UN Noon Briefing: Peacekeepers Day, Gaza Aid, Sudan Cholera, and DRC Violence

International Day of UN Peacekeepers

• 🕊️ Today marks International Day of UN Peacekeepers, honoring those who serve in challenging contexts to protect and restore hope.
• 🎗️ The Secretary-General will lay a wreath to commemorate over 4,400 peacekeepers lost in the line of duty since 1948.
• 🏆 Awards will be presented to the Military Gender Advocate of the Year and the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year, both serving in Abyei.

Deputy Secretary-General's Glacier Preservation Conference

• 🏔️ Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed is in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, attending a conference on Glacier Preservation.
• 💧 She highlighted the critical role of glaciers in safeguarding water sources and commended international efforts, emphasizing the "Early Warnings for All" initiative for climate resilience.
• 🤝 Meetings were held with Tajikistan's President and Foreign Minister, acknowledging progress on SDGs and the country's leadership in climate and water agendas.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

• ⚠️ A UN Humanitarian Country Team statement warns that a new militarized distribution system in Gaza is inadequate and risky, contrary to humanitarian principles.
• 📉 Israeli authorities are accused of undermining the UN's capacity to deliver aid, despite ongoing efforts by teams on the ground.
• 🏥 Air strikes and attacks continue, with reports of significant civilian casualties. Alawa Hospital, the last partially functioning hospital in North Gaza, faces evacuation orders amidst intense insecurity.
• 🚚 Efforts to deliver aid are hampered, with many approved trucks offloaded but not distributed due to security constraints, leading to desperation and looting of warehouses.

Conflict and Humanitarian Needs in Sudan

• 🦠 Cholera vaccinations have begun in Khartoum, Sudan, with WHO providing essential supplies amid a surge in cases, particularly threatening children.
• 💧 Damaged water infrastructure and lack of safe water are contributing factors to the outbreak.
• 🏘️ Conflict continues to drive displacement, with thousands fleeing camps and urgently needing assistance, highlighting the growing humanitarian needs.

Peacekeeping and Gender-Based Violence in DRC

• 🛡️ UN Peacekeepers supported the Congolese army in a joint operation in Ituri province to stabilize an area and protect civilians following clashes.
• 🤝 Community reinsertion projects have been launched for over a thousand former combatants, offering income-generating activities and psychosocial support.
• 📈 Sexual violence is on the rise in eastern DRC, with a significant increase in reported cases, exacerbated by insecurity and aid cuts hindering response efforts.

Other Briefings

• 🇺🇦 The Security Council will meet to discuss Ukraine, with Under Secretary-General Rosemary D. Carlo briefing.
• 🌍 The Secretary-General congratulated the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on its 50th anniversary, recognizing its vital role in regional peace and stability.
• 🚫 The UN reiterates its consistent stance against Israeli settlement expansion in occupied Palestinian territories, deeming it illegal and an obstacle to a two-state solution.