Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
Secretary-General Travel
United States
Deputy Secretary-General
Security Council
Protection of Civilians
Iran
UNIFIL
Lebanon
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Ebola
Sudan
Ukraine
Haiti
Guest tomorrow

SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVEL

The Secretary-General is on a plane, heading back to New York, and should be landing in a few hours. He concluded today his chairing of the biannual Chief Executives Board (CEB) meeting. 

At the meeting of UN leaders in Japan, the heads of the UN system committed to building a stronger, more effective and more impactful United Nations in the face of greater challenges and fewer resources.

While in Tokyo, the Secretary-General also had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.

I do need to apologize, because we issued a readout of that meeting that should not have been issued, and we withdrew it from our platforms. And we do apologize for having done so.

The Secretary-General also held a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Motegi Toshimitsu. Discussions focused on the UN–Japan partnership, with the Secretary-General underscoring that the organization has benefited enormously from Japan’s generosity and commitment to the multilateral system.

At a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Mr. Guterres said that he is determined to further strengthen that partnership for the future, noting that the true hallmark of a partnership is revealed in times of crisis.

In that context, he underscored the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in addressing today’s global challenges. The Secretary-General said that the world today is being rocked by conflicts, by climate chaos and by inequality. Inflation is rising and the cost-of-living crisis is deepening, made worse by the conflict in the Middle East, which is sending prices for energy and raw materials skyrocketing.

Stressing that it is essential to immediately reestablish freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz, end all ceasefire violations, and create the conditions for a political solution to the conflict.

UNITED STATES

In response to questions, the Spokesman confirmed the Secretary-General received on Tuesday a call from Marco Rubio, Secretary of State of the United States.

During the call, they discussed the situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The Secretary-General reaffirmed his call to reestablish full freedom of navigation in the Strait, as well as the importance of efforts to help address global humanitarian needs, including emerging challenges such as the outbreak of Ebola in the DRC and other areas. 

They also discussed the important work of the World Food Programme, and the Secretary-General explained the process of selection for the next Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is on her way to Baku, in Azerbaijan, to attend the 13th session of the World Urban Forum.

During her visit, Ms. Mohammed will deliver remarks at the closing ceremony of the Forum and engage with governments and stakeholders to advance sustainable urban development and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. In addition, the Deputy Secretary-General will meet with senior government officials in Azerbaijan to discuss the country’s partnership with the UN, especially on urban development, climate, and the environment.

On Friday, on her way back to New York, the Deputy Secretary-General will stop briefly in the United Arab Emirates. She will meet with senior government officials to discuss the socio-economic impacts of the conflict in the Middle East, as well as the preparations towards the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which is scheduled later this year.

The Deputy Secretary-General will be back in New York on Monday.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-lHGV-k-hM

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Comments to the media by Walid Obeidat, Permanent Representative of Jordan to United Nations, along the six founding states of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law: Jordan, Brazil, China, France, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, joined by other states that have officially joined the Global IHL Initiative as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (total of 83 Member States), prior to the annual open debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in the Security Council.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0VWG05eVpg

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Speaking to reporters, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared that the deadly Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the situation was ‘not a pandemic emergency’. He added that ‘the Emergency Committee which met yesterday agreed that the situation is a public health emergency of international concern, but is not a pandemic emergency.’

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Lazsj4doRZE

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Briefing by Edem Wosornu, Director, Crisis Response Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.

Wosornu said, “Humanitarian workers in Ukraine came under repeated attack last week. As mentioned by my DPPA colleague, two separate convoys, clearly marked as being part of the United Nations, were hit while carrying life-saving assistance to civilians in need. Both missions had been notified well in advance through established channels.”

She stressed, “These attacks are intensifying, making the delivery of humanitarian assistance increasingly difficult, if not impossible in some areas. Humanitarian workers in Ukraine are taking immense risks to save lives. However, the weapons being deployed – cheap and deadly – are rapidly changing what it means to deliver life-saving assistance. Humanitarian workers and assets must be respected. This entails taking active steps to spare them.”

She said, “I remain deeply concerned about the situation for civilians in and around front-line communities. Whatever side of the line they may be, every day is a matter of life and death. Over a single weekend this month, 930 civilians – including more than 180 children – were evacuated from front-line areas in Donetsk with humanitarian support.”

She concluded, “Civilians across Ukraine cannot wait for a political breakthrough to be protected and have their basic needs met. Protection, humanitarian access and funding remain essential while efforts toward a just and lasting peace continue.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXjg3UQS78c