Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
**Briefings Today and Tomorrow
A programming note. Tomorrow, at 12:45 p.m., the Secretary-General of the United Nations will do a stakeout on the situation in Myanmar. We will not have a noon briefing, but we will have a briefing by our colleagues from the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), ahead of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, which is on Friday, 4 April.
Richard Boulter, UNMAS Chief of Design, Operational Support and Oversight, will be here to brief. He will be joined virtually by Edwin Faigmane, Chief of the Mine Action Programme in Nigeria, and Fatma Zourrig, Chief of the Mine Action Programme in Libya. That will be around 11:30 a.m. tomorrow. No noon briefing, and the SG at about 12:45 p.m. at the Security Council stakeout.
**Secretary-General/Gaza
I have some thoughts to share with you on behalf of the Secretary-General on the situation in Gaza. I can tell you that the Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by the human toll of the intensified hostilities taking place in Gaza. He condemns the reported killing of over 1,000 people, including women and children, since the collapse of the ceasefire. Large-scale Israeli bombardments and ground operations have resulted in the widespread destruction and the displacement of over 100,000 Palestinians from Rafah in the last two days alone, most of them having already been displaced multiple times and having been displaced with very few belongings.
The Secretary-General is shocked by the attacks by the Israeli army on a medical and emergency convoy on 23 March resulting in the killing of 15 medical personnel and humanitarian workers in Gaza. Medical personnel and humanitarian and emergency workers must be protected by all parties to the conflict at all times, as required by international humanitarian law. Since October 2023, at least 408 aid workers have been killed in Gaza, and at least 280 of them have been United Nations humanitarian workers. The Secretary-General honours all humanitarian workers who have been killed in this conflict, and demands a full, thorough and independent investigation on these incidents. All parties must comply fully with international law at all times. Civilians must be respected and protected. The denial of life-saving aid must end.
The Secretary-General reiterates his strong condemnation of the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. Nothing can justify those terror attacks. And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. The Secretary-General renews his urgent call for the immediate restoration of the ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and the unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza.
I was also asked by one of your colleagues about the stated plans of Israel to seize more land in Gaza and I can tell you that the Secretary-General also reminds that the Security Council resolution 2735 (2025) rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of Gaza. In this regard, he is increasingly concerned about the inflammatory rhetoric, calling for Israeli military to “capture extensive territory that will be added to the State of Israel’s security areas”. The Secretary-General renews his urgent call for the immediate restoration of the ceasefire.
**Deputy Secretary-General
Our Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, was supposed to be in Germany, but, however, she was unable to travel to Berlin last night due to unforeseen technical issues with the plane that she was travelling on, and the plane was required to return back to New York due to technical issues. She, of course, regrets not being able to attend the Global Disability Summit in person, but delivered remarks via a video message that was played earlier today in Berlin.
She said that expanding hope and opportunities for people with disabilities is close to her heart — and that of the Secretary-General’s, adding that it is a matter of dignity, it is a matter of humanity and of human rights. Ms. Mohammed noted that the UN Disability and Development Report found that about 98 per cent of the SDG indicators for persons with disabilities are off track. This is far more than a statistic, she warned, it should be a wake-up call. Her full remarks were shared with you.
And today, she heads off to try and take another plane and travel to Skopje, in North Macedonia, to meet with senior Government officials as planned and to chair the annual regional retreat with UN resident coordinators based in countries in Europe and Central Asia, focused on efforts to advance sustainable development in these countries. She will be back in New York over the weekend.
**UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
I think you did get an extensive updated on the humanitarian situation in Gaza from our colleague at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), so I will just add that, from UNRWA, earlier this morning the Israeli air forces hit two rooms on the first floor of an UNRWA health centre building which was being used as a shelter for 160 displaced families when it was hit. The shelling reportedly killed at least 15 people, including 9 children, 2 women and 4 men. No UNRWA staff were killed or injured in this attack. Despite UNRWA staff warning of the dangers of the facility after the attack, many displaced families have not left the site, simply because they have absolutely nowhere else to go.
