Ukraine, Ebola, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

All right.
Good afternoon.
Yeah, good afternoon.
Just want to remind you in case you are trying to escape a little early that at 6:30 P.M.
This evening, on the eve of a three day weekend, there will be a press briefing in this room.
All joking aside, it's an important briefing.
There will be a joint briefing by Ambassador Do Hong Viet, the permanent representative of Vietnam but here in his capacity as the president of the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty of the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, known as the NPT.
He will be joined by our colleague Yizumi Nakamitsu who is the High Representative for Disarmament affairs here at the UN.
Also, just as a reminder, the UN will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day.
You can come in, but we will not be here.
We will resume with a briefing on Tuesday and also note that the UN is closed again on Wednesday for one of the ED holidays.
But anyway, Tuesday is a full day.
There's a big Security Council meeting under the Chinese presidency and I know a number of foreign ministers will be here and the Secretary-General will be speaking at the Security Council on Tuesday.
Also, this afternoon, there will be a Security Council meeting on Ukraine at the request of the Russian Federation.
On our side are Amosoru, the Director of Crisis Response Division, together with the Special Representative for Children armed conflict, Vanessa Frazier, who you heard from yesterday.
They will be briefing and this morning, the Security Council, as you know, heard a briefing on Libya with a briefing with the deputy prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, who briefed via video.
Our Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed participated today in the closing ceremony of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum that is taking place in Baku in Azerbijan.
During her remarks, she stressed that the next decade of the new Urban agenda demands greater ambition, increased climate resilience, and faster execution.
Miss Mohammed also joined a discussion entitled The Women's Roundtable on Adequate housing for Gender Equality and empowerment of women.
In her remarks, she underscored the need to place women and girls at the heart of housing and urban development and to ensure that this is reflected in discussions and outcomes across the World Urban Forum.
Later in the day, she visited Azerbijan's Azan Kidmat, a network of one stop citizen friendly hubs that bring multiple government services together under one roof.
The concept has received international recognition and serves as an inspiring model for other nations.
This evening, she will be traveling to the United Arab Emirates, as we had mentioned to you, to meet with senior officials from the UAE and she'll be back here on Monday.
Turning to Ebola today, Tom Fletcher, our emergency relief coordinator has allocated up to $60 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to accelerate the response of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the wider region.
At a first tranche of $10 million was just released for activities in the DRC.
The humanitarian community is fully mobilized, he said, with the World Health Organization leading the response from the UN side.
Mr.
Fletcher said, we're applying lessons from previous outbreaks.
Containment depends on fast coordinated action across the community at the community level.
More staff from key UN agencies and partners are being deployed this weekend to reinforce our efforts on the ground.
The Ebola outbreak is happening in some of the most difficult operating environments for humanitarians across the world.
We are working to secure safe, sustained access for frontline responders, including in areas that are controlled by armed groups and not by the government.
It is essential that there be no obstruction whatsoever to our humanitarian work.
Community trust is essential.
We will continue delivering wider humanitarian support for people affected, engage closely with them and understand their needs and preposition supplies where possible, Mr.
Fletcher said.
Meanwhile, in Geneva this morning, doctor Tedros, the Director General of the World Health Organization, said, we're now revising the outbreaks risk assessment to very high at the national level, high at the regional level, but remaining low at the global level.
On the ground, he said WHO is supporting national authorities with every pillar of the response, including contract tracing, establishing treatment risk centers, risk communications, and community engagements, and more.
WHO is also working with its partners to review the pipeline of vaccines, therapeutic drugs, and diagnostics material.
The eastern part of the country, our friends at the World Food Program today said they are continuing to scale up their emergency response.
As you know, WFP manages our Air Force, so to speak, the Humanitarian Air Force, the US Humanitarian Air Service.
They have already helped to transport hundreds of first responders and humanitarians, as well as dozens of metric tons of medical cargo to frontline areas.
In Bunia Nitori, which is the central logistics hub, more than 46 metric tons of cargo received to date and essential supplies were dispatched to at least 14 locations to support our Ebola response efforts.
WFP says additional operations are vital assistance to the most vulnerable in the outbreak zones are ramping up as quickly as possible.
This includes more aircraft to reach remote and restricted areas, new flights between Kinshasa and Bunya, extra trucks in storage such as mobile storage units to handle rising volumes of critical equipment and aid, restoration of access to priority areas such Mogubalu helipad repairs will enable vital air operations to resume very soon.
