Noon briefing of 18 December 2025

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

THURSDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2025

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY  

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that UN agencies and more than 200 international and local non-governmental organizations issued a statement yesterday urging the international community to take immediate and concrete actions to press the Israeli authorities to lift all impediments to NGO operations and humanitarian access across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in the Gaza Strip.   

They warned that restrictive policies – including a new registration system for international NGOs that relies on vague and politicized criteria – are undermining relief efforts and risk the collapse of the humanitarian response.   

They also stress that many essential supplies such as food, medicine, hygiene items and shelter materials remain stuck outside Gaza - and that dozens of international NGOs face deregistration and forced closure by year’s end. The loss of NGO capacity would severely disrupt life-saving services including healthcare, nutrition treatment, water and sanitation, and emergency shelter at a time when needs are acute and alternatives cannot fill the gap.  

The UN and our partners continue our efforts to scale up assistance across the Gaza Strip despite these challenges, with a focus on providing winter support to mitigate the impact of harsh weather conditions.   

Our partners say that since the ceasefire came into effect in mid-October and as of Tuesday, they have distributed multi-purpose cash assistance to nearly 139,000 households, compared with over 40,000 in September.   

Each household received digital payments equivalent to about 378 US dollars. Altogether, more than 305,000 households in the Gaza Strip have received at least one payment this year.                                                                                                    

Our partners providing education services report that on Tuesday, they distributed hygiene materials to more than 90 temporary learning spaces across the Strip, benefiting nearly 115,000 school-age children.  These supplies are particularly critical during the winter rainy season, as they improve sanitation conditions and reduce health risks in overcrowded spaces.  

Also on Tuesday, three new temporary learning spaces were established in northern Gaza – two in Gaza City and one in North Gaza governorate – bringing the total number of operational learning spaces across the Strip to more than 400. Several multi-purpose tents were also installed to foster safer learning environments for enrolled students, many of whom are receiving education for the first time.   

Finally, our health partners report that constraints affecting the entry into Gaza of emergency medical teams have eased somewhat in recent weeks. Denial rates have fallen to about 20 per cent, compared with 30 to 35 per cent before the ceasefire. There are currently more than 340 emergency medical team staff in Gaza. 

COLONIALISM 

The General Assembly this morning observed the 65th anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.  And it also observed the International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations.  

The Secretary-General, in remarks delivered by Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Elizabeth Spehar, said that the United Nations helped more than 60 territories – home to over 80 million people – pursue self-determination and emerge as independent states. But he added that the legacy is unfinished, with 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remaining.   

And he added that the Security Council, the international financial system, and other pillars of global governance bear the imprint of a world that no longer exists – a world of empires, not of equals. He said we must end colonialism in its traditional forms and dismantle its remnants wherever they endure.   

SYRIA/SECURITY COUNCIL 

This morning, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, briefed Security Council members on the situation in Syria. She said that Syria has made significant progress over the past year, including restoring state institutions and enabling large-scale returns of refugees and internally displaced people. She warned, however, that the situation remains fragile. 

Ms. DiCarlo stressed that inclusive dialogue, security sector reform and sustained international support are essential, and reaffirmed that the United Nations stands ready to support the Syrian people throughout this transition. 

For her part, Joyce Msyua, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, told the Council members that Syria’s transition from humanitarian aid to recovery and reconstruction will require broad partner support for government-led efforts. She added that supply routes are normalizing as cross-border operations wind down. But with the 2025 humanitarian appeal only 30 per cent funded, millions remain without help, forcing reductions, disruptions, and difficult prioritization decisions, while needs will remain immense next year. 

SUDAN 

Turning to Sudan, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights today called for an impartial, thorough and effective investigation into the attack on the Zamzam internally displaced persons camp in April. 

According to a report published today, at least 1,013 civilians were killed during the offensive from 11 to 13 April, in what the report describes as “a consistent pattern of serious violations of international humanitarian law and gross abuses of international human rights law.” 

The report details widespread killings, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and abductions committed during the three-day offensive by the Rapid Support Forces on the Zamzam camp. 

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said those responsible for serious violations of international law must be held accountable through fair proceedings. 

Meanwhile, we and our partners in Tawila continue to support people displaced from the state capital El Fasher and surrounding areas, as well as the Zamzam displacement camp, but needs remain overwhelming, resources scarce and insecurity continues to hamper the response.  

