UN Geneva press briefing chaired by Rolando Gómez, Chief, Press and External Relations Section, UN Information Service
Safety of women in El Obeid, Sudan Anna Mutavati, UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, speaking from Nairobi, said that UN Women was gravely concerned by the emerging pattern of violence against women and girls in El Obeid, Sudan, where drone attacks during the day and sexual violence at night had left no safe window for women and girls to collect water, mirroring the atrocities documented in El Fasher the previous year. Access to food, healthcare, and other essential services was also severely limited, particularly in displacement sites. With the rainy season set to peak the following month, safe water was critical to reducing the risk of deadly waterborne diseases. Cholera was already spreading in Sudan, with 1,330 cases reported by WHO in early July. The combination of malnutrition, which weakened the immune system and was a growing concern among women and girls, and the lack of access to healthcare, was further exposing women and girls to the risk of severe illness and death. In El Obeid, due to drone strikes targeting water sources and distribution points during daylight hours, women and girls were forced to wait until after nightfall to collect water. Under the perception that darkness offered protection from aerial attacks, these women and girls had been harassed, raped, and subjected to other forms of sexual violence. Ms. Mutavati regretted that sexual violence had been used as a weapon throughout Sudan's three-year war, becoming one of its most defining features. UN Women data showed that the number of women and girls requiring gender-based violence services in Sudan had quadrupled since the beginning of the conflict, reaching an estimated 12.7 million in 2026. UN Women reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire, paving the way for inclusive peace talks and an end to the war. UN Women further called for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, full respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, and the protection of women and girls. Women had to be fully, safely, and meaningfully included in peace processes, humanitarian decision-making, and recovery efforts. More information is available here. Answering questions from the journalists, Ms. Mutavati reiterated that since the start of the war, the number of people who needed support for gender-based violence services had increase four times. Between 70 and 80 percent of those were women and children. Update on Gaza operations Ross Smith, World Food Programme (WFP) Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, connecting from Rome, stated that the challenge in Gaza now went beyond humanitarian access to ensuring adequate funding. Recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) findings showed an improvement in food security, with ten percent less people now acutely undernourished. The progress was a result of direct humanitarian effort, but it did not mean that the job was done and that people in Gaza were no longer at risk. Most families in Gaza could still not feed themselves without humanitarian assistance. People continued to endure extraordinarily difficult circumstances; daily airstrikes and shelling continued. Some 75 percent of homes had been destroyed, reminded Mr. Smith, with most people continuing to live in tents. Humanitarian support was a lifeline; WFP and partners supported 1.5 million people in Gaza every month, through food and cash assistance. WFP provided digital cash assistance to some 100,000 families every month. WFP also supported community kitchens which fed approximately half a million people every day. Mr. Smith said that humanitarian interventions were making a difference, but this lifeline was at risk due to access constraints and funding challenges. WFP and partners lacked the resources needed to keep their operations running full. WFP needed USD 420 million to maintain its operations in Gaza and the West Bank until the end of the year. This month, 75,000 people receiving cash assistance had to see their allowance decrease due to the limited funds, and in October food assistance would need to be cut without new funding. Most people largely remained dependent on humanitarian aid, the speaker reiterated. There should be no false sense of security, as the situation remained extraordinarily fragile, and the gains made could be reversed very quickly, he warned. Answering to questions, Mr. Smith said that 1.4 million people in Gaza were acutely food insecure, a decrease of ten percent from the previous report. Without additional support, the situation would deteriorate. Donor fatigue was a challenge, he stressed, as the Gaza situation had slipped from the headlines. The southern Kerem Shalom crossing was the only crossing into Gaza right now, and restrictions continued on dual-use items. Stranded Hormuz seafarers abandoned for months at sea Shabia Mantoo, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), informed that UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called for urgent action to remedy the plight of thousands of stranded seafarers who were facing a dire humanitarian and human rights crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. At least 6,000 seafarers on some 400 vessels remained stranded in the Strait, having been unable to evacuate during the ceasefire, according to information from the International Maritime Organization. This number was not exhaustive as many others were unaccounted for, believed to be stuck in the Persian Gulf on a range of smaller vessels or had otherwise not been located. OHCHR was also aware of at least nine ships, with 93 crew members, abandoned by their owners in the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war. The seafarers had been left on their ships to fend for themselves without food, water, fuel, medical care, electricity or means to communicate with their families. They faced prolonged isolation and confinement in a conflict zone, with uncertainty about their safety and disembarkation, risking a severe toll on their mental and physical well-being. They also remained exposed to hostilities as deadly attacks in the Strait continue, facing imminent risks of death or harm. Two Indian seafarers had been killed in recent weeks in the Strait; at least three other seafarers had been killed in an attack on an oil tanker near the Strait, which brought the total number of reported seafarer deaths to 17 since the start of the conflict. Attacks against civilian vessels were unacceptable and had to stop. They were protected under international humanitarian law. The High Commissioner called on States, shipowners and all relevant actors to urgently ensure the protection of stranded seafarers including through ensuring effective access to consular assistance, essential supplies and services - and by facilitating evacuations and repatriations. Parties to the conflict should urgently work to facilitate safe passage for stranded seafarers to safely evacuate and disembark, as well as ensure the delivery of critical supplies. Full statement is available here. Responding to questions from the media, Ms. Mantoo said that OHCHR urged all parties to the conflict and countries with influence to show respect for safety and security of seafarers. OHCHR did not have a breakdown of nationalities of all seafarers killed since the beginning of the conflict. Many seafarers came from the Global South, including countries like India and the Philippines, and they were working hard to support their families back home. On the question of the General Assembly voting today on the extension of the term of the High Commissioner, Ms. Mantoo said that the High Commissioner was ready to serve for another term. Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that the High Commissioner had been originally posted for four years, in accordance with the rules, which was renewable for one term. The General Assembly's approval was required, and specific questions should be directed to the GA. The process was transparent, he reiterated. Humanitarian needs in Venezuela Scott Craig, for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said that it was one month since the earthquakes in Venezuela. He provided examples of three people affected by the earthquakes, including a man with neurological illness whose medications had been lost in the quakes, a woman staying in a shelter for past four weeks and not knowing when she could return home, and a pregnant woman worried about her pregnancy. Such stories were not isolated cases. Most urgent needs included primary health care, mental health care, and access to safe drinking waters. Many families still depended on bottled water for drinking, with risks of disease outbreaks still very real. Survivors lived with anxiety, which was why psychological support was as urgent as trauma care had been in the first days. Mr. Craig said that survivors were living with anxiety, fear, sadness and sleeplessness as they grieve relatives, homes, jobs and livelihoods lost. That was why epidemiological surveillance, psychosocial support and the treatment of chronic illness were as urgent today as trauma care was in the first days, with particular attention to those at greatest risk: children, older people, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with chronic illnesses or disabilities. More than 5,000 people were dead because of the earthquakes, close to 17,000 injured, and some 23,000 were still living in temporary shelters. Health centres, schools, water systems, power and sewerage had been destroyed or badly damaged. The IFRC's Emergency Appeal sought CHF 50 million to assist 300,000 people over two years. One month on, the appeal was just over 25 per cent funded. Recovery would be measured in years, not weeks, for which sustainable, flexible funding was needed. More details about IFRC's work in Venezuela can be found here. 75 years on, the Refugee Convention remains a lifeline for millions Elizabeth Tan, Director of International Protection and Solution at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that 75 years since the Refugee Convention had been opened for signatures, it remained the foundation of the international refugee protection system. The Convention, born in the aftermath of WW2, had codified a simple but important premise: that those forced to flee had to be able to find safety. Over the past 7.5 decades, the Convention had been a lifeline for people fleeing for safety across the world. 149 States were parties to the Convention, its 1967 Protocol, or both, which defined who was a refugee and set refugee rights. The core principle was non-refoulement, i.e. prohibition of returning people to countries where they would face persecution or other serious harm. Even States who had not signed the Convention were bound by this principle. Seventy-five years on, the Convention maintained its relevance and influence, stressed Ms. Tan. With more than 130 armed conflicts worldwide and 41.6 million refugees remained uprooted in the world. Public support for asylum remained strong, she reminded, referring to a recent IPSOS survey across dozens of countries. The global asylum system was under strain, with seven of ten refugees displaced for five years or more, and the majority of refugees hosted by low- and middle-income countries. Fair and efficient procedures to determine the refugee status and protect refugees reassured host communities. Border management had to be anchored in protection, stressed Ms. Tan. The Convention also provided a framework for States to manage borders. UNHCR was only 31 percent funded, which had a direct impact on displaced people around the world. UNHCR called for renewed commitment to the institution of asylum and protection of refugees. The Convention was a testament of a collective commitment to protect those forced to flee. UNHCR's briefing note is available here. Replying to questions from the media, Ms. Tan said that with 130 conflicts in the world, neighbouring countries of those countries hosted large numbers of refugees in very difficult circumstances. There were numerous examples across the world, from Sudan's neighbours, to with Rohingya from Myanmar finding safety in Bangladesh and Ukrainian refugees in Europe and beyond. UNHCR would regret if any State were to withdraw from the Convention, and UNHCR was in discussions with the US over the issue. Ms. Tan said that protecting refugees was part of what UNHCR did, while it also worked on looking for long-term solutions, including voluntary, sustainable returns or resettlements. Member States would need to come together to find solutions to the existing conflicts, as refugee statuses were not meant to last forever. Even those States not signatories to the Convention were bound by the principle of non-refoulement, which was customary international law. Climate change on its own was not sufficient to submit a refugee claim, said Ms. Tan, but in many contexts there was a link between climate and conflict, as in the Sahel, for example. This was an area of law that was constantly evolving, she added. Strategies for policymakers to prevent drowning Dr. David Meddings, Global lead for drowning prevention at the World Health Organization (WHO), speaking from Accra, said that ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July, WHO had launched a new technical package to help governments and communities implement seven proven measures to reduce drowning deaths. Nearly 300,000 people died from drowning each year worldwide, and drowning remained among the ten leading causes of death among children aged 5–14 years. More than 90 percent of deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. The "PROTECT" technical package, which contained seven strategies, provided policy-makers with concrete, evidence‑informed recommendations across seven interconnected domains to strengthen safety around water: Physical infrastructure that promotes safe interaction with water; Rescue and resuscitation capability for bystanders and professional responders; Occupational safety for work around water; Transport safety standards for water travel; Education in basic swimming and water safety; Child‑care systems and ensure safeguarding; and Threat preparedness for floods and other multi‑hazard emergencies. Dr. Meddings stressed that drowning prevention was not the job of one ministry; it belonged to everyone, and the lives it saved were the reward. The central message was: we knew a fair deal about how to prevent drowning, and the time was now to help governments and communities implement seven proven measures to reduce drowning deaths. More information is available here. Announcements Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that WHO was joining the International AIDS Conference, which would take place in Rio de Janeiro. Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the Secretary-General was arriving in Jordan today, from where he would go to Syria and meet the country's leadership. It would be this Secretary-General's first visit to Syria, where he would make a number of field trips and meet various groups and communities. He would hold a press conference in Damascus on 27 July before flying to Cyprus. The Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council the previous day on the peaceful resolution of disputes had been distributed.
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Very good morning. Thank you for joining us here at the UN Office at Geneva today, Friday the 24th of July, for this press briefing hosted by the UN Information Service. As always, we have a very important agenda for you. We have the UN Refugee Convention 75th anniversary. We'll have a comment on that. We have the situation in Sudan, particularly in Alobaid, which will be highlighted, as well as Gaza operations from the point of view of the World Food Programme. We also have colleagues from the Human Rights Office who will speak to stranded seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as humanitarian updates on Venezuela, and a comment from our colleagues at WHO on World Drowning Prevention Day, which is tomorrow. So without further ado, I turn to Miss Elizabeth Tan, who you know, who has briefed us before. who is UNHCR's Director of International Protection and Solutions. Ms. Tan, over to you. And if you could also indicate where you're speaking from, that would be appreciated. Thank you so very much.
