HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2025
UNGA 80 GENERAL DEBATE – SPEAKERS
We expect about 193 delegations in total with approximately 89 Heads of State, 5 Vice-Presidents, one Crown Prince, 43 Heads of Government.
Also, about 1,642 bilateral meetings have been scheduled in the lobby of the General Assembly building, where the temporary meeting booths are.
UNGA
Tomorrow at the opening of the 80th session of the high-level session of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General will address world leaders.
His speech will be a stark wake-up call to the world, framed around the need to make clear decisions in this decisive time.
It will be an appeal for renewal and the urgency of action and moral leadership. He will call out the impunity and the lawlessness that threatens the world’s order.
His speech will be framed around a fundamental question that he will pose to world leaders: What kind of world do we want to choose to build together?
The Secretary-General will speak of the unique challenges facing our world – and the organization itself and point out that we have our work cut out for us … as our ability to carry out that work is being cut from us.
He will lay out five critical choices facing humanity: peace, dignity, climate justice, technology in the service of humanity, and a stronger UN.
He will also remind world leaders that it is not enough to know what the right choice is, we must have the courage to act.
He will also recall his own experience growing up in the dictatorship of Portugal and underscore the importance of never giving up.
We will share the Secretary-General’s remarks under embargo later today.
The Spokesman also reminded reporters that because of the many competing events, there will be no briefing Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, unless there is major breaking news.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY/SECRETARY-GENERAL
This morning, in the General Assembly Hall, the Secretary-General delivered remarks marking the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations.
Eight decades ago, he said, this organization was established to become the place where all nations, whether large or small, could come together to solve problems that no country can solve alone.
And yet, he added, at this moment, the principles of this same organization are under assault as never before.
The Secretary-General listed a number of challenges facing the world today. To address these challenges, we must not only defend the UN, he said, but we must also strengthen it.
Those remarks were shared with you.
TWO-STATE SOLUTION
This afternoon, the Secretary-General will speak at the conference on a two-state solution co-sponsored by France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He is expected to say that the situation on the ground is intolerable, and it is deteriorating by the hour.
He will also welcome the measures many Member States are taking to galvanize support for the Two-State solution – including pledges to recognize the State of Palestine.
The Secretary-General is to emphasize that we must recommit ourselves to the Two-State solution before it is too late - a solution in which two independent, democratic, viable and contiguous and sovereign States are mutually recognized and fully integrated in the international community.
And he will stress that statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward, and denying statehood would be a gift to extremists everywhere.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to the situation on the ground in Gaza, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that, as Israeli military operations continued across the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Civil Defense said that over the last 10 days, it carried out more than 50 rescue or recovery missions.
Health services are also under severe strain, as we have been telling you. Today, the Ministry of Health in Gaza called on people to donate blood amid severe shortages in hospitals.
Once again, we have to reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be protected and should never be a target. Civilian sites must also never be used to shield military operations.
OCHA tells us that hostilities have disrupted nutrition services in Gaza governorate, where famine was confirmed over a month ago. Partners working in nutrition report that almost half of the treatment centres are reportedly closed. This hampers efforts to detect new cases and maintain treatment for hundreds of children.
On Friday, the Ministry of Health said that 162 people – including 32 children – have died from starvation and malnutrition since famine was confirmed.
Meanwhile, the growing number of people moving to the south is putting mounting pressure on already strained services available in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, where conditions are dire, as we have been telling you.
Our partners say that people are squeezed in tents along the beach, crammed in school shelters, or sleeping in the open on the rubble of destroyed buildings and houses.
Although aid organizations are overstretched, we continue to serve those in need, as much as possible.
Today, seven out of 12 humanitarian missions coordinated with Israeli authorities were facilitated. While our teams managed to collect health supplies from Kerem Shalom, two missions to retrieve food cargo were denied.
Meanwhile, our partners at four monitoring points tell us that desperate families are leaving Gaza City, with many moving towards Khan Younis and Deir al Balah in the south, where there is very little space to accommodate new arrivals and displacement sites, as I have said, are already extremely overcrowded. Those who remain in the North, they need humanitarian support.
THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
Also this morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the high-level meeting to mark the 30th anniversary of the 4th world conference on women.
He said that thirty years ago, the world came together to affirm that the rights of women and girls are not separate, secondary, or negotiable, and that they are human rights.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is the most ambitious global political commitment on women’s rights ever achieved.
But progress has been slow and it has been uneven, Mr. Guterres added that hard-won gains are now under attack and a wave of misogyny is rolling across the world.
Let us be clear, he said, equal rights and opportunities are not partisan issues. They are global imperatives – and the foundation of peace, prosperity and progress.
In every region, in every country, in every community, women and girls are fighting for their rights.
The United Nations stands with them. All leaders should do the same, he added.
SDG MOMENT EVENT
A preview for this afternoon, he will also deliver remarks at the SDG Moment Event. He is expected to stress that it’s time to intensify our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and that we must regroup, we must recommit, and we must refocus, emphasizing that we need keep the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals.
And this morning, our colleague Melissa Fleming, the head of the department for Global Communications, opened the SDG Media Zone on the Visitors Plaza.
In a welcoming message, the Secretary-General also underscored that the space will be a platform for ideas, a catalyst for action, and a launchpad for hope.
GLOBAL INITIATIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO GALVANIZE POLITICAL COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
We issued a message from the Secretary-General in support of the global initiative to galvanize political commitment to international humanitarian law on the eve of the high-level week.
In his message, he said that around the world, international humanitarian law is being trampled – and civilians are paying the price.
