Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

**Guest

Alright, good afternoon.  I was going to say happy Friday, but who knows if that’s even such a thing anymore.  In a short while, I will be joined by Fabrizia Falcione, the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Country Representative in Sudan.  She will be connecting from Khartoum to give you an update on the situation in Sudan.

**Guest on Monday

And on Monday, my guest here will be Hamza Malik, Director of the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, at ESCAP, which is the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.  He will join us here to discuss the launch of ESCAP’s 2026 flagship report “Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific”.

**Secretary-General’s Travel

Today, in The Hague, the Secretary-General, where about an hour ago, he addressed a solemn sitting of the Court to celebrate the eightieth anniversary of International Court of Justice (ICJ) inaugural session. The Secretary-General says it is easy to forget the world of 80 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. 

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, he said; the respect for decisions is a Charter obligation.  Yet, today, he added, 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 and not by fear.  His full remarks have been shared with you. 

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.  This afternoon, the Secretary-General also met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Tom Berendsen, and he also met with Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.  The Secretary-General will leave The Hague later today.

**Middle East

Turning to the Middle East, I have a statement on the Strait of Hormuz:  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.  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

Turning to Lebanon, you saw that yesterday we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and he commended the role of the United States in facilitating the ceasefire.  The Secretary-General very much 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.

The Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, continues her good-offices engagement with all stakeholders to support the parties to fully implement of the Secretary-General resolution 1701 (2006) towards a permanent ceasefire.  Meanwhile, our blue helmet colleagues report that they have not detected projectiles fired from north to south or air strikes in the area of operations since midnight.

On the ground, in Lebanon, our humanitarian partners say some displaced families are starting to return to Beirut’s southern suburbs, as well as to 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 civilian infrastructure.  Reinforced pipes and other temporary fixes have been installed at river crossings in the South Governorate and the coastal route of Qasmiyeh in order to facilitate returns.

But, our humanitarian colleagues warns that risks to people’s safety remain, including unexploded ordnance in many residential areas across the South and Nabatieh Governorates.  As of 5 p.m. in Lebanon today, 113,000 people were in collective shelters; that’s 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 Lebanese authorities at the local and national level.

**Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tell us that attacks on residential areas continue to be reported in all parts of the Strip every day.  There is no guaranteed safety for civilians anywhere in Gaza, they tell us.

Yesterday, attacks were reported across all five governorates with airstrikes, shelling, navy fire and shooting, causing casualties.  In Deir al-Balah, bullets hit the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East’s (UNRWA) Maghazi Health Centre, reportedly causing damage and injuries.  OCHA stresses that civilians and civilian facilities must always be protected and never be targeted.

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, we 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, UNFPA 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.

**UN Peacekeeping

A couple of travel announcements.  First from Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General, who 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 United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (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 24 April.  In Bern, he will discuss peace and security cooperation with Swiss authorities and meet with Swiss peacekeepers and their leadership at SWISSINT, the Swiss Armed Forces’ peacekeeping centre in Stans.  Then he will travel to Geneva, where he will open the twenty-ninth 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

And also traveling is Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, he will visit Mexico from 19 to 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.

**South Sudan

And back here, the Security Council held an open briefing on South Sudan.  Anita Kiki Gbeho, the newly appointed Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), briefed Council members, stressing 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 head of our humanitarian department, 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, meanwhile, is following 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.

**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 continues to be hindered and explosive hazards remain a threat.  Hundreds of civilian casualties have been reported in that regard.

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 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 remain mainly 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.  We reiterate once again that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, and safe and sustained humanitarian access must be facilitated for people to be reached.

**Haiti

A quick update on Haiti, and not a positive one.  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) tells 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. That means they are exhausting their last assets and unable to meet even basic food needs.

Last year, 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 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.

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 men, women and children 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 only $172 million received.

**Exhibition/Sudan

Before we go to our guest on Sudan, I want to flag that the Permanent Missions of Denmark, Liberia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, in partnership with Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), are launching an opening of a photo exhibition entitled Faces of Sudan:  Women in War, and that will take place on Monday 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.  If you would like to attend the opening, please get in touch with the organising missions.  The exhibit will be up through 1 May.  On that note, no money but there will be questions, which I will get paid to answer. Go ahead, Edie.