Thank you very much, and good morning to everyone. I'm speaking to you from UNHCR's headquarters in Geneva. So 75 years ago, after the Refugee Convention was opened for for signature on the 28th of July, 1951. This remains the foundation of the international refugee protection system. It's one of the most consequential international legal instruments ever adopted, and we wanted to brief you a little bit today about how it looks 75 years on. So the Convention was born in the aftermath of the Second World War. It codified a simple but powerful principle that people forced to flee persecution, conflict, or violence must be able to find safety and protection. No society is immune to war, persecution, or sudden upheaval. The Convention was built on that universal truth that people forced to flee must be able to find safety. So over the past 7 and a half decades, it's been a lifeline for people fleeing conflict and persecution. From post-war Europe, wars of national liberation across Africa, to Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Sudan. 149 states are party to this convention, making it one of the most widely supported international legal frameworks. It defines who's a refugee, it sets out refugees' rights, and it establishes the standards of treatment that states have agreed to uphold. The core principle of the Convention is non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of people to a place where they would face persecution, torture, or other serious harm. It, it, it, that, that principle of non-refoulement is also recognized under international customary Sorry, customary international law, which means that even states who have not signed on to the Convention are bound by that principle. So the Convention's proven to be a living instrument. It retains its relevance even 75 years after its drafting. It responds to contemporary challenges. It's evolving. With state practice, court decisions, guidance by UNHCR. It's done things like supporting changes in persecution, such as gender-based persecution, forced recruitment, the risks compounded by climate impact where this intersects with conflict, persecution, or other forms of serious harm. So the Convention remains very relevant today. There are more than 130 armed conflicts worldwide in 2025. This is according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, and some 41.6 million refugees remain uprooted worldwide. There is clearly polarized debate around asylum, but despite this, public support for asylum remains strong. Around 2/3 of people surveyed this year by Ipsos across 29 countries supported the right of people to flee war or persecution and to seek refuge. It must be said that the global asylum system is under strain. Nearly 70% of refugees are hosted by low- and middle-income countries, Many are facing their own economic and development challenges, and 7 in 10 refugees have been displaced for 5 years or more. So some argue that the Convention's no longer suited today to today's world of mixed movements and overstretched asylum systems. We disagree. It remains the framework that allows states to identify who needs international protection, Whilst ensuring that no one is returned to persecution, torture, or other serious harm. Fair and efficient procedures to determine refugee status protect refugees.
They—
it reassures host communities and it preserves confidence in asylum. Those who do not need refugee protection, they can be returned to their country of origin. in safety and in dignity. This too is part of a credible asylum system. At the same time, border management has to be anchored in protection. We're concerned with practices that restrict access to asylum, including pushbacks, denial of access to territory, and forced return. The Convention provides a framework for states to manage borders whilst also protecting people with a well-defined need for international protection. So these protection challenges are also unfolding at a time when there are severe funding shortfalls. UNHCR is only funded at 31% as of the end of June. That has an impact for refugees, including the most vulnerable. For whom services have been cut in many situations. So as we mark this 75th anniversary of the Convention, UNHCR is calling for renewed commitment to the institution of asylum, stronger international cooperation, and greater support for refugees and host communities. This year we're having dialogues at local, regional, and global levels including government, civil society, refugees, and the private sector. And we're working on identifying practical ways to strengthen protection and advance solutions. So 75 years on, then, the Convention is a test of our collective resolve to protect those forced to flee and keep asylum available for those who need it. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Elizabeth. Very important messages indeed on an important occasion. So let's turn to colleagues should you have questions. Yes, Jamie, AP.
Hello, Ms. Tan. Thank you for, uh, thank you for coming to see us. Um, I'm Jamie from Associated Press. Could you, um, highlight some of the instances in recent years, over the 75 years in fact, um, maybe, uh, where the Convention has— specific cases, specific country cases where the Convention has been invaluable in ensuring that the rights of refugees and asylum seekers have been protected. And I just would like to ask you, you mentioned there's also some concern that some major donor countries, including possibly the United States, or at least maybe just the United States, is considering rethinking its ties to UNHCR. You mentioned the strains that UNHCR is facing, budgetary and otherwise. Could you please address that, whether or not that is a concern for both UNHCR and for the future 75 years of the Convention.
Back to you, Elizabeth.
Thank you. Thank you. I think the— I mentioned that there's 130 conflicts going on in the world. I mean, the neighboring countries to those conflicts are hosting large numbers of refugees, small and large numbers of refugees. So I think we can speak of the Sudan crisis where all neighboring countries to Sudan are hosting large numbers of refugees in very difficult circumstances in parts of the country that are, that do not have the services available, and also in situations where conflict is ongoing in the country of asylum. So the number of examples is enormous and it's across the world. We see that people fleeing Myanmar have found safety for decades in Bangladesh. We find that Ukrainian refugees have been hosted throughout Europe and beyond. So I think the examples are plentiful. That's not to say that there aren't challenges for those who are hosting refugees. That's also not to say that, there are challenges for refugees to find safety as well. So in terms of states that are, or the US considering its withdrawing from UNHCR or from the Convention, I don't think that question is Let me say those decisions are not taken. We would regret any state that wishes to withdraw from the Convention. We believe that the Convention still holds enormous value. We are, of course, in discussions with the US over those issues, and we believe that the US does care about asylum, about refugees and protecting them. So we will continue to engage with the US on that issue. Maybe just to say that our role is, of course, not to dictate to states, that our role is rather to advise and to support states in hosting refugees, in determining who's in need of international protection and who is not. Thank you.
Thank you, Elizabeth. Yes, Christiane.
Hello.
