‘Around the world, we hear much talk of peace, but we see far too little of it,’ UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at a ceremony in Türkiye while accepting the Atatürk International Award for Peace.
The UN chief met President Erdogan of Türkiye to discuss developments in the Middle East and other key issues.
His visit to Türkiye is also the latest solidarity visit to a Muslim nation to mark the holy month of Ramadan in what has become an annual tradition.
Turning to the situation in the Middle East, our humanitarian colleagues remind us that the region is home to some of the largest numbers of people in need of humanitarian assistance globally. The recent escalation risks deepening civilian suffering and causing further damage to already fragile civilian infrastructure.
According to UNHCR, more than 4.1 million people have been internally displaced in Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon and Pakistan since the beginning of the escalation. Additionally, some 117,000 people have sought refuge in another country. It’s important to note these numbers are based on data provided to us by authorities.
We and our humanitarian partners are continuing to provide humanitarian aid to people impacted across several countries and remain ready to ramp up our response in support of national authorities where needed.
IRAN
And just on Iran alone, our colleagues at UNHCR are telling us that between 600,000 and 1 million Iranian households are now temporarily displaced inside their country as a result of the ongoing conflict.
This is a preliminary assessments, and that adds up to about 3.2 million people.
UNHCR says that most of them are reportedly fleeing from Tehran and other major urban areas towards the north of the country and rural areas to seek safety.
They say this figure is likely to continue to rise as hostilities persist, adding that, as you can imagine, it will just add another level of humanitarian needs.
Also affected are refugee families hosted in Iran. Most of them are Afghans, who are particularly vulnerable, given their already precarious situation and limited support networks.
UNHCR is adapting its response to these growing needs, working with national authorities and partners to assess emerging needs and strengthening preparedness as population movement increases.
We join them in emphasizing the urgent need to protect civilians, to maintain humanitarian access, and ensure that borders remain open to those seeking safety, in line with country’s international obligations.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-03-12
The Head of United Nations Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, for his part said both Hizbullah and the Israeli government are in violation of Council resolution 1701 and noted that peacekeepers with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) “have remained in position in line with the mandate this Council has provided, while continuously reassessing the force’s posture against prevailing risk.”
Lacroix said, “many rockets have been launched from south of the Litani River, which demonstrates the presence of unauthorised armed personnel, assets and weapons south of the Litani River,” while the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) “have issued displacement orders for the entire UNIFIL area of operations and intensified daily strikes, impacting multiple locations in the UNIFIL area of operations.”
He said, “UNIFIL continues to maintain constant contact with the parties to avoid misunderstandings, de-conflict and de-escalate where possible.”
Last month, UN DESA launched the World Youth Report on Youth Mental Health and Well-being, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive, youth-informed mental health policies. Another report is now underway, this time homing in on the latest youth population trends, helping policymakers use population foresight to address the needs of young people everywhere and to ensure that demographic change supports equitable and sustainable development.
Addressing a Security Council meeting on the situation in Lebanon, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said, “amid an already devastating escalation in the Middle East, the decision by Hizbullah to attack Israel on 2 March has again drawn Lebanon into a conflict it neither sought nor can afford.”
In turn, DiCarlo said, Israel “has carried out extensive strikes in southern Beirut, across southern Lebanon and in the Bekaa and Baalbek regions. These operations have reportedly killed over 570 people and left over 1,400 injured, according to the Lebanese government.”
She said, “Hizbullah must cease its attacks on Israel and cooperate with the government’s efforts to assert full state authority and establish a monopoly over weapons,” while Israel “must halt its military campaign in Lebanon and withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory.”
DiCarlo stressed that “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Lebanon and Israel must be upheld”
Joint Press Encounter: Permanent Missions of Armenia, Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Panama, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom and Uruguay on the situation in Lebanon.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia described Ukraine’s March 10 missile strike on the the city of Bryansk a “barbaric crime” and accused Western countries of direct involvement.
Speaking to reporters today (11 Mar) in New York, the Russian Ambassador said, “On March 10th, the neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv committed yet another barbaric crime against the civilian population of our country by carrying out a missile strike on Bryansk, a busy business district located in close proximity to multiple apartment residential buildings, children’s goods stores, a university and other civilian infrastructure came under deliberate attack. “
He said, “As a result of this strike, seven people were killed and 42 were injured.”
Ambassador Nebenzia said, “the expired head of the regime, Zelenskyy speaking to the press, described this heinous attack as a successful operation and thanked the Armed Forces of Ukraine for their service,” adding that “this is yet another striking example of the sheer cynicism with which the Kyiv authorities treat attacks that claim lives of civilians.”
