Noon briefing of 22 October 2025

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

WEDNESDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2025

SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVEL 

In Geneva today, the Secretary-General attended the annual conference of the World Meteorological Organization, which is marking its 75th anniversary. In his remarks, the Secretary-General saluted the work of the WMO, especially its rigorous modelling and forecasting. Without it, he said, we would not know what lies ahead or how to prepare for it.   

The Secretary-General underscored the need to accelerate solutions for how communities can adapt to the rapidly evolving climate crisis. He focused on the Early Warning for All Initiative that he launched in 2022 and outlined three areas for urgent action. 

First, he said that governments must embed early-warning systems across their policies, institutions and budgets. Second, Mr. Guterres said, reaching every community with an early warning system requires a surge of financing. Last, we need to address the problem of climate disasters at their source: a rapidly heating planet. 

The Secretary-General said that countries must deliver bold new national climate action plans that align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.  

In taking the floor after remarks by regional representatives, the Secretary-General said that it is clear that we will not be able to contain the rise in global warming below 1.5 degrees in the next few years. An overshoot is now inevitable, although he added that that doesn't mean that we are condemned to live with 1.5 degrees rise. With the right policies, backed by science, it will be possible for temperatures to go down again, he said. 

The Secretary-General later addressed the 16th conference of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). He said that in the new world in which we live, some things remain the same, as developing countries continue to be short-changed.  

Notably, he added, trade barriers are rising, with some least developed countries facing extortionate tariffs of 40 per cent, despite representing barely one per cent of global trade flows.  Protectionism might be inevitable in some situations but at least it should be rational, Mr. Guterres added.  

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The Secretary-General was asked in Geneva today about the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice concerning Israel’s responsibilities in the occupied Palestinian territory. He said that this is a very important decision and that he hopes that Israel will abide by it. He added that the decision comes at a moment in which we are doing everything we can to boost our humanitarian aid in Gaza, and so the advisory opinion is decisive in order for us to deal with the tragic situation in which the people of Gaza still live.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that, since the ceasefire entered into effect more than 10 days ago, the UN and its partners have made progress in scaling up our response efforts, especially in central and southern areas of the Strip. The continued closure of the Zikim and Erez crossings, which provide direct access to the north, makes it extremely challenging for the UN and partners to reach people there with vital support at the scale needed.  

UN partners monitoring population flows across Gaza report that people continue to move towards areas that were off-limits before the ceasefire. More than 425,000 movements have been reported from southern to northern parts of the Strip since 10 October.  

Yesterday, in North Gaza, UN partners visited a displacement site in Jabaliya and two schools where displaced people are sheltering in Beit Lahiya. Humanitarian workers had been unable to reach these areas prior to the ceasefire due to military operations. The more than 200 families sheltering at these sites urgently need food, water, latrines, bedding kits and hygiene items – and we and our partners are doing everything possible to scale up assistance.  

Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that although the needs are immense, we will not be overwhelmed by the task ahead to rebuild and rehabilitate Gaza’s health system.  

Yesterday, the UN teams were able to monitor goods coming through Kissufim crossing under the UN 2720 Mechanism. This was made possible after the Israeli authorities facilitated access to our teams, as we mentioned earlier this week.

Inside Gaza yesterday – and out of 10 humanitarian missions coordinated with the Israeli authorities – six were facilitated, including the collection of water tanks, hygiene kits and fuel from the crossings into Gaza. Today, we managed to collect several tankers of fuel and hundreds of pallets of baby diapers.

On Monday, at least 145 UN-coordinated trucks carrying nearly 1,500 metric tons of aid were collected from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem and Kissufim crossings – that’s according to the UN 2720 Mechanism dashboard. Almost three quarters of the aid picked up was food, but the UN and partners were also able to collect shelter materials, animal food, health supplies and water, sanitation and hygiene items.  

In terms of aid entering Gaza: On Monday, 105 trucks from the UN and its partners were offloaded at the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem and Kissufim crossings. That’s also according to the UN 2720 Mechanism dashboard. The trucks were carrying 1,600 metric tonnes of aid – more than 40 per cent of which was food. 

YEMEN 

Earlier today, 12 UN international staff who were amongst those previously held in the UN compound in Yemen departed Sana'a on a UN Humanitarian Air Service flight. Three other staff who were detained in the compound are free to move or travel. 

Currently, 53 UN colleagues remain arbitrarily detained by the de facto authorities. This is in addition to personnel from non-governmental and civil society organizations, as well as from diplomatic missions. The UN, at all levels, continues to be seized with the matter and is in constant contact with the relevant authorities in Sana’a and with concerned Member States and partners to secure their release. 

The UN renews the Secretary-General’s call for their immediate and unconditional release. 

PASSING OF THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF PORTUGAL

In answer to questions about the passing of Francisco Pinto Balsemão, the former Prime Minister of Portugal, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General said that Portugal has lost a remarkable statesman and a brilliant media figure, and Mr. Guterres said that he has lost a dear friend.

