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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

FRIDAY, 17 APRIL 2026

SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVEL 

Today, in The Hague, the Secretary-General addressed a solemn sitting to celebrate the 80th anniversary of International Court of Justice inaugural session.  

The Secretary-General said that it is easy to forget the world of eighty years ago. Europe, and far beyond, lay in ruins, and The Hague itself was scarred and shaken. And yet, he said, in that dark and difficult moment, world leaders made a defining choice, a choice to reject a future ruled by coercion and violence, and to embrace a future rooted in the United Nations Charter and international law. &�Բ�����;

The Secretary-General stressed that the Court’s decisions, including provisional measures, are binding on the parties to a case, and respect for those decisions is not optional; it is a Charter obligation. Yet today, he said, violations of international law are unfolding before our eyes, warning that when the law of force replaces the force of law, instability becomes contagious. 

The Secretary-General emphasized that to weaken international law is to erode the foundations of global stability, and to strengthen it is to invest in a world governed by justice, not fear. His full remarks have been shared with you. &�Բ�����;

Also today, the Secretary-General had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister and Minister for General Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten. &�Բ�����;

This afternoon, the Secretary-General will meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Tom Berendsen, and will have meeting with Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.  

MIDDLE EAST

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement today by the Islamic Republic of Iran that the Strait of Hormuz is completely open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire. 

The Secretary-General considers this a step in the right direction. The United Nations’ position remains clear: we need the full restoration of international navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz to be respected by all parties. 

The Secretary-General remains fully supportive of the diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful path forward out of the current conflict in the Middle East. He also hopes that, together with the ceasefire, this measure will contribute to creating confidence between the parties and strengthen the ongoing dialogue facilitated by Pakistan. 

LEBANON  

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and commends the role of the United States in facilitating the ceasefire. He reaffirms the support of the United Nations to all efforts to end hostilities and alleviate the suffering of communities on both sides of the Blue Line. The Secretary-General hopes that this ceasefire will pave the way for negotiations and the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) towards a long-term solution to the conflict.

Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert continues her good offices engagement with all stakeholders to support the parties to fully implement resolution 1701 towards a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution to the conflict.  

Meanwhile, the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports that peacekeepers have not detected projectiles fired from north to south or airstrikes in the area of operations since midnight.  

 LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN 

On the ground in Lebanon, OCHA’s partners say some displaced families are starting to return to Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon, including parts of Nabatieh and the Tyre. 

According to our partners and local authorities, thousands of people were seen travelling south early this morning, with major roads congested, particularly near the villages of Qasmiyeh and Zefta in southern Lebanon, despite extensive damage to bridges and infrastructure. Reinforced pipes and other temporary fixes have been installed at river crossings in the South governorate and the coastal route of Qasmiyeh to facilitate returns. 

But OCHA warns that risks to people’s safety remain, including unexploded ordnance in many residential areas across the South and Nabatieh governorates.  

As of 5:00 p.m. in Lebanon today, 113,000 people were in collective shelters, down from 141,000 yesterday. As a reminder, some 1.2 million people were displaced during the escalation. Our partners continue to support the humanitarian response in close coordination with the local authorities.    

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that attacks on residential areas continue to be reported in all parts of the Strip every day. &�Բ�����;There is no guaranteed safety for civilians anywhere in Gaza. 

Yesterday, attacks were reported across all five governorates with airstrikes, shelling, navy fire and shooting, causing casualties. In Deir al Balah area, bullets hit the UN Relief and Works Agency’s Maghazi Health Centre, reportedly causing damage and injuries. OCHA stresses that civilians and civilian facilities must always be protected. 

Despite the risks, humanitarian support continues, including through a joint UN-run response mechanism that secures quick support to families affected by weather events and other sudden developments. 

Last week, the UN and our partners gave aid to more than 300 households through this mechanism; dozens of them received tents and hundreds received tarpaulins, blankets and other essential household items. 

Today, the UN Population Fund warned of economic hardship leading to reduced income, limited access to essential services and increased exposure to exploitation and abuse among an estimated 57,000 women who head their households. They also reported high levels of child marriage, which is used as a harmful way to cope with hardship. 

In the first three months of 2026, safe spaces and women’s shelters supported over 23,300 women and girls with case management and services that respond to gender-based violence. 

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/SPRING MEETINGS

The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed visited Washington, DC, from 14 to 17 April 2026 for IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings to engage with Government leaders, international financial institutions, development partners, media and civil society on advancing reform of the international financial system and strengthening multilateral cooperation at a time of heightened global uncertainty.

