Source: United Nations (video statements)
During a visit to Kakuma Refugee Settlement in northern Kenya, Barham Salih, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, highlighted Kenya’s role as a model for refugee protection and stressed the need for greater international solidarity to support durable solutions.
Speaking with refugees, students and entrepreneurs, Salih emphasized the importance of self-reliance, education and dignity for people living in protracted displacement.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
A large-scale overnight Russian attack on Ukraine caused civilian casualties and widespread disruptions to electricity, heating, and water supplies as temperatures fell below minus 10 degrees Celsius. The United Nations condemns these attacks against critical civilian infrastructure. Humanitarian organizations are providing emergency assistance and monitoring urgent needs in Kyiv and other affected areas amid extremely challenging conditions and low temperatures.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
-Ukraine
-Syria
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Sudan
-South Sudan
UKRAINE
The Spokesman said we expect a statement on Ukraine today. We have seen that another large-scale overnight Russian attack struck Ukraine, causing civilian casualties and widespread disruption to electricity, heating and water supplies, all this as temperatures dropped to -10°C and below. We once again condemn these attacks against critical civilian infrastructure.
In the capital Kyiv, a health worker was killed, and rescuers and other health workers were also injured while trying to help people impacted by the attacks, which also killed and injured several civilians. This is what local authorities are telling us. Since the start of the year, the World Health Organization reports that nine attacks on health care in Ukraine.
Humanitarian organizations are continuing to support people in Kyiv and other impacted cities and towns, providing emergency assistance and monitoring urgent needs as conditions remain extremely challenging due to low temperatures.
SYRIA
On Syria, we continue to be gravely alarmed by the hostilities in Aleppo. Despite ongoing efforts to try to calm the fighting, the dangers of renewed and further escalation and the impact on civilians are extremely concerning.
We underscore that all parties are bound by international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times and we urge all to avoid further escalation. We urge them to demonstrate restraint, and take concrete steps to prevent any additional civilian casualties.
We call on all parties to show genuine flexibility and good faith and to swiftly return to negotiations to ensure the full implementation of the 10 March agreement.
On the humanitarian front, our colleagues tell us that the heightened insecurity in parts of Aleppo has disrupted access to key roads, limiting the ability to move around and delaying humanitarian access. We are coordinating with relevant groups so we can continue to deliver humanitarian aid.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight
Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Website: https://www.un.org/sg/en/spokesperson
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Commenting on the recent protests in Iran, UN Human Rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said, “The right to peaceful protest, as enshrined in international law, must be protected.”
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 will present global and regional economic outlooks for the year ahead, highlighting the need for global cooperation and policies to support growth and advance progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speakers:
Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, UN DESA (on behalf of Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Mr. Li Junhua)
Shantanu Mukherjee, Director, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN DESA;
Ingo Pitterle, Senior Economist and Officer-in-Charge, Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN DESA.
Moderator: Martina Donlon.
Press Release: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2026/01/media-advisory-wesp2026/#:~:text=In%202026%2C%20global%20growth%20is,household%20budgets%20and%20exacerbating%20inequality
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Jean-Martin Bauer was just a teenager when a visit to his uncle’s Haitian rice farm planted the seed of his life-long passion for food security. Now Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis at the World Food Programme (WFP) he works to feed hungry people worldwide.
“Even now, even during these dark times … there are opportunities to sow seeds for a better future.”
The world faces a global hunger crisis, with a record 319 million people currently not getting enough to eat. The author of a recent book on hunger in the Twenty-First Century, Jean-Martin Bauer reflects in this episode on the human cost of famine in Gaza and Sudan, the impact of funding cuts on the most vulnerable, and explains why the best solutions are those closest to home.
[00:00] Introduction
[01:18] Haiti, Home and Heritage
[06:00] Planting the seed to fight hunger
[11:06] Hunger in a world of plenty
[13:19] What keeps Jean-Martin awake at night for Haiti
[17:47] Building food security even in crisis
[22:18] When desperation turns dangerous
[26:42] How shrinking budgets reshape humanitarian work
[28:04] The growing reality of famine worldwide
[30:31] Hunger is more than a statistic
[32:29] Making hunger visible and personal
[35:12] Can the world end hunger?
[36:28] Closing remarks
Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
#podcast #UnitedNations #awakeatnight #WFP #hunger
About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
-Venezuela
-Sudan
-Lebanon / Israel
-Syria
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Democratic Republic of the Congo
-Noon Briefing Guest
-Bernard Robinson
VENEZUELA
The UN Humanitarian Country Team, bringing together the UN and other humanitarian partners, is continuing to support people in need in Venezuela.
Teams from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA) continue to monitor developments, together with our humanitarian partners. Psychosocial support hotlines are in place and mapping is being carried out to ensure essential services reach the most vulnerable people.
For their part, the World Food Programme (WFP) says that WFP activities, such as general food distribution and emergency response to people impacted by flooding in Venezuela continues. The World Food Programme’s school meal programme also continues to be on schedule and will resume after school break.
SUDAN
In Sudan, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that escalating violence, particularly across the Kordofan region, continues to put civilians at extreme risk and drive new waves of displacement. The UN humanitarian team on the ground notes that according to the Sudan Doctors Network, a drone attack today in the city of El Obeid, in North Kordofan State, allegedly claimed the lives of 13 civilians, including children.
In South Kordofan State, displacement has increased sharply in recent days. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that between December 31st and January 4th, violence drove nearly 1,000 people to flee in Quoz locality, Kadugli town and Berdab village.
Yesterday, another 2,000 people were uprooted from Um Dam Haj Ahmed locality, also in North Kordofan State.
In total, between October 25th and December 30th, some 65,000 individuals were displaced from multiple locations across the Kordofan region.
Once again, the UN reiterates its urgent call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians. The UN also reiterates the need for rapid, safe, sustained humanitarian access, so aid can reach those in need.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-01-06
Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Website: https://www.un.org/sg/en/spokesperson
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-01-08
Source: United Nations (video statements)
‘The Secretary-General regrets the announcement by the White House regarding the United States’ decision to withdraw from a number of United Nations entities,’ says Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric at Thursday’s press briefing.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Briefing by Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), on the situation in Syria and the Middle East, including the report of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
