Lebanon, Israel, Palestine & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (4 May 2026) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
– Lebanon/Israel
– Lebanon/Humanitarian
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Iran/Narges Mohammadi
– UNOPS
– Syria
– Sudan
– Ukraine
– UNDP report

LEBANON/ISRAEL

UNIFIL says that today they have facilitated an aid convoy of around 30 trucks to Rmeich along the Blue Line, where approximately 7,000 residents remain.

This comes as the situation remains volatile. Over the weekend, UNIFIL observed intensive IDF activity, including extensive airstrikes near a number of villages on the south, as well as continued naval activity off the coast of Naqoura. Furthermore, UNIFIL reported drone activity in its area of operations including Hizbullah-operated drones.

On Friday, UNIFIL patrols faced restrictions to their freedom of movement near Al Bayyadah, where Israeli tanks blocked the road.

The same day, IDF machine gun fire impacted a UNIFIL position near At-Tiri, in the Bint Jbeil district, with one round striking a vehicle inside the compound.

Peacekeepers must never be targeted, and their safety and security must be guaranteed at all times.

LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN

The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains volatile despite the announced extension of the ceasefire. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 13 people were killed, including at least one child and four women, and 32 injured as a result of strikes in several locations in the southern parts of Lebanon.

On Sunday, displacement orders were renewed in 11 villages and towns in Nabatieh, followed by airstrikes, causing new displacement according to local authorities.

People continue to be on the move, with reports of some people returning to shelters after attempting to go back to their homes, which in some cases were reportedly inaccessible or destroyed. Authorities estimate that more than 124,000 people are residing in 625 schools and other public buildings being used as collective shelters.

Despite growing and deepening humanitarian needs, the Lebanon Flash Appeal remains significantly underfunded. We’ve received only 38 per cent, or $117 million, of the $308 million we need, which is limiting our ability to reach the vulnerable people at scale.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said on social media that more than six months since the Gaza ceasefire agreement, we continue to work strenuously to help Palestinians in Gaza, but we need sustained access, the protection of civilians, neutrality and partnership.

Last week, our partners leading on emergency shelter assistance delivered tents, bedding items and other supplies to nearly 4,500 households.

One shelter partner also installed 150 improved emergency shelters in Khan Younis. These shelters are made of plastic sheets and other materials available and aim to provide displaced families with immediate solutions as soon as restricted materials are allowed entry. 

On health, concerns remain over skin diseases and other medical issues linked to the presence of pests and rodents.

In addition, our partners report that more than 6,600 people need prosthetic and rehabilitation care.

That includes thousands of people who have received amputations since October 2023, yet only eight prosthetic technicians are available to respond.

Our partners say that one in five amputees is a child, but with severe shortages of specialists and restricted entry of prosthetic materials, it could take five years or more to meet today’s needs.

International prosthetic technicians are urgently needed, as well as the unimpeded entry of prosthetics materials, which remain restricted by the Israeli authorities.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-04

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u35b3MmwdN8

5 FACTS: UN Mission in South Sudan

Source: United Nations (video statements)

With tensions rising in #southsudan, the risk of a return to large-scale conflict is real, with potentially devastating consequences for both the country and the wider region. Nearly 10 million people—four out of five South Sudanese—need humanitarian assistance, as violence, displacement and spillover from the conflict in Sudan continue to strain already vulnerable communities. Ahead of the UN Security Council meeting on Friday 17, this five-fact video highlights the vital role of UNMISS in protecting civilians, supporting peace efforts, promoting human rights, and enabling the delivery of humanitarian aid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUDmi7EhNWc

Lebanon/Israel, Lebanon & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (4 May 2026) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
– Lebanon/Israel
– Lebanon/Humanitarian
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Iran/Narges Mohammadi
– UNOPS
– Syria
– Sudan
– Ukraine
– UNDP report

LEBANON/ISRAEL

UNIFIL says that today they have facilitated an aid convoy of around 30 trucks to Rmeich along the Blue Line, where approximately 7,000 residents remain.

This comes as the situation remains volatile. Over the weekend, UNIFIL observed intensive IDF activity, including extensive airstrikes near a number of villages on the south, as well as continued naval activity off the coast of Naqoura. Furthermore, UNIFIL reported drone activity in its area of operations including Hizbullah-operated drones.

On Friday, UNIFIL patrols faced restrictions to their freedom of movement near Al Bayyadah, where Israeli tanks blocked the road.

The same day, IDF machine gun fire impacted a UNIFIL position near At-Tiri, in the Bint Jbeil district, with one round striking a vehicle inside the compound.

