Category: United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

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

Highlights:
Programming Note
Ramadan Message
Secretary-General/AI
African Union/Secretary-General
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria/Security Council
Yemen
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Haiti
World Radio Day
Financial Contribution

PROGRAMMING NOTE

There will be a stakeout right after this briefing, at approximately 1:00 p.m., by Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations, at the Security Council Stakeout.

RAMADAN MESSAGE

In a message marking the start of the holy month of Ramadan, the Secretary-General says this month is a sacred period of reflection and prayer, representing a noble vision of hope and peace. Yet, for too many members of the human family, this vision remains distant. From Afghanistan to Yemen, from Gaza to Sudan and beyond, people continue to suffer from conflict, hunger, displacement and discrimination.

In these difficult and divided times, the Secretary-General calls on all to heed Ramadan’s enduring message, to bridge divides, deliver help and hope to those in need, and safeguard the rights and dignity of every person.

SECRETARY-GENERAL/AI

As you have seen, yesterday we issued a statement by the Secretary-General upon the appointment of the members of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence by the General Assembly. He noted that the 40 members were selected from more than 2,600 candidates, after independent review by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, and UNESCO.

In a world where AI is racing ahead, the Secretary-General said, this Panel will provide what’s been missing, which is rigorous, independent scientific insight that enables all Member States, regardless of their technological capacity, to engage on an equal footing. The Secretary-General added that he is confident their work will inform collective dialogue on AI, and support decisions based on evidence and solidarity.

AFRICAN UNION/SECRETARY-GENERAL

The Secretary-General is now in Addis Ababa.

He started the day by meeting the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

Throughout the day, the Secretary-General had bilateral meetings with several African leaders. He also met with the incoming Chairperson of the African Union, the President of Angola, H.E. Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, and he also met separately with the outcoming Chairperson of the AU, President of Burundi, H.E. Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye. You have received readouts of all the Secretary-General’s meetings.

A short while ago, the Secretary-General took part in the second Italy-Africa summit. In his remarks, he said this summit sends a clear message that cooperation must be built on mutual respect and trust, and that partnerships must be about delivering on Agenda 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Tomorrow morning, the Secretary-General will address the opening session of the 39th African Union summit. You have received an embargoed copy of his remarks.

Throughout the day, he will have additional meetings with leaders attending the summit and in the afternoon, he will hold a press conference.

He will be back in the office on Monday.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-02-13

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I71RiwgD3Mw

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Informal comments to the media by Ibrahim Olabi, Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations, on the situation in the region.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8xZEh1709k

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Claudio Cordone briefs the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria following the 30 January ceasefire and comprehensive agreement announced by the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wO_R6VEIBoo

Source: United Nations (video statements)

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said, “We have never given up on our detained staff, and we continue to pursue every avenue, at all levels, to resolve this issue.”

Addressing the Security Council, Grundberg said that in Yemen there are early positive signs in government areas, including improvements in the provision of electricity and payment of public sector salaries.

He highlighted, “However, continued tensions, recent security incidents and demonstrations, where in some cases violence and loss of life has been reported, underscore the fragility of the situation. Improvements in service delivery can be reversed if security deteriorates, if economic reforms stall, or if institutions are pulled in competing directions. I am particularly concerned about recent attacks targeting media institutions and journalists, including in Aden.”

He stressed, “Stabilization in any part of the country will not be durable if the broader conflict in Yemen is not addressed comprehensively. It is high time to take decisive steps in that regard. Without a wider negotiated political settlement to the conflict, gains will continue to remain vulnerable to reversal.”

He also said, “Today 73 UN colleagues in addition to other former UN staff are detained, along with others from civil society and diplomatic missions. Many have been held incommunicado, with serious concerns about their conditions and wellbeing. Some have been referred to Ansar Allah’s special criminal court, which is proceeding with trials that fall far short of basic due process. We have never given up on our detained staff, and we continue to pursue every avenue, at all levels, to resolve this issue. I call on Ansar Allah to unconditionally and immediately release detained staff and rescind all court referrals. I urge regional and international actors to use their influence to push for these same outcomes.”

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

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Informal comments to the media by James Kariuki, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, on behalf of the Security Council signatories of the Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) – Colombia, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Panama, and the United Kingdom – on the situation in Syria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_MWklsVID0

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Some local radio stations in the Gaza Strip have resumed broadcasting after a suspension of nearly two years due to the war, in a move reflecting gradual efforts to revive the media landscape in the enclave, which has suffered extensive destruction to infrastructure and civilian institutions. Local radio remains critically important in Gaza as humanitarian crises persist, electricity outages continue, and access to traditional media remains difficult.

#worldradioday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE9iTcgBPOQ

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Some local radio stations in the Gaza Strip have resumed broadcasting after a suspension of nearly two years due to the war, in a move reflecting gradual efforts to revive the media landscape in the enclave, which has suffered extensive destruction to infrastructure and civilian institutions. Local radio remains critically important in Gaza as humanitarian crises persist, electricity outages continue, and access to traditional media remains difficult.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE9iTcgBPOQ

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Addressing the Security Council, Lisa Doughten, Director of the Crisis Response Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported, “On January 29th, the de facto authorities again entered multiple UN offices in Sana’a without permission, commandeering equipment and vehicles. The de facto authorities have also continued to withhold clearances for UN Humanitarian Air Service flights to Marib. UNHAS flights into Sana’a resumed over the weekend following a month-long suspension caused by the lack of necessary clearances from the de facto authorities.”

