“Syrians have made great strides since a year ago, but serious obstacles remain,” UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council.
Briefing the Council, she said the Syrian government has restored state institutions, begun integrating armed factions under a single command, issued a constitutional declaration and formed a new cabinet, with indirect legislative elections held in October.
DiCarlo also pointed to shifting international dynamics. “Many countries have lifted bilateral sanctions on Syria,” she said, noting that the US Congress had repealed the Caesar Act and that the Security Council last month adopted resolution 2799, removing designations on President Sharaa and Interior Minister Khattab.
However, she warned that security risks persist, particularly in southern Syria. “Israeli airstrikes and incursions in the south have aggravated the security situation,” DiCarlo said, citing a late-November incursion into the town of Beit Jinn that, according to Syrian authorities, killed 13 people and displaced families. She reiterated the Secretary-General’s call on Israel to refrain from violations of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Press conference by Antoine Renard, World Food Programme’s (WFP) Palestine Representative, on the situation in Gaza following his recent visit to the Strip.
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Colonialism
– Syria/Security Council
– Sudan
– Haiti
– Venezuela
– Aviation
– International Days
– Guest Today
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that UN agencies and more than 200 international and local non-governmental organizations issued a statement yesterday urging the international community to take immediate and concrete actions to press the Israeli authorities to lift all impediments to NGO operations and humanitarian access across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in the Gaza Strip.
They warned that restrictive policies – including a new registration system for international NGOs that relies on vague and politicized criteria – are undermining relief efforts and risk the collapse of the humanitarian response.
They also stress that many essential supplies such as food, medicine, hygiene items and shelter materials remain stuck outside Gaza – and that dozens of international NGOs face deregistration and forced closure by year’s end. The loss of NGO capacity would severely disrupt life-saving services including healthcare, nutrition treatment, water and sanitation, and emergency shelter at a time when needs are acute and alternatives cannot fill the gap.
The UN and our partners continue our efforts to scale up assistance across the Gaza Strip despite these challenges, with a focus on providing winter support to mitigate the impact of harsh weather conditions.
Our partners say that since the ceasefire came into effect in mid-October and as of Tuesday, they have distributed multi-purpose cash assistance to nearly 139,000 households, compared with over 40,000 in September.
Each household received digital payments equivalent to about 378 US dollars. Altogether, more than 305,000 households in the Gaza Strip have received at least one payment this year.
Our partners providing education services report that on Tuesday, they distributed hygiene materials to more than 90 temporary learning spaces across the Strip, benefiting nearly 115,000 school-age children. These supplies are particularly critical during the winter rainy season, as they improve sanitation conditions and reduce health risks in overcrowded spaces.
Also on Tuesday, three new temporary learning spaces were established in northern Gaza – two in Gaza City and one in North Gaza governorate – bringing the total number of operational learning spaces across the Strip to more than 400. Several multi-purpose tents were also installed to foster safer learning environments for enrolled students, many of whom are receiving education for the first time.
Finally, our health partners report that constraints affecting the entry into Gaza of emergency medical teams have eased somewhat in recent weeks. Denial rates have fallen to about 20 per cent, compared with 30 to 35 per cent before the ceasefire. There are currently more than 340 emergency medical team staff in Gaza.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-12-18
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties in Yemen to “exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, and resolve differences through dialogue.” He also “strongly” condemned the continued arbitrary detention of UN staff and partner personnel.
Guterres spoke to reporters after a closed consultation on the situation in Yemen.
Guterres pointed out that earlier this month, forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council – or STC – advanced on Hadramawt and al-Mahra, adding that he told the Security Council, unilateral actions will not clear a path to peace. A full resumption of hostilities could have serious ramifications on regional peace and security – including on the Red Sea, in the Gulf of Aden, and in the Horn of Africa, he said.
The UN chief urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, and resolve differences through dialogue. “This includes regional stakeholders, whose constructive engagement and coordination in support of UN mediation efforts are essential for ensuring collective security interests,” he said.
Guterres continued, “The sovereignty and territorial integrity in Yemen must be reserved. Yemen needs a sustainable, negotiated political settlement where it embraces the aspirations of all Yemenis; And brings this devastating conflict to an end.”
The Secretary-General also strongly condemned the continued arbitrary detention of 59 UN colleagues and partner personnel – as well as staff from NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions.