All parties to conflicts must live up to their obligations and respect these lifesaving rules.
It is the urgent call of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Security Council held a meeting on threats to international peace and security. Briefing members was our friend Miroslav Jenča, the Assistant Secretary-General for political affairs. He said in his remarks that on 19 September, according to Estonian reports, three Russian MIG-31 fighters entered up to 10 kilometers inside Estonia’s airspace for about 12 minutes, in violation, obviously, of Estonian airspace. Mr. Jenča noted that this latest development follows reported violations by Russian drones in both Polish and Romanian airspace.
Mr. Jenča stressed that violations of sovereign countries’ airspace are unacceptable, and again, urge all concerned to act responsibly, to use all available channels and to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions and prevent further risks to regional security.
UKRAINE
Meanwhile on the ground, in Ukraine, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that hostilities over the weekend and early this morning killed and injured several civilians across the country, including health workers and emergency responders. This is what local authorities are telling us. Strikes hit two major cities, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia, as well as front-line communities and areas further from the front line. They damaged homes, schools and other civilian facilities. Civilian casualties were also reported in Chernihiv, Donetsk, Kherson and several other regions.
Following these attacks, aid organizations mobilized to support first responders and municipal services. Emergency teams were dispatched to where they were needed.
We, along with our humanitarian partners, also continue to deliver aid through convoys to front-line areas. On 19 September, an inter-agency convoy reached the Bilozerska community in the Donetsk, one of the hardest-hit areas following the recent escalation in hostilities. The convoy delivered medical supplies, solar lamps and other essential items.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
In the Central African Republic, we issued over the weekend a statement about the tragic incident in that country, that happened on 16 September and that we had mentioned to you last week. The Secretary-General said he is deeply saddened by the death of four UN peacekeepers from the Republic of Congo, serving in our peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic. Two others were injured when their armoured personnel carrier fell into the Ombella- M’poko river while driving from Bangui to Bambari, and this was a routine resupply convoy. Another peacekeeper remains missing, sadly, as of today.
The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers, as well as to the Government and people of the Republic of Congo and wishes a speedy recovery to our injured colleagues.
SUDAN
In Sudan, humanitarians are warning of a sharp decline in the humanitarian situation in El Fasher, which as you know is the besieged capital of North Darfur, where deadly attacks and fresh displacement are compounding the suffering of civilians.
The International Organization for Migration reports that about 7,500 human beings fled Abu Shouk displacement camp and parts of El Fasher town in just a few days, that’s between September 17th and 19th. All of this is being done while there is a heightened sense and reality of insecurity.
And you will have seen that, over the weekend, the Secretary-General expressed his grave alarm at the rapidly deteriorating situation in El Fasher, warning of growing risks to civilians trapped in the area. Also, Tom Fletcher, our Humanitarian Chief, warned that El Fasher is on the brink, with civilians besieged and living in famine conditions.
This comes after Friday’s devastating attack on a mosque, which was reportedly carried out by the Rapid Support Forces, in which over 70 people were killed. UNICEF said at least 11 of the fatalities were children. That is according to initial reports.
This violence continues to have a devastating impact on humanitarian response efforts. A local aid organization reported to us that they have been forced to suspend operations in the El Fasher area last week due to the security situation, which is unraveling. The organization had been providing health, water and hygiene support for several thousand people, despite the tightening siege.
On top of that, seasonal flooding throughout the country is increasing humanitarian needs. And across the Darfur region, cholera continues to spread.
The outbreak in South Darfur State is expanding, with over 5,200 suspected cases and more than 250 deaths reported since May.
Yesterday, we and our partners launched a large-scale cholera vaccination campaign across Darfur, aiming to reach about 1.9 million people. The first phase is underway in three localities of South Darfur, with plans to expand to East and North Darfur states, including Tawila, which is hosting a lot of the people who have fled El Fasher.
With Heads of State gathering in New York, the Secretary-General calls once again for a concerted international action in support of the people of Sudan. Mr. [Ramtane] Lamamra his Personal Envoy, stands ready to support genuine efforts to end the conflict and establish an inclusive political process for the people of Sudan.
SOUTH SUDAN
We have seen reports that the First Vice President, Riek Machar, and other individuals today appeared at a Special Court hearing, in Juba. Our peacekeeping mission there tells us that it is following the proceedings, reminding us that the judicial process must adhere to international standards of fairness and transparency, with full respect for the rule of law and for human rights.
On the ground, the mission reports fresh clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and alleged White Army elements in Nasir County, which is in Upper Nile state. These clashes have reportedly resulted in casualties and injuries. The mission is verifying the information and reiterates the call of all peace partners for an immediate cessation of hostilities and strict adherence to the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
HAITI
In Haiti, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that violence by armed groups continues to fuel displacements.
According to IOM [International Organization for Migration], armed attacks in the commune of Verrettes, in the Artibonite department, have forced more than 3,000 people to flee their homes since September 15th. Most of those displaced have sought shelter with host families.
The area already experienced similar attacks and displacements two months ago.
Meanwhile, on September 18th, in the North-West, armed groups attacked the commune of Bassin Bleu, setting fire to the police station and the only hospital in the area. According to authorities, a teacher was also killed in the attack.
With no access to basic services and under direct threat, about 2,000 people had to flee their homes.
These latest incidents highlight the continued spread of violence across different parts of the country, severely impacting lives and property and further weakening access to essential services such as health and education.
OCHA, working closely with our humanitarian partners, continues to monitor the situation and coordinate the response to ensure that assistance reaches those most in need, despite the very challenging conditions for our colleagues there.
