Noon briefing of 21 January 2026

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

WEDNESDAY, 21 JANUARY 2026

SYRIA 

In response to questions about the situation in Syria, the Deputy Spokesperson said that we are closely monitoring developments on the ground and reiterate that the protection of civilians must remain paramount. 

All parties have a clear responsibility to avoid actions that could endanger civilians, inflame tensions, or trigger further displacement. 

The Secretary-General urges all parties to sustain de-escalation, uphold the ceasefire, and implement the details of the latest understanding without delay and in a spirit of compromise, with full respect for the rights, safety, and dignity of all communities. 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

As Gaza remains in the grip of winter, another hypothermia-related child death was reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health yesterday. This brings the total number of reported deaths linked to cold weather this season to nine. Once again, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs calls for urgent solutions, including allowing the entry of batteries, solar panels and other energy sources that are needed to set up communal heating spaces.  

Our food security partners have reached more 860,000 people so far this month with food packages distributed through 50 distribution points across the Strip. We also continue to provide some 1.6 million hot meals every day to people in need.   

On the health front, our partners vaccinated 3,000 children in the first two days of the 10-day vaccination campaign which began on Sunday. The campaign aims to further protect children under three from vaccine-preventable diseases.  

And on Monday, the World Health Organization facilitated another medical evacuation of 21 patients and their companions to Jordan. However, more than 18,000 patients, including 4,000 children, remain on the list of people to be evacuated to receive medical care that is not available in Gaza. WHO called on more Member States to accept these patients and for the re-opening of the medical evacuation route to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.   

Most of the people in Gaza continue to be uprooted, with some 1.3 million people estimated to be spread over 970 sites across Gaza – the majority of them in the cities of Deir al Balah and Khan Younis.   

Our partners working on water, sanitation and hygiene warn that approximately 70 per cent of Gaza City’s total water production is currently disrupted, due to challenges related to repairing the Mekorot water supply line. The line comes from Israel into Gaza and is located east of the so-called “Yellow Line,” where Israeli forces remain deployed.   

An assessment of the pipeline identified the need for a section of steel pipe that is not available in Gaza and is restricted from entry into Gaza as a “dual use” item. A request that one of our partners made to repair the Safa well, another important water source for Gaza City, was denied by the Israeli authorities on Sunday.   

Our partners are looking at alternative water sources and scaling up water trucking to ensure continued access to safe water. OCHA reiterates the need for expanded access, including to critical items deemed as “dual use,” without which improvements to the most basic of services – such as access to safe water – will not happen.    

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS 

The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is departing Switzerland later today and will continue to Copenhagen, Denmark, where she will deliver a keynote address to the Danish Parliament on the topic “The Future of the United Nations in a Turbulent World”. During her visit, she will also meet with senior government officials on the UN–Denmark partnership and discuss pathways to advance the 2030 Agenda.  

Following her visit to Copenhagen, the Deputy Secretary-General will also travel to France, where she will participate in the International Day of Education event organized by UNESCO on Friday 23 January. The event is focused on the role of youth in co-creating education systems that are inclusive, resilient, and fit for the future and will build on the outcomes of the Transforming Education Summit, highlighting the importance of youth leadership and partnership in advancing education reform. During her visit, she will also meet with senior government officials and other stakeholders. 

The Deputy Secretary-General will return to New York on Monday [26 January].  

SUDAN 

Turning to Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is concerned by the plight of thousands of civilians who are cut off from aid in North Darfur State. 

With active conflict continuing to escalate in the north-western part of the State, local partners report that at least 2,000 families are trapped in the valleys of Wadi Qardi and Um Saad in the localities of Karnoi and Um Baru. OCHA tells us that fighting in the area is severely restricting humanitarian access. 

Meanwhile, conflict continues to displace people in the Kordofan region. The International Organization for Migration estimates that nearly 3,000 people were displaced between January 15th and 19th from the cities of Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan State, with some moving towards locations in White Nile State. 