**Myanmar
Turning to Myanmar, we and our humanitarian partners continue to support people whose lives have been deeply impacted by last Friday’s devastating earthquakes. Dozens of aftershocks continue in the impacted areas, deepening people’s fear and preventing many from returning to their homes. The aftershocks are also complicating humanitarian response efforts.
In Mandalay city, the epicentre of the earthquake and one of the worst-affected areas, many people are completely cut off from electricity and running water. Humanitarian workers on the ground have reported increasing cases of acute watery diarrhoea among people seeking shelter in displacement sites in Mandalay and Sagaing regions, along with dozens of cases of heat-related illness.
People affected continue to need urgent healthcare and medical supplies, safe drinking water, food and other critical items. Tents and temporary shelter are needed, as well as latrines and other hygiene items, to prevent disease outbreaks. People also need psychosocial support to address mental health needs following the earthquake.
In Mandalay City, humanitarian workers provided food and cash assistance to more than 10,000 people yesterday. The day before, over 20,000 people had received cash for emergency food, shelter and other items in Mandalay and other areas, including Wetlet, Sagaing and other areas. Water trucking operations have begun in Nay Pyi Taw territory, serving approximately 45,000 people, although more than 300,000 need this kind of support. In Mandalay, more than 20 latrines have been constructed in displacement sites.
The health response also continues, with three metric tons of medical supplies, including trauma kits, delivered to hospitals in Mandalay and in Nay Pyi Taw. That was done within 24 hours of the earthquake having struck. Nearly 30 field medical stations have been established in the most affected areas, providing emergency care for injuries and basic health services. We and our humanitarian partners continue to carry out assessments, mobilize logistics and pre-position supplies to ensure the response is at scale. Funding, however, remains critically low. We appeal to the international community to step up in this moment and show support for the people of Myanmar.
**Security Council
This morning, the Security Council heard a briefing on the protection of UN and associated personnel. Joyce Msuya, the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, told council members that humanitarian workers are being killed in unprecedented numbers — and we just highlighted that in Gaza. The vast majority of those killed, she added, are local aid workers, who are always the cornerstone of any relief efforts. Let us be clear, Ms. Msuya said, there is no shortage of international legal frameworks to protect humanitarian and United Nations workers. What is lacking is the political will to do so.
She called on council members first to act to ensure respect for international law and to protect humanitarian and UN humanitarian workers. Second, she said, we need the voice of the Council and the broader UN Membership to be loud, to be clear and to be consistent in condemning harm to UN and humanitarian personnel, including local staff. And third, she told Council members to request accountability.
For his part, Gilles Michaud, the Head of our Department of Safety and Security reminded Security Council members that, during a previous meeting, he had urged them to translate words of support for the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel into meaningful action, adding that progress so far has remained elusive. Those remarks were all shared with you.
**Central African Republic
An update from the Central African Republic about our peacekeeping colleague who was tragically killed in that country on Friday. I can tell you that his name is Major Paul Ndungu Njoroge, from Kenya. He was 32 years old and serving as a Military Observer. Once again, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, his colleagues and to the people and Government and of Kenya. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has reinforced its presence on patrol routes in the area of the incident and assesses that the situation has returned to relative calm. In addition, the Mission deployed a team on site to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
**Sudan
Turning to Sudan, our humanitarian colleagues on the ground said that they are gravely concerned following reports of massive and sudden displacement of civilians in the Al Malha area, which is about 180 kilometres north of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State. Local authorities estimate that about a quarter of a million people — mostly women, children and older people — have been forced to flee their homes in the wake of the recent escalation of violence. Many are now scattered across 15 villages, lacking the most basic necessities. We are working with our partners in the area to try to verify these reports. Last week, the International Organization for Migration said that approximately 75,000 people had already been displaced in the area due to the clashes.
