Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General travel
– Iran
– UNIFIL
– Lebanon/Humanitarian
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Sudan
– Security Council
– Central African Republic
– Andaman Sea
– Wellness Day
IRAN
The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Middle East Conflict and its Consequences, Jean Arnault, is visiting the Sultanate of Oman. He is meeting with senior Omani officials to listen to their unique perspective on the conflict and discuss the potential contribution of the United Nations to its settlement.
Meanwhile, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, yesterday allocated $12 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support the humanitarian response in the country.
The CERF funding will support life-saving activities in health, water, sanitation and hygiene, and food security. Where possible, response activities will be implemented through our local partners, aligned with large-scale efforts led by the Government.
According to authorities, between 28 February and 8 April, large-scale airstrikes across the country caused more than 2,360 civilian deaths, including 257 women and 220 children, and tens of thousands of injuries, severely stretching trauma care, burn management and primary health services.
The strikes also damaged homes, schools, health facilities and other critical infrastructure nationwide, including cutting off people’s access to essential services. Needs are most acute in municipalities that experienced the heaviest bombardment and are also hosting displaced people from nearby areas.
Although the ceasefire has eased insecurity, widespread destruction, rubble and explosive or toxic remnants of war continue to prevent people from accessing basic services and hinder rescue and response efforts. The crisis spans a broad geographic area, with particularly severe consequences in densely populated regions.
UNIFIL
Yesterday’s meeting between Lebanon and Israel, convened by the United States constitutes an important first step to end the hostilities, and towards breaking the recurrent rounds of violence that have caused considerable suffering for too long. The Secretary-General reiterates his call to all parties to immediately cease hostilities. Maintaining dialogue will be essential in resolving outstanding issues and achieving progress towards stability. We remain ready to support these efforts and continue to urge the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.
On the ground, the peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, continues to report ongoing hostilities, including projectiles fired towards Israel and Israel Defense Forces in southern Lebanon, and Israel Defense Forces operations throughout the mission’s area of operations, such as airstrikes, armored movements and other kinetic activities.
Our peacekeeping colleagues continue to report violations. Yesterday afternoon, a routine convoy transporting military and civilian peacekeepers, along with essential contractors, from Beirut to UNIFIL Headquarters was halted by Israel Defense Forces personnel a few kilometres from its destination in Naqoura.
UN-marked vehicles were eventually allowed to proceed; however, local contractors were required to return to Beirut under security arrangements, despite the convoy having been fully deconflicted in advance, including their presence being explicitly cleared.
This is not an isolated incident. Similar restrictions, through physical roadblocks or the reversal of prior clearances, have affected both peacekeepers and the essential personnel who support them. These actions raise serious concerns about the timely delivery of critical supplies, including food, fuel and water, to UNIFIL positions, particularly along the Blue Line.
We reiterate our call on the IDF to respect agreed arrangements and to uphold its obligations to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers, as well as the freedom of movement of all UNIFIL patrols and logistical convoys.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-04-15