Both cities remain under siege amid ongoing fighting, as extreme food insecurity deepens, with famine conditions confirmed in Kadugli and similarly extreme levels of food insecurity in Dilling. 

OCHA calls on all parties to immediately protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and ensure rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access to people in need. 

In White Nile State, local authorities and our humanitarian partners report that nearly 2,000 people have arrived in the city of Kosti over the past three weeks, placing more pressure on already overstretched services. Since late October, some 19,500 people have fled Kordofan to White Nile State. 

We and our partners are scaling up assistance, including food rations, tents, mattresses, tarpaulins, and water, sanitation and hygiene services, but critical gaps remain due to funding shortages. 

OCHA appeals for additional funding so humanitarian partners can scale up life-saving assistance. This year, we and our partners in Sudan are calling for $2.9 billion under the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan to reach more than 20 million people in need. 

MOZAMBIQUE  

From Mozambique, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that the number of people impacted by the floods has climbed to 600,000. Many of the temporary centers sheltering some of those people affected by the floods are overcrowded and in need of humanitarian support. According to authorities, nearly 80,000 homes have been destroyed, damaged or flooded in Mozambique.  

Meanwhile, in the province of Gaza, one of the worst impacted areas, the Massingir Dam remains above its safe operating level and continues to release very high volumes of water to reduce pressure on the structure. This is contributing to elevated river levels and ongoing downstream flooding, including in areas already affected.  

We, along with our humanitarian partners continue to support the Government-led response efforts, which are focused on evacuations and also on improving accommodations centers. Our partners are providing water, sanitation and hygiene support, among other aid.  

For its part, the UN Children’s Fund warned that flooding is not just destroying homes, schools, health centres and roads in Mozambique. It is turning unsafe water, disease outbreaks and malnutrition into a deadly threat for children. UNICEF warned that waterborne diseases and malnutrition are a lethal combination.  

UNICEF pointed out that even before the recent floods, almost four out of every ten children in Mozambique were experiencing chronic malnutrition. Renewed disruption to food supplies, health services and care practices now threaten to push the most vulnerable into a dangerous spiral, including risks of acute and severe acute malnutrition. 

BANGLADESH 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched an emergency response following a large fire in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar early yesterday morning.  

Relief efforts are being carried out in close coordination with the Government of Bangladesh as well as humanitarian partners to ensure timely and appropriate assistance to impacted families.   

The fire affected more than 2,000 refugees, causing extensive damage to shelters and facilities. No fatalities or major injuries have been reported.   

Beyond the destruction of shelters, the fire also destabilized the hillside terrain on which much of the camp is constructed, damaging drainage networks and public infrastructure, and increasing risks related to access and erosion.  

After the fire was contained, IOM deployed health teams and ambulances to support those with minor injuries and worked with partners to rapidly assess damage and immediate needs.  

In coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP), emergency food assistance was provided, while affected households received emergency shelter assistance, blankets, floor mats, mosquito nets, and portable solar lights.  

SECURITY COUNCIL 

This afternoon, the Security Council will meet for an open session on Haiti. The head of our political mission in Haiti, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, as well as the Acting Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), John Brandolino, will brief council members. 

And, tomorrow, you will hear more from Mr. Massieu as he will be here as our guest to discuss the situation in Haiti.   

GLOBAL FOREIGN INVESTMENT 

The latest report by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), based on preliminary estimates, shows that global foreign direct investment (FDI) rose 14 per cent in 2025 to $1.6 trillion.  But the report highlights that the headline growth overstates the recovery.  A large share of the increase came from flows through global financial centres, while real investment activity remained fragile. 

UNCTAD notes that investment patterns point to widening divides between developed and developing economies, growing concentration in a small number of strategic sectors, and persistent weakness in projects most critical for sustainable development. 

HONOUR ROLL 

The full payments to the Regular Budget from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway and Switzerland bring the number of Member States on the Honour Roll to 22.