Noon briefing of 22 January 2026

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

THURSDAY, 22 JANUARY 2026

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL 

The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, is in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she delivered a keynote address at the Danish Parliament on "the future of the United Nations in a turbulent world." 

In her remarks, she underscored that the UN Charter remains our moral compass and called for a renewed commitment to multilateralism rooted in solidarity, international law, and human dignity. She warned against the erosion of the rules-based international order and urged Member States to protect and modernize the multilateral system, by securing peace, investing in sustainable development, and helping to reset the United Nations to deliver more effectively for people and planet. 

While in Copenhagen, the Deputy Secretary-General met with Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs.  

They discussed Denmark–UN collaboration, including Denmark’s long-standing leadership in development cooperation (and particularly its support for the Resident Coordinator system) as well as its current membership the Security Council. The Deputy Secretary-General also met with Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities. They discussed priorities on climate action.  

The Deputy Secretary-General also met with representatives from Nordic countries to discuss ongoing UN reforms and shared development priorities. 

Tomorrow, she will travel to UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to mark the International Day of Education.  

SYRIA/AL HOL CAMP 

Turning to the situation in Syria, and in particular to Al Hol camp in Hasakeh. Our colleagues from the UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF tell us that yesterday their teams reached the camp following its takeover by the Syrian Government. Our colleagues tell us that the situation in the camp was tense and volatile, with reports of looting and burning. As a result, it was not possible for the mission to enter the camp. The teams, however, held a constructive discussion with the government. 

The Government of Syria has expressed its willingness to provide security and support to UNHCR and humanitarian partners so that humanitarian operations can continue. 

We underscore the importance of ensuring that the transfer of ISIL detention facilities presently under Syrian Democratic Forces control to the Syrian government takes place in an orderly manner, in line with international standards. 

SYRIA/SECURITY COUNCIL  

Back here, against the backdrop of developments in northern and northeastern Syria, the Security Council held an open briefing this morning.  

Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari reiterated the Secretary-General’s concern over ongoing violence. He called for respect for international law and the protection of civilians, reaffirming our support for an inclusive Syrian political transition. 

For her part, Edem Wosornu, the director of OCHA’s Crisis Response Division, said that recent clashes displaced tens of thousands of people in Aleppo, disrupting basic services and humanitarian access.  

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that people across the Strip are struggling to meet their needs as the humanitarian scale-up remains restricted.   

Yesterday, the UN Population Fund reported that there are increased risks of gender-based violence, child marriage and exploitation. It says that damage to health facilities, safe spaces and clinics – combined with displacement, movement restrictions and flooding – has sharply limited access to psychosocial support and medical care.   

Since Sunday and as of yesterday, our partners leading on emergency shelter assistance have reached over 13,000 households, distributing hundreds of tents and thousands of tarpaulins. 

Our partners also continued to distribute mattresses, sleeping bags, blankets, warm clothes, cooking utensils and solar lights.                                                        

Our partners responsible for site management report that – due to capacity and funding constraints – they are currently able to provide support in just around 40 per cent of the existing 970 displacement sites across the Gaza Strip.  

Moving to the West Bank, OCHA reports that over 100 Palestinian Bedouin and herding households from five communities across the central West Bank were displaced in just two weeks – between January 6th and 19th – due to ongoing settler attacks, threats and intimidation. These attacks have prevented residents from reaching their homes, pastures and water.   

Yesterday, UNFPA reported that the ongoing operations by Israeli forces along with settler violence and movement restrictions continue to disrupt people’s access to schools, workplaces, markets and health care.  

The agency estimated that more than 230,000 women and girls, including nearly 15,000 pregnant women, have limited access to reproductive health services due to the escalation of violence. 

 SOUTH SUDAN 

In South Sudan, escalating conflict in Jonglei State has prompted our Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, to allocate $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to deliver urgent assistance to nearly 180,000 displaced people. 

The funds will support food assistance, healthcare, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene services, as well as the prevention of gender-based violence and violence against children. 

Since the end of December, conflict has forced more than 200,000 people from their homes. Women and girls, children, people with disabilities, and older persons face heightened risks of violence and exploitation. 

A government-declared no-fly zone in Jonglei State, alongside insecurity and bureaucratic constraints, continues to limit humanitarian access.                    

Around 15 non-governmental organizations are providing essential aid with the limited resources available. 

This year, we and our partners are appealing for nearly $1.5 billion to support more than 4 million people in need. 

MOZAMBIQUE  

Turning to Mozambique. The Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to respond to the widespread floods in the country. The new funds will support the Government-led response in the flood-affected districts in Gaza and neighboring provinces, including Maputo and Sofala.  

Meanwhile, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that a total of 350,000 people are estimated to have been displaced by the flooding.  

We, along with our partners, continue to step up our efforts, with boats available for search-and-rescue operations. Two World Food Programme amphibious vehicles have been deployed to reach areas inaccessible by road.                        

WFP is stretching its limited resources to the maximum to support 375,000 of the most impacted people with a seven-day emergency food kits. OCHA also says that a revised 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan will be launched tomorrow by the Government of Mozambique and the UN to reflect the humanitarian needs related to the widespread floods.  

For its part, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is also scaling up its emergency response in Mozambique. IOM teams are working across priority locations to improve conditions in accommodation centres, strengthen coordination, and ensure the protection of those most at risk. IOM said that health, water and sanitation, and protection teams are being mobilized to ease pressure on overcrowded accommodation centres, improve basic services, and support the safety and dignity of displaced families.                                  

