Global Risk Report 2026, Yemen, Saudi Arabia & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

See? Shall we have a minute? Yes, sir. May I start? Okay. You want to share with the whole class your little story? No? Okay. All right. Good afternoon. Monday today? No, Tuesday. All right. Well, since I haven't seen you yesterday, happy Monday nonetheless. Tomorrow, 11 o'clock, be in this room if you want to ask a question of the Secretary-General. He will be here to brief you ahead of the 81st session of the General Assembly. We will have the briefing live, obviously, on Web TV and many other platforms, but we will not take any Zoom questions, given that we already have enough trouble taking all the questions in the room. So if you want to ask a question, put your Grab a seat. And obviously, we will not have a briefing tomorrow. Today, we launched the 2026 Global Risk Report, which finds that geopolitical tensions and large-scale war are now seen among the most pressing and interconnected risks of our world. Drawing on the responses of more than 1,300 stakeholders from governments, business, civil society, and the UN system, the report highlights growing concern over risks linked to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, while warning that climate change and other environmental challenges remain among the world's most significant threats. However, despite a rapidly evolving risk landscape, international cooperation remains the most effective way to address the challenges and prevent today's risks from becoming tomorrow's crises. The full report is available to you online should you wish to read it, and I encourage you to look at it. We'll start in Yemen. where our Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, just released $9 million from the Central Emergency Relief Fund to provide urgent assistance to displaced families and to the communities receiving them. This comes in response to the humanitarian impact of the ongoing hostilities. We are deeply concerned about the situation ongoing there. Our OCHA colleagues tell us that the toll on civilians continue to grow, forcing families from their homes, killing and injuring those caught in the fire, and already stretched humanitarian operations are coming under growing pressure. The UN Refugee Agency is warning that rapidly escalating hostilities, especially on the western coast of Yemen, have displaced more than 100,000 human beings inside the country and forced thousands more to seek safety across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in Djibouti. And as you can imagine, the dangers of that crossing. Many families had to flee on short notice with very few belongings. We and our humanitarian partners continue to support displaced families and others caught up in the hostilities in the affected areas. The refugee agency is leading the interagency response for protection, shelter, site coordination, working closely with humanitarian partners that continue to deliver assistance despite all of the challenges that you know about. It's also activated its emergency response capacity inside Yemen, focusing on lifesaving protection, shelter, relief items, and financial assistance. One of the biggest challenges are the constraints of movement due to insecurity because of the fighting. Our OCHA colleagues said that and movements along key routes are restricted or just suspended, making it harder to reach many of those in dire need. Humanitarian supplies and resources are also running low. We call yet again on the parties to protect civilians, to respect international humanitarian law, to respect international law, and to facilitate the safe and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid so it can reach all those who need it, wherever they may be. And in Saudi Arabia, Our authorities are telling us that yesterday, 13 civilians were injured following strikes, while earlier last week, authorities also reported strikes injured 73 civilians, including women and children. On September 10, an attack on the East-West pipeline reportedly injured people and led to its precautionary closure. As you know, the attack was among several affecting energy infrastructure. The widening escalation is adding further pressure on already underfunded and overstretched humanitarian operations in the region, where the needs remain high, while disruptions to trade, energy, and essential supplies risk compounding humanitarian needs both within and beyond the region. And again, also on Yemen, just to note that this afternoon, the Security Council will meet to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the recent developments in the Strait of Bab al-Mandab. Assistant Secretary General for Political in the Political and Peacebuilding Department, Khaled Kyari, will be briefing the Council. We'll share those remarks with you. He is expected to refer to the intensified fighting along the west coast in Yemen, and as the including the fact that the Houthis have continued their advances towards the Bab al-Mandab in parallel to a counteroffensive by the government of Yemen. He will note the impact of these hostilities on the civilian population both in Yemen and the wider region. And as you recall, the Special Secretary-General Special Representative, Special Envoy, excuse me, on Yemen, Hans Grunberg, briefed the Council last week, and he continues his engagements with all sides to keep channels open and preserve space for dialogue. Turning to the occupied Palestinian territory, OCHA staff visited one displacement site yesterday in Khan Yunis. where people reported that they are still dealing with the impact of an airstrike that hit the area about two months ago. According to the site manager, the airstrike destroyed most of the tents. Our humanitarian partners have provided families affected by the strike with a limited number of new tents and other items. But families said they need much more ahead of the cold and rainy season. They need mattresses and blankets, as well as tarpaulins to fix damaged tents. And another displacement site in northern Rafah in Gaza, a few dozen meters from the so-called yellow line, families told OCHA that it is challenging to access essential services. They're also especially concerned by the lack of sufficient access to safe water, as ongoing military activities in the area mean that deliveries are on irregular schedule, irregular schedule. We, along with our humanitarian partners, are responding to the needs wherever possible and ready to do more once restrictions are lifted and funding