HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 1 MAY 2025
GAZA
In a statement today, Tom Fletcher, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, said that the hostages in Gaza must be released, but international law is unequivocal: As the occupying power, Israel must allow humanitarian support in. Aid, and the civilian lives it saves, should never be a bargaining chip, he said.
Mr. Fletcher said that the humanitarian movement is independent, impartial and neutral and believes that all civilians are equally worthy of protection. But as the UN Secretary-General has made clear, the latest modality proposed by Israeli authorities does not meet the minimum bar for principled humanitarian support.
He called on the Israeli authorities to lift this brutal blockade and let humanitarians save lives. And he told the civilians of Gaza: We won’t give up, even if the world has given you every reason to give up on us.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian warns that humanitarian operations continue to be stifled by severe movement restrictions inside Gaza, as well as military activity and attacks that jeopardize the safety of aid workers and their premises.
Recent strikes have reportedly hit residential buildings and tents sheltering displaced people, especially in Rafah and eastern Gaza City. As of this Tuesday, our humanitarian partners estimate that more than 423,000 people in Gaza have been displaced once again, with no safe place to go.
With most commodities unavailable, attacks on humanitarian convoys and looting are increasing, including two incidents in Gaza City yesterday. This not only endangers the lives of aid workers but also disrupts their operations.
The World Health Organization and its partners report severe shortages of vital medicines and medical equipment. They also warn that acute watery diarrhea cases have risen by 4 per cent compared to previous weeks, as the weather gets warmer and hygiene conditions continue to deteriorate.
Meanwhile, our colleagues on the ground have not been enabled to retrieve remaining stocks of desperately needed fuel located in areas that require coordination with Israeli authorities. Eight out of nine such attempts have been denied by the Israeli authorities since mid-April.
Our partners working to provide child protection support warn that children – who make up half of Gaza's population – face escalating levels of trauma, violence and neglect, as ongoing military operations, mass displacement, and funding shortages disrupt education and critical child protection services.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, today marks 100 days since the Israeli operation in northern areas began, causing a wave of deaths, injuries, destruction and displacement. To date, some 40,000 Palestinians remain displaced and unable to return to their homes.
The UN and our partners continue to respond to the deepening needs of displaced families, including by providing food, water and sanitation assistance, health services, psycho-social support and cash assistance. Since the beginning of the Israeli forces’ operation in the northern West Bank on 21 January, and as of yesterday, nearly 7,000 families have received a first round of cash assistance.
SUDAN
The Human Rights Office says that in the last week alone, the confirmed number of civilians killed in North Darfur was at least 542. The actual death toll is likely much higher, our colleagues warned. Reports of extrajudicial executions in Khartoum state are also extremely disturbing.
UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, said that he had personally alerted both leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to the catastrophic human rights consequences of this war. He said that it is well past time for this conflict to stop.
On the continued efforts of the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy Ramtane Lamamra, I can tell you that this week he was in Cairo where he discussed with officials there, including the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty, the recent developments in Sudan and ongoing efforts to stop the war.
They shared the view that an inclusive Sudanese-led political path is needed to restore peace in the country, preserve its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Separately, he exchanged views with Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, on coordinating efforts between the UN, the Arab League and concerned multilateral organizations to advance peace endeavors in Sudan.
Earlier this week, Mr. Lamamra was in Port Sudan and in Adis Ababa where he continued his engagements with various stakeholders.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
On the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian says that in South Kivu, fighting continues in several territories, including Uvira, Walungu and Kalehe. Two civilians were killed on April 29th in Uvira Territory.
In Kalehe territory, medical sources reported several cases of injuries received and being treated following fighting on April 29th. More than 40,000 people have fled the area, according to local authorities.
The deteriorating security situation in Kalehe territory has also forced many humanitarian organizations to suspend operations temporarily.
The situation remains volatile in Ituri province, where an attack in Djugu Territory 2 days ago killed three civilians, with many people still reported missing.
Staying in the east of the country, the Food and Agriculture Organization in its latest report says that over 80 per cent of displaced households in Masisi, in North Kivu province, are experiencing acute food insecurity, with an average food insecurity rate between 60 and 70 per cent of households in other conflict-affected territories in South-Kivu and Ituri.
The updated analysis of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification – the IPC- from March 2025 reveals an alarming deterioration in food insecurity, with over 10.3 million people experiencing acute food insecurity (Phases 3 and 4) in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika.
For its part, WHO today said they are working with health authorities to intensify emergency response efforts to control an outbreak of anthrax in which 16 suspected and one confirmed human cases have been reported in North Kivu Province in the east of the country.
AFGHANISTAN
Turning to Afghanistan, the UN today released a record $16.6 million to help vulnerable communities mitigate the effects of drought in the north and north-east of the country. This new financing – which is both the first and largest joint allocation in support of anticipatory action against drought in Afghanistan – includes $6.6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund and $10 million from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher – who is currently in Afghanistan, as you well know – stressed that with the right science and data, we can deliver faster, protect more people, and stretch scarce resources further, at a time when devastating funding cuts are deepening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.
Before the drought peaks in the coming months, we and our humanitarian partners will deliver cash and other assistance to support food security, agriculture and livestock, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, nutrition and protection.
Today in Kabul, the Under-Secretary-General met with our humanitarian partners on the ground – including NGOs and women-led organizations, as well as representatives of women civil society. Mr. Fletcher wraps up his visit to Afghanistan tomorrow.
Also, today the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a grim update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, covering the period between January and March of this year. It highlights the general situation of human rights in Afghanistan, but also with a focus on the rights of women and girls.
The mission continued to receive reports that women Afghanistan are still denied of joining the workforce, accessing services without a male relative and girls are still deprived of their right to education.
RESIDENT COORDINATOR – MALDIVES
The Secretary-General has appointed Hao Zhang of China as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Maldives, with the host Government’s approval, starting today, 1 May 2025.
Mr. Zhang brings more than 27 years of professional experience to the role, including over 14 years with the Asian Development Bank where he held a series of positions of increasing responsibility in various departments.
BRIEFING TODAY
Today Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of May will brief reporters on the Council’s programme of work for the month.
