Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Sudan/Security Council
Sudan/Humanitarian
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Lebanon/Israel
Yemen
Hurricane Melissa
Viet Nam
Clarification
Financial Contribution
Briefings Today and Tomorrow
SUDAN/SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, Martha Pobee, the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, briefed Security Council members on Sudan. She said that the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra has invited both parties, the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, to separately enter into technical talks with the UN, focused on de-escalation and the protection of civilians. She added that both parties have shown encouraging signs of their willingness to engage. Ms. Pobee urged Member States with leverage over the parties to encourage them to take this critical step and called on the Security Council to use all tools available to demand peace in Sudan.
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, also briefed the Council, describing the horrific humanitarian situation in El Fasher. He said that the Sudan crisis is fundamentally a failure of protection, and of our responsibility to uphold international law. The violence extends beyond Darfur as well. Mr. Fletcher noted that across Sudan, and despite the massive threats, cuts, and constraints to our work, the humanitarian community has reached 13.5 million people between January and August.
The Security Council also issued a press statement expressing grave concern about the violence in and around El Fasher.
SUDAN/HUMANITARIAN
Staying in Sudan. A joint UN convoy from the UN Refugee Agency, the UN Children’s Fund and the World Food Programme has reached the towns of Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan, delivering urgently needed food, health, and relief supplies to families cut off for months by siege and conflict.
This marks the first major joint UN convoy to the area since the conflict began.
Despite the long and fraught journey, and the looting of some aid en route, the mission represents a vital breakthrough toward establishing sustained humanitarian access. We, once again, underscore the urgent need for safe passage, protection of aid workers, and continued cooperation to deliver life-saving assistance to all hard-to-reach areas in Sudan.
We and our partners are scaling up response efforts also in Tawila. Mobile health clinics there are providing urgent medical and nutrition services for people who have newly arrived there.
The UN and our partners are also sustaining water, sanitation and hygiene operations across Tawila, Melit and surrounding areas, trucking safe water, installing latrines, distributing hygiene kits and conducting cholera prevention campaigns.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Later this afternoon, the Secretary-General will address the Conference in support of peace and prosperity in the Great Lakes region via pre-recorded video message.
He will tell participants that this conference must be a turning point and will urge donors to support the Humanitarian Response Plan in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which remains underfunded.
He will also call on parties to honour their commitments under the Washington Peace Agreement and Doha Declaration of Principles, and to comply fully with Security Council resolution 2773.
The Secretary-General will also reiterate our support for peace efforts, including through MONUSCO’s support for the implementation of a permanent ceasefire.
And in a statement, our colleagues at UNICEF also reminded participants of the conference that more than 12 million children across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Burundi depend on humanitarian aid simply to survive.
Full Highlights
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-10-30