is increased. Meanwhile, we continue to receive worrying reports of airstrikes and other attacks hitting populated areas, risking even more casualties, damage, and displacement. As we've stressed repeatedly, Palestinians across the occupied the Palestinian territories must be protected under international humanitarian law as a population living under occupation. Turning to Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, the Secretary-General's personal envoy for that country, just concluded a two-day visit to Egypt. That follows his recent trip to Sudan and to Khartoum. In Cairo, he met with senior Egyptian officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty. The discussions provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views on the critical role the countries neighboring Sudan in advancing peace efforts. The discussions also reaffirmed the strong cooperation among members of the Quad and the Quintet and their shared readiness to continue working slowly together to help end the conflict in Sudan. Mr. Haveste also met with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Nabil Fahmy. The meeting underscored the importance for the UN and the League of Arab States to remain in close coordination and collaboration in their peace efforts within the framework of the quintet. In addition, Havi Steudt engaged with some members of the Sudanese diaspora in Cairo to hear their perspectives on the situation in their country. He underscored the importance of ensuring that the country's diverse diaspora has a meaningful voice in shaping Sudan's future. And turning to Libya, the Secretary-General joins our UN mission in that country in welcoming the endorsement by the House of representatives of the smaller convening agreement that was signed on August 30th. As you'll recall, this support represents an important step forward and contributes to efforts to overcome the current political deadlock. The mission remains committed to supporting the Libyan-led and the Libyan-owned political process to unlock the political impasse, unify and strengthen national institutions, and create the conditions for the holding of inclusive, credible parliamentary and presidential elections in line with the aspirations of the people of Libya. And in the Central African Republic, our peacekeeping colleagues tell us that significant progress in efforts to strengthen the justice system in the country Well, on September 10, the military court in Bouar, in the Nana-Bambéri Prefecture, held its first-ever criminal hearing with technical support from the Mission. The hearing marks an important milestone in strengthening military justice and accountability. As part of its mandate, the peacekeeping mission continues to support the Central African judicial authorities in strengthening judicial institutions and promoting an independent and accessible judicial system. This development builds on the Mission's longstanding support to the military court in Bouar. Earlier this year, the mission handed over the facility that now houses the court, helping strengthen the delivery of military justice in the area. And in nearby Congo, Our senior coordinator for Ebola, Julian Harness, tells us that we and our partners continue to support national authorities in responding to the Ebola outbreak. More than 2,000 frontline health workers have been vaccinated in Chopop and Baule province. And tomorrow, Mr. Harness will travel to Bunia and other affected areas. We once again call for greater international support and funding to help contain the outbreak, deploy specialized medical team, and deliver lifesaving assistance to those who need it. A quick update from Nepal, where UNICEF says today that an estimated 17,000 children have been impacted by the devastating floods, and they require urgent mental health and psychosocial support to recover from the distress and the trauma caused by the floods. UNICEF noted the disaster had a profound impact on children, many of whom witnessed the loss of loved ones, destruction of homes, schools, and displacement from their communities, and uncertainty over missing family members. The agency is working with government authorities and partners to protect children affected through family tracing, reunification, and psychosocial support services. Community-based protection monitoring teams have been established along key transit and displacement routes to identify at-risk children, facilitate referrals, and help prevent trafficking, exploitation, and family separation. Just want to read into the record, yesterday, the Secretary-General appointed Martin Kimani of Kenya as the new Assistant Secretary-General for Africa. He succeeds Marta Ama Pobi of Ghana, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedicated years of service. I think you know Mr. Kimani well, as he previously served as Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN 2020 to 2024, and he brings with him 25 years of very relevant experience, and we welcome him. Turning to a quick note from West Africa, where our Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Shimao, is in Mauritania as part of his ongoing efforts to promote peace, stability, and dialogue in the subregion. In Nouakchott, he's expected to meet with the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh Aghazouani, as well as other government officials, national dialogue coordinator, representative of the ruling party and opposition, and members of the country team from the U.N. He'll also travel to Oued El region, including the Mbera refugee camp, which hosts more than 120,000 refugees, most of them from Mali. He's expected to meet with local authorities, refugees, as well as humanitarian development colleagues. Today, we mark the International Day of Democracy. In his message, the Secretary-General says we face a world of deepening division, with conflicts multiplying and the social contract between citizens and the governments being undermined. He says, having personally faced the challenges of restoring democracy in his own country, Portugal, he knows it must never be taken for granted. And just to add, the UN Democracy Fund and the Office of Partnerships will host an event today at headquarters. to mark the day, bringing diverse on bringing diverse voices into decision making. We have a quiz today. We also have a new reporter. I want to welcome Anthony Slodkowski from Reuters. You will have the first crack at the quiz. It's very embarrassing. What is the main, and no Google. What is the main ingredient used to produce aluminum?