He called for their “immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with international law.”
Guterres also noted that in recent days, Houthi de facto authorities referred three of UN colleagues to a special criminal court.
The UN chief stressed, “This referral must be rescinded. They have been charged in relating to their performance of United Nations official duties.”
He reiterated, “These charges must be dropped.’
“The continued detention of our colleagues is a profound injustice to all those who have dedicated their lives to helping the people of Yemen,” Guterres underscored, adding that the United Nations and its partners “must never be targeted, arrested, or detained in connection with their official duties.”
“We must be allowed to perform our work without interference,” the Secretary-General emphasized.
Guterres concluded by saying the path to peace is possible, and the United Nations remains committed to supporting the Yemeni people along this path.
Briefing by Dennis Zulu, UN Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, The Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, on the impact of Hurricane Melissa.
Actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt tells UN News’ Vibhu Mishra why digital cooperation, creativity and inclusion matter at a time when technology is reshaping societies worldwide. Speaking on the sidelines of a high-level UN event, he reflects on responsibility, opportunity and the human side of the digital future.
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Yemen
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Deputy Secretary-General
Sudan
South Sudan
Haiti
Financial Contribution
YEMEN
The Secretary-General this morning briefed the Security Council on the situation in Yemen in closed consultations, following his recent visit to the region, including Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Mr. Guterres spoke to the press afterward, and said, following the recent offensive by the Southern Transitional Council, that unilateral actions will not clear a path to peace. A full resumption of hostilities could have serious ramifications on regional peace and security, he said, including on the Red Sea, in the Gulf of Aden, and in the Horn of Africa.
The Secretary-General urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, and resolve differences through dialogue. Yemen needs a sustainable, negotiated political settlement and its sovereignty and territorial integrity must be preserved, he said.
The Secretary-General once more strongly condemned the continued arbitrary detention of 59 UN colleagues and partner personnel – as well as staff from NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions.
He added that in recent days, Houthi de facto authorities referred three of our colleagues to a special criminal court. This referral must be rescinded and these charges must be dropped, he said.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that we and our humanitarian partners continue to focus our efforts on providing assistance to prepare for the winter to the most vulnerable families across the Strip.
OCHA estimates that nearly 55,000 families have been affected so far by the most recent rains across Gaza, with their belongings and shelters damaged or destroyed in the storm.
The rainstorm has also damaged dozens of child-friendly spaces, disrupting or suspending activities related to child protection. The disruption has affected approximately 30,000 children across Gaza. Urgent repairs are needed to ensure that these activities can resume without delay.
Over the past three days, our partners working to address gender-based violence report that they delivered 3,000 dignity kits to vulnerable women and girls across the Strip.
Our partners dealing with water, sanitation and hygiene report that repairs are ongoing in multiple locations to reduce the overflow of sewage in the streets and improve public health. Teams are working to fix a sewage pipeline in Saeed Al Aas Street and the Nafaq area in Gaza City, as well as the Wafia and Hamad sewage pump stations in Khan Younis.
In terms of water supply, 38,000 people sheltering at displacement sites in Al Mawasi are now able to collect water from community water tanks that have been directly connected to these sites, thanks to efforts by the UN and our partners. The second phase of this project, which will reach another 40,000 people, is now underway. This initiative makes water collection easier and safer and reduces the burden of using water trucks.
However, OCHA warns that ongoing impediments continue to hamper humanitarians’ efforts to more quickly scale up the response.
Full highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-12-17
Traditional medicine is used by billions of people around the world — often as a first choice or main source of care.
World Health Organization experts share insights from interviews conducted during the WHO Traditional Medicine Summit in New Delhi, held from 17 to 19 December. The summit brings together countries and experts to highlight scientific initiatives and announce new commitments under the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.
The interviews explore how WHO is supporting standards, clinical trials and scientific methods to assess the safety and effectiveness of traditional practices, and how new technologies are being used to study traditional remedies.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Yemen’s leaders to return to the path of peace and release all UN personnel detained there, following a briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday. Since 2014, Yemeni government forces supported by a Saudi-led military coalition have been battling Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran and control the capital, Sana’a.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on all parties in Yemen to “exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, and resolve differences through dialogue.” He also strongly condemned the continued arbitrary detention of UN staff and partner personnel.
