HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 25 AUGUST 2025
SECRETARY-GENERAL/GAZA
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the killing of Palestinians today in Israeli strikes that hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. Those killed in addition to civilians, included medical personnel and journalists.
We want to extend our condolences to families and colleagues of those journalists killed, especially those representatives of the Associated Press, Reuters and Al Jazeera, who are in this room or online.
These latest horrific killings highlight the extreme risks that medical personnel and journalists face as they carry out their vital work amid this brutal conflict.
The Secretary-General recalls that civilians, including medical personnel and journalists, must be respected and protected at all times. He calls for a prompt, and impartial investigation into these killings.
He reiterates that medical personnel and journalists must be able to perform their essential duties without interference, without intimidation, and without harm, and in full accordance with international humanitarian law.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access across Gaza and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages being held in Gaza.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that ongoing air strikes and hostilities, including attacks on healthcare, are causing further casualties and damaging or destroying critical civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
With famine conditions now confirmed in Gaza governorate, hunger and malnutrition among children are deepening. UN partners working on nutrition warn that in any food crisis, children with underlying health conditions are affected first and without proper nutrition, water and care, their condition worsens quicklier.
Less aid means more malnutrition; the UN and its partners continue to call for the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.
Today, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said that 11 people have died from malnutrition and starvation in the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of people who have died due to malnutrition and hunger to 300. That, again, is according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
Across the Strip, people continue to be displaced while seeking safety and shelter. UN partners tracking population movements in Gaza report that since 20 August, some 5,000 people are estimated to have been displaced from northern Gaza to Deir al Balah and Khan Younis. Some 8,000 others have been displaced to the west of Gaza City. This brings the total number of new displacements since the end of the ceasefire in mid-March to more than 800,000.
Meanwhile, OCHA warns that aid convoys in Gaza continue to face delays, they continue to face movement obstructions and many other obstacles. Yesterday, out of 15 humanitarian missions that required coordination, the Israeli authorities facilitated seven, which included the collection of fuel from Kerem Shalom crossing and its distribution to areas where it is needed most. Four missions had to be either cancelled by the organizers or were denied outright by Israeli authorities. The remaining ones were initially approved but then impeded on the ground and only partially accomplished.
UN partners said that several education facilities across the Gaza Strip, all used as shelters for displaced people, were attacked last week.
With local authorities announcing that final exams for over 35,000 high school students are due to be held in two weeks, we and our partners reiterate our call for the protection of education facilities in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces released a World Health Organization (WHO) colleague who had been detained now for more than a month. WHO welcomed the release and called, once again, for the protection of health staff and all humanitarians workers.
OCHA continues to call for the protection of civilians, including humanitarians, health workers and journalists. None should ever be a target.
LEBANON/ISRAEL
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports continued Israel Defense Forces’ military activities, including air violations and patrolling, in southern Lebanon.
Over the weekend, the peacekeepers found weapons’ caches, including mortar shells with fuses attached, rocket launchers and explosives. They also found tunnels at two locations in Sector West. All of them were referred to the Lebanese Armed Forces as per existing protocol.
Just to note that also on Sunday, a UNIFIL patrol faced obstruction by a group of individuals in Sector West. The group briefly stopped the patrol, and the Lebanese Army was informed of the situation. The UN reiterates the critical importance of the mission’s unhindered freedom of movement. Any act hampering the crucial work of the peacekeepers must stop and it is not acceptable.
ISRAEL/HOUTHIS
In answer to questions, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General said that the UN notes with concern the continued Houthi drone and missile attacks on Israel, as well as the launching of strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen by the Israeli Defense Forces that took place yesterday. Those attacks reportedly targeted the Presidential palace complex, as well as energy infrastructure in Sana’a.
The Secretary-General calls for a cessation of all military activities. Any additional escalation could worsen regional tensions that may further destabilize Yemen and the region and pose grave risks to the already dire humanitarian situation in the country.
The Secretary-General also emphasizes that international law, including international humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected by all parties at all times.
SUDAN
The UN welcomes the recent breakthrough in humanitarian access in South Kordofan State.
Yesterday, a UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) convoy successfully delivered humanitarian supplies to Dilling town in South Kordofan State, marking the first substantial delivery to this area by any UN agency since October 2024. The convoy will now continue to Kadugli, the state capital. The supplies will benefit more than 120,000 vulnerable people in Dilling and Kadugli, where humanitarian needs have reached catastrophic levels and communities have been under siege for months.
Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also warns that violence continues to escalate in North Darfur State. Between August 19th and 20th, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that insecurity forced 1,000 people to flee the famine-stricken Abu Shouk displacement camp, on the outskirts of the state capital El Fasher. Abu Shouk has witnessed several deadly attacks in recent weeks, with reports of abductions of women and young children from the site over recent days. OCHA is also alarmed by reports of a new wave of violence in El Fasher itself, including alleged artillery shelling of the town's main functioning hospital. And again, medical infrastructure and medical personnel must always be protected and must never be a target.
The UN is also gravely concerned by the worsening nutrition crisis in Melit, in North Darfur. A recent survey by UN partner Relief International found that one in three children is acutely malnourished. This places thousands of children under 5 at imminent risk of severe illness, developmental complications, and death. You may recall this is the same area where an aid convoy from the World Food Programme (WFP) was attacked last week while trying to offload humanitarian supplies.
The UN and its partners remain committed to providing the much-needed support to people as access allows. But insecurity, logistical challenges and severe underfunding continue to hamper our efforts. The UN once again calls on the parties to respect international humanitarian law, ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers, and prioritize the protection of civilians.
SYRIA
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the UN and its partners continue to deliver critical aid to Sweida. Today, 11 trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP) reached Sweida carrying over 9,000 ready-to-eat food rations. Since the escalation of hostilities in tjhat area in July, WFP has provided emergency food assistance to over 300,000 people across Sweida, Dara’a, and Rural Damascus governorates.
Commercial traffic into As-Sweida remains limited but 6 commercial trucks managed to enter yesterday.
OCHA says that restoring unimpeded commercial access, alongside stabilizing the security environment is essential to ensure that assistance reaches populations effectively and to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
Also yesterday, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, visited Dara’a Governorate to assess the humanitarian situation there following the outbreak of violence in that area back in July. He met with families who had endured difficult years in their homes but were only recently forced to flee.
The need for food, water, sanitation, hygiene and non-food items remains acute. The education sector is particularly overstretched: many schools have been destroyed, only a few remain functional, and some are just being used as a place to hosting displaced families.
With the school year fast approaching in mid-September, urgent alternatives must be found to protect both children’s right to education and families’ need for shelter.
Mr. Adbelmoula also visited Harak National Hospital in rural Dara'a, rehabilitated by the local community. Today, it serves both residents and displaced families. He underlined the importance of scaling up support to reinforce such community-driven efforts.
PAKISTAN
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that over the last ten days local authorities have said that 400 people have been killed and over 190 injured due to heavy rains and flash floods in various areas of the country. Over 20,000 people remain displaced due to the flooding.
Pakistan’s Meteorological Department says a new monsoon system is in the forecast, with heavy rainfall expected to continue in the coming days.
OCHA reports that people affected by the flooding need shelter supplies, medical assistance, cash for work, hygiene kits, clean drinking water and education as well as protection support, particularly for women and girls.
The authorities are leading the response, with support from the United Nations and local partners. Over the weekend, Tom Fletcher, our Emergency Relief Coordinator, released $600,000 from the regional pooled fund to support the ongoing efforts.
Since the start of the 2025 monsoon season on 26 June, Pakistan has faced extensive destruction from heavy rains and floods, with 798 reported fatalities and more than 1,000 injuries. That is what local authorities are telling us.
ROHINGYA PEOPLE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES/MYANMAR
In a statement issued over the weekend, the Secretary-General said that eight years since their forced mass displacement from Rakhine State, Rohingya people in and outside of Myanmar are facing a further deterioration of their already dire circumstances.
In Rakhine State, Rohingya and other civilians are caught in the crossfire between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army and subjected to forced recruitment, human rights violations and many other abuses. Continued violence has forced more Rohingya to flee, including into Bangladesh, which is already generously hosting 1.1 million refugees from Myanmar.
Reports of pushbacks, removals and deportations across the region raise serious concerns over potential violations of the principle of non-refoulement and shrinking asylum space. Funding cuts are severely curtailing education, food assistance, healthcare, livelihood opportunities and protection services for those refugees.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the protection of all civilians in accordance with applicable obligations under international law.
He recalls that during his visit to Cox’s Bazar earlier this year, where he witnessed the resilience of the Rohingya communities and stressed the urgent need for strengthened international solidarity and increased support, in parallel to efforts toward a comprehensive political solution that meaningfully includes the Rohingya and addresses their displacement and the root causes of the protracted crisis.
The Secretary-General is hopeful that the 30 September High–level Conference on Rohingya and other minorities that will take place in New York, as mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, will draw renewed international attention to the urgency of finding durable solutions.
Julie Bishop, his Special Envoy for Myanmar continues to engage all stakeholders toward the cessation of violence and a viable Myanmar-led political process to build conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya people totheir homes in Myanmar.
