HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 08 SEPTEMBER 2025
BRIEFINGS TOMORROW
Tomorrow, at 10:00 a.m., there will be a briefing here on the launch of the UN Secretary-General’s report entitled The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future.
The Secretary-General will be here to make opening remarks, but he will not take any questions.
He will be joined by Izumi Nakamitsu, the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and Haoliang Xu, Acting Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). .
Then, at noon, the incoming President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, will speak to you at the General Assembly Stakeout area.
The Secretary-General will hold a press conference next week, most likely on Tuesday, September 16th, ahead of the General Assembly.
SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
Today, the Secretary-General is appointing Mr. Miroslav Jenča of Slovakia as Special Representative for Colombia and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.
He will succeed Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu of Mexico, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedication and service.
Mr. Jenča brings more than 35 years of experience in diplomacy, mediation, leadership and oversight of UN peace operations, as well as close knowledge of the Colombian peace process and its regional and international context.
He is currently serving as Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas in the United Nations Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, a role he has held since 2019.
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
We've seen in the last few days a high volume of misinformation regarding whether a vote had taken place in the General Assembly to move the high-level session out of New York. I want to be clear that there was no such vote in the General Assembly and that I am not aware of any preparations being made to move the General Assembly's high-level session.
UKRAINE
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attacks by the Russian Federation on 7 September, which killed and injured several people, including children. The attacks struck a Government building in central Kyiv and damaged residential and other civilian infrastructure in the capital and other regions of Ukraine.
The targeting of government institutions represents a further escalation of the conflict. Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law. They are unacceptable and must end immediately.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace in Ukraine, one that fully upholds Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions.
UKRAINE/HUMANITARIAN
The Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs say that authorities reported more than 80 civilian casualties, including children. In the capital, Kyiv, among the victims were an aid worker from a national NGO, a partner of the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, and her two-month-old son.
Casualties were also reported in the cities of Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kremenchuk, Kryvyi Rih and Kherson. Strikes also targeted energy infrastructure, disrupting power and water supplies, ahead of the winter season.
Repair crews are working to restore services, though temporary outages continue.
Meanwhile, support to front-line communities continues. On 5 September, we, along with our partners, delivered aid, including medical kits and hygiene supplies to some 1,000 people in several villages in the Donetsk region. This was the 10th convoy to the region this year.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Hostilities continued to kill and injure people over the weekend in Gaza. In just the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 67 deaths and 320 injuries. This brings the total toll of people killed since end of the ceasefire in mid-March to almost 12,000, according to the health ministry. We continue to condemn all killings of civilians.
Amid the ongoing offensive in Gaza City, the Israeli military has issued more orders over the past day of people to leave specific buildings or areas within Gaza City, warning of imminent attacks.
Meanwhile, over the past two days, at least one partner organization has been hit in Gaza City, killing several people, including at least one aid worker and one child.
Our colleagues remind us that over 80 per cent of Gaza is either under displacement orders or within militarized areas.
With the Israeli military instructing people to move from parts of Gaza City southward, OCHA warns that people are in dire need for food, water, and shelter items.
While humanitarians were able to support the entry of a limited number of tents in the past weeks, much more is needed to support more hundreds of thousands of people in all parts of the Gaza Strip – north and south alike – as many are repeatedly displaced.
You will have seen that over the weekend, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, demanded urgent action to halt the spread of famine and suffering in Gaza. He warned that there is a narrow window, until the end of September, to prevent famine from expanding to Deir al Balah and Khan Younis and that this window is closing fast.
Since the confirmation of famine in Gaza governorate, the Ministry of Health reports that more than 100 people, a quarter of them children, have died from starvation and malnutrition across the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, in most areas, the Israeli authorities continue to require any movement of humanitarian personnel to be coordinated with them in advance. Yesterday, 11 out of 24 missions requiring coordination were facilitated, including the collection of fuel from Kerem Shalom crossing and the transfer of fuel supplies to the north. While three missions were denied, another four missions had to be canceled by the organizers.
Although the remaining six missions were impeded, humanitarians were nevertheless able to distribute water in the north and collect food cargo from Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem and Zikim crossings.
The World Health Organization says it has received more than 570 wheelchairs to distribute for hospitals and partners across the Strip. These include 260 wheelchairs for children.
