Noon briefing of 11 November 2025
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2025
AU-UN ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Tomorrow, the 9th African Union–United Nations annual conference will take place here at UN headquarters.
The high-level discussions will be co-chaired by Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, along with the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
The meeting will focus on progress in the implementation of cooperation frameworks between the two organizations, but also on the joint action and challenges linked to peace, security, development, human rights and climate action.
The annual conference will conclude with a joint press conference by the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. This will take place here, in this room, at 3:00 pm.
SUDAN
Today, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, arrived in Sudan. In Port Sudan, he met with authorities, humanitarian partners and the diplomatic community. We'll share more details on those meetings as soon as we can.
Mr. Fletcher continues to call for an end to the atrocities in Sudan and to support efforts toward peace. He is also working to ensure that humanitarian teams receive the access and funding they need to deliver life-saving assistance across conflict lines.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that the situation in North Darfur State remains volatile following the Rapid Support Forces’ takeover of El Fasher on October 26th. While large-scale clashes have subsided, sporadic fighting and drone activity persist, leaving civilians at risk of looting, forced recruitment and gender-based violence.
In South Kordofan State, a drone strike reportedly hit the town of Um Barmbeeta yesterday, destroying a school and injuring several displaced people. The state capital Kadugli and the nearby town of Dilling remain under siege, with widespread insecurity restricting access to thousands of families in need of urgent aid.
Our humanitarian partners report that more than 12,000 people fleeing violence in the Kordofan and Darfur regions have sought refuge in White Nile State since late October – an average of 700 each day. Displaced families face severe shortages of food, shelter and water, while host communities are overstretched.
Civilians must be protected, and aid workers must be granted safe and sustained access to deliver assistance across the front lines.
SOUTH SUDAN/SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, Security Council members held a briefing on South Sudan. Sima Bahous, the UN Women Executive Director, told members that seven years after South Sudan’s peace agreement, key commitments remain largely unfulfilled. Elections are delayed, constitutional and security reforms incomplete, and progress on justice, social protection, and gender equality have stalled. As in all crises, she noted, women and girls bear the heaviest burden - facing climate shocks, food insecurity, sexual violence and abductions.
Briefing via VTC, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, emphasized that the Revitalized Peace Agreement remains the only viable path to stability. He said that the peacekeeping mission, UNMISS, continues to protect civilians and support humanitarian work despite severe funding shortages.
Both officials warned that the war in neighbouring Sudan is deepening South Sudan’s fragility. Since April 2023, over 1.2 million people have crossed into South Sudan, further straining the country’s limited systems and resources.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to the Gaza Strip, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said in a statement yesterday that one month after the ceasefire, we’re continuing to seize every opportunity to save lives. The UN and our partners have provided food to over one million people. Nutrition sites have been reopened, and hospital services are treating more patients. Vital immunizations are also being resumed, while water lines have been repaired, winter supplies have been distributed, and mental health support has been provided.
Despite that progress, Mr. Fletcher said that humanitarian operations in Gaza still face obstacles, including red tape and insecurity. He stressed that if these constraints are eased, humanitarians can do much more to reach more people in need with life-saving assistance.
Even given the fragile situation and ongoing impediments on the ground, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the UN and our humanitarian partners continue reaching areas that were inaccessible prior to the ceasefire.
Between 7 November and yesterday, the UN Office for Project Services distributed more than 619,000 litres of diesel to our partners – three quarters in the south and the rest in the north – to support critical operations, including in water, sanitation, hygiene, health, logistics, rubble removal, education, nutrition and protection.
Between 1 November and Sunday, our partners provided general food assistance to some 255,000 people, distributing two food parcels per household.
One month into the ceasefire, our partners working on food security are distributing about 160,000 bread bundles each day, which are produced by 19 UN-supported bakeries, nine of which are in northern Gaza.
LEBANON/ISRAEL
Moving to the situation along the Blue Line, between Lebanon and Israel. The UN Peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, continues to monitor and report violations by land and air.
Yesterday, UNIFIL observed 88 IDF vehicles, including Merakva tanks, within its area of operations, following 100 vehicles the previous day. Yesterday, peacekeepers also observed a fighter aircraft flying over a UN position in Sector East and a drone operating near a UN position in Sector West.
UNIFIL continues to discover unauthorized weapons caches and infrastructure. In the past days, peacekeepers found unguarded rockets and two tunnels near the village of Shihin in Sector West, as well as two anti-tank landmines near Rmeich. Since last year’s cessation of hostilities understanding, peacekeepers have discovered roughly 360 unguarded caches and 300 unexploded ordnances. All of them were referred to the Lebanese Army, per standard practice.
HURRICANE MELISSA
Turning to the Caribbean, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report that, two weeks after Hurricane Melissa first made landfall, we and our partners continue to support government-led humanitarian responses.
In Cuba, more than 54,000 people are still living away from their homes, including 7,500 in official shelters.
The reported damage continues to exceed initial estimates. The number of affected health facilities has increased from 460 to more than 600, while the number of damaged homes has climbed from 60,000 to 90,000.
The UN system in Cuba continues to support national response efforts. The World Food Programme has helped some 140,000 people in shelters and supported community kitchens, while the Food and Agriculture Organization is distributing agricultural tools and livestock feed to help restore livelihoods.
