UN Daily Press Briefing: Yemen Detentions, Central Emergency Response Fund, Sudan Crisis, and Global Affairs

Yemen: Detentions and Diplomatic Efforts

• ⚠️ The UN Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the arbitrary detention of 59 UN personnel by Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen, condemning their referral to a special criminal court.
• ⚖️ UN personnel are held incommunicado, some for years, without due process, violating international law and their immunity.
• 🗣️ The UN calls for the immediate release of all detained personnel and remains committed to supporting the people of Yemen.
• 🕊️ The UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, emphasized the need for restraint and de-escalation through dialogue following recent developments in Hadramout and Al-Mahra.
• 🤝 Grundberg is engaged with Yemeni, regional, and international actors to support de-escalation and advance prospects for a negotiated settlement.

Secretary-General's Travel and Global Initiatives

• ✈️ The Secretary-General is traveling to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Oman to discuss pressing regional issues, including the situation in Yemen.
• 🌍 He will attend the 11th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Riyadh, marking its 20th anniversary.
• 🇺🇳 The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) will close after 22 years, with the Secretary-General expressing gratitude for Iraq's hospitality.

Humanitarian Crises and Funding

• 💰 The UN is appealing for increased commitments to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to reach a $1 billion target, as contributions are at their lowest since 2015.
• 🆘 CERF has allocated $110 million to neglected emergencies this year, but the Secretary-General warns that doing more with less is unsustainable.
• 🇺🇳 In Sudan, UNICEF highlights the plight of 10 million displaced people, half of whom are children, facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
• 💔 Women and girls are disproportionately affected, bearing the brunt of the crisis, including horrific levels of sexual violence.
• 📈 Famine has been declared in parts of Darfur and Kordofan, with the risk of spreading.

Conflicts and Security Concerns

• 🇷🇺 Intense Russian missile and drone attacks in Ukraine continue to cause civilian casualties and damage essential services.
• 🌍 Humanitarian partners face challenging access to frontline areas in Ukraine due to ongoing fighting.
• 🇵🇸 In Gaza, humanitarian efforts to scale up response face persistent impediments, with a significant portion of shelter materials rejected by Israeli authorities.
• 📚 Temporary learning spaces in Gaza are increasing, but access to education remains a gap for a large portion of the school-age population.
• 🇱🇧 UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon report continued discoveries of unauthorized weapon caches and unexploded ordinances, urging adherence to Security Council Resolution 1701.

International Days and UN Operations

• 🕊️ The UN marks the 10th anniversary of the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda, emphasizing the vital role of young people in peacebuilding.
• ⚖️ Today is the International Day for the Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime.
• 🚫 It is also International Anti-Corruption Day, highlighting corruption's weakening effect on institutions and economies.
• 🇷🇺 The Russian Federation has paid its dues in full to the UN's regular budget.