Christiana with the German Press Agency. How would the status of refugees change whether the U.S. is a member of the convention or not? You told us that all countries are bound by the tenets of this convention in any case. And what about those that do not uphold their duties under the convention? So, this is a question that came out of your answer to Jamie's question. I wanted to also ask you, isn't refugee protection just one side of a coin that on the other side needs conflicts resolved? You said 70% of refugees have been refugees for more than 5 years. So, how can one side of the coin work without the other one? Is that a collective failure of—
Yes.
world governments or the United Nations, maybe?
Thank you.
Thank you for that. I think it's an important question. No doubt that protecting refugees, that's one part of what UNHCR does. The other part is, of course, advancing the search for solutions. The most obvious solution is for people to be able to return home in safety and indignity. So our High Commissioner Saleh is, that is one of his objectives since he has taken office is to try and find more solutions for refugees. That does require, that's not something that UNHCR of course can do alone. In fact, that requires member states of the United Nations to come together to find solutions to conflict and persecution So fully agree with you, and it is two sides of the same coin. Refugee status is not meant to last forever. In fact, we are concerned with the fact that 7 out of 10 refugees have been in asylum for more than 5 years and sometimes for decades and even generations. So just to say that we fully share that concern. On what the what the obligations of states are under customary international law, that is indeed the case that even states who are not signatory to the 1951 Convention are bound by the principle of non-refoulement. That means not sending people back to a situation where they might face torture, serious harm, persecution, and so on. I hope I answered your question. Thank you.
So, yeah, what happens to those countries that do not abide by those obligations?
Yes. So UNHCR, of course, advises those countries. We have a dialogue when there are cases of refoulement. And that's the role that UNHCR plays. Of course, we have no way of enforcing that. And we work through our— through diplomatic channels. We have dialogue with countries. We try and find solutions for individuals who are at imminent risk of being sent back to their country. We might try and find a third country where they could be hosted. But in principle, we will advise states when they are not abiding by their obligations under the 1951 Convention or the principle of non-refoulement.
Thank you very much. Okay, we'll go online now. Paula of Geneva Solutions. Paula.
Yes, good morning. So I wanted to ask about— you mentioned that There was some changes and a certain protection to some people who are fleeing climate change in certain contexts. But there, there are a number of experts that say that people fleeing climate change are not sufficiently protected under the Convention. There was actually a bit of mention yesterday during the town hall discussions in New York about climate refugees. And I was wondering also if you could, if there are any numbers of people who you qualify to come under that, you know, under that could, could be granted protection as climate refugees? One of the candidates said that an overwhelming number of refugees now are coming from contexts that are prompted by climate change.
Yes, thanks for the question. So climate change by itself is not sufficient for a refugee claim, but it is absolutely true that in many contexts, there is a link between persecution and climate change, or conflict and violence and climate change, where that link can be made. If we take the case of the Sahel, for example, that link between insecurity, persecution, violence, and climate change is very clearly there. And so what I'm trying to say is that climate change by itself is insufficient, but oftentimes there is that link with persecution or conflict, which does mean that the individuals fall under the refugee definition. So it is a complex issue. And if your question is, do individuals who are fleeing or who are leaving their country because of climate-related issues only, then that would not be sufficient to fulfill the refugee definition. And as I was saying during my briefing, this is an area of law that is constantly evolving. The 1951 Convention is also interpreted by courts, by state practice. And so we will— I think we will in the future see this evolve. And so it's something which we are, of course, keeping a close eye on and working with States on that interpretation. Thank you.
Thanks, Elizabeth. Quick follow-up, Paula. We do have 5 more agenda items, so— and then we have one more question on this subject. So back to you, Paula.
Yes, just very quickly. So what, do you have any numbers? Like what sort of percentage of people currently are requesting asylum, you know, under those conditions that you just described, you know, where it's conflict plus persecution and conflict, climate change, excuse me?
I don't have the, I don't have statistics on that precisely. I think I'd have to ask my colleagues, But I think we can see that in Eastern Horn of Africa, in the Sahel, in a number of contexts, there is that interplay for sure. Thank you.
Thank you again. Last question is from Ravi Kant. Ravi.
Hi, thank you very much. My question is about, is India complying with the convention or not? Because India has Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. And of late, India is cracking down on refugees from Bangladesh on a large scale. Is India violating the Convention, or is it— what in your assessment would constitute a violation here?
So India hosts quite a number of refugees from different nationalities. We have an office in India, so we are constantly engaging with the Government of India on potential instances of refoulement. And we are also supporting the government in terms of working with refugees and asylum seekers there. So I mean, if there are cases of refoulement, then certainly we will raise those issues with the government. If there are refugees that are registered with UNHCR who are either detained or in some way are having protection issues. Those issues we will also discuss with the government and try and find solutions. Thank you.
Thanks to you, Elizabeth. Well noted. And I just wanted to remind colleagues of the media advisory you will have received from our colleagues at UNHCR on the event taking place next week to mark this important occasion, 75 years of the Refugee Convention of 1951. So thank you once again. Elizabeth, and, and we'll see you soon, I'm sure. Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay, colleagues, we're going to move to the situation in Sudan, specifically the situation of women and girls in Sudan. We have connected from Nairobi Anna Mutavati, who is UN Women's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. Anna, thank you for joining us, and over to you.
