UN Noon Briefing: Gaza Crisis, Syria Displacement, Food Systems Summit, and Ukraine

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

• 🌍 The UN Secretary-General addressed Amnesty International, highlighting the scale and scope of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as unprecedented.
• 💔 He spoke about the indifference and inaction from the international community and the severe toll on UN staff.
• 🚨 The UN is prepared to scale up humanitarian operations with a ceasefire, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, release of hostages, unimpeded access, and steps toward a two-state solution.
• ⚠️ Conditions in Gaza are worsening, with hunger and malnutrition increasing risks of illness and death, especially for vulnerable groups.
• 🚚 The UN has a plan to stop the horror and resolve constraints on humanitarian operations, but safe, sustained access is missing, with critical items routinely blocked.
• ⛽ Insufficient fuel entering Gaza hampers critical facilities, with limited fuel allocated to community kitchens, healthcare, and water/sanitation.

Deputy Secretary-General's Travel and Food Systems Summit

• ✈️ Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed is attending the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa to accelerate food systems transformation and SDG progress.
• 🤝 She will meet with stakeholders to discuss priority actions and later chair a retreat with UN Resident Coordinators in Amman, Jordan, focusing on sustainable development.

Situation in Syria and Lebanon

• 🏘️ Recent hostilities in Syria's Sweida Governorate have displaced an estimated 176,000 people.
• 💥 A large explosion at an ammunition depot in Idlib, Syria, killed six and injured 140, hindering emergency response.
• 💸 Syria's humanitarian appeal requires $3.2 billion, but only $367 million has been received, representing less than 12% of funding needed.
• 🛡️ UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon continue to observe military activities and have found unauthorized mortar shells and detonators.

Global Issues and Conflicts

• 🇨🇳 The Secretary-General welcomed the China-EU commitment to strengthen cooperation on climate change and drive a just transition.
• 🇺🇦 The Security Council was briefed on Ukraine, noting the intensifying Russian missile and drone barrages and expressing concern over civilian casualties from Ukrainian drone attacks.
• 🤝 The UN welcomes direct contacts between Ukraine and Russia and urges progress towards a ceasefire and lasting settlement.
• 🇨🇩 The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces a worsening cholera outbreak, with over 38,000 suspected cases and nearly 950 deaths since January, surpassing last year's total.

International Days and UN Updates

• 📅 Today is the International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent, International Day on Judicial Well-being, and World Drowning Prevention Day.
• 🕊️ Mariam Bukar of Nigeria was designated a UN Global Advocate for Peace.
• 📊 The FAO Chief Economist will brief on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report on Monday.
• 🇱🇧 Lebanon has become the 117th member state to pay its regular budget in full.