Category: United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

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

Highlights:
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Syria/Humanitarian
Syria
Lebanon/Israel
Somalia
Ethiopia
Madagascar
Ukraine
New Resident Coordinators – Nepal and Iran
World Wetlands Day
Honour Roll
Briefing

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OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, we welcome the re-opening of the Rafah crossing. As we have said before, civilians must be allowed to leave and return voluntarily and safely, as international law requires. Ultimately, essential humanitarian supplies must enter in sufficient quantities and with fewer restrictions through Rafah and all other crossings.

Also today, WHO supported medical evacuation efforts from Gaza. The limited re-opening of the Rafah crossing allowed some patients and companions to exit directly to Egypt, while others transited through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom/ Kerem Abu Salem crossing. 

The World Health Organization tells us that the last medical evacuation through Rafah crossing dates back to May 2024.  

Over the weekend, the UN system, including our colleagues from OCHA, UNDP and the Department of Safety and Security, undertook an advance mission to assess road conditions, and the World Health Organization carried out a technical mission to examine the compound area and access roads, to ensure appropriate and dignified conditions. 

OCHA – together with several UN entities and NGO partners – has set up a reception area at the Nassar hospital in Khan Younis.

We also saw the reports of violence over the weekend and we are very concerned about the killing of civilians and Israeli airstrikes. Again, we condemn all killings of civilians.

And just a note on the reception centre at the Nassar centre. It is staffed with psychologists and protection specialists and equipped with food, information materials and internet access to provide returning people with support. Our colleagues from the World Food Programme and the UN Human Rights Office are among those operating the reception. 

SYRIA/HUMANITARIAN

The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to reach thousands of people in the northeast with critical assistance.

Today, a convoy consisting of two dozen trucks and one mobile clinic arrived in Ain Al Arab/Kobani in Aleppo Governorate, delivering ready-to-eat food, health supplies and fuel. This is the second convoy to reach the area in a week, as the city continues to face shortages of water, communications, medical supplies and food, among other basic services, with communities relying on bakeries as the primary source of sustenance.

Since the fighting broke out in Aleppo in December, more than 150,000 people have received humanitarian assistance. Yesterday, a 50-truck UN convoy carrying humanitarian aid from Damascus reached the city of Qamishli in Hasakeh Governorate.

That is the third such convoy in a week.

As of 25 January, more than 170,000 people have been forced to flee their homes across 178 communities across the northeast of Syria, mostly in Al-Hasakeh governorate. The vast majority of these people are women and children, who face heightened risks of violence and abuse.

Nearly three quarters of displaced families are living with host communities, putting additional strain on housing, water, basic services, and livelihoods in already challenging situations for the hosts.

While some have returned home, many remain displaced due to explosive ordnance, infrastructure that is damaged, winter conditions, and limited access to the most basic of essential services.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ew4z0ulmGQ

Source: United Nations (video statements)

The UN Spokesperson addresses recent reports of IDF activity along the Blue Line, reiterating calls for restraint, respect for international law, and the importance of maintaining stability.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0t6EULi4WHU

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Delegates from around the world gather in New York for the 64th session of the Commission for Social Development. The conference looks to turn the commitments of the Doha Political Declaration into concrete actions, in the areas of poverty eradication, decent work and social integration.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1gMoHOMXqvE

Source: United Nations (video statements)

On 4 February 2026, on the UN International Day of Human Fraternity, the UN Movie Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council is honoured to present a special conversation with filmmaker Cherien Dabis, director of the Oscar-shortlisted feature film – ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU – Jordan’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Academy Awards.

ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU is a sweeping intergenerational epic that spans over 70 years of Palestinian history. rough the story of one family—led by a patriarch and his descendants—the film illustrates what has been called the "continuous Nakba" (catastrophe) and traces the evolution of Palestinian resistance and identity. The film meticulously chronicles four primary historic periods: the 1948 Nakba, life under occupation in the 1970s, the First Intifada in 1988, and the contemporary era ending in 2022. One of the film’s central questions asks: is it possible to heal? ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU was intended to honor Palestinian healing and explore how trauma and memory are inherited across generations.

The International Day of Human Fraternity reminds us that we belong to one human family: diverse in culture and belief, equal in dignity, and stronger when we choose respect over suspicion. At a time of growing tensions and polarization, human fraternity is not only an ideal; it is a practical commitment to live together peacefully and to protect the rights and dignity of every person. ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU powerfully embodies these principles through cinema. In a world where cinema often focuses on conflict and division, ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU is deeply rooted in love, kindness, generosity, and peace. At its heart, the film also explores one of humanity’s most profound acts of generosity—organ donation—through an intimate lens that challenges audiences to consider questions of identity, legacy, and connection that transcend borders.

