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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

FRIDAY, 26 JUNE 2026

VENEZUELA

The Secretary-General last night spoke to the Acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez. In a call, he expressed his solidarity with the people and Government of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes. 

The Secretary-General pledged the full cooperation of the UN system in support of the government led-relief efforts.

On the ground, the UN and its humanitarian partners, are rapidly scaling-up our response, conducting assessments and mobilizing assistance. The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, allocated yesterday $15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support urgent, life-saving assistance, including health care, shelter, food and water.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that the Government is leading the response efforts focused on search and rescue, emergency medical care and damage assessment, while international assistance is scaling-up rapidly, with Urban Search and Rescue teams deploying from multiple countries.

OCHA is supporting coordination efforts on the ground, facilitating information-sharing and working with partners to help ensure the effective deployment of international search-and-rescue teams. A total of 30 of these teams are deploying to Venezuela, with more than 1,600 personnel and more than 100 dogs, coming from a wide array of countries. 

The UN Disaster and Assessment teams have also been mobilized, along with a four-member operational support team. Several OCHA staff are also being deployed to Venezuela.                  

Our colleagues at the World Food Programme (WFP) tell us that the first 72 hours are obviously crucial for search and rescue, but they are also critical for positioning food and other relief supplies that people will need in the coming days. 

WFP says that it has enough to feed more than 10,000 families for two months in Venezuela. Teams are also looking for the fastest way to mobilise further food assistance and are establishing response priorities across the affected areas.

WFP added that there are also over 1,400 Metric tonnes in relief items from partners that are ready to be deployed at the WFP-managed UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), which is in Panama.

For its part, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that an estimated 3.9 million children live in the areas affected by the earthquakes, putting thousands of children and their families at even further risk. UNICEF is on the ground and coordinating closely with national authorities, the broader system and local partners and international partners to assess needs and support a rapid, effective response. To enable immediate action, UNICEF has allocated $1.5 million from its internal resources and $1 million from the Global Humanitarian Thematic Funding.                           

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for its part is scaling core relief item distributions in coordination with the government and partners. Regional Core Relief Items stocks, such as tents and housing units, mosquito nets and solar lamps in Panama will be quickly mobilized. UNHCR teams on the ground continue coordinating the protection response and scaling-up emergency shelter, relief, and support services.

The UN and its humanitarian partners remain fully mobilized, working closely with national authorities to ensure assistance reaches those most in need as quickly as possible.

On Monday, the noon briefing guest will be Gianluca Rampolla Del Tindaro, who is the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Venezuela. 

He will brief virtually from Caracas about the earthquakes that hit Venezuela.

UN CHARTER DAY

This morning, the Secretary-General marked that 81st UN Charter Day, which commemorates the signing of the UN Charter, which took place in 1945 in San Francisco. At the ceremony today in the General Assembly, he said that the Charter was a promise to the world: that humanity can choose cooperation over chaos; law over lawlessness; dignity over domination; and hope over fear.

Mr. Guterres said that the UN has never been perfect, but it is irreplaceable. 

Today, he warned, that promise is being tested to the breaking point, with wars of territorial expansion grinding on, famine used as a weapon and aid as a bargaining chip, civilians treated as targets, and ceasefires proclaimed one day, and shattered the next. He reminded Member States that the Charter is not an à la carte menu. Its principles are not optional, and they are not negotiable.

The Secretary-General said that we must strengthen diplomacy and solidarity across regions and accelerate action on sustainable development because peace, dignity and opportunity go hand in hand, adding that we must build a UN that adapts to a changing world.

SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS 

The Secretary-General is today appointing Mohamed Yahya of Somalia as the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. That is in the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

He will succeed Joyce Msuya of Tanzania, to whom both the Secretary-General and Tom Fletcher, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, are grateful for her dedicated service to the humanitarian cause.

Mr. Yahya brings to the position over two decades of experience in development, humanitarian action and peacebuilding, gained at headquarters, regional and field levels.    

His current role is as United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan.

The second appointment by the Secretary-General today is Catharina Boehme of Germany as Assistant Secretary-General to serve as Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, the Programme of the United Nations Population Fund. 

She succeeds Diene Keita, who as you know, has transitioned to become the Executive Director at UNFPA.

Dr. Boehme has served as the Acting Regional Director for the WHO in South-East Asia since July 2025. She previously served as Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Governance (2023–2025) and Chef de Cabinet (2021–2023) at WHO.

