Haiti, Iran, Middle East & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

Hello there. Happy Monday to Good day, everyone. I just have a few items to cover today, including meetings in the GA this week. So I'll start off with a statement from the President of the General Assembly for the 80th session, Annalena Baerbock, on the announced memorandum of understanding between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The President of the General Assembly reiterates the Secretary-General's statement welcoming the announcement that the United States and Iran have agreed to a memorandum of understanding to cease hostilities and open the Strait of Hormuz after months of fighting that has led to thousands of civilian deaths and injuries, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, destabilization in the region, and global economic upheaval. The President of the General Assembly thanks the mediators and calls on all parties to fully comply with the immediate and permanent ceasefire, including in Lebanon, and to utilize this opportunity to find diplomatic solutions to all disputes in line with the UN Charter and international law. This is the only way, way to bring lasting peace to the Middle East, ensure the safety and security of all countries and people in the region, and end the suffering of innocent civilians. We will also share that statement with you via email so that you have it in writing as well. So looking forward to today on the SG selection, the next interactive dialogue with SG candidate María Fernanda Espinoza Garcés will take place this afternoon at 3:00 PM in the Trusteeship Council. The candidate will then speak at the GA stakeout with members of the press. Shortly following the dialogue that ends at 6:00 PM. As with previous dialogues, tickets are available to the press. Should you be interested in attending in person in the room, please reach out to Malu on information on how to pick up a pass for the gallery, third floor of the Trusteeship Council. As you all are probably aware, on Friday the President of Guyana issued a statement that they will nominate a candidate for the position of Secretary-General. We will update the website with all relevant documents as soon as they are available. We will also keep you informed as soon as the interactive dialogue with the candidate is scheduled, because as you know, member states and civil society organizations have the opportunity to hold a dialogue with all candidates for the position. Okay, and now just moving on to the business of the week. Today there are a number— this week there are actually a number of informal briefings, consultations, and meetings happening. This morning there's an informal meeting of the plenary on the representation on an increase in membership of the Security Council. That's happening in the Trusteeship Council this morning, and this afternoon we will have the SG interactive dialogue there. At 11:00 AM there began informal consultations on the progress declaration on the high-level meeting of HIV and AIDS, and at 3:00 PM there is also, the preparatory process for the high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. And this is the presentation of the zero draft political declaration that's happening in CR6. Tomorrow at 3 PM, uh, there will be continued meetings on the equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council, uh, at 3 PM, also in Trusteeship Council. On Wednesday at 10 AM and 3 PM, there will be continued informal consultations on the political declaration to renew commitment and accelerate the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, and that will also continue on Thursday at 3 PM. On Wednesday at 10 and 3 PM in Conference Room 11, there are informal consultations on the progress declaration of the high-level meeting on improving global road safety, and on Friday there is an informal meeting of the plenary to hear a briefing from the co-chairs of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. As you all know, that first dialogue will take place with this panel will take place in July in Geneva, 6 and 7 Geneva. Also, on Friday afternoon at 3:00 PM, there will be an informal meeting of the plenary to hear a briefing from the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar. So those are the activities that are happening this week. A lot of informal meetings, briefings, and dialogues happening with different bodies on a number of different processes that are ongoing in the General Assembly. And at 3 o'clock this afternoon, there will be the SG Interactive Dialogue with our fifth candidate, and then we will keep you informed as to developments with this announcement that there will be an additional candidate nominated from Guyana.

All right. Questions?

Excellent. Yes, we have a question here.

Just to confirm, has Guyana's nomination for the SG election been formally submitted to the Secretary-General already or not yet?

You know, it actually could be before it gets to me. It goes through a number of different channels because it has to be filed a certain way. And so it could be working its way through the system. We do expect to be able to update the website today, but the actual paperwork has not filtered down to me because there is a process by which it goes through a number of registrations, and then the PGA and the President of the Security Council also notify member states, and then we share. But since it has been widely shared in the press and the President of the country did announce it, We do know that the paperwork is coming. Uh, I don't see any questions online. Okay. Wonderful. Have a good day.

I just didn't think you were coming.

What do you mean? I leave on Friday, so I had to leave last night. But I won't come to the briefing that day because I'm going to the National Archives. And then I just thought I'd call and say hello.

Nice to see you. So I think Wednesday will be my last one.

Yeah, yeah, it's always, you know, it's a big deal, it's a big change, right?

I don't think so. I mean, I'll be fine eventually, but I think the change is very hard to deal with. I was actually in a room with lots of old friends in New York.

Hello, hello, hello. I've been waiting. I've been waiting.

