HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 27 MARCH 2025
SECRETARY-GENERAL’S TOWN HALL
This morning, the Secretary-General held a global town hall meeting with UN staff.
He thanked staff members for their service and encouraged them to continue and persevere with their work despite various political and budget pressures.
He underscored that it’s important to stay fixed on the fundamentals and emphasized that the United Nations has never been more needed, our values have never been more relevant, and the demands have never been greater.
He also updated staff members on the financial situation of the Organization and on cash conservation measures and added that he would continue to appeal to donors to reconsider and for Member States to pay up their budget dues.
The Secretary-General reiterated his support to doing everything possible to support people in need around the world, to exercise our mandate, and to honour staff.
SOUTH SUDAN
The Secretary-General is following with deep concern the alarming situation in South Sudan.
The peacekeeping mission on the ground has called on all Parties in the country to exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement. The peacekeeping mission is also joining other regional and international peace partners in expressing alarm at the detention under house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar.
The UN warns that this action takes the country yet one step closer to the edge of a collapse into civil war and the dismantling of the peace agreement.
The peacekeeping mission is, again, urging the President and First Vice President to resolve grievances, end the military confrontation, uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement and take the country forward together towards the peaceful and democratic future their people deserve.
It should be clear to all that the people of South Sudan can ill afford to endure the consequences of the civil war.
As a stark reminder, 9.3 million people are already in need of some form of humanitarian assistance, with conflict, climate and the economic crisis keeping too many people on the very edge of survival.
It’s vital that the leaders of the country put the interest of the people first and foremost.
SUDAN
Turning to Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is following the situation in Khartoum closely, amidst the latest shifts of control in the city. They continue to receive alarming reports of reprisals by armed groups against civilians.
The UN reiterates that civilians are not a target and that all parties must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Serious violations must be investigated, with perpetrators held to account.
Meanwhile, the UN and its humanitarian partners are seizing every opportunity to reach people in need with vital support.
The World Food Programme says that today 1,200 metric tonnes of food and nutrition assistance were distributed to about 100,000 people in Bahri and Omdurman localities of Khartoum state. These are the first WFP aid trucks to get through to these specific areas within Khartoum since the latest round of hostilities started.
And the International Organization Migration reports that nearly 400,000 internally displaced people have recently returned to their towns and villages of origin across Al Jazirah, Sennar, and Khartoum states. However, many are returning to areas with little - to no access to - basic services, including shelter, food, and healthcare. Unfortunately, displacement from North Darfur and White Nile states has increased due to heightened insecurity.
SECURITY COUNCIL
At the Security Council this morning, the head of our peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bintou Keita, said that despite considerable challenges, the mission continues its constant efforts to implement its mandate.
She renewed her calls to the international community to direct its efforts to secure an unconditional ceasefire, and also reiterated that lasting peace in the country’s East can only be achieved through a political solution.
Ms. Keita encouraged the parties to recommit to dialogue within regional peace processes and also to ensure women's participation in negotiations.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
On the humanitarian front, in the province of South Kivu, local humanitarian partners report that armed men abducted and raped two women and killed another in Kalehe Territory. This happened two days ago, on March 25th. Local partners say that reports of sexual violence by armed groups have risen sharply in recent weeks, adding that the cases are still underreported as some victims fear retaliation.
On the same day, armed clashes resumed in the Katana area of Kabare Territory, killing at least two civilians, according to local civil society.
The fighting also temporarily blocked the road between the cities of Bukavu and Kalehe, halting the movement of humanitarian workers. With the road reopening yesterday, humanitarian groups have been able to resume their operations in the area.
Turning to the Ituri province, local sources report that the situation in the town of Fataki remains highly volatile three days after fierce clashes in the area subsided.
In Tanganyika Province, two local humanitarian workers were attacked and robbed while conducting a food security assessment in Kalemie Territory on March 24th, according to local humanitarian sources.
This attack illustrates the high risks aid workers face in the country. Since conflict escalated in the east in January, at least 11 humanitarian workers have been killed – more than in all of 2024.