Thank you very much and good morning, colleagues. I am joining you from the UN Women Regional Office for Eastern Southern Africa here in Nairobi, and we will provide an update on the situation of women and girls in Sudan in the context of the 3-year war that is still ongoing. So UN Women is gravely concerned by the emerging pattern of violence against women and girls in El Obaid, Sudan, where drone attacks during the day and sexual violence at night have left no safe window for women and girls to collect water, mirroring the atrocities that were documented in Al-Fashir last year. Access to food, healthcare, and other essential services is also severely limited Particularly in displacement sites. Now, with the rain season set to peak next month, safe water is critical to reducing the risk of deadly waterborne diseases. Cholera is already spreading in Sudan, with 1,330 cases reported by WHO in early July. The combination of malnutrition, which weakens the immune system and is a growing concern among women and girls, and the lack of access to healthcare is further exposing women and girls to the risk of severe illness and death. UN Women has heard from women and girls in El Obaid that due to drone strikes targeting water sources and distribution points during daylight hours, Women and girls are forced to wait until after nightfall to collect water. Under the perception that darkness offers protection from aerial attacks, these women and girls have been harassed. They've been raped and they've been subjected to other forms of sexual violence, all while trying to access water, one of life's most fundamental necessities. and human rights. Sexual violence has been used as a weapon of war throughout Sudan's 3-year war, becoming one of the— one of its most defining features. UN Women data shows that the number of women and girls requiring gender-based violence services in Sudan has quadrupled since the conflict began, reaching an estimated 12.7 million in 2026. Women-led organizations that are supported by UN Women are the lifeblood of the humanitarian response in Sudan, often reaching communities that others cannot reach and providing critical support to women and girls. However, their services have been deeply affected by aid cuts. 2/3 of women's organizations that were surveyed by UN Women, that were surveyed by UN Women in Sudan, report that safe spaces and gender-based violence services have either closed or significantly reduced in their communities. Half of the organizations surveyed report that without urgent financial support, they expect to suspend their operations or close entirely within the next year. UN Women therefore reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire, paving the way for inclusive peace talks and an end to the war. We further call for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. We call for full respect for international humanitarian and human rights and the protection of women and girls. Perpetrators of violations must be held accountable, and survivors must have access to justice and comprehensive support services. Women must be fully, safely, and meaningfully included in all ongoing peace processes, in humanitarian decision-making, and in recovery efforts. Increased investment in women-led organizations is very essential, as they remain among the last lifelines for women and girls across Sudan. I thank you.
Thanks very much to you, Anna. Let's take questions if there are any in the room. No, I don't see that, so we'll turn to the platform. Olivia of Reuters has a question.
Joanna, thank you for this important briefing. I just wanted to clarify one figure that you mentioned about the 12 million. I wasn't quite clear what that figure was and if that is only specifically for this year. And you're saying it's a quadrupling, but it'd be good to have the original figure of what those numbers were like at the start of the conflict. And yeah, maybe you can, you know, just explain a bit more about that point about you're seeing, you know, obviously a rise in people needing— women and girls needing support against sexual violence, and at the same time those shrinking sets of funding. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Olivia, for that question and for emphasizing or highlighting the issue of funding cuts that have affected the women-led organizations that are at the forefront of responding to this crisis, particularly in responding to the documented cases of sexual violence that is conflict-related. So the evidence that we have is both qualitative and quantitative. We have documented cases of rape, including in front of family members, often accompanied by severe physical abuse. This is reinforced by frontline reporting where 2/3 of women responders reported a significant increase in sexual violence in 2025. Remember, we briefed on that, with half reporting a further escalation in 2026. So about the figure that you mentioned, this is the number of people that are requiring support for gender-based violence, which doubled in the past— in the first 2 years of the war, and then quadrupled since the start of the war. So our estimates show that 12.7 million are in need of GBV services in one way or another in 2026. So again, seeing that accumulation since the war started. Thank you.
Thanks to you, Anna. Do we have further questions for a colleague from UN Women? Yes, a follow-up, Olivia.
Anna, thank you so much. And forgive me, I should have asked, um, one question I missed. Do you have any kind of breakdown for, um, Al-Ubayd? Because you're talking there, you know, these really horrendous choices women are facing between, you know, walking, walking in the day, threat of drone attacks, and then sexual violence by night. Do you have any sense of scale? Are we talking hundreds, thousands? Uh, yeah, any, any kind of quantification of that would be really helpful.
Thank you. Thank you, Olivia, for the follow-up. So what we know in situations like this is that what is reported is only a tip of the iceberg because of many barriers to reporting that we already know that happens in contexts like this. However, in this situation, what we are talking about is we have 500,000 people in El Obaid. including 83,000 that are internally displaced. And we know in any given situation like that, that the majority are women and children. So between 70 and 80% would be women and children. And given the pattern that we have seen before, we know that the demand for GBV services based on the qualitative and the quantitative data that we have is what is bringing us to the estimation that we have given you. So 500,000 altogether, 500,000 people, civilians in all of El Obaid, 83,000 IDPs, but both hosts and host communities and IDPs, we look at them as populations that are affected, right? And then the majority of that, between 70 and 80%, women and children. And given the pattern that we've observed over the years, we know that the demand for the GBV services is also very high. Thank you.
Thanks to you again, Anna. Very, very important briefing. You talked about accountability, justice, support for the many victims of this conflict in Sudan, humanitarian assistance, and of course the fighting must end. These are messages which we've been echoing here as well as well as from the Secretary-General. So thank you so very much for joining us from Nairobi, and do join us again here at this briefing. Okay, colleagues, moving on to the situation in Gaza. We have Ross Smith on the line from the World Food Programme. Ross is the WFP Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, joining us from Rome, so he has an update on the WFP's operations in Gaza. Ross, over to you.