On the Troubles called Say Nothing.

I just couldn't get it done.

I could not— I mean, I loved his book on the—

Good afternoon. As we— as expected, in a few hours, the Secretary-General will be taking off to travel to the Dominican Republic, where he is then on his way to Haiti. Tomorrow, he will travel to Port-au-Prince for a solidarity visit during which he will meet people whose lives have been impacted by the violence. He will see firsthand the humanitarian security challenges facing the country, as well as efforts by national authorities and the international community to restore stability and to support the Haitian people. The Secretary-General will assess the support provided by the United Nations to Haiti in facing its multidimensional crisis. Including our logistical and operational support to the gang suppression force, which is being done in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2793. He is— the Secretary-General is also expected to meet with the Prime Minister of Haiti, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and he will travel to Haiti, as I mentioned, via the Dominican Republic tomorrow afternoon. He's expected to meet with national authorities in Santo Domingo. And he'll be back in New York on Wednesday evening. As you saw yesterday, the Secretary-General welcomed the announcement the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed on a peace deal that provides for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a framework for further negotiations. This represents a critical step towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict. The Secretary-General expresses his deep appreciation to the constructive role played by Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and other regional countries in supporting the negotiations that led to the deal. The Secretary-General hopes that the parties will build on the new momentum and redouble their efforts towards a final resolution to this conflict. The Secretary-General reaffirms that we stand by, ready to support the parties in achieving a lasting and durable and comprehensive peace. And just a note, over the weekend, Jean-Arnaud, the Secretary-General's personal envoy on the Middle East conflict and its consequences, was in Paris and Geneva, where he met with French and Swiss officials to exchange views on the conflict, as well as a peaceful and durable settlement. In Geneva, he also met with the head of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as well as UNCTAD representatives and others discussing prospects for post-conflict economic recovery, and he is on his way back to New York as we speak, and we have put in a request to have him have some sort of interaction with you guys. Turning to Lebanon, just— we just got an update from our peacekeeping colleagues at UNIFIL., who report that from midnight, until 4 PM local time today, UNIFIL observed a decrease in violence and exchange of fire, recording 133 trajectories of projectiles and 2 airstrikes attributed to the IDF. No trajectories from Hezbollah or non-state actors were reported during that time. During the same time period, peacekeepers recorded 25 violations of Lebanese airspace by the IDF with a total overflight time of approximately 40 hours. Before the agreement was announced yesterday between the U.S. and Iran, UNIFIL peacekeepers recorded 135 violations of Lebanese airspace by the IDF. UNIFIL also recorded 1,374 trajectories of projectiles over the weekend with 1,328 attributed to the IDF and the rest to non-state actors, presumably Hezbollah. Meanwhile, a UNIFIL team worked throughout the day yesterday to reopen a long stretch of a vital road linking, uh, Hmeish and Nekora, that is in Sector West, and that road had been damaged during recent hostilities. Equipped with earth-moving machinery, excavators, bulldozers, peacekeepers included and explosive ordnance disposal teams and other specialists filled craters, removed roadblocks, repaired potholes, potholes, and cleared unexploded ordnance. The operation was carried out at the request of the local mayor, where approximately 6,000 residents have remained despite intense violence in the area. Restoring access to the road was essential to enable the regular and human— regular humanitarian movements to to and from Rumaysh towards other villages. And you will have seen that also early yesterday we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General said he strongly condemned the Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, and we reiterate our call once again on all parties to respect Security Council Resolution 1701. On the humanitarian front, our humanitarian colleagues in Lebanon say that families still face an uncertain path home. Some families reportedly started to return to their homes or assessing the conditions in communities in parts of southern Lebanon, particularly around Nabatiyeh. However, no large-scale returns have taken place, and people should not return until it is safe to do so.

Large—

local authorities report that the occupancy rates in collective shelters remain high as many displaced families are awaiting greater clarity on the security situation before making their decisions to whether or not to return. The Lebanese Armed Forces and some local authorities have reportedly urged residents not to return to high-risk areas at this stage. We continue to call for the protection of civilians, safe and voluntary return, and sustained humanitarian access to all who for all who need it.

