HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 1 JULY 2025
SECRETARY-GENERAL/ FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
This morning, in Sevilla, Spain, the Secretary-General had a closed meeting with the Heads of the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). He then had a bilateral meeting with Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, President of the regional government of Andalusia and the First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions.
The Secretary-General left Sevilla in the afternoon. We expect to announce his next travel in the coming days.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, was also present at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Sevilla, where she delivered remarks at the High-Level session of the International Business Forum. She called for a shift from international assistance to investments in sustainable development and underscored the private sector’s role in delivering impact at scale.
She also participated in a G20-Spain high-level special event on debt sustainability in developing countries alongside Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and she highlighted the need to break the cycle of debt and welcomed the growing attention from policymakers.
This evening, she will travel to Vienna to address the 68th session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
During her time, there she will meet with Member States, senior government officials and the UN system. She will then return to Seville on Thursday for the closing of FFD4.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to the situation in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military operations have further intensified in northern Gaza since the issuance of the displacement order on Sunday by the Israeli authorities. In the time since that directive was announced, our partners on the ground say that at least 1,500 families have been displaced from North Gaza, as well as eastern parts of Gaza governorate, towards the central and western parts of Gaza governorate.
Over the past 48 hours, five school buildings sheltering displaced families in North Gaza were reportedly hit, with deaths and injuries reported. Initial assessments by partners indicate that many families who fled from the schools that were hit have returned to North Gaza, largely due to the lack of alternatives and limited shelter space elsewhere.
Healthcare also continues to come under attack. The World Health Organization says that in central Gaza yesterday, a tent sheltering displaced people in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah was reportedly hit, injuring five people. The agency added that the hospital’s internal medicine department also sustained some damage, and its oxygen supply line was affected.
Since October 2023, WHO has documented 734 attacks on healthcare in Gaza. WHO reiterated its call for the protection of civilians and healthcare facilities. OCHA reiterates that under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, not targeted.
Regarding aid operations on the ground, OCHA tells us that movement restrictions remain a major challenge, preventing partners from predictably and sustainably providing critical services and assistance.
Yesterday, only eight out of 15 attempts to coordinate humanitarian movements inside Gaza were facilitated by the Israeli authorities, including to remove debris. Three other missions were outright denied, while two missions were impeded and two others had to be cancelled due to security or logistical challenges.
As humanitarian assistance and basic services dwindle, people in Gaza have been increasingly deprived of the means for their survival. This is a red flag that demands urgent action to secure the opening of all crossings and facilitation of all humanitarian operations, including meaningful flows of necessary life-saving supplies.
OCHA warns that fuel supplies are fast running out – with devastating consequences for civilians. Today, the Ministry of Health reported that Al-Shifa Medical Complex has suspended its kidney dialysis services due to fuel shortages, and that intensive care services will be limited to a few hours each day.
Ensuring sustained access to fuel is essential to avoid a collapse of the logistics backbone underpinning the humanitarian response. No fuel has entered Gaza since the ceasefire over 17 weeks ago, and as stocks available are depleted, OCHA warns that more life-saving and life-sustaining facilities could also shut down very soon.
The World Food Programme warns that the window to push back starvation in Gaza is closing fast. The agency adds that its teams are adapting in real time — setting up new distribution points, navigating extreme constraints, and using every safe route to reach people where they are. However, to sustain these efforts, the agency reiterates its call for multiple points of access and safe routes to reach people, support from the international community, and a sustained ceasefire.
SYRIA/HUMANITARIAN
In Syria, the UN and its partners continue to deliver aid across the country.
The Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, today completed a three-day UN interagency mission in the north-west of the country to the governorates of Aleppo and Idleb to assess humanitarian needs. The team met with interim local authorities, displaced communities and people who have returned to their communities. The team also visited a healthcare centre in the city of Marat Numan [Noo-man], in Idleb governorate, which has been rehabilitated by the World Health Organization and its partners. It provides over 100,000 people with healthcare, vaccinations, emergency care and maternity care.
OCHA says that cross-border aid deliveries from Türkiye have significantly increased this year, with more than 1,400 trucks crossing into Syria as of June 30th. This is five times the number of trucks getting in during the same period of last year. Since January of this year, more than 1.6 million men, women and children have received food, health, shelter and other support.
