UN Noon Briefing: Cyprus, Syria, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan & More (July 17, 2025)

Informal Meeting on Cyprus

• 🤝 The Secretary-General is convening an informal meeting at UN Headquarters with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, along with representatives from Greece, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom.
• 🗓️ The meeting includes bilateral meetings, a plenary session, a working lunch, and a concluding session later in the day.

Humanitarian Crisis in Syria

• ⚠️ Nearly 2,000 families have been displaced in Syria's Sweida governorate due to violence, with many homes damaged or destroyed.
• 🏥 The health system in Sweida and neighboring Dar'a governorate is critically strained, operating without power and facing severe shortages; at least two doctors were reportedly killed.
• 📦 The WHO has dispatched trauma kits, but access constraints hinder delivery, and armed groups have endangered health facilities.
• 🕊️ All parties are urged to protect civilians, allow free movement for safety and medical assistance, and respect international law.

Security Council Briefing on Syria

• 🎤 The Security Council will meet on Syria this afternoon, with Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, scheduled to brief.

Condemnation of Gaza Strike and Humanitarian Concerns

• ⛪ The Secretary-General strongly condemns an Israeli strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, calling attacks on places of worship unacceptable.
• 🚨 An urgent call is made for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages.
• 🚚 Civilians must be protected, and humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow into Gaza at scale.
• 📈 Over 11,500 people were newly displaced in Gaza between July 8-15, bringing the total since March 18th to over 737,000.
• 🌊 A ban on access to the sea for swimming and fishing is impacting displaced people who rely on it for washing due to water infrastructure issues.
• ⛽ While some benzene and diesel have been allowed in, the amounts are insufficient for life-saving services, and a ban on shelter materials needs lifting.
• 💔 The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs described conditions in Gaza as beyond vocabulary, with food running out and people dying trying to feed their families.
• 🧒 UNICEF reports an average of 28 children are killed daily in Gaza.

UNIFIL and Lebanon

• peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon continue to observe IDF activities, including air strikes and ground operations.
• 🇱🇧 UNIFIL is committed to supporting Security Council resolution 1701 and strengthening state authority in southern Lebanon.

Situation in Iraq

• 🕯️ The UN extends condolences for a tragic fire in Kut, Iraq, which claimed many lives.

Ukraine Winter Response Plan

• ❄️ The humanitarian community launched its 2025-2026 winter response plan for Ukraine, requiring nearly $278 million to support over 1.7 million people.
• 🏘️ The plan focuses on vulnerable people near the front lines, evacuations, response to attacks, and assistance in collective centers.
• 💥 Missile and drone attacks continue across Ukraine, damaging infrastructure and causing civilian casualties.

Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Sudan

• 🚨 The humanitarian situation in North Darfur state is rapidly worsening due to conflict, flooding, and collapsing services.
• 🏠 Flooding has displaced over 400 people, destroying homes, and host communities are struggling to cope.
• 🧒 Five children were reportedly killed during shelling in El Faser, and six people died in shelling at Abushuk camp.
• 📉 Food insecurity is rising sharply, with the cost of food baskets doubling compared to last year.
• 🕊️ Calls are made for an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel, and unimpeded access.

Senior Appointment

• 🌍 The Secretary-General announced the appointment of Guang Cong of China as his new Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa.