Tag: United Nations

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, briefing the Security Council, said Syria remains “by any metric one of the largest humanitarian emergencies globally,” with over 70 per cent of the population in need, 9 million people acutely food insecure, and millions displaced inside and outside the country.

He noted progress in aid delivery, highlighting “a more collaborative engagement with the authorities” that has allowed the UN to reach some communities for the first time in years. On average, nearly 3.5 million people are now receiving assistance each month, including food for 1 million, subsidized bread for 2 million, medical care for 2 million, and immunizations for 1.7 million children. UNICEF, WHO and partners are rehabilitating hospitals and water systems, while WFP and FAO support agriculture and bread production.

Yet, Fletcher warned that “we risk missing a rare opportunity for the people of Syria.” The humanitarian appeal is only 18 per cent funded, forcing cuts to hospitals, safe spaces, and essential programmes, with women and girls bearing the heaviest risks. Without more support, he cautioned, refugee returns and recovery efforts will falter, especially with winter approaching.

Highlights:

– UN80 Report
– UN@80
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Allenby Bridge
– Lebanon/Israel
– Sudan
– South Sudan
– Haiti
– Democratic Republic of The Congo
– International Days

UN80 REPORT
Yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General shared with Member States another report linked to the UN80 initiative. This one was prepared under the third workstream and is about structural reforms and programme realignments. The report outlines proposals for changes in the Organization’s structure, in the way UN entities collaborate and operate.
The UN80 process, and the proposals included in this new report, aim to strengthen how we deliver across all three pillars of our work – peace and security, sustainable development and of course, human rights.
The report was issued ahead of the High-Level Week to inform deliberations between Member States on ways to strengthen the UN system. The Secretary-General will formally present the report to Member States in October – after high-level week.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that ongoing strikes and ground operations continue to exact a heavy toll on battered and exhausted civilians. As the offensive on Gaza city intensifies, the influx of newly displaced people arriving in the south is putting even more stress on already overstretched services, as space in southern Gaza continues to shrink due to overcrowding.
OCHA reports that people are arriving deep into the night, many of them walking for long hours without food, without water and without shelter. The coastal Al Rashid Road remains extremely congested as vehicles, donkey carts, tuk-tuks and people on foot make their way south amid the escalating attacks. Despite the announcement by the Israeli authorities to allow Salah Ad Din Road to be used by people fleeing south, partners report that the road is impassable for travel by vehicles, as the route requires repairs.
Today, Israeli authorities also announced that the 48-hour window to use the road is now closed, making Al Rashid the only passage available for civilians who want to leave north.
The UN and its partners continue to respond wherever and whenever way is possible, despite extremely challenging circumstances and the ongoing insecurity. Yesterday, an interagency mission led by our OCHA colleagues carried out an assessment in multiple areas of Khan Younis where people displaced from the north have recently arrived. The assessment noted high levels of need among the displaced families, especially for shelter, for food, for water, for medical care and for every essential part of survival.
OCHA reiterates that the volumes of supplies entering Gaza remain below the threshold necessary to address people’s deepening needs. Furthermore, humanitarians require conditions on the ground to enable them to reach the most vulnerable people with assistance safely, rapidly and consistently.
The looting of supplies remains a critical obstacle preventing the UN and its partners from being able to deliver aid at scale, including by using community-based mechanisms, which have been proved successful in the past. In a statement today, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that yesterday, four trucks full of ready-to-use therapeutic food were stolen at gunpoint in Gaza city.

SUDAN
The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Denise Brown, said noted that the attack that today struck a mosque near the Abu Shouk camp in in El Fasher claimed the lives of dozens of civilians who were worshipping there, reminding us that international humanitarian law demands the protection of religious sites and those civilians who worship there.
She called for an investigation and for the perpetrators to be held to account.
This ongoing siege of El Fasher has already created a severe humanitarian crisis, cutting off food, medicine and other life-saving support. The UN reiterates its calls for an immediate cessation of fire in and around El Fasher.
Humanitarian access of personnel and supplies must be facilitated in order for us to reach those in need.
And just to note that a report issued by our human rights colleagues in Geneva today showed that the conflict-driven crisis in Sudan intensified in the first half of the year, with a significant rise in civilian killings, including summary executions, amid growing ethnic violence and a worsening humanitarian situation.
The report calls on states to use their influence to end this conflict.

Blessed with tenacity, determination and grit, Amina Mohammed has always been driven to improve the lives of her fellow human beings and our planet. Rising to the top of the United Nations, her vision has helped shape the world’s blueprint for a brighter future.

“One step at a time, this whole life is about a journey. Make each step count. It is about taking people with you. Don’t do this alone. It’s too heavy. You need people to cry with you, laugh with you.”

He warned against continued external interference, citing recent Israeli strikes, calling them “unacceptable and must stop,” and urged respect for Syria’s “sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”

On Sweida, he welcomed the 18 July ceasefire and the 16 September roadmap, which includes measures on accountability, humanitarian and commercial access, reconstruction, and reconciliation. However, he cautioned that “solutions must safeguard Syria’s unity and territorial integrity while addressing the legitimate fears of the Druze community.”

Turning to the northeast, he noted that channels remain open between the interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces, saying “this will require bold moves and genuine compromise” on military integration, security reform, and disarmament. He also urged Member States to “heighten engagement on repatriation of their nationals in Al-Hol.”

Looking ahead, he underlined the importance of an inclusive interim legislature, stressing that “transparency, women’s participation, and the representation of all communities will be essential to confer legitimacy.”

Briefing journalists today (17 Sep) Baerbock said the year’s priorities include advancing the UN80 reform agenda, strengthening the organization’s effectiveness, and guiding the selection of the next Secretary-General. She also highlighted the need to build on the Pact for the Future and “regain momentum on the SDGs.”

“Yes, we are at a crossroads – a make-or-break moment,” Baerbock said. “Our forebearers had the humility and grace to put aside their differences and work together in 1945; we need that same principled conviction today.”

She stressed that governments must back up their speeches with tangible commitments. “If we want to make our United Nations stronger, then we would need commitments from all the governments around the world,” Baerbock said, urging parliaments to consider UN funding alongside global priorities such as peace and security, climate action, human rights, and sustainable development.

Otunbayeva welcomed support from International Financial Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, but said, “IFI-funded projects must be implemented through UN agencies, and their impact has been reduced by the enforcement of bans against female national staff, and the wider ban on women working, which has created unacceptable discrimination.”