Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Colombia
Occupied Palestinian Territory
UNIFIL
Sudan
Central African Republic
Afghanistan/Humanitarian
Security Council
Ukraine
World Patient Safety Day
Financial Contribution
Guest Tomorrow and Security Briefing
COLOMBIA
The Secretary-General welcomed the issuance by Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace of its first restorative sentences, which is a historic milestone in the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement of 2016. The Secretary-General took note of the court’s announcement that these sentences, for former commanders of the FARC-EP, will be followed later this week by the first sentences for former members of the public security forces.
The Secretary-General noted that this is the first sentences of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and it marks a key step forward for the innovative mechanisms of transitional justice in the Agreement, which seek to foster truth, ensure accountability for the most serious crimes committed during Colombia’s armed conflict, as well as to provide redress to the victims.
The Secretary-General stresses that these decisions should be implemented in full and translate into actions of reparation on behalf of the victims. He called on all sentenced individuals to maintain their commitment to peace by fully complying with their sentences, and for the Colombian governmental and state authorities to ensure that all conditions are in place for the sentences to be carried out.
The United Nations, including through our Verification Mission on the ground is mandated to verify compliance with and implementation of the sentences, remains firmly committed to supporting Colombia in its pursuit of lasting peace, justice and reconciliation.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to the situation in Gaza, which is worsening by the hour, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs continues to call for the immediate protection of civilians. Issuing displacement orders does not absolve the parties to a conflict from their responsibilities to protect civilians in the conduct of hostilities.
Today, the Israeli army once again ordered people to leave Gaza City within the next 48 hours and move south along a temporary passageway on the Salah ad Din road, which is the one that runs through the center of the Gaza strip.
Thousands of people continue to flee, amid active hostilities. Roads, as you can well imagine and as you have see, are congested, people are hungry, and children are traumatized.
Between Monday and yesterday, our partners monitoring the movement of people in Gaza recorded nearly 40,000 displacements to the south.
Since mid-August – and as of yesterday – some 200,000 movements have been recorded, with many women, children and older people walking for hours.
OCHA was informed by the Ministry of Health in Gaza that the Rantissi Children’s Hospital in Gaza City was damaged after being struck multiple times overnight. There were 80 patients at the facility, including 12 children and babies in intensive care. Half of the patients and their caregivers were forced to flee, under fire, in search of elusive safety.
Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund warns that Israel’s offensive in Gaza is forcing women to give birth in the streets, without hospitals, without doctors or clean water. UNFPA says that 23,000 women are going without care, and about 15 babies are born each week without any medical help.
Our humanitarian partners tell us that since the collapse of the ceasefire in March, 80 medical points and primary healthcare centres providing sexual and reproductive health outpatient services have been affected, with 65 of those out of service.
Today, the Palestine Telecommunications Company reported a complete internet outage across Gaza City and the north. This is preventing people and humanitarians from receiving critical information.
Our partners have set up three support points in areas receiving displaced people in southern Gaza to assist separated, orphaned and injured children.
They report that heavy bombardment in Gaza City is further fueling people’s distress, especially among children.
Yesterday, two humanitarian movements to collect food cargo from the crossings into Gaza were either cancelled or denied. Other missions were facilitated but faced impediments on the ground. The Zikim crossing remains closed for a fifth consecutive day.
Full Highlights
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=17%20September%202025