Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

All right, good afternoon. In a short while, I will be joined by our guest, Carla Quintana, who is the head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria. She will be here to discuss the situation of missing persons in Syria. Tomorrow, I will be joined virtually by the Regional Director of Latin America and the Caribbean for UNFPA, and that is Paula Narváez, who's recently returned from Venezuela, where she was on the mission Where she was on the ground to see— to assess the needs of women and girls in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that hit that country. Speaking of Syria, the Secretary-General will be traveling later today. He is expected to arrive in Amman, Jordan on Friday, and from there he will go on to Syria. On Saturday in Damascus, he's expected to meet with senior Syrian officials, including President Ahmed al-Sharar and Foreign Minister Assad al-Shabani. The Secretary-General, in his meetings, is expected to underscore the importance of the visit. He will emphasize that the opportunity now is not only to recover from conflict, but also to lay the foundations for a future for Syria that will be more stable, more inclusive, and more prosperous for all Syrians. He will reaffirm the role of the United Nations is to accompany and support the Syrian people on this journey. Just to give you a quick overview of his program during the weekend, beyond the meetings I've just told you about, the Secretary-General will undertake field visits, including one to our UN peacekeeping mission, UNDOF. He will also be meeting with women's groups, representatives of civil society, and diverse communities. On Monday, the Secretary-General is scheduled to address the new People's Assembly of the Syrian Arab Republic, and ahead of his departure, he'll be having a press conference with your colleagues who are in Damascus. And as you know, the Secretary-General will be making his way to Cyprus following the visit to Syria. And meanwhile, before leaving this morning, he was in the Security Council where he spoke at a meeting marking one year since the adoption of Resolution 2788 on the peaceful settlement of disputes And in his remarks, he warned that we are now seeing an alarming disregard for international law, with impunity spreading and violations going unanswered. The Secretary-General warned that the situation in the Middle East is teetering on the edge of the unimaginable, with the region being pulled into an ever-widening circle of confrontation. It is time to step back, he said. Attacks on civilian infrastructure are unacceptable. There is no military solution to the conflict, he reaffirmed. Fighting must stop everywhere in the region, and he added that international navigational rights and freedoms in and around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb must be fully restored. The Secretary-General recognized the mediation efforts of Pakistan and countries in the region working to reduce tensions and create a space for dialogue, adding that these efforts must be supported and strengthened in pursuit of a peaceful and durable settlement. Regarding Gaza, he 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— roughly 70% of the population. This is the bitter toll of restrictions on aid access and continuing violence, he asserted. The Secretary-General pointed to priorities for bolstering collective mechanisms Thank you. To, uh, to, excuse me, settle disputes peacefully, including strengthening the Secretariat's good offices and mediation support, fully using regional offices and envoys, and having the Security Council act decisively while engaging more regularly in fact-finding.

Thank you.

