Noon briefing of 8 January 2026

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

THURSDAY, 8 JANUARY 2026

US/UN ENTITIES

The Secretary-General regrets the announcement by the White House regarding the United States’ decision to withdraw from a number of United Nations entities. 

As we have consistently said and underscored, assessed contributions to the United Nations regular budget and the peacekeeping budget, as approved by the General Assembly, are a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all Member States, including the United States. 

All United Nations entities will go on with the implementation of their mandates as given to us by Member States.  

The United Nations has a responsibility to deliver for all those who depend on us, and we will continue to carry out our mandates with determination. 

LEBANON 

On the announcement by the Lebanese Armed Forces that they have assumed operational control of the area south of the Litani River, the Spokesman for Secretary-General said that the UN very much welcome this progress. 

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plascheart, remains in contact with all parties to encourage further progress in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, as well as the cessation of hostilities agreement.

While more work lies ahead as the Lebanese Armed Forces moves to other phases of the government-approved plan to establish exclusive state control over arms, today’s milestone showcases the commitment of the Lebanese army, the Lebanese authorities and underscores the role of the Mechanism established in November 2024 cessation of hostilities agreement.

As an example of the work that UN peacekeepers have been doing since the cessation of hostilities agreement came into play on November 2024, the Spokesman said that UN peacekeepers have discovered 405 weapons caches in their area of operations. As per their mandate, these discoveries were reported to the Lebanese Army. During the same period of time, the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been conducting thousands of operational activities, including various kinds of foot patrols and vehicle patrols, as well as many checkpoints, escorts, and other work.

SECURITY COUNCIL/SYRIA 

This morning, Security Council members held a briefing on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2118 concerning the elimination of the chemical weapons programme in the Syrian Arab Republic. Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs,Adedeji Ebo, briefed Council members. He reported continued engagement between the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Syrian authorities, and confirmed the need for sustained international support, and the importance of ensuring safe access to sites located in insecure areas. 

SYRIA/HUMANITARIAN 

The Secretary-General continues to be gravely alarmed by the escalating hostilities that we are seeing in Aleppo and by the mounting reports of civilian casualties. Tens of thousands of people are reported to have been displaced as the situation continues to deteriorate. 

Representatives of the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria continue to be in contact with all concern parties.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that as of yesterday, at least five civilians – including two women and one child – were reportedly killed, and dozens more injured. That is what local authorities on the ground are telling us 

Several health facilities have also been impacted, including Zahi Azarak Hospital, Ibn Rished Hospital, and Othman Hospital, with some reportedly ceasing operations due to the damage and the attacks. 

Movement restrictions have been imposed on key roads. 

Since yesterday morning, thousands of families have fled their homes, with many seeking shelter with host communities in Aleppo city and the various district of Afrin. 

Authorities announced the opening of two humanitarian corridors through Awared and Zuhour for civilians to evacuate. Schools, universities and government institutions have all halted activities. Flights to and from Aleppo International Airport remain suspended as of now. 

UN humanitarian partners are mobilizing resources to respond to the growing displacement. Today, a UN team in Aleppo carried out an assessment mission to Yad Al Aoun camp in Afrin to evaluate immediate needs and the capacity to respond. 

PEACEKEEPING/MIDDLE EAST 

The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix is continuing his travels in the Middle East. He is in fact in Syria today. During this leg of his regional visit, he will travel to the Golan Heights to visit members of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). He will also be meeting with Syrian authorities in the capital Damascus. 

Mr. Lacriox spent the last few days in Lebanon, meeting senior officials and visiting UN Peacekeepers. He highlighted UNIFIL’s ongoing role in preserving stability and advancing the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 through the end of its mandate in December of this year. He was also briefed on the Mission’s work under challenging conditions and the situation along the Blue Line. 

Following his stay in Syria, he will go on to Jordan and then to Israel, and he will also, while there, visit the headquarters of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that, despite impediments, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support the most vulnerable families that have been affected by the harsh winter conditions and dire consequences of the past two years of this ongoing crisis.   

Over the past days, one of our partners distributed 7,000 dignity kits, more than 5,600 dignified family hygiene kits, and 1.3 million bars of soap to some 200,000 people in northern and southern Gaza.   

UN partners providing emergency shelter materials report that, in recent days, they have reached more than 16,000 households across Gaza with shelter supplies and other essential items. These included more than 3,300 tents, 8,700 tarpaulins, 300 sealing-off kits to weatherproof makeshift shelters, and more than 700 kits to stabilize and reinforce those shelters.  