The World Food Program is also scaling up emergency food and nutrition assistance for over 146,000 people in the Ituri province and communities there that have been affected by the Ebola outbreak.
This includes assistance for patients, affected households, and vulnerable groups.
This assistance is also designed to ensure families are able to comply with health measures without losing access to food in an area where there is already high levels of food insecurity.
Containing Ebola requires more than treatment alone.
WFP says it requires food, it requires access, it requires transport, and it requires logistics, so frontline teams can move fast and affected families can safely follow public health measures.
Also, just on a regionally related note, I wanted to say that it is with deep sadness that we learn of the passing of Major General Ottavio Rodriguez de Miranda Fillo, the former force commander of the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He was the commander in 2023 and 2024.
He was a highly respected officer in the Brazilian armed forces.
During his tenure with Monusco, he remained firmly committed to the protection of civilians and to supporting the stabilization efforts in the country.
At this difficult time, we extend our sincere condolences to his families and to his comrade in arms as well as to the people and authorities in Brazil.
Moving to Lebanon, our OCHA colleagues report that hostilities continue to exact a heavy toll on civilians, including frontline responders across the country.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health says yesterday strikes in the vicinity of Tb government hospital in southern Lebanon injured nine people, including seven staff members of that hospital.
The strike damaged the emergency room, it damaged the intensive care unit, the chemotherapy department, and ambulances that were parked outside.
This is at least the third time that this facility, the only operating trauma center in the area has been damaged as a result of hostilities.
A total of 171 attacks on health care have been recorded by WHO since March, second, resulting in 120 deaths among on duty health workers, including 22 since the cease fire agreement was agreed to.
The humanitarian community for its part continues to provide assistance in the face of insecurity and operational constraints.
Since March 2nd, our partners have distributed more than 10 million hot and cold meals, as well as 140,000 thermal blankets and more than 138,000 clothing kits across Lebanon.
Also in the South, our UIL colleagues are reporting At least reported 211 firing incidents attributed to the Israeli defense forces and 30 trajectory of projectiles attributed to Hezbollah, along with five observed projectile interceptions across area of operations.
UNIFIL also observed extensive IDF and indirect fire activity across its area of operations, including high density armor movements, large scale demolition engineering works, and sustained logistical traffic and persistent artillery shelling mortifier and rocket impact.
Also this morning, a presumed Hezbollah drone detonated within meters of Unifil's own headquarters in Nkua.
All personnel, thank God are reportedly safe, though they had to relocate to bunkers.
Yesterday, the IDF obstructed a street near Unifil's perimeter wall in Nacora with iron barricades for approximately 3 hours before removing them and clearing the road for passage.
As we have said, almost every single day, the freedom of movement of peacekeepers must be fully respected so that UNIFIL can carry out its mandate given to it by the Security Council of the United Nations.
Yesterday, UNIFIL peacekeepers observed significant air activity, including multiple airstrikes in the vicinity of Al Mansouri, as well as heavy machine gun fire from helicopters and activities in various areas in Sector East.
Despite all of this, our joint UNIFIL OSHA civil military coordination cell facilitated four humanitarian missions to assist affected populations in the entire area in southern Lebanon.
Moving south to the occupied Palestinian territory, our colleagues at OCHA say that aid workers' ability to support people in Gaza continues to be hindered.
As an example, only half of the aid trucks coming from Egypt can be offloaded at the Karim Shalom Karim Abu Salam crossing, which is controlled by the Israeli authorities.
This is based on data recorded by our logistics partner for the first 18 days of May.
It does not cover bilateral donations or commercial imports.
When trucks are sent back to their point of origin, fewer supplies go in.
And time and money is wasted and lost.
On food production, our FAO colleagues shared some relatively good news for once in Gaza and that the number of small livestock in Gaza has increased for the first time since October of 2023.
Since November of 2025, the number of sheep increased by 33%.
The number of goats by 8%.
While the numbers are still far below previous levels, the latest increase reflects the positive impact of the emergency aid that has been delivered to herders in Gaza by our friends of the Food and Agriculture Organization and their partners.
Humanitarians have been providing animal feed, vet kits, and cash support to help Palestinians restore and increase local food production.
But for a full recovery of the agricultural sector, Israeli authorities need to approve the entry of further inputs and equipment by both the humanitarian and the private sector.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank in the week ending this past Monday, OCHA documented more than 50 Israeli settler attacks that resulted in casualties or property damage.
These included arson attacks that damaged mosques, homes, farmlands, and vehicles belonging to Palestinians.
