HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 1 APRIL 2025
MYANMAR/ HUMANITARIAN
The Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator ad interim for Myanmar, Marcoluigi Corsi, today called on the world to step up support for the people of Myanmar.
Mr. Corsi returned yesterday from a two-day visit to Nay Pyi Taw territory, where he witnessed the widespread destruction of infrastructure, including buildings, roads, and bridges.
He said the most urgent needs are drinking water, hygiene, shelter, food, and medicine.
The UN and its partners, many of whom were in Myanmar already, are actively delivering supplies while conducting assessments to determine the full scale of the needs. Some of these supplies include food, drinking water, shelter and medicine.
The UN Refugee Agency have also rushed emergency supplies from Yangon to some 25,000 earthquake survivors in the Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw areas and are mobilizing more relief items from their existing stocks in Myanmar.
UNICEF and its partners have begun delivering emergency water, sanitation and hygiene kits, medical kits and nutrition supplies – all from its pre-positioned stocks.
The agency is also mobilizing an additional 80 metric tonnes of critical supplies from its global hubs. But, they say this is not enough given the scale of the disaster people of Myanmar are facing.
Telecommunications disruptions, damaged roads and debris continue to hinder the response. Severe shortages of medical supplies, including trauma kits, blood bags, anesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines and tents for health workers.
Search-and-rescue operations continue and responders work tirelessly to save those trapped under collapsed buildings. Currently, 25 urban search-and-rescue teams from 13 countries are operating in the country.
The UN remains deeply committed to reaching people in Myanmar who need aid and we must act swiftly to provide relief before the upcoming monsoon season, which risks worsening the crisis.
Even before this disaster, Myanmar faced an overwhelming humanitarian crisis, with nearly 20 million people in need due to conflict and climate-induced disasters, including recent severe flooding.
Yet, the humanitarian response remains critically underfunded, with $56 million received so far, which is just 5 per cent of the $1.1 billion required.
MYANMAR / SPECIAL ENVOY
The Special Envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, said she stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar as the devastating earthquake has worsened an already dire situation. Many victims still cannot be reached due to severe damage, she said, adding that the earthquake has laid bare the deeper vulnerabilities facing Myanmar’s people and underscored the need for sustained international attention to the broader crisis.
She called for all sides to urgently allow space for humanitarian relief and ensure that aid workers can operate in safety.
Continuing military operations in disaster-affected areas risk further loss of life, Ms. Bishop said, as she called on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and focus their efforts on the protection of civilians, including aid workers, and the delivery of life-saving assistance.
A number of countries including Myanmar’s neighbors and ASEAN mechanisms have provided immediate support. The Special Envoy appeals to Member States and other donors to swiftly provide flexible funding to scale up the response.
CENTRAL ASIA
The Secretary-General welcomes the trilateral summit of the leaders of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, which took place on 31 March in Khujand, Tajikistan.
The summit saw the signing of a trilateral agreement defining the Junction Point of the State Borders of the three countries. It follows the earlier signing of the Treaty on the State Border between the Kyrgyz Republic and Republic of Tajikistan on 13 March.
The Secretary-General welcomes and encourages further steps to strengthen the spirit of mutual trust, good-neighbourly relations and cooperation in Central Asia.
HAITI
The Secretary-General condemns a gang attack in Mirebalais, Centre department, which reportedly resulted in the escape of more than 500 detainees from a local prison.
The Secretary-General calls on Haitian authorities and stakeholder, with the support of the international community, to redouble their efforts to restore security, protect civilians and create the required conditions for the restoration of democratic institutions. This includes ensuring that the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission and the Haitian National Police are equipped with the required resources, logistics and personnel to fulfil their mandate.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Tonight, the Deputy Secretary-General - at the invitation of the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Majesty, King Abdullah II; and the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz - will travel to Berlin. She will represent the Secretary-General at the third Global Disability Summit.
While in Germany, the Deputy Secretary-General will meet with senior government officials and civil society representatives.
From Berlin, on 3 April, the Deputy Secretary-General will travel to Skopje, North Macedonia. There, she will meet with senior government officials and chair the annual regional retreat with UN Resident Coordinators based in countries of Europe and Central Asia, focused on efforts to advance sustainable development in these countries.
Ms. Mohammed will return to New York over the weekend.
LEBANON/ISRAEL
The United Nations is deeply concerned about the worrying development of another Israeli strike in southern Beirut, reportedly targeting a Hizbullah operative. This morning's strike resulted in four people killed, including one woman, and several others injured, according to Lebanese authorities.
The UN reiterates the calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from further escalatory activities, which endanger civilians and jeopardize the progress already made to restore stability on both sides of the Blue Line.