The Russian diplomat pointed out “it is entirely obvious” that “such an operation would be technically impossible for the Ukrainian armed forces to conduct on their own.”
He said, “the use of advanced Western weaponry takes place only with the direct involvement of foreign specialists who guide the targeting.”
Ambassador Nebenzia continued, “certain NATO countries provide the necessary intelligence data,” stating “the Western sponsors of Zelenskyy bear full responsibility for the killing of civilians.”
He said, “instead of giving peace negotiations facilitated by the United States a genuine chance, Kyiv and London are seeking ways to further escalate tensions.”
The Russian Ambassado accused Ukraine to use such tactic, saying “it has been repeatedly employed whenever a real prospect of settlement begins to emerge."
"It is hardly a coincidence that the timing of this attack coincided with signals from Washington expressing hope that negotiations with the Ukrainian settlement have reached ‘a turning point and that achieving peace is entirely possible,’" he said.
Ambassador Nebenzia also criticized the United Nations, he said, “Where is the statement from the Secretary-General himself? The continued silence from this and similar grave incident incidents raises serious questions about the impartiality and consistency of the organization’s approach.”
He called on the UN Secretariat to “abandon the policy of double standards and to provide an appropriate, clear and unequivocal assessment of this heinous attack.”
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Secretary-General/Travels
Security Council
Lebanon
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sudan
Ukraine
Humanitarian Funding/87 million Lives Campaign
Noon Briefing Guest
Financial Contribution
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SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
The Secretary-General landed in Türkiye a short while ago to begin his Ramadan solidarity visit, which we announced yesterday. Tomorrow, he will meet with representatives of non-governmental organizations that support refugees. He will also visit the Ankara Provincial Directorate of Migration Management, one of the provincial branches of the Presidency of Migration Management responsible for procedures related to foreigners in Türkiye.
This visit, as we told you, is intended to highlight the generosity of Türkiye in hosting refugees. Drawing on his previous leadership as High Commissioner for Refugees, the Secretary-General will engage participants on issues related to their situation.
He will underscore the important and complementary role of civil society organizations in supporting the protection and service delivery, and encourage strengthened cooperation between civil society and Government, and this to enhance coordination and ensure that timely support reaches the most vulnerable.
SECURITY COUNCIL
In the Security Council this morning, there was a meeting on Lebanon. Briefing Council members, Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, noted that amid an already devastating escalation in the Middle East, the decision by Hizbullah to attack Israel on 2 March has again drawn Lebanon into a conflict it neither sought nor can it afford.
Ms. DiCarlo stressed that to prevent further loss of life and to create the space for meaningful political engagement, violence must stop. She emphasized that the United Nations will continue to work closely with all concerned to restore calm and to protect civilians.
Also briefing members was Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Head of our Peace Operations [department]. He said that in this dangerous and precarious environment, the UN Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, remains on the ground implementing its mandate as far as the security conditions on the ground allow it. He noted that there have been several incidents that have jeopardized the safety and security of our peacekeepers, stressing that all parties bear a clear and unequivocal responsibility to ensure the safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers.
For his part, Tom Fletcher, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, said that we and the broader humanitarian community are fully mobilized to complement the efforts that are being led by the government of Lebanon in addressing this humanitarian crisis. He noted that we and our partners have provided over 500,000 hot meals, distributed over 270,000 litres of bottled water, provided hygiene items and household supplies and 123,000 litres of fuel to sustain critical services,adding that the Rapid Response Teams are delivering life-saving supplies in shelters and 125 Health Sector-supported mobile primary healthcare units are providing services. Child protection and psychosocial support are being expanded, alongside the preparations for emergency cash assistance for vulnerable families and children.
LEBANON
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to record a growing number of incidents across the Blue Line, including rockets and projectiles fired from Lebanon into Israel, and airstrikes by the Israel Defense Forces impacting southern Lebanon, including Bayt Lif in Sector West and Qabrikha, Ett Taibe and Raabatt Talateen in Sector East.
The UN Mission notes that heavy artillery shelling by Israel has also been reported in various areas of Sector East. UNIFIL has also observed ground movements from the Israeli Defense Forces including near Alma al-Shab, Yaroun in Sector West and El Adeisse in Kafer Kela and Khiyam in Sector East.
The UN Mission continues to facilitate humanitarian access in support of those impacted by the ongoing hostilities. We urge all involved to avail of diplomatic channels to avoid further escalation and return to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701.
Full Highlight: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-03-11
Remarks to the media by Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, alongside other members of the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) and Jordan, on the situation in Iran.