As part of her engagements, the Deputy Secretary-General highlighted United Nations efforts to advance debt reforms agreed at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, aimed at tackling the debt crisis, lowering the cost of capital, and supporting domestic resource mobilization.

At the World Bank–IMF Development Committee, a ministerial forum on development and financing on 16 April, the Deputy Secretary‑General warned that the war in the Middle East is threatening a far‑reaching economic and development crisis. She highlighted how shocks to energy markets and supply chains are generating far-reaching effects, disproportionately affecting vulnerable countries already reeling from earlier shocks and debt vulnerabilities. Calling for an urgent three‑part response, she stressed strong global action using multilateral tools, accelerated reform of the international financial architecture, and a sharp focus on results amid declining aid flows.

In addition, the Deputy Secretary-General participated in several high‑level dialogues focused on the future of development cooperation. She underscored the importance of rebuilding the spirit of partnership that underpins such cooperation.

Throughout the visit, the Deputy Secretary-General engaged with international media, reinforcing key messages on debt relief, development finance, climate action, multilateral cooperation and women’s leadership.

The Deputy Secretary-General returned to New York on Friday, 17 April.

LACROIX/TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT 

The Head of UN Peacekeeping, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, will travel to Cyprus and Switzerland from 19 to 24 April. 

In Cyprus, he will meet with authorities from both sides to discuss the current situation and the role of the UN Peacekeeping mission there, UNFICYP, in supporting stability on the island, including efforts to facilitate dialogue, prevent tensions and maintain calm in and around the buffer zone. 

He will also meet with the mission leadership, the diplomatic community and mission personnel.  

In addition, Mr. Lacroix will engage with youth representatives and take part in the launch of the global “Through Her Lens” photo exhibit which highlights the role of women in advancing peace and security.  

The Peacekeeping Chief will then visit Switzerland from 21 to 24th April. In Bern, he will discuss peace and security cooperation with Swiss authorities and meet with Swiss peacekeepers and their leadership at the Swiss Armed Forces’ peacekeeping centre in Stans. 

Then he will travel to Geneva, where he will open the 29th International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and United Nations Advisers, which brings together experts to advance best practices in addressing explosive hazards, ranging from improvised explosive devices to anti-tank mines.  

MEXICO 

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, will visit Mexico from 19-22 April. 

In Mexico City, the High Commission intends to meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum and other senior officials, as well as with civil society representatives and victims of human rights violations. Mr. Türk will also engage with the Mexican Federation of Public Human Rights Organizations and members of the private sector, the UN country team, among others.  

SECURITY COUNCIL/SOUTH SUDAN 

This morning, the Security Council held an open briefing on South Sudan. Anita Kiki Gbeho, the newly-appointed Special Representative and Head of the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, stressed that South Sudan’s challenges cannot be resolved militarily. A sustained political pathway is essential, with the mission supporting regional engagement through the AU-IGAD-UN Trilateral framework. 

Briefing via VTC from Berlin, Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said two-thirds of the population need humanitarian support this year, including over 7.5 million people will need food assistance, while the $1.46 billion Humanitarian Plan is just 22 per cent funded. He called for urgent Council action to ensure humanitarian access, boost flexible funding and press parties to uphold ceasefires and advance the peace agreement.

CAMEROON 

The Secretary-General followed with interest the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon, which is being conducted under the banner of peace.  

The Secretary-General calls on all actors to capitalize on the momentum of the Pope’s visit to Bamenda in the country’s North-West region, including the announced break in fighting. The United Nations remains willing to support any efforts in this direction. 

HAITI 

The World Food Programme (WFP) today called for support for Haiti as it issued a new report that shows that more than half of all Haitians continue to face acute food insecurity. 

An updated analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reveals that 5.8 million Haitians, or roughly 52 per cent of the population, are facing crisis levels or worse of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). Of those, more than 1.8 million are dealing with emergency food insecurity levels (IPC Phase 4) for the period of March to June 2026. That means they are exhausting their last assets and unable to meet even basic food needs.  

In 2025, despite a complex operating environment, WFP worked with the government and partners to assist 2.7 million people in Haiti. But WFP requires $332 million dollars to maintain its crucial operations over the next 12 months. If enough funding is secured, the agency plans to reach more than 2.7 million people with critical emergency and resilience building support. &�Բ�����;

HAITI/HUMANITARIAN 

Also from Haiti, our OCHA colleagues report new displacement following armed attacks earlier this week in the South- East department. 

