Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United Nations (video statements)

A permanent memorial at UN Headquarters in New York honours more than one million lives lost in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Vilified.
Hunted.
Murdered.
We remember — because remembrance keeps hope alive.
Kwibuka. Remember. Unite. Renew.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6I5XgNf2kwg

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Press conference by Francisco Pichon, Resident Coordinator in Cuba, on Cuba’s Grid Collapse and Launch of the Action Plan.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cuba, Francisco Pichon told journalists in New York that the country “has gone for more than three months without sufficient fuel” and the humanitarian consequences “continue to deepen every day.”

Briefing remotely from Havana, Pichon noted that ten days ago, the UN system together with the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and in close dialogue with national authorities, launched “a restructured action plan in response to the ongoing energy contingency and the remaining impacts of Hurricane Melissa.”

He said the energy crisis “is having rather systemic and multiplying humanitarian impact, affecting all aspects of daily life in Cuba, health, water and sanitation, food systems, education, transportation, telecommunications.”

Pichon said, “the energy crisis is having rather systemic and multiplying humanitarian impact, affecting all aspects of daily life in Cuba,” including health, water and sanitation, food systems, education, transportation, and telecommunications.

The UN, he said, “is actively working with partners and member states to identify solutions” to guarantee the viability of its operations,” as well as “exploring with other actors who can contribute logistical solutions, including fuel. And we are doing this with the private sector in Cuba.”

The humanitarian official said the action plan “is designed to complement the national response” and is focused “on traceable and equitable use of limited fuel resources, which we adapt to the specificities of each focused sector,” including logistic, health, water and sanitation, food security, shelter, and protection of vulnerable, populations and education.

Pichon said there are “ongoing dialogues” between the OCHA and the US, “with support of some member states to try to secure concordance to be able to bring fuel to Cuba to support our humanitarian response and ensure that we can safeguard essential services.”

On January 29, 2026, the United States Government issued an Executive Order further restricting the supply of oil or fuel from third countries to Cuba.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p4JtwoKDqM

Source: United Nations (video statements)

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

Highlights:
Sudan
Sudan/Humanitarian
Lebanon/Humanitarian
Lebanon/Israel
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Ukraine
BBNJ
Sport for Development and Peace
Financial Contribution

SUDAN

The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, is continuing his engagements in the region. He is currently in Nairobi, where he met today with the head of the Rapid Support Forces Commander, General Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti. This follows his recent meeting with General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of the Republic of Sudan, and also meeting with the authorities in Khartoum as part of his continuing inaugural discussions.

The meetings afforded a constructive opportunity to exchange views and explore practical avenues for de-escalation and the protection of civilians.

All stakeholders engaged by Mr. Haavisto throughout these visits have expressed their readiness to cooperate with the United Nations and the Personal Envoy.

This is encouraging and must swiftly translate into concrete progress towards ending the suffering of all Sudanese, once and for all.

And just to flag that over the weekend, Mr. Haavisto was in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, where he met with Egyptian officials there, as well as representatives of the League of Arab States and members of the Sudanese diaspora in Cairo.

SUDAN/HUMANITARIAN

On the humanitarian front, UN teams on the ground are scaling up their presence in Khartoum, to expand humanitarian operations. Our Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Denise Brown, is returning to Khartoum with a core team from our humanitarian unit. Most of the OCHA team is remaining in Port Sudan for now, but a number of other agencies have opened up offices in Khartoum over previous months. These offices were closed since the start of the war, as you well know. The arrival of Ms. Brown and her team signals a renewed commitment to expanding humanitarian operations in the capital and beyond, at a time when needs are skyrocketing. More than 1.6 million Sudanese people have also returned to Khartoum in recent months, even as explosive remnants of war and damaged infrastructure continue to pose serious risks.

As the three-year mark of hostilities in Sudan approaches, we reiterate our call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, an immediate cessation of hostilities, and rapid, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access.

Once again, our humanitarian colleagues are sounding the alarm that drone attacks continue to endanger civilians and deepen humanitarian needs throughout Sudan. In White Nile State, an attack on Al Jabalayn Teaching Hospital last Thursday reportedly killed 10 health workers and injured 22 others, obviously severely disrupting all services at the teaching hospital. We reiterate that medical personnel and facilities must be protected, as international humanitarian law requires.

Since the conflict began nearly three years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) has verified more than 200 such attacks, with over 2,000 people killed. In the first quarter of this year alone, 13 attacks against health targets have been verified, killing 184 people and injuring nearly 300 others.

We need adequate funding to deliver humanitarian assistance in Sudan. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which requires $2.9 billion to reach more than 20 million people across the country, is only 16 per cent funded, with just $465 million in the bank.

Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-04-06

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uho3vjnMQDc

Source: United Nations (video statements)

At just 14 years old, Tobago native Anthurium Lewis launched an innovative initiative to address food insecurity while promoting environmental sustainability. Today, her nonprofit plants fruit trees in her community and inspires other young people to take action for a greener, more food-secure future. Selected as one of the UN Youth Office’s 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2025–2027, she is recognized for advancing youth-driven solutions that empower communities and protect the planet. As an archer, Lewis uses the power of sport to engage youth in the SDGs. Today, 6 April is the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/usn1bAuAda0

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Anthurium Lewis is a nonprofit leader and child’s rights ambassador from Tobago who, at just 14 years old, launched an innovative initiative to address food insecurity while promoting environmental sustainability. Through her nonprofit work, she plants fruit trees within her community and inspires young people to take action toward a greener, more food-secure future. Selected as one of the UN Youth Office’s 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2025–2027, she continues to amplify youth-driven solutions that empower communities and protect the planet.
Learn more about Anthurium: https://www.un.org/youthaffairs/en/anthurium-lewis
#YouthLead
#SDGs
#FoodSecurity
#Tobago

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