Noon briefing of 5 February 2025

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2025

PALESTINIANS
This afternoon, the Secretary-General has a scheduled appearance at the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. In his remarks, he will tell the committee, following the agreement that has been in effect, that we must keep pushing for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages without delay. We cannot go back to more death and destruction. 
In speaking to the broader situation, the Secretary-General will say that in the search for solutions we must not make the problems worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing and, of course, he will reaffirm the two-state solution. And you can follow those remarks on UN WebTV starting at 3 p.m.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Our Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, is continuing his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. On the political level, Mr. Fletcher held discussions over the past two days with Israeli authorities, including President Isaac Herzog, as well as officials from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
Mr. Fletcher described these engagements as practical, emphasizing the need to build on the progress since the ceasefire and sustain the large-scale delivery of UN aid into Gaza. On the ground, Mr. Fletcher visited today different areas of the West Bank.
In East Jerusalem, he visited Silwan neighbourhood where he met with residents facing home demolitions and the threat of forcible eviction by Israeli authorities.
Mr. Fletcher also toured what is known as Area C of the Ramallah governorate, where he heard and saw the humanitarian impact of access restrictions on the livelihoods of Palestinian and their daily lives. These restrictions include Israeli checkpoints and of course the 712-kilometre-long barrier. 
And just a short while ago in Ramallah, Mr. Fletcher held discussions with national Palestinian NGOs, who are at the heart of humanitarian response efforts across the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 

GAZA
In Gaza, our humanitarian colleagues report that our aid operations – together with our partners - continue to scale up across the Gaza Strip. We are also carrying out assessments to determine the needs of impacted and displaced families, particularly the most vulnerable. 
Across Gaza, 22 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme are now operational. And our health partners continue to provide health services as well. We and our partners estimate that more than half a million displaced Palestinians have now returned to the governorates of both Gaza and North Gaza, where there is an urgent need for tents and shelter materials. Our partners say they’ve transported 22 truckloads of tents from southern to northern Gaza yesterday to address these needs but we need to get more tents in.
For its part, UNICEF continues to distribute nutrition support for infants. Across Gaza, the World Food Programme has provided lipid-based nutrient supplements to more than 80,000 children and pregnant or breastfeeding women since the ceasefire took effect. Humanitarian partners have screened more than 30,000 children under the age of five for malnutrition since the ceasefire took effect. Of those children under five screened, over 1,000 cases of acute malnutrition have been identified, including 230 cases of severe acute malnutrition. 
And to sustain learning activities across the Gaza Strip, education partners established three new temporary learning spaces yesterday in Gaza, Rafah, and Khan Younis governorates, benefiting some 200 children. 

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
You heard, I think quite extensively on the security situation in the Eastern part of the Congo. Just a few humanitarian notes to complement the information from our colleague. Our humanitarian colleagues warn that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the crisis in the east of the country. 
We and our partners are doing everything we can to respond, in line with humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. 
Efforts are currently focused on reducing the risk of epidemics and providing emergency relief. We also continue to carry out assessments, including in and around Goma. 
Although some water and electricity services have been partially restored in Goma, much more is needed to ensure that people have access to adequate services. 
As we have been saying in the past few days, the capacity of our humanitarian partners has been impacted by the recent violence, with the looting of humanitarian facilities. 
We have also been hampered by access constraints. We reiterate our call for the urgent reopening of Goma airport, as we need to evacuate wounded people and bring in humanitarian supplies and staff in. We need roads and transport links between Goma and the rest of the country. 

SUDAN
Turning to Sudan, our humanitarian colleagues tell us they are deeply alarmed by the impact of the continuing conflict on civilians and healthcare facilities in Khartoum State. Yesterday, artillery shelling struck Al Naw Hospital in the city of Omdurman, reportedly killing six people and injuring 60 others, including medical staff, including volunteers and including patients who are seeking treatment at the hospital. The number of casualties is expected to rise. These attacks on hospitals must stop. 
Al Naw Hospital, which is reportedly the only functioning hospital in and around Omdurman, is under severe strain. There are critical shortages of medicines and food, as insecurity and funding constraints have forced local community kitchens to shut down. Our humanitarian colleagues are also gravely concerned about the safety of local volunteer aid work and aid workers amid shifting conflict lines in Khartoum.
As clashes continue, these local humanitarian responders face mounting risks, including harassment and attacks. Across Sudan, volunteer aid groups are providing essential food, medical assistance and other support within their communities. OCHA stresses once again that civilians, including front-line aid workers, are not a target and must be protected. 

SOUTH SUDAN
Back here, Nicholas Haysom, Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, who is here in person, briefed Security Council members this morning on the latest developments in the country. 
He called on the Government to urgently fulfil outstanding peace benchmarks so that elections can be held in December of next year (2026). A unified approach by the regional and international community, he said, should be clear on the need to avoid another extension of the transitional period. 
As South Sudan continues to grapple with humanitarian, economic and security stressors, Mr. Haysom reaffirmed that the Mission stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the South Sudanese on their journey from conflict to stabilization and democratization.

SWEDEN
And I just wanted to say since I was asked, that the Secretary-General is of course, deeply saddened by the tragic shooting that took place in Sweden yesterday and extends his condolences to the victims as well as the families and the people and government of Sweden. 

AGA KHAN
And also, yesterday we issued a statement last night expressing the Secretary-General’s profound sadness at the passing of His Highness the Aga Khan IV, a global spiritual leader, philanthropist, and advocate for peace, development, and pluralism. 
The UN recognizes the Aga Khan’s invaluable contributions to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals and his partnership with the UN in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.  
The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the Aga Khan’s family, the Ismaili community, and all those who were touched by his vision, compassion, and leadership.

IRAQ
Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO conducted an end-of-work visit, few weeks before the official inauguration par the Iraqi government of the emblematic monuments in the historic centre of Mosul. Ms. Azoulay visited the Al-Nouri mosque – that was destroyed by Daesh in 2017. She says that the mosque’s reconstruction symbolizes resilience and renewal. 
This is part of the “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative, which is one of the most ambitious reconstruction campaigns in recent decades. Mobilizing $115 million and 15 partners, UNESCO rehabilitated 124 historical homes, renovated hundreds of classrooms and created many local jobs.

SENIOR APPOINTMENT
Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Bjørg Sandkjær of Norway as Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). She will succeed Maria-Francesca Spatolisano of Italy, to whom the Secretary-General and the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs are grateful for her commitment and dedicated service to the Organization.
Ms. Sandkjær has over 26 years of experience in policymaking and international development. She served as Deputy Minister for International Development at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2021, having been responsible for the development of Norway’s strategic vision and engagement in international development cooperation issues and played a key role in the negotiations on Norway’s budgetary allocations for official development assistance while also leading her country’s engagement in key sustainable development processes and fora, including the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Ms. Sandkjær also served as the deputy leader of the Standing Committee on Health and Welfare of the Oslo City Council and held several positions at the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Church of Norway.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
We thank Germany and Hungary for paying their budget dues and bringing us up to 39 in the Honour Roll.

GUEST
The guest at the noon briefing was Vivian van de Perre, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Protection and Operations, and Deputy Head of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). She briefed virtually from Goma on the latest situation in the DRC.