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), violence on 13 April in the municipality of Marigot displaced more than 1,300 people. Most of them are currently sheltering with host families.  

IOM notes that this is the first time that displacement of this scale, directly linked to armed attacks, has been recorded in the South-East department. This is an area that has previously served as a reception zone for people displaced by violence elsewhere in the country. More than 165,000 people are currently hosted privately across the department. 

OCHA is coordinating the humanitarian response where conditions allow, in close collaboration with authorities and partners.             

However, ongoing insecurity and access constraints, combined with the scale of needs and limited funding, continue to affect the reach and pace of humanitarian assistance in affected areas. 

The $880 million Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti is just under 20 per cent funded, with $172 million received. 

AFGHANISTAN 

From Afghanistan, OCHA warns that cross-border hostilities, including shelling, airstrikes and clashes,  between Afghanistan and Pakistan since late February have driven humanitarian needs higher.  

Civilian infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, including hundreds of homes, while dozens of health facilities and schools have been damaged or destroyed. Humanitarian aid is hindered and explosive hazards remain a threat. Hundreds of civilian casualties have been reported. 

Last night, a woman was killed due to shelling in Dangam district, in the province of Kunar. In addition, three people were killed on Wednesday in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as a result of shelling from Afghanistan. 

Our education partners said that a school in Kunar province was struck on Wednesday. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the school was severely damaged.  

Although the main supply road between the district of Nari in Kunar and Kamdesh in the province of Nuristan reopened on Monday, after having been closed for two months, UN road missions remain suspended due to security concerns. Border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan largely remain closed. 

The violence has so far displaced more than 94,000 people across the provinces of Khost, Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktia, Paktika and Nuristan. We and our partners are assessing humanitarian needs in hard-to-reach areas.  

Some 160,000 people are facing food insecurity and around 90,000 people have reduced access to health services, while some 12,000 students have had their educations curtailed. 

Our partners warn that safety concerns remain high, including explosive hazards and gender-based violence.  

OCHA reiterates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, and safe and sustained humanitarian access must be facilitated to reach people in need. 

PEACEKEEPING

Today was the last day of the week-long Heads of Military Components Conference (HoMCC) 2026. The yearly event brings together Heads of Military Components from all UN peacekeeping missions, UN leadership and key stakeholders to discuss ongoing challenges and generate actionable recommendations to adapt UN peacekeeping operations to the evolving and demands on peace operations. 

Under the theme “Future-Ready Peacekeeping: Reshaping to Achieve Mission Impact,” the conference focused on transitioning from traditional peacekeeping models to more agile, mobile, and impact-oriented military postures to better respond to increasingly complex and volatile operating environments.

Discussions throughout the week also highlighted critical priorities including the protection of civilians, gender-responsive leadership, strategic communications and information integrity, and the impact of funding constraints on peace operations.

EXHIBITION/SUDAN 

The Permanent Missions of Denmark, Liberia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, in partnership with UNHCR, are launching an opening of a photo exhibition entitled ‘Faces of Sudan: Women in War’ on Monday, April 20 in the UN Delegates’ Entrance. The photographs were taken by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Helena Christensen during her visit to Chad last year, and three years on of the conflict, the photos capture the stories and courage of Sudanese refugee women and girls forced to flee across borders. The exhibit also speaks to 75 years of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the world’s collective promise to uphold the right to seek safety, a promise kept by neighbouring countries welcoming those fleeing. To attend the opening, please get in touch with the organising missions. The exhibit will be up through 1 May.   

WFP/EXHIBITION

As diplomats and officials from across the world gather at the United Nations headquarters for the annual Financing for Development Forum they will be welcomed by an interactive exhibition showcasing innovative solutions in the humanitarian sector. Hosted by  the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Mali to the United Nations, the exhibition titled “Innovation Rooted in Humanity” will open on 20 April on  the eve of UN International Creativity and Innovation Day, underscoring the essential role of human‑centred innovation in advancing sustainable development and global food security and addressing today’s most complex humanitarian and development challenges. The opening will be followed by a reception at the Visitor Lobby (Sputnik area East 46th St Entrance).  

**Guest 

Noon briefing guest today was Fabrizia Falcione, the UNFPA’s (United Nations Population Fund) Country Representative in Sudan. She briefed on the situation in Sudan. 

On Monday, the guest will be Hamza Malik, Director of the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). He will discuss the launch of ESCAP’s 2026 flagship report, Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific.