Noon briefing of 4 March 2026

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,​
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 4 MARCH 2026

IRAN/MIDDLE EAST 

The UN continues to follow developments in the Middle East very closely. In answer to questions about the Secretary-General’s contacts, the Spokesman said that yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General accepted a request to meet with the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani. During the meeting, the Secretary-General reiterated his position as stated during Saturday’s Security Council session. He expressed his hope for a swift end to the conflict and return to dialogue in the interest of regional stability. 

The Secretary-General also met yesterday with Omar Said Omar Al Kathiri, the Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations. During the meeting they discussed the situation in the region and the urgent need to end the current military activities and escalation, and return to dialogue, also, of course, in the interest of regional stability. 

The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Oman’s important role in the negotiations and the Sultanate commitment to diplomacy. 

In a short while, he will be meeting with Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia.   

These diplomatic engagements come amid continued regional tensions.

The Secretary-General continues to be very concerned about the situation in Lebanon where the Lebanese people are once again in the crosshairs of a conflict. He's particularly concerned about the impact of the hostilities on the civilian population. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that more than 50 people have been killed and hundreds more have been injured in the past two days, according to local authorities.

Overnight and throughout today, widespread Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon, Baalbek, Chouf and the southern suburbs of Beirut, causing further casualties and significant destruction. Yesterday, three paramedics were killed and six injured while responding to an airstrike. 

In southern Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports continued exchanges of fire across the Blue Line, including Hizbullah’s rocket fire towards Israel and the Israel Defense Forces’ airstrikes and extensive fire north of the Blue Line. Peacekeepers have observed Israel Defense Forces vehicles moving north of the Blue Line at several locations reaching up to 1 kilometre beyond the Blue Line and firing towards the surroundings.  The UN also notes with serious concern the IDF statement calling for evacuation of residents of South Lebanon to north of the Litani River.

Forced displacement orders continue to be issued, including one today covering the entire area south of the Litani River – approximately 850 square kilometres and home to hundreds of thousands of people. 

Civilians are continuing to flee in Lebanon, often with little more than the clothes they are wearing and what they can carry. Since the onset of hostilities, at least 80,000 people have sought refuge in collective shelters in Lebanon, according to local authorities. However, the UN believes this represents only a fraction of all people who have been displaced. 

UN partners are working closely with national and local authorities. Rapid response teams are assessing needs and distributing emergency supplies in affected areas and collective shelters. So far, UN partners working in food security have reached more than 20,000 displaced people with hot meals and over 15,000 with ready-to-eat food across Lebanon. 

UN health partners, working with the Ministry of Public Health, are providing medicine and scaling up mobile primary health care services in shelters and other locations. Water and sanitation partners are supporting the continued operation of critical water and wastewater facilities, including by providing fuel to operate those stations.           

Even prior to this escalation, the humanitarian community was aiming to reach 1.5 million vulnerable people with humanitarian aid through the $1.6 billion 2026 appeal. UN partners are now responding with fewer financial and human resources than in previous years. That of course limits the scale and speed of assistance at a time when needs are rising sharply. Urgent additional funding and capacity are required to sustain and expand life‑saving operations. 

All UNIFIL positions remain manned and remain in place along the Blue Line. The Mission’s operational activities prioritize monitoring and logistical movements, including resupply. UNIFIL continues to assess the situation to ensure the safety and security of the personnel.   

International law is not a mystery. We talk about it every day. It is not a secret. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times by all parties to a conflict.   

As previously said, the UN very much welcomes the decision by Government of Lebanon earlier this week to accelerate efforts toward asserting the state’s monopoly of armes across Lebanon. It is imperative that Hezbollah respect the government’s decision, as well as Security Council resolution 1701. The UN also calls once again on Israel to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon as well as Security Council resolution 1701. Both the UN Special Coordinator and the UNIFIL Force Commander will work with the parties towards that end. 

The UN urges all involved to exercise maximum restraint. 

Also on the humanitarian front, OCHA says that operations across the region are being significantly impacted by the current hostilities. Disruptions to shipping and travel routes are not only affecting humanitarian supply chains, but also the movement of aid workers, and also threatening to worsen food insecurity in many areas across the region.   

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY  

The Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ramiz Alakbarov, welcomed yesterday’s reopening of the Kerem Shalom/Kerem Abu Salem crossing and the entry of critical supplies, including fuel into Gaza. Mr. Alakbarov stressed that maintaining a steady and predictable flow of supplies, in sufficient quantities, and resuming medical evacuations is critical to alleviating the continued suffering of Gaza’s population.

As mentioned yesterday, coordinated movements within Gaza have resumed. Yesterday, trucks carrying wheat flour, carrying canned food and ready-to-eat rations, as well as other items supplied by our partners all registered under the UN 2720 Mechanism were offloaded at Kerem Shalom. 

In a tweet this morning, Jorge Moreira da Silva, the head of UNOPS said his colleagues delivered 400,000 litres of fuel yesterday to key distribution points in Gaza. He said that this is an encouraging development following the temporary closure of Gaza crossings, but Mr. Moreira da Silva added that as we have been saying here every day, much more is needed.  

Today, the UN and its partners have successfully coordinated with the Israeli authorities three missions to Kerem Shalom/Kerem Abu Salem to collect cargo and to monitor operations there. Teams collected tents, items for babies, education supplies, hygiene supplies, medicines and other items. 

Meanwhile, UN partners leading on displacement sites management said yesterday that more than 900 out of 1,500 sites across Gaza are at risk of flooding if the rainy season continues. These sites host hundreds of thousands of people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed. As seen in the past months, flooding could worsen the already dire situation on the ground.  

