For the first time famine has been confirmed in two different parts of the world at the same time – the first ever famine in the Middle East, in Gaza, and in Sudan, where famine has persisted for over a year amid the largest hunger and displacement crisis on the planet. In this session panelists will discuss how experts determine when a famine is taking place, and what urgent actions are now needed from world leaders to save lives in Gaza and Sudan.
Speakers:
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commission-General
Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director
Edem Wosornu, OCHA Director Operations and Advocacy
Moderator:
Ian Philips, Director, News and Media Division, UN Department of Global Communications
SDG Media Zone website: https://www.un.org/en/sdgmediazone
"This is no longer the time of armed groups. This is the time of strong states,” UN Secretary-General said in Beirut during his visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Beirut earlier today (13 March).
He arrived from Ankara and landed in Lebanon at a critical and timely moment for country and the wider region.
Upon his arrival, he said this is a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon who did not choose this war. They were dragged into it.
The Secretary-General appealed to both parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire and stop the enormous suffering of civilians in the region.
The Secretary-General also finished a round of meetings with President Joseph Aoun, with the Speaker of Parliament, and Nabih Berri, and with the Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
In all his meetings, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN’ strong support for Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and for the Lebanese State’s exercise of a monopoly on the use of force in its own country.
Discussions with Lebanese officials focused on the full implementation of Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701, including the establishment of lasting security and stability across the Blue Line and beyond.
In his meetings, the Secretary-General was accompanied by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, his Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations; Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon; Imran Riza, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon; and Major General Diodato Abagnara, the Force Commander of our peacekeeping forces in the country.
In remarks to the media, the Secretary-General said that he hopes that his next visit to Lebanon will be a visit of a Lebanon in peace.
The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister of Lebanon also launched a Flash Humanitarian Appeal of $308.3 million to provide life-saving support to one million people impacted. And that will cover for the next 3 months.
Guterres emphasized that the success of this effort will depend on swift and flexible funding, as well as ensuring that humanitarian workers can safely reach those who are most in need.
He also called for respect of international humanitarian law, and that includes the protection of civilians.
The Secretary-General is scheduled to hold a press conference tomorrow for media in Lebanon, and we expected him back on Sunday.
A special event hosted by the UN Goals Lounge in collaboration with the Chaka Khan Foundation marking a shared commitment to global well-being and mental health. The Foundation uplifts overlooked communities through wellness, education and creative expression. Together, the UN and the Chaka Khan Foundation will honor the power of stillness and its connection to global well-being and will feature music, guided meditation and inspiring reflections from cultural and spiritual leaders.
In a time of global challenges—from armed conflicts and climate crises to rapid technological change—meditation offers a powerful pathway to cultivate peace, unity, and compassion. The United Nations World Meditation Day serves as a timely reminder of the importance of nurturing human consciousness to address these pressing issues and foster harmony within ourselves and our communities. By cultivating inner peace, individuals contribute to building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable world for current and future generations.
To raise awareness about meditation and its benefits, the General Assembly proclaimed 21 December as World Meditation Day, recalling the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Additionally, the General Assembly acknowledged the link between yoga and meditation as complementary approaches to health and well-being.
Speakers:
Chaka Khan: Award-winning artist and co-founder Chaka Khan Foundation
Gayle King [Moderator]: Award-winning journalist and co-host of CBS Mornings
Melissa Fleming: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications
Michael Beckwith: Founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center
Annemarie Hou: Executive Director, UN Office for Partnerships
Performers:
Michael Beckwith: Founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center
Sara Auster: Sound Therapist
Call to action/announcement:
Join the UN in making stillness a statement
Meditate
Share
Inspire
Let’s build a healthier world—from the inside out.
What can be mobilized from session?
Global Awareness & Engagement: Inspire individuals and communities worldwide to embrace meditation as a tool for well-being, aligned with SDG 3.
Partnership & Collaboration: Activate networks across wellness, music, and social impact sectors to support ongoing healing initiatives.
This engaging session explores the vital role of credible journalism in conflict zones, offering firsthand narratives and insights from journalists and photojournalists who have reported from the front lines. Through personal anecdotes and vivid imagery, participants will highlight their experiences on the ground, share the challenges faced, and stress the critical importance of authenticity in an age of rising disinformation.