Great. Thanks very much. And good morning to everyone in the room online. Yeah, I want to give you a quick update this morning on the situation in Gaza and our operations in Gaza. And the key headline I want to leave you with today is very simple. The challenge in Gaza has moved. It goes beyond humanitarian access now and has moved to where funding is now becoming the greatest threat to food security in Gaza. We have recent IPC findings that were released yesterday, and these show improvements in food security indicators, and that's encouraging. We have approximately 10% reduction in the number of people that are acutely food insecure in Gaza. But it's critical that these findings are understood correctly. It's not a story of recovery, it's a story that humanitarian assistance is working. The progress we're seeing is a direct result of sustained humanitarian support to reach people where they are and those in most desperate need of it. It does not mean that our job is done, and it does not mean that people in Gaza are no longer at risk. The reality on the ground remains extremely fragile. Most families in Gaza still cannot feed themselves without assistance, without food assistance. Livelihoods have collapsed, infrastructure has been destroyed, and unemployment rate remains above 80%, leaving most people without the means to procure any of the foods that may be on the commercial markets. People continue to endure extraordinarily difficult circumstances in Gaza, even though it is not on our TV screens or on the newspaper every day. We have daily airstrikes, we have bombing and shelling, that are a daily reality. More than 7,000 people have been reportedly killed in Gaza since the ceasefire was announced in October. Most Palestinians have been displaced multiple times and are now concentrated into an increasingly small and limited area, living amongst this insecurity and violence, but also a deteriorated infrastructure. 75% of homes have been destroyed, and the majority of people continue to live in tents. And damaged buildings. And disease outbreaks, sanitation conditions remain probably the most significant challenge at the moment. So against this backdrop, humanitarian assistance is not simply support, it is also a lifeline. Every month, WFP and our partners, we're providing assistance to 1.5 million people in Gaza. This is more than 70% of the population. This is food parcels, wheat flour, hot meals, bread, healthy school snacks, nutrition services, cash support, also cash for work activities, local retailer support, supporting traders and community to start restore some of those livelihoods and build self-reliance. We currently provide digital cash assistance to around 100,000 families every month, which helps them improve dietary diversity and supports local markets. We have community kitchens that we support, and they provide free and subsidized meals to approximately a quarter of a million people every single day. At the same time, we're working with 28 bakeries across Gaza, supporting them with wheat flour, fuel, and other means to rebuild and to restart. And they meet roughly one-third of the Strip's bread requirements every single day. Together with our partners, we're also supporting nutrition services, reaching more than 320,000 people. So breastfeeding pregnant and pregnant women and children primarily, with both prevention and treatment services on nutrition. So these interventions are making a difference. They are helping to stabilize the conditions. They're helping to prevent a return to the catastrophic levels of hunger that we saw previously. But that lifeline is at risk. We continue to have access constraints, and I'm happy to talk about those. But the operational challenges increasingly now become one of funding. We lack the resources, and it's not just WFP, it's other partners, to sustain the needed humanitarian assistance at scale. For WFP, we need just over $420 million to maintain our operations across Gaza and the West Bank through the rest of the year. And this is not funding for expansion or new activity. This is just funding to protect the gains that have already been made. Unfortunately, we've already started ration cuts inside Gaza. So this month, 75,000 people that were receiving cash assistance have seen the value of that cash transfer reduced by 25%. In addition, we have 220,000 households that have moved to a 50% ration for those that are receiving food rations. And by October, we will have to make very significant cuts in our assistance if we don't secure additional funding soon. So, you know, to be clear, we've pushed back famine in Gaza. It's a good story, but without sufficient funding, we will be forced to scale back assistance for people that depend on it, on this assistance for survival. Most people remain largely reliant on humanitarian aid, and people cannot cope without it. So let me stress one final point. That these recent improvements in food security should not create a false sense of security. The situation remains extraordinarily fragile in Gaza. Without sustained access and without adequate funding, the gains we've made can be lost very quickly. Preventing a return to what we saw last year, preventing a return to a famine situation, is far less costly, both financially but also in human terms, than trying to pull families back from that situation again. So I'll stop here. Thank you very much. I'm happy to answer questions.
Thanks to you, Ross. Very much appreciated. Okay, let's take a question from Bezo Vanadulu.
Thank you, Rolando. Good morning. And thank you, Ross, for this briefing. Very important points. As you already say, it's— the situation is improving, but it's kind fragile. And I remember the IPC report was talking about estimated 1.4 million people are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity through December, which is up from 1.2 million from April, from mid-April to June. I would like to ask, with the founding cuts and assistance cuts that you're mentioning will happen in the next months, What would be the situation? What would be the 1.4 million gonna face? Is it gonna be more than that with the cuts? And as you say, what would be the likelihood of returning back, tracking back to the famine situation?
Thank you.
Okay, thank you.
I mean, indeed, the report that was released yesterday shows that there are 1.4 4 million people acutely food insecure, down from 1.6 in the last report. So that's that 10% improvement I noted. But I will note that there are more than 200,000 people that are in, you know, that IPC 4 level. We find that those households are generally near the areas that are most insecure, that are near some of the yellow line and orange line areas. If, you know, as I said, I mean, if we don't get additional support and we have to reduce assistance, then people, the situation will deteriorate. And so, you know, I mean, we will, we will get more numbers on that as we continue throughout the rest of the year, depending on how the situation develops.
Well noted. Thank you, Scott. Ross, Olivia Reuters.
Good morning, Ross. Thank you very much. I just was curious as to why we're now seeing the funding impact starting to bear. Is it that you've seen essentially donor fatigue since the ceasefire was agreed in October, or is it because just needs are going up, so therefore money is being stretched? Is it also any knock-on impact on pricing caused by, for example, the regional situation in Iran? on with higher fuel prices, kind of general supply chain disruption? Just, yeah, because it just strikes me as this has kind of come now, but previously we didn't necessarily hear the same concerns in terms of funding. Thanks so much.
Yeah, thanks, Olivia. Yeah, I think it's primarily an issue of donor fatigue. I think the operations, humanitarian operations in Gaza have been relatively well supported, not the same for all sectors, but generally well supported compared to some other significant humanitarian context like Sudan. And that I think is partly related to the geopolitical focus on the situation in Gaza. That has slipped a little bit. And I think there's a sense that the ceasefire is in place and things are fine, but things are not fine. And we definitely don't see, we're not seeing the impacts of some of the planned next phases of this ceasefire. We haven't seen those materialize thus far. And yet, you know, the situation is not on the front page of the news. So I think it really is a donor fatigue issue and it's a lack of attention to it. There is certainly, we have seen operational costs for ourselves, for WFP, increase in all of our operations as a result of increased costs of fuel and some of the supply chain disruptions. But I don't think that's the major factor in Gaza at the moment.
Thanks again, Ross. Okay, one final question from Nick, New York Times.
Yeah, thank you for the briefing. And I appreciate that access isn't the primary consideration here, but could you just say what are the access constraints now and what had you expected would be possible at this point that isn't?