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Thank you, Steph.  Some 40 countries met today to discuss keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, including the British and the French.  Is the UN involved in this activity at all?

Spokesman:  My understanding is that the Secretary-General of the International [Maritime] Organization is there, and he spoke to the gathering.  I think from his remarks, he underscored, obviously, the need to restore full freedom of navigation, but also underscored the plight of the thousands and thousands of seafarers who have been stuck on ships for a long time.

Question:  And is the UN planning to play any kind of a role in this operation?

Spokesman:  I don't have anything to share with you at this time.  Yes.  Go ahead, Fathi.

Question:  Thank you, Steph.  With regard to the Secretary-General’s remarks today at The Hague at the ICJ, although the occasion, the symbolism and the gesture of the Secretary-General's travel personally to The Hague to attend this occasion.  And through the readouts you provided, I haven't heard anything about working sessions with the justices at the ICJ.  The Secretary-General, a few days ago here at the stakeout, he delivered short remarks, with the punchline that international law is under strain.  UN personnel are in harm's way, and the numbers of whether blue helmets, relief workers, et cetera, is on the rise.  Does this not represent legal challenges that the Secretary-General need to discuss with the justices, or that contradict with the independence of the Court that they should hear from an outside source?

Spokesman:  It is not for the Secretary-General to have any discussions with the judges sitting on the Court about specific cases.  As you know, the Secretariat is sometimes called to present to the Court, to submit cases to the Court, and we've done so recently on a number of cases, including the situation in Gaza.  So, I think there's not going to be any discussion on cases between the SG and the Court President or other judges.  I think the fact that the Secretary-General was invited to address a solemn session of the Court is a strong symbol of the Secretary-General's own position on the defence of international law, and that's a defence, I think, that is clear to anyone who follows him, listens to him, and speaks with him.

Correspondent:  Follow-up, please.  I didn't mean cases.  I meant issues that…

Spokesman:  I mean, I'm sure they chatted, but I…

Correspondent:  The international law is under strain.  That's an issue.

Spokesman:  Yes, I think that that is a statement that the Secretary-General has been making more than weekly, almost, in the times that we are in.  And I think his position is very clear.  Namo, then Gabriel.

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  Iran has tied the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the remaining period of the Lebanon ceasefire and specified “coordinates routes”.  Does the Secretary-General view this to be in full compliance with the principle of the freedom of navigation under international law?

Spokesman:  Look.  There are a lot of statements being made — almost, I wouldn't even say hourly.  You know, every 10 minutes, there seem to be new statements regarding the situation on the ground.  The issue of full freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, based in international law that needs to be respected, is very clear. It is not something to be negotiated. Gabriel?

Question:  Thanks, Steph.  President [Donald J.] Trump in a post on social media in regards to the situation in the Middle East said, and I'm reading part of it, he said, Israel will not be bombing Lebanon anymore.  They are prohibited from doing so by the USA.  Enough is enough.  I'm asking this question to you because the Secretary-General has said many times, and you've said that you encourage Member States with influence to use that influence to bring about peace or ceasefires.  Is this an example of that?  And would the Secretary-General echo the statements of President Trump?

Spokesman:  Look.  I say as, I've told some of your colleagues, I'm not here to grade, comment or express an opinion on every tweet, post or anything by any world leader.  I think the Secretary-General has been clear that in this, and he said it yesterday.  In this instance, he also welcomes and thanks the United States for facilitating the ceasefire in Lebanon, and which also impacts Israel, right?  I mean, we've seen Hizbullah rockets go into Israel, and we've seen Israeli military activities in Lebanon.  Everyone needs to respect their ceasefire, and that includes Hizbullah, that includes Israel.  And we need to make sure that the Government of Lebanon is fully supported in its effort to extend its full authority over its own territory.  Okay.  Anything online?  Or even in the room?

Question:  Thank you, Steph.  Sorry, just a quick one.  Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, says that the UN shipping agency is currently verifying announcements related to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.  Have you heard anything back from him?

Spokesman:  No, I mean, I saw the statement he made.  That is clearly in his wheelhouse, which is an apt metaphor, given it's the International Maritime Organization.  On that note, I will ask for a guest to be put on screen.