The newly reported figure would mark a very significant escalation in displacement and signal a serious deterioration in an already dire humanitarian situation across North Darfur. We also continue to receive alarming reports of civilian casualties due to the intensified hostilities across the region, including in and around El Fasher. Displaced families are in urgent need of the basics — such as food, shelter, medical care and hygiene supplies.
We and our humanitarian partners are working to dispatch convoys and scale up operations, but access and insecurity remain critical challenges. We urgently call for the protection of civilians and for humanitarian access to be guaranteed — without obstruction — so that the much-needed aid can reach people who need it.
On top of all this, our partners working on health say that they continue to respond to a hepatitis outbreak in eastern Sudan spreading among displaced communities at the Gharb al Matar displacement site in Kassala state. Between 27 March and 31 March alone, more than 60 new suspected cases were reported, bringing the total to 236 cases in less than a month.
The outbreak is being driven mainly by overcrowded living conditions, poor sanitation and limited healthcare. In response, local health authorities — together with UN agencies and other partners — are scaling up medical interventions, and water, sanitation and hygiene support, as well as targeted campaigns to raise awareness to prevent the further spread of the disease.
**South Sudan
Moving to South Sudan where our peacekeeping mission is continuing to support efforts to broker a cessation of hostilities and return to calm. Today, Nicholas Haysom, our Head of the peacekeeping mission, exchanged views with Charles Tai Gituai, the Chair of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, on the need for regional and international partners to maintain momentum towards a peaceful solution in the face of rising tensions and conflict. The African Union Panel of the Wise has also touched down in Juba, and Mr. Haysom is due to meet tomorrow with the delegation, which has been deployed to support mediation and conflict prevention.
On the security front, there are reports of clashes between forces aligned with the two main parties. That is the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the Sudan People Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO). Those clashes are taking place in Western Equatoria and the southern part of Central Equatoria province. An outbreak of intercommunal violence in Abiemnhom, in the far north, is also causing concern, with our peacekeepers currently protecting at least 200 displaced civilians near their temporary base.
**South Sudan/Humanitarian
And on the humanitarian front in South Sudan, the escalation is also having an impact on the World Food Programme (WFP) operations. Our colleagues from WFP say that food distributions to 167,000 human beings in Upper Nile State have been paused due to the active fighting.
WFP warns that humanitarian resources are already stretched, with assistance prioritized for communities facing emergency and catastrophic hunger — these are levels 4 and 5 on the IPC scale. A sharp rise in humanitarian needs will force further prioritization, and risks leaving many other hungry families without support. As you know, malnutrition is rising in South Sudan. WFP estimates that 2.1 million children are at risk this year, which is an increase by 35 per cent just from a year ago. WFP is accelerating distributions in the areas of greatest need, where access is possible. But guaranteed protection of staff, the people we support, and humanitarian assets is critical for us to do our work.
**Somalia
A quick update from Somalia, a place we haven’t heard from in a while. Our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that recent fighting in Puntland State, in the north-east — as well as the regions of Middle and Lower Shabelle in central Somalia — has forced at least 110,000 men, women and children to flee their homes. In several other areas, tens of thousands of people have also been displaced in recent months from inter-clan clashes. Besides the fighting, our humanitarian colleagues say that climate factors are also driving displacement, given prolonged dry conditions and lower than expected rainfall in many areas. The latest IPC report published last week projects that nearly 4.6 million people in Somalia are likely to experience high levels of hunger from now until June. Some 1.8 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year and will need urgent treatment. This includes nearly 480,000 children who are expected to suffer from severe malnutrition.
