is deteriorating, with families fleeing violence urgently needing food, water, healthcare, and shelter.
• ⚠️ Renewed violence has displaced an estimated 280,000 people, disrupting aid delivery and essential services.
• 🦠 The risk of cholera is increasing, with 55 cases and 7 deaths reported in one week, and over 98,000 cases and 1,612 deaths recorded since September 2024.

Humanitarian Situations in Syria and Gaza

• 🗺️ An assessment mission entered Ain Al Arab/Kobani, Syria, for the first time since January, finding the situation relatively calm but with disrupted basic services.
• 🚚 Aid convoys have delivered supplies, but goods and fuel entry remain limited, impacting water systems, hospitals, and bakeries.
• 🏥 In Gaza, the Buraj Health Center has reopened, restoring essential services, but thousands still lack treatment opportunities.
• 📦 Humanitarian partners provided emergency shelter and supplies, but durable solutions require lifting restrictions on medical equipment and materials.

Cyclone and Floods in Mozambique

• 🌀 Preparations are underway for Cyclone Gazani impacting Mozambique, with government planning for evacuations and prepositioning supplies.
• 💰 The Central Emergency Response Fund released $4.5 million to aid over 300,000 people, as the country recovers from recent floods.

Human Rights and Venezuela

• 🇪🇹 Volker Turk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for de-escalation in Tigray, Ethiopia, amid precarious conditions and warned of worsening human rights crises.
• 🇻🇪 The humanitarian response plan for Venezuela was only 19% funded last year, yet partners assisted over 2 million people with essential services, including health, nutrition, and protection.

International Days and Financial Contributions

• 🐆 Today is the International Day of the Arabian Leopard, highlighting the importance of wildlife protection.
• 🍲 It is also World Pulses Day, celebrating lentils, beans, and chickpeas.
• 💰 55 member states made the honor roll for timely financial contributions, totaling $941 million, though slightly less than the previous year.