Category: United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

A new UN report warns that global financing for development is under growing pressure, threatening decades of progress.

At the launch of the 2026 Financing for Sustainable Development Report: Implementing the Sevilla Commitment (FSDR 2026), Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said, “Development progress is imperiled by global fragmentation, geopolitical tensions and conflict. Developing countries are trapped in a catastrophic financing squeeze from compounding shocks.”

Many developing countries, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, are struggling with a severe financing squeeze.

Debt payments are at their highest level in two decades, development aid is declining, and foreign investment has dropped for the second year in a row, making it harder for countries to invest in health, education and climate resilience.

Li Junhua reported, “Development aid is falling sharply. In 2025, 25 countries decreased their Official Development Assistance (ODA), leading to a 23 percent overall drop from 2024 to 2025, the largest annual contraction on record. Only four countries met the 0.7 per cent target – Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden. Based on preliminary data, ODA is expected to further decline by another 5.8 percent in 2026. Developing countries, especially the poorest, face mounting debt, with debt service burdens hitting 20-year highs.”

Geopolitical tensions and global fragmentation are also making cooperation and financial reforms harder to achieve.

Li Junhua said, “Pressures have intensified, with a financing squeeze and increasing fragmentation exacerbated by conflicts. The recent conflict in the Middle East, for instance, has triggered a significant shock to an already fragile global economy. While the ultimate impact will depend on the conflict’s duration and severity, and the resulting arrangements for shipping and trade, we are already seeing clear repercussions for developing countries in relation to energy, food, trade and debt sustainability.”

The report urges stronger international collaboration and investment to close the $4 trillion annual development financing gap.

Despite challenges, progress in renewable energy, South-South cooperation, and early implementation efforts offers a path forward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHlxK3kuAEI

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Briefing by Peter Due, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK, on the Secretary-General’s latest report on UNMIK.

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“Let us hope that differences can be bridged, a new President can be elected and that new legislative elections can be avoided,” the new chief of UNMIK said, briefing the Security Council on the situation in Kosovo.

Peter Due, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) noted the return of Kosovo Serb mayors to local institutions in the north as a positive step but said “this process has not been without challenges,” citing “incomplete handovers, administrative gaps and language barriers” raised by mayors he had met with.

He also said UNMIK had “implemented a contingency plan reducing encumbered positions by almost 30 per cent” in response to the UN’s broader financial difficulties.

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić said UNMIK remained “indispensable,” noting that its mandate under resolution 1244 had “not been fully implemented.” He said Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija were “increasingly marked as the other” and that their identity was being used “as a basis to limit the rights of Kosovo Serbs, restrict their movement and target their homes, property and religious sites.”

Glauk Konjufca said “the obstacle to peace and normalization of relations remains Serbia, which is neither interested in normalizing relations with Kosovo nor joining the EU.” He called on Belgrade to “come to terms with reality and recognize Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state,” saying it was “holding its society and entire region hostage to aspirations of regaining regional hegemony.”

Konjufca said Kosovo had “one of the most advanced minority protection frameworks in Europe” and said Serbia and “other malign actors continue to weaponize minority rights” to “promote division, disorder and undermine our democratic institutions.”
US Deputy Representative Tammy Bruce said the Council “should not measure effectiveness by how long a mission survives,” pointing to the capabilities of local institutions and the EU presence on the ground. “The UN mission has reached the end of the road,” she said.

Russia’s Permanent Representative Vasiliy Nebenzya said it was “unacceptable to reduce the frequency or to change the format of Security Council meetings on Kosovo,” adding that any reduction in UNMIK’s budget or staffing was equally unacceptable. The mission, he said, continued “to perform the essential task of contributing to the maintenance of stability in the province.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNP46zcVniU

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Joint media Stakeout by Ambassador Umar Hadi, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations and Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations on the safety and security of UN Peacekeepers.

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Troop-contributing countries to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) joined by several other Member States and the European Union, condemned in “the strongest terms” the persistent attacks against UNIFIL, including the latest "grave" attacks which cost the lives of three Indonesian peacekeepers and injured several other peacekeepers from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal and Poland.

Today (9 April), Indonesian Ambassador Umar Hadi read a joint statement on the safety and security of peacekeepers.

In the statement, countries expressed “deep concern” over the escalation of tension in Lebanon since 2nd March 2026 and its impact on the safety and security of peacekeepers.

Ambassador Hadi said, “we firmly condemn the unacceptable aggressive behavior towards UNIFIL personnel and leadership recently observed,” adding that the countries recall, “peacekeepers must never be the target of attack and that attacks on them are prohibited while they enjoy protection under international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and may constitute a war crime.”

The statement reiterated, “the safety and security of UN peacekeepers is non-negotiable.” It urged the UN and the Security Council to “exert all tools available at its disposal to strengthen the protection of UN peacekeepers in an increasingly dangerous environment.”

