UN Noon Briefing: Gaza Crisis, Sudan Violence, Yemen & More (August 12, 2025)

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

• ⚠️ Starvation and malnutrition are at their highest levels in Gaza since October 2023, with 227 reported deaths, including 103 children.
• 🚚 Humanitarian supplies entering Gaza remain critically low, facing significant delays and impediments from Israeli authorities.
• ⏳ Coordination for humanitarian missions often takes hours due to unpredictable clearances, wasting precious time.
• 🏠 In the West Bank, a Palestinian Bedouin community was displaced due to violence by Israeli forces and settlers, with many residents lacking alternative shelter.

Escalating Violence in Sudan

• 🚨 The UN is alarmed by a large-scale attack on El Fasher, North Darfur, attributed to Rapid Support Forces, resulting in at least 40 civilian deaths and 19 injured in Abu Shouk displacement camp.
• 🚫 Exit routes from El Fasher are reportedly blocked, trapping civilians and cutting them off from safety and aid.
• ✈️ Over 3,000 people fled Kadugli town in South Kordofan due to intensified insecurity, with limited humanitarian access and worsening economic conditions.
• ⚖️ All parties to the conflict are reminded of their obligations under international humanitarian law, including protecting civilians and facilitating unimpeded humanitarian access.

Updates from Yemen and Myanmar

• 🕊️ The UN Special Envoy for Yemen called for the unconditional release of 23 detained UN colleagues and reiterated focus on de-escalation and peace talks.
• 💔 More than 17 million people in Yemen, nearly half the population, are acutely hungry, with over 2 million children suffering from malnutrition.
• 🆘 The Yemen Humanitarian Fund will release $20 million to address food insecurity.
• 📈 In Rakhine State, Myanmar, conflict, blockades, and funding cuts are driving a dramatic rise in hunger and malnutrition, with 57% of families unable to meet basic needs.

UN General Assembly and Youth Engagement

• 🗓️ Accreditation for the UN General Assembly High-Level Week 2025 closes at the end of August.
• 🌐 A new webpage for High-Level Week 2025 is live at un.org/english/leweek2025.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The Secretary-General appointed the third cohort of the Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, expanding it to 14 members to enhance youth engagement.

Other Topics and Press Inquiries

• 🗣️ The Secretary-General's spokesperson addressed accusations regarding sexual violence by Israeli forces, referencing a letter sent to the Israeli UN ambassador.
• 📊 The UN trusts the figures issued by the Gaza Ministry of Health regarding malnutrition and starvation.
• 🇺🇦 The UN welcomes dialogue between member states regarding Ukraine and reiterates calls for an immediate ceasefire, upholding Ukraine's sovereignty.
• 🤝 A dialogue regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza was held, attended by UN entities and other partners at the invitation of the US mission.