Speakers:
Motaz Azaiza, Photojournalist
Giles Clarke, Photojournalist
Valeriia Bezpala, Head of Foreign Cooperation, Suspilne Ukraine
Moderator:
Simon Bishop, Chief Executive Officer, BBC Media Action
SDG Media Zone website: https://www.un.org/en/sdgmediazone
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is in Beirut on a solidarity visit, stressing that words must be matched by action. Amid escalating conflict in the Middle East Mr. Guterres launched a Flash Humanitarian Appeal for US$308.3 million to provide crucial humanitarian aid to support the people of Lebanon. This emergency funding will cover essential needs like food and clean water for the next three months, highlighting the urgent situation in the middle east.
The President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, told journalists in New York that “gender equality has never been more supported globally than today. But at the same time, we have never seen such organised attempts to roll back these successes.”
As the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women takes place at United Nations Headquarters in New York this week, Baerbock said, “all around the world we can see women rights are the benchmark for the strength, freedom and economic development of societies. So therefore, in the interest of all.”
She said, “if countries would close the gender pay gap, the productivity all around the world, the GDP would increase by 12 trillion US dollars. If we would close the digital divide between men and women, the world economy would grow until 2050 by over 100 trillion US dollars. This is the GDP combined between the United States and China.”
The PGA said, “women rights are in the interest of all. Yet, as we have seen over the last week, not only women rights are under attack, it’s also true for the international order.”
She stressed that “defending the UN charter” remains her central priority of the 80th session of the General Assembly.
Turning to UN reform, Baerbock said, “we need even more and very serious debate how to modernise this institution and make it more efficient and more delivering on the principles.”
On the election of the next Secretary-General, she said, “this next Secretary General should provide strong and dedicated, effective leadership skills with experience in governance structures, but also with regard to United Nations, with regard to, management skills of this institution in the light of, the reforms.”
The PGA stressed the importance of regional diversity and noted the consensus “by 193 member states to strongly, call on member states for the nomination of women.”
Five candidates have so far been nominated: Michelle Bachelet of Chile; Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica; Macky Sall of Senegal, and Virginia Gamba and Rafael Mariano Grossi, both from Argentina.
The informal dialogues with candidates are expected to begin on the 20th of April. Each candidate will have a three-hour session, allowing member states, NGO, sufficient time to ask questions. Candidates will also be required to provide financial disclosure.
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Secretary-General/Travels
Lebanon
UN Interim Force in Lebanon
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Strait of Hormuz/Humanitarian
Attacks on Synagogues
International Day to Combat Islamophobia
Briefings/Monday
Financial Contribution
SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
The Secretary-General arrived in Beirut earlier today. He arrived from Ankara and landed in Lebanon at a critical and timely moment for country and the wider region. Upon his arrival, he said this is a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon who did not choose this war. They were dragged into it.
The Secretary-General appealed to both parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire and stop the enormous suffering of civilians in the region. The Secretary-General just finished a round of meetings with President Joseph Aoun, with the Speaker of Parliament, and Nabih Berri, and with the Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
In all his meetings, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN’ strong support for Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and for the Lebanese State’s exercise of a monopoly on the use of force in its own country. Discussions with Lebanese officials focused on the full implementation of Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701, including the establishment of lasting security and stability across the Blue Line and beyond.
In his meetings, the Secretary-General was accompanied by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, his Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations; Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon; Imran Riza, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon; and Major General Diodato Abagnara, the Force Commander of our peacekeeping forces in the country.
In remarks to the media that have been shared with you, the Secretary-General said that he hopes that his next visit to Lebanon will be a visit of a Lebanon in peace.
The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister of Lebanon just launched a Flash Humanitarian Appeal of $308.3 million to provide life-saving support to one million people impacted. And that will cover for the next 3 months.
He also emphasized that the success of this effort will depend on swift and flexible funding, as well as ensuring that humanitarian workers can safely reach those who are most in need. He also called for the respect of the international humanitarian law, and that includes the protection of civilians.
The Secretary-General is scheduled to hold a press conference tomorrow for media in Lebanon, and he is expected him back in New York on Sunday.
LEBANON
The UN, along with its humanitarian partners, and together with authorities, are scaling-up urgent assistance to displaced people in Lebanon. As of March 12th, we distributed some 632,000 hot meals and 18,000 ready-to-eat meals.