SECURITY COUNCIL/SYRIA

Earlier today, Najat Rochdi, the Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, briefed Security Council members virtually from Damascus on the situation in Syria. She said that meetings with Syrian interlocutors showed broad support for temporary electoral arrangements amid civil registration and documentation challenges. 

However, some Syrians criticized the process as rushed and opaque. She emphasized that solutions must uphold Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity, and address the Druze and Bedouin communities’ safety and rights. The UN, she underscored, stands ready to support authorities and civil society. 

From Geneva, Ramesh Rajasingham, the Director of Coordination Division at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that Syria’s humanitarian crisis is longstanding, but it is not static. The UN, he added, continues to work with the authorities and other partners to better tailor our assistance to the current needs.  

UKRAINE

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that another massive wave of overnight attacks across in Ukraine killed and injured civilians – including children. According to local authorities, the strikes mainly impacted the capital, Kyiv.

Multiple residential buildings, a school and a kindergarten in Kharkiv were damaged, as well as other civilian infrastructure, including energy and port facilities in several regions, as reported by the authorities and aid workers.  

Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy confirmed that the attacks affected energy infrastructure nationwide, triggering emergency blackouts in most regions. Power and water supply disruptions were reported, while national railway services experienced delays due to damaged lines.  

The UN, along with its humanitarian partners, were on the ground from the early hours, supporting impacted communities and complementing the work of the state emergency services.  

Today in the Kherson region, an inter-agency humanitarian convoy reached Urozhaine, a front-line community regularly impacted by shelling and drone attacks. The UN, along with its partners, delivered 11 metric tonnes of assistance for some 1,000 residents, including food, hygiene and dignity kits, warm blankets, solar lamps, and medical supplies. This was the 24th humanitarian convoy to hard-hit areas of the Kherson region this year.  

TROPICAL STORM MELISSA/HAITI  

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Melissa in the Caribbean, which could strengthen into a major hurricane, potentially impacting the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and eastern Cuba.  

Our humanitarian colleagues are working with UN partners and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Authority to step up preparedness activities. The storm is expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds to Haiti – potentially leading to flooding, landslides and power outages.  

Based on this forecast, $4 million has been allocated from the Central Emergency Response Fund for Haiti so the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) can support more than 100,000 vulnerable people before the storm hits. The funds were released as part of what we call anticipatory action efforts, which allow the humanitarian community in Haiti to get ahead of the direst consequences of storms and hurricanes.  

The response will focus on critical early warning messages and life-saving evacuation support, as well as cash transfers, emergency shelter management, and water, sanitation and hygiene kits. 

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 

United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) today said that the Mission continues to support the country’s peace process, including through the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process. 

From 16 to 20 October, the MINUSCA facilitated the disarmament and demobilization of ex-combatants in Bangui, the capital city, and in Mobaye, in the southern part of the country, providing technical, logistical, security and financial support to the national disarmament programme. 

In recent months, the two most active armed groups in the country, namely 3R and UPC have returned to the Peace Agreement. Since 10 July, 692 ex-combatants have been disarmed and demobilized, and more than 500 weapons collected. 

SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT – ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR LEGAL AFFAIRS

Today, the Secretary-General announced the appointment of Steven Hill of the United States as Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs. He succeeds Stephen Mathias, also of the United States, to whom the Secretary-General expresses his deep gratitude for his dedicated service and long-standing commitment to the Organization. 

Mr. Hill brings over twenty years of experience working on international legal issues in multilateral organizations, national government and in academia.  He is currently serving, since 2022, as Executive Secretary of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, an intergovernmental organization.  

Mr. Hill previously held the position of Legal Adviser and Director of the Office of Legal Affairs at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (2014-2020).  

METHANE REPORT  

A report released today by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) shows that government and industry responses to UNEP’s more than 3,500 satellite methane alerts climbed from one to 12 per cent in the past year. Nevertheless, UNEP stresses that action must accelerate to minimize global temperature rise and achieve the Global Methane Pledge goal of curbing methane emissions 30 per cent by 2030.  

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, noted that reducing methane emissions can quickly bend the curve on global warming, so it is encouraging that data-driven tools are helping the oil and gas industry to report on their emissions and set ambitious mitigation targets. But to keep the Paris Agreement targets within reach, she said, the important progress on reporting must translate into cuts to emissions.  

Ms. Andersen said that every company should join the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, and both governments and operators must respond to satellite alerts, and then, they must act to reduce emissions.  

GUESTS TODAY/TOMORROW 

At 2:30 p.m., there will be a briefing by Professor Ben Saul, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, and Margaret Satterthwaite, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, following the presentation of their reports to the General Assembly’s Third Committee.Then, tomorrow, the noon briefing guest will be Carlos Gabriel Ruiz Massieu Aguirre, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). He will brief journalists on the situation in Haiti.

***The guest at the Noon Briefing as Andrew Saberton, UNFPA’s Deputy Executive Director for Management. He briefed journalists on his recent visit to Gaza and the West Bank.