Our humanitarian colleagues warn that humanitarian needs in Somalia are rising at a time when funding for aid operations is plummeting. Aid agencies are having to reduce and even suspend assistance and focus available resources on life-saving activities for the most vulnerable people. This year, about one third of Somalia’s population — nearly 6 million people — need humanitarian assistance. However, the $1.42 billion humanitarian appeal is only 9 per cent funded, with $131 million in the bank.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that [the resurgence of clashes between armed groups] in the town of Masisi-Centre in North Kivu, in the town of Masisi-Centre, have spilled over now into neighboring areas. Sustained gunfire and explosions have triggered widespread panic, forcing civilians to seek refuge at Masisi General Hospital or to remain trapped in their homes. That is what local partners are telling us. Humanitarian access remains severely constrained amid the ongoing volatile situation. In South Kivu, intense clashes yesterday in several villages of Walungu territory forced markets, shops and basic services to close, leaving civilians confined to their homes. That is what our local partners are telling us.
Separately, civil society groups are reporting that four women and girls were abducted and raped by armed men in Kalehe Territory between 29 and 30 March. While three survivors received medical care, a fourth one could not get access to adequate treatment due to depleted medical stocks — a direct consequence of the supply chain disruptions due to the fighting. Local partners say that a sharp rise in sexual violence perpetrated by armed groups has been seen in recent weeks in both North Kivu and South Kivu Provinces.
In Uvira, despite the resumption of basic services and relief activities, health centres are confronting medication shortages due to insecurity along the road to the provincial capital, Bukavu. In Ituri, local health authorities confirm that an armed group attack in the area of Dhedya in the Territory of Djugu, on 31 March killed two civilians. Hundreds of people have fled to surrounding areas.
We urge all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, and to ensure safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access to people in need. Everyone, all parties must do everything they can to protect civilians in military operations. Civilians must be protected and able to access the basic and essentials services they need to stay alive.
**Haiti
Turning to Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues there tell us that violence is now spreading in the Centre Department, forcing civilians to flee their homes. As we mentioned yesterday, this weekend’s attack in Mirebalais in Haiti, which reportedly resulted in the escape of more than 500 detainees from a local prison, has also led to — according to OCHA — widespread looting and the burning of homes, schools, and churches. This incident highlights how gang activity is expanding beyond the Ouest Department, where Port-au-Prince is located.
Meanwhile, violence continues to intensify in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. Displacement there has steadily increased since January from 170,000 people to 185,000 people at the end of March, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Thousands of displaced people are now sheltering in makeshift sites, including schools and public buildings. We and our partners continue to monitor the situation, assess the needs and support humanitarian response when security permits.
**Missing Persons
Earlier this morning, Volker Türk, our High Commissioner for Human Rights, briefed the General Assembly on the Secretary-General’s report on missing persons. He noted that the pain of not knowing the fate of loved ones is one of the worst things that can ever happen to anyone. He also stressed the enormous scale of the issue, with an unprecedented number of large-scale conflicts and the disregard for international humanitarian law resulting in vast numbers of people going missing. His remarks were shared with you.
**World Autism Day
Today is World Autism Day. In his message, the Secretary-General says that around the globe, people with autism are making enormous contributions to societies, human endeavours and individual lives. Today we reflect on those achievements, but we also recognize the significant challenges that remain.
**Screening
Just for your information. There will be a screening tomorrow at 10 am in Conference Room 2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People is organizing a meeting that includes speakers such as Basel Adra, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, as well as an official from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and a human rights lawyer. Speakers will focus on human rights and legal aspects around land issues in the occupied Palestinian territory.
And then, at 1 p.m., in Conference Room 2, the Committee will organize a screening of the film. Only delegates and UN pass-holders will be able to attend, but you’re invited to that event. Benno?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thank you for the invitation. Hi, Steph. Regarding Gaza you said, who is responsible for the bombardments, but who does the Secretary-General think is responsible, for the collapse of the ceasefire in the first place?