SUDAN/SECURITY COUNCIL

This morning, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacekeeping Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, briefed Council members on the situation in Sudan, stressing that efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire must go hand in hand with advancing a sustainable political solution, noting that the parties and their allies are seeking a clear roadmap for Sudan's political future. She also welcomed plans announced by the Sudanese authorities to launch a national dialogue process.

Also briefing, was the Deputy Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Hannan Sulieman. She said that tragically since the conflict began, more than 5,000 children have been killed or maimed, but the real figure is likely to be much higher.  She urged Council members to continue pressing all parties to facilitate rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, across conflict lines emphasizing that humanitarian assistance must reach children wherever they are.  

Pekka Haavisto, the Secretary-General Personal Envoy, will be briefing Security Council members this afternoon in closed consultations.

SUDAN

Both, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacekeeping Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, and the Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, Hannan Sulieman, also focused on the situation in El Obeid. 

For its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) continues to provide vital food and cash assistance to over 100,000 of the most vulnerable people in El Obeid. The agency is now moving quickly to bring in more life-saving food assistance in the area. The goal is to be ready to support more than 250,000 human beings who may be forced to escape the city if the situation deteriorates further. El Obeid is a critical humanitarian hub for the wider Kordofan region and a lifeline for civilians already enduring siege-like conditions and shrinking access to the most basic services. 

WFP urgently requires $646 million to maintain life-saving food assistance operations in Sudan for the next six months. 

LEBANON

The United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) says that in Lebanon, from midnight to 4:00 p.m. local time, peacekeepers did not detect any trajectory of projectiles attributable to any side.

Yesterday, however, UNIFIL detected the highest number of trajectories of projectiles since Sunday originating from IDF positions south of the Blue Line and within our mission’s area of operations. They observed 32 such trajectories, with 24 of them originating from the general area of Yaroun and impacting near Brashit in Sector West, while the remaining eight originated from south of the Blue Line and impacted the general area of Aytarun in Sector West as well. Peacekeepers did not detect any trajectory from Lebanese non-state actors yesterday.

Also yesterday, an air strike was also observed northwest of Bayt Yahun in Sector West, while drones were spotted flying southwest of Tiri in Sector West and near Adshit Al Qusayr in Sector East.

Additionally, UNIFIL personnel reported a total of 32 firing incidents yesterday, originating from IDF positions south of the Blue Line and within the area of operations. UNIFIL observed multiple incidents near Al Bayyadah in Sector West, including bursts of heavy machine gun fire and small-arms fire, including six 40-mm grenades. UNIFIL also reported that approximately 100 rounds of small arms fire from an IDF position crossed the Blue Line, southeast of Kafer Chouba in Sector East.

Once again, we urge all to adhere fully to the ceasefire and refrain from any escalation, particularly during this delicate period of ongoing negotiations.

UNIFIL also observed an IDF patrol boat crossing into Lebanese territorial waters yesterday southwest of Al Naqoura before returning to Israeli waters. Peacekeepers also continue to face impediments while moving around the mission’s area of operations including roadblocks. 

On the humanitarian front, UNIFIL, through its Liaison Branch and in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), facilitated eight humanitarian missions by four organizations in Sector West and one in Sector East yesterday. 

OCHA says that a total of 290 movements were facilitated by the Humanitarian Notification System, reaching people across southern Lebanon, since March 2nd. OCHA says that a lot of people are returning now to their homes and their places of origin. Numbers of people who sought safety in collective shelters obviously continue to decline, with sites closing as families depart.

The UN reiterates that returns must be safe, they must be voluntary and they must be dignified, and there is a need for sustained support to meet ongoing humanitarian needs, alongside safe and unimpeded humanitarian access.

SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR LEBANON

In answer to questions about the post for the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, with Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert leaving, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-Genera said that Jean Arnault will be traveling to Lebanon in the coming days to serve as Officer-in-Charge for the Office of the Special Coordinator. That is as of 1 July. 

And, once again, we express our thanks and gratitude for Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert for her work in that post.  She will now take up her responsibilities as Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

In Gaza, the UN and its partners are continuing to carry out pest control in all populated areas of the Gaza Strip, but skin diseases and other related health conditions remain widespread.

As most of the water network remains destroyed, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) last week brought into Gaza five additional water trucks, and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) brought in water treatment chemicals. Together, this will boost our ability to provide water to communities by truck. 

As previously mentioned, water trucking remains a backup option, but it is expensive to sustain. Repairing the heavily damaged infrastructure is essential.

Meanwhile, last week, partners provided psychosocial care, legal aid and case management to nearly 50,000 people across Gaza. At the same time, targeted assistance and cash support helped nearly 20,000 people and hundreds of vulnerable households to meet their basic needs. 