SUDAN 

Turning to Sudan, we are alarmed by the growing impact of drone attacks in North Kordofan State, which are endangering civilians and further constraining humanitarian access. 

On Tuesday, multiple drone strikes were reported in some villages located south-east of the state capital El Obeid. These areas lie along a critical logistics corridor and the attacks risk severing the city’s eastern supply lines. 

Another strike was reported on the same day in the village of Wadi Al-Hout, about 30 kilometres north of El Obeid, underscoring the increasing frequency and geographic spread of aerial attacks across the state. 

At the same time, the International Organization for Migration estimates that yesterday, more than 2,400 people were displaced from several villages in the locality of Um Dam Haj Ahmed in North Kordofan.         

Continued insecurity is placing civilians at heightened risk and further restricting the movement of humanitarian supplies. We underscore that all parties must protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and ensure rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access. 

Meanwhile, in the locality of Tawila in North Darfur State, our partners report serious shortfalls in food assistance for newly arrived displaced families in Daba Naira camp, highlighting the urgent need to scale up food distributions. 

Also on food, the World Food Progamme says that despite severe access and funding constraints, it reached 3.6 million people in December, including 1.7 million in Darfur. However, WFP warns that by the end of March, it will have exhausted its food stocks in Sudan and urgently requires $700 million to sustain life-saving operations through June.                                                       

We urge donors to step up support. In 2026, we and our partners are calling for $2.9 billion to reach more than 20 million people who are in urgent need of assistance.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 

From the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affaris (OCHA) tells us that the humanitarian situation in the provinces of North and South Kivu continues to worsen, marked by more civilian casualties, displacement and mounting threats to humanitarian operations. 

In the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu, our partners report that, between 12 and 19 January, at least 50 civilians were killed and about a dozen others injured during a series of armed attacks and clashes. 

In the Uvira territory of South Kivu, local civil society reports that at least 12 civilians have been killed by armed groups since January 18th. Fearing more violence, at least 2,400 people fled from the city of Uvira to the locality of Kamanyola, where they are staying with host families and in collective centers. Their most urgent needs include food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene services, protection and health care.                  

Humanitarian access remains a major challenge in South Kivu, particularly in Fizi territory, where the closure of key roads due to insecurity has disrupted operations, including the delivery of medical supplies to respond to cholera.  

Yesterday, in the town of Baraka, armed people entered some compounds of our humanitarian partners, threatening staff and attempting to requisition humanitarian assets.  

We strongly condemn attacks on civilians and threats against humanitarian workers. We urge all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to facilitate safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access. 

NIGERIA 

Turning to Nigeria. Our colleagues at the World Food Programme (WFP) warn that more than one million people in northeast Nigeria could soon lose access to vital food and nutrition assistance, unless urgent funding is secured.  

For the first time in the country, WFP will be forced to sharply scale back its support, reaching only 72,000 people. Nigeria is facing one of its worst hunger crises in a decade, with nearly 35 million people projected to experience acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season. In Borno State alone, around 15,000 people risk catastrophic hunger, that’s one step from famine. Ongoing violence, displacement and rising malnutrition are deepening the crisis. WFP urgently needs $129 million to sustain life-saving assistance over the next six months. 

VENEZUELA 

Turning to Venezuela. We, along with our partners, continue to deliver aid in the country.  

The Pan American Health Organization reports that a shipment of 23 metric tonnes of medical supplies arrived in Venezuela on 20 January from Brazil to support the national hemodialysis and nephrology programme. This is part of a 300‑tonne assistance package, coordinated with Venezuelan health authorities, for treatment to continue for around 8,000 patients, including more than 500 children. 

Our humanitarian colleagues said that our partners are also providing psychosocial and mental‑health support where resources allow, as reports of cases of psychological and emotional abuse, as well as gender‑based violence are on the rise. 

As a reminder, Venezuela was among the most underfunded humanitarian operations in 2025, with the protection sector, which includes child protection and gender‑based violence, among the least funded. This year, we need $606 million to support 5.4 million people in need. 

THE STATE OF FINANCE FOR NATURE 2026/REPORT  

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today released a report showing that for every $1 the world invests in protecting nature, it spends $30 on destroying it. The report, “The State of Finance for Nature 2026”, which uses data for 2023, found $7.3 trillion in total nature-negative finance flows.  

Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of UNEP, noted that while financing nature-based solutions crawls forward, harmful investments and subsidies are surging ahead. She said that that report offers leaders a clear roadmap to reverse this trend and work with nature, rather than against it.  

MICROSOFT 

Microsoft announced yesterday that it will support the United Nations in its UN80 reform efforts. The measures include support for a proposed UN80 Innovation Fund, initiatives to improve the affordability of core digital tools across the UN system, expanded training to strengthen AI and digital readiness among the UN workforce, and the convening of private sector partners to complement UN led reform efforts. 

Through this initiative, Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, in his role as an SDG Advocate, is offering practical support to help equip the United Nations to respond effectively to today’s global challenges amid rising demands and constrained resources. 

Through this initiative, Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, in his role as an SDG Advocate, is offering practical support to help equip the United Nations to respond effectively to today’s global challenges amid rising demands and constrained resources. 

STAFF SECURITY 

At least 21 United Nations personnel — 12 peacekeeping personnel and 9 civilians — were killed in deliberate attacks in 2025, the United Nations Staff Union Committee on Security said today. A related press release will be available today. 

HONOUR ROLL 

Nauru paid its full dues to the Regular Budget. This brings the number of Member States on the Honour Roll to 23. 

**Guest – Today  

Noon briefing guest today is Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti.