Middle East, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Venezuela & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

Yeah.
All right.
Good afternoon.
In a short while, I will be joined in person by UNFPA's Executive Director, Diene Keita, and she will also be joined by Alessio Cangiano, the chief ad interim of the Population Development branch at UNFPA.
They will brief you on the launch of their new global report based on the findings of the Demographic Futures Survey.
Tomorrow, my guests will be also in person, Anacláudia Rossbach, the Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Habitat.
Also joining us will be Ambassador Erastus Ekitela Lokaale, Permanent representative of Kenya to the UN, and they will be joined by Shirley Pryce of the Jamaica Household Workers Union.
They will be here to brief you on renewing commitments on sustainable cities and communities and the launch of the SDG 11 Global Synthesis Report 2026.
And as we enter the and part of that will be the report is expected to highlight progress achieved and identifies key gaps, recommends prioritizing adequate housing transformation of informal settlements and urban resilience to accelerate progress towards more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities worldwide.
Turning to excuse me.
Turning to the situation in the Middle East, as I've been asked, and I can tell you that the Secretary-General is alarmed by the renewed military confrontations in the Gulf.
The incidents that we have seen over the last 24 hours risk derailing the diplomatic progress achieved between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States.
A return to full scale hostilities would have a catastrophic consequences for the people of the region and for international peace and security and for the global economy as a whole.
The Secretary-General calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid any further escalatory action, and take immediate steps excuse me, immediate steps to de escalate.
He further recalls the obligations of all parties to fully comply with international law, including the protection of civilian and civilian infrastructure, and respect for navigational rights and freedoms.
The Secretary-General urges Iran and the United States to urgently resume negotiations and address outstanding issues through diplomacy.
We, of course, remain committed to supporting all efforts to prevent a return to conflict, to restore stability, and advance a comprehensive and durable solution to this conflict.
Turning to the situation in the occupied Palestian territory.
Earlier today, our colleague Tom Fletcher, the emergency relief coordinator, who, as you know, is in Venezuela.
But he did also have a virtual meeting from Venezuela with the Prime Minister of Palestine, Mohammed Mustafa.
They underscore the importance of close collaboration and accelerated efforts to improve the living conditions in Gaza, particularly around safe water and waste management.
Both agreed the urgency of needs in Gaza is too great to wait for progress on broader political and security tracks.
They both welcomed the encouraging milestone that 41,000 students in Gaza were able to sit for their high school exams this year.
They also discussed the deteriorating situation in the West Bank, including increased settler violence as well as Palestinian displacement.
Also, today, humanitarian coordinator Ramiz Akrov, who is also the Deputy Special coordinator started a two day visit to the Gaza strip.
In Gaza City, he visited a UN mine Action Service team whose teams have been assessing and mitigating the risk of explosive hazards, which you know continues to be very big in that area.
Accompanied by the representatives of UNDP, doctor A Akbarro visited the fierce market dumping site, also in Gaza City to review solid waste management efforts.
Since 2023, that market has been used as an improvised dumping site after municipal crews lost access to Gaza's two landfills near the strip's eastern and perimeter.
Since April, thanks to the project supported By the occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund and implemented by UNDP, teams have transferred about 300,000 metric tons of solid waste from that improvised site to another location farther away from where people are seeking shelter, but access to sanitary landfills which are east of the so called yellow line remains banned.
Doctor Alekbarrov then met with colleagues from UNICEF to discuss ongoing efforts to reduce infestations.
Associated with rodents and parasites, something we've been telling you about regularly.
He also met with WHO and they discussed ongoing medical evacuations.
As you might recall, the medical referral route to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem remains closed.
That is, of course, undermining our efforts to expand medical evacuations from Gaza According to data from WHO, a little more than 2,100 patients were able to be evacuated since the declaration of a cease fire in October of last year.
However, thousands more need medical services that are just not available today in the Gaza strip.
Um, and going to Venezuela, where, as I mentioned, Tom Fletcher, emergency relief coordinator, is continuing his visit.
This morning, he briefed member states from Caracas calling for an additional $296 million to provide lifesaving support over the next six months to 1.3 million people impacted by the devastating earthquakes that shook the country nearly two weeks ago.
The addendum to the 2026 humanitarian response plan, which already required 632 million will help the UN and our partners support the government led response with food, shelter, healthcare, water sanitation, hygiene assistance, and many other critical interventions.
