Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Strait of Hormuz
– Security Council
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Myanmar
– Earth Hour
STRAIT OF HORMUZ
The conflict in the Middle East unfolds and threatens to intensify, disruptions in the maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz risk creating a ripple effect impacting humanitarian needs and agricultural production in the coming months. While the Secretary-General is committed to making every effort to achieve a comprehensive and durable settlement of the conflict, immediate action is essential to mitigate these consequences.
To address these challenges, the Secretary-General has established a dedicated Task Force, led by Under Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva, the Executive Director of UNOPS, the UN Office of Project Services. This Task Force will also include representatives from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Chamber of Commerce.
Additional entities may be invited to participate as needed. The primary focus of this Task Force is to develop and propose technical mechanisms specifically designed to meet humanitarian needs in the Strait of Hormuz.
Drawing inspiration from relevant UN initiatives, including the UN Verification, Inspection and Monitoring Mechanism for Yemen, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and the existing UN2720 Mechanism for Gaza, this new mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz aims to facilitate fertilizer trade, including the movement of related raw materials. The mechanism’s operationalization will be done in close consultation with relevant Member States, with full respect for national sovereignty and established international legal frameworks.
If successful, it would also create confidence among Member States on the diplomatic approach to the conflict and constitute a valuable step towards a wider political settlement.
As part of his broader peacemaking mandate, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Jean Arnault, will lead the political engagement with relevant Member States, supported by members of the Task Force.
SECURITY COUNCIL
The Security Council held this morning held closed consultations concerning the ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran, including educational and health facilities. Our Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Khaled Khiari, briefed, as well as Gemma Connell, on behalf of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
LEBANON
Turning to Lebanon, I want to reiterate our deep concern about the escalating rhetoric, the escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon must be respected. The Lebanese Government’s authority to have the monopoly on the use of force and the use of arms throughout its territory must also be respected.
Hezbollah must stop launching attacks into Israel.
And Israel must stop its military operations and strikes in Lebanon, which are hitting civilians the hardest.
As the Secretary-General has said, the Gaza model must not be replicated in Lebanon.
More than 1 million people are on the move in the country, that is one in five people in the Lebanon.
According to UNICEF, on average, 19,000 children are displaced every single day.
Israeli civilians on the southern side of the Blue Line have also been impacted.
There is simply no military solution to this conflict.
We urge all sides to avail themselves of diplomatic channels available to them and to recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, which is the agreed roadmap toward a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution.
Yesterday, our peacekeepers from UNIFIL reported over two hundred rockets and artillery shells fired from the area of operations towards Israel. The Mission detected 1,325 trajectories from the south to the north of the Blue Line. That is the highest number since 2 March.
Peacekeepers recorded a high volume of artillery exchanges in the area of operations and observed 16 airstrikes, including in Sector East and in Sector West.
Amid the exchanges of fire yesterday, a bullet also shattered a window in the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura.
An artillery shell impacting the vicinity of a UN position Al Qantarah in Sector West also caused damage to buildings on the base. No injuries thankfully were reported.
Once again, we reiterate that all sides must abide by their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and respect for the inviolability of UN personnel and premises.
For their part, our humanitarian colleagues are continuing to scale up assistance in the country, in close coordination with the Government of Lebanon.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-03-27