She continued, “Such interference and impediments come at a time when the humanitarian situation is more desperate than ever. This year, 22.3 million people – or half the population – will need humanitarian assistance – an increase of 2.8 million from last year. Yemen continues to face the region’s most severe hunger crisis. Today, over 18 million people face acute food insecurity. Yemen is also the country with the largest number of people – 5.5 million – experiencing IPC Phase 4 emergency food security conditions or above.”

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

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Press conference by Alexandre Zouev, Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, on the International Day to Prevent Violent Extremism.

"UN senior official for counterterrorism Alexandre Zouev said while seizing the opportunities of new and emerging technologies to prevent violent extremism, the risks with transparency and accountability in full respect for human rights must be managed.

The United Nations marked the fourth observance of the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism, under the theme “Preventing Violent Extremism in the Age of New and Emerging Technologies”.

Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counterterrorism Alexandre Zouev briefed reporters in New York.

On artificial intelligence, Zouev said, “this technology holds real promise for prevention, from early detection of harmful narratives to more targeted, community informed interventions. But they’re also being misused to amplify myths and disinformation, spread violent extremism content, and enable recruitment and radicalization to terrorism, especially of young people and teenagers.”

The UN top counterterrorism official also said, “We are expanding our practical support to help Member States navigate emerging risks in digital spaces. And that includes new workstreams on artificial intelligence and online gaming systems while reinforcing evidence-based, human rights-based prevention approaches.”

He added, “this complements ongoing capacity building efforts to strengthen strategic communications, empower young people and develop PCVE (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism) policies ensuring coherence between traditional prevention approaches and technology driven initiative.”

Asked about repatriation and reintegration of former fighters, Zouev said that they should be investigated, adding “if they committed some crimes, they should be prosecuted according to national or international standards of prosecution and law.”

He pointed out that there is also the aspect of women with children, who are the former or current wives of the former fighters. He took Central Asia, the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as example, who are “making a great effort to reintegrate and socially rehabilitate families of former fighters because they had also certain citizens of these countries recruited.”

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 77/243, the International Day provides a platform for Member States, the United Nations system and all relevant stakeholders – including civil society, religious leaders, the private sector, academia and the media, to come together to strengthen the international community’s resolve to address the conditions conducive to terrorism, to raise awareness on the threat of violent extremism, and to renew collective action to prevent its spread.

The observance aims to promote inclusive, human rights-based and gender-responsive approaches to prevention, grounded in dialogue, partnerships and community-led solutions."

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

Source: United Nations (video statements)

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

Highlights:
Secretary-General/African Union Summit
Yemen
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Kosovo
Ukraine
Bangladesh
Madagascar
International Days
Financial Contribution

SECRETARY-GENERAL/AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT

The Secretary-General is about to arrive in Addis Ababa. As we mentioned yesterday, he is travelling to Ethiopia to take part in the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit.

While there, he is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ethiopian authorities as well as heads of State and Government from the continent.

Tomorrow, the Secretary-General has also been invited to take part in the Second Italy-Africa summit, organized on the sidelines of the African Union Summit. On Saturday Mr. Guterres will address the opening session of the African Union Summit. And he will hold a press conference, scheduled to take place at 3:00 p.m.

YEMEN

This morning, the Security Council met to discuss the situation in Yemen. The Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, addressed the Council remotely from Riyadh, where he recently met with Yemen’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Shaya al-Zindani, and members of the Presidential Leadership Council.

Mr. Grundberg underscored the need for an inclusive political process under UN auspices to reach a negotiated settlement capable of sustainably ending the conflict in the country. In this context, he also raised serious concerns regarding the continued detention of UN staff and others.

This week marks one year since the tragic death of a staff from the World Food Programme (WFP) while he was being held in arbitrary detention by the Houthis. Mr. Grundberg noted that no investigation has been conducted by the authorities.

Today, 73 UN personnel, along with civil society members and individuals linked to diplomatic missions remain arbitrarily detained. The UN continues to pursue every avenue, at all levels, in order to resolve this issue.

Focusing on the humanitarian situation, Lisa Doughten, the Director of the Financing and Outreach Division at OCHA said that over 18 million people face acute food insecurity in Yemen. Despite severe challenges, we and our partners are continuing to provide aid wherever we can.

She noted that next week, in Amman, donors, UN agencies, and international and national non-governmental organizations will convene to refine aid delivery and ensure the most vulnerable continue receiving assistance amid growing operational constraints.

She added that our partners remain active in areas held by the de facto authorities in Yemen and will assume a greater share of frontline operational work. Ms. Doughten urged the Council to actively support these efforts.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

In a statement released today, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) announced that Vivian van de Perre, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of Mission ad interim, has begun a visit to Goma as part of the Mission’s preparations to support ceasefire monitoring and verification, following consultations with Congolese national authorities.

The Department of Peace Operations confirmed that Ms. van de Perre arrived via Goma airport earlier this morning and is engaging with relevant counterparts to advance practical arrangements for the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism.

The Mission stated that the visit marks an important operational step after the prolonged disruption of airtraffic in and out of Goma since January of last year.

Under Security Council resolution 2808 (2025), the Mission is authorized to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, including through technical and logistical support to the International Conference on the Great Lakes via the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus. The peacekeeping mission reaffirmed that such support will be provided within its mandate and in full respect of the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that yesterday they coordinated 10 humanitarian missions with the Israeli authorities. The movements were to areas where Israeli forces remain deployed.

These missions allowed UN teams to collect incoming relief items such as food, vaccines, fuel and health supplies from the Kerem Shalom/Kerem Abu Salem crossing, as well as the Zikim crossing.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-02-12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fint3noLd8U