We’ve also provided more than 382,000 litres of bottled water and over 1,700 cubic metres of clean water through water trucking. More than 211,000 litres of fuel have been supplied to sustain water services to reach 700,000 people.
Government figures indicate that many people continue to be displaced. More than 822,000 people, including nearly 300,000 children, have registered with the Government as being displaced. And around 128,000 people are sheltering in nearly 600 collective sites across the country. We, of course, imagine that the actual number of displaced is much higher.
The UN once again reiterates the need for safe and sustained humanitarian access so that we, and our humanitarian partners, and the Government and humanitarian system can reach people who needs help.
UN INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) today said that the situation in southern Lebanon continues to deteriorate, with rockets and missiles fired at Israel and airstrikes in Lebanese territory, resulting in increasing casualties, including civilians, displacement and destruction.
UN Peacekeepers continue to observe artillery shelling in Sector East as well as ground incursions by the Israel Defense Forces up to seven kilometers inside Lebanese territory.
The UN continues to urge all sides to cease hostilities and recommit themselves to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701. That resolution remains essential for the safety and security of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line.
Peacekeepers remain on the ground in this difficult environment, assisting civilians to move to safer areas and continuing to monitor and report on the situation.
The volatile security situation continues to restrict movements of the peacekeepers.
UNIFIL will continue to facilitate humanitarian access and supporting missions by ourselves and international organizations, including the Lebanese Red Cross to support delivery of essential humanitarian aid to people living in UNIFIL’s area of operation.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-03-13
Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia 2026 (15 March).
"The world’s 2 billion Muslims hail from all corners of the globe, reflecting the vast diversity of humanity itself.
Yet they often face institutional discrimination, socio-economic exclusion, biased immigration policies, and unwarranted surveillance and profiling. These worrying trends are fuelled by anti-Muslim rhetoric and outright hate, which can lead to harassment and violence against individuals and places of worship.
Governments must take concrete steps to address hate speech, protect religious freedom and combat discrimination, including by ensuring full compliance with international human rights law.
Online platforms must work to wipe out hate speech and harassment against people based on their religion or belief.
And all people need to speak out against bigotry, xenophobia and discrimination wherever they find it.
That’s why I appointed in May 2025 the High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations as the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia to enhance our collective response.
On this International Day to Combat Islamophobia, let’s re-commit to the equality, human rights and dignity of every person, no matter their faith.
Let’s eradicate the scourge of Islamophobia from every country and community".
More info: https://www.un.org/en/observances/anti-islamophobia-day
Top official at UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told reporters, “Airstrikes and cross border clashes have disrupted the delivery of humanitarian assistance and contributed to both primary and secondary displacement,” reiterating the Secretary-General’s call for “restraint de-escalation for the parties to recommit to a ceasefire and for renewed diplomatic engagement.”
Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) spoke to reporters via video link,
She said, “looking ahead, we’re concerned that after Eid al-Fitr, the situation could deteriorate further and we urge both sides to step back, accept mediation and prevent a broader regional crisis.”
Gagnon also reminded the de facto authorities of their international obligations on counterterrorism, “particularly on concerns raised by neighboring States.”
She also briefed on how the conflict in the Middle East is already negatively affecting Afghanistan, “with traditional trade corridors disrupted and instability affecting regional supply routes, prices of basic commodities in Afghanistan are rising, adding pressure on an already fragile economy.”
“Humanitarian partners anticipate new inflows of Afghan returnees, adding strain to the communities that are already hosting millions who have returned since 2023,” Gagnon added.
The top UNAMA official also said, “the continued shocks economic, humanitarian and political underscore Afghanistan’s isolation from the international system, which remains a core obstacle to addressing the country’s longer term stability, economic growth and human rights concerns.”
On the UN’s engagement, she said, the mission continues to “pursue principled and pragmatic political engagement through the Doha Process, in line with the independent assessment and the mandate given by the UN Security Council.”
“This engagement is the only structured multilateral platform where the concerns of all the Afghan people, the international community and the de facto authorities can be addressed fairly and constructively,” Gagnon added.
She also said, “the de facto authorities decisions continue to undermine prospects for reintegration, particularly restrictions on women and girls, and the ban preventing UN female national staff from reporting to their places of work.”
“These measures are inconsistent with Afghanistan’s international obligations and impair our ability to deliver assistance and reach, particularly women and girls,” the top UNAMA official concluded.
