Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General/Travel
– Hantavirus
– UNIFIL
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Haiti
– Ukraine
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SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVEL
Today in Nairobi, the Secretary-General, along with President William Ruto of Kenya, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and UNON Director-General Zainab Bangura, participated in the ground-breaking ceremony for a new conference hall and the inauguration of a new office complex on the grounds of the UN Offices in Nairobi (UNON).
In his remarks, the Secretary-General said that this was a reaffirmation of the central role that Africa – and Kenya – play in the life and future of the United Nations. The UN presence in Nairobi is “where the future of multilateralism is being shaped – every day,” Mr. Guterres said.
The new offices buildings are the UN Nigeria office’s first net-zero building – featuring year-round, on-site solar power. The expanded conference facilities will add further solar installations, bringing the complex to energy neutrality by 2030.
In a press conference after the groundbreaking at UNON, the Secretary-General said that the United Nations must be closer to the people it serves – connected to their realities and equipped to support the solutions they are building.
He added that, too often, “African countries are expected to live with decisions made in institutions where they do not have equal voice.” This is why reform of the Security Council cannot wait, along with reform of the international financial institutions, where Africa is clearly under-represented.
HANTAVIRUS
This morning, the World Health Organization said that there are nine cases of hantavirus infection, seven of which are confirmed, including the latest case reported by France. Three deaths have also been reported among the cases.
WHO announced that the last remaining passengers on the hantavirus-hit cruise ship will have disembarked the MV Hondius by the end of today. Passengers are departing the Canary Islands by specially arranged flights.
WHO said that more than 30 crew members will remain on the ship and will sail it onward to Rotterdam, a journey expected to take several days.
Over the weekend, the Secretary-General expressed his support for the government of Spain and others as they manage the hantavirus in close coordination with WHO.
While the current public health risk from the virus remains low, the Secretary-General stressed that it’s important that international health efforts ensure the safety of all, including passengers and crew of the MV Hondius.
Today, WHO had a team of eight staff in Tenerife in the Canary Islands coordinating with the Spanish authorities and other partners on site.
UNIFIL
A quick update from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Between Friday and today, UNIFIL has continued to record extensive military activity across its area of operations. During this period, peacekeepers observed more than 1,296 trajectories of projectiles attributed to the Israel Defense Forces, and 64 trajectories of projectiles attributed to Hizbullah.
Incidents involving the denial of freedom of movement to UNIFIL peacekeepers continue to occur daily. On Saturday, an IDF tank blocked a UNIFIL movement near Al Qawzah in Sector West and an IDF bulldozer restricted peacekeepers’ movement near Al Bayada also in Sector West, forcing the UNIFIL personnel to turn back in both instances. We reiterate the responsibility of all actors to ensure UNIFIL has unrestricted freedom of movement in the discharge of its mandated functions.
LEBANON
From Lebanon, OCHA reports that the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate despite the ceasefire that was announced on April 17th..
More than 100 strikes were reported in the past 24 hours alone, while 87 people were killed over the weekend. Today, the Ministry of Public Health reported that two paramedics affiliated with the Islamic Health Committee were killed, and several others were wounded, in airstrikes targeting health‑related sites in the towns of Qalaway and Tibnin in southern Lebanon. The paramedics were responding to earlier incidents when they were killed.
Since the start of the escalation on March 2nd, the World Health Organization has recorded 158 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 108 deaths and 249 injuries.
Attacks on humanitarian and medical personnel are unacceptable and further undermine an overstretched health system and access to emergency care for civilians.
Full Highlight: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-11