UN Press Briefing: UNRWA Demolition, Gaza Aid, Syria Conflict, Ukraine Attacks, Mozambique Floods, Sudan Violence (20 January 2026)

UNRWA Compound Demolition

• ⚠️ The UN Secretary-General condemns the demolition of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound by Israeli authorities, calling it unacceptable and a violation of international law.
• 📌 UNRWA facilities are considered United Nations premises and are inviolable, with Israel urged to cease demolition and restore the compound.
• ⚖️ The UN reiterates that Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem is unlawful, as determined by the International Court of Justice.
• 💰 The UNRWA's actions regarding staff hours, salaries, and expulsions are attributed to a lack of funding from traditional donors.

Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

• humanitarian operations in Gaza face daily impediments, affecting the speed and scale of aid delivery.
• ⛺ Over the past week, over 1,300 tents and thousands of essential supplies were distributed to families lacking adequate shelter during winter conditions.
• 🏠 Last week's storms damaged or destroyed shelters at 80 displacement sites, impacting at least 4,000 families.
• 🏥 The UN and partners supported the setup of specialized surgical and rehabilitation beds, as well as neonatal intensive care unit beds.
• 📚 Nearly 450 temporary learning spaces are operational, accommodating about 40% of children, with hygiene supplies distributed.
• 📢 Israeli military leaflets ordered the evacuation of over 400 families in eastern Khan Younis, with civilians urged to be protected and allowed to flee and return safely.

Conflicts and Crises Worldwide

• 🇸🇾 In Syria, the Secretary-General is concerned about continuing violence in the northeast, calling for respect for international law and protection of civilians, and stressing the importance of securing detention facilities.
• 🇺🇦 A new wave of attacks in Ukraine has left hundreds of thousands without electricity and heating, with the capital Kyiv heavily impacted.
• 🌊 Mozambique is facing severe flooding, impacting over half a million people, with the capital of Gaza province inundated and evacuations underway.
• ⚠️ The flooding in Mozambique exacerbates existing crises, including conflict-related displacement and vulnerability to multiple overlapping shocks.
• 🇸🇩 The High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a warning regarding horrific violence in Sudan, urging that violations must not be repeated in Kadugli, Dilling, and the wider Cordovan region.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• 🌍 UNDP announced the relocation of nearly 400 positions from its New York headquarters to Bonn, Germany, and Madrid, Spain, as part of an effort to adapt to evolving financial and development landscapes.

Press Questions and Responses

• ❓ Questions addressed the confirmation of ISIS fighter escapes, alleged Syrian army mistreatment of SDF female prisoners, and the UN's stance on the WHO after the US withdrawal.
• 💬 The UN reiterates its condemnation of all threats against the safety and dignity of prisoners of war and stresses the importance of securing detention facilities.
• 🤝 The UN encourages elections to proceed in Bangladesh with an environment that ensures safety, peace, and freedom of expression.