Um, on, uh, and just to continue on, uh, On that region in the Middle East, the humanitarian consequences of the latest escalation, including in and around Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz, are continuing to grow. The escalation threatens further disrupt— excuse me, the escalation threatens to further disrupt maritime trade, flights, border crossings, and regional supply chains on which millions of people rely on. Any further disruption could drive up humanitarian needs and costs at a time when aid operations are already underfunded and already overstretched. And we, of course, continue to follow the situation closely and stand ready to provide humanitarian support as needed. The widening impact of the escalation is putting more civilians at risk. As the Secretary-General said, we call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and civilian objects, and avoid disrupting the essential services on which civilians rely. And further to what the Secretary-General said about hunger in Gaza, I can tell you that the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report released just today said that while access to Gaza has improved, only one crossing, the Kerem Shalom-Abu Salam crossing in the south of Gaza, remains open. Which obviously limits the flow of essential goods into Gaza. The report issued by the FAO, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme says an estimated 1.4 million people, about 67% of Gaza's population, are currently experiencing crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity. That is IPC Phase 3 and above. This is a decrease from 1.6 million people, or 77% of the population, at the end of 2025. An estimated 212,000 people remain in emergency conditions— that's IPC Phase 4— many of them living in areas near the Israeli military-controlled line, where access to humanitarian aid and services remains particularly challenging for us and others. The report adds that the 4 governorates— North Gaza, Gaza, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis— are expected to face alert levels of malnutrition. That is IPC Phase 2. And just some more information from the humanitarian colleagues in Gaza who tell us that first responders continue to face severe constraints due to military operations, access restrictions, and shortages of essential supplies. That has a direct impact on the ability of the Palestinian Civil Defense to operate vehicles because there is a shortage of a lot of spare parts, as well as motor oil. Our humanitarian partners also warn that worsening sexual and reproductive health conditions in Gaza are putting pregnant women at growing risk. In the first half of this year, nearly 4,000 miscarriages were reported. Severe maternal complications reached 82 cases per 1,000 deliveries. More than 57% of pregnant women were found to be anemic. In response, the UN Population Fund continues to distribute reproductive health supplies to support nearly 2,000 women and girls. More than 3,700 postpartum kits were also provided in 15 maternity hospitals. On debris clearance, our humanitarian partners report that nearly 630,000 tons of debris have been cleared from roads and essential service facilities across Gaza. But this is only a fraction of the more than 60 million tons generated since October 23rd. much of which remains inaccessible. And going north to Lebanon, our peacekeepers there continue to observe violations of Lebanese airspace, predominantly involving UAVs. This week, peacekeepers observed repeated drone activities near our own UN positions and convoys across both sectors. UNIFIL also observed Israeli Defense Forces firing activities, including small arms and tank fire, with rounds impacting near UN positions on several occasions. On Monday, UNIFIL peacekeepers reported the impact of— an impact inside a UN position in the vicinity of Al Ma'an in Sector East. On Tuesday, UNIFIL recorded 2 incidents impacting the freedom of movement of our colleagues along the coastal road northwest of Al Mansouri, that is in Sector West. In addition, UNIFIL continued to observe extensive IDF ground activities throughout its area of operations, including armored deployment, engineering works, patrol, and logistical movement. We reiterate that any action that endangers UN peacekeepers or that interferes with them implementing their mandate given to them by the Security Council are unacceptable. On the humanitarian front, UNIFIL facilitated 11 humanitarian missions this week in coordination with our OCHA colleagues. And just to flag that Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will be visiting Lebanon from the 26th to 27th of July. He'll be meeting with the President, Joseph Aoun, with the Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, and the President of the National Assembly, Nabi Berri, and many others. And he will also obviously meet with civil society, diplomats, and our own colleagues. More information The main obstacle is funding, not surprisingly, which continues to leave critical gaps in the humanitarian response. This year's humanitarian appeal for Sudan is only about 39% funded. We continue to appeal for additional funding to reach as many people as possible because many need it. Turning to Chad, where our Humanitarian Resident Coordinator, François Battaglin-Gaya, announced a $2 million allocation from the Regional Humanitarian Fund for West and Central Africa to help address water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter and other urgent needs. This comes a day after Mr. Battalingaya, together with officials from Chad and donor countries, as well as the heads of a number of UN agencies, wrapped up a mission to Lac Province in western Chad. To assess the humanitarian situation following a new wave of displacement caused by attacks from non-state armed groups. And just one more note from the— well, 2 more notes from the continent. One from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where renewed violence along the border between the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu have forced more people to flee their homes. in areas impacted by the Ebola outbreak. That's what our OCHA colleagues are telling us. According to local civil society organizations, at least 60 civilians have been killed since July 12th, including 30 people reportedly killed yesterday in Mambasa territory following a series of attacks on villages along the Ituri-North Kivu border. Our partners also report that more than 25,000 displaced people have recently arrived in Beni territory. in North Kivu. Many are being hosted by already vulnerable families or sheltering in abandoned buildings. Our humanitarian colleagues tell us the violence has impacted areas where our partners continue to support the Ebola response, which as you know has claimed more than 1,000 lives. In the province of Tshopo in the northeast, the Prime Minister of the DRC, Judith Tshiluka, visited Kisangani today. Excuse me. She was joined by the UN's humanitarian coordinator, Damien Mama, and the UN senior Ebola coordinator, Julian Harness, to support this response to Ebola. And we hope to have Julian Harness brief you here next week. There are recent cases reported in Kisangani have raised concern over the spread of the virus along the Congo River. We, along with our partners, are urgently scaling up the capacity in the province, including in setting up infection prevention and control protocols and expanding treatment centers and preparing safe burials. We reiterate our call for the protection of civilians and for safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all those who need to be supported during this outbreak. And the Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund has approved $2.4 million for a new program to reduce insecurity across 4 regions of Mali, where communities and local institutions have come under sustained pressure and insecurity and violence. The program aims to build trust and prevent tensions from escalating into wider violence by strengthening collaboration between local authorities, security forces, and traditional leaders on how disputes are best resolved peacefully. The program will place particular focus on expanding the role of women and young girls in local peace efforts and women's leadership in decision-making. It will be carried out by the UN Development Programme in partnership with the NGO Interpeace and the Malian Institute for Peace and Action, called IMRAP, which is a peacebuilding organization. And lastly, in Afghanistan, our OCHA colleagues are telling us that humanitarian response is underway following the heavy rainfall and flash flooding, flooding that continues to impact a number of several provinces in central, eastern, and southeast Afghanistan. Our humanitarian colleagues tell us the flooding caused extensive damage to homes, markets, shops, roads, bridges, water infrastructure, and obviously that has a very negative impact on livelihoods. Our partners are providing emergency health services, shelter, food assistance, safe drinking water, hygiene support, as well as protection and psychosocial support. Additional medical supplies have been dispatched, while tents, blankets, hygiene kits containing cleaning supplies, and shelter repair kits are being distributed. OCHA is working with our partners and authorities to assess the needs and coordinate assistance. They are also working to restore essential services and infrastructure, as well as to support early recovery and livelihood restoration. However, the response is unfolding against a backdrop of severe funding shortfall. This year's Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Afghanistan is only 25% funded. We call on people to give and give generously. Speaking of being generous, Edie.

