UN Press Briefing: South Sudan Crisis, Gaza Humanitarian Aid, AI Governance & More (20 Feb 2026)

UN Secretary-General's Travel and AI Governance

• 💡 The Secretary-General is in India, participating in an AI impact summit focused on the role of science in international AI governance.
• 🧠 He emphasized that AI innovation is outpacing our ability to govern it, stressing the need for evidence-based policy and shared trust.
• 🤝 The UN is developing an architecture to place science at the center of international AI cooperation.
• ⚡ Discussions also covered renewable energy and energy transition, aiming to accelerate deployment, strengthen grids, and mobilize investment.
• 🗓️ Upcoming travel includes remarks at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council and the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

Humanitarian Crises: South Sudan and Gaza

• 🌍 Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, is assessing the acute humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, focusing on Malakal and Jonglei states.
• ⚠️ He will advocate for civilian protection, humanitarian worker safety, and support for the response, while addressing the root causes of the crisis.
• 🏠 In Gaza, families face severe risks in overcrowded shelters, with at least 12 fires recorded since November 2025.
• 🆘 Humanitarian partners are providing shelter assistance and raising fire safety awareness, reiterating the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
• 🚚 Humanitarian movements in Gaza require coordination with Israeli authorities, with a mixed record of approvals and denials.

West Bank Violence and Lebanon Peacekeeping

• ⚖️ OCHA warns of continued violence and coercive practices by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank, leading to casualties and displacement.
• 💔 The report details significant displacement due to settler attacks and access restrictions, including the condemnation of the killing of a dual Palestinian American citizen.
• 🕊️ Peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have found unexploded ordnance, and the mission continues to report Israeli Defense Forces activities and firings across the Blue Line.
• ⚠️ Intimidation and aggression towards peacekeepers are ongoing, with a call for adherence to Security Council resolution 1701.

Somalia, DRC, and Ukraine

• 📉 The World Food Programme faces an imminent risk of halting life-saving assistance in Somalia due to a severe funding shortfall, impacting 4.4 million food-insecure people.
• 💔 In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, continued clashes have displaced at least 15,000 people, with deep concern over protection of civilians and humanitarian access.
• 🇺🇦 In Ukraine, four years into the invasion, women are disproportionately affected by job losses in sectors hit by power cuts, and healthcare facilities face severe and widespread attacks.

Trafficking and International Days

• 🚨 A UN report details brutal and widespread trafficking of children by Haitian gangs, involving exploitation from drug running to sexual violence.
• 🌐 Another report graphically details the experiences of people trafficked into scam operations, facing torture, abuse, and forced criminality.
• ⚖️ Today is the World Day of Social Justice, promoting fairness, equity, and inclusion.
• 🗣️ Tomorrow is the International Day of Mother Language, with a theme focusing on youth voices in multilingual education.

Financial Contributions and Diplomatic Engagements

• 🇲🇹 Malta and Mauritius have made contributions to the UN's regular budget, bringing the total to 71 countries.
• 🇮🇷 Iran has requested UN action regarding heightened rhetoric and military activities in the region, with the UN urging diplomacy between the US and Iran.
• 🇺🇸 The UN received $160 million from the United States for its dues, and a call between the Secretary-General and President Trump is anticipated.
• 🤖 Regarding AI regulation, the Secretary-General advocates for science and fairness to be central, ensuring all nations have a voice, not just a few countries or billionaires.