Noon briefing of 13 February 2026

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

FRIDAY, 13 FEBRUARY 2026

PROGRAMMING NOTE 

There will be a stakeout right after this briefing, at approximately 1:00 p.m., by Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations, at the Security Council Stakeout.

RAMADAN MESSAGE 

In a message marking the start of the holy month of Ramadan, the Secretary-General says this month is a sacred period of reflection and prayer, representing a noble vision of hope and peace. Yet, for too many members of the human family, this vision remains distant. From Afghanistan to Yemen, from Gaza to Sudan and beyond, people continue to suffer from conflict, hunger, displacement and discrimination. 

In these difficult and divided times, the Secretary-General calls on all to heed Ramadan’s enduring message, to bridge divides, deliver help and hope to those in need, and safeguard the rights and dignity of every person. 

SECRETARY-GENERAL/AI  

As you have seen, yesterday we issued a statement by the Secretary-General upon the appointment of the members of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence by the General Assembly. He noted that the 40 members were selected from more than 2,600 candidates, after independent review by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, and UNESCO.  

In a world where AI is racing ahead, the Secretary-General said, this Panel will provide what’s been missing, which is rigorous, independent scientific insight that enables all Member States, regardless of their technological capacity, to engage on an equal footing. The Secretary-General added that he is confident their work will inform collective dialogue on AI, and support decisions based on evidence and solidarity.  

AFRICAN UNION/SECRETARY-GENERAL 

The Secretary-General is now in Addis Ababa. 

He started the day by meeting the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. 

Throughout the day, the Secretary-General had bilateral meetings with several African leaders. He also met with the incoming Chairperson of the African Union, the President of Angola, H.E. Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, and he also met separately with the outcoming Chairperson of the AU, President of Burundi, H.E. Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye. You have received readouts of all the Secretary-General’s meetings.  

A short while ago, the Secretary-General took part in the second Italy-Africa summit. In his remarks, he said this summit sends a clear message that cooperation must be built on mutual respect and trust, and that partnerships must be about delivering on Agenda 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.             

Tomorrow morning, the Secretary-General will address the opening session of the 39th African Union summit. You have received an embargoed copy of his remarks.  

Throughout the day, he will have additional meetings with leaders attending the summit and in the afternoon, he will hold a press conference.  

He will be back in the office on Monday. 

SOUTH SUDAN 

Moving to South Sudan, where the peacekeeping mission there (UNMISS) is gravely concerned by the deteriorating security situation following reports of renewed fighting between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Unity State, including shelling in Pakur and Tong last night. 

UNMISS calls for involved parties to cease hostilities immediately and reminds all armed actors of their obligations to protect civilians as well as civilian infrastructure. 
Meanwhile, peacekeepers are maintaining a heightened protective posture, with intensified patrols in and around the Bentiu internally displaced persons’ camp, in Unity State. UNMISS is also engaging with all relevant stakeholders to reduce tensions and restore calm.  

SUDAN 

Turning to Sudan. Our humanitarian colleagues warn that a sharp increase in drone attacks across the Kordofan region is endangering civilians, damaging critical infrastructure and deepening humanitarian needs. Casualties have been reported in several locations. 

Over the past week, North Kordofan State recorded more than a dozen attacks in and around the towns of El Obeid, Bara, Rahad and Um Rawaba. Commercial vehicles, telecommunications infrastructure and key transport routes have been affected, disrupting humanitarian movements and supply chains. 

In South Kordofan, suspected drone strikes hit health facilities in the state capital, Kadugli, and in Kuweik town, reportedly killing four medical workers, injuring more than 20 people, and impacting already fragile health services.  

The violence is triggering new displacement. Many of those fleeing their homes urgently require shelter, food, safe water, medical care and protection support.  

We and our partners continue to deliver assistance where possible, including food distributions in El Obeid in North Kordofan. However, the humanitarian situation in Dilling and Kadugli continues to deteriorate. Rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access is essential to scale up critical assistance. 

Once again, we call for the protection of civilians, health facilities and humanitarian infrastructure, in line with international humanitarian law. OCHA also appeals for increased funding to support displaced families across the Kordofan region and Sudan as a whole. 

SYRIA/SECURITY COUNCIL 

This morning, Claudio Cordone, briefed the Security Council for the first time in his new role as Deputy Special Envoy for Syria. He updated Council members on on developments on the ground, and reaffirmed our commitment to supporting the success of the political transition for all Syrians. In New York, Mr. Cordone met with Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Council members and key stakeholders, and is expected to hold further discussions with officials in Damascus as he will be traveling there shortly. 

On the humanitarian front, Lisa Doughten, the Director of Financing and Outreach at OCHA said that there is some progress in Syria, some 700,000 people, however, remain severely food insecure in Syria. She added that humanitarian teams are prioritizing life-saving assistance, mine clearance, and strengthening essential services while advancing recovery plans for 2026.       

YEMEN 

The World Food Programme says that in order to prevent food loss and waste, WFP is facilitating an exceptional one‑off distribution of safe, quality‑assured pulses and cooking oil from its warehouses in Sana’a and Hodeida to over 2.6 million people in areas in the north of Yemen.  

In total, 7,836 metric tonnes of food stocks will be distributed. 
This is an exceptional, one‑off action; WFP’s pause in the north remains in place. 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

Turning to the situation in Gaza. Our humanitarian colleagues on the ground tell us that today, our teams attempted to coordinate eight humanitarian missions, five of which were fully facilitated. The three other missions, including one to reach a wastewater treatment plant in Khan Younis, were denied by the Israeli authorities.   

The missions that were successfully carried out collected food and medical supplies from Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem and monitored humanitarian cargo at the Kissufim and Kerem Shalom crossing platforms.   

Four months since the ceasefire agreement came into effect, the humanitarian scale-up has saved countless lives and pushed back famine in Gaza. Many people in Gaza, however, remain living in extremely harsh conditions, and the humanitarian response faces significant obstacles, especially to the entry of goods and the ability of humanitarian partners to operate.            

Almost 1.5 million people, that’s two in every three Palestinians in Gaza, are staying in 1,000 displacement sites that are often overcrowded, and in tents that offer no privacy and little protection from the weather. Hundreds of families take shelter in damaged buildings at risk of collapse.  

Our colleagues continue to provide tents and tarpaulins as well as mattresses, clothes and other items, reaching more than 85,000 families in January. But these items offer limited protection and their lifespan is short. To provide more durable solutions, restrictions on the entry of essential construction materials and equipment must be lifted.  

Our partners working on water, sanitation and hygiene this week distributed about 20,000 cubic metres of drinking water every day through more than 2,000 distribution points across the Strip.                 

HAITI  

From Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues report a surge in the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, as violence and mass displacement continue in the country. According to a report by the UN Children’s Fund published yesterday, child recruitment has increased by around 200 per cent in 2025, underscoring the deep protection crisis facing children across Haiti.  

Our humanitarian colleagues note that children recruited or influenced by armed groups face grave violations of their rights, including physical and psychological violence. More than 1.4 million people are internally displaced and over half of them are children.  

They are exposed to armed violence, extreme poverty and disruptions in access to essential services such as education.                                                                  

WORLD RADIO DAY 

Today is World Radio Day. More than a medium, radio is a pillar of freedom of expression. Under this year’s theme, “Artificial Intelligence is a Tool, Not a Voice,” Khaled El-Enany, Director General for UNESCO, stresses the need to ensure that AI serves the public, while radio continues to inform with integrity, empathy and a human voice. 

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION 

France paid it’s dues in full to the Regular Budget. This payment brings the number of fully paid-up Member States to 66.