Source: United Nations (video statements)
Informal comments to the media by the Arab Group on the situation in the Middle East.
South Sudan, Security Council, Humanitarianism & other topics – Daily Press Briefing
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Deputy Secretary-General
South Sudan/Security Council
South Sudan/Humanitarian
Syria
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Mozambique
Ethiopia
Venezuela
International Days
Briefing Tomorrow
Financial Contributions
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will travel to Abuja tonight, where she will deliver a keynote address at the 18th Annual Leadership Conference and Awards Ceremony and meet with senior Government officials.
From Abuja, she will proceed to Addis Ababa to attend the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government. During her time there, she will co-chair the 6th High-Level Strategic Dialogue on Sustainable Development, together with the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission.
She will return to New York next Tuesday.
SOUTH SUDAN/SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed Security Council members on South Sudan via VTC from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He noted that political deadlock among the main signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement is driving tensions and fueling armed clashes, particularly in Jonglei.
Mr. Lacroix emphasized that the Mission continues to engage political leaders at all levels, conducts patrols and remains actively deployed to protect civilians. He called on the International Community, including the Security Council, to urge South Sudanese political actors to engage in dialogue and seek consensus on the way forward.
SOUTH SUDAN/HUMANITARIAN
The humanitarian situation in South Sudan continues to deteriorate. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that families fleeing their homes in Jonglei State urgently need food, safe water, healthcare and emergency shelter.
As previously mentioned, since late December, renewed violence and airstrikes have uprooted an estimated 280,000 people, according to the authorities.
Aid delivery continues to be disrupted by insecurity, and essential services are shutting down. Road and river traffic is blocked, and humanitarian flights have not been allowed to take place.
The displacements are driving up the risk of cholera spreading: 55 cases and seven deaths reported in a week in Ayod and Duk counties.
Since 28 September of 2024, South Sudan has recorded more than 98,000 cholera cases and 1,612 deaths across nine states. OCHA warnsthat transmission of cholera is likely to intensify ahead of the rainy season if humanitarian teams and supplies continue to be restricted.
SYRIA
This week, an assessment mission led by our UN teams entered Ain Al Arab/Kobani in Aleppo Governorate in northern Syria. And that was for the first time since clashes there began in January.
Yesterday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Department of Safety and Security carried out anassessment mission to the city. Local humanitarian teams on the ground say the situation remains relatively calm.
The UN and its partners have previously delivered two convoys to the city carrying 52 trucks of aid and one mobile clinic. Goods and fuel are entering through limited commercial routes, though not at the scale that is needed. Basic services are continuing to be severely disrupted. Water systems are only partially functioning using diesel, and hospitals and bakeries are operating with limited fuel.
UN partners on the ground have reported that public electricity was restored yesterday evening.Water, sanitation and hygiene conditions continue to be a great concern, with some families relying on unsafe water sources, which as you can imagine, is increasing the risk of any water-borne diseases. More assessment missions are planned to identify people’s most needs.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-02-10
In Conversation w/Lyse Doucet, BBC’s Chief International Correspondent| Goals Lounge| United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Watch the conversation with award-winning journalist and author Lyse Doucet about her acclaimed book The Finest Hotel in Kabul.
Moderated by Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office for Partnerships, this one-on-one dialogue explores themes of hope, resilience, and the deeply human stories behind global headlines.
The Finest Hotel in Kabul, longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, offers a rare and nuanced perspective on Afghanistan’s history through the lens of one of its most iconic landmarks. Rather than focusing solely on conflict, the book highlights endurance, community, and the everyday lives that intersect with extraordinary events.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear insights from one of the most respected voices in international reporting and storytelling.
AI for Good: How the UN Is Using Artificial Intelligence
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming our world by providing unique opportunities for advancement, while at the same time presenting new challenges for humankind.
Across United Nations system, AI is helping to improve efficiency and advance the Sustainable Development Goals by:
➡️ Anticipating food insecurity before crises emerge
➡️ Enabling faster, more effective humanitarian responses
➡️ Protecting our oceans
➡️ Creating opportunities for fairer work
#Gaza: Maternal and newborn health
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The health situation of women and children in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate amid the ongoing collapse of the healthcare system and the worsening mass displacement. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is supporting maternal and newborn health services and providing essential supplies.
UN Peacekeeping Police Strengthen Election Security Worldwide – Briefing | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
“United Nations Police advisers and mentors are critical to the planning of public order management during electoral cycles,” UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations said.
Addressing the Security Council about the police components of UN peace operations, Lacroix said, “United Nations Police play a crucial role in supporting political processes, strengthening host-State police and other law enforcement institutions, and helping increase trust between communities and the host State.”
Also addressing the Council, UN Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar, said, “Mis and disinformation campaigns have increasingly targeted our missions, complicating our engagement with communities and eroding trust with host State institutions. In response, the United Nations Police has expanded its community outreach mechanisms, enhanced cooperation with mission strategic communications teams, and strengthened local dialogue platforms to reinforce confidence in our presence.”
Police Commissioner of United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Mamouna Ouédraogo said, “Protection of civilians remains central to our mandate. Through daily engagement with communities, traditional leaders, civil society, and police counterparts, UNPOL contributes to enhancing early warning, preventing violence, and strengthening community trust in security institutions. Special emphasis is placed on displacement-affected areas, where insecurity exposes civilians, especially women and children.”
