Daily Press Briefing by the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General

All right. Good afternoon, everyone. This morning in Antalya, the Secretary-General spoke at the opening session of the COP31 Leaders' Summit in Türkiye and stressed that our first climate duty is to tell the truth, and that the brutal truth is that the climate crisis is outrunning us. The Secretary-General said that emissions in 2025 reached all-time highs. Heat records kept shattering. The last four years were the hottest ever, and fossil fuel interests keep making a killing while killing our planet. He said that fossil fuels must go the way of the dinosaurs, but that won't happen on its own. Mr. Guterres said that the dinosaurs did not have a lobby, but fossil fuels do, and their strategy is simple: distort the science, Delay the policy, delay the action, delay the accountability. He stressed that it's time to kick the habit and end the fossil fuel addiction. Also today, the Secretary General spoke at the High-Level Dialogue, Clean Energy Transition and Electrification, 35x35: Powering the Future. He welcomed the ambition of the 35x35 Global Electrification Pledge and emphasized that we now must make it real and make it clean. He also addressed the Leaders' Roundtable: Zero Waste, Circular Economy and Methane, pointing out that zero waste starts with a stark understanding that our world is drowning in trash. He highlighted that the era of pledges is over and that the world needs action. And at a high-level event on Early Warnings for All: Delivering on our promise to protect everyone, the Secretary-General pointed out that extreme heat, floods, storms, and droughts are claiming lives, destroying livelihoods and wiping out development gains. He stressed that we must urgently cut emissions to limit how high those temperatures climb, but we must also protect people from the climate impacts already upon us. In the afternoon, the Secretary General had a bilateral meeting with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. They discussed the continued partnership between the United Nations and the European Union in all pillars of the UN activities, and also discussed COP31, the Middle East, and Ukraine. Moin Shaim, the UN official leading regional outreach efforts concerning the arbitrary detention of UN personnel, visited Muscat from 8 to 10 November, where he met with several senior Omani officials and Mohammed Abdulsalam, head of Ansar Allah’s negotiating delegation in Oman. The visit forms part of the United Nations' ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of its personnel who've been arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities. In light of the death in detention of UN staff member Mohammed al-Shami, Mr. Schrems stressed the need for an independent, transparent, and thorough investigation. He also highlighted the need for all detained personnel to be allowed to contact their families as soon as possible and maintain regular communication with them. He emphasized the importance of providing reliable information about their safety and health, particularly for those with serious medical conditions, ensuring access to necessary medical care, including specialized treatment, and securing the urgent release of detainees whose medical conditions require immediate attention. Mr. Schreim reaffirmed that the United Nations will continue its diplomatic engagement with relevant stakeholders until all its arbitrarily detained personnel are released. Tom Fletcher, the emergency relief coordinator, said that for months, we have sounded the alarm on essential winter supplies for Gaza, including throughout the UN General Assembly. But we are now seeing the consequences of delays, blockages, and funding cuts. Lives lost, a population once again at great risk. What makes this even more infuriating, he said, is that they are at this needless risk from weather that is not a threat where decent shelter exists. and would not be such a threat had we been able to supply decent tents and had Palestinians been allowed to access open areas that are less prone to flooding. He called for no more delay and for all the crossings to be opened, not just one. Mr. Fletcher said, "Allow the commercial markets to function. Stop this collective punishment. Fund the plan. End this predictable, preventable suffering. The world is not powerless here." Meanwhile, our partners from UNICEF say that the flooding over the weekend is compounding a sanitation crisis created by the war. No wastewater treatment plant in Gaza is currently operational. In Gaza City, rainwater mixed with sewage is threatening to overflow from the Sheikh Radwan stormwater basin, where only two of six pumps still work. UNICEF has been seeking approval from Israeli authorities for more than a year to bring in the equipment needed to repair the facility. Over 150,000 tents purchased by humanitarian partners and member states are outside Gaza, ready to be dispatched. This includes about 117,000 tents from the Egyptian Relief Committee alone in El Arish. Humanitarian funding and Israeli approvals are urgently needed so that enough supplies and machinery can be brought into Gaza, including vacuum trucks, mobile dewatering pumps, engine oil, hoses, and heavy machinery. More than 1 million people in Lebanon are already facing crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity, requiring urgent action, with the number projected to rise to 1.15 million by mid-2027 amid continued insecurity, economic pressures, and weakened livelihoods. That's according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis conducted by Lebanon's Ministry of Agriculture with support from the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization. The analysis projects that 1.05 million people, or 21 percent of the population analyzed, will face crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity between September 2026 and February 2027, including 52,000 people facing emergency conditions. By mid-2027, the number facing crisis or worse levels is expected to rise to 1.15 million people, or 24 percent, while 97,000 people are projected to face emergency conditions, almost double the current figure. Conditions remain most concerning in conflict-affected districts in southern Lebanon and vulnerable areas, including Aqar and Baalbek-Hermel. Damage to farmland and productive assets, restricted access to agricultural land, disrupted farming, and high production costs continue to weaken agricultural livelihoods, rural incomes, and families’ access to food. And a quick note from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. The peacekeepers say that yesterday, a routine UNIFIL patrol near Wadi Jilu in Sector West came under fire from approximately a dozen small arms rounds. After identifying a muzzle flash, the patrol returned fire. The shooter stopped firing. No peacekeepers were injured. We reiterate the obligation under international law for all actors to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times. Deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are violations of Security Council Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law. Our Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, wrapped up his three-day visit to Mali today. Earlier today in Timbuktu, Mr. Fletcher met with the Governor of the region, Bakoun