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 Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
**Secretary-General
Good afternoon, everyone. The Secretary-General just concluded chairing the bi-annual meeting of the Chief Executives Board (CEB) and is now on his way back to New York. At this meeting of the UN leadership in Denmark, the gathered heads of the UN system committed to a stronger, more effective and efficient UN as the organization faces greater challenges and fewer resources. This is the aim of the UN80 initiative. On that note, on Monday, at 11 a.m., the Secretary-General will deliver remarks to the General Assembly, updating them on his vision for UN80 and the work done so far. We will try to share these remarks with you early on Monday.
**Pope Leo XIV
In a statement we issued yesterday, the Secretary-General extended his heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and Catholics around the world. The election of a new Pope is a moment of profound spiritual significance for millions of faithful around the world, and it comes at a time of great global challenges. Our world is in need of the strongest voices for peace, social justice, human dignity and compassion.
The Secretary-General looks forward to building on the long legacy of cooperation between the United Nations and the Holy See — nurtured most recently by Pope Francis — to advance solidarity, foster reconciliation, and build a just and sustainable world for all. It is rooted in the first words of Pope Leo. Despite the rich diversity of backgrounds and beliefs, people everywhere share a common goal: May peace be with all the world.
**Occupied Palestinian Territory
Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stresses that lifting the total blockade of the Strip and allowing principled humanitarian operations has never been more urgent. After nearly 10 weeks with no aid or other supplies entering Gaza, the humanitarian crisis is worsening by the day. The cost of any further delay is irreversible. Humanitarian deliveries and services must reach everyone, wherever they are, and based on what they need. OCHA reminds us that stocks administered by the UN and our partners have been handled securely and delivered with proven safeguards to people in need. But, supplies inside Gaza have mostly run out, while large quantities are waiting just outside. Our teams are ready to scale up the moment access is granted.
And to give you a better sense of the dire conditions on the ground — our partners working on nutrition report that over the past week, more babies and other children are seeking support from clinics due to malnutrition. Compared to February this year, the proportion of children suffering from acute malnutrition has almost doubled.
Meanwhile, you might recall that earlier this week, in Deir al Balah, an United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) school in Al Bureij camp — where some 300 families were sheltering — was hit twice within several hours. On Wednesday, our partners visited the site, noting that people there urgently need latrines, tents, water tanks and mattresses. In Gaza City and Khan Younis, our partners working in health continue to provide health services in hospitals. They tell us that efforts are under way in Khan Younis to establish an additional hospital, with more than 100 beds and lab X-ray machines.
Today, our partners working to support telecommunications in Gaza tell us that the fibre-optic cable has been damaged for more than six weeks, while Israeli authorities continue to deny coordination requests to allow its repair. The latest rejection was this morning. As the cable is a critical source of data connectivity for humanitarian responders, partners continue to submit coordination requests daily.
Regarding fuel, today, a UN team led by OCHA retrieved some supplies from a fuel station in Rafah, after the Israeli authorities facilitated our colleagues’ efforts to reach it. This is the second consecutive day we’ve been allowed to retrieve fuel from Rafah after nearly three weeks of denials. The supplies we have been able to retrieve represent a trickle compared to the immense needs. OCHA stresses the need for Israeli authorities to facilitate humanitarians’ movements inside Gaza. Seventy per cent of the Gaza Strip is either within the Israeli-militarized zone, under displacement orders, or in areas where these two overlap.
**Syria
Turning to Syria, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that people continue to be on the move across the country. More than 670,000 people have been displaced since November 2024, while over one million people have returned to their areas of origin. Explosive ordnance contamination — including unexploded ordnance, mines, improvised explosive devices and other explosive remnants of war — continue to have a deadly impact across Syria. Since 8 December 2024, more than 900 civilian casualties have been reported, including 367 deaths and 542 injuries. Children represent over one third of these casualties.
Meanwhile, we and our partners continue to deliver aid across the country despite a severe funding environment. This includes support to displacement sites, creating livelihood opportunities, restoring water supplies and providing food and nutrition assistance. And just to note that our humanitarian appeal between January and June seeks $2 billion to support 8 million people, but is only 10 per cent funded, with $204 million received.
**Sudan
Turning to Sudan, we have an update for you on our efforts to support people displaced by ongoing violence in North Darfur State. The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, says UN humanitarian teams just completed a vital mission to the town of Tawila, where people displaced by attacks in Zamzam camp have sought shelter. This was a cross-border mission via the Adre crossing from Chad, a lifeline for the flow of humanitarian supplies and personnel into Darfur.
Mr. Fletcher stressed that humanitarian needs there are massive and called safe, sustained access, including via Adre. The World Food Programme (WFP) has been providing food and nutrition supplies in Tawila, supporting even more people than originally planned amid the overwhelming needs, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced. So far, more than 300,000 people in Tawila who fled Zamzam and El Fasher have received vital food and nutrition aid from WFP. And as we told you yesterday, WFP says more aid is on its way over the coming week.
