UN Noon Briefing: Sudan Crisis, Hurricane Melissa, Gaza Aid & More

Humanitarian Crises: Sudan and Gaza

• ⚠️ The UN expresses grave concern over military escalation in El Fasher, Sudan, documenting approximately 1,850 civilian deaths in North Darfur, with an estimated 1,350 in El Fasher.
• humanitarian partners urge international action to protect civilians and ensure safe passage and humanitarian access in Sudan, while also calling for scaled-up funding.
• 💧 In Gaza, humanitarian response continues with expanded water distribution in northern Gaza and efforts to prepare for the rainy season, including cleaning storm water drainage systems.
• 🚚 Israeli authorities rerouted humanitarian and commercial truck movements to Kareem Shalom crossing, causing delays and congestion in aid cargo movements, prompting agencies to temporarily reduce convoy sizes.

Hurricane Melissa Preparedness and Response

• 🌀 The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is coordinating a sea-lift operation from Barbados with supplies from WFP, IOM, and UNICEF ahead of Hurricane Melissa.
• ✈️ An airlift of approximately 2,000 relief kits is planned once airports reopen and weather conditions permit flights.
• 🏠 In Cuba, authorities plan to evacuate about half a million people, while in Haiti, authorities have placed departments on red and orange alerts, with over 3,600 people sheltering in emergency sites.
• 🥫 WFP has pre-positioned over 800 metric tons of food in Haiti to assist 86,000 people for two weeks.

Updates on Other Global Issues

• 🇨🇲 The Secretary-General is concerned by post-election violence in Cameroon and calls for an investigation into incidents, urging all stakeholders to exercise restraint.
• 📈 A UN Framework Convention on Climate Change report indicates global emissions could fall by 10% by 2035, but stresses that major acceleration is needed to keep the 1.5-degree limit within reach.
• 🕊️ A new report highlights progress in advancing women's participation in peace and political processes, noting an increase in women serving as peacekeepers.

UN Operations and Security Concerns

• 🚨 The UN is concerned by increased kinetic activity in international waters and calls for accountability when individuals are killed.
• ⚖️ The UN believes sanctions against UN officials are not in line with the Vienna Convention.
• 📉 The UN faces unprecedented financial hardship, leading to proposed reductions in operating costs, including potential elimination of vacant posts and reduced overtime, to avoid job losses.
• 🗣️ The UN stresses the importance of respecting human beings and the remains of human beings, calling on parties to abide by ceasefire commitments.