Today, also the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) released an assessment showing that farmers in Gaza have been able to rehabilitate about 24 hectares of greenhouse infrastructure since the declaration of the ceasefire.

FAO says that these developments coincide with signs of recovery of the livestock sector. The UN and its partners are supporting agricultural recovery through cash, livestock support and technical guidance. Since October, FAO has distributed nearly 600 tonnes of animal feed every month, and still, UN partners warn that 80 per cent of the greenhouse infrastructure remains damaged or out of production. And most of the land in the Gaza Strip remains inaccessible to Palestinians, which obviously limits livelihood and their ability to farm.

HAITI

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today warned that the humanitarian situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, with new displacement recorded across several departments. More than 2,600 people have been displaced in Artibonite department following clashes between armed group last week, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 

More than three-quarters of the displaced sought refuge in the commune of Marchand Dessalines. Continuing violence in Artibonite is raising serious protection concerns. Meanwhile, in the West department, renewed armed clashes in Cité Soleil since June 13th have displaced more than 5,000 people. This adds to the thousands of persons who had been recently displaced multiple times while fleeing the fight in Cité Soleil.

Our humanitarian colleagues note that ongoing violence has severely disrupted health services, particularly for women and girls. It has forced Doctors Without Borders to suspend activities at its maternity facility in Cité Soleil on June 19th, which obviously deprives thousands of women to access maternal and reproductive health care in one of the most densely populated areas of the Haitian capital. These displacement and violence dynamics are occurring in a context of increasing forced returns to Haiti. 

According to IOM, more than 117,000 people were returned between January and June of this year.  24 per cent of all forcibly returned migrants in 2026 are women and 8 per cent are children. OCHA continues to work with our humanitarian partners to assess needs and provide assistance. The $880 million Humanitarian Appeal for 2026 is currently only 27 per cent funded.              

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT

The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, will travel to Cairo this afternoon for the first in a new series of high-level dialogues on Artificial Intelligence and Human Development.

In Cairo, she will also meet with Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, and His Eminence Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.

Following her engagements in Cairo, she will travel to Hamburg, Germany, to participate in the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, which brings together leaders from government, international organizations, business, academia and civil society to advance implementation of the SDGs. During her visit, she will participate in multiple high-level events and hold a series of bilateral meetings with senior government officials, representatives of international organizations and various partners.

On Monday, she will go to London, where she will convene a high-level roundtable to discuss SDGs in an Era of Flux. That will be on Tuesday 30 June. The meeting will bring together a small, diverse group of senior leaders for an open and substantive exchange on sustainable development.

She will then go to Geneva on 1 July as part of the broader UN80 consultation process, meeting with senior UN officials across the system, Member States and other key stakeholders. Her discussions will focus on reinforcing partnerships and gathering perspectives that will help shape the Organization’s shared priorities for the year ahead. 

UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACE OPERATIONS/TRAVEL

The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean‑Pierre Lacroix, has concluded his visit to Pristina and Belgrade, where he met with senior officials, Kosovo Serb representatives, members of the diplomatic community, international organizations and civil society. He discussed key priorities, including the importance of continued engagement and cooperation in promoting lasting peace, stability and security in the Western Balkans, as well as support for the EU‑facilitated Belgrade‑Pristina Dialogue and ongoing efforts by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to promote trust‑building.

In Sarajevo, Mr. Lacroix met key national and institutional stakeholders, including senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Armed Forces. He also engaged with the Agency for Gender Equality, the UN Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team, as well as international partners.

COUNTER-TERRORISM WEEK

The Fourth Counter-Terrorism Week gets underway today and will run through 2 July, bringing together Member States, UN entities and partners.

On Monday morning, the Secretary-General will open the High-level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States, one of the flagship events of the week. The Conference will provide an opportunity to take stock of progress in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, strengthen international cooperation and examine emerging and evolving terrorist threats, while promoting inclusive and coordinated responses.

Throughout the week, nearly 40 side events are scheduled, some of them already started today, these are organized by Member States, our own UN entities, civil society and other partners.     

INTERNATIONAL DAYS

Tomorrow is Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day. In his message, the Secretary-General highlights the vital role small businesses play in creating jobs and driving growth, while urging greater investment, innovation and international cooperation to help them navigate economic uncertainty and build resilience.

And tomorrow we mark the International Day of Deafblindness. This day commemorates the birth of renowned author and disability rights advocate Helen Keller (1880–1968), one of the most iconic figures of the deafblindness community. Helen Keller visited the UN in 1949. Her visit reflected the growing international recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities and the importance of ensuring that everyone can participate fully in public life.