The Secretary-General spoke at the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East:
The nightmare in Gaza is now entering an atrocious, abominable second year.
This has been a year of crises.泭 Humanitarian crisis.泭 Political crisis.泭 Diplomatic crisis.泭 And a moral crisis.泭
Over the last year -- following the horrific terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October -- Gaza has become ground zero to a level of human suffering that is hard to fathom.
More than 41,000 [Palestinians] have been reportedly killed, mostly women and children.泭 Thousands more are missing and believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Virtually the entire population has been displaced and no part of Gaza has been spared.泭
Journalists have been killed at a level unseen in any conflict in modern times.泭
And humanitarians those who have dedicated their lives to helping others are facing unprecedented, epic dangers.泭
A record number including so many members of our UN family -- have paid with their lives.
The vast majority of those killed were part of the backbone of humanitarian relief operations in Gaza -- UNRWA.
In the midst of all the upheaval, UNRWA -- more than ever -- is indispensable.
UNRWA -- more than ever -- is irreplaceable.
Thats why I have written directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express profound concern about draft legislation that could prevent UNRWA from continuing its essential work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.泭
Such a measure would suffocate efforts to ease human suffering and tensions in Gaza, and indeed, the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory.
It would be a catastrophe in what is already an unmitigated disaster.泭
Lets be clear in practical terms what such a measure would mean.
Operationally, the legislation would likely deal a terrible blow to the international humanitarian response in Gaza.泭
UNRWAs activities are integral to that response.泭 It is not feasible to isolate one UN agency from the others.
It would effectively end coordination to protect UN convoys, offices and shelters serving hundreds of thousands of people.泭
Without UNRWA, the delivery of food, shelter and health care to most of Gazas population would grind to a halt.泭
Without UNRWA, Gazas 660,000 children would lose the only entity that is able to re-start education, risking the fate of an entire generation.泭
And without UNRWA, many health, education and social services would also end in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
If approved, such legislation would be diametrically opposed to the UN Charter and in violation of Israels obligations under international law.泭
National legislation cannot alter those obligations.泭泭
And politically, such legislation would be an enormous setback to sustainable peace efforts and to a two-state solution fanning even more instability and insecurity.泭
This draft legislation comes as the situation in which Gaza is in a death spiral.
The latest developments in the north are especially dire.
We are witnessing a clear intensification of military operations by Israel.
Residential areas have been attacked.泭 Hospitals ordered to evacuate.泭 And electricity cut off with no fuel or commercial goods allowed in.
Around 400,000 people are being pressed yet again to move south to an area that is overcrowded, polluted and lacking the basics for survival.
Consider the situation for a family in the Jabalya refugee camp in the north.泭
They were ordered to leave their homes in October 2023.泭
Active operations subsided, and they returned.泭
They were once again ordered to evacuate in December 2023.泭
Active operations subsided, and they returned.泭
They were ordered again to evacuate in May 2024.泭
Active operations subsided, and they returned.
And just this month, they were once again ordered to evacuate.泭
The conclusion is clear:泭 there is something fundamentally wrong in the way this war is being conducted.泭
Ordering civilians to evacuate does not keep them safe if they have no safe place to go and no shelter, food, medicine or water.泭
No place is safe in Gaza and no one is safe.泭
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International law is unambiguous:泭 civilians everywhere must be respected and protected and their essential needs must be met, including through humanitarian assistance.泭 All hostages must be released.泭
I strongly condemn all violations of International Humanitarian Law in Gaza.
Meanwhile, southern Gaza is overwhelmed.
Supplies are running low and Israeli authorities are only allowing a single, unsafe road for aid from the Kerem Shalom crossing, where humanitarians face active hostilities and violent, armed looting, fueled by desperation and the collapse of public order and safety.
I have warned for months of the risks of the conflict spreading.
The Middle East is a powder keg with many parties holding the match.
The situation in the occupied West Bank is boiling over.
Now, in Lebanon, attacks including on civilians -- are threatening the entire region.
Over the last few days - exchanges of fire between Hizbullah and others in Lebanon and the Israel Defense Forces -- have intensified across the Blue Line, in total disregard of Security Council resolutions 1701 and 1559.
Large-scale Israeli strikes deep into Lebanon including Beirut -- have killed more than 2,000 people over the last year and 1,500 in just the past two weeks alone.泭
The toll has already surpassed the 2006 war in Lebanon.