To address the needs for the winter, our partners have distributed more than 7,000 blankets, 3,900 mattresses, and more than 1,000 bedding kits to improve sleeping conditions for families exposed to cold weather conditions. In addition, more than 2,500 kitchen sets have been distributed, and more than 880 households received clothing assistance through in-kind modalities.  

Our partners also tell us that water trucking operations are continuing, with 36 partners distributing daily more than 21,500 cubic metres of freshwater to some 2,350 water collection points across the Gaza Strip.  

In parallel, temporary learning spaces continue to expand across the Strip. To date, more than 420 learning spaces are operational, serving more than 230,000 students supported by over 5,500 teachers.   

UN partners note that scaling up learning spaces for school-age children remains a critical priority; however, this depends on the timely entry of essential supplies, which continue to be denied entry by the Israeli authorities, who say that education is not a critical activity during the first phase of the ceasefire, which we continue to be in.  

Additionally, renovation work is advancing in public schools. Some 10 classrooms, two administrative rooms and two storage facilities have been recently completed in two schools in Gaza City, giving more than 1,800 children access to education.  

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) facilitated the evacuation of 18 patients and their 36 companions from Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing for medical treatment outside of the Gaza Strip.  

And just a quick update on what is going on in the West Bank, OCHAsaid that, over the past two weeks, dozens of tents and makeshifts shelters in Palestinian Bedouin and herding communities across the West Bank have been damaged or destroyed due to severe winter weather.   

OCHA also warns of the ongoing destruction of Palestinian-owned properties by Israeli authorities for lack of Israeli-issued building permits that are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain.   

Over the past two weeks, Israeli authorities demolished 50 structures in Area C and East Jerusalem, displacing more than 50 Palestinians and affecting the livelihood of some 14,000 people.   

YEMEN 

Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, continues his engagement with Yemeni, regional, and international actors, with discussions focused on de-escalation and a Yemeni-led political process. 

Today, he concluded a visit to Riyadh, where he met with the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, the Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaya Zindani, and other senior Yemeni officials, as well as representatives of the five permanent Member States of the Security Council.  

The meetings addressed recent developments in Yemen and their broader implications. The Special Envoy said the PLC President’s call for a Saudi-hosted southern dialogue offers a timely opportunity to ease tensions and advance stabilization, stressing the importance of inclusive dialogue for the sake of the country’s future and for the sake of its people. 

SOUTH SUDAN 

From South Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that a surge in conflict and airstrikes in Jonglei State has forced people to flee their homes and also disrupted humanitarian operations to serve South Sudanese people. 

Since December 29th, renewed fighting has displaced some 100,000 people, mostly women, children and older people. That is in several counties, and it is what local authorities, and our humanitarian partners are telling us. Most of these people are sheltering in remote areas out of fear of further attacks, while others have fled to neighbouring states. On Tuesday, authorities in Lakes State said they have registered more than 11,000 people that have arrived from Jonglei. 

In northern Jonglei State, several humanitarian organizations have relocated staff due to the insecurity as well as instructions by parties to evacuate the area. 

Humanitarian organizations continuing to operate with local staff reporting growing challenges, including in the restocking of health facilities, and sustaining other essential activities. The situation is further compounded by reports from several organizations that their facilities and assets have been looted or confiscated by parties to the conflict. 

Despite all these challenges, OCHA is continuing to engage with all parties so aid can reach people safely, and people desperately need help.

Just as a reminder, last year, more than 715,000 people were displaced by conflict and floods in South Sudan. 

UKRAINE 

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)today said that according to authorities, between yesterday and this morning, attacks across Ukraine killed and injured several civilians, while damaging critical energy and port infrastructure in the regions of Dnipro, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia. Nearly two million people have been left without electricity, as temperatures have dropped close to zero Celsius. 

OCHA notes that heating, water supply, mobile communications and public electric transport were also disrupted. The Mayor of Dnipro City declared a national-level emergency due to the interruption of basic services. 

In the city of Kryvyi Rih, also in the Dnipro [region], yesterday’s strikes were reportedly among the largest combined attacks since the start of the full-scale war.   

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, has called for the protection of civilians amid these harsh winter conditions.  

Nationwide scheduled power outages continue for four to eight hours every day due to the continuing attacks on energy infrastructure. That is what the national grid operator is telling our colleagues. Humanitarian organizations are responding by distributing emergency shelter materials, winter supplies and warm blankets, and by providing heating points and psychosocial support to help impacted people. 

***The guests at the Noon Briefing were the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Navid Hanif, along with Shantanu Mukherjee, who is DESA’s Director of Economic Analysis and Policy Division, and Ingo Pitterle, DESA’s Senior Economist and Officer-in-Charge of the Global Economic Monitoring Branch. The launched the World Economic Situation and Prospects report 2026.