Turning to the occupied Palestinian Territory, our OCHA colleagues report multiple incidents of airstrikes, shelling, and gunfire in populated areas over the weekend. On Friday, an airstrike struck the yard of a UN school in Jabalia camp used to shelter displaced families, causing minor damage. Also on Friday, in eastern Gaza City, dozens of families were displaced placed after Israeli troops placed yellow cement blocks that signal further expansion of the so-called yellow line to the west. Since the line was introduced in 2025, October, it has been used to mark the area within the Strip where access is limited, is restricted by Israeli forces, and that area has expanded multiple times through the placement of yellow blocks. Our human rights colleagues warn that Israeli forces have killed Palestinians apparently for just being too close to that line. Over the weekend, people remained near the area and told our teams that insecurity is increasing pressure on them to move and to be displaced yet again. Humanitarian partners have reported that many of the newly displaced families left without their tents or their belongings. Some are now staying with relatives and friends. To help them, humanitarian teams have activated the UN run response mechanisms that secures quick support for families affected by sudden developments. Meanwhile, OCHA reports that Kerem Shalom— Kerem Abu Salem crossing remains the only entry point for us for approved supplies. Combined with construction works that took place over the weekend, this has resulted in a major bottleneck.

At the same time, bans on specific critical items remains in place, including power generators, and spare parts for various machinery. Recent discussions with Israeli authorities have led to the unblocking of other items, including some needed to better identify malnutrition status. Turning to Ukraine, our colleagues in the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs inform us that overnight, large-scale missiles and drone attacks by the Russian Federation's armed forces on the cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv killed and injured civilians. Damaged homes and critical civilian infrastructure.

The attacks also impacted spiritual and cultural landmarks.

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, said that beyond the tragic loss of life and destruction of homes, damage to sites such as the Kyiv-Pershchuk Monastery affects places that embodied Ukraine's history, identity, and shared heritage. In a statement which the Secretary-General fully supports, the UNESCO condemned the reported strike that hit the monastery, which is on a World Heritage Site list. In another statement, Under-Secretary General Miguel Morettinos, the High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, said that attacks targeting places of worship and cultural heritage are deeply alarming indeed. Our humanitarian colleagues note that the attacks followed a weekend of hostilities that reportedly killed at least 18 civilians and injured another 100, about 150 in frontline and border areas. That's what the authorities are telling us.

In the capital, Kyiv, nearly 30 residential buildings, educational facilities, and other civilian premises were damaged, while approximately 140,000 households temporarily lost electricity due to damage to power infrastructure. In Kharkiv, 4 rescuers were reportedly killed and 6 injured in a double-tap strike while responding to an earlier attack. Homes and other facilities were damaged. Following the overnight attack, humanitarian organizations deployed teams to Kyiv and Kharkiv to complement the work of first responders.

Aid workers provided emergency repairs for damaged homes and psychosocial support.

Turning to Sudan, our humanitarian colleagues on the ground tell us that ongoing fighting continues to extract a deadly toll on civilians across multiple parts of the country, especially using lethal drones. In North Darfur State, at least 8 civilians were reportedly killed and several others injured in an attack on a village in Umbaru yesterday. The market village was looted, residents fled to nearby areas, and the village's primary healthcare unit reportedly suspended services due to insecurity. Last week in North Kordofan State, a series of drone attacks in and around the state capital of El Obeid reportedly killed 9 civilians, including a volunteer with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, and damaged fuel stations, water facilities, and other civilian infrastructure. In South Darfur, drone strikes reportedly injured civilians in the capital Nyala, and this took place last Friday during intercommunal— while intercommunal tensions disrupted the movements of people and closed major markets. In Central Darfur, similar tensions have delayed food assistance to about 31,000 people in the locality of Mukjar. Of all these attacks are making— increasingly difficult for our humanitarian colleagues to reach people in need. Despite the challenges, we have— assistance is continuing. In East Darfur, shipment of 3,000 tents arrived in Shari'a on Saturday for distribution to displaced families. We reiterate that civilians, the humanitarian personnel, civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times, and all All parties must facilitate safe, rapid, and unhindered and sustained humanitarian access to all those who need it.