Thank you, Steph.

Does the Secretary-General have any comment on a published report that he is trying to push through a second term for UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk without consideration of any outside consultations or candidates?

Look, the Secretary-General is following the resolution and following the rules. The resolution that creates the post of manner and in accordance with established rules and regulations. And I will add, of course, that the Secretary-General has very much appreciated the work that Volker Türk has done in his term as High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Thank you, Stefan. A few questions on the Secretary-General's upcoming visit to Syria. Do we know if he will meet with the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazlum Abdi?

I think we will have more clarity on who he's meeting once he's met them. The program is still being established. It is the Secretary-General's intention to meet with as wide of a variety of Syrian voices as possible in the short amount of time that he will be in Damascus and in the Damascus area.

And will he be just in Damascus or travel to the predominantly Kurdish regions as well?

So the plan is to stay in Damascus and the greater Damascus area, except for that field trip to the Andof base.

Just one last question. One significant issue in Syria now is raised by the Kurds about the right to mother tongue education. They want to study in Kurdish. Is this an issue that the Secretary General is supportive of, and will he raise it with President Assad?

You know, this issue of language comes up in many different contexts, in many different countries. We strongly believe in the importance of linguistic diversity. As the Secretary-General has said, you know, and again, in this— in many different contexts where countries where there are large minorities of people, is that minority population countries need to be respected. and they also need to be made to feel that they are part of the whole. Okay, Lenka, I see your yellow hand up there.

Yes, thank you so much, Stefan. If I may, please. Ukraine's new Commander-in-Chief, Zaluzhnyi, said in a recent interview that the Russian nation has no right to exist, this is quote unquote, and described the population of Donbas as consisting of criminal elements. The question is, how does the UN assess such statements by, you know, top leaders of Ukrainian military against Russian people and the people in Donbas? And do you see it or do you view it as expression of neo-Nazism? Thank you.

Look, I think we've looked into this interview. It seems that it was comments made a while ago, just recently published. in this organization, and his position on the ongoing war in Ukraine remains unchanged.

Thank you.

All right. Yes, Abdelhamid, and then we'll go to our guest.

Thank you, Steph. Today, over 4,200 settlers and extremists stormed the Al-Haram al-Sharif led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the minister of security in Israel, other Knesset members, and some rabbis. And they prayed inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying that what Ben-Gvir said, that Jews now can pray on the Temple Mount. This is a major development. It's been dealt all over the world with this development. It didn't come in your briefing, and what do you say to that development?

Look, there is a status quo regarding the holy sites of Judaism, Christianity, and of course Islam in Jerusalem. It is incumbent that that status quo be respected. It is incumbent on the Israeli authorities to ensure that it is respected and that the faithful of all religions are able to interact with those sites, their own sites, in a free manner. These sorts of activities that we saw today are very dangerous. For that status quo. Okay, why not?

Sorry, Steph.

Thank you. Can you share anything with us about the meeting between the Secretary-General today and the Secretary-General of the GCC?

I don't have many details, but obviously the Secretary-General feels that the GCC is a critical the GCC, which is a very important regional organization, and as you know, the Secretary-General has always felt that the work of the UN needs to rely on regional organization. I know he very much appreciated his conversation with the head of the GCC. All right, I will get our guest who hopefully is back here.