Kante, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and expand humanitarian support. He also visited the Bella Farandi Health Center, which provides treatment for acute malnutrition and care for families displaced by insecurity. And he visited a center for women and girls in Timbuktu that provides support to women and girls affected by displacement and violence. And yesterday, in Gao, in the north of the country, Mr. Fletcher announced an $8 million allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund for anticipatory action to help communities get ahead of the drought. Mr. Fletcher praised the resilience of communities in Mali and the work of local leaders and humanitarian partners. But with the humanitarian response plan less than one-third funded, he stressed the urgent need for greater international support. From Sudan, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that drone strikes continue to kill and injure civilians as humanitarian needs grow across the country. In Blue Nile state, local sources report that drone strikes hit a residential area yesterday near the village of Keli in Al-Karmuk locality, resulting in nine civilian casualties. Also in Blue Nile, authorities say more than 3,000 families have fled Ad-Damazin and surrounding areas in recent days due to insecurity. Most have sought refuge in neighboring Sennar state, placing further strain on already stretched services. and they urgently need safe water, health care, and sanitation. In North Darfur State, at least two people were reportedly killed and several others injured when a drone strike hit a market west of the town of Kabkabiya last Saturday, according to local sources. We reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law. Funding shortages continue to hinder the humanitarian response. In South Darfur, Health authorities warned that some 40,000 children could miss out on routine vaccinations this year. With less than two months left in the year, Sudan’s nearly $2.9 billion humanitarian response plan is just over half funded at $1.45 billion. Millions of people across Sudan depend on that assistance as needs continue to grow. And in Somalia, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is sounding the alarm over a surge in disease outbreaks, Following recent floods in Mudug region, where suspected cholera and acute watery diarrhea cases are rising rapidly. Health authorities have confirmed five cholera cases, including one death, in eastern Galkacyo. Since the start of the year, more than 5,800 acute watery diarrhea cases have been reported across the region, including more than 1,900 in the last two months. Authorities attribute the outbreak primarily to contaminated water sources and overflowing latrines following the floods. Further south, in Hirsabelle State, health authorities reported more than 1,800 suspected measles cases and 102 suspected diphtheria cases since January. Our partners say low immunization coverage, limited access to health services, and seasonal rains could fuel the spread. The World Health Organization and our partners are deploying mobile medical teams and emergency supplies, strengthening disease surveillance, and expanding water testing and hygiene campaigns. But health facilities are struggling to cope with overcrowding and shortages of essential supplies. More funding is urgently needed. Less than 40% of the $852 million needed for this year's humanitarian response plan has been received, with less than a third of health funding requirements met. Turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that escalating violence in the eastern province of South Kivu, particularly in the territories of Kabare and Kalehe, has forced more than 320,000 people from their homes in the past week, according to local sources. Fighting continued today in parts of Kalehe territory, raising fears that more families could be forced to flee. OCHA says many families have already been displaced multiple times as front lines shift. Some are sheltering in schools and other public buildings, while others have fled to forests where conditions are particularly difficult during the rainy season. Insecurity is also preventing humanitarian organizations from reaching people in need. We and our partners are preparing to carry out rapid needs assessment and stand ready to deliver assistance as soon as security conditions permit. Initial reports indicate urgent needs for shelter, food, health care, clean water, sanitation, and protection. We reiterate our call on all parties to protect civilians, respect international humanitarian law, and ensure safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access. This morning, the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, supported by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, along with colleagues from the Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN Women, as well as the African Union, the European Union, and others, convened an AI-enabled digital dialogue on inclusive peacebuilding for Eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region. This was a live, anonymous digital dialogue developed by DPPA. that brought together more than 200 women, youth, civil society representatives, faith leaders, refugees, and other conflict-affected communities from the Great Lakes region. During the session, participants were able to share their perspectives on reconciliation, humanitarian needs, human rights, inclusion, natural resources, and regional cooperation. The outcomes are expected to support more inclusive, gender-responsive, and community-informed approaches to peacebuilding, mediation, ceasefire monitoring, and peace agreement implementation for the Great Lakes. Turning to Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that we and our humanitarian partners are scaling up assistance following the recent flooding in the south and west of the country. Nearly 60,000 people have been affected, and more than 13,000 homes have been flooded, according to authorities. Despite access challenges, we and our humanitarian partners, in collaboration with the Haitian government, have distributed food to nearly 9,000 households in the South and Grande-Anse Department, as well as hundreds of hygiene kits. More aid is on the way. Our partners plan to reach 14,000 more households in the departments of South, Nippes, and Grande-Anse with food assistance or cash in the coming weeks. On a different note, our colleagues at our integrated office in Haiti, BINU, report that at least 1,167 people were killed and another 459 injured between July and September as serious human rights violations and abuse continued in Port-au-Prince and other parts of the country. Gang members were responsible for more than 45% of those killed or injured, according to BNU’s report. BNU also documented a sharp increase in kidnappings and hundreds of cases of sexual violence perpetrated by gang members. as well as the continued recruitment and exploitation of children. Banu reiterates that efforts to combat gangs must respect international human rights law, and calls for stronger protection and assistance for people affected by violence, accountability for abuses, and continued international support for Haiti. And we have some money, which means a quiz for you today. This country's national dish is Kibbeh. a savory mixture of finely minced lamb or beef, bulgur wheat, onions, and spices.