Ambassador Hadi reaffirmed countries “full support” for UNIFIL and its mandate as set out in relevant Security Council resolutions, and urged all parties under “all circumstances, to take all measures to ensure the safety and security of peacekeeping personnel and premises in accordance with international law.”

The statement called on the UN to “continue investigating all attacks against peacekeepers in a prompt, transparent and comprehensive manner and keep the relevant troop contributing countries informed on the progress consistent with Security Council Resolutions 2518 (2020) and 2589 (2021).”

“Those responsible for these attacks must be held accountable,” Ambassador Hadi emphasized.

Ambassador Hadi also expressed “deep concerns” over the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, “especially the significant civilian casualties, the extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the mass displacement of more than one million people.”

He said, “we call on parties to urgently return to the cessation of hostilities arrangement of 2024 and respect the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2026,” adding a call for “a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, de-escalation of tensions, and for all parties to return to the negotiating table.”

Ambassador Hadi reiterated countries “strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Lebanon.”

He also said, “we pay tribute to the dedication and service of all United Nations peacekeepers who risked their lives in the cause of international peace and security, and express our deep appreciation to all troop contributing countries.”

Ambassador Hadi spoke on behalf of Algeria, Armenia. Australia, Austria. Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy. Jordan, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg. Malaysia. Malta, Moldova. Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Pakistan. Panama, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea. Romania, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Zambia, and the European Union.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qgbL6ZDvu0

Source: United Nations (video statements)

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

Highlights:
– Normandy World Peace Forum
– Iran
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Yemen
– Yemen/Humanitarian
– Sudan
– Chad/Sudan
– UN Humanitarian Flights
– Security Council
– Senior Personnel Appointment

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NORMANDY WORLD PEACE FORUM

Today, the Secretary-General addressed the Normandy World Peace Forum via a video message. He said that at a time when geopolitical upheavals, wars, inequality and the climate crisis are shaking our world to its core, peace can seem more fragile than ever. In this turmoil, he underscored, hope is not a refuge but a duty: the duty to defend international law against the law of power; to protect human rights against abuses; and to uphold human dignity against indifference.

The Secretary-General stressed that peace is not merely the silence of guns. It is built through justice, solidarity, humanitarian access, and trust between peoples. It demands the courage to listen and to compromise.

The Secretary-General noted that Normandy knows the cost of war, and it also knows the power of reconciliation and collective commitment, which raised Europe from the ruins and inspired the world. As we face the challenges of our time, he called on all to draw on that memory to find the courage to act for peace.

IRAN

The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Middle East Conflict and its Consequences, Jean Arnault, is currently visiting Iran. Today, he has held meetings with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as with representatives of the Iranian Red Crescent, and he visited some of the civilian sites damaged in strikes. During these engagements, he heard views on the way forward and reiterated the Secretary-General’s firm commitment to making every possible effort to support a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Acting on the Secretary-General’s instructions, Mr. Arnault will continue his regional tour with visits to several countries across the Middle East, aimed at supporting ongoing efforts to achieve a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict. Further readouts and information will be provided as the regional visit continues.

LEBANON

The Secretary-General unequivocally condemns the massive strikes by Israel across Lebanon on 8 April that resulted in hundreds of civilians being killed and injured, including children, as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the loss of civilian lives and is deeply alarmed by the mounting toll on civilians. He extends his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Lebanon and wishes a swift and full recovery to the injured.

Our colleagues on the ground tell us that today is a national day of mourning in the country. Flags on Government buildings and UN offices are flying half-mast.

Authorities report that more 200 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured, overwhelming hospitals in the biggest wave of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the beginning of the escalation. Many others are still feared to be trapped under the rubble.

Our colleagues report that strikes have continued overnight and today, with air raids on areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Reports of the destruction of the Qasmiyeh coastal bridge in southern Lebanon have further isolated areas south of the Litani River, restricting people’s movement and humanitarian access for at least 106,000 people.

This afternoon, a displacement order for the southern suburbs of Beirut has been renewed and extended to the area that includes a UN office for UNRWA, two Palestinian refugee camps, 13 shelters for Internally Displaced persons hosting over 6,000 people, offices of several national and international NGOs, and the Rafik Hariri Governmental Hospital, the biggest public hospital in the country. It also covers more than 20 locations used by our humanitarian partners to deliver aid and services to people in need.

With the announcement of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, the ongoing military activity in Lebanon poses a grave risk to the ceasefire and the efforts toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. The Secretary-General reiterates his call to all parties to immediately cease hostilities.

Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-04-09

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbc1XURQJXQ

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Joint media Stakeout by Ambassador Umar Hadi, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations and Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations on the safety and security of UN Peacekeepers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qgbL6ZDvu0

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Briefing by Gilles Michaud, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and the protection of United Nations and associated personnel.

Michaud noted, “Regrettably, all these perpetrators are rarely held accountable. They are rarely named and shamed, let alone prosecuted.”

