UN Noon Briefing: AU-UN Conference, Sudan, South Sudan, Gaza, and More

AU-UN Annual Conference

• 🗓️ The 9th African Union–United Nations annual conference will be held at UN headquarters, co-chaired by the AU Commission Chairperson and the Secretary-General.
• 🤝 Discussions will focus on cooperation frameworks, peace, security, development, human rights, and climate action.
• 📢 A joint press conference by the Secretary-General and the AU Chairperson will conclude the conference at 3:00 PM.

Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

• ✈️ The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, is in Sudan, meeting with authorities and partners to advocate for an end to atrocities and ensure humanitarian access.
• ⚠️ The situation in North Darfur remains volatile, with civilians at risk of looting and gender-based violence following the Rapid Support Forces' takeover of El Fasher.
• 🏫 A drone strike in South Kordofan destroyed a school and injured displaced people, while Kadugli and Dilling are under siege, restricting aid access.
• 🏠 Over 12,000 people have fled violence in Kordofan and Darfur to White Nile State, facing severe shortages of food, shelter, and water.

Fragility in South Sudan

• 🕊️ UN Women reported that key commitments of South Sudan's peace agreement remain unfulfilled, with delayed elections and stalled reforms.
• ⚖️ Women and girls bear the heaviest burden, facing climate shocks, food insecurity, and sexual violence.
• ⚠️ The war in Sudan is deepening South Sudan's fragility, with over 1.2 million people crossing the border, straining resources.

Aid Operations in Gaza

• humanitarian operations in Gaza face obstacles, including red tape and insecurity, despite efforts to deliver life-saving assistance.
• 💉 Israel is reportedly blocking essential medical supplies, including over a million syringes needed for child vaccinations.
• 🚚 While some aid is reaching Gaza, the UN acknowledges impediments and advocates for eased constraints to reach more people.
• ⛽ The UN Office for Project Services distributed over 619,000 liters of diesel to partners to support critical operations.

Other Global Updates

• ⚠️ UNIFIL continues to monitor violations along the Lebanon-Israel border, discovering unauthorized weapons caches and tunnels.
• ⛈️ Following Hurricane Melissa, over 54,000 people remain displaced in Cuba, with significant damage to health facilities and homes.
• 🚢 The UN Refugee Agency and IOM are concerned over a shipwreck off Malaysia and Thailand carrying Rohingya refugees, with at least 21 deaths reported.
• ⚖️ The UN stands against the death penalty and does not want capital punishment added to any country's legislation, in response to Israel's parliament passing a death penalty law for terrorism.
• ❄️ UNHCR launched its global winter fundraising campaign to aid forcibly displaced families, aiming to raise $35 million for essential needs.
• 💨 A UNEP report highlights that adopting sustainable cooling could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 64% by 2050.