Non-governmental partners have been on the ground responding, despite limited resources and the volatile operating environment. We call once again on all parties to facilitate safe, unhindered and sustained access to the area, via all necessary routes. Our humanitarian colleagues also underscore the urgent need for stepped-up, flexible funding to sustain and expand life-saving support for people in need in North Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that, due to funding shortfalls, the humanitarian community has re-prioritized its response plan. As a reminder, the full humanitarian response plan this year aims to assist 11 million people across the Democratic Republic of the Congo at a cost of $2.5 billion. Within that plan, our humanitarian partners have identified life-saving interventions to help 6.8 million of the most vulnerable people at a cost of $1.25 billion — approximately half of the full plan’s requirements. But, as of today, only $233 million has been received. That’s only half the amount we had secured by this time last year, despite escalating needs in the wake of the crisis in the East.
OCHA is also calling for greater protection of civilians in conflict-affected areas and more support to prevent the collapse of essential services and address the root causes of the crisis. As an example of how dire the humanitarian situation is, the Congolese Government has officially declared a cholera outbreak in six provinces. As of this Monday, more than 18,000 cholera cases and 364 deaths have been reported since January and health authorities are facing shortages of medical supplies. Authorities have requested more support from partners, including strengthening epidemiological surveillance, ensuring access to clean water, and distributing hygiene kits.
**West and Central Africa
The World Food Programme today warned that conflict, displacement, economic deterioration, and recurrent extreme weather in West and Central Africa are driving millions of people towards emergency levels of hunger — or IPC phase 4. According to the latest food security analysis of the Cadre Harmonisé, more than 36 million people are struggling to meet their basic food and nutrition needs, a number projected to rise to over 52 million during the June—August 2025 lean season, including almost 3 million in emergency conditions — IPC4 — and 2,600 people in Mali at risk of facing catastrophic hunger — IPC5.
WFP aims to reach almost 12 million women, men, girls and boys in West Africa and the Sahel with assistance and nutritional support this year to help the most vulnerable withstand hunger shocks when they inevitably occur. This year, WFP has already reached three million of the most vulnerable with life-saving assistance — including refugees, internally displaced people, malnourished children under five, and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls.
**Haiti
And in Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues say that a recent surge in armed violence in the Lower Artibonite Department has forced thousands of people to flee their homes. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 16,000 people were displaced between 28 April and 3 May, with many families now living in makeshift shelters with limited access to safe water, food and healthcare. OCHA is supporting authorities to identify priority needs and is coordinating the response. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) supported the deployment of three mobile clinics, reaching nearly 2,000 displaced people this week. UNICEF is also working with partners to sustain paediatric, nutrition, and immunization services and prepositioned hygiene kits for nearly 2,000 people.
Particular attention is also given to children who are bearing the brunt of the ongoing violence. UNICEF and its partners are setting up child-friendly spaces in displacement sites, providing psychosocial support and strengthening case management systems to monitor and respond to serious protection concerns. While access remains a challenge in some areas, our teams on the ground are working closely with local partners to ensure that assistance reaches those most in need.
**Colombia
Turning to Colombia, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that nearly 50,000 people in the Chocó region, in the west of the country, have been under complete mobility restrictions during this first week of May.
They remain cut off from essential services due to activities of non-State armed groups. Since the start the year, more than 775,000 people in Colombia have suffered total mobility and access restrictions, confinements, or displacement due to armed conflict and clashes among non-State armed groups and the security forces. This means that communities are restricted from accessing food and healthcare, among other critical services.
[The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs], Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UNICEF will, next week, assess the needs and support the communities in Chocó affected by these restrictions. The $342 million Humanitarian Response Plan to assist some 2 million vulnerable people is only 14 per cent funded, with $48 million received so far.
**Costa Rica
UNHCR tells us that Costa Rica’s ability to assist refugees from Nicaragua is being threatened by major funding cuts to the agency. As of March this year, Costa Rica hosted more than 194,000 Nicaraguan asylum-seekers and 9,216 recognized Nicaraguan refugees — accounting for over half of all displaced Nicaraguans worldwide. Over the past years, humanitarian aid — including crucial financial assistance that has supported integration — has enabled thousands of Nicaraguans in Costa Rica to access legal support, navigate asylum procedures, and pursue other legal pathways.
However, this lifeline is now in jeopardy, as a 41 per cent reduction in funding has already forced the suspension or cuts of many essential services. UNHCR is appealing to the international community for increased support to maintain life-saving operations in the country. The organization needs $40.4 million to continue its critical work in the country this year.