The Office for the Special Coordinator and UNIFIL remain in contact with all stakeholders to de-escalate the situation. Peacekeepers remain in position in southern Lebanon and continue to monitor and report on the situation on the ground.
It remains crucial that the parties undertake tangible steps towards the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 and uphold their commitments made under the cessation of hostilities agreement.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, peacekeepers reported that the Israeli army fired warning shots from a machine gun at them across the Blue Line near Rmeish south Lebanon – a clear violation of resolution 1701. Fortunately, no one was injured.
In a separate incident, the peacekeepers reported that an IDF patrol aimed a laser at them. Any attempt to interfere with peacekeepers’ mandated duties and any act that compromises their safety is unacceptable. The security of peacekeepers is paramount, and all parties are reminded of their obligation to respect it. The mission is following up with the IDF on these matters.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that intensified hostilities, including air strikes and shelling, continue across the Strip, with more civilians killed and injured and critical infrastructure damaged.
OCHA warns that Israeli displacement orders continue to force civilians to flee across the Strip and limit the space available for families to shelter. Yesterday’s directive alone covered nearly the entire Rafah governorate, where about 150,000 people were estimated to be staying. OCHA warns that these displacement orders leave civilians exposed to hostilities and deprive them of access to services essential for their survival.
Meanwhile, the suspension of aid entry into Gaza continues, with a devastating impact on people in need.
Today, the 25 bakeries that were supported by the World Food Programme during the duration of the ceasefire are all closed, due to the shortage of flour and the unavailability of cooking gas. WFP continues to prioritize food distributions with the remaining stocks, but the situation remains very critical since the cargo closure of the crossings almost a month ago.
On Sunday, OCHA reported that a complex, week-long rescue operation had concluded with the recovery of 15 bodies of emergency and aid crews in Tal As Sultan in Rafah. You might recall that an Israeli ground operation started in Rafah on 23 March, and efforts had been ongoing to reach and extract causalities since then.
The available information indicates that the first team was killed by Israeli forces on 23 March, and that other emergency and aid crews were struck one after another over several hours as they searched for their missing colleagues.
They were buried under the sand, alongside their wrecked emergency vehicles – clearly marked ambulances, a fire truck and a UN car.
In a social media post yesterday, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher expressed condolences to the colleagues’ families, saying that their loved ones had been killed by Israeli forces while trying to save lives. He stressed that we demand answers and justice. Since October 2023, OCHA tells us that at least 408 aid workers have been killed in Gaza.
SYRIA
Turning to the recent developments in Syria, the United Nations welcomes the unveiling – over the weekend - of a new and expanded cabinet in Syria.
The Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has reaffirmed the importance of an inclusive political transition that enables the Syrian people to restore their sovereignty, overcome the ongoing conflict, realize their legitimate aspirations, and contribute to regional stability.
In this regard, the Special Envoy encourages continued efforts by the interim authorities toward a credible, inclusive and sustainable transition, in terms of governance and also in terms of the next transitional steps.
This includes the formation of a provisional legislative council and a committee to draft the constitution, as well as preparations for free and fair elections to the highest international standards, in line with key principles of Security Council resolution 2254.
Mr. Pedersen plans to be in Damascus soon to continue his engagements with the interim authorities, as well as a broad spectrum of Syrians and other key stakeholders.
SOUTH SUDAN
The peacekeeping mission in South Sudan reports that the situation in the country is relatively calm today although political and security tensions remain high.
The head of the mission, Nicholas Haysom is involved in diplomatic efforts are ongoing to try and broker a peaceful solution. The mission encourages the Parties to resolve grievances through dialogue rather than military confrontation and to reconvene as a truly unified government under the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
In this regard, the mission notes the public communication from the African Union Commission that it plans to deploy a high-level delegation of the AU Panel of the Wise to Juba this week to meet with the Parties and other peace partners.
SUDAN
The United Nations is gravely alarmed by reports of intensified hostilities in and around El Fasher in North Darfur State in Sudan, including attacks in the past two days that resulted in civilian casualties.
Yesterday, shelling reportedly hit the Abu Shouk displacement camp, north of Al Fasher, killing and injuring civilians.
Famine is occurring in hot spots in at least five locations in Sudan – Abu Shouk is one of them, in addition to Zamzam and Al Salam camps in North Darfur, and in host communities and camps for the internally displaced in the Western Nuba Mountains – that’s about 640,000 human beings living in these areas.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is calling for urgent action to prevent the spread of famine in the country, particularly ahead of the lean and rainy season starting in just two months’ time. It is critical that aid organizations have the safe and unimpeded access to people in need, wherever they are.
