Source: United Nations (video statements)
The UN Security Council voted unanimously to renew the mandate of the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) for one year, until 20 December 2026.
The draft resolution renews MONUSCO’s mandate until 20 December 2026, maintaining its current troop ceiling of 11,500 military personnel, 600 military observers, 443 police personnel, and 1,270 personnel in formed police units.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The latest IPC report shows famine has been pushed back in Gaza. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned the gains are “fragile,” and urged full implementation of the ceasefire and a clear path toward a two-state solution.
Guterres spoke to reporters in New York on the situation in Gaza. He said that far more people are able to access the food they need to survive, adding that the UN is preparing more than 1.5 million hot meals every day and delivering general food assistance packages across Gaza.
The UN chief said, “Clean water is reaching more communities. Some health facilities have reopened. And in the wake of the brutal winter storms, we acted immediately to provide tents, blankets, clothing and other support.”
“This is a testament to the hard work of humanitarians and Member States, along with growing cooperation with the Civil-Military Coordination Center,” Guterres highlighted.
The Secretary-General also cautioned that gains are fragile, stating that 1.6 million people in Gaza — more than 75 percent of the population — are projected to face extreme levels of acute food insecurity and critical malnutrition risks.
Guterres pointed out that the needs are growing faster than aid can get in, stressing “We need a truly durable ceasefire. We need more crossings, the lifting of restrictions on critical items, the removal of red tape, safe routes inside Gaza, sustained funding, and unimpeded access – including for NGOs.”
The UN chief also warned not to lose sight of the rapidly deteriorating situation in the West Bank.
He said, “Palestinians there face escalating Israeli settler violence, land seizures, demolitions and intensified movement restrictions. Tens of thousands have been displaced following operations by Israeli forces in the northern West Bank.”
Guterres reiterated, “International law – including international humanitarian law and international human rights law — must be upheld across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.”
“The International Court of Justice indicated provisional measures. These are binding and must be implemented,” he added.
The Court’s Advisory Opinion of 22 October 2025 was clear, the UN chief said, explaining “Israel is under the obligation to allow and facilitate humanitarian aid, to cooperate with the United Nations in carrying out our mandates, and to respect the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its personnel, including in times of armed conflict."
The Secretary-General reiterated his support for UNRWA, “which plays an indispensable role in serving the Palestinian people — in Gaza and elsewhere in the region.”
“This is a crisis born of human decisions. It can be resolved through human choices – if there is the political will to act,” Guterres said.
He concluded, “The perverse and prolonged suffering must end. Palestinians need a horizon of hope. The ceasefire must be implemented in full. The endless cycle of violence must be broken. And the way must be cleared to an irreversible path to a two-state solution.”
Asked about reports of Israel’s decision to delay implementing phase two of the agreement, Guterres said, “I think that it is essential to move to phase two, and I don’t think that we should have any pretext to avoid it.”
He continued, “I believe, obviously, that it is very important that the remnants that are still missing are found and given back to their families. But at the same time, I think it’s very important to move with the peace process as a whole.”
Asked about his phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro this week, the Secretary-General said, “The situation is obviously very tense. That is why we have been consistently appealing for de-escalation, for dialog and for international law to be fully respected.”
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Over 75% of Gaza’s population is facing extreme food insecurity and malnutrition. Families endure immense suffering. Children sleep in flooded tents, while access to farmland, neighborhoods, and essential services remains severely restricted.
As the UN Secretary-General has warned, ending the suffering requires urgent political will — an immediate ceasefire, protection of civilians, and sustained humanitarian access. Breaking the cycle of violence is essential to restore hope and to advance a credible path toward a two-State solution, where Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace, dignity, and security.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
In 2024, the United Nations marked the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2250—a landmark commitment to the global Youth, Peace and Security agenda. On 15 December, the UN Youth Office, in partnership with the UN system and with the support of Member States, convened a high-level stocktaking event and an intergenerational Peace Circle to reflect on progress, elevate youth leadership, and renew political commitment for the decade ahead.