Attacks by Hizbullah and others south of the Blue Line have killed at least 49 people over the last year.泭
Lebanese authorities report over one million people have been displaced in Lebanon and 300,000 people have fled into Syria.泭
Over 60,000 people remain displaced from northern Israel.
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Recently, the IDF started incursions across the Blue Line.泭
We are on the verge of an all-out war in Lebanon with already devastating consequences.泭 But there is still time to stop.泭
The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected.
Members of our own peacekeeping force in Lebanon -- UNIFIL continue to carry out their mandates to the extent possible.
The mission relies on full compliance by all parties.泭 I want to again express my gratitude and admiration to our peacekeepers and Troop Contributing Countries.泭
The men and women of UNIFIL are serving in what is today the most challenging environment for peacekeepers anywhere.泭
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All actors must ensure their safety and security.
And we must do far more on the humanitarian front.泭
The US $426 million humanitarian aid appeal for Lebanon is only 12 per cent funded.
I urge donors to step up.泭
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Dear ladies and gentlemen of the media,
The conflict in the Middle East is getting worse by the hour -- and our warnings about the horrific impacts of escalation keep coming to pass.泭
Every air strike, every missile launch, every rocket fired, pushes peace further out of reach and makes the suffering even worse for the millions of civilians caught in the middle.
That is why we cannot and will not give up on our calls for an immediate ceasefire both in Gaza and Lebanon, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and immediate lifesaving aid to all those who desperately need it.
That is why we cannot and will not give up on our calls for irreversible action for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.泭
All people in the region deserve to live in peace.
Thank you.泭
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Secretary-General trip announcement泭
On 10 October, the Secretary-General will arrive in Vientiane, in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, to attend the fourteenth ASEAN-UN Summit.泭
In his remarks at the Summit, the Secretary-General is expected to underscore the importance of the ASEAN-UN partnership, which is growing stronger.泭 He will also address the ASEAN countries critical role in continuing to pursue peaceful means of resolving disputes in the region. The Secretary-General will, in addition, speak on the issue of climate change, as the ASEAN countries represent one of the most climate-vulnerable regions on earth.泭 He will also address the implementation of the Pact for the Future.泭泭
During his visit, the Secretary-General will hold bilateral meetings with the President and the Prime Minister of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, as well as with other leaders present in Vientiane.泭
The Secretary-General will return to New York on Saturday, 12 October.泭
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Lebanon泭
In a joint statement issued by the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFILs Head of Mission and Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Aroldo L獺zaro, to mark the one year since near-daily exchanges of fire commenced across the Blue Line initiated by Hizbullah propelling rockets into Shaba Farms, the officials said that one year later, the near-daily exchanges of fire have escalated into a relentless military campaign whose humanitarian impact is nothing short of catastrophic.泭泭
They added that with constant Israeli bombardment now part and parcel of daily life in Lebanon, and Hizbullah launching rocket and missile barrages at Israel, far too many people are paying an unimaginable price with many killed, many more wounded, and hundreds of thousands displaced.泭泭
They underscored that every missile or rocket launched, bomb dropped, and ground raid conducted pulls the parties further away from the vision set forth in Resolution 1701 (2006), as well as from the conditions necessary for the enduring security of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line. They also called for a negotiated solution as the only pathway to restore the security and stability that civilians on both sides so desperately want and deserve.泭
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Lebanon/Humanitarian泭
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that unprecedented violence has led to devastating civilian casualties and displacement, extensive damage to infrastructure, and an unprecedented rise in humanitarian needs across the country.泭
National authorities estimate that more than one million people have been displaced. As of 8 October, the International Organization for Migration had identified over 600,000 internally displaced persons, with more than 180,000 individuals currently residing in nearly 1,000 collective shelters.泭
Some 80 per cent of these shelters are already full. Three quarters of them are in public schools, which has led to the postponement of the new school year to 4 November.泭
According to the UN Refugee Agency, approximately 220,000 people have crossed into Syria, of whom 70 per cent are Syrian nationals and 30 per cent are Lebanese. Additionally, more than 5,600 Lebanese citizens have sought refuge in Iraq, according to the latest figures from UNHCR.泭
