Cyprus, Syria & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (17 July 25) | United Nations

Highlights:
– Informal Meeting on Cyprus
– Syria
– Security Council / Syria
– Gaza
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Security Council / OPT
– U.N.I.F.I.L.
– Iraq
– Ukraine
– Sudan
– Senior Appointment

INFORMAL MEETING ON CYPRUS
As you know, the Secretary-General is convening here at the UN Headquarters the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders as well as representatives of the guarantor powers of Greece, Türkiye and the United Kingdom for an informal meeting on Cyprus.
This morning, the Secretary-General held bilateral meetings with the heads of delegations. There is a plenary meeting taking place now, and this will be followed by a working lunch. The concluding session will take place this afternoon. 

SYRIA
I have an update for you on Syria, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that as of today, nearly 2,000 families have been displaced from areas impacted by violence in Sweida governorate, that’s according to one of our local partners. These families are currently sheltering in a dozen collective sites. Many are unable to return home due to damage, looting or destruction of their residences.
The health system in Sweida remains critically strained. Hospitals in neighbouring Dar’a governorate are also overwhelmed. These facilities are operating without power and facing severe supply shortages, with some patients transferred to Damascus. Reports indicate that at least two doctors in Sweida were killed during the recent clashes, and some health facilities have been used by armed groups, endangering patients and staff.
We and our partners are mobilizing to deliver humanitarian assistance and assess needs as security allows, and engaging with interim authorities to facilitate access.
The World Health Organization has dispatched 35 trauma and emergency surgery kits – enough for 1,750 interventions – but many remain undelivered due to access constraints. The interim health ministry has also mobilized medical supplies to be sent to the area.
We urge all parties to protect people caught up in the violence, including by allowing them to move freely to seek safety and medical assistance. Security forces must respect applicable international law, norms and standards throughout their operations.

SECURITY COUNCIL/SYRIA
And this afternoon, the Security Council will meet on Syria. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, will brief the Council members.

GAZA
The Secretary-General strongly condemns today’s reports of an Israeli strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, a place of worship and a sanctuary for civilians. Attacks on places of worship are unacceptable. People seeking shelter must be respected and protected, not hit by strikes.
Too many lives have already been lost. There is an urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
The Secretary-General calls on all parties to ensure that civilians are respected and protected at all times and allow humanitarian aid to flow into the Strip at scale.