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.

**Briefing

Alright, good afternoon. Just as a reminder, after you are done with me, there will be a hybrid press briefing here by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Joining you will be Dylan Winder, the Permanent Observer of the IFRC to the UN; Isabelle Granger, the IFRC Global Lead on Disaster Law and Dr. Sian Proctor, geoscientist and an astronaut. We don't get many astronauts in this briefing room. They are here to brief you on the new IFRC disaster research campaign launch: "Astronauts at the heart of push for the world's first international disaster treaty." And she is wearing her uniform, so that's even more interesting.

**UN80

Alright, this morning, as you saw, there was a vote in the General Assembly on the merger that accomplishes one of the goals of the Secretary-General had set under his UN80 reforms. The Secretary-General will speak to the GA at 3 p.m. this afternoon to discuss progress of UN80, and we'll share those remarks with you. And I do have a statement on the vote.

**UN System Staff College/UN Institute for Training and Research Merger

And that is that the Secretary-General welcomes today's General Assembly decision to merge the United Nations System Staff College with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), replacing them with a single new entity: the UN Institute for Capability and Learning Innovation (UNICLI). This decision is an important step towards the Secretary-General's UN80 Initiative, and part of the broader consolidation of the UN system's training and research capacities. The adoption of this decision during the eightieth session of the General Assembly carries particular significance.

Today's decision creates a stronger, a more integrated platform of learning and capability development, and institutional transformation. It recognizes that capability and development, continuous learning, and innovation are not ancillary functions, but strategic drivers of the UN's effectiveness and reform, and impact for Member States. The Secretary-General invites Member States, the UN entities, partners, and all stakeholders to join us in shaping the new entity's future and strengthening its contribution to a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient world. That has been shared with you.

**Nepal

Turning to Nepal and the response to the devastating floods we saw there. Tom Fletcher, our Emergency Relief Coordinator, has allocated an additional $500,000 from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to the humanitarian efforts in Nepal. This brings the total CERF funding following the disaster to $2.5 million. In preparation for the soon-to-be released Flash Appeal, we are working with district authorities to strengthen coordination and assess what communities impacted by the floods need.

Humanitarian colleagues note that access remains challenging. Destroyed roads and bridges means operations must be conducted largely using air assets, which is expensive. However, nearly all damaged telecommunications towers, we are told, are nearly back in service. We thank those Member States who stepped up to support the Government-led response and our support to it. And as I mentioned, we will be releasing a Flash Appeal in the coming days, and we will urge Member States for their further support so we can help all those who need it and wherever they may be.

**Lebanon

Turning to Lebanon, our peacekeeping colleagues tell us that while incidents decreased following the signing of the Framework Agreement in late June, recent developments underscore the fragility of the situation. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) recorded an increase in violence during August. On 1 September, the mission recorded 56 IDF [Israel Defense Forces] projectiles, a figure that rose to 84 yesterday. Our peacekeepers tell us they have not detected any Hizbullah projectile launches since 21 June.

Meanwhile, through its liaison mechanisms and in coordination with our humanitarian colleagues, UNIFIL facilitated 20 humanitarian missions between Monday and Wednesday. That includes 16 in the Sector West of their area of operations.

The Mission continues to record daily violations by Israel of Lebanese airspace, as well as air strikes, ground activities and naval operations. Peacekeepers have reported the continued consolidation and fortification of Israeli positions, the construction of new infrastructure and other engineering works. They have also noted the presence of individuals appearing to be Israeli civilian personnel carrying out demolition and engineering activities in support of the military operations.

The mission also tells us that there is extensive Israeli military presence north of the Blue Line, which constitutes a violation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We reiterate our call for the Israel Defense Forces to withdraw from all positions north of the Blue Line, and that will be in full accordance and respect with resolution 1701 (2006).

**Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning south to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that yesterday, UN teams inside Gaza collected hundreds of pallets of supplies from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing, including adult diapers, school bags and food for infants and young children. Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that, since October 2023, we and our partners have supported the medical evacuation from Gaza of more than 13,000 patients, including more than 6,000 children.

Our colleagues from WHO stressed, however, that thousands of patients still urgently need specialized medical treatment that is not available in Gaza. They called for an urgent reopening of the West Bank referral pathway, including to hospitals in East Jerusalem, and for the necessary support to rehabilitate Gaza's health system and supplies to reduce reliance on medical evacuations. Items that are currently restricted include ambulances and medical equipment. Those must be urgently be allowed in.

Meanwhile, our Special Coordinator and Humanitarian Chief in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, concluded his three-day visit to Gaza today. This morning, he met with officials at the Emirati Field Hospital in Rafah and discussed the ongoing humanitarian response and the gaps across various sectors.

In all his, many of his discussions for the last three days, Dr. Alakbarov stressed that preparation for the rainy season and winter remains a top priority. For this, additional support from donors is urgently needed. These efforts also require Israeli authorities to lift restrictions and expedite the processing of applications to take in critical equipment, as we've told you, engine oil is desperately needed and other materials needed to operate equipment, such as sewage treatment facilities.

