Source: United Nations (video statements)
As UN Secretary-General highlights, when disaster strikes, speed saves lives. From Ukraine to Bangladesh, Gaza to Sudan, CERF’s rapid funding helps deliver life-saving support within minutes or hours — often before any other aid can arrive. This year, CERF has reached some of the world’s most underfunded emergencies and helped communities prepare for climate-driven storms and floods. Fast. Flexible. Fair.
This is CERF in action.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The UN Security Council is meeting in New York for a high-stakes briefing on Ukraine, called by six members amid rising civilian casualties and renewed strikes on energy infrastructure as winter sets in.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Secretary-General Statement/Yemen
Yemen
Trip Announcement
Central Emergency Response Fund
Security Council/Ukraine
Sudan
South Sudan
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Lebanon/Israel
Sustainable Transport
Youth Peace and Security
International Days
Financial Contribution
SECRETARY-GENERAL STATEMENT/YEMEN
The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the continued arbitrary detention of 59 United Nations personnel, in addition to dozens of NGO, civil society, and diplomatic mission personnel. He condemns the referral by the Houthi de facto authorities of United Nations personnel to their special criminal court.
The UN personnel have been held incommunicado, some for years, without any due process, in violation of international law. United Nations personnel, including those who are nationals of Yemen, are immune from legal process in respect of all acts performed by them in their official capacity.
We call on the de facto authorities to rescind the referral and work in good faith toward the immediate release of all detained personnel of the UN, NGOs and diplomatic community.
The United Nations remains committed to supporting the people of Yemen and delivering principled humanitarian assistance.
YEMEN
Following recent developments in Hadramout and Al-Mahra in the eastern region of Yemen, the UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, today highlighted the need for all actors to exercise restraint and de-escalate through dialogue.
This came during meetings he held in Riyadh with the Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaya Zindani, the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, the UAE Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Zaabi. He also met with representatives of the permanent five members of the Security Council in Saudi Arabia and other diplomats.
He noted that the eastern region of Yemen is a vital area, both politically and economically and underscored the need to preserve the space where Yemeni parties can discuss in support of stability and in the interest of Yemeni people.
Grundberg reaffirmed his continued engagement with Yemeni, regional, and international actors to support de-escalation and advance prospects for a negotiated political settlement to the conflict in Yemen.
TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Later today, the Secretary-General will be leaving New York for travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman.
He will arrive in Riyadh on Wednesday, 10 December. There he will hold bilateral meetings with the Saudi leadership, including His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss a number of pressing regional issues.
From Saudi Arabia, the Secretary-General will travel to Iraq on 13 December to mark the closure of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Mr. Guterres will express gratitude to the Mission’s staff members and to the government and people of Iraq for hosting UNAMI for 22 years.
While in Baghdad, he will have bilateral meetings with the leaders of the government of Iraq, including with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
The Secretary-General will return to Riyadh to participate in the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations taking place on 14 and 15 December. The Forum, convened under the theme “Two decades of dialogue for humanity: Advancing a new era of mutual respect and understanding in a multipolar world,” marks the twentieth anniversary of the Alliance of Civilizations.
Prior to leaving the region, the Secretary-General is also scheduled to visit Muscat. There he will meet the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, on 15 December to discuss regional issues, including the situation in Yemen.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-12-09
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, recounts a mother’s extraordinary journey to safety in Darfur — a story of survival through unimaginable violence, and of the courage that carried her as she fought to save a malnourished infant she found in the chaos. Her determination, and the solidarity of those who helped her along the way, reminds us why humanity must never look away.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Amid ongoing Russian military strikes, harsh winter weather in Ukraine is exacerbating conditions for vulnerable civilians, a senior United Nations official says. Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, points out that efforts reach those in need are hampered by military operations and calls for more international support to save lives.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Central Emergency Response Fund
– Global Humanitarian Overview
– UNRWA
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Sudan
– Syria
– Senior Appointment
– Syria/Refugees
– Ukraine
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Benin
– Democratic Republic of the Congo/Cholera
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CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND
Tomorrow, at 10 a.m. here at UN Headquarters, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will be hosting a High-Level Pledging Event for the Central Emergency Response Fund 2026. That will be done in collaboration with the Governments of Ireland and the Philippines.