Peacekeepers must never be targeted, and their safety and security must be guaranteed at all times.

LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN

The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains volatile despite the announced extension of the ceasefire. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 13 people were killed, including at least one child and four women, and 32 injured as a result of strikes in several locations in the southern parts of Lebanon.

On Sunday, displacement orders were renewed in 11 villages and towns in Nabatieh, followed by airstrikes, causing new displacement according to local authorities.

People continue to be on the move, with reports of some people returning to shelters after attempting to go back to their homes, which in some cases were reportedly inaccessible or destroyed. Authorities estimate that more than 124,000 people are residing in 625 schools and other public buildings being used as collective shelters.

Despite growing and deepening humanitarian needs, the Lebanon Flash Appeal remains significantly underfunded. We’ve received only 38 per cent, or $117 million, of the $308 million we need, which is limiting our ability to reach the vulnerable people at scale.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said on social media that more than six months since the Gaza ceasefire agreement, we continue to work strenuously to help Palestinians in Gaza, but we need sustained access, the protection of civilians, neutrality and partnership.

Last week, our partners leading on emergency shelter assistance delivered tents, bedding items and other supplies to nearly 4,500 households.

One shelter partner also installed 150 improved emergency shelters in Khan Younis. These shelters are made of plastic sheets and other materials available and aim to provide displaced families with immediate solutions as soon as restricted materials are allowed entry. 

On health, concerns remain over skin diseases and other medical issues linked to the presence of pests and rodents.

In addition, our partners report that more than 6,600 people need prosthetic and rehabilitation care.

That includes thousands of people who have received amputations since October 2023, yet only eight prosthetic technicians are available to respond.

Our partners say that one in five amputees is a child, but with severe shortages of specialists and restricted entry of prosthetic materials, it could take five years or more to meet today’s needs.

International prosthetic technicians are urgently needed, as well as the unimpeded entry of prosthetics materials, which remain restricted by the Israeli authorities.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-04

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u35b3MmwdN8

Attention Crisis: How leaders can fix focus and happiness in an AI Era -psychologist Jonathan Haidt

Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

As tech and AI transform productivity and free us from rote work, will humanity finally crack happiness? Maybe not, warns Jonathan Haidt. This social psychologist, NYU professor and bestselling author of The Anxious Generation has spent years studying the links between happiness, technology, and societal change. Unless key steps are taken, he says, the technologies transforming work and communication could pull humans further from a sense of meaning, connection and purpose, taking happiness even further from our grasps.

Success in tackling any big challenge ahead will depend on restoring focus, trust, and purpose. Haidt warns that AI and social media may be weakening all three—making intentional leadership more critical than ever. He shares research-backed insights that can help us better understand a fragmented, distracted world and the challenge this brings to leaders running teams in a changing AI era.
Key Takeaways:

Where happiness really comes from – and what people often misunderstand
Understanding the attention crisis and what’s contributing to it
How AI and digital habits fragment attention and decision-making and undermine trust
Simple practices and approaches to reclaim focus, connect with others and lead meaningful change more effectively
This interview was recorded in January 2026 at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

About this episode:
Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/jonathan-haidt-happiness-focus-habits-ai

About this guest:

Home


Books referenced in this episode:
The Anxious Generation https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/
The Righteous Mind https://righteousmind.com/
The Happiness Hypothesis https://www.happinesshypothesis.com/
The Constructive Dialogue Institute www.constructivedialogue.org

Related episodes:
Nick Thompson, The Atlantic: Why one CEO sets ‘non -goals’ – and what ultramarathons taught him about focus and mental toughness
Watch here – YouTube: https://youtu.be/Xh9PLsyptgA
Listen here – Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bdbrspj7
Read here – Listen: https://tinyurl.com/mtdhe37w

IRC’s David Miliband: How leaders can meet the moment in an increasingly disordered world
Watch here – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABadygYvsZ0&t=16s
Listen here – Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/42hzpvvm
Read here – Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3vk4723b

What most people get wrong about progress: Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker
Watch here – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2IJjZs4E7A
Listen here – Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4r69a5pr
Read here – Transcript:: https://tinyurl.com/3smrwev9

Radio Davos – The Anxious Generation: how phone-free schools can reverse a mental health pandemic
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8s6Rw9rAqs&t=7s

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progress.

Find out more below:
World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/ 
X ► https://twitter.com/wef
TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
WhatsApp ► https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDcHBKGZNCihKxwiD0L
Threads ► https://www.threads.com/@worldeconomicforum
Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

#WorldEconomicForum #wef

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bXp43TMMAI