For its part, the Pan American Health Organization is delivering supplies to strengthen disease control and prevention, and the UN Population Fund is bolstering sexual and reproductive health services by distributing medical supplies.
In Jamaica, assessments and relief operations continue. Only two communities remain inaccessible, down from 27 last week, although further rainfall could isolate some areas again.
Shelter remains a major concern, with 40,000 tarpaulins unable to be delivered due to damaged and blocked roads.
WFP has helped 9,000 people in the parishes of Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth and intends to extend cash assistance to up to 90,000 households.
Turning to Haiti, OCHA reports that we and our humanitarian partners are scaling up the response. Hurricane Melissa claimed more than 40 lives in the country and caused severe damage across several departments.
UNICEF and its partners have distributed hygiene kits across the country. They have also restored power for the cold chain for vaccines.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its partners provided psychosocial support in schools. The International Organization for Migration, UNICEF and other partners have distributed tarpaulins and other supplies.
Today, WFP is delivering 15-day rations to some of the most heavily impacted areas in the south, following the completion of government-led targeting to identify those most in need.
In the community of Petit Goave, WFP is delivering food for more than 40 thousand people. Registration of recipients and delivery of food assistance will continue in the south throughout the week.
WFP is aiming to assist an overall total of 190,000 people in its response to the hurricane, with a combination of food rations and cash assistance where markets are accessible and functioning.
So far, WFP has assisted more than 60-thousand people – including those who received anticipatory payments to help them prepare before the hurricane hit.
The UN Humanitarian Air Service has expanded its operations, with five new access points to reach isolated communities.
SHIPWRECK OFF THE COAST OF MALAYSIA AND THAILAND
The UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration are deeply saddened over the tragic capsizing of a boat off the coast of Malaysia and Thailand carrying up to 70 people from Myanmar, including Rohingya.
Some 13 people were brought ashore safely by Malaysian authorities. But at least 21 people died, including two teenage Rohingya girls recovered by Thai authorities. The rest of the passengers remain unaccounted for.
Our colleagues from UNHCR and IOM commend the authorities and local communities in Malaysia for their life-saving efforts in rescuing those from the capsized boat. They are concerned about the scale of potential loss of life as at least one other boat is reportedly still at sea, carrying about 230 people.
So far this year, more than 5,300 Rohingya refugees have embarked on dangerous maritime journeys from Bangladesh and Myanmar, with over 600 reported to be missing or dead.
SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
I would like to read into the record that, yesterday, the Secretary-General appointed Peter Due of Denmark as his new Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK.
He will succeed Caroline Ziadeh of Lebanon, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedicated efforts to further peace and stability in Kosovo and the region, and her effective leadership of the Mission.
Mr. Due brings to his position 30 years of wide-ranging experience in international peace and security. Since 2019, he has served as the Director for Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations.
Previously, he was the Director for Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (2015-2019).
RESIDENT COORDINATOR – BHUTAN
The UN Development Coordination Office informs us that, effective 8 November, Gaurav Ray of Australia assumed his role as the UN Resident Coordinator in Bhutan, following host Government approval.
Mr. Ray brings over 25 years of experience in humanitarian and development practice to the position, with leadership roles in complex environments across postings in Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Thailand.
He most recently led the German Red Cross office in Bangladesh, supporting refugees in Cox’s Bazar and advancing climate resilience.
His full biography is available online.
REFUGEES/GLOBAL WINTER FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
The UN Refugee Agency today launched its global winter fundraising campaign to help forcibly displaced families and returnees in a number of hard-hit locations meet their urgent needs in the coming months. This is one of the agency’s most important fundraising moments. UNHCR plans to raise at least $35 million to help repair homes that have been bombed, insulate houses, provide warmth and blankets to children and the elderly, and money to buy medicines and hot food.
In Afghanistan, for example, the UN Refugee Agency notes that sub-zero temperatures are already leaving many families exposed. UNHCR also points out that this will be the fourth winter of full-scale war for millions in Ukraine, including internally displaced people. Humanitarian needs continue to grow as intensifying attacks claim civilian lives and destroy infrastructure, cumulatively adding to disruptions to gas, electricity and water.
GLOBAL COOLING WATCH 2025
A report launched today at COP30 in Belém by the UN Environment Programme shows that amid rising heatwaves and surging cooling demand, adopting sustainable cooling could cut greenhouse gas emissions, save trillions of dollars and expand life-saving cooling access to those who need it.
The report finds that cooling demand could more than triple by 2050 under business as usual, driven by increases in population and wealth, more extreme heat events and low-income households increasingly gaining access to more polluting and inefficient cooling. This would almost double cooling-related greenhouse gas emissions over 2022 levels.
The UNEP report suggests adopting a ‘Sustainable Cooling Pathway’, which could reduce emissions to 64 per cent below the levels expected in 2050. When combined with rapid decarbonization of the global power sector, residual cooling emissions could fall to 97 per cent below business-as-usual levels. The full report is available online.
BRIEFING TOMORROW
Tomorrow, the Noon briefing guest will be Amy Pope, the Director General for the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
She will brief reporters from Sudan on the situation in the country.