Police Commissioner with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan Meinolf Schlotmann said, “The political and security environment remains volatile underscoring the importance of an agile, integrated Peacekeeping Mission with unrestricted freedom of movement under the Status of Forces Agreement. Within this context, UNPOL’s approach is to protect today, while helping build a police service that can protect tomorrow.”
United Kingdom on Sudan – Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Media stakeout by James Kariuki, Chargé d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations, prior to the Security Council consultations on Sudan.
‘Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe’ In #Sudan’s El-Fasher
Source: United Nations (video statements)
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, gave an update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in El Fasher, Sudan. As the brutal Sudan war shows no signs of ending, Mr. Türk called on the international community to intervene immediately to stop more mass killings and other flagrant war crimes against civilians.
Rival militaries from the national army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia have been battling for control of the country for nearly three years.
Something must be done to address the ‘continuous inflow of weapons’, the High Commissioner for Human Rights insisted, after recounting testimonies of survivors of atrocity crimes in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, by the RSF who overran the city last October.
Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the West Bank
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The Secretary-General is gravely concerned by the reported decision of the Israeli security cabinet to authorize a series of administrative and enforcement measures in Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank. He warns that the current trajectory on the ground, including this decision, is eroding the prospect for the two-State solution.
He reiterates that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and their associated regime and infrastructure, have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law, including relevant United Nations resolutions.
Such actions, including Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are not only destabilizing but – as recalled by the International Court of Justice – unlawful.
The Secretary-General calls on Israel to reverse these measures and on all parties to preserve the only path to lasting peace, a negotiated two-State solution, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and international law.
Palestine, Syria, Yemen & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (9 February 2026) | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
West Bank
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Syria
Yemen
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Western Sahara
South Sudan
Sudan
Madagascar
Haiti
Cuba
Ukraine
Cyprus
Honour Roll
WEST BANK
The Secretary-General is gravely concerned by the reported decision of the Israeli security cabinet to authorize a series of administrative and enforcement measures in Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank. He warns that the current trajectory on the ground, including this decision, is eroding the prospect for the two-State solution.
He reiterates that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and their associated regime and infrastructure, have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law, including relevant United Nations resolutions.
Such actions, including Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are not only destabilizing but – as recalled by the International Court of Justice – unlawful.
The Secretary-General calls on Israel to reverse these measures and on all parties to preserve the only path to lasting peace, a negotiated two-State solution, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and international law.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the UN and partners continue serving hundreds of thousands of meals every day, as well as digital cash and monthly rations, despite persistent impediments.
Also last week, food security partners completed the distribution of animal feed to more than 2,000 herders and farmers over nine days.
Meanwhile, our colleagues leading on water, hygiene and sanitation say that Gaza city continues to face a severe shortage of drinking and domestic water. This is despite a recent reopening of the valve on the Gaza city Mekorot supply line from Israel. Only 6,000 cubic metres are reaching people in the city every day, with significant water losses in hard-to-reach areas. To mitigate this shortfall, the UN and our partners have increased water production and trucked deliveries from groundwater wells and private sector desalination plants.
Since late last month, our partners have distributed over 100,000 water jerry cans, over 700,000 bars of soap, over 25,000 hygiene kits, over 400 household latrines, and 250 anti-lice kits across Gaza.
Mine action partners say that, over a week and by last Wednesday, they had conducted over 200 assessments of potential explosive hazards in support of debris removal. That’s in addition to support they provide to secure humanitarian movements and operations. Last week, they also reached over 10,000 children and adults with explosive ordnance risk education. They note this remains a major risk as 33 explosive ordnance incidents have been reported since the ceasefire came into force in October 2025, resulting in nine deaths and 65 injuries.
OCHA adds that restrictions, including limitations on the entry of items listed as “dual use” or non-humanitarian continue to hamper the humanitarian response.
Such items include spare parts and certain shelter materials. Also undermining humanitarian operations is the de-registration of some international NGOs and restrictions imposed on UNRWA and other UN agencies.
SYRIA
OCHA says that fighting has subsided in Aleppo, Al-Hasakeh and Raqqa following the agreement announced on January 30th. As of February 3rd, nearly 160,000 people are still displaced.
While there has been some improvement in humanitarian access, there are still major challenges. Electricity outages continue to disrupt water systems, telecommunications are intermittent, food supply chains are constrained, and schools are still suspended in many areas.
Between 25 January and 5 February, our partners facilitated ten inter-agency convoys to Qamishli and Ain al-Arab/Kobani, delivering 154 trucks of life-saving assistance. In total, our partners have reached more than 190,000 people across 83 communities with food, medicine, fuel, winter items and other essential support.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall between Saturday and today has caused severe flooding across parts of Idleb and northern Latakia, affecting more than 5,000 displaced people. Some 1,800 tents were partially damaged and 150 destroyed. Flooding also forced the closure of a local hospital, with patients evacuated and mobile medical teams deployed. Authorities have opened collective shelters and prepared additional housing for families who need it. Our partners are relocating families, repairing shelters and delivering assistance.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-02-09