HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 17 APRIL 2025
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed today took part in the second day of the Partnership for Growth Summit in Viet Nam. She joined a Business Dialogue with Leaders focused on public–private partnerships for innovation and sustainability.
Ms. Mohammed also met with Lương Cường, the State President of Viet Nam. They discussed UN–Viet Nam cooperation on the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals. They also discussed peacekeeping and climate action.
On the margins of the Summit, Ms. Mohammed also met with the Prime Minister of Viet Nam, Phạm Minh Chính, and Nguyễn Hoàng Long, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade. Their discussions centered on Viet Nam’s green and digital transformation, as well as economic diversification.
The Deputy Secretary-General also visited an electric vehicle factory in Hai Phong, where she saw first-hand how manufacturing is attracting investment, creating skilled jobs, and advancing Viet Nam’s path toward a zero-emission future.
And over the next two days the Deputy Secretary-General will chair the annual retreat of UN Resident Coordinators in the Asia and the Pacific region. The discussions will focus on accelerating SDG implementation across the region and mobilizing investments around key transitions.
She will be back in New York on Sunday.
PERMANENT FORUM ON PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT
The Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent is ending today. Before the announcement of the conclusions and recommendations of the session, there will be a closing event entitled – Haiti’s Independence Debt: 200 years later.
The event will provide an opportunity to discuss France's imposition of an “independence debt” on Haiti, the current crisis, as well as the country's deep historical connections to movements for the human dignity, rights, and self-determination of Africans and people of African descent worldwide.
The event is taking place at 3:00 p.m. – and will be broadcasted by the UN Web TV.
SUDAN
The World Food Programme (WFP) today said that one of its teams has successfully arrived today in greater Khartoum, where they are coordinating with local authorities to scale up assistance in Khartoum.
WFP aims to expand aid deliveries to nearly one million people over the coming month. WFP also said that a convoy with 14 trucks carrying over 280 metric tonnes of food and nutrition supplies has arrived in Jabal Awlia, which is south of Khartoum, and that arrival took place this morning. This area is one of the areas that is at high risk of famine, so the delivery is well needed.
These are the first aid deliveries into Jabal Awlia since last December. These first aid convoys are carrying assistance for around 23,000 people and additional trucks are en route. The convoy is just one of many planned aid deliveries into the greater Khartoum metropolitan area over the coming weeks.
Yesterday, we and our humanitarian partners delivered 1,700 metric tonnes of emergency food in Tawila in North Darfur state. Also yesterday, a local partner launched a water trucking initiative to support 10,000 newly displaced human beings with clean water in the area of El Fasher.
Meanwhile, cross-border and crossline aid deliveries continue. During the month of March, 156 trucks carrying over 5,600 metric tonnes of assistance entered Sudan via the Adre crossing from Chad, while 146 trucks transported more than 4,000 metric tonnes of aid in other parts of the country.
However, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that humanitarian access is severely undermined by delays in visa approvals for humanitarian personnel. Only 16 per cent of visa applications were approved in March – an alarming drop from previous months, which was around 50 per cent. All of that can seriously affect life-saving operations if the trend continues downwards.
All this aid is crucial to help the vulnerable communities, and our humanitarian colleagues are telling us that aid organizations are working hard to meet urgent needs.
As we have flagged this week, more than 400,000 people had to flee violence – most of them from Zamzam camp. The majority have fled to the towns of El Fasher and Tawila, where host communities are already under immense strain. And just a reminder that access to Zamzam remains completely blocked. Local authorities and partners' reports indicate that armed groups continue to shell El Fasher and surrounding areas, including Abu Shouk camp, which is obviously placing all of the civilians there at immense risk.
The UN continues to call for the immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan and urge all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, ensure the protection of civilians, and allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that the volatile situation in North and South Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to fuel the displacement crisis. The neighboring province of Tanganyika is also experiencing the impact of this instability, with thousands of displaced people sheltering in schools, which is of course disrupting the education activities of the students who will be studying there.
In North Kivu’s Rutshuru territory, more than 25,000 men, women and children, mostly people who were already displaced, have arrived in the town of Kanyabayonga, and that has been since 8 April. They have been fleeing armed violence in Walikale and Lubero territories, and they need healthcare, need food security and essential household items assistance. Support is limited in this area with only one partner being operational.
Moving to Goma, UN partners warn there that half of the displaced women and children living in collective centres are impacted by protection incidents. Resumption of basic social services in the area is required to meet basic needs and mitigate exposure to protection risks.
In Tanganyika, local authorities report that nearly 1,200 children have been unable to attend school for over a month in the village of Lukwangulo, in the Kalemie territory. An estimated 3,000 people displaced are using the two schools as shelters. Since February, the Kalemie territory has been hosting more than 50,000 displaced people. Many of them live in school facilities, churches, and other public buildings. Authorities, in coordination with OCHA, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and partners plan to relocate them to existing sites.
In South Kivu, local health officials report a cholera outbreak in the Minova area of Kalehe territory, with over 100 new cases reported between April 6th and April 12th. Response efforts are underway. They include medical treatment and infection chain control, with support from health partners. The Minova area is also experiencing a surge in Mpox cases, with 41 cases reported in week 15 compared to just 14 the week before.
In Ituri province, local health officials announced that some health services have resumed in the Fataki Hospital as of April 15th, after nearly a month of suspension due to the ongoing violence.