Meanwhile, OCHA says that explosive ordnance contamination continues to have a deadly impact across Syria. Since the start of 2025, more 390 civilians have been killed across the country, including over 100 children. More than 500 civilians have also been injured.
SYRIA
The United Nations welcomes the US’s decision yesterday regarding rescinding a large portion of economic sanctions on Syria welcome this measure. UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen says this is a significant step toward offering the country a path to recovery, stability and a better future. He underscores that it is critical to give the Syrian people a genuine opportunity to rebuild their country.
The UN reiterates the importance of ensuring that all sanctions relief actions are fully utilised, and that financial support and resources are provided alongside the easing of sanctions. Alongside sanctions relief, a transparent and inclusive political transition — together with security and protection for all Syrians — remains the cornerstone of any lasting stability in Syria.
SUDAN
Moving to Sudan. The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, is intensifying his good offices efforts to support the de-escalation of the conflict and advance a political solution.
Personal Envoy Lamamra continues to underscore the criticality of scaled up and more unified diplomatic efforts by the international community to end the war.
Mr. Lamamra’s team is currently finalizing consultations on the next Consultative Group meeting, to be co-organized with the African Union in Addis Ababa.
The PersonalEnvoy is also continuing his efforts to launch a preparatory consultation process on protection of civilians with the parties intended to lead to proximity talks as soon as feasibly possible.
SUDAN / HUMANITARIAN
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, has spoken to senior officials of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces this week to press for a humanitarian pause so that life-saving aid can reach thousands of people in the besieged city of El Fasher. Since April of last year, we and our partners have had limited access to reach civilians in urgent need.
The UN will continue its engagements with the aim of facilitating the swift and safe delivery of vital aid.
Meanwhile, across Sudan we continue to be deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of the ongoing fighting – which is escalating displacement and driving needs even higher, including in the Kordofan region.
The International Organization for Migration reports that insecurity in North and West Kordofan states prompted more than 30,000 people to flee their towns and villages.
People also continue to flee hostilities in North Darfur, with fighting in El Fasher having displaced more than 400,000 people since April of this year, primarily to Tawila.
Last month, nearly 8,000 of those displaced from North Darfur arrived in Ad-Dabba locality, in Northern state – that’s according to local authorities there. The influx has increased pressure on already limited resources, straining access to shelter, clean water, food and healthcare.
Once again, the UN calls on all parties in Sudan to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and facilitate safe and sustainable access to vulnerable people in need across the country, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law.
OCHA is sounding the alarm over the risk of potential floods during the country’s rainy season, which runs through October. Any flooding could disrupt road access, hamper aid delivery, and heighten the threat of disease outbreaks during the ongoing lean season.
Last year, nearly half a million people were impacted by floods in parts of Sudan.
The UN and its partners stand ready to respond where access and resources allow. However, severe funding shortfalls are limiting our ability to preposition critical supplies.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) today welcomed the signing in Aru over the weekend of the cessation of hostilities agreement in Ituri by six local armed groups (CODECO, Zaire/Auto-Defense, MAPI, FRPI, FPIC, and Chini Ya Tuna).
Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the DRC and Acting Head of MONUSCO, said that this agreement marks a significant step forward in the quest for stability in Ituri. It paves the way for a new era focused on reconciliation, security, and development.
The Mission encourages the signatory armed groups to continue sensitizing their ranks to ensure strict compliance with the commitments made in Aru, to honor their obligations, and to help create a climate of trust and reconciliation conducive to the return of displaced people and the revival of Ituri's economic and social development.
HAITI
In a press statement today, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Ambassador Bob Rae, urged the Security Council to quickly heed Haiti’s request for robust security assistance. A UN stabilization mission should be seriously considered, he writes.
In the short term, the ECOSOC President said, a significant UN support package to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission is critical. He also urges the Security Council to ensure an active UN presence on the ground, given the severity of the situation in Haiti.
BRIEFING
At 12:45 p.m., Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan, the President of the Security Council for the month of July, will brief reporters on the Council’s programme of work for the month of July.