JERUSALEM
The Secretary-General strongly condemned the terror attack on a bus in Jerusalem, in which at least six people were killed and many others injured.
He conveys his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a full and speedy recovery to those who were wounded.
HAITI
Turning to Haiti, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, has arrived in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Mr. Fletcher will meet communities, front-line responders, partners as well as Haitian authorities. In a social media post, he warned that needs are soaring at a time when funding is at historic lows, stressing that we must try to protect lives and restore hope.
You may recall that Haiti’s humanitarian appeal has received less than 12 per cent of the $908 million needed to respond and save lives.
This is in a country where almost 6 million people, half the country’s population, need vital aid this year.
A similar number of people are facing high levels of food insecurity, while more than 8,400 Haitians are already enduring famine-like conditions.
Over 1.3 million people are internally displaced – the highest number ever recorded in Haiti due to violence and insecurity. Many of those who fled their homes are now living in extremely dire conditions.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, concluded a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Between 3 September and yesterday, he visited Kinshasa, and also went to the country’s east, to Bunia, Fataki, and Beni.
In Kinshasa, Mr. Lacroix met with President Félix Tshisekedi, with the Prime Minister, members of the government, and opposition leaders. He conveyed our continued commitment to supporting peace and stability in the DRC.
Mr. Lacroix emphasized that hundreds of thousands of Congolese people, including displaced persons, rely on the UN peacekeeping mission for daily protection, particularly in areas like Fataki and Beni, in North Kivu, where joint operations with the Congolese armed forces continue against armed groups.
He highlighted the importance of international diplomatic efforts, including the Washington and Doha processes, and called for intensified engagement to achieve tangible results such as a ceasefire and reduced violence.
Mr. Lacroix reiterated the UN’s readiness to support the implementation of Security Council resolution 2773.
He also cautioned about the severe financial challenges confronting UN peacekeeping, urging Member States to contribute the necessary resources to enable the peacekeeping mission in the DRC and elsewhere to fulfill their mandates.
YEMEN
Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy for Yemen met today in Saudi Arabia with ambassadors to Yemen, including the P5, and other diplomatic representatives.
In his meetings in Riyadh, he noted with concern that, following a new wave of arrests that took place last week, now more than 40 UN personnel are now being arbitrarily detained by Ansar Allah, as well as the forced entry into UN premises and seizure of UN property.
We strongly condemn these actions and renew our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all personnel arbitrarily detained, including the 23 other UN colleagues held for years, some since 2021, together with personnel from national and international NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions.
Mr. Grundberg also expressed concern about the ongoing hostilities between Ansar Allah and Israel. He emphasized the need for international and regional unity to prevent further escalation and help advance peace efforts in Yemen.
We note with grave concern the continued Houthi attacks targeting Israel, including a drone attack that reportedly struck Ramon Airport on 7 September.
We call to halt their attacks. Any additional military escalation could exacerbate regional tensions that may further destabilize Yemen and the region.
We emphasize that international law, including international humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected by all parties at all times.
SUDAN
Moving to Sudan and following the landslide that struck Tarseen village in South Darfur State, on August 31st, our relief efforts are still ongoing in the area.
Today, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that we and our humanitarian partners have so far assisted at least 1,000 people impacted by this tragic event.
Between last Thursday and today, an inter-agency assessment and response mission comprising a dozen local and international NGOs and UN agencies delivered food and other critical items, as well as healthcare and protection services. And at some point this week, our humanitarian colleagues and their partners will discuss the mission’s findings, needs in the area, and ongoing response efforts.
Meanwhile, across Sudan the recurrent floods are deepening humanitarian needs, as thousands of families seek urgent support and shelter.
Over the weekend, flooding in Wad Shaer village, in the south-eastern state of Gedaref, displaced about 2,500 people and destroyed some 500 houses, that’s according to the International Organization for Migration.
IOM reports that hundreds of others were displaced by flooding last week in parts of Red Sea State that is located in the east of the country, and in South Darfur, in the west.
These successive humanitarian crises occur amidst ongoing fighting in Sudan. And I can tell you that we are deeply alarmed by the findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, released on Friday.
The report documents large-scale atrocities committed by both the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces.