Across the Kordofan region, our humanitarian colleagues tell us they are deeply concerned by reports of escalating drone attacks and shelling that continue to harm civilians and drive new displacement. 

In South Kordofan State, multiple drone strikes and shelling have reportedly hit civilian areas in recent days, including the town of Dilling and the state capital Kadugli.                                

The violence has forced families to flee Dilling on foot towards Kadugli, along routes where landmines and other dangers have been reported. The journey is especially perilous for the most vulnerable – including children, pregnant and lactating women, and older people. 

More than 50,000 people have been displaced since late October from locations across the Kordofan region due to heightened insecurity, according to the International Organization for Migration. 

In South Kordofan, our partners report that more than 1,900 people have arrived in the locality of Abu Jubeihah in the past three days. They are now sheltering in temporary settlements and urgently need food, nutrition, safe drinking water, health services and protection, at a time when humanitarian assistance remains severely overstretched and access is limited. 

In North Darfur State, local sources report that drone strikes in recent days caused civilian casualties and displacement in the localities of Kutum, Melit, Um Baro, Tina and Saraf Omra. 

The impact of drone attacks is also being felt beyond front-line areas in Sudan. In the early hours of today, drone strikes on power stations in Atbara, in River Nile State, triggered widespread blackouts – disrupting electricity supplies across multiple towns. 

With just a couple of weeks left in the year, Sudan’s humanitarian response plan is only 36 per cent funded, with $1.5 billion received out of the $4.2 billion required. We urgently call on donors to step up support to close the funding gap and sustain life-saving assistance.   

HAITI 

In Haiti, this morning in Port-au-Prince, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Nicole Kouassi, launched the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2026. 

The Plan seeks $880 million to support 4.2 million vulnerable Haitians out of 6.4 million people who need aid and are bearing the brunt of violence at the hands of armed groups. 

Internal displacement triggered by armed violence has doubled in a year. In September 2025, nearly 1.4 million people were internally displaced, representing 12 per cent of Haiti’s total population. 

Widespread insecurity in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and its gradual spread to regional zones have caused displacement, stifled Haiti’s economy and limited people’s access to food. Some 5. 7 million people, which is half of Haiti’s population, are currently going hungry every day. That number is expected to increase to 5.9 million people during the lean season that runs from March to June. 

The impact of armed violence on women and girls has been devastating. Our partners have recorded an average of 27 new cases of gender-based violence per day between January and September 2025. More than half of those are cases of sexual violence. Worse still, collective rapes account for two thirds of reported cases of sexual violence. 

Ms. Kouassi underlined that despite the immense scale of the needs, the $908 million Haiti humanitarian appeal for this year is only 23 per cent funded, with $206 million mobilized.  

She calls for renewed, substantial, and sustained international support. 

VENEZUELA 

The Deputy Spokesman said we informed journalists yesterday about the Secretary-General’s phone call from Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan President, regarding the current tensions in the region. 

During the call, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the United Nations' position on the need for Member States to respect international law, particularly the United Nations Charter, exercise restraint and de-escalate tensions to preserve regional stability.  

AVIATION 

The United Nations and the Government of Ukraine held their second annual Aviation Talks yesterday. The meeting took place virtually. 

The two parties highlighted the strong cooperation between the United Nations and Ukraine-registered civil aviation service providers in implementing UN mandates. Discussions covered regulatory oversight, aviation safety, and future outlooks for UN aviation activities.  

The meeting reinforced the technical working relationship between respective aviation specialists, aiming to further enhance the quality and safety of air transportation services for the UN. Both parties agreed to continue this dialogue on a regular basis.   

INTERNATIONAL DAYS 

Today is International Migrants Day. Since 2014, nearly 70,000 migrants have died or gone missing along land and sea routes. As borders tighten, smugglers and traffickers thrive, and women and children face the greatest risks. 

In his message, the Secretary-General says migration drives progress and development, but when poorly governed it fuels fear and puts lives at risk. He urges solidarity, safe pathways and respect for migrants’ rights. 

And today we honour the Arabic language — a language of history, culture, and dialogue. On World Arabic Day, we say: may its words continue to connect people and build bridges across the world.  

**Guest today 

The guest at the Noon briefing was the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Palestine Representative, Antoine Renard. He briefed reporters from Gaza City on the situation there.