Lebanon?

Of course, you got it right, Lebanon. We say thank you to our friends in Beirut for their full payment to the regular budget. Lebanon's payment brings the number of fully paid-up member states to 150. You get the first question.

I can yield to Edie, if I may.

All right, Edie, he yields to you.

Thank you, Farhon. A couple of follow-ups. First is the Secretary General staying at COP in Turkey, or is he having some other travels?

He has some other travels. I assume you know that there will be a summit coming up of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations, and he does intend to go for that, but we'll have a more full announcement later this week.

Okay. And secondly, Tom Fletcher is just wrapping up a trip to Mali. Did I miss where you said his statement about Gaza came from?

Well, that was issued by him in writing. So he didn’t travel to the occupied Palestinian territory, but he issued that while he was in Mali.

Last question. We’ve seen a spate of airline hoaxes in Europe, and now there have apparently been suspected bomb hoaxes at schools in Italy, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Does the Secretary General have any comment on that?

One thing to point out is that acts of terrorism can include acts that are designed simply to provoke terror, and so all such acts need to be avoided, and we expect the authorities to investigate fully all of these, but we stand against this. Regarding the threats to air travel, you will have seen what the International Civil Aviation Organization said about that. But certainly, whether these are hoaxes or not, these threats have real impact in terms of preventing people from going about their daily lives, and they must be stopped. Yes, please.

Thank you very much. The Islamic Republic of Iran has written a letter to the Secretary General asking him to condemn a U.S. reward offer for information about its nuclear program. Has the Secretary General received this letter? Has he read it? And does he intend to respond? And if you have any reaction from him, please.

I’ll check whether the letter has been received. But certainly this is an issue, as you know, on which the Secretary General, and of course, the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency have been seized, so we continue to deal with that issue.

I’m sorry, are you aware that the letter has been given to the Secretary General?

I’ll check whether the letter has been received. Gabriel.

Thank you, Farhan. In your remarks, you mentioned that there are over 150,000 tents purchased by humanitarian partners that are outside Gaza, waiting to get in. What is needed for them to get in?

Ultimately, we need the Israeli authorities to cooperate with giving the permissions so that we can bring those tents in. Some of the problems have to do with money for transport, but in this case, this is an issue of the needed permissions, and we need to get this in.

So if you got the permissions, How quickly could you get those tents into people that need them in Gaza?

It depends on how quickly we can, how much access we have to the crossing points, how quickly the procedure is for us to get it across the crossing point and into Gaza. But obviously, they're just on the other side, and we're ready to bring them in as soon as we get the permissions.

And last question, does the Secretary General think there is any justification for those tents not being allowed into Gaza right now?

At a time when people are being flooded out of their homes, at a time when, as we've reported to you, people, including children, have been drowned because of these floodwaters, there should be no delays in bringing these needed resources in. As Mr. Fletcher made clear, this is the sort of rainfall that in most societies we would have the facilities so that you could deal with them without any catastrophic effect. That has to happen here as well. Yes, please.

Thank you, Farhan. So the latest round of the talks between Russia and Ukraine has just ended. How does the Secretary General view the outcome of these talks? And does he see any real progress toward ending the war?

Well, we were not present at these talks, so we’ll have to monitor what the results of it have been. But certainly, we encourage all efforts that can help resolve the crisis between Ukraine and the Russian Federation in line with the UN Charter and in line with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. Georgia, you have a question online?

Yes, thank you, Farhan. The Turkish President Erdogan left the reception area shortly before the President of Cyprus arrived, leaving the Secretary General to welcome him alone. So, was the Secretary General informed in advance? And what was his reaction? Do you have any comment on the incident? Is the Secretary General upset?

I don't have any comment on the incident. I'm not aware of the relevant protocol. You'd have to ask the host country for how the arrangements were developed.

Thank you.

All right, have a good afternoon, everyone.