The Secretary-General, António Guterres, is expected to deliver remarks, as well as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Tom Fletcher.
As humanitarian crises around the world outpace the funding available to address them, this pledging event for the UN’s Global Emergency Fund, managed by OCHA, which is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, seeks to mobilize greater financial commitments so that humanitarians can keep fast-tracking life-saving support for people in need.
Looking back to 2025, CERF has allocated more than $311 million to enable humanitarian action in over 30 countries and territories, including Gaza after the ceasefire and for people fleeing violence in the Darfur region of Sudan.
The event will take place in ECOSOC, and it will be broadcast by UN Web TV.
GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW
Today, the UN and its partners launched the 2026 global humanitarian appeal to save millions of lives where shocks hit the hardest – in wars, climate disasters, earthquakes, epidemics and wherever crop failures may occur.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the immediate priority is to save 87 million lives with $23 billion in funding. Ultimately, the aim next year is to raise a total of $33 billion to support 135 million people through 23 country operations and six plans for refugees and migrants.
The UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said this appeal sets out where we need to focus our collective energy first: life by life. He noted that the Global Humanitarian Overview 2026 is grounded in reform, evidence and efficiency, emphasizing that we are shifting power to local organizations and putting more money directly into the hands of the people who need it.
We will now take this appeal to Member States and ask for their backing, which means asking for their money.
As you know, a brutal funding crisis cut this year strained and even snapped humanitarian lifelines. The funding received so far for the 2025 appeal, which comes to an end in a few weeks, $12 billion, was the lowest in a decade, with humanitarians reaching 25 million fewer people than in 2024.
UNRWA
Early this morning, Israeli police accompanied by municipal officials forcibly entered the United Nations compound used by UNRWA in East Jerusalem. Police motorcycles, as well as trucks and forklifts were brought in, and all communications were cut. Furniture, IT equipment and other property was seized. The UN flag was pulled down and replaced by the Israeli flag.
In reaction to this event, I can tell you that the Secretary-General strongly condemns the unauthorized entry into the United Nations Sheikh Jarrah compound held by UNRWA, located in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli authorities. This compound remains United Nations premises and is inviolable and immune from any other form of interference.
As recently confirmed by the International Court of Justice, any executive, administrative, judicial or legislative action against United Nations property and assets is prohibited under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General urges Israel to immediately take all necessary steps to help restore, preserve and uphold the inviolability of UNRWA premises and to refrain from taking any further action with regard to UNRWA premises, in line with Israel’s obligations under the Charter of the UN and its other obligations under international law, including those concerning privileges and immunities of the United Nations.
Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-12-08
Source: United Nations (video statements)
We are in the ‘final stretch’ for the UN treaty to protect marine biodiversity in areas that are not within individual States’ jurisdiction the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, BBNJ Treaty, says Under‑Secretary‑General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel Elinor Hammarskjöld.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
I’m someone who has felt every kind of pain that girls in my country experience." Fatima Amiri survived the deadly 2022 Kaaj education centre bombing in Kabul. We follow her as she takes her story to the UN Human Rights Council and demands action, as the forum creates a new mechanism to document abuses in Afghanistan – not least the denial of women’s rights.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
I’m here at the Human Rights Council because everybody needs to hear our stories of being Rohingya”. The Myanmar military’s persecution of the country’s people is a matter of deep concern for the UN Human Rights Council. We hear from Rohingya activist Noor Aziza who urges stronger protection for targeted communities like her own.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Young people have been at the forefront of social movements and social change in safeguarding, protecting and promoting human rights." Here’s how youth advocate Palak Rau from the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH) and the Human Rights Council work together to empower young people committed to shaping a better world.
