Noon briefing of 17 October 2025

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

FRIDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2025

BUDGET 

The Secretary-General spoke to the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee this morning to introduce the proposed programme budget for 2026. 

He said the proposed budget demonstrates an enhanced focus on mandate delivery. Over 70 percent of planned quantitative targets now aim for a 10 per cent or greater increase in performance, he said. 

The Secretary-General said that the proposed programme budget for 2026 of 3.715 billion US dollars is slightly below the 2025 approved budget, and it provides for 14,275 posts. 

Ultimately, the Secretary-General said, effective delivery in 2026 will depend on the timely and full payment of assessed contributions. Despite earlier hopes, the downward trend of collections has continued. 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

Turning to Gaza, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, entered the Strip a few hours ago. He crossed from Egypt through the Israeli side of Kerem Shalom crossing. 

He then drove to Deir al Balah, where he visited the Castle Bakery, which is one of nine bakeries that the World Food Programme supports with fuel and ingredients across southern and central Gaza. This bakery used to be the largest bakery in Khan Younis, where it served thousands of families until it had to relocate following a displacement order by Israel. The ceasefire has meant that the bakery can access fuel and four, allowing it to produce up to 300,000 loaves of pita bread per day. 

Also in Deir al Balah, Mr. Fletcher met with those leading the Gaza offices of UN agencies there.             

He is set to meet more humanitarian workers later this evening and spend the night in Gaza. 

In a post, Mr. Fletcher said humanitarian teams are delivering on our 60-day plan to massively scale up life-saving work. He noted that the challenges ahead are immense, but said we are determined to deliver on the humanitarian possibilities created by President Trump’s peace deal. 

Before heading to Gaza, Mr. Fletcher was in Egypt. While in Rafah yesterday, he witnessed trucks full of aid heading to Kerem Shalom. He thanked humanitarian teams, the Egyptian Red Crescent, the authorities and everyone involved in getting the peace deal in place. 

Mr. Fletcher also visited Al Arish Hospital in Egypt yesterday, which has treated hundreds of Palestinians evacuated from Gaza for medical care. 

Yesterday, the UN and partners continued to collect medical supplies, food, fuel and other cargo from the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings.   

This includes 20 trucks carrying tents, diapers and hygiene kits, as well as three others loaded with personal hygiene kits, eight tankers loaded with diesel, and two trucks carrying animal fodder, which will be distributed to herders in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis.   

OCHA reports that much more can be done once more crossings are opened, basic infrastructure is restored, NGO access is facilitated, and looting further reduces. 

Meanwhile, families in Gaza continue to move towards newly accessible areas. Our partners monitoring the flow of people across the Strip report that on Wednesday, more than 17,600 movements were recorded from south to north, and 12,900 movements from western to eastern Khan Younis.  

LEBANON/ISRAEL 

A quick update from the peacekeepers in southern Lebanon who are actively monitoring and reporting violations of resolution 1701 in its area of operations. 

The peacekeepers continue to discover unauthorized weapon caches in the area of operations. On Thursday, mortar shells were found in Sector West, while on Tuesday, a joint patrol with the Lebanese Army discovered damaged rockets and their launchers in Sector East.  

UNIFIL also continues to observe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military activities in the area of operations, including on Wednesday, where mortar fire from south of the Blue Line was detected, impacting near Yaroun in Sector West. Also on Wednesday, in Sarda in Sector East, IDF soldiers pointed infra-red lasers at UNIFIL patrol vehicles.                                                                        

We once again stress these acts of interference must stop. 

Meanwhile, UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force conducted training this week with Lebanese Navy personnel aboard a Maritime Task Force vessel. Separately, peacekeepers in Sector East trained with Lebanese Army personnel to address threats posed by explosive remnants of war.  

SOUTH SUDAN/ABYEI 

Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, our Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, concluded his visit to South Sudan. 

There, he met with President Salva Kiir, senior ministers, and the diplomatic community. Discussions focused on escalating political violence and progress required in order to achieve peace.  

He also engaged with them on the impact of the UN-wide financial crisis on our peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, which will have to cut spending by 15% in this financial year.  

Mr. Lacroix reiterated that UNMISS will continue its efforts to protect civilians and support the implementation of the peace agreement, despite the challenges. He requested the support of the South Sudanese authorities to help mitigate the impact of the changes caused by the liquidity crisis on UNMISS operations.            

While in the region, Mr. Lacroix visited neighbouring Abyei where he met with the authorities and personnel from the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to discuss the security situation and the impact of liquidity cuts on the peacekeeping operation there. 

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 

The Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, wrapped up her visit to the Central African Republic today.  

She said the country stands at a crossroads, and this is the moment to turn fragile stability into lasting progress by working hand in hand across humanitarian, development and peace efforts. 

During her visit, Ms. Msuya met with senior government officials in Bangui before traveling to the towns of Zemio in the southeast, Bria in the center of the country, and Birao in the northeast, where she spoke with displaced families, community leaders and local responders. She paid tribute to the courage and dedication of those on the frontlines of the crisis, calling them the backbone of aid efforts and the ones keeping hope alive despite immense challenges.       

Ms. Msuya noted that while humanitarian needs remain high – with one in three people in need of assistance – improved security in some regions has allowed displaced people to return home and rebuild their lives. 

She announced an allocation of $8 million from the CAR Humanitarian Fund for urgent priorities in Zemio and Birao. 

NIGERIA 

Moving to Nigeria. Next week, from 20 to 22 October, a UN mission will visit Nigeria to highlight the country’s efforts to advance durable solutions for internally displaced people. 

The mission will be led by Ugochi Daniels, the Deputy Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM); Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at UNHCR; and Shoko Noda, Director of the Crisis Bureau at the UN Development Programme. 

During their visit, the officials will meet with government representatives, partners, and UN staff in the field. The mission aims to showcase Nigeria’s progress and best practices that could inform global approaches to internal displacement, advocate for stronger collaboration in achieving durable solutions, and mobilize greater support and financing for development-oriented responses.     

As of July 2025, an estimated 3.5 million Nigerians remain internally displaced due to conflict, violence, and climate impacts. The northeast remains the most impacted region, hosting over 2.1 million displaced people. 

This year, an estimated 7.8 million people in northern Nigeria require humanitarian assistance, yet only 1.3 million have been reached so far. 

TÜRKIYE 

I was asked earlier this week about the talks between Türkiye and the PKK, and I can say the following: 

The Secretary-General continues to follow progress made regarding the decision of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to dissolve and disarm. As he stated earlier, this decision, if implemented, represents another important step towards the peaceful resolution of the long-standing conflict. He encourages all concerned to act in good faith toward its implementation. 

CLIMATE/POVERTY  

The UN Development Programme and the Oxford Poverty and Human Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford today released a report showing that nearly 8 in 10 people living in multidimensional poverty, this is 887 million people out of 1.1 billion globally, are directly exposed to climate hazards such as extreme heat, flooding, drought, or air pollution,  

The report released ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, presents new evidence that the climate crisis is reshaping global poverty. The findings reveal a world where poverty is not just a standalone socio-economic issue but one that is deeply interlinked with planetary pressures and instability.  

ERADICATION OF POVERTY 

Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Families living in poverty too often face stigma and unfair treatment, even in the very places meant to support them, such as schools, clinics, welfare offices, and child protection systems.  

In his message, the Secretary-General calls for inclusive policies, including fair wages, affordable health care and housing, quality education, and universal social protection, to ensure that no one is left behind.