Spokesman: There were agreements agreed to. It is clear that I think there’s blame around for not honouring the letter and the intent of the ceasefire. We want all parties to honour what they had agreed to and move forward and return to what we had a month ago, right? Which was humanitarian going in, hostages being released, life resuming in a certain sense in Gaza, where people could go out to market. Schools had resumed, If you’ll recall, the prices were starting to go down. We want to go back to that.
Question: Okay. And now about the DSG’s, non-travel?
Spokesman: Yeah.
Question: To Berlin? I hope she’s fine. What kind…?
Spokesman: Yeah, she’s fine. I mean, it was a commercial aircraft.
Correspondent: That was my question.
Spokesman: Yes.
Question: So it was a commercial? But, she was not okay?
Spokesman: She does not talk about it.
Question: Because, I didn’t see any report about a plane had to…?
Spokesman: No. I mean, it was a mechanical issue having to do with pressure in the cabin before they started off on the North Atlantic. I think they turned around near Gander in Canada.
Question: Okay. So nobody was harmed?
Spokesman: Nope. No, no one was harmed.
Correspondent: Just Berlin.
Spokesman: Exactly. Yes, Dennis?
Question: I wanted to ask you a question about, [Republic of] Moldova and Gagauzia Autonomous Region. So, head of Gagauzia’s Autonomous Region, Evghenia Gutsul, appealed to Secretary-General to pay attention to the situation in the region, namely to violations of democratic principles, and rights of self-government. So, my question is: does UN SG, follows the situation in Gagauzia’s region? And follow-up, late March. She was arrested, and so what does, UN SG think of that?
Spokesman: I have to get back to you. I saw the reports earlier today that she had apparently written a letter to the Secretary-General. I need to check on that, and I will get back to you hopefully later today. Yes, please.
Question: Steph, once again today, Azerbaijani civilian severely maimed because of mine explosion in Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in Agdam. So, lately, Secretary-General, expressed that the mining efforts is high of priority in Azerbaijan. And UNDP in the region for a long time. But, there is not any report or official statement about their efforts and also this kind of, incidents happen. I mean, shortly, why UNDP doesn’t?
Spokesman: I will put you in touch with our UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] colleagues, and they can answer that question. I don’t have any information on that particularly.
Correspondent: A follow-up actually, 4 April is international mining awareness day.
Spokesman: Yes, and that’s what we’re having the… I don’t know, I’m not going to say, you came in late because I was later than everybody else. But, we’re having a briefing tomorrow on UN Mine Action here at 11:30 a.m. Sorry the microphone.
Question: Do you have any reaction about the, you know [inaudible]?
Spokesman: I will check. Obviously, we’re always very concerned when people are wounded due to mining incidents. And I think, I referred yesterday to the importance of the international treaties against land mines, against cluster bombs. Yes. Please. Go ahead. Yeah.
Question: So, you just mentioned that this year, only 9 per cent of Somalia humanitarian aid fund has been secured?
Spokesman: That’s correct. Yep.
Question: Is this progress normal, and what has been the reason?
Spokesman: It is. Well, the reason is because there’s not enough money. I mean, the reason it’s only 9 per cent funded is that we haven’t been able to mobilize enough money. The donors have not come forward with enough funds. Sadly, it is a trend that we’re seeing across the board, on our humanitarian appeals that are all severely, severely underfunded.
Question: When you see the donors, do you mind to reveal, like, who are the donors?
Spokesman: Well, the donors are every Member State is a potential donor. Yeah. Thank you. Yes, please. Go ahead.
Question: Yeah. Thank you. Just a short one. I’m wondering if you have any updates on the Black Sea negotiations?
Spokesman: I do not.
Question: I’m also… one last question. So, you know that today that US is also announcing tariffs across, like, to almost the whole world. Is the Secretary-General concerned about this? And what’s… give us the specifics?
Spokesman: We will obviously have to see what the announcement will be, now in an hour and 15 minutes. I could tell you that we’ve expressed our concern about what we’ve seen is a rise in economic protectionism and concern about the impact you could have on the global economy. Thank you.