OCHA is also concerned about the accelerating spread of cholera cases in eastern DRC, with outbreaks now declared in four provinces: North Kivu, South Kivu, Tanganyika and Maniema.
Our humanitarian partners are responding with treatment and outreach campaigns, but medical items, protective equipment and sanitation facilities are in short supply.
The outbreak appears to be worsening in Maniema province, where heath authorities are reporting a case fatality rate of 13 per cent – well above the 2 per cent emergency threshold. Maniema is already under strain as thousands of displaced people have arrived there since January, fleeing violence in North and South Kivu.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the situation continues to rapidly worsen. Intensified hostilities continue across the Strip, killing and injuring people and severely constraining the ability of humanitarian workers to provide life-saving support.
Ssince the ground operation commenced in Rafah on Sunday, several ambulances belonging to the Palestinian Civil Defense – as well as the Palestine Red Crescent Society – were hit while trying to rescue the wounded and their crew became trapped in the area. Contact with the teams was lost, but several casualties have been reported.
Yesterday, an OCHA and Red Crescent team attempted to help extract any casualties and recover the ambulances, but they were unable to reach the area. We have also received reports of a number of civilians still trapped in the area due to ongoing hostilities.
The UN on the ground is also attempting to organize safe passage for these civilians to leave.
OCHA reiterates that civilians must be protected under international law. Health workers, including first responders, should never be targeted. Civilians fleeing fighting must be allowed to do so safely, and they must be able to voluntarily return when the situation allows.
More people in Gaza are being forced to flee, as the Israeli authorities issue more displacement orders. Two new directives went out last night for western parts of Gaza. The area under displacement orders now covers 18 per cent of Gaza's territory.
Those newly displaced urgently need life-saving aid, including food, water, medicine and shelter.
The UN and its partners are responding to people’s deepening needs as much as the situation allows, but the complete closure of the crossings for the entry of cargo, which includes humanitarian aid – coupled with the ongoing hostilities – are making it increasingly difficult.
Tens of thousands of tents and hundreds of thousands shelter items are waiting to enter Gaza, as the crossings remain fully shut. Many families forced to flee are unable to bring any of their belongings, further intensifying the shelter crisis. Dwindling shelter stocks in Gaza are completely insufficient to meet the immense needs.
The World Food Programme warns that hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are again at risk of severe hunger and malnutrition as humanitarian stocks dwindle and crossings remain closed to aid. Ongoing insecurity and severe restrictions of movement are resulting in a significant disruption of food assistance operations.
With the deteriorating security situation, rapid displacement of people and growing needs, WFP has decided to distribute as much food as possible, as quickly as possible. WFP and their partners say they have more than 77,000 metric tonnes of food supplies outside Gaza and ready to enter if the crossings are reopened.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization warns that the health system in Gaza is in freefall. Health partners report that essential medical supplies for managing mass casualty incidents need to be restocked due to the sharp increase in trauma cases and the severity of injuries. WHO says there are fewer than 500 units of blood available, when 8,000 are needed each month. Anaesthesia and vaccines are also running out.
HAITI
From Haiti, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the humanitarian situation in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area continues to deteriorate amid armed group violence.
The extremely volatile security situation is also hindering the work of humanitarian organizations, but we and our partners continue to provide aid to people in need as security and funding permits.
UNFPA reports that two safe spaces for women and girls remain open in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and mobile teams to support gender-based violence victims are being deployed to displacement sites. However, activities have been reduced in areas due to the ongoing violence.
Last year, OCHA estimates that 3 million people received at least one form of humanitarian assistance out of 3.6 million we and our partners were aiming to reach.
This year’s Humanitarian Response Plan requires more than $900 million to support 3.9 million people – almost half of them women and children. Food security, protection and water and sanitation are among the most pressing needs, but the current plan is financed at 5 per cent at just $46 million.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Costa Rica has paid its dues in full, bringing the number of fully paid-up Member States to 84.