It points to deliberate attacks on civilians and widespread destruction of critical infrastructure, including hospitals, markets, water systems and displacement camps. The findings underscore the urgent need for accountability and protection of civilians amid the ongoing conflict.
Once again, we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, unimpeded humanitarian access and steps to ensure the protection of civilians, and increased international support to meet soaring the needs across Sudan.
PAKISTAN
Yesterday, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, allocated $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support the response to the floods that continue to devastate large parts of the country
This complements a $600,000 allocation from OCHA’s Asia and the Pacific Regional Fund, as well as the $250,000 allocated from the Pakistan Country-Based Pooled Fund for local NGOs.
The funds will support cash transfers, health, water and sanitation, shelter and food, among other urgent needs.
OCHA says that many villages remain submerged, with some reports of water depths up to 10 meters, delaying humanitarian access and assessments.
Priority needs include water, sanitation and hygiene, health, shelter and food.
Our partners working in health have expressed concerns over a rise in waterborne diseases across several districts.
We and our partners continue to support the Government-led response and OCHA has deployed staff to the affected area in Punjab to support the coordination efforts.
OCHA says that while these new funds will enable lifesaving aid, existing resources are nearly exhausted and urgent additional funding is critically needed.
AFGHANISTAN
On Afghanistan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to respond to the devastating earthquakes.
UN partners have distributed ready-to-eat meals, including high-energy biscuits to more than 40,000 people across all affected districts. They have also provided clean water, tents, shelter, blankets and winter clothing. In addition, six child-friendly spaces have been established.
OCHA says that the UN and its partners continue to carry out assessments and have so far completed them in 49 villages across the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar and Lagham to date. The UN and its partners have found that dozens of water sources have been damaged, increasing the risk of the spread of waterborne diseases, including cholera.
The UN is in the process of finalizing the emergency appeal.
NIGERIA
From Nigeria, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator there, Mohamed Fall, condemned in a statement yesterday the killing of dozens of civilians in the north-east of the country.
A preliminary report by the authorities indicates that more than 50 civilians were killed on September 5th following an attack by suspected members of a non-state armed group on the village of Darajamal in Borno State. An unknown number of people were also allegedly abducted, with others fleeing with injuries. At least 28 houses were also reportedly burned during the attack.
Mr. Fall called for the immediate release of those abducted and for the perpetrators of this heinous attack to be brought to justice.
He added that this recent attack is yet a grim reminder of the toll of rising violent attacks and insecurity in Borno State, with hundreds of civilian deaths recorded this year alone.
Mr. Fall calls on all parties to comply with their obligations under International Humanitarian Law, including protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure, such as homes, markets and health centres.
HUMAN RIGHTS
This morning in Geneva, Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, presented his global update at the opening of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council.
He said human rights are the solid foundations of flourishing societies. They are a beacon of hope in the search for a better world that rejects violent conflict, brutality, and injustice.
And yet, disturbing trends that undercut our rights are gaining ground across the world.
Pro-war propaganda is everywhere, and the glorification of violence is coupled with a troubling erosion of international law.
Around the world, Mr. Türk said the long-established rules of war are being shredded with virtually no accountability.
He called for a cross-regional movement to defend the international system and told Member States he hopes to work with them on a new initiative to strengthen the human rights ecosystem and join the dots between abuses and violations, and crisis prevention.
INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY
Today is International Literacy Day.
It is celebrated this year under the theme of “Promoting literacy in the digital era.” In her message, Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said that reading and writing alone are no longer sufficient. In this day and age, “countries must also integrate media and information literacy into their school curricula, and UNESCO is supporting them in doing so," she added.
MICRONESIA/NEW RESIDENT COORDINATOR
The UN Development Coordination Office informs us that, effective 7 September, Mamadou Kane of Mauritania has assumed his role as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Micronesia, following host Government approval. He will also oversee programme matters in Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Palau. Mr. Kane brings over 20 years of experience in development, diplomacy, and international environmental governance, most recently serving as Executive Secretary of the Abidjan Convention. He previously held senior roles at UNEP and supported Small Island Developing States on biodiversity and oceans governance. He will lead the UN Country Team’s efforts to advance sustainable development across the region.