**Central Emergency Response Fund
The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has released two new allocations from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The first $2.5 million allocation will support the response to the arrival of more than 60,000 refugees in Uganda from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who have arrived in the country since the start of the year. Since the start of the year more than 60,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo have arrived in the country. With the new funding, UN and partners will provide life-saving assistance to over 40,000 refugees, including clean drinking water, food, healthcare and nutrition support.
And in Angola, a $1.8 million CERF allocation will support the urgent response to cholera amid the worst outbreak in the country in two decades. Since January, the outbreak has spread to 17 out of Angola’s 21 provinces with a total of more than 18,000 cases and 586 deaths reported, as of 7 May. The allocation will support the scale up of the response and help prevent a further spread of the disease.
**International Days
Tomorrow is World Migratory Bird Day. This Day aims to raise awareness of migratory birds and issues related to their conservation. Tomorrow is the International Day of Argania. The argan tree is a native species of the sub-Saharan region of Morocco. The argan oil is extracted from its seeds.
**Financial Contributions
Last, we would like to say thank you to our friends in Somalia and Israel for their full payments to the regular budget. The payments from Somalia and Israel bring the number of fully paid-up Member States to 103. And that’s it for me. Are there any questions? [silence] Are there no questions today? That would be amazing. Oh, there are questions online. First, Abdelhamid and then Gabriel. Abdelhamid?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Thank you, Farhan, for giving me the question first. UNICEF said that almost 96 per cent of the people in Gaza had no access to water. Are you aware of this development, and what do you say to that?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes. We’ve been alarmed by the amount of restrictions to food and clean water all throughout Gaza. And it’s clear that what’s needed is for there to be operating desalination efforts throughout Gaza, so that they can have access to clean water again. Right now, unfortunately, because of the lack of fuel, desalination plants have not been able to operate in some areas. And so we’re having problems getting clean water to those who need it.
Question: My second question is about Nablus. Today, Israel stormed a house and killing two people inside the City of Nablus. I have noticed that your reporting about the developments in the West Bank is not coming frequently in your daily report. So, can you shed more lights on the developments in the West Bank?
Deputy Spokesman: Actually, we have been reporting regularly; I remember reporting on the West Bank at least twice this week. So, we’re continuing to provide those reports as we get them. I don’t have any details on Nablus, other than our awareness that there has been military activity there. And we certainly hope that efforts will be taken to avoid civilian casualties. Gabriel?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. A housekeeping question to start. On the Secretary-General’s remarks on Monday to the plenary on UN80, are you expecting some level of granularity and an update on what we already know, or is it more of broad brushstrokes on UN80?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, we’ll have to see when we get that. But, certainly, he wants to update them not just on his vision, but also on the work that’s been done so far. So, there will be some details about the kind of specific work that’s been taken up until this point. Did you have anything further?
Correspondent: I have one more, if you don’t mind.
Deputy Spokesman: Okay. One more and then Joe.
Question: Thank you. Just to be clear, Israel is allegedly setting up what they’re calling a “Gaza humanitarian foundation”. You’ve been very clear, and the Secretary-General has been very clear about the UN’s position on taking part in any of these alleged plans by Israel and United States to take over the Gaza Strip. But, my question specifically is two-fold. One is, has Israel reached out to the UN, to your knowledge, for any engagement on participating in this foundation, number one? And number two, there are reports that David Beasley is being talked to with Israel about leading this foundation? You obviously know who David Beasley is. Does the Secretary-General have any guidance to former UN employees on their potential participation in this Israeli scheme?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, regarding that, obviously, if someone is not a UN employee, we don’t have any responsibility over their actions. So, we can’t presuppose what they will or will not do. Regarding contacts that our humanitarian colleagues have had on this plan, I can tell you that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and its partners attended a meeting with the United States a few days ago, as part of our continuing dialogue on how to ensure that aid reaches the people of Gaza in line with humanitarian principles. And, of course, on the principles, as you mentioned, we have our guidelines, and we are sticking to those. Joe? Hello?
Question: Can you hear me?
Deputy Spokesman: Yeah. I can hear you now.
Question: Okay. I have a related question. You just mentioned that the UN, is sticking to its “humanitarian principles”, and so far, has rejected participating with Israel’s plan of delivery of food to the residents of Gaza. Could you clarify why not — at least providing some food and nutrition by whatever means into Gaza is humanitarian. Wouldn’t it be better to at least allow, and see how the Israeli plan works and deliver food and relief before prejudging? Thank you.
Deputy Spokesman: It’s not a question a question of prejudging. We have been involved in a dialogue about what the plan specifically entails. And as I’ve said previously, what has been presented to us appears designed to further control and restrict supplies down to the last calorie and the last grain of flour. The Secretary-General has made it clear that the UN will not engage in any arrangement that fails to uphold the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality. And with that, I wish you all a good afternoon and a good weekend.