Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Normandy World Peace Forum
– Iran
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Yemen
– Yemen/Humanitarian
– Sudan
– Chad/Sudan
– UN Humanitarian Flights
– Security Council
– Senior Personnel Appointment
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NORMANDY WORLD PEACE FORUM
Today, the Secretary-General addressed the Normandy World Peace Forum via a video message. He said that at a time when geopolitical upheavals, wars, inequality and the climate crisis are shaking our world to its core, peace can seem more fragile than ever. In this turmoil, he underscored, hope is not a refuge but a duty: the duty to defend international law against the law of power; to protect human rights against abuses; and to uphold human dignity against indifference.
The Secretary-General stressed that peace is not merely the silence of guns. It is built through justice, solidarity, humanitarian access, and trust between peoples. It demands the courage to listen and to compromise.
The Secretary-General noted that Normandy knows the cost of war, and it also knows the power of reconciliation and collective commitment, which raised Europe from the ruins and inspired the world. As we face the challenges of our time, he called on all to draw on that memory to find the courage to act for peace.
IRAN
The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Middle East Conflict and its Consequences, Jean Arnault, is currently visiting Iran. Today, he has held meetings with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as with representatives of the Iranian Red Crescent, and he visited some of the civilian sites damaged in strikes. During these engagements, he heard views on the way forward and reiterated the Secretary-General’s firm commitment to making every possible effort to support a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
Acting on the Secretary-General’s instructions, Mr. Arnault will continue his regional tour with visits to several countries across the Middle East, aimed at supporting ongoing efforts to achieve a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict. Further readouts and information will be provided as the regional visit continues.
LEBANON
The Secretary-General unequivocally condemns the massive strikes by Israel across Lebanon on 8 April that resulted in hundreds of civilians being killed and injured, including children, as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the loss of civilian lives and is deeply alarmed by the mounting toll on civilians. He extends his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Lebanon and wishes a swift and full recovery to the injured.
Our colleagues on the ground tell us that today is a national day of mourning in the country. Flags on Government buildings and UN offices are flying half-mast.
Authorities report that more 200 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured, overwhelming hospitals in the biggest wave of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the beginning of the escalation. Many others are still feared to be trapped under the rubble.
Our colleagues report that strikes have continued overnight and today, with air raids on areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Reports of the destruction of the Qasmiyeh coastal bridge in southern Lebanon have further isolated areas south of the Litani River, restricting people’s movement and humanitarian access for at least 106,000 people.
This afternoon, a displacement order for the southern suburbs of Beirut has been renewed and extended to the area that includes a UN office for UNRWA, two Palestinian refugee camps, 13 shelters for Internally Displaced persons hosting over 6,000 people, offices of several national and international NGOs, and the Rafik Hariri Governmental Hospital, the biggest public hospital in the country. It also covers more than 20 locations used by our humanitarian partners to deliver aid and services to people in need.
With the announcement of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, the ongoing military activity in Lebanon poses a grave risk to the ceasefire and the efforts toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. The Secretary-General reiterates his call to all parties to immediately cease hostilities.
Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-04-09