We are grateful to young people around the world leading peacebuilding and conflict-resolution efforts in their communities. We see you and we stand with you.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
As the world debates how technology is shaping societies, actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been sharing why people and purpose must remain at the heart of the digital future.
UN News’ Vibhu Mishra spoke with him on the sidelines of a high-level UN meeting marking 20 years of global cooperation on the internet and digital technologies.
Mr. Gordon-Levitt reflected on creativity, inclusion and the responsibility that comes with powerful digital tools, especially as technology becomes more embedded in everyday life.
He said he was inspired by people working not just for profit, but to make the world better – even when the challenge feels like a “David and Goliath” battle.
More: https://news.un.org/en/audio/2025/12/1166630
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Filippo Grandi has devoted more than three decades to easing the suffering of refugees: “My pride after all these years is that the center of this effort of my lifetime has been on people, and especially on the people that suffer most in the world, including refugees.”
Now, shortly before his term comes to an end, and as more than 117 million people worldwide remain forcibly displaced, the long-serving UN High Commissioner for Refugees is welcoming a rare moment of hope for one of the world’s largest refugee populations. “Home means your house, your family, your friends, your work, your school, and it is fantastic when, like in Syria […] people can go back to their homes. This is what most refugees want.”
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, not only helps those who flee war and persecution, but also those who choose to go home when peace returns. Appearing on Awake at Night for a second time, Filippo Grandi reflects on the dangers of divisive politics, the human cost of painful budget and staff cuts, and shares his hopes and dreams for life after the UN.
[00:00] Introduction
[01:22] A life devoted to people
[04:55] Why displacement has nearly doubled
[08:24] What peace really means
[10:51] The meaning of home
[12:54] Why hate-fueled narratives are dangerous
[16:13] When humanity shines
[18:07] What keeps Filippo awake at night
[24:37] The pain of letting colleagues go
[28:19] Watching refugees return home in hope
[31:15] Witnessing violence and unresolved conflicts
[32:57] Rage, indignation, and negotiation
[34:47] A life of service worth every sacrifice
[36:39] His next chapter
[40:07] His hope for the UN
[41:00] Geneva, City of Refuge
[42:50] “Don’t Lose Heart”: A final message to colleagues and listeners
[43:30] Closing remarks
Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
#podcast #unitednations #awakeatnight #UNCHR #Refugees
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)
In 2024, the United Nations marked the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2250—a landmark commitment to the global Youth, Peace and Security agenda. On 15 December, the UN Youth Office, in partnership with the UN system and with the support of Member States, convened a high-level stocktaking event and an intergenerational Peace Circle to reflect on progress, elevate youth leadership, and renew political commitment for the decade ahead.
We are grateful to young people around the world leading peacebuilding and conflict-resolution efforts in their communities. We see you and we stand with you.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
In a video briefing to the press, a World Food Programme official reflects on a recent visit to Gaza, describing the conditions faced by displaced families during winter — including mothers with newborns living in tents, limited food access, and unsafe surroundings.
An on-the-ground account of the humanitarian situation as witnessed during a WFP field visit.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, echoed concerns about instability and funding shortfalls. She said recent violence underscored the fragile situation. “Last week’s attack in Palmyra, and other suspected ISIL attacks in recent months, also illustrate the fragile situation in many areas,” she said, adding that such violence undermines prospects for development and investment.
Msuya warned that aid operations are being constrained by lack of resources. “With our humanitarian appeal for 2025 only 30 per cent funded, there are millions more people that we can’t help,” she said, noting reductions and disruptions in critical assistance.
Civil society voices also addressed the Council. Mariam Jalabi, co-founder of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement, appealed to Syrians at home and in the diaspora to continue pursuing justice and accountability. She called on Syrians to “celebrate the anniversary of our liberation” and to ensure that “the voice of the Syrian people be the source and compass of all authority.”