OCHA reports that one of these attacks led to the displacement of 22 Palestinian families, which is about 140 people from the village of Agila, near Ramallah.
These families had already been displaced due to settler violence in 2023.
Since the beginning of this year, there have been average six Israeli settler attacks per day, resulting in casualties or property damage.
Our humanitarian partners are assisting those displaced or otherwise affected through shelter, support, psychosocial services, and other essential assistance.
Turning to Bangladesh, our OCHA colleagues at the country is grappling with a widespread measles outbreak.
Since March of this year, more than 8,000 cases have been confirmed across 64 districts with over 57,000 suspected cases.
Children under the age of five account for 80% of these cases.
The government with support from our humanitarian partners has vaccinated more than 18.3 million children through nationwide measles Rubella campaign, but transmission remains high across the country in camps of refugees in Cox’s Bazar in Bassan Char, where some 1.1 million Rohingyas have made it homes is already difficult conditions, nearly 600 suspected cases and five deaths have already reported.
Our partners continue to support the response by deploying frontline health workers, setting up temporary triage and isolation facilities, running awareness campaigns and delivering critical medical supplies and equipment.
We urgently need additional funding to support the humanitarian response.
In 2026, the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis Joint Response Plan for $711 million to reach 1.6 million people is only 38% funded, leaving a gap of 440 million.
And turning to Afghanistan, our colleague, Vktirk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights today warned against the continued trend of involuntary returns of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers from host countries back to Afghanistan, which involuntary returns, excuse me, are in violation of international human rights and refugee law.
According to UNHCR since the beginning of the year, almost 270,000 Afghan men, women, and children have been deported to Afghanistan, mainly from Iran and Pakistan.
Women and girls, individuals affiliated with the former government, security forces, media workers, civil societies, members of the LGBTQI plus community are among those who remain at grave risk of reprisals and human rights violations and abuses.
Mr.
Turk urges states to abide by their international legal obligations, and he also expressed alarm and mounting reports that some countries in Europe are now either resuming or considering deportations of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers.
Turning to Nigeria, our country team there is warning that the country is facing a deepening hunger crisis with millions at risk as the lean season approaches, nearly one in seven people, that's 35 million people nationwide in Nigeria, are likely to face acute food insecurity during this year's lean season, which runs from June to August.
This makes Nigeria one of the world's largest hunger crises with the burden falling overwhelmingly in the northern part of that country.
If assistance is further delayed, millions of families will be forced into further reduce meals, sell assets, or withdraw their children from school with the long term impact that we know that has.
Across Northwest and Northeast Niger, an estimated 6.46 0.4 million children are likely to be acutely malnourished this year.
We and our partners are appealing for urgent funding to scale up assistance.
The already hyper prioritized $516 million humanitarian needs and response plan is just over 40% funded with $250 million received.
Moving to this hemisphere and Cuba, just a quick update from our World Food Program colleagues who are closely monitoring the humanitarian situation in the country, which we are extremely concerned about, as we've said repeatedly.
As you know, Cubans receive basic commodities through a state owned rationing system currently in a context where close to 80% of the island's foods is imported.
Shortages and distribution delays are continuing as Cuban households rely more on high priced dollar index markets to access food has become increasingly unequal with those not receiving remittances being hit the hardest.
To address critical gaps, WFP is now delivering assistance to 900,000 people across Cuba.
The agency is also resuming distribution in the eastern part of the country, enabled by 15,000 liters of fuel sourced locally this week through the private sector.
As we're about to enter the hurricane season, repositioning of food and other supplies at risk, our major shipping lines have temporarily suspended services to Cuba to ensure regulatory compliance under the US sanctions framework.
WFP continues to work closely with national authorities to safeguard the most vulnerable even as fuel shortages and constrained land transportation hinders the movement and distribution of food.
The agency is also providing dedicated logistical support to the broader UN community in Cuba.
In Colombia, our OCHA colleagues warned that the humanitarian situation is worsening as non state armed groups fight for territorial control with civilians caught in the middle.
Between January and May of this year, more than 653,000 people were affected by conflict and violence across the country.
Indigenous and Afro Colombian communities in remote areas controlled by armed groups in the southwestern regions of the country have been hit the hardest children as they often do bear the brunt of the violence.
OCHA is alarmed by the sharp increase of the use of armed drones and other explosive devices which are increasing the danger to civilians and violence is restricting people's movements, cutting off their access to basic services, making it harder for humanitarian to actually do their work and reach remote communities.
