Daily Press Briefing by the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General

All right, good afternoon, everyone. Let's get started. Today, the Secretary-General is arriving in Antalya, Turkey, where he will attend the 31st UN Climate Change Conference, which started today and will continue until the 20th of November. On Wednesday, he will speak at the opening of the leaders' segment of COP31, and during the week, he will be meeting with leaders attending the conference. Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will hold a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He will address an event of the COP30 Presidency on the roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, and will have meetings with a group of climate scientists and with the youth. We will keep you updated on his programme. Our colleagues at the World Meteorological Organization have released their State of the Climate update for 2026. which finds that this year will be one of the four warmest on record, with a very strong El Niño set to unleash more heat and extreme weather well into next year. The report says that the past 12 years have individually been the warmest on record, and that the global average temperature from January to September was about 1.47 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Sea level and ocean heat are both at record highs, and glaciers lost more than 400 gigatons of ice last year. The Secretary-General says we have entered a new age of climate extremes, with a supersized El Niño colliding with a planet already superheated by man-made climate change. He is calling on leaders to cut emissions faster, accelerate a just transition from fossil fuels, and deliver the finance and protection vulnerable countries need. As COP31 begins in Antalya, our colleagues at the World Food Programme warn that humanitarian assistance alone cannot keep pace with crises caused by increasingly frequent weather extremes and a strengthened El Niño. WFP projects that the current El Niño could push at least 49 million more people into acute food insecurity by the end of next year. with the phenomenon expected to peak between now and December, and its effects on harvests and food prices running into early 2028. The agency says that because El Niño can be predicted, there's a chance to act before crops fail and hunger sets in. Between January and September, WFP reached 4.9 million people with early warnings and assisted more than 1.5 million ahead of forecast floods, storms, and droughts. But it says prearranged financing accounts for less than 2% of global humanitarian funding, and is calling on leaders at COP31 to scale that up and make it more accessible to fragile and conflict-affected countries. This afternoon at 4:00 PM, there will be a memorial service for Ted Turner at the ECOSOC chamber, and the Secretary-General has a video message to mark that occasion. In it, he says that Ted Turner was one-of-a-kind, whose billion dollar pledge to support the United Nations and its work was, at the time, the largest individual charitable gift in modern history. Ted Turner, the Secretary-General will say, showed how investing in the United Nations was an investment in our shared future. Through the United Nations Foundation, Ted Turner helped to expand our reach, mobilize new partnerships, and drive action to advance solutions across the globe. A statement we issued over the weekend expressed the Secretary General's shock and sadness at the mass shooting in Krakow, Poland, on Saturday, which resulted in the death of six people and the injury of many others. He strongly condemns the senseless act of violence and expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Poland. He wishes those injured a full and speedy recovery. Kayoko Goto, director of the Europe and Central Asia division in our Political and Peace Operations Department, briefed the Security Council on Ukraine this morning, and she said that civilian casualties in Ukraine are reaching record highs. This September, she said, at least 328 civilians were killed and 2,105 injured, a figure that is 85% higher than in September last year. As the winter season rapidly approaches, Ms. Goto said, The Russian Federation's intensifying attacks on Ukraine's critical energy facilities are of grave concern. The cumulative impact on civilian lives is becoming increasingly severe. She added that the Secretary General welcomed the recent six-day local ceasefire in the town of Velyshky in Ukraine's Kherson region. This humanitarian ceasefire, the longest since 2022 and fully implemented by the sides, was an encouraging example of what can be achieved with the necessary political will to save lives and provide humanitarian respite. Mohammed Yahya, the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the Council that large-scale attacks have again damaged energy infrastructure, homes, hospitals, schools, and public transport across Ukraine. He added that we are also concerned by recent reports of civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure in the Russian Federation, including in the Belgorod region. Mr. Yaya emphasized that civilians and civilian objects must be protected wherever they are. The essential infrastructure they depend on for survival must also be protected. And today in Ukraine, our OCHA colleagues tell us that search operations continue at an aid distribution site which was struck in an attack in the area of Komishuvka in the Zaporizhzhia region. Authorities say 55 bodies have been recovered and 45 people remain listed as missing following the incident, which took place one week ago. A drone strike yesterday injured two emergency responders at the site. More than 900,000 households and businesses in the Dnipro and Zhytomyr regions temporarily lost power over the weekend. Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy reported new disruptions in 12 regions this morning. Our partners assisted injured people in Dnipro and provided emergency repair materials and blankets in Kremenchuk region. And in the region of Kherson, the World Food Program and a local partner delivered 300 food kits to residents of the Ostriv district. Turning to Yemen, the UN Special Envoy Hans Grunberg met yesterday with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi in Muscat, where they discussed the latest developments in Yemen and the region. Mr. Grunberg expressed his gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for its steadfast and ongoing support over the years for the UN's mediation efforts to reach a political solution to the conflict in Yemen that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people. Turning to the occupied Palestinian territory, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the UN and our partners are supporting families affected by the first heavy rains in Gaza over the weekend. We've received reports of an infant who was drowned in the flooding. and of three children and at least one woman who were killed when a sand dune collapsed onto their tents. Thousands of families have lost their shelter and belongings. We and our partners are pumping out water, improving drainage, reinforcing displacement sites with sandbags, repairing shelters where we can, and getting emergency supplies to affected families. But our teams are working with far too little equipment and too few shelter materials for the scale of the need. Speaking from Ramallah today, Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Al-Akbarov said that while rain is natural, people's vulnerability is human-made. Dr. Al-Akbarov noted that most people are living in worn-out tents that cannot withstand what would be considered a moderate storm elsewhere. He called for the urgent lifting of all unnecessary restrictions and delays, including those preventing humanitarian organizations from bringing into Gaza enough vacuum trucks, mobile dewatering pumps, heavy machinery, engine oil, spare parts, tents, tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, blankets, and winter clothing. And he called for urgent humanitarian funding, without which the humanitarian community will simply not be able to purchase enough supplies. Meanwhile, our colleagues on the ground in Gaza see strikes continue hitting populated areas and causing more casualties. On Saturday, UN personnel visiting a displacement site west of the so-called yellow line in Gaza City had to take cover when bursts of gunfire hit nearby. Thankfully, they were not injured. We call again for the protection of civilians, in line with international humanitarian law. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon reports that Israeli military activity continued across southern Lebanon from Thursday through Sunday, including airstrikes, artillery fire, drone operations, and a significant ground presence. Peacekeepers reported three Israeli airstrikes in their area of operations on Thursday and three more on Sunday. During the same period, 360 artillery trajectories were recorded, impacting areas around Hula, Al-Qantara, Brashit, Mansuri, and Majd al-Zun. UNIFIL also observed engineering works and road construction, apparent preparations for sustained presence, were observed in both sectors of UNIFIL's area of operations. Restrictions on movement also continued. Gates and physical barriers impeded freedom of movement, particularly in sector East. In sector West, Israeli Defense Force soldiers and tanks restricted movements in both directions near Al-Bayda on Friday. On humanitarian access, movements had continued under deconfliction arrangements coordinated through UNIFIL and OCHA. Five movements were deconflicted on Thursday and one on Friday. From Syria, our OCHA colleagues tell us that heavy rains have triggered flash floods in the country's east and west, damaging homes, farmland, and critical infrastructure. This follows floods late last month. Our humanitarian partners are preparing to provide around 70 affected families with food and other essential items, as well as health services and dignity kits. Meanwhile, in northern Latakia, the collapse of a bridge linking the villages of Al-Dura and Al-Sharura has cut off access for 277 families, including people who have returned to their communities. At least 18 homes and commercial premises, as well as agricultural land and other infrastructure, were damaged. The floods come as more than two million people across Syria will need help during the upcoming winter. OCHA underscores the need to provide winter assistance, including winter shelter, improvements to shelters and displacement sites, access to clean water and sanitation, and health services. But funding remains a major challenge. We need $456 million for this year's winter response, but just $178 million has been received. OCHA calls for urgent resources. to help families prepare for the winter, mitigate flood risks, and repair critical infrastructure, especially for people living in displacement sites and in communities repeatedly hit by seasonal disasters. Turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where our Acting Humanitarian Coordinator, Allan Akpagi, warned that warns that renewed violence in Jugu territory in the eastern province of Ituri is endangering civilians and worsening an already severe humanitarian and public health crisis. According to our partners, at least five civilians were injured yesterday in clashes near the Plaine Savo displacement site, which hosts more than 76,000 people. The violence has also forced the suspension of a humanitarian assessment mission there, further limiting access to people who urgently need assistance. It also makes the Ebola outbreak, which continues to spread across eight provinces, even harder to contain. Ituri remains the epicentre, accounting for around 70% of confirmed cases nationwide. In a statement issued today, Mr. Ekpachi condemned the violence against civilians and called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and ensure the safety of humanitarian and health workers. Humanitarian and health workers must be able to reach people safely and without hindrance, both to stop the spread of Ebola and to ensure lifesaving aid reaches civilians fleeing conflicts. Our colleagues at the International Organization for Migration say tens of thousands of people who fled violence in Ethiopia and crossed into northern Kenya are facing acute shortages of food, clean water, and shelter. An estimated 50,000 people have arrived in Kenya's Moyale area following violent clashes in Ethiopia, most of them from the Oromia and Somali regions. A rapid assessment led by the Government of Kenya and the County Government of Marsabit with IOM support found that 71% of households did not have enough to eat, and 80% identified food as their most urgent need. Nearly half reported insufficient access to drinking water. Most displaced families are staying with relatives or host community members, adding to pressure on already limited resources. Others have sought refuge in schools and temporary sites, with some sleeping in the open. We call for urgent funding for food, shelter, water, sanitation, and health care for the displaced and the communities hosting them. And last, the International Week of Science and Peace begins today. Science and peace depend on each other. During this week, we remember that scientific cooperation builds trust across borders, and it takes peace for research to flourish in the first place. That's it for me. Are there any questions? Yes, Sylviane, and then Nidhi.

Thank you, Farhan. The question is on Lebanon. the Israeli army has reported discovering two weapons depots in Mayis al-Jabal, reportedly 100 and 200 meters from a UNIFIL position. Does the UN have any comments? And has UNIFIL been able to independently verify these claims?

Well, first of all, what I can tell you is that the presence of unauthorized weapons and armed personnel south of the Litani River is a flagrant violation of resolution 1701. UNIFIL has discovered hundreds of unauthorized weapons caches and reported these to the Lebanese Armed Forces. At the same time, UNIFIL is not mandated to search private property or forcibly disarm Hezbollah or any other armed group. But yes, we're aware of these latest reports. Where we have access, we try to follow up, and we've consistently reported violations of Resolution 1701 to the Security Council. Edie.

Thank you, Farhan. First, U.S.-led peace talks on the Ukraine-Russia war are taking place. Does the Secretary General have any message for the mediators and the parties.

Well, certainly we hope all efforts at mediation can help provide for progress towards a negotiated resolution to the conflict in line with the UN Charter and with the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly.

And on this basically, mass flight of Ethiopians into northern Kenya. You said that urgent funding is needed. Is there a figure?

I will try to get that from our WFP colleagues. One second. Let me just see whether the WFP press release on this mentions it. One second. Yeah, I don't have a figure from WFP, but we'll check with them on that. Namo, oh, Namo and then Pam.

Thank you so much, Farhan. Tensions are rising in Kurdistan, Iraq. One of the region's two main parties has quit the regional government and threatened to form a rival one in Suleimaniya. The last time these two parties split was in the 1990s. and that resulted in a bloody civil war that lasted more than three years, displacing tens of thousands of people. How concerned is the Secretary General about the prospect of a divided Kurdistan and the broader ramifications for stability in Iraq and the wider region?

Well, our hope is that all the Kurdish parties and the Federal Government of Iraq will continue to pursue dialogue with each other and to resolve their outstanding problems. As you know, when there was a UN Assistance Mission in Iraq, we would help with that dialogue, and we will, of course, continue to be willing, with whatever presence we have on the ground, to assist in that dialogue, but we certainly want the parties to continue with the way that they have been able to use negotiations to deal with their outstanding problems in recent years. Pam.

Thank you, Faran. There’s been a lot of talk this morning at the Security Council about what to do on Ukraine, and a lot of talk about trying to get grain more successfully through the Black Sea. There’s not a lot of talk of renewing the old Black Sea Grain Initiative per se, but if there were, and that seems to be part of what Turkey is trying to do, who would run it since the Secretary General of UNCTAD is on leave and running for Secretary General? Would it be her deputy, Pablo Manuel Moreno, or somebody else? Her leave ends on December 1st. If there's not a Secretary General, do you expect that leave to continue? Thank you.

Well, questions on the administration of UNTAD should be sent over to UNTAD right now. I don't want to speculate on what the future will hold. Regarding the question of a possible Black Sea Grain Initiative, of course, we, as with the previous initiative, remain ready to support the implementation of this once there’s an agreement, but we’re waiting to see what the results of, in particular, of Türkiye’s mediation efforts are. And like I said, the Secretary General will also be meeting with the President of Türkiye tomorrow, and we’ll see whether there can be any further – whether he can learn of any further progress on this.

And that’s there?

He’s in Antalya. Yes, Stefano and then Gabriel.

Thank you, Farhan. Today, the Italian government announced its support for a proposal to establish a new UN pillar on AI governance in Milan. Is the UN aware of this initiative and it's actually considering such proposal? And then I have another question.

Well, we're aware of these reports. We'll have to look further into what this entails. Of course, you're aware of our own efforts to have the governments of the world discuss and propose rules for AI. And so the efforts that we've been proposing, including the work of the Secretary General's high-level panel, continues.

Yeah, my second question is that is the COP31 in Antalya. After the midterm election here, does the Secretary, because, of course, after the US government withdraw from the Paris Agreement, every COP has been in trouble, we could say. So my question here is, does the Secretary General think that after the midterm elections, maybe something will change and Congress will push to have a more positive approach toward the climate problem.

Well, we're not going to speculate on the way this process works within the domestic politics of any individual country. The Secretary-General's point is that all nations need to take this seriously. He's repeatedly said that regarding climate, right now we are at a moment of truth. And he will continue to press the case that they all need to deal much more seriously in terms of making sure that we limit greenhouse gas emissions and limit the amount of time we will be overshooting the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold.

