Noon briefing of 6 February 2026

SECRETARY-GENERAL/OLYMPICS 

The Secretary-General is in Milan, Italy, where he is attending the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Today, he met with the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry.  

The Secretary-General congratulated her for the organization of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, together with the host country, Italy. He acknowledged the President’s commitment to ensuring that the Olympic and Paralympic Games promote peace, unity and inclusion. They also discussed the longstanding partnership between the UN and the IOC, in matters of common concern, including the role of sports in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The Secretary-General is also scheduled to attend an official reception on Friday, hosted by Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic, ahead of the Opening Ceremony. 

Mr. Guterres will return to New York over the weekend. 

PAKISTAN

In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General condemned in the strongest terms today’s attack on worshippers gathered at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan. He reiterated that attacks against civilians and places of worship are unacceptable and stressed that those responsible must be identified and brought to justice. 

The Secretary-General extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a full and speedy recovery to those injured. He reaffirmed the solidarity of the United Nations with the Government and people of Pakistan in their efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism. 

UNITED STATES/IRAN 

The Secretary-General welcomes today’s resumption of talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States and hopes they will help reduce regional tensions and prevent a broader crisis.   

The Secretary-General is grateful to countries in the region for their efforts to help make these talks possible, and to Oman for hosting them.   

The Secretary-General has consistently advocated for de-escalation and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter. All concerns can and should be addressed through peaceful dialogue. 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

In the Gaza Strip, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that airstrikes, gunfire and shelling continue to be reported across civilian areas, resulting in casualties and damages.  

On Thursday, Israeli forces demolished a UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) school - Jabalya Preparatory Boys’ School - which was the last in a compound of six schools; with its destruction, the entire compound has been destroyed.   

OCHA reiterates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be protected. They must never be targeted or used to shield military activities.  

Meanwhile, a limited number of people crossed through Rafah crossing on Thursday for the fourth day in a row. On Fridays, the crossing is closed.   

Also on Thursday, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided transportation to another 21 returnees from the Israeli checkpoint to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where OCHA and partners operate a reception area. This brings to 98 the number of returnees received by UN teams inside Gaza since Monday.  

And on Thursday, the UN Human Rights office (OHCHR) warned of a pattern of ill-treatment, abuse and humiliation of returnees by Israeli forces and armed Palestinians allegedly backed by the Israeli military. Accounts indicate that some of the armed Palestinians handcuffed and blindfolded returnees, threatened and intimidated them, conducted searched and stole personal belongings and money. Upon arrival at the Israeli checkpoint, returnees described violence, degrading interrogations, and invasive body searches. 

OHCHR says that, taken together, these accounts point to a pattern of conduct that violates Palestinians’ rights to personal security, dignity, and freedom from torture and other ill-treatment.  

The UN is following up on these reports to ensure that any future movement is safe and dignified. The UN and its partners provide all returnees with access to protection officers, psychologists, medical staff and other resources.  

Humanitarian movements inside Gaza – to and from crossings and in or near other areas where Israeli forces remain deployed - continue to require coordination with Israeli authorities.   

On Thursday and Friday, the UN attempted to coordinate 11 humanitarian missions, of which six were fully facilitated. Four other missions faced long delays at holding points along the designated routes. As a result, two of them were only partially accomplished, while the other two were accomplished despite the delays. A mission to monitor humanitarian cargo at the Kissufim crossing platform was denied yesterday as the crossing was closed.  

The missions included the collection of water and sanitation supplies, fuel and other items, medical evacuation via Rafah Crossing and the transportation of returnees to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.    

OHCHR adds today that a series of new Israeli operations and settlement plans in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, risk seriously undermining the viability of a Palestinian state and the realisation of the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. 

The Human Rights Office says that relentless violence by Israeli settlers – with the support and participation of Israeli security forces, as well as movement restrictions are accelerating the forcible transfer of Palestinians. In the meantime, Israeli settlements continue to expand at previously unseen pace, in breach of international law. 

LEBANON 

In response to questions regarding the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the Spokesman said the following:  

We are aware of reports that the substance dropped over areas near the Blue Line on 1 February is an herbicide.  

The use of herbicides raises questions about the effects on local agricultural lands, and how this might impact the return of civilians to their homes and livelihoods in the long term. 

We remind the parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law and other possible legal frameworks. 

Any activity by the IDF north of the Blue Line is a violation of resolution 1701. 

UNIFIL will continue to be in contact with the Lebanese authorities on this matter. 

SUDAN 

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Denise Brown, expressed deep concern over a drone attack earlier on Friday on trucks contracted by the World Food Programme (WFP) in North Kordofan, the aftermath of which she encountered a few hours later as she was leaving the state capital, El Obeid.  

The trucks were travelling from Kosti in White Nile State to deliver life-saving food assistance to displaced families near El Obeid when they were struck, killing at least one person, injuring many others, and destroying food supplies intended for humanitarian response. This follows another drone strike earlier this week near a WFP facility in Yabus, Blue Nile State, in which a staff member was injured. 

In a statement, Ms. Brown stressed that humanitarian personnel, assets and supplies must be protected at all times, and reiterated that safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access is essential to reach people facing hunger and displacement across Sudan. 

MALI 

The UN and its humanitarian partners, along with the Government, yesterday launched a Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan calling for $578 million to support 3.8 million people this year. Violence, disease outbreaks and climate shocks have left more than 5 million people – or one in every five people – in need of humanitarian aid.

This year’s plan will focus on civilians living in the central and northern regions, where humanitarian needs are most acute. Last year’s plan received just over 21 per cent of the $771 million required – the lowest funding rate of the past 10 years. 

Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that humanitarian access remains difficult in Mali. In 2025, 814 incidents where access was hindered were recorded, up more than 40 per cent compared to 2024, when there were 574 such incidents. More than 70 incidents last year were linked to violence against humanitarian workers, property and infrastructure. Bridges, telecommunications antennas and other infrastructure were also sabotaged. 

FOOD PRICE INDEX 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today said that the measure of world food commodity prices declined in January for the fifth consecutive month, led by lower international quotations for dairy, sugar and meat products. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 123.9 points in January, down 0.4 per cent from the previous month and 0.6 per cent from its level a year earlier. 

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION 

Today is International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, and the theme this year is “Towards 2030”. In a message for the Day, the Secretary-General says notes that female genital mutilation violates the universal human rights to life, health and bodily integrity and causes lasting harm to over 230 million women and girls worldwide. The world has committed to ending this dangerous practice by 2030, but in the meantime, he points out, 23 million girls remain at risk. 

The Secretary-General calls on all to renew our promise to protect the rights of women and girls everywhere and ensure that they can live free from violence and fear. 

HONOUR ROLL 

We thank our friends in Hanoi for their full payment to the Regular Budget.  

Viet Nam’s payment brings the number of Member States on the Honour Roll to 52.