Thank you. Yeah, thanks, Nick. Yeah, indeed. I mean, I, you know, we continue to emphasize, I guess, both issues at the moment. Obviously, the funding is is increasingly becoming a major issue. We only have one crossing into Gaza, the southern Kerem Shalom crossing. We still have many challenges at that crossing in terms of making sure we can get stuff across in a timely way. We still have challenges on the restrictions on dual-use items, which prevents certain aspects of recovery. It limits our bakery program, which, you know, requires spare parts and fuel and other things for these bakeries. It limits repair of our fleet that operates, our truck fleet that operates in Gaza. 50% of that is not functional because we also cannot repair. And it also limits, we have limitations on even staff safety and security because of the lack of armored vehicles and repair of those. So there's a lot of restrictions on dual use, which affects us, it affects the food security sector, but it affects many of the other sectors, including shelter, even more so. So that's an issue. The limited crossings are an issue. And of course, we're very concerned about the security situation, which really affects both, of course, us as humanitarian operators, but it affects civilians there and it affects their ability to access to us.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Ross. I think— I'm double-checking here. I think that does it for questions to you. As always, thanks for joining us here at our briefing. and continue to spotlight. The message is loud and clear. The appeal for life-saving funds, additional funds, is there. The lack of attention you mentioned, hence over to you colleagues, and thank you for your critical reporting. So thanks again, Ross.
Okay.
Moving on. We're shifting to the other hemisphere, to the situation in Venezuela. Scott Craig of the IFRC is connected, and he's going to give us an update on the humanitarian needs in Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes there. So, Scott, over to you.
Thanks, Rolando. Good morning, everyone. Apologies, our team in Venezuela can't be with you to brief you themselves given the hour, but I'd like to update you on the operations and what we see as the most urgent needs going forward. Today marks one month since the earthquakes in Venezuela. And to give you a sense of how this disaster has affected people in different ways, I'd like to tell you about 3 people whom our teams have met in recent days and weeks. Gabriel lives with a neurological condition that requires daily medication, and when his building came down in La Guaira, his medication went down with it and was buried under the rubble. Amy has spent 4 weeks in a school that serves as a temporary shelter, waiting for the assessment that will tell her whether it's safe for her to go home or whether the building she lives in will be condemned, and no one can tell her how long that will take. And Yeni is 25 weeks pregnant, and she's afraid that something will happen to her baby and afraid the ground will shake again and afraid that she will never be able to, to go home, uh, to the, the home that she had before. Our teams met Gabriel and Yeni at the Red Cross emergency clinic in La Guaira where they received medication and support from mental health specialists. And we met Amy a few days ago in Caracas, one of our distributions in schools now sheltering families, where she received kitchen sets, hygiene items, blankets, and water to keep her drinking water safe. These stories unfortunately are not isolated cases. One month on, they show what our teams have identified as the most urgent needs for the weeks and months ahead: primary healthcare, mental healthcare, and access to safe drinking water. Thousands of people living with chronic conditions haven't yet fully regained continuity of their medical treatment, an interruption that threatens their health and adds further strain to already stretched healthcare systems. Many families are still depending on bottled water for drinking, cooking, and washing. lodging, and access to sanitation remains extremely limited, raising the risk of disease outbreaks in temporary shelters. And survivors are living also with anxiety, fear, sadness, sleeplessness, as they grieve relatives, homes, jobs, and livelihoods that they've lost. And that's why psychological support and the treatment of chronic illnesses are as urgent today as trauma care was in the first days, with particular attention to those at greatest risk. And the scale behind these 3 stories is stark. We now know that there are more than 5,000 people dead, close to 17,000 people injured, and some 23,000 people are still living in temporary shelter— shelters, excuse me. Red Cross teams have been there since the first minute. In the immediate aftermath, the focus was on saving lives, and today it's on caring for survivors through the distribution of relief items, psychosocial support, and, and basic healthcare. And much of that care is being delivered at the emergency clinic where Gabriel and Jenny were treated, which is an IFRC emergency response unit being managed by the Spanish Red Cross, which reinforces the Venezuelan Red Cross's field hospital and aims to assist 30,000 people. But one month on, the disaster is far from over. The IFRC's emergency appeal, which seeks 50 million Swiss francs to assist 300,000 people over 2 years, one month on, that appeal is just 25% funded. So we're measuring recovery in, in years, not weeks. And as people's needs evolve and grow more complex, the resources need to grow to meet those needs at the same pace. And, and so we're asking for sustained, flexible funding that can follow families through their whole recovery, not only through the, the weeks when the, the cameras are there and when the cameras stop.
Thanks to you, Scott. Thanks very much for this important update. Let's see if we have questions for you, starting in the room, online. No, I don't see that's the case. So thank you very much for the comprehensive update, and I'm sure we can rely on your notes to continue to report on this, these efforts in Venezuela. So thanks again, Scott.
Thank you.
Thank you. Now I turn to my colleague Shabia, who I missed the, the order. Apologies for that. I skipped right over you, Shabia. Sorry for that, but it's a very important subject indeed, and very happy to have you here to speak about seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz who have been stranded there. So over to you, Shabia.