SOUTH SUDAN
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) today issued its annual brief on violence affecting civilians today. According to the report, which covers the year 2024, violent incidents overall increased by 15 percent compared to the previous year, and there was a concerning 51 percent increase in victims harmed by conventional parties to the conflict and other armed groups, as well as a similar rise in incidents of conflict-related sexual violence.
The report documents more than a thousand violent incidents that affected more than 3,500 civilians of which over 1,500 were killed, up to 1,300 injured, 551 abducted, and 246 subjected to conflict-related sexual violence.
Armed communal violence by community-based militias or civil defense groups remained the leading cause of harm against civilians, accounting for 79 per cent of victims.
Warrap state recorded the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries, while sexual violence was highest in Western Equatoria state. The majority of abductions took place in Central Equatoria state.
In responses to the current situation and the challenges described in the report, UNMISS has stepped up protection measures, particularly at high-risk displacement sites, by increasing patrols, reinforcing base security, and preparing its Quick Reaction Force to respond to threats.
Nicholas Haysom, the Head of UNMISS, called for urgent action by authorities and communities alike to find non-violent solutions to root causes of conflict. The Mission also reiterated the need to hold perpetrators accountable.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that humanitarian supplies are nearing total depletion since Israel imposed a full closure on the entry of cargo, including humanitarian aid, into the Gaza Strip on March 2nd. More than 2 million people remain trapped inside Gaza. Ongoing hostilities and dwindling aid supplies have driven up stress levels - especially among children - with mental health needs growing by the day. Lifesaving services are on the brink of collapse.
For example, in Gaza city, only three ambulances of the Palestine Red Crescent Society out of 30 are currently operational, and that is due to the lack of fuel to operate those ambulances. Despite these challenges, last week, health partners distributed emergency health kits to some 3,000 people in Gaza and Khan Younis.
As the Spokesperson has flagged several times, the water sector has been heavily impacted by hostilities with almost 90 per cent of the water assets including wells, pumping stations, and sewage treatment plants, either destroyed or partially damaged. The UN reiterates that Israel, as the occupying power, has clear obligations under international law, which include ensuring food, medical supplies and public health services are available, and also obligated to facilitate humanitarian relief when they are not otherwise being supplied.
Meanwhile, OCHA reports that displacement continues at scale. Partners are distributing bedding sets as more than half of the population in Gaza needs some form of emergency shelter items now. OCHA stresses that civilians must be protected, whether they leave or they stay. Those fleeing must be allowed to do so safely, and they must be able to voluntarily return when the situation allows.
In the West Bank, the Israeli forces’ operation in the northern West Bank, which has started on January 21st in Jenin, continues with thousands of people displaced and unable to return home. In Jenin and Tulkarm governorates, our humanitarian partners are providing urgent aid, including health and psychosocial support.
Meanwhile, access to education remains impeded, as more than a dozen schools in the Tulkarm, Jenin, and Nur Shams refugee camps remain closed due to operations by Israeli security forces. This deprives thousands of students from their right to education. Additionally, hundreds of students in East Jerusalem risk being unable to complete their academic year, due to the closure of educational facilities based on orders issued by the Israel to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
UKRAINE
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that yesterday evening, the city of Dnipro in east-central Ukraine was hit by a massive drone attack again. According to authorities, the attacks killed and injured civilians, including children. Apartment blocks, a school, a site for displaced people and other civilian infrastructure were damaged in the attack.
Also yesterday, heavy shelling impacted the regions of Kherson and Kharkiv, also causing civilian casualties, including children and health workers. An ambulance and multiple homes were also damaged. That is what local authorities are telling us.
OCHA said that hostilities also continue in the Donetsk region. Following the overnight attacks, aid workers in Dnipro and Kharkiv responded immediately. In coordination with first responders, they provided medical transport, hot meals, emergency shelter and psychosocial support.
SECURITY COUNCIL
The Security Council this morning held a session on Libya. Briefing Council members, Hanna Tetteh, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, said that she has engaged in extensive consultations with Libyans from all walks of life - political, military, security, judicial, oversight institutions, political parties, civil society women’s leaders and also the diplomatic community.
Ms. Tetteh stressed that political will for compromise is crucial to develop a consensual roadmap resolving Libya’s political crisis and completing the transition. Elections must be integrated into a comprehensive political framework promoting state-building by unifying and strengthening institutions.
Ms. Tetteh noted that the 2020 ceasefire agreement is largely holding but that the security situation remains volatile. She added that one of the tragic consequences of Libya’s divided institutions is the vacuum in which armed actors are able to perpetrate human rights violations with impunity.
MEDITERRANEAN
The UN Refugee Agency reminded all that tomorrow, 10 years ago, on 18 April 2015, Europe witnessed one of the largest tragedies at sea when more than 1,000 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean as their boat capsized between Libya and the Italian island of Lampedusa. Since then, UNHCR noted that 34,000 people are reported to have died or gone missing while trying to reach Europe by sea, with the actual number obviously, expected to be much higher. UNHCR pointed out that a decade on, some gains have been made in responding to distress at sea, to receive asylum-seekers and to address their needs in Europe with responsibility sharing and solidarity – principles that are now codified in the EU Pact. But UNHCR stressed that more is needed to prevent this senseless loss of life.
CHINESE LANGUAGE DAY
Sunday is Chinese Language Day. At the UN, language Days celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity.
NOON BRIEFING GUEST
On Monday, the noon briefing guest will be David Carden, the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis. He will brief journalists on the situation in Syria.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Maldives and Japan have paid their dues to the regular budget in full, bringing the number of fully paid-up Member States to 95.