Despite these challenges, we and our partners have reached more than 200,000 people across 129 municipalities the first five months of this year.
More than 94,000 people received food assistance, while over 37,000 people were supported with clean water and hygiene services.
As the need rise, OH urges donors to contribute to the $287 million humanitarian needs and response plan, which aims to reach 1.2 million people.
Also, I wanted to mention on Ukraine that we are following with concern the reports of the overnight attack on a college building and dormitory in the town of Stobsk in the Luchansk region of Ukraine, which as you know, is under temporary occupation by the Russian Federation, resulting in multiple deaths and persons injured, including children.
We strongly condemn any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure wherever they may occur.
As the Secretary-General has reportedly underscored such attacks are prohibited under international humanitarian law and must end immediately.
We urge all concerned to refrain from any action that would further escalate an already dangerous situation.
Today is the day for biological diversity, but climate chaos, pollution, and relentless exploitation of land, oceans and freshwater ecosystems are pushing for excuse me, the natural world towards breakdown.
This year's theme, acting locally for global impact highlights the critical role of communities in protecting nature.
In his message, the Secretary-General underscores that indigenous peoples and local communities, women and young people, academia, business, cities and regions all have a vital role to play to protect and safeguard and restore our biodiversity.
Tomorrow is the International Day to end obstetric fistula, which is, as you well know, one of the most serious and tragic childbirth injuries.
Ending fistula means ensuring every woman has access to quality, maternal health, and to dignity.
We don't have money, but I have a mini quiz for you today.
Sunday is the International Day of the marcore.
Does anyone know what the marque core is? No Googling.
I'll give you a hint.
It is an iconic and ecologically significant species found across the mountain regions of Central and South Asia.
What kind of animal is it? It's a screw horn goat.
It's a beautiful animal.
Finally, Monday is what, as we approach the start of a big global event.
World Football Day Day.
Exact.
Who said that? I did.
Evelyn, good for you.
World football Day, few things transcend borders, languages and politics quite like football.
It remains the world's most universal language spoken fluently, enjoy last minute goals, and all too often heartbreaking.
Ed, speaking of heartbreaks.
Thank you, Steph.
Um, two questions.
First, does the Secretary-General have any reaction to reports from people from different countries who were on the flotilla that was stopped and detained by the Israelis about physical and sexual abuse against them? Yes, we're very concerned by these reports, first of all, from people who had been detained, but, you know, One only has to look at the video posted by an Israeli minister, which shows the humiliating treatment of the people who were detained by the flotilla.
For those who have not been released, they all need to be released and sent home and people who were responsible for that treatment should be held to account.
And secondly, on Cuba, is the United Nations still trying to help get oil, gas refined products into the country? I mean, we're continuing to do whatever we can to alleviate the situation which is becoming more and more difficult for the Cuban people every day.
Sinan and then Islam.
Thank you, Sh.
A Turkish court has removed the leader of the main opposition party from his position.
Does the Secretary-General have any reaction to this decision and does the UN see this as a threat to democracy and the rule of law in Turkey? I haven't seen that particular report, but I will look into it and give you a comment.
Islam Turkey.
Thank you, Sahan.
There's a report that Qatarary team arrived Tehran for the deal.
That who arrived in Tehran? Qatarary team.
Yeah.
So does UN involved in this? Do you have any? No, I mean, we're not directly involved in this.
We've seen the reports of the Qatari involvement.
We've also seen the very public reports of Pakistan.
We hope that all these hopefully coordinated efforts will lead to a diplomatic solution that would see a lessening of tensions.
And for us, especially to see the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to free navigation, the continued, shortage of fertilizer that leaves that region is continuing to have a severe impact as we get closer closer to the date in which a lot of farmers will have to make decisions about planting.
Yes.
Hi, my name is Ray, 21st century Bin Shao go China.
My question is that recently, a number of world leaders have visited China.
Does Secretary-General have any comment on this and could this have broader implications on global cooperation? I mean, I think we always are happy to see world leaders involved in diplomatic dialogue, in an effort to address pressing issues, in an effort to lessen the tensions that we're seeing on the global stage.
I know Mr.
Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister of China will be coming on Tuesday here at the UN.
I know he will meet the Secretary-General and the Secretary-General looks forward to meeting him.
Okay.
Any more questions online, offline, any line? Excellent.
Enjoy the weekend.
The long one.
If we see each other during the long weekend, we'll ignore each other.