UN Daily Press Briefing: Yemen, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and Venezuela (December 17, 2025)

Yemen Situation Briefing

• 🌍 The Secretary-General briefed the Security Council on Yemen following his recent regional visit, emphasizing that unilateral actions will not lead to peace.
• ⚠️ A full resumption of hostilities could have serious ramifications for regional peace and security, including in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa.
• 🤝 All parties are urged to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, and resolve differences through dialogue for a sustainable political settlement.
• ⚖️ The UN strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of UN colleagues and partner personnel, demanding the rescinding of referrals to a special criminal court.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

• 🌨️ Humanitarian partners are focusing on winter assistance for vulnerable families, with nearly 55,000 families affected by recent rains damaging shelters and belongings.
• 🧒 Dozens of child-friendly spaces were damaged, impacting approximately 30,000 children and requiring urgent repairs.
• 💧 Partners are working on repairs for water, sanitation, and hygiene, including fixing sewage pipelines and pump stations to improve public health.
• 💧 Over 38,000 people in displacement sites can now access water from community tanks, with a second phase to reach another 40,000 underway.
• 🚧 Ongoing impediments continue to hamper humanitarian efforts to scale up the response in Gaza.

Deputy Secretary-General's Activities

• 🇧🇷 The Deputy Secretary-General is attending the UN AIDS program coordination board in Brazil, acknowledging its vital role and stressing the need to integrate its expertise as UNIDS is expected to sunset in 2026.
• 🤝 She is holding meetings to discuss sustaining and strengthening the global AIDS response and bilateral meetings with Brazilian government officials.

Escalating Crises in Sudan and Haiti

• 🇸🇩 Humanitarian needs are surging in Sudan as families flee hostilities, with over 1,000 people newly displaced in South Kordofan and further displacement into neighboring states and South Sudan.
• ⚠️ Over 3,000 people have crossed into Chad and South Sudan, with more expected, and needs are outstripping available resources despite ongoing assistance.
• 🏥 WHO is alarmed over reports of 70 health workers and 5,000 civilians forcibly detained in South Darfur, held in overcrowded conditions.
• 🇭🇹 In Haiti, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly in the Artibonite department as armed groups expand control, restricting access and leading to displacement and destruction.

Venezuela and International Law

• 🇺🇳 The UN Secretary-General calls for restraint and de-escalation regarding the situation with Venezuela, urging all stakeholders to honor obligations under international law and the UN Charter.
• 🚫 The UN does not have evidence of Venezuela stealing US assets and oil, and does not comment on bilateral steps like designating the Venezuelan government as a foreign terrorist organization.
• ⚖️ The UN is reminding all parties of their obligations under international law and the UN Charter, and any decision on bringing the situation to the Security Council would be for member states to consider.
• ❓ The legality of a blockade is being studied, with parties expected to abide by the UN Charter and applicable legal frameworks to safeguard peace.