To date, around 300 million has been received for response efforts in Venezuela.
With the addendum, the current funding gap stands at some $600 million.
Tom Fletcher thanked donors for the contributions made thus far and called on member states and other donors to translate their solidarity into practical support and investment in essential services as the response moves from search and rescue to broader humanitarian response and the needed recovery phase.
As you're aware, Tom arrived yesterday in Venezuela.
He's scheduled to be there for four days.
On his first day in the country, He witnessed firsthand the scale of the devastation in Laguara, one of the areas hardest hit by the quakes.
The Flet Tom spoke to families impacted by disaster and people still searching through rubble alongside first responders, holding on hope of finding loved ones alive.
Mr.
Fletcher also met with the acting President Delc Rodriguez and other senior Venezuelan government officials.
Also joined, he was joined by the resident humanitarian coordinator and the head of OCHA in Venezuela Gian Luca Ampola to discuss the ongoing response efforts and how we can continue to support affected communities as the relief efforts move into next phase.
We and our humanitarian partners remain on the ground, working with national authorities to support survivors and address people's most urgent needs.
From Ukraine, our colleagues at OCHA tell us that drone and missile attacks have continued across the country, causing multiple civilian casualties and widespread damage to homes and other civilian infrastructure.
The Kharkiv and Kurson regions were among the hardest hit across several other regions.
There were also reports of civilian casualties and damage to homes and civilian infrastructure.
This is where Ukrainian authorities are telling our colleagues on the ground.
Meanwhile, the WHO reports that nearly 70% of people in Ukraine have experienced worsening health since the full The full scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, common problems include sleep disorders, headaches, anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress, while prolonged stress is contributing to a higher increase in chronic diseases.
WH also warns that Ukraine's healthcare system faces growing workforce shortages due to displacement, burnout, and insecurity.
And on Sudan, the UN fact finding mission for Sudan said a new report, which provides more evidence that atrocities committed by warring parties in North African nation constitutes distinct markers of genocide.
The report states that Sudan's rapid support forces carried out brutal attacks against civilians, including mass killings, systematic abduction of women and girls, mass gang rapes in Al Fasa.
The fact finding mission warned that similar patterns of violence and devastation are now emerging in El Obaid where it is launching an urgent inquiry into alleged human rights violations and abuses, and that is following a resolution passed by the Human Rights Council earlier this week.
The fact finding mission reiterated its call for effective accountability, including prompt cooperation with an action by the International Criminal Court.
As civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, the fact finding mission will continue its investigations and report on the situation in and around El Abide to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly as it is mandated to do.
And moving south to South Sudan, our colleagues at the peacekeeping mission there on MIS tell us they've intensified engagements with authorities, community leaders, you youth representatives, security actors and civil society in efforts to ease tensions, following concerning reports of intercommunal violence and cattle raids across several counties in Warp state.
Initial reports indicate that several civilians have been killed, others have been injured or displaced, property destroyed.
The mission is patrolling impacted areas and advocating with all stakeholders to strengthen the protection of civilians and help prevent retaliatory attacks.
We'll update you as the situation develops.
But these tragic events come as South Sudan marks today 15 years of independence.
In a message for the day, Anita Kiki Gabejo, the special representative and head of the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan reaffirmed that the peacekeeping mission remains a steadfast partner to the people of South Sudan.
The full messages online.
And if I could ask my colleagues who are listening to see if they can get some air conditioning in this room because it is starting to get very hot and rather unpleasant.
What? It's true.
Yeah, I know.
Yeah, yeah.
Meanwhile, before the ASC, we hope you have some air conditioning.
We'll go to the Central African Republic, where as you will recall, there were clashes last week in Amdafk in the Vakaga Prefecture.
Our colleagues report that the three Zambian UN peacekeepers injured last week, including the one who suffered severe injuries are continuing to receive treatment and are in stable condition.
The mission's immediate priority remains the protection of civilians.
More than 16,000 people are safe because they have found refuge at the UN mission's temporary operating base in town where protection measures are put in place by peacekeepers have saved lives during the attack and help prevent even more violence.
Also, to note, our colleagues say the mission's logistical support and protection enabled the local administration to remain operational throughout this crisis.
Minusk has also facilitated the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance.
Including the delivery of more than three tons of medicine and other essential supplies to affected communities.
