UNIFIL & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (8 May 2026) | United Nations

TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT/ KENYA AND ETHIOPIA

On Sunday evening, the Secretary-General will arrive in Nairobi, Kenya.

On Monday, he will hold a bilateral meeting with the President of Kenya, William Ruto, before joining him for the inauguration of new UN offices and the groundbreaking of a new conference facility at the UN Office at Nairobi.

During the ceremony, the Secretary-General will highlight the importance of the Kenyan capital as the only UN headquarters in Africa. He will add that the expansion of our campus in Nairobi also sends a clear message that the United Nations must be closer to the regions that it serves, connected to people’s realities and equipped to support solutions where they are being built.

Later on Monday, the Secretary-General will hold a press conference, a townhall meeting with our colleagues based in Kenya, and hold a number of bilateral meetings, before attending a state dinner hosted by the President of Kenya.

On Tuesday, the Secretary-General will deliver remarks during the Opening ceremony of the Africa Forward Summit. In his remarks, he is expected to renew his appeal for global reforms to ensure that Africa has the voice, representation and decision-making power it deserves.

Later in the day, Mr. Guterres will deliver remarks during a plenary session of the Africa Forward Summit focusing on peace and security on the African continent.

Both sessions can be seen live on UN WebTV.

On Tuesday evening, the Secretary-General will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the 10th African Union-United Nations Annual Conference, which is scheduled on the following day.

Discussions this year will include topics such as the impact of the latest conflict in the Middle East on the African continent and the AU theme of the year: Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems.

Following the conclusion of the AU-UN annual conference on Wednesday afternoon, the Secretary-General will have a meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the President of France.

In the evening, he will also attend a reception hosted by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations, which will include the launch of commemorative Ethiopian stamps.

The Secretary-General is expected back in New York on Thursday, 14 May.

UNIFIL

Yesterday, two humanitarian organizations successfully conducted missions to Tyre in Sector West, in Lebanon, following coordination with the UNIFIL–OCHA civil‑military coordination cell and deconfliction through the UNIFIL Liaison Branch.

UNIFIL continues to report extensive Israeli Defense Forces activity across its area of operations, including armoured movements, large‑scale engineering works, sustained logistical traffic, and significant air activity, mainly in Sector East. UNIFIL also observed drone activity in Sector West, reportedly conducted by Hizbullah.

Once again, IDF personnel temporarily blocked a UNIFIL convoy north of Al Naqoura yesterday. We underscore that UNIFIL must be able to carry out its mandate without obstruction, and that freedom of movement for peacekeepers must be fully respected at all times.

Yesterday, the IDF issued displacement orders for residents of Deir Zahrani, Bfarwe, and Habbouche, calling on civilians to evacuate at least 1,000 meters toward open areas. Since the ceasefire, such orders have doubled, now affecting at least dozens of towns and villages and forcing tens of thousands of people in southern Lebanon to flee once again. We urge all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

LEBANON

Also from Lebanon, OCHA reports that the humanitarian situation remains fragile as violence and displacement continue to affect civilians across the country.

Humanitarian needs remain severe, particularly in the health sector. Our health partners continue to support the Ministry of Public Health in maintaining essential services despite the insecurity and repeated attacks on healthcare facilities. To date, more than 58,000 health consultations have been provided, alongside medication for acute diseases.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, between Wednesday and yesterday evening, at least 12 people were killed and dozens of others were injured. We are deeply concerned by reports from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health that an ambulance team was struck by an Israeli strike in Majdal Silim, resulting in the death of one paramedic and the injury of another. Attacks affecting medical crews are particularly alarming; international humanitarian law is clear that medical personnel, facilities, and vehicles must be protected at all times.