Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Middle East
Iran
Lebanon/Israel
Lebanon/Humanitarian
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Iraq
Deputy Secretary-General/Nigeria
Sudan/Berlin Conference
Security Council
Haiti
Senior Personnel Appointment/UNMISS
Cyprus
Central African Republic
Ukraine/Children and Armed Conflict
Afghanistan
Football for the Goals
Guests Today and Tomorrow
MIDDLE EAST
After weeks of destruction and distress, it is clear that there is no military solution to the current conflict in the Middle East.
While no agreement was reached at the talks hosted by Pakistan between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran in Islamabad, the discussions themselves underscored the seriousness of their engagement and constituted a positive and meaningful step toward renewed dialogue.
Given the deeply rooted differences, an agreement cannot be reached overnight, and the Secretary-General calls on the talks to continue constructively for an agreement to be reached.
At the same time, the ceasefire must absolutely be preserved. All violations must cease.
He thanks the continued efforts of the mediators – Pakistan, which hosted these talks, as well as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Türkiye – and calls for the international community to support those efforts.
The Secretary-General stresses that all parties to this conflict must respect freedom of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz, in line with international law.
We need to remember that some 20,000 seafarers have been caught up in this conflict and are currently stranded on ships and facing increasing hardships daily.
Disruptions in the maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz have already had direct effect well beyond the immediate region, with increased global economic fragility and insecurity in many sectors.
The disruption of fertilizer and related raw material is already having a very negative impact on agriculture, worsening the perspectives of food insecurity. With that in mind, the Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva, working with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Chamber of Commerce, continues engaging extensively with relevant parties to design and operationalize the mechanism we announced for the Strait of Hormuz on 27 March.
For his part, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Jean Arnault, remains actively engaged in the region, consulting closely with key stakeholders and continuing his outreach in support of a comprehensive and durable agreement.
IRAN
On Iran, OCHA says that the UN and its partners continue to support the Government-led humanitarian response humanitarian in the face of sharply rising needs.
UNICEF has been working with its partners to support children and families, including by increasing psychosocial support.
As needs grow, UNICEF is also helping to restore access to essential health services. In coordination with the Ministry of Health, two mobile health units, eight primary healthcare tents, and more than 80 emergency primary healthcare kits have been deployed. Tents and emergency kits are also being delivered, helping reach more than 225,000 people.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has supported 33,500 refugees with food and cash assistance.
Over the weekend, the principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, which brings together UN agencies and our NGO partners, expressed their alarm by the sustained violations of the rules of war and international humanitarian law. In a statement, they noted that thousands of civilians have been killed, with many more displaced. Health workers and facilities have been targeted, while global supply chains are also impacted, driving up food and fuel prices. The principals spoke out against all attacks on civilians. “Even wars have rules,” they said, “and these rules must be respected.”
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-04-13