He highlighted, “This is not the right forum to describe the range of measures we have implemented to keep colleagues safe. But it is the right place and time to tell you: we have stretched the security system to its limit.”

Michaud said, “We ask you to take real, consequential measures against anyone, any party, any group, any Member State that compromises the safety and security of women and men whose work saves lives.”

He also said, “We ask you to invest, politically, financially, legally, in the safety and security of these women and men, the one noble cause that should unite us all.”

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

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Press conference by Laila Baker, Regional Director for Arab States at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on the situation in Lebanon and the urgent needs of women and girls in the country.

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

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Press Conference by Imran Riza, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, on the humanitarian situation in the country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5hliSdI4XI

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Briefing by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and the protection of United Nations and associated personnel.

Addressing the Security Council Fletcher reported that in 2025, at least 326 humanitarians were recorded as killed across 21 countries, bringing the total number of humanitarians killed in three years to over 1,010.

According to the Emergency Relief Coordinator, of those over 1000 deaths, more than 560 were in Gaza and the West Bank, 130 in Sudan, 60 in South Sudan, 25 in Ukraine and 25 in DRC.

“That number compares to 377 recorded as killed globally over the previous three years. Almost tripling the death count. This is not an accidental escalation – it is the collapse of protection”.

Fletcher stressed, “These humanitarians were killed while distributing food, water, shelter and medicine. They died in clearly marked convoys and on missions coordinated directly with authorities. And too often, they were killed by member states of the United Nations.”

He continued, “Humanitarians know we face risks. It is the nature of our work, the places we operate. These deaths are not because we are reckless with our lives. They are because parties to the conflict are reckless with our lives. So, on behalf of over a thousand dead humanitarians and their families, we ask why.”

Fletcher said, “I normally conclude with three asks of this Council. But it seems insulting to over one thousand colleagues killed to echo back to you the commitments of SCR 2730: protection, integrity, accountability. We come here not to remind you of these commitments, but to challenge you to uphold them. Because if we cast these hard-won principles aside, the integrity of this Council, and the laws we are here to protect – die with our colleagues.”

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

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
Middle East
Iran
Lebanon
Lebanon/Humanitarian
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Security Council
Ukraine
South Sudan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Central African Republic
Mali
Noon Briefing Guest

MIDDLE EAST

In a statement issued late last night, the Secretary-General welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire by the United States and Iran. He calls on all the parties to the current conflict in the Middle East to comply with their obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. 

The Secretary-General underscores that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering. He expresses sincere appreciation for the efforts of Pakistan and other countries involved in facilitating the ceasefire.

And today, we can confirm that the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Middle East Conflict and its Consequences, Jean Arnault, has arrived in Iran. Acting on the Secretary-General’s instructions, he is visiting countries across the region to support all efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict.

During his visit, Mr. Arnault will engage with Iranian interlocutors to hear their perspective on the way forward and will reiterate the Secretary-General’s commitment to making every effort to support a peaceful settlement.

The Personal Envoy trusts that, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international humanitarian law, all leaders will choose the path of peaceful resolution and the protection of civilians over a continued conflict.

IRAN

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that it hopes the ceasefire will bring some much-needed respite to people, including front-line responders, across the region, following six weeks of intense hostilities.

The hostilities have claimed many lives and caused devastating damage to civilian infrastructure, including electricity, water, energy and transportation facilities.

In Iran, the UN and our partners, in coordination with the authorities, continue to scale-up our response to help refugees and others in the areas of health, water and sanitation, food, and shelter.

Priority needs include restoring basic services, protecting vulnerable groups, rehabilitating shelters and schools, and providing critical supplies.

LEBANON

The United Nations strongly condemns the strikes by Israel across Lebanon that resulted in significant civilian casualties.

The UN strongly condemns the loss of civilian lives. The UN continues to call on all sides to avail themselves of diplomatic channels, cease hostilities and recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.

The ceasefire between the US and Iran offers an opportunity to prevent further loss of lives between Lebanon and Israel. The UN urges all concerned to abide by the ceasefire.

Now is the time to pursue talks to resolve outstanding differences and work towards a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution to the conflict. There is no military solution to the conflict.

Meanwhile, UN peacekeepers continue to be impacted by hostilities. Yesterday the impact from an exchange of rocket and artillery fire near At Tiri in Sector West resulted in injuries to six peacekeepers, including one shrapnel wound and five cases of acoustic trauma, as well as damage to UN vehicles.

The UN again urges all actors to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times.

Yesterday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detained a UNIFIL peacekeeper after blocking a logistics convoy. Following direct and immediate contacts by UNIFIL’s Head of Mission and Force Commander and our Liaison Branch, the peacekeeper was released in less than an hour.

Such detention of a United Nations peacekeeper is a violation of international law. The UN stressesagain that any intimidation or interference in the Mission’s Security Council-mandated tasks must stop immediately.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-04-08

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p8KlUGAsA8