And just south of there, where the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, otherwise known as UNISFA, facilitated a multi-day post-migration conference in Abyei, bringing together over 120 Ngok, Dinka, and Misiria participants to advance dialogue. Civilian protection, and peaceful coexistence. The conference, which marks the end of the migration season, was closed, excuse me, by the Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Ganesh Kumar Shrestha. This season stands out as one of the most peaceful in recent years, with no major security incidents and no loss of life recorded. The prominent role played by women and youth groups highlighted the importance of inclusive, community-driven approaches to sustaining peace and stability. And in Somalia, Tom Fletcher— excuse me— our Emergency Relief Coordinator has allocated $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund for an urgent response to food insecurity and to mitigate a risk of famine in Somalia. The new funding will enable UN agencies and our partners to assist some 640,000 human beings across 9 priority districts with food, health, nutrition, and water, hygiene and sanitation, and protection support. Our humanitarian colleagues note that Somalia is experiencing a severe drought following successive failed or below-average rainy seasons, compounded by conflict, displacement, disease outbreaks, and rising commodity prices. Around 6 million people, more than 30% of the population, are expected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity, including 1.9 million people in emergency condition. That's IPC Phase 4 or above. A plausible risk of famine has been identified in Bayh and Bakol regions of Somalia, particularly in what they refer to as agro-pastoral areas. Humanitarian assistance is the critical lifeline for saving lives and livelihoods. Addressing acute food insecurity and malnutrition in the country, but the situation has been made worse by major reductions in services assistance due to funding constraints. Halfway through the year, humanitarian agencies have only received about 20% of the funding requested of the 2026 humanitarian appeal, uh, which as a result only, uh, 24% of people targeted for assistance have been reached since January. At the same time, the ripple effect of the conflict in the Middle East have led to increased vulnerability in Somalia. Food prices linked to fuel price increase and maritime supply chain disruptions has risen by up to 20%, obviously having a very real impact on purchasing power of households. Earlier today, Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered his global update to the Human Rights Council.

Warning that an unprecedented and shameless onslaught against international law is causing appalling human suffering, stressing that we must call it out every time and everywhere and work to contain it and work to end it. He stressed he— in addressing the human rights challenges around the world, he highlighted the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, and Haiti, among others. He also raised concerns about media censorship, noting that his office has recorded more than 800 journalists and media workers imprisoned worldwide, including citizen journalists and human rights bloggers. I encourage you to read his full remarks. On Friday, we appointed— or not we, rather, but the Secretary-General appointed Ahuna Eziakonwa of Nigeria as his new Special Adviser on Africa. She succeeds Cristina Duarte of Cabo Verde, to whom the Secretary-General Secretary-General is grateful for her commitment to the UN. Ms. Ezia Konwa brings nearly 3 decades of UN leadership to her role, her current role as Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator and Head of the Africa Bureau for UNDP. She oversees the UNDP's support to 46 African countries, and we congratulate her. We have an international day today. It is the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Elder abuse remains an underrecognized and underreported issue that can include physical, psychological, and financial abuse. Prevention of elder abuse can be done through strong social protection systems, more accessible healthcare, and trained professionals which must respect the human rights of older persons while also taking into account cultural, and social contexts. This year's message emphasizes that raising awareness is not sufficient, that societies must ensure safe, practical systems can be provided to address elder abuse. And Chris, pay attention, as promised, we have a quiz today. The world's largest man-made lake by volume of water in this— is in this country. It was created because of a dam. It has a maximum width of 40 kilometers and length of 223 kilometers. The lake's storage capacity is approximately 185 cubic kilometers of water. Where is this lake? In what country?

I know there was a man-made lake in Libya, but—

Okay, no, that was— I think that was a river.

Oh, the river.

Yeah, but that is not the river.

Is it in Africa?

Yes, it is on the African continent.

It is Uganda.

No, okay, just don't throw out— I mean, there, don't—

I'm not going to sit here and listen to what, 52 countries' names being thrown out. Um, the name of the lake—

what, Lake Nasser of Egypt?

No, sir. The name of the lake— I know it's huge. This name— the name of the lake is Lake Kariba, created between 1958 in 1963 when the Kariba Dam was built? Zimbabwe. Apparently Lake Nasser holds about 135 cubic kilometers of water. So for all that, we thank our friends in Harare for their payment to the regular budget. We now have $115,000. They paid $222,702. Somebody else will calculate how much dollar per cubic kilometer of water, but that will not be me.

Edith. Thank you, Steph. A couple of follow-ups. The memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States says it includes Lebanon, although there have been conflicting statements from Hezbollah and some Israeli officials. What is the Secretary General's message to both Israel and Hezbollah regarding fighting in Lebanon?

Well, I will start by saying that we are in the same place as you, that we have also not seen the text of the deal, but we look forward to seeing it. The message is to stop the fighting, for Hezbollah to allow— to respect the Security Council resolution, to allow the government of Lebanon to have the primacy of arms and authority throughout its territory, and for Israel to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. And we want to see an end to the fighting, so, you know, the So hundreds of thousands of Lebanese who want to go home can go home to start to rebuild, and, and those in Israel can go back home to the north as well.

And another follow-up, since you've been mentioning Jean Arnault, can you tell us what possible role the UN envisions for its assistance following this memorandum of understanding? Standing in implementing, um, its provisions, including possibly, um, in the Strait of Hormuz?