Thank you, Rolando, and good morning, everyone. UN human rights chief Volker Türk calls for urgent action to remedy the plight of thousands of stranded seafarers who are facing a dire humanitarian and human rights crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. At least 6,000 seafarers on some 400 vessels remain stranded in and around the strait, having been unable to evacuate during the ceasefire. This is according to information from the International Maritime Organization. This number is not exhaustive as many others are unaccounted for, believed to be stuck in the Persian Gulf on a range of smaller vessels or have otherwise not been located. Our office has also obtained information that some seafarers have been abandoned at sea by shipowners who have left them without support, repatriation, and even their owed wages. We are aware of at least 9 ships with 93 crew members abandoned by their owners at Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war. The seafarers have been left on their ships to fend for themselves without food, water, fuel, medical care, electricity, or means to communicate with their families. They face prolonged isolation and confinement in a conflict zone with uncertainty about their safety and survival. Location, and this is risking a severe toll on their mental and physical well-being. Seafarers remain exposed to hostilities and deadly attacks on the strait, facing imminent risks of death or harm. 2 Indian seafarers were killed in recent weeks in the strait, and last month at least other seafarers were killed in an attack on an oil tanker. This brings the total number of reported seafarer deaths to 17 since the start of the conflict. And this is information again from IMO. Attacks against civilian vessels are unacceptable and must stop. They are protected under international humanitarian law. The High Commissioner calls on states, shipowners, and all relevant actors to urgently ensure the protection of stranded seafarers, including through ensuring effective access to consular assistance, essential supplies and services, and facilitating evacuations and repatriations. Parties to the conflict should urgently work to facilitate safe passage for stranded seafarers to safely evacuate and disembark, and as well as ensure the delivery of critical supplies. The High Commissioner is also concerned about the situation facing seafarers in other parts of the world, including in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, where a series of attacks attacks have also been reported against civilian merchant vessels. Our office has verified at least 4 attacks on civilian vessels in the Odessa region this month in which 34 vessel workers were killed or injured. In the Sea of Azov, we are also aware of reports of at least 1 attack this month in which, in which 1 vessel worker was killed. Seafarers should not be forced or compelled to endanger their lives by sailing through conflict zones, nor should they face the risk of reprisal by shipowners if they decline these assignments. In line with a resolution adopted in 2024 by the Human Rights Council, states, the shipping industry, and all relevant stakeholders must protect the human rights of seafarers, including their right to life, to just and favourable conditions of work, including safe and healthy working conditions, and the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Seafarers have the right to freely choose or accept work, including decisions on whether to sail or continue sailing in high-risk areas. Flag States and shipowners should also uphold their labour rights, including through the continued payment of wages. The dignity, safety and wellbeing of seafarers must remain at the core of policies, industry practices and international cooperation in accordance with the Manila Declaration, a landmark global call to action issued last year.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Shabia. Let's take questions in the room, perhaps. Yes, Jamie, AP.
Hello, Shabia. Nice to see you again. Um, could you, um, tell us, first of all, the sourcing of the, uh, 9 vessels that you're talking about, where that came from? And have you been in contact with the ship owners to have them do something about it? I mean, it's kind of hard to imagine. I mean, if I understand it, there's been sort of ferried food to people that are stranded in the Persian Gulf from smaller boats or whatever to keep them kind of going. But just if you could give us a little bit more detail about that finding, about how these people are abandoned in the middle of the Gulf.
Yeah. Thank you, Jamie. So the information that we have about— you're mentioning the 9 ships with 93 abandoned crew members. This is the information that we have from our colleagues at IMO and ILO, the International Labour Organization. So we've been coordinating with them, really just echoing the advocacy. As you've probably been aware, the IMO has also issued statements on this and sounded the alarm. But this is becoming a, a very serious issue. Thank you. A real human rights and humanitarian concern for us. There are attacks that are affecting seafarers resulting in loss of life. There's a humanitarian situation in which we're aware that those that have been left abandoned are in a situation where they don't have adequate supplies. So we're in touch with colleagues who are coordinating. They're in touch with a variety of stakeholders involved in this issue. We've also tried to initiate contact with those that have been stranded, but communication is really, really difficult. There are connectivity issues. They don't have access to that even. So, these are among mounting concerns. So, we are sounding the alarm because the situation is getting quite desperate. In addition to this, we've mentioned that there are about 400 vessels that have been stranded in the strait, and they've been stranded since the beginning of the conflict. So, this is a number of months. So, this requires urgent action, and we're continuing to follow up. with our colleagues, with our ILO and IMO colleagues, and also just really urging everyone involved in the situation, so from parties to the conflict, others that have leverage on them, the shipping industry, shipowners, etc., to really pay attention to the needs and work to resolve the situation.
Thank you so much, Shabia. Okay, we'll take a question from Ravi. Ravi Kant.
Sorry. Yeah, thank you, madam. Out of 17 who have died, uh, are the maximum number from India? And, uh, are the Indian seafarers the largest, uh, who are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz? And how is Indian government responding? Is it coming to their help? Or even the Indian ship owners, are they trying to assist them in any way? So because the families in India are quite worried and they often, you know, are sharing messages on the social media. So I would request you to respond to these 3 questions.
Thank you, Ravi, for your question. Look, we had information that in the recent fatalities, those unfortunately, that were killed were of internationals.
Following his visit to Syria. So we'll send you all these programming notes as we get them. Additionally, the Secretary-General— I just wanted to note that we shared with you yesterday— you will have seen the remarks that the Secretary-General delivered to the Security Council yesterday, which was on the occasion of the one-year adoption of Resolution 2785, which speaks to the peaceful settlement of disputes. In his remarks, Mr. Guterres warned that we are now seeing an alarming disregard for international law, with impunity spreading and violations going unanswered. He spoke specifically to the situation in Gaza, and we just heard about the situation from WFP in Gaza. Mr. Guterres warned that despite the life-saving impact of humanitarian aid, the number of those facing high levels of food insecurity is expected to rise in the coming months to 1.4 million people. That's roughly 70% of the population. We just heard about that. And also, this— he notes that this is a bitter toll of restrictions on aid access and continuing violence. This is all contained in the remarks we shared with you yesterday. Also have a statement that we shared with you last night, late last night from the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen. That's Hans Grunberg, who expresses his alarm by the resumption of attacks by Ansar Allah on commercial shipping and the rude disruption of maritime navigation in the Red Sea. He notes how escalatory actions risk putting Yemen on a path towards further confrontation, drawing the country deeper into an already volatile regional environment and deepening the suffering of the Yemeni people. He notes how a negotiated political settlement in Yemen would also contribute to the greatest stability in the region. So you have those— that statement from last night. In terms of meetings here, we don't have any human rights meetings until the 10th of August, so in a couple of weeks. That's when the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, CERD, will resume or will begin its 118th session. So that's all I have for you. Any questions for me?
No?
Okay then. I wish you a good afternoon, a nice weekend, and see you here on Tuesday.
Thanks.
Thank you.