The UN and its partners have been supporting people choosing to temporarily relocate from particularly high-risk, flood-prone areas. Eight temporary sites have been identified by municipalities are now operating across Gaza to support voluntary relocation from flood-prone areas. 

However, the UN and its partners still do not have the tools and materials to make shelters that are longer lasting. The entry of these supplies continues to be heavily restricted, and they are difficult to find in the local market. These include tool kits, timber and cement to repair homes and heavy machinery to clear rubble to make more space for dignified housing. 

OCHA once again underscores that more crossings must be open and a sustained flow of supplies, including fuel, must enter Gaza in a safe and predictable manner so aid agencies can continue to scale up humanitarian operations. 

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that hostilities along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have now continued for a seventh straight day. OCHA says that access to areas impacted by the clashes remains limited, so casualty reports cannot yet be independently verified. Schools and markets in several border districts remain closed amid continued instability, while mortar fire has forces families to flee villages in north-west Pakistan. 

OCHA notes that aid workers continue to help people who need humanitarian aid in the south of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan, but some of their work in border areas has been temporarily suspended.  

In Afghanistan, cross-border shelling and airstrikes have reportedly caused civilian casualties and damaged homes. In Nangarhar Province, it is reported that shelling near the Torkham border crossing injured five civilians, including children, while another mortar strike in Nazyan district injured two people and damaged homes. And here too, international law is no secret, and it is clear. Civilians must be protected at all times, as well as civilian infrastructure. 

For its part, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) pointed out that Afghanistan is facing one of the largest returnee-related displacement crises globally, with more than five million returnees recorded over the last two years, including 2.6 million last year alone. Any additional conflict-driven displacement or sudden large-scale returns would place severe strain on local services, border infrastructure, and host communities, further eroding the already limited capacity. 

IOM added that the escalation has also severely affected internally displaced families in Kunar province, many of whom were uprooted by recent earthquakes in Afghanistan and were living in temporary settlements.  

OCHA calls on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, ensure rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access.

IRAQ – YANAR MOHAMMED 

As we move closer to the annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women, as well as International Women's Day, we want to, sadly, focus on the heinous murder of a prominent women's rights activist in Baghdad.  

We join Volker Turk, our High Commissioner for Human Rights in condemning the killing of Yanar Mohammed. This is tragic news for women human rights defenders in Iraq, in the region and beyond.

Our human rights colleagues tell us that they worked closely with Ms. Mohammed and her organisation. She was engaged tirelessly and with dedication to provide protection to many women victims of domestic and social violence. 

We send our condolences to her family and brave colleagues and call on the authorities in Iraq for a prompt and transparent investigation to hold the perpetrators to account. 

HAITI 

Alexander De Croo, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was in Haiti. He just wrapped up a two-day visit today. While there, he reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting the country’s development priorities amid ongoing challenges. 

During his meeting with the Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, the Administrator highlighted what he described as “renewed momentum” in the partnership between UNDP and Haiti.  

Mr. De Croo also discussed the support UNDP will give to the Government’s plans to organise elections later this year. He also emphasized the close link between security and development, which have to be tackled simultaneously. He also met with the Ministers of Justice, Defence, and head of national police.

In meetings with industry leaders Mr. De Croo discussed ways to create an enabling private sector environment. He encouraged young community leaders to take up their role in building an inclusive Haiti and assured them the UN is steadfast in its support of Haiti’s young people, who make up more than 50 percent of the population. 

Mr. De Croo reiterated that all support by the UN Development Programme must be Haitian-led and that the vision for stabilizing the country must be Haitian-owned.  

Mr. De Croo is on his way to Jamaica where he will meet with communities still struggling in their recovery from Hurricane Melissa. 

UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN CYPRUS 

Today marks 62 years since the Security Council established the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). As the UN marks this anniversary, Khassim Diagne, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of the UN Mission, noted that peacekeeping has helped Cyprus avoid a return to violence for more than six decades, adding that the hope that one day it will no longer be needed is precisely why it remains until peace is achieved. 

Mr. Diagne pointed out that peacekeeping rarely makes headlines when it is successful, and its achievements are often in the crises that never unfold. He underscored that the mission supports intercommunal initiatives, engages communities, and encourages cooperation on practical issues, efforts that may appear modest but are essential to building trust. Peace, he added, is not achieved only at negotiating tables, it is nurtured in everyday interactions between people. 

Mr. Diagne said that the anniversary is also a moment of solemn remembrance. Since 1964, 187 men and women serving with UNFICYP have lost their lives in the service of peace.  

PEACEBUILDING FUND 

The Secretary-General has approved a request by Papua New Guinea to renew eligibility for the Peacebuilding Fund’s Peacebuilding and Recovery Facility for an additional five-year, until the end of 2030.  

Based on multi-stakeholder consultations with the Government, civil society partners, the donor community, and the wider UN system, the renewed support aims to advance joint efforts by the Government and the UN in the context of the Bougainville post-referendum peace process and the delivery of peace dividends. It will also strengthen work on conflict prevention, reconciliation and climate-resilient peace in the Highlands as well as grassroots reconciliation, inclusive governance and local peace economies. In addition, the Peacebuilding Fund will help reinforce national prevention capacities, human rights efforts, women and youth, peace and security agendas.  

Financial Contribution 

Peru paid its full dues to the Regular Budget. The payments bring the number of fully paid-up Member States to 76. 

***The guest at the Noon Briefing was UN Women’s Director of the Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division at UN Women, Sarah Hendriks. She briefed journalists on the global launch of the Secretary-General’s report entitled, "Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls", ahead of International Women's Day and the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.