We cover diplomacy, not commodities.

Bauxite. Okay. This country is the world's largest producer of bauxite. What country is that? No. No. Guinea. We thank our friends in Conakry for their payment in full. We now have 139 member states paid up. Guinea paid up 127,158 United States dollars. First question goes to AP, sorry. Welcome, Anthony. Yeah, welcome.

Thank you, Steph, and welcome, Anthony, my new next-door neighbor. Steph, has the UN received any queries or requests from member states who are having trouble getting visas to come to the high-level meeting.

Well, we've been in touch with our host country friends regarding the issues raised, notably by the Russian Federation, by the Palestinian delegations, and others. And this is a continuous engagement we have with the host country, encouraging them to meet their obligations under the host country agreement.

Have you gotten any response from the Americans?

Well, I mean, I think the response, positive and negative, will be on the issuance or non-issuance of visas. I think, as we know, sometimes these things happen at the very last minute, and we hope they will all be resolved.

And on a follow-up on Sudan, I wasn't quite clear. You talked about the Quad and the Quint cooperating. Have they actually met together and actually tried to get the warring parties to meet with them?

I can only speak for-- god, which one can I speak for? The one that involves the UN. the quartet, the quintet. I don't want to embarrass myself and have to look at my notes. This is an ongoing process. And I think the most important thing is that we have no-- we don't have competing processes, but we have one process that would lead to peace in Sudan for the sake of the Sudanese people. Pam.

Thanks, Jeff. If I remember correctly, the SG met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in July. He's coming to Washington, D.C. next week, but not here. Is there any attempt for the SG to meet with him?

I don't know. We're here, there, where?

No, I mean, as you well know, the Secretary General is really not allowed to leave the premises during the GA week, given all the bilaterals that he had. He meets with the heads of delegations who wish to meet with him while he's here. My understanding is that the President of the People's Republic of China will not be coming to New York, but the Secretary General will meet with the head of the delegation that does come to New York. Thank you. Abdelhamid, and then we'll go to Anthony.

Thank you, Steph. Since the beginning of this year, 107 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, 6,600 were wounded, and over 40,000 thousand were displaced in addition to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque almost on weekly basis, including one yesterday. Do you see the bigger picture, sir, that there is a plan to uproot the Palestinians and destroy their entity in all of Palestine?

Well, listen, Abdhami, we have spoken quite a lot about this almost every day. I would encourage you to read the Secretary-General's latest report to the General Assembly, which I think lays out pretty clearly the situation regarding the illegal settlements in the West Bank, coinciding with displacement of populations in Gaza. And he makes a lot of very important a lot of very important points in that and saying that the Israeli policy of mass transfer throughout the occupied territory aimed at permanent displacement. And he says that raises concern of potential ethnic cleansing. But I think to accuse the Secretary-General not having looked at the bigger picture, I think you need to read what he actually writes.

My second question, recently in a convention of the Republican Party, When Senator Ted Cruz was speaking, there were shouts in the audience. When he mentioned Mamdani, the shouts were saying, "Shoot him." And when he mentioned Abdurrahman Saeed, also, the crowd was shouting to shoot him. These things passed unnoticed. Ted Cruz continued with his speech. Do you see Islamophobia is becoming now a fashion?

I don't think these things pass unnoticed because a lot of people are talking about it. we have, the Secretary General has raised his voice very loudly against Islamophobia and all forms of hatred based on ethnicity and religion. Anthony then Effie.

I'll try to do better at the next quiz. And thank you for welcoming me so warmly. Just a question on the Global Risk Report and the AI part. of it. And so we have the President Trump kind of calling AI risks a hoax and a sick conspiracy. I was wondering how that fits with the sort of ongoing and very kind of prominent efforts by the SG on AI governance.

The risks of AI are very real and they're here and they need to be addressed. now. I don't want to say anything more because this will be a big part of the comments that the Secretary General will offer to you tomorrow in his press conference. Efi.

Thank you, Steph. UNRWA says that 41 out of 50 reforms are completed from the Kholone recommendations, but a new UN Watch report says that only 13 were implemented and many are just checking boxes. My question is, is there anyone independently on the ground checking that there's no more Hamas infiltration into the organization and that educational materials no longer have antisemitism in them?

Well, what I can tell you is, first, the Secretary-General's full confidence in UNRWA's leadership in implementing the recommendations from the report that the Secretary-General had asked for from Catherine Colonna. UNHWA reports regularly to the General Assembly on its implementation. It meets, it organizes meeting for member states on integrity to which all member states are invited to participate, including the US, including Israel, and anyone who wishes to go to tell them exactly what they're doing. And so it is not just checking boxes for the sake of checking boxes, 'cause when you have a list, you do have to check things off, but it's about the implementation of those of those things. And it's what I'm saying is that it's done in a transparent way where donors and member states have an opportunity to check if these things are really being done.

Onar himself for saying that the vetting system was not rolled out and the new union rules were not adopted and that union leaders were not vetted and they're not even allowed to be screened if they're part of Hamas or Jihad.

The issue, I think, again, they take these issues seriously. On the vetting, as we've said here a number of times, we rely on the member states also where we operate. have the capacity to check people to do so. And as I've said, we share those with the Israeli authorities. We share the list with the Jordanians, with the Lebanese, with the Syrians. If there are concerns, they need to be shared directly with UNHWA. And when they are, they take action. Okay. On that note, I don't see any questions online. I think I'll leave you and I'll see you tomorrow, 11 o'clock. Thank you.

Thank you.

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