Currently, some 25 million people in Sudan are acutely food insecure, with the number of people facing hunger typically peaking during the lean and rainy season between June and September. In addition to food and nutrition support, agricultural assistance is urgently needed to boost local food production and keep famine from spreading further.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its partners require more than $82 million to assist 7.5 million farmers and their families with seeds and other critical support this year, especially ahead of the planting season in June. With the rainy season starting soon, and flooding along key routes likely to compound access challenges, time is of the essence.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has shattered agricultural livelihoods – a lifeline for two thirds of the population – disrupted market access and left millions of farming families unable to plant or harvest. It has also destroyed critical infrastructure, forced families to flee their homes and land, and severely limited access to seeds, tools and veterinary services.
These challenges, compounded by economic decline and trade restrictions, have driven up food prices sharply, further reducing families’ access to food and basic services.
OCHA stresses that timely support to Sudan’s farmers is essential — not only to avert famine, particularly in the most at-risk areas, but also to restore livelihoods and build resilience among some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.
And the UN continues to reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructure must never be a target. All parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and take utmost care to spare civilians and civilian objects from the effects of hostilities.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Turning to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that in North Kivu, on Sunday, intense clashes between the M23 armed group and local factions in the town of Walikale caused widespread panic and casualties. This is according to local civil society groups.
According to health authorities, approximately 70 per cent of the town’s population – or an estimated 80,000 people – have sought refuge in surrounding forests since March 19th, where they live in precarious conditions. The surge in violence has forced the closure of half of the 18 healthcare facilities in Walikale territory. Additionally, over 480 schools remain closed, depriving more than 128,000 children of access to education, according to local media citing school officials.
Since March 28th, telephone networks are down in the town. This is due to fuel shortages for generators, with the security situation preventing the resupply of fuel.
Turning to Goma, the capital of North Kivu, the International Organization for Migration distributed kitchen utensils, mats and lamps to some 15,000 people in more than 40 collective shelters across the city between 26 and 29 March. Many families, who are reluctant to return home after January’s camp closures, are still in Goma living in repurposed schools and churches.
The UN and its partners are engaging with the de facto authorities so that these families can access services and also to ensure they can return voluntarily, safely and sustainably to their communities.
In South Kivu, clashes continued this morning in several villages in Walungu territory, approximately 13 kilometers from the provincial capital of Bukavu, causing new displacement.
Meanwhile in the town of Minova in the Kalehe territory, the World Food Programme and its partners delivered food to more than 85,000 people on March 30th.
Finally, in Maniema, another province increasingly impacted by ongoing insecurity in the east, local authorities reported that the province is confronting a dire nutritional emergency, with 13 out of its 18 health zones now classified as being in crisis. The situation is aggravated by a critical lack of adequate nutritional assistance, insufficient humanitarian response capacity and worsening food insecurity, with nearly a quarter of the population in crisis, according to the latest IPC report.
Authorities warn that without urgent action, the situation could deteriorate further, particularly in hard-hit areas like Kabambare, where access to basic services remains severely constrained due to the ongoing insecurity.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
In a statement issued over the weekend, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the attack on 28 March by armed elements against the UN Peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic. The attack, which resulted in the killing of a peacekeeper from Kenya, took place near Tabane, in the southeast of the country, while blue helmets were conducting a long-range patrol to protect civilians.
The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper and to the Government and the people of Kenya. He recalls that attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and calls on the Central African authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this tragedy so that they can be brought to justice swiftly.
UKRAINE
Turning to Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that aid workers continue to provide emergency assistance following massive drone attacks in recent days on the densely populated cities of Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kryvyi Rih. According to authorities, the attacks killed civilians and injured several others, including children. Multiple residential buildings, nurseries and schools were also damaged in the attacks. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, condemned the attacks adding that hostilities continue to inflict suffering on the people of Ukraine Working alongside first responders and municipal services, the UN’s partners, with the support of UN agencies, provided medical aid and psychosocial support. Humanitarian organizations also organized hot meals and distributed warm blankets and shelter materials.
Meanwhile, hostilities in the regions of Kherson, Donetsk and Sumy also continue to damage homes, education facilities and other civilian infrastructure in front-line areas. According to the authorities, several civilian casualties have been recorded in the last four days. Humanitarian organizations visited the front-line Kherson City on 27 and 28 March to provide psychological assistance and support emergency repairs of homes to help the most vulnerable people in the city, facing nearly daily attacks.
BRIEFING
At 3 p.m., there will be a briefing here by Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of April.
** Noon briefing guest was Melissa Lee Hein, World Food Programme's (WFP) Head of Communications in Myanmar.
