Source: United Nations (video statements)
Following the General Assembly plenary meeting on "Sport for development and peace: building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal".
– Mr. Giovanni Malago, President of MILANO-CORTINA 2026 FOUNDATION
– Ms. Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee
– Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
-Secretary-General / COP30
-Ukraine
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Syria
-Yemen
-Abyei
-Libya
-World Toilet Day
SECRETARY-GENERAL/COP30
Today, the Secretary-General is in Belém, where he is attending the COP30 summit. This morning, he participated in a European Union Coordination meeting and also met with the Ministers from a group of African nations.
Also, this morning, in a meeting with representatives of civil society, the Secretary-General thanked civil society for its leadership, vigilance and moral clarity, noting that their work is indispensable in driving ambition, as well as protecting communities and holding decision-makers to account.
Later on, in a meeting with indigenous peoples, the Secretary-General underscored that the ancestral wisdom, knowledge, and stewardship of indigenous peoples are vital for the planet’s survival. He said their voices and effective participation must shape the global response to the climate crisis.
This afternoon and tomorrow morning, he will continue meeting with other negotiators and Ministers and different groups. He is also expected to speak to the media tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. Belém time, which is about 9:00 a.m. in the morning here in New York, and that will be webcast.
Also to flag that yesterday afternoon, apart from engaging with youth representatives, Mr. Guterres met with the so-called Umbrella Group, which is formed by a diverse group of non-EU developed countries. He also had a bilateral meeting with the Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities of Denmark, Lars Aagaard Møller, and the European Union Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra.
UKRAINE
Turning to Ukraine, the Secretary-General strongly condemns the latest overnight missile and drone attacks by the Russian Federation on several Ukrainian regions, that reportedly killed at least twenty-five people, including children and injuring several dozen others in two residential areas in Ternopil in western Ukraine.
Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law. They are unacceptable, wherever they occur, and they must end immediately.
Today’s appalling attack – one of the deadliest against civilians since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly four years ago – once again underlines the urgency of a full and unconditional ceasefire in this country, as a first step towards a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace that fully upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty, its independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, in line with the United Nations Charter, international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations.
Our Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, is in Ukraine, she is in Kyiv today. She said that she herself was appalled by the overnight attacks.
Ms. DiCarlo is wrapping up a three-day visit to Ukraine and today, she met with Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The discussions centered on how the United Nations can further support efforts towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and assist the country in addressing its complex needs amid the war. The Under-Secretary-General said that strengthening recovery, social cohesion and the role of women in public life remain shared priorities.
She also addressed the Fourth International Food Summit in Kyiv today, highlighting the war’s devastating impact on the global food supply and our own efforts to advocate for safe navigation in the Black Sea. Her full remarks are available on the website of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
For his part, our Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, also strongly condemned the latest wave of attacks overnight, and his statement is online.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-11-19
Source: United Nations (video statements)
On the night of 19 November, a new wave of deadly attacks by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation claimed at least 20 civilian lives and left over a hundred more injured—including children. Homes and critical civilian infrastructure were heavily damaged across the country, including health and educational facilities.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has been supporting mine action activities throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) since 2009. Since the escalation of hostilities on 7 October 2023, UNMAS operations have considerably evolved to adapt to the emerging needs of local populations and humanitarian partners in both Gaza and the West Bank.
As the lead humanitarian coordinating body for mine action response in Gaza, UNMAS supports humanitarian partners by assessing explosive ordnance threats and providing guidance to enable safe humanitarian operations. In ceasefire periods, UNMAS supports early recovery efforts, as mine action is critical for reconstruction tasks like debris and rubble removal. UNMAS also collaborates with local and international partners to deliver explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) to civilians, promoting safe behaviours.
A production with support from the European Union.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, and Omar Alieu Touray, ECOWAS Commission President warn the Security Council of the threat of terrorism in the Sahel spreading to the entire African region.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-general/COP30
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Gaza
– Security Council
– South Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Nigeria
– Haiti
– Hunger Crisis
– International Days
– Briefing
GAZA
We were asked yesterday about the adoption of the resolution on Gaza by the Security Council, and we said that it is an important step in the consolidation of the ceasefire, which the Secretary-General encourages all parties to abide by.
It is essential now to translate the diplomatic momentum into concrete and urgently needed steps on the ground. The United Nations is committed to implementing the roles entrusted to it in the resolution, scaling up humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of civilians in Gaza and supporting all efforts to move the parties toward the next phase of the ceasefire.
The Secretary-General underlines the importance of moving towards the second phase of the US plan, leading to a political process for the achievement of the two-State solution, in line with previous United Nations resolutions.
