HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FLORENCIA SOTO NINO-MARTINEZ, ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2024
Secretary-General’s Message for New Year
The Secretary-General said that throughout 2024, hope has been hard to find.
Wars are causing enormous pain, suffering and displacement. Inequalities and divisions are rife — fueling tensions and mistrust. The Secretary-General also reported that we have just endured a decade of deadly heat, with the top ten 10 hottest years on record.
This is climate breakdown — in real time, he said.
We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose, he stressed, adding that even in the darkest days, he has seen hope power change.
There are no guarantees for what’s ahead in 2025, he said, and pledged to stand with all those who are working to forge a more peaceful, equal, stable and healthy future for all people.
Yemen/Israel
This morning, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Khaled Khiari, briefed the Security Council about the hostilities between Israel and the Houthis which have taken an escalatory turn over the past weeks.
Mr. Khiari reiterated the Secretary-General’s grave concern about the intensified escalation and echoed his calls that international law, including humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected by all parties. He also appealed to all to respect and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Mr. Khiari warned that further military escalation could jeopardize regional stability, with adverse political, security, economic and humanitarian repercussions.
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Turning to the situation in the Gaza Strip, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that the very means of people’s survival are being dismantled. This includes an onslaught on health care, emergency services and humanitarian access alongside relentless attacks that kill and maim civilians by the hour.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, where said that Kamal Adwan Hospital of North Gaza is now out of service. He said that this follows the raid, forced patient and staff evacuation and the detention of the facility’s director on Friday.
Yesterday, OCHA, WHO, the World Food Programme, the Palestine Red Crescent Society, and the UN Department for Safety and Security, delivered basic medical and hygiene supplies, food and water to critical patients, caregivers and staff who were evacuated from Kamal Adwan to the Indonesian hospital in North Gaza that is non-functional.
OCHA said that ten patients were evacuated from the hospital, four of whom were arrested by Israeli forces at the checkpoint leaving the area. Seven patients along with 15 caregivers and health workers remain at the facility, which is severely damaged and has no ability to provide medical care. The team reported that the hospital has no water, electricity or sanitation.
Yesterday’s mission to North Gaza was exceptional because most of our attempts – over 150 since October – have been denied by the Israeli authorities. Even the few that were initially agreed to have faced heavy impediments.
Between Friday and Sunday, three of the four attempts to access the area were denied by Israeli authorities. Only this one was let through but faced major impediments. OCHA emphasizes that it should not require breaking a siege to help survivors in critical need. Aid workers must be granted safe and unhindered access to assist people wherever they are.
Armed looting also continues. Two incidents recorded over the past three days in southern Gaza have affected dozens of truckloads of supplies and further exposed drivers to serious risks.
Meanwhile, fighting and Israeli restrictions on commercial and other imports also persist. And these continue to dangerously paralyze the humanitarian operation, at a time when families urgently need more food, shelter materials, and clothing to survive the bad weather.
Syria
The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, is continuing his engagements with Russian, French and German officials.
During all of these discussions, the Special Envoy reiterated the relevance of the core principles of Security Council Resolution 2254. His consistent message is that the key principles of Resolution 2254 enjoy broad consensus.
These principles include: a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition; establishing credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance, undertaking constitutional reform; and holding free and fair elections.
Mr. Pedersen hopes to visit Syria early in the new year, and we will continue to update you on his activities.
Syria/Humanitarian
In Syria, over the past week, hostilities and insecurity continued to persist across the country, including in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia, Tartous, Rural Damascus, Deir-ez-Zor and Quneitra governorates, resulting in civilian casualties.
Due to the tense security situation, humanitarian operations remain suspended in several areas. On 27 December, hostilities were reported in Deir-ez-Zor, approximately one kilometer from UN offices.
On response, OCHA reports across Syria, over 1.7 million received bread assistance in one month, as of 29 December. A total of 265,109 people were provided with other food assistance.
While schools have reopened across most governorates, the volatile security situation continues to affect children’s school attendance in rural Hama, rural Quneitra, Latakia, and Tartous.
Meanwhile partners are conducting rapid needs assessments across various governorates, including Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs, Damascus, and Rural Damascus.
Lebanon
Turning to Lebanon, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the UN and its partners continue to provide critical support across the country as displaced people are returning to their homes.
Since the cessation of hostilities was announced on 27 November, over 800,000 people have returned to their areas of origin, according to the International Organization for Migration. More than 160,000 people remain displaced, while the situation remains fluid.
Severe challenges persist due to devastated infrastructure, disrupted essential services, and ongoing security concerns. In many cases, families attempting to return remain internally displaced within or near their communities as their homes have been destroyed or severely damaged.
More than 60 villages in southern Lebanon remain in areas where the Israeli Army is warning residents not to return. Restrictions on free and safe movement exacerbate the hardships faced by displaced families, limiting their access to essential services, livelihoods, and support networks.
Humanitarian partners in Lebanon face significant resource constraints. With needs remaining high and available resources falling short, the capacity to respond is increasingly stretched.
Of the US $426 million requested for the Lebanon Flash Appeal, it is now 78 percent funded.
Mozambique
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that yesterday, the UN had to put its emergency response activities on hold for 72 hours. This was due to the deteriorating security situation following incidents of increased violence in the Nampula Province and the southern districts of Cabo Delgado. Our humanitarian colleagues warn that this could leave communities severely affected by Cyclone Chido without immediate and necessary humanitarian aid.
In Cabo Delgado, more than 272,000 people affected by Tropical Cyclone Chido urgently require humanitarian assistance, while over 175,000 others were affected in Nampula Province. Additionally, 1.1 million people remain in urgent need of humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing conflict in Cabo Delgado province.
Republic of Korea
The Secretary-General said he is deeply saddened by the news of a plane crash in Muan county in the Republic of Korea, which claimed the lives of 179 people.
He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expressed his solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of Korea, and he wished a swift and full recovery to those injured in this tragic event.
James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr
The Secretary-General said that he is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the 39th President of the United States of America, James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. He extended his deepest condolences to the Carter family and the Government and people of the United States.
The Secretary-General noted that President Carter's leadership contributed significantly to international peace and security, including the landmark Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal Treaties. After he left the presidency, he played a key role in conflict mediation, election monitoring, the promotion of democracy, and disease prevention and eradication. These and other efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and helped advance the work of the United Nations.
Financial Contribution
China is the 151st Member State to pay its dues in full to the UN regular budget.