I mean, I think those are all very legitimate questions, questions I think some of us are asking ourselves, but I think we need to see what the text is. Um, as you know, uh, our friend Jorge Moreira da Silva and UNOPS have a plan to help monitor in the Strait of Hormuz. If that can be of help in any way afterwards, I know they would be very— they were ready to assist in whatever way we can be helpful to help sustain an end to this conflict. We will do.

And a third very quick question: Will the UN be represented at Friday's Signing ceremony in Geneva?

At this point, I don't believe so. I mean, I was talking to our colleagues in Geneva just earlier. I think it's not even very clear where exactly in Geneva this will take place. Uh, Gabriel.

Thanks, Steph. Um, now that the memorandum of understanding appears to be close to being in place, uh, as you know, the Gulf countries have, uh, suffered quite dramatically economically from this last 111 days. Where does the Secretary-General see how the Gulf countries can recover after this, this conflict?

Well, I mean, I think the best, the best way and the best path towards recovery is to ensure that peace is sustainable, right? And so economic activity can return. Which obviously is to benefit to those countries. And we know the impact that the closure of the strait has had not only on those economies, economies worldwide, also on issues of remittances of all the migrant workers that help and work in those economies. So the best way forward for recovery is through peace. Linda, Min Lu, and then Yvonne.

Thank you, Steph. I just had a quick question again about the peace deal. Did the UN— what kind of role did the UN, if any, play during the entire process?

Look, the lead was clearly taken by Pakistan. Others such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar played a role. The Secretary-General has been kept informed. He just I think he just hung up the phone a few minutes ago with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar. He spoke earlier today to President Erdoğan. We want to be as helpful as we can.

Will there be any presence at the signing?

As I said, I don't know.

You said you don't know.

Min Lu and then Yvonne, please.

Iran has said the termination of UN Security Council resolutions and lifting all sanctions on Iran —will be a priority. Can you tell us what are the procedural steps to terminate a resolution?

It would have to be a decision by the Security Council, so it would have to be a resolution by the Security Council.

Has this been raised to Council members?

I think that's a question to ask the presidency, but I would probably give them a few— a day or so. Yvonne.

In the Secretary-General's estimation, has the Iranian regime emerged from this conflict more or less powerful?

I would leave that kind of pertinent and interesting analysis to analysts.

He must have a view.

He may very well have a view. I think his, his, his, his view is that the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran need to do whatever they can to ensure— that this peace endures, that other countries in the region also need to make sure that this peace endures for the sake of all of us. Professor, did I see your hand or no? Oh, I'm not going to ask for it then. Okay, then Yvonne, please.

The European Union today is confirming reports that the Chinese military has trained Russian personnel to fight in Ukraine. What is the Secretary-General's view on this?

Look, we have no way— I've heard of these reports. We have no way to confirm it one way or another. I think the last thing the war in Ukraine needs is more soldiers, more outside interference, more outside participation. We need to see it go the other way. And we noted that I think President Trump spoke to both leaders over the weekend, and we want to see an end to the conflict.

Okay, you say you haven't confirmed the reports yourself, but this is coming from Kayakalas, who is the EU's top foreign policy chief. That's not good enough for the UN?

Is that not confirmation?

Well, I'm not saying this is good enough or not good enough.

I'm just telling you what our position is on these things. Okay, anybody online? Abdelhamid, please.

Yes, thank you, Stéphane. I have a few questions. First, do you have any— anything to say about the status of Karim Khan of the ICC?

No, I do not.

Okay. My second, first question. Honorwa fired another 70 Palestinians from its ranks. Now, can you bring us somebody from Honorwa so we ask them these questions? We need answers for what's going on. There is a a war of attrition of the—

of the— I would reach— I would reach out to my colleague Jonathan Fowler and others in UNRWA in Jerusalem. I'm sure they can answer the questions.

And my last question, Ahmed Rajeh Serhan, he's 47. He died in jail, in Israeli jail, which the Israelis say it's heart complication, but he's number over 100 Palestinians killed in the Israeli jails since October 7th, as you know. Do you have any— anything to say? I mean, we—

I think we've repeatedly expressed our concern at the status and the fate of the Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails. We want people without charge, minimum, to be released. And We also wanted those facilities to be able to be visited by the ICRC and other monitors. Okay. Yes, Linda.

Just one last housekeeping issue. Does the SG have any plans for travel or vacation coming up?

Where do you want to go? Yes, there'll be some more travel in in June and July. We'll announce that soonish. Okay. Enjoy the day.