HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 2025
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that starvation and malnutrition are at the highest levels in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that five people died over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition and starvation, bringing the total number of malnutrition-related deaths to 227 people, including 103 children. And again, those numbers are since October 2023.
Against this backdrop, humanitarian supplies entering Gaza remain far below the minimum required to meet people’s immense needs.
The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to do everything possible to bring assistance into Gaza. However, humanitarian movements still face significant delays and other impediments that prevent the UN from delivering aid at the scale that is needed.
Yesterday, the UN has requested to coordinate with the Israeli authorities 16 missions, including the collection of food, medical supplies and fuel - from the two operational crossings, Kerem Shalom and Zikim. Other missions involved moving goods and personnel within Gaza, from south to north and within the southern part of Gaza.
Out of the 16 missions, four were facilitated and three were denied; another four were impeded but eventually were fully accomplished.
Of the remaining five missions, two were cancelled by the respective organizations; another two missions that involved collection of food and health supplies from Kerem Shalom were impeded and unable to be completed, while another one was impeded but is still ongoing.
Efforts to coordinate humanitarian movements often drag on for hours due to unpredictable clearances by the Israeli authorities, wasting precious time.
In the West Bank, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that yesterday, another Palestinian Bedouin community was displaced due to violence by Israeli forces and settlers.
Israeli forces raided the community of Ein Ayoub in Ramallah governorate and ordered the immediate eviction of its approximately 100 Palestinian residents. OCHA reports that a lot of the evacuated residents have no alternative shelter.
SUDAN
The UN is deeply alarmed by reports of a large-scale attack yesterday on the El Fasher area, the besieged capital of North Darfur State. That also affected the adjoining Abu Shouk displacement camp.
The attack has been attributed by local sources to fighters from the Rapid Support Forces. According to them at least 40 civilians have been killed within Abu Shouk, and another 19 injured.
In a statement released a short while ago, the Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Sheldon Yett, said he unequivocally condemns all deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians in the country. All parties to conflict have a clear obligation under international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of civilians. Displacement camps and other places of refuge for civilians must not be targeted.
Amid this escalation of violence in and around El Fasher, there are also reports that exit routes from the city have been blocked, trapping civilians under siege and cutting them off from safety and aid. The situation remains tense and highly fluid, with insecurity displacing at least 500 people from Abu Shouk to other locations in North Darfur. That’s according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The Acting Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan said that the immediate provision of safe and unhindered passage for people seeking to flee El Fasher and other areas of active hostilities is critical. He also reiterated the Secretary-General’s repeated calls for a humanitarian pause in and around the city to allow for the delivery of food, delivery of water, delivery of medicine and other life-saving supplies that are so desperately needed. Those that are trapped in those areas are facing acute hunger and starvation.
Meanwhile, the UN also remains concerned about the situation and the violence in the Kordofan region. In South Kordofan State, the International Organization for Migration estimates that more than 3,000 people fled Kadugli town between August 6th and August 10th due to intensified insecurity. Humanitarian access to the town remains extremely limited, with virtually no road access. The primary supply route from Al Obeid in North Kordofan State is inaccessible due to active hostilities. This has worsened the already dire economic conditions and is leading to even more shortages of vital goods.
OCHA reminds all those engaged in the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law.
They must not direct attacks against civilians or civilian objects and must take constant care to spare them in all circumstances. They must also facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access to everyone in need of assistance.
YEMEN
The Security Council held an open session on Yemen this morning. Speaking via Videoconference from Amman, in Jordan, our Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg reaffirmed that his Office remains focused on supporting de-escalation on the frontlines, establishing a path for talks between the parties and the continued work with the region and the international community to support Yemen. He called again for the unconditional and immediate release of 23 UN staff that are arbitrarily detained by the Houthis, alongside others from national and international NGOs and well as diplomatic missions.
For his part, Ramesh Rajasingham, OCHA’s Director of the Coordination Division, told the Councilthat more than 17 million people, that’s nearly half of the population of Yemen, are estimated to be acutely hungry - 17 million people. Over two million children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition.
He added that the Yemen Humanitarian Fund will be releasing $20 million to address the negative impacts of continuing food insecurity in Yemen. This funding will be focused on reaching those who are most suffering.
MYANMAR
The World Food Programme (WFP) is urgently calling for more humanitarian support in Rakhine State, where a deadly combination of conflict, blockades, and funding cuts is driving a dramatic rise in hunger and malnutrition. WFP notes that in central Rakhine, the number of families not able to afford to meet basic food needs has reached 57 per cent, up from 33 per cent in December of last year.
Despite dwindling resources, WFP is working to resume limited lifesaving support in the worst-hit areas. WFP requires $30 million to assist 270,000 people in Rakhine State for the next six months.
COLOMBIA
In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay in Colombia. He sends condolences to his family and to the people of Colombia.
YOUTH ADVISORY GROUP ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Today is International Youth Day. On this Day, the Secretary-General has a message for the young people everywhere, which is that their voice and ideas matter.
And on this International Youth Day, the Secretary-General has appointed the third cohort of his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. For this third cohort, the Secretary-General is expanding the Group from seven to fourteen members. This is in response to the concerning global trend of shrinking civic space and funding limitations that are putting young activists at risk and hindering meaningful youth engagement in climate meetings and efforts.
The Group, which includes representatives, ages 17-28, from all regions across the world, with a variety of identities, experiences, perspectives, and expertise.
The Group will provide the Secretary-General with practical and outcome-focused advice, diverse youth perspectives and concrete recommendations to support our work to accelerate global action to tackle the climate crisis.
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY HIGH-LEVEL WEEK 2025
The Department of Global Communications have just set up a webpage for the High-level Week 2025. It is now live at https://www.un.org/en/high-level-week-2025.
It is a very useful repository for information on the main events during the High-Level Week, which will take from 22 - 30 September.
The links and pages will be updated as more information on times, venues, becomes available.
**The noon briefing guest today was Ulrika Richardson, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Haiti.
