Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United Nations (video statements)

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

Highlights:

– Secretary-General/Haiti
– UN Interim Force in Lebanon
– Lebanon/Humanitarian
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Democratic Republic of the Congo/Ebola
– Democratic Republic of the Congo/UN Mission
– Yemen/Security Council
– Secretary-General/Austria World Summit
– Climate/Children
– State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture
– Anti-Personnel Mines
– Family Remittances
– Guests Tomorrow

SECRETARY-GENERAL/HAITI

The Secretary-General arrived in Haiti earlier today. He was greeted at the airport in Port-au-Prince by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

He then went on to visit Camp Vertières, a site hosting the Gang Suppression Force. He began the visit by a tour and a briefing by our colleagues at the UN Support Office for Haiti explaining the operational and logistical support they provide to the Force, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2793.

While there, the Secretary-General was also briefed by the Force Commander of the Gang Suppression Force.

Before the day is over, the Secretary-General will have met with the Prime Minister. He will also be meeting with Haitians impacted by the violence in the country. And of course, he will stop and meet with representatives of civil society, as well as our UN colleagues on the ground.

At about 3:40 p.m., the Secretary-General is expected to speak to the press. He will then had back to Santo Domingo, and before flying back to New York tomorrow, he will have a meeting with the President of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo and will also meet with the UN country team.

On his arrival yesterday in Santo Domingo, the Secretary-General thanked the Dominican Government for the support they have been providing to the UN’s work in Haiti.

UN INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon peacekeepers are continuing to observe violence and exchanges of fire within their area of operations, though at a significantly reduced level compared to the weekend.

The mission recorded 38 violations of Lebanese airspace by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) yesterday, down from 83 reported on Sunday.

The number of trajectories of projectiles also dropped markedly, with 174 recorded all day yesterday, compared to 705 on Sunday. Of yesterday’s total, 169 were attributed to the IDF, and five to Hizbullah.

From midnight until 4:00 p.m. local time today, peacekeepers reported 22 airspace violations by the IDF and about 106 trajectories of projectiles, of which 103 were attributed to the IDF. And the remainder to non-State actors, presumably Hizbullah.

UNIFIL continues to monitor IDF ground activities across its area of operations, including armored movements, and logistical and engineering activities as well.

On the humanitarian front, through the Liaison Branch and in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affair (OCHA), UNIFIL facilitated one humanitarian mission yesterday to Tyre and surrounding areas.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-06-16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYQ-eT-O5qc

Source: United Nations (video statements)

“Yemen’s conflict is unresolved, not over,” UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg told the Security Council.

Briefing the Security Council Grundberg warned that despite a relative calm holding since a 2022 truce, the country remains mired in an intractable crisis with deepening economic and humanitarian pressures.

Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen also said the recent regional conflict had increased strain on the Yemeni economy through the country’s import dependence and geopolitical proximity, driving up the cost of food and fuel and amplifying inflationary pressures. “In recent weeks, there have been protests in Aden and other governorates over electricity shortages amid the summer heat,” he said.

On a rare diplomatic breakthrough, Grundberg said the parties had agreed last month to release over 1,600 conflict-related detainees following 14 weeks of UN-facilitated negotiations in Amman — the largest such release operation in the history of the conflict. “Trust was low; negotiations stalled multiple times. It required courage and compromise,” he said, urging swift implementation with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

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

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Visiting Haiti, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on the international community to stand with the country’s people.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cTiruuMJE94

Source: United Nations (video statements)

This year marks the 12th International Day of Yoga with the theme “ Yoga for Healthy Ageing”, which emphasizes the importance of Yoga for all ages. Yoga can be a valuable practice for healthy aging because it supports many of the abilities that help people stay active, independent, and engaged as they grow older. By combining gentle movement, stretching, breathing exercises, and mindfulness, yoga can help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and mobility, while also supporting mental well-being and stress management. Because yoga can be adapted to different fitness levels and health conditions, it offers an accessible way for many older adults to maintain their physical and emotional health. These benefits support several goals of the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), including promoting independence, reducing fall risk, enhancing quality of life, and encouraging person-centered approaches to health and well-being.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxBKrGPA7KQ