Finally, we can confirm that the armored personnel carrier that had become inoperable last week has now been recovered and it is in the safe hands of our peacekeeping colleagues.
In neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, we join our humanitarian colleagues who are deeply concerned by the escalating violence against Ebola responders.
They say this is undermining efforts to contain the outbreak in the eastern part of that country.
On July 6th, unidentified attackers raided an Ebola treatment center in Butembo in North Kivu, setting fire to a facility.
Since the outbreak was declared on May 15th, humanitarian partners have recorded security incidents targeting Ebola response personnel and other aid workers in Ituri, South Kivu, and North Kivu provinces where humanitarian and humanitarian workers were among those injured.
National health authorities continue to report that the outbreak has expanded geographically with confirmed Ebola cases now reported in Boga Health zone in Ituri province.
We and our partners continue to step up efforts to engage with community leaders, with local authorities, with civil society representatives and affected communities to address concerns, counter misinformation, and foster broader understanding of those response efforts.
Reiterate our call that the protection of health workers, treatment facilities, and response teams must be protected without a secure environment that enables health workers who are putting their own lives at risk to help other human beings.
Without protection, they cannot carry out lifesaving work, which includes efforts to detect cases, trace contacts, and provide lifesaving care to those who are infected.
A quick note from Afghanistan where the UNDP administrator and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Alexander Du Kron and Bahram Saleh today called for an international community to provide urgent sustained investment in Afghanistan.
UNHDR notes that since 2023, more than 6 million Afghans have returned back to their home country, including 2.9 million in 2025 alone.
More than 750,000 people have already returned so far this year with a further 2.5 expected by the end of this year.
Both D Krew and Sally urged international partners not to turn away from Afghanistan, warning that a cuts and declining international risk deepening poverty, fueling further displacement and excuse me, undermining fragile gains.
The call came at the conclusion of a joint mission to Afghanistan by the two, where they met with de facto authorities, visited UN supported projects in Mazar Sharif.
The the The joint mission underscored our joint commitment to meeting urgent humanitarian and protection needs while helping lay the foundations for longer term recovery, stability, and durable reintegration.
And back here, you saw the Security Council is currently holding an open debate on women peace and security with a focus on conflict related sexual violence.
Our briefing council members was a special representative on sexual violence and conflict, miss Pramila Patten.
She highlighted findings contained in the Secretary-General latest annual report on the issue.
The report verifies nearly 9,800 cases of conflict related sexual violence in 2025, more than double the number recorded the previous year.
90% of the victims are women and girls.
Miss Penn stressed, however, these figures can never capture the full scale of a crime that remains chronically underreported, calling for the international community for greater action.
Miss Penn said the goal is not simply to document these violations, it is to end them.
Also today here in New York, the fifth UN UN Chiefs of Police Summit, UN cops brought together 145 delegations from the highest level of participation to date.
That meeting is to discuss the future of UN police innovation, new technologies, and international cooperation to address transnational challenges.
The police advisor, who you had here earlier this week, Faisal Sakar said in his opening remarks that UN police plays a unique role in advancing international cooperation by connecting efforts at the national, regional and global levels, strengthening partnerships and supporting member states in building capacity.
I want to flag to you a rather depressing report from WHO that shows that cancer claims more than 26,000 lives every day with an estimated 20.6 million new cases and close to 10 million deaths annually.
It remains the second leading cause of death globally after cardiovascular disease.
WHO warns that without urgent action, the annual cancer cases are projected to rise to nearly 35 million by 2050.
The report also reveals persistent and widening inequities in access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care.
Its analysis shows, for example, that while 87% of with breast cancer survive at five years after their diagnosis in high income countries, only 42% survive in low income countries.
The report is online.
I also want to flag that tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.
The International Day for the reflection and commemoration of the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica will be marked with an observance in the General Assembly Hall.
The International Day itself is, um, is marked on 11th July, which is Saturday and there'll be ceremonies in the Bosnia Herzegovina in which the UN country team will participate.
Kourtney Rt, the chef de Cabinet, will deliver remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General.
The observance organized by the Srebrenia genocide and UN outreach program will also feature remarks from two survivors of the Srebrenia genocide and the chairman of the presidency of Bosnia Herzegovina.
The proceedings will be hosted by Chokabani, the Secretary-General special advisor on the prevention of genocide, and the observance will honor victims and reaffirm the international community to remembrance, justice, and the prevention of genocide.
It will also be shown live.