On this occasion, the event will be opened with remarks delivered by H.E. Ms. Feda M. Abdelhady, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. The United Nations is dedicated to humanitarian support, human dignity, and international cooperation—and this film speaks directly to these shared values. As the UN observance emphasizes, human fraternity is grounded in the recognition that people of all backgrounds make valuable contributions to humanity, and that mutual understanding can deepen through dialogue and storytelling.

Movies hold the unique power to promote universal ideals, principles, and values so deeply enshrined by the United Nations, including peace, development, respect for human rights, cultural appreciation, the dignity of the human person, and equal rights for all. Founded at the United Nations Headquarters by Brenda Vongova, the UN Movie Society is committed to championing the goals and values of the United Nations through the universal language of motion pictures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vve_xDH6-4

Source: United Nations (video statements)

UN News interviews Mr. Mohamed M. Malick Fall, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria on the latest situation in the country. In the interview, Mr. Fall says that violence has spread across much of the country, affecting everyone regardless of their religion or ethnicity, leaving millions displaced and fuelling humanitarian emergencies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33yFYB1k5Sg

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Briefing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, Anita Kiki Gbeho, Officer in Charge of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), said Jonglei has become a ‘flashpoint’ for fighting, with civilians caught in the crossfire.

Military tensions in South Sudan are ‘rapidly expanding’ between Government forces and opposition militia as fighting continues in restive Jonglei state. With over 200,000 people displaced by the conflict this month, the senior official also warned of a ‘sharp surge’ in cholera cases.

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

Source: United Nations (video statements)

A senior UN Human Rights official warns that Myanmar has lost half a decade of peace and development following the military’s seizure of power.
Speaking in Geneva, James Rodehaver, Chief of the Myanmar Team at UN Human Rights, said the military has created an atmosphere of fear, repression and violence across the country, leaving civilians without safety or hope for the future.
Five years after the coup, conflict continues unabated, with airstrikes, arbitrary arrests and widespread repression persisting — including during recent military-run elections. UN Human Rights officials say the process was marked by coercion, exclusion and ongoing violence, deepening the human rights crisis for civilians, minorities and children across Myanmar.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sppFmMZj-JE

Source: United Nations (video statements)

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

Highlights:
Myanmar
Secretary-General/Colombia
Colombia/Humanitarian
Occupied Palestinian Territory
UNIFIL
Sudan
Yemen
Mozambique
World Interfaith Harmony Week
Honour Roll
Guest

MYANMAR

Five years since the military seized power and arbitrarily detained members of the democratically-elected Government, the suffering of the people of Myanmar has deepened. The cycle of impunity persists, with widespread violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating situation in Myanmar and its serious regional ramifications, including rising transnational crime, mass displacement – nearly 5.2 million people, internally and across borders – acute food insecurity, economic volatility and escalating violence, particularly the ongoing airstrikes by the military hitting civilian populations and infrastructure.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns all forms of violence and urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint, uphold international human rights law and international humanitarian law and enable safe, sustained and unimpeded access for the United Nations and its partners to deliver humanitarian assistance and essential services to all those in need.

The Secretary-General continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their democratic aspirations for an inclusive, peaceful and just society and reiterates the need to ensure the protection of all communities, including the Rohingya.

A viable path back to civilian rule must be founded on an immediate cessation of violence and a genuine commitment to inclusive dialogue with the full participation of civil society, including women, youth, ethnic and minority communities. The Secretary-General urges Myanmar stakeholders and international actors to ensure an environment that allows the people of Myanmar to freely and peacefully exercise their political rights and reiterates his call for the swift release of all those arbitrarily detained, including President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Regional and international unity and sustained engagement are needed to support a Myanmar-led solution to the crisis that fully addresses the root causes of conflict, ensures accountability and responds to immediate humanitarian and development needs.

The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, continues to engage with all stakeholders, in close cooperation with ASEAN and other regional partners, in the search for common ground that can provide a foundation for a durable resolution and sustainable peace in Myanmar.

SECRETARY-GENERAL/COLOMBIA

The Secretary-General said that he is saddened by the plane crash in northeast Colombia which happened on 28 January, which claimed the lives of 15 people. The Secretary-General extended his condolences to the families of the victims, who include a member of Colombia’s Congress representing a “peace district”, a congressional candidate from the same region and two humanitarian workers. He also expressed his solidarity with the people and Government of Colombia.

Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-01-30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N_GoiTHk-I

Source: United Nations (video statements)

The acting head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei, Major General Robert Yaw Affram, told UN News that the disputed region remains highly volatile, as UN forces operate in a political and security vacuum between Sudan and South Sudan.
In December, a drone attacks targeting the UN logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, killed six peacekeepers and injured eight others – all members of the Bangladeshi contingent serving in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

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

Source: United Nations (video statements)

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 1.4 million Syrians have voluntarily returned from neighbouring countries since December 2024, alongside 2 million internally displaced people (IDPs) who have gone back to their areas of origin.
Céline Schmitt, spokesperson for #UNHCR in #Syria, explains how UN agencies are responding on the ground.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0-HHecn4QSI