On 4 October, a joint mission including OCHA, the World Food Programme, UNICEF and our partners reached Tyre in southern Lebanon for the first time since 23 September. They delivered food, water and hygiene supplies to people affected by the crisis. Today, OCHA and our partners returned to Tyre, bringing blankets, bread and fresh food for a community kitchen providing assistance there.泭
Over the weekend, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNHCR delivered critical medical supplies and equipment to the Ministry of Public Health, through the Beirut airport, including emergency surgical medication, cholera kits and mental health medicines to treat approximately 100,000 patients.泭
UNICEF is also supplying more than 160 tons of medical supplies to support two million people affected by the escalating conflict in Lebanon, especially women and children. Nearly 70 tons have already been delivered, including 25 tons flown in on 6 October.泭
The $426 million Flash Appeal for Lebanon is just 12 percent funded, with $51 million received. More funding is urgently needed to be able to continue to support Lebanese people in these challenging times. As the situation worsens, the demand for food, medicine, shelter and other essential supplies will only grow.泭
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Syria/Lebanon泭
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, concluded an urgent visit to Syria on Tuesday to mobilize support for tens of thousands of people who have fled the airstrikes in Lebanon and crossed into Syria. Grandi visited the border crossing at Jdeidet Yabous. He met with Lebanese refugees and Syrians who just crossed and who described how they escaped intense Israeli bombardments that terrified their children. With the main road between the Lebanese and Syrian border posts destroyed by an airstrike, people are obliged to cross on foot with their children and whatever belongings they can carry.泭
In Damascus, Grandi also met in person, as well as virtually, with donors to launch an inter-agency emergency appeal for $324 million to help, for a six-month period, all those fleeing into Syria as well as the families hosting many of them.泭
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, along with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, other UN agencies and NGOs, is at the border providing water, food items and blankets. Teams are also supporting the new arrivals with legal assistance, documentation, and advising them on administrative and other procedures. UNHCR is following up with people across Syria and will be expanding its humanitarian programmes to address the needs of the new arrivals and the communities hosting them and will be strengthening its legal support programmes.泭
Occupied Palestinian Territory泭
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that hundreds of thousands of people and dozens of humanitarian facilities in Gaza have been affected by four new evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military in recent days.泭
At least 70,000 people have been displaced, according to initial estimates from humanitarian partners on the ground. This includes some 50,000 people who have moved from northern Gaza toward Gaza City, as well as more than 20,000 people who have moved from the An Nuseirat and Al Bureij refugee camps toward southern Deir al Balah and Khan Younis.泭
Aid personnel on the ground report that 12 sites for internally displaced people in northern Deir al Balah governorate are in areas affected by the latest Israeli directives. Dozens of facilities offering critical health, water, sanitation, hygiene and education services are also in the evacuation zone.泭
OCHA warns that the evacuation orders and escalating hostilities risk further constraining humanitarian access, particularly between southern and northern Gaza. This includes efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other humanitarian partners to maintain and supply medical facilities.泭
WHO reports that 10 hospitals, 19 primary health-care centres and 32 medical points in the North Gaza and Gaza governorates risk being affected by the unfolding situation. If WHO and its partners are unable to get fuel to these facilities, they may be forced to abruptly suspend critical health services including in intensive care units and maternity wards. Immediate deliveries of essential health supplies and medications are also urgently needed.泭
Over the past year, WHO has been providing support to Gazas beleaguered health-care system. The agency says that, since last October, it has brought nearly 1,100 metric tonnes of medical supplies into Gaza, enabling 16,400 emergency and surgery interventions and reaching 324,000 people with basic health care needs and 1.5 million people suffering from non-communicable diseases.泭
WHO also says that since January, 37 emergency medical teams have deployed across the Strip, providing 1.5 million consultations.泭
Sudan泭
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that more than 150 aid trucks have crossed into Sudan from Chad via the Adre border point, which was re-opened by the Sudanese authorities in August.泭
These trucks have moved about 4,570 metric tonnes of food, nutrition, shelter, medical and other supplies - enough to support as many as 550,000 people, including in communities that are acutely food insecure and at risk of famine.泭
Flooding and damage to roads and bridges have continued to complicate onward movements inside Darfur, but a majority of the trucks that have crossed the border have reached their intended destinations, with the others remaining en route.泭泭泭
As the rainy season draws to a close, the UN and its humanitarian partners are working to significantly scale up the movement of aid, including through the Tine crossing which floodwaters had rendered largely impassable in recent months and via crossline routes linking Port Sudan to key areas of need.泭
