UN Noon Briefing: Ethiopia AU Summit, Sudan Conflict, DRC, Gaza & Ukraine Humanitarian Aid

Secretary-General's Upcoming Trip

• 🌍 The Secretary-General will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit.
• 🤝 He will hold bilateral meetings with the AU Commission Chairperson, Ethiopian authorities, and continental leaders.
• 🇮🇹 On Friday, he will attend the Second Italy-Africa summit, held on the sidelines of the AU Summit.
• 🗣️ On Saturday, he will address the opening session, highlighting the AU as a flagship for multilateralism and reflecting on the UN-AU partnership.
• 📢 A press conference is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. local time in Addis.

Conflict and Humanitarian Crises

• 🇨🇦 The UN Secretary-General expressed sadness over a tragic shooting in Tumble Ridge, British Columbia, extending condolences to those affected and the people of Canada.
• 🇸🇩 The Quintet (AU, IGAD, LAS, EU, UN) expressed grave concern over the escalating conflict in Sudan, calling for an immediate halt to military escalation and the flow of weapons.
• 🕊️ As Ramadan approaches, the Quintet urged support for efforts to secure a humanitarian truce and reaffirmed commitment to a Sudanese-led political dialogue.
• ⚠️ In Sudan, escalating attacks, including aerial strikes, continue to place civilians at grave risk, with recent incidents hitting a mosque, a primary school, and a World Food Program warehouse.
• 🚚 A multi-agency UN convoy delivered nearly 800 metric tons of food and essential supplies to Kadugi, South Kordofan, a significant breakthrough on a previously closed route.
• 💔 The International Organization for Migration reports over 115,000 displaced individuals in the Kordofan region since October, depleting limited aid stocks.
• 🇨🇩 In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the head of UN Peace Operations concluded his visit, discussing the UN peacekeeping mission's mandate and support for peace processes, including a permanent ceasefire.
• 🦠 The DRC faces its worst cholera outbreak in 25 years, with over 1,300 suspected cases and 35 deaths reported this year, despite increased response efforts and funding allocations.
• 🇺🇦 A humanitarian convoy reached frontline communities in Dnipro region, Ukraine, delivering critical medical and hygiene supplies. Hostilities continue to cause civilian casualties and damage infrastructure.

Gaza and International Relations

• 🏥 In Gaza, the UN supported medical evacuations and received returnees at a reception center. Efforts continue to facilitate voluntary and safe movement in and out of Gaza, especially for medical needs.
• 📚 Additional stationery and educational materials were taken into Gaza, with partners establishing new learning spaces for over 5,500 schoolchildren.
• 🇮🇷 Regarding a congratulatory letter sent to Iran on its national holiday, the UN clarified it is a standard, decades-long tradition for all member states and not an endorsement of government policies. The Secretary-General's concerns about human rights violations in Iran remain.
• ⚖️ The UN stated that the decision for the Iranian foreign minister to address the Human Rights Council is up to the council itself, not the Secretary-General's authority.
• 🇮🇱 The UN reiterated its desire for more people to move freely in and out of Gaza and for cargo movement to be enabled through Rafah to increase humanitarian supplies.
• 📰 The UN believes international journalists should be allowed to work in Gaza, as they should be allowed to do their work anywhere in the world.

UN Operations and Finances

• 🏦 The UN is pushing for amendments to the UN Charter regarding budget and returning savings, but this will not happen for the current budget cycle due to existing financial rules imposed by member states.
• 🇵🇸 The UN is aware of reports of protests by Palestinian citizens of Israel against organized crime and violence, emphasizing the right to peaceful demonstration.
• ❓ Regarding a former UN staff member mentioned in Epstein files, the UN clarified he was a diplomat seconded to the UN who resigned in 2013 while under a disciplinary process, and that the UN does not monitor staff emails.
• 👩‍🔬 Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, with the UN reaffirming the importance of equality in science for humanity's progress and urging investment in women in STEM fields.