SOUTH SUDAN
In South Sudan, a mobile court supported by our mission (UNMISS) concluded its work today in Bunj, in Upper Nile state. The court delivered decisions on 28 serious criminal cases, including murder and sexual and gender-based violence.
UNMISS says that the court convicted 23 people and released 22 others who had been wrongfully detained or had already served their sentences. Led by the country’s judiciary and the Ministry of Justice, the mobile court helped clear a major backlog caused by the absence of a high court judge in the area since 2021. With a permanent judge now deployed to Bunj, justice services are expected to continue.
HAITI
From Haiti, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that people are fleeing their homes in the commune of Tabarre, in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, following armed attacks last week.
According to the International Organization for Migration, attacks on November 13th and 14th forced more than 600 people from their homes. Most remain in Tabarre, hosted by local families.
These incidents come as the security situation in the capital continues to deteriorate. Attacks in the residential areas of Thomassin and Fermathe – previously considered relatively safe – drove more than 1,800 to seek safety elsewhere.
By the end of October, the number of people displaced by violence had reached 1.4 million – the highest level recorded in the country and up by more than a third from last year.
With insecurity rising, we urge all parties to protect civilians and ensure safe, rapid, unhindered humanitarian access to every community in need.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-11-18
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The UN Security Council adopts a US-sponsored resolution that authorizes the creation of an international stabilization force in the Gaza Strip.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Briefing by Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, on Behalf of Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on Conflict-related food insecurity: Framing the global dialogue: addressing food insecurity as a driver of conflict and ensuring food security for sustainable peace.
She said, “Humanitarian action is also essential to prevent and address hunger in conflict. When humanitarian access is denied, hunger and malnutrition rise – often with devastating consequences for civilians. Conflict parties must allow the rapid and unimpeded passage of impartial humanitarian relief and ensure humanitarians have the freedom of movement needed to carry out their work.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
“The UN is a ship that was not built to stay in the harbor,” UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said, urging a dramatic expansion of UN presence in Sudan as violence intensifies in Darfur.
Briefing reporters in New York City via a video conference from Sudan, Fletcher said “we need more UN boots on the ground,” stressing that his latest visit is part of a broader push “to make sure we’re mobilized closer to those we serve.”
Fletcher described Darfur as a “horror show,” adding that El Fasher is a “crime scene” based on testimonies from survivors. He said his trip was coordinated with other senior UN officials, noting that IOM’s Amy Pope and WFP’s Carl Skau were also there on the ground as part of a five- to six-week surge in leadership engagement.
Beyond Darfur, Fletcher warned that the UN must also monitor closely the Kordofans, emphasizing the need to investigate atrocities in El Fasher while preventing new ones.
Humanitarian needs remain overwhelming, he said, with “nearly two in every three people in Sudan” requiring assistance and the UN appeal 32 per cent funded of the 4 billion that is needed for 2025. He added that cuts were forcing “brutal life and death choices.”
Fletcher said the UN had made progress in securing access to El Fasher “on UN terms,” stressing that assistance must remain neutral.
He highlighted intensified diplomatic efforts and suggested “a moment of opportunity” may be emerging.
On engagement with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Fletcher said he spoke with General Hemedti and pressed both him and local RSF representatives for “complete unhindered access, safe passage,” and an end to atrocities.
Citing strong regional and international messaging including from the White House Fletcher said all parties must grant humanitarian access and work to end the conflict. The level of impunity in Sudan, he warned, is “utterly, utterly unacceptable.”
Source: United Nations (video statements)
UN Deputy Secretary-General said, “Food itself has become a weapon.”
Addressing the Security Council Amina J. Mohammed said, “Armed conflict drives acute food insecurity in 14 of 16 hunger hotspots worldwide. Last year, 295 million people faced acute hunger – 14 million more than the year before. The number of people experiencing catastrophic hunger have more than doubled to 1.9 million.”
She also said, “This is the new arithmetic of conflict: when food systems are attacked, weaponized, the impact is global. Food itself has become a weapon. Through deliberate starvation tactics, which we are seeing all too often, including recently in Gaza. But also, through the systematic destruction of agricultural systems.”
She highlighted, “And in a spiral of death, we continue to invest in military expenditure rather than putting and end of hunger. The world’s total military expenditure over the past decade, estimated at $21.9 trillion, yet ending hunger by 2030 costs much less – $93 billion per year.”
She stressed, “We cannot and must not accept these examples as the new normal. The hunger-conflict nexus is a strategic and existential threat, and this Council must treat it as such.”