However, OCHA continues to be alarmed by an intensification of the conflict in many parts of the country, now that the rainy season is ending, and calls on the parties to immediately stop the fighting, protect civilians, and facilitate humanitarian access.泭泭泭
With millions of people in Sudan facing acute levels of hunger, it is more critical to ensure that aid organizations have safe, sustained, rapid and unimpeded access using all necessary routes both across borders and conflict lines to reach those in need.泭
Security Council泭
This morning, the Security Council was briefed by Huang Xia, the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region.泭 He told Council members that the situation in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains alarming, notably with the territorial expansion of the M23 armed group. The M23, he said, now controls a larger territory than in 2012.泭泭
The Special Envoy also expressed his concern at the ongoing activities of another armed group, the ADF, which has multiplied attacks against civilians in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces. This group, he added, represents a real threat for the sub-region.泭泭
Despite this gloomy picture, the Special Envoy said that the ceasefire agreement, signed on 30 July under the auspices of Angola, is a glimmer of hope, the first since the start of the crisis and the resurgence of the M23 in November 2021.泭泭
The ceasefire agreement has contributed to a relative lull and seems, despite a few skirmishes, to be widely respected.泭泭
Mr. Xia said these major developments were made possible by the tireless efforts of the Angolan authorities, under the leadership of President Jo瓊o Louren癟o, to facilitate and maintain dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda. He called on the international community to work together to guarantee and preserve the gains achieved to date.泭
In conclusion, Mr. Xia reminded Council members that as the Summit of the Future concluded with a new, hopeful global consensus, we have accepted the collective responsibility to no longer accept the suffering of the civilian population caught up in incessant conflict.泭泭
He called on Council members to seize the opportunities offered by the Luanda process and the revitalization of the Framework Agreement to advance political solutions to this crisis and put an end to the suffering of populations that have been battered for so many years.泭
Bosnia and Herzegovina泭
From Bosnia and Herzegovina, the UN says that deadly floods have affected the southern and central parts of the country, particularly in the cities and municipalities of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Central Bosnia Canton, and Zenica-Doboj Canton.泭
Since 4 October, heavy rains have triggered numerous landslides, road collapses, and flooding due to the overflow of rivers and lakes. Telephone and internet connections are down, and the municipality of Jablanica is blocked due to impassable roads.泭
The 51勛圖 team on the ground is closely coordinating with local and national authorities and international partners to assess needs and provide swift emergency assistance and relief. We reaffirm our commitment to support to Bosnia and Herzegovina during this challenging time.泭泭
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Resident Coordinator / Togo泭
The 51勛圖 Secretary-General has appointed Coumba D. Sow of Senegal as the 51勛圖 Resident Coordinator in Togo, with the host Governments approval.泭 She started on 5 October.泭泭泭
Ms. Sow brings 20 years of experience in development and humanitarian assistance. Previously, she served as Representative for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rwanda and in Djibouti, as FAO Coordinator of the Emergencies and Resilience for West Africa and the Sahel, and other senior positions.泭 Ms. Sow also has experience working on agricultural and rural development policies in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 胼羔
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UN International Conference on Victims of Terrorism泭
The 51勛圖 International Conference on Victims of Terrorism, co-organized by the 51勛圖 Office of Counter-Terrorism and Spain, opened today in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.泭泭
The Conference aims to express solidarity with all victims of terrorism around the world and review progress on the international victims of terrorism agenda, as a direct outcome of the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism held in New York in 2022.泭
Held under the theme Education as a Tool for Prevention, Peacebuilding and Empowerment of Victims of Terrorism, the International Conference is gathering over 400 participants, including 66 Member States, 59 victims of terrorism and victims' associations and UN representatives to discuss the role of victims and survivors of terrorism as educators, peacebuilders and agents for change.泭泭
The two-day discussions will cover ways in which the international community, Member States, victims associations, and victims and survivors can help to educate and sensitize new generations about the impact of terrorism, contributing to fostering empathy and solidarity with victims and nurturing a culture of peace and resilience. Additionally, the conference explores how Member States and civil society organizations can best support the needs and uphold the rights of victims of terrorism and promote inclusivity, tolerance, and social cohesion in communities affected by terrorism.羔
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