UN Press Briefing: South Sudan Crisis, Southeast Asia Earthquake, and Global Conflicts

South Sudan: Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

• ⚠️ The Secretary-General urged South Sudanese leaders to end confrontation, release detainees, and restore the unity government, warning that three out of four people need assistance, totaling 9.3 million.
• peacekeeping chief Nicholas Haysom met with President Salva Kiir, reiterating concerns about the country risking widespread conflict and offering UN support for de-escalation.
• humanitarian crisis is fueled by violence, food insecurity, political instability, climate shocks, disease outbreaks, and spillover from Sudan, with 120,000 displaced and severe malnutrition affecting 650,000 children.
• 💰 A cholera outbreak has resulted in over 42,000 cases and nearly 800 deaths, while the UN has received only 10% of the $1.7 billion needed for humanitarian aid.

Southeast Asia Earthquake Response

• 💔 The UN expressed condolences for a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Southeast Asia, with the epicenter in Myanmar, which has requested international assistance.
• ⚡ The UN Central Emergency Response Fund allocated $5 million to support life-saving assistance and recovery operations.
• 🌍 The earthquake exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar, where nearly 20 million people need assistance, including over 3.5 million displaced individuals.

Conflict and Displacement in DRC and Gaza

• 🏘️ In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ongoing clashes in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri have displaced thousands, with relief efforts hampered by insecurity and logistical constraints.
• 🏥 In Gaza, intensified hostilities continue, with civilians killed and injured, and critical infrastructure damaged. Efforts to extract casualties and recover ambulances are ongoing.
• 🚫 Humanitarian access in Gaza remains severely restricted, with Israeli authorities denying attempts to reach crossings and coordinate movements, leading to a shrinking space for survival.

Lebanon Border Tensions and International Day of Zero Waste

• 🚀 The UN is seriously concerned about the escalation across the Blue Line, including rockets fired from Southern Lebanon and Israeli airstrikes in Southern Beirut, urging maximum restraint.
• 🕊️ Special Coordinator Janine Hennis-Plasschaert is working to de-escalate the situation, aiming to prevent further incidents that endanger civilians.
• ♻️ On the International Day of Zero Waste, the Secretary-General called for a sustainable approach to textile production, urging consumers, governments, and businesses to embrace resource efficiency and reduce waste.

Personnel Appointment and Other Updates

• 🇺🇳 James Swan of the United States has been appointed as the UN Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia.
• 🇨🇫 Nearly 20,000 Central African refugees voluntarily returned to their homelands in the past year, marking a significant step towards peace and development.
• 🇵🇸 In the West Bank, ongoing Israeli operations continue to drive displacement and humanitarian needs, impacting mental health and forcing schools to switch to remote learning.