On United Nations web TV, we have no money, we have no quiz, so we will take questions should there be any.
Wow.
Yes, please, Sua.
My name is you can call me Shan like Shan Sans.
This is easier for you, since there are no matches today, so let me ask you a broad question.
The Secretary-General has expressed concern on different occasions about the Great fracture, where there will be two worlds, one led by the United States, one led by China.
Does the Secretary-General have an update on this theory given the fact that he's just back from Geneva, the AI conference in Geneva? I would say it remains a concern of his and the fracture really for him has to do with two distinct spheres, two distinct Internets, two distinct global economic system.
And I think that the concerns that he's expressed repeatedly continues to exist.
I'm asking this because the Chinese president has just said that China needs to participate in global governance in science and technology.
Does the Secretary-General have anything to say about this? We welcome all member states participating in global governance, including and especially on technological matters as we saw in Geneva, as you really put.
I think China, given its leading role on issues having to do with technology, computing power in AI, it is critical that they participate actively.
Ephraim.
Hello, Steph.
Thank you so much.
On the fact finding missions on Sudan, again, the finding that there has been a genocide in El Fasher, the situation continues to escalate in El Oobayed.
This comes after many pleas we've heard you say from Mr.
Havsta, from Mr.
Fletcher, to the RSF to stop what they're doing in Elobayed and it's not happening.
My question is, what would the Secretary-General like to see as a reaction or action from international community in the light of this recent report? What he wants to see is a redoubling of unified action to put a stop to the conflict in Sudan.
And of course, we're all, in a sense, rightly focused on the fears of what may happen in Elbaid.
We've seen what happened in Al Fashi, but there are many other places in Sudan where the violence continues, where civilians continue to be hit indiscriminately by drones.
We've seen repeated use of drones in destroying humanitarian goods.
Why? Why destroy trucks filled with food? Why trucks filled with medicine? There is an opportunity for member states, those who have influence on the parties to decide to stop sending weapons and send messages of peace instead and reconciliation.
Yes, Evelyn, and it will go.
You called on me? Yes, ma'am, I did.
Thank you, Staff.
We have a constant description of the Russia bashing Ukraine.
Has the Secretary-General received any kind of explanation for Explanation for what? For why Russia keeps attacking Ukraine.
I would I think we can all listen to the public statements delivered by Russian representatives here at the UN and from the foreign minister and the foreign ministry in Russia, which explains Which explains their actions.
Yes, please.
Azim.
Welcome back to CTV.
You know, as far as Sudan is concerned, the situation is really worsening.
Is there any possibility of sending any peacekeepers over there or, you know, to maintain the peace and security of the country? I mean, Azim, I think you know as well as I do, any deployment of peacekeepers would involve a security council resolution.
And the deployment of peacekeepers would imply that there is a peace to keep.
We'll go to Andrea Reuters.
Hey.
Hi, Steph.
Thanks for doing this.
So I just have a couple of quick follow ups.
One is on this report, I see Dan.
I You just said it's a new report.
I'm sorry, who compiled the report? Sure.
Can we see it? Yes.
We will circulate it.
It was compiled by the UN fact finding Mission on Sudan, which was created by the Human Rights Council, and they are mandated to report both to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.
Earlier this week, they were given an additional task, which was to report on the situation in and around Eobide, which they will do.
But we will circulate that report right after the briefing.
Okay.
And then the other follow up was on Gaza.
This 296 million for six months, that's new, right? On top of the 632 million the request for the recommendation.
Let me look again because I have to pay as much attention as you when I actually read things.
Bear with me 2 seconds.
I don't think you were talking about Venezuela, no? No, I think that was Gaza, wasn't it? No, I think no, we were talking about monies for, I'm so sorry.
That's okay.
Okay.
So yes, it's additional it's additional money.
Okay.
Great.
And then finally on Iran and the US, you know, I know the Secretary-General has expressed concern about what's happening there and is urging the parties to return to negotiations, but is he planning any action, having any phone calls? Is there anything that the UN can do in these circumstances to um, avert, you know, what would be a very costly return to more active conflict.
I mean, we just heard today from the IMF that they're lowering their forecast for world growth, again, slightly, you know, but they're warning that things will look much worse if the conflict escalates.
The Secretary-General spoke earlier this week to the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and other contacts are being had at various levels.
All right.
Thank you all.
Please stay seated for our guest who I will come and get.