Just a quick follow-up. I understand that the Secretary General can now follow each country, but in this case, we're talking about the United States. So I would say there are only two countries, China and the United States, if they are not to, you know, if they don't cooperate in this, I think, you know, it's different today if Italy or Portugal doesn't collaborate at the moment. So would I just asking, does the Secretary General have since last week, more hope that something will change in this country about climate change.

The Secretary General has pointed to the crucial role that both the United States and China play in terms of dealing with greenhouse gas emissions. Any progress by those two countries in terms of limiting their greenhouse gas emissions will have a huge effect, and he would be in favor of any of that. We'll have to see, of course, how that plays out. Gabriel.

Thank you, Farhan. I have a few questions. My first couple are on a follow-up on Gaza. You mentioned in your remarks about the seasonal rains and that the problems and death that it's causing in Gaza. By our reporting on the ground, at least four children were killed during the recent rains due to insufficient housing. The Board of Peace put out a statement today saying that the efforts by the Israeli government has been, in their words, insufficient in getting proper housing into Gaza. Would the Secretary General agree with that characterization?

Yes, we certainly agree. And I just quoted Ramiz Alakbarov, our senior humanitarian official dealing with the situation in Gaza, who specified the list of different equipment, including everything from tarps and tents over to the sort of machinery that's needed to deal with the heavy rains that we're currently witnessing. This is, again, as he mentioned, what would be regarded as moderate rainstorms elsewhere in the world, but because of the lack of equipment, because of the lack of resources, and housing that can withstand this sort of shock, These are rainstorms that can have a catastrophic effect, including, as you just pointed out, on children.

And just to be clear, Farhan, you say a lack of resources. Just to be clear, does the UN have access to sufficient temporary housing if Israel was to allow it in?

Well, we still need, as Mr. Alakbarov pointed out, sufficient funding to get more aid in. So that is also a lack. But we certainly can be getting more in. We just need the permissions from the Israeli authorities to get them in through the various checkpoints.

Can I ask one more question on a separate subject, Farhan? I know the Secretary General does not comment on the Secretary General's race that is taking place right now. That's very clear. My question is for UN officials that work for him. Would he find it appropriate if a let's say, a personal envoy that works for the Secretary-General commented on the Secretary-General race and endorsed a candidate, would he find that to be appropriate?

I think it's most appropriate for all of us who work at the UN to avoid comment on the race, as I intend to do. And I won't comment on any specific comments by anyone else, just to say that we, as international civil servants, should not engage in that sort of discussion.

Has he told the people that work for him that?

I think he’s made it clear that all of us are supposed to respect that distinction.

Can I do a follow-up on this?

No, hold on. Jordan next.

Same subject. Is the SG, the current SG, ready to extend his appointment for six months in case of the Security Council still unable to appoint a new one?

The Secretary-General has made very clear that as of January, he intends to be back in Portugal. Yes, please.

Thank you, Farhan. My question is about the pandas. So the two giant pandas from China, Pingping and Fu Shuang, made their public debut in Atlanta last week and received a very warm welcome from the local people. At a time of growing global tensions, what does the Secretary-General think about the role of wildlife conservation and the exchanges that this in bringing the countries and the peoples closer together.

Well, we certainly appreciate all goodwill gestures between the United States and China, two countries where it is crucial that the governments can collaborate and work effectively together. And of course, we also welcome all efforts at conservation of wildlife. Yes, Stefano, you still had a question.

Just a follow-up. Okay, the Secretary General cannot comment on specific candidate, but does the Secretary General think that he's the time for a candidate from South America, from Latin America, and a woman to be Secretary General?

The Secretary General is on record saying that it is time to have a woman Secretary General. And of course, Of course, it remains in the hands of the Member States, and questions of regional representation also is in the hands of the Member States. Jordan.

Yes, on MONUSO. I know you issued a statement about the liquidation. Can you tell us how many international and national staff currently working for MONUSO, and how many will be part of the liquidation?

Well, regarding how many staff are currently on the ground, we do have that information available on the website of MINUSO, which is still functioning. So you can get the basic figures off the website. Regarding the liquidation, we've made clear that the former Special Representative, Alexander Ivanko, is going to head the liquidation entity. that's responsible for carrying out all in-country liquidation activities, and that is with the support and guidance of the Department of Operational Support.

Follow up, if you don't mind. It's a legal question. I'm not sure if I read it somewhere, but Is there any way that the SG can invoke Article 99 on the question of Western Sahara or not?

Under the Charter, the Secretary-General can invoke Article 99 on a range of topics. In this case, the topic of Western Sahara is already on the agenda of the Security Council, so they discuss it regularly. All right. Have a good afternoon, everyone.