Meanwhile, just turning to the West Bank, following yesterday's destruction by Israeli forces in Khirbet at Tabban community in Hebron, we and our humanitarian partners visited the site today to assess the needs of those who have been forcibly displaced. They report that male members of the community spent night in caves, with the community's sheep, while women slept in a tent. Today, our partners provided tents and blankets to those displaced. As we have stressed repeatedly, Palestinians across the Occupied Palestinian Territory must be protected under international humanitarian law as a population living under occupation.

**Security Council

This morning, Izumi Nakamitsu, the Secretary General's High Representative for Disarmament, briefed the Security Council on the elimination of the chemical weapons programme in Syria. She said that, for the first time since 2014, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has verified the destruction of chemical munitions from Syria. An OPCW team deployed in the country in August had verified the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs.

But, she noted that, as the OPCW Technical Secretariat has emphasized, the remaining outstanding issues are of serious concern, because they include potentially large quantities of undeclared and unverified chemical warfare agents as well as chemical munitions. Recalling last month's commemoration of the victims of the 2013 Ghouta attacks, she said the use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anyone, under any circumstances is intolerable, and that it is imperative those who have used chemical weapons are identified and held to account.

**Madagascar

Quick note to Madagascar, where Tom Fletcher continues to disperse money. He just released $6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help communities in the Grand Sud region to get ahead of expected severe dry conditions related to El Niño. Forecasts, as you know, point to significantly below-average rainfall from November through February next year, threatening deterioration in food security. The new funds will support anticipatory action now before conditions get worse and will help our partners provide life-saving food, healthcare, nutrition assistance, as well as clean water.

**World Meteorological Organization (WMO) - El Niño Report

And on El Niño, you may have seen that earlier this morning, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a report that shows that the El Niño phenomenon is firmly established and will intensify into a very strong event in the coming months. WMO noted that this will have big impacts on rainfall and temperature patterns, associated risks of floods, drought and extreme heat. Forecasts from WMO's Global Producing Centres indicate an exceptionally high likelihood of nearly 100 per cent that El Niño will persist through February of next year. This is the first time that a WMO El Niño/La Niña Update has been so unequivocal, reflecting the strong agreement within WMO's professional network.

The Secretary-General noted that El Niño is being supersized before our eyes, pointing out that the science leaves no room for doubt: the planet is in uncharted waters, and those waters are heating up, adding that sea surface temperatures are rising, temperatures keep climbing and the world is in the danger zone of extreme weather. Full update available online.

**UN Trade and Development Report

Also, another report released today by our friends at UN Trade and Development in Geneva, and their new report warns that the boom in strategic-sector investment is leaving developing economies behind. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) rose 6 per cent last year, to $1.6 trillion, but the recovery remains fragile and concentrated, with FDI to developing economies growing by just 2 per cent, while the top 20 host economies alone took in more than 80 per cent of the total.

The gap is even sharper in sectors driving growth, where investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, semiconductors, critical minerals and energy-transition technologies now makes up 44 per cent of the announced greenfield investment, up from just 16 per cent in 2020, while low-and lower-middle-income economies get only 10 per cent of all strategic investment over that period.

**Financial Contribution

We end up with a quiz today. The giant sable antelope is a rare, critically endangered subspecies of the sable antelope, native exclusively to this country, where it also serves as a proud national symbol. [Angola.] Yes, Angola. There you go, Sherwin. You know, you just wake up and you just say Angola. Lucky you. Exactly, Angola on your mind. Well, we thank our friends in Luanda for their full payment to the Regular Budget. Angola's payment brings the number of fully paid-up Member States to 134. If you are curious, Angola sent us a check, which we cashed, for $317,897, which we are keeping, and we thank them for it. Joe, I know, you don't have your hand raised. We'll go Joe and then Sherwin, no doubt.

**Questions and Answers

Question: Thank you. The IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] Director indicated that Iran is continuing to block access of the agency to any of its nuclear facilities, contrary to Iran's prior commitment to allow such access. I'd like to know what the Secretary General's comment would be on that, and whether Iran's violation of its own commitments raises any question in the Secretary-General's mind as to the reliability of Iran's word in any negotiations?

Spokesman: Nice to see you, Joe. It is for the IAEA and its Director General to speak to those issues as they have the remit within the UN system. The Secretary-General's always strongly supported the IAEA's work in that regard. He's also very often recalled and called for Iran's full compliance with its IAEA obligations. Sherwin?

Question: Steph, the US UN mission yesterday launched a blistering attack on the Durban Conference Against Racism, describing its legacy as anti-American, anti-Western and antisemitic, and saying it should be "burned and buried". As the UN prepares to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the conference that was intended to advance the global fight against racism, how does the Secretary-General respond to that criticism, and does he still regard the Durban Declaration and program of action as a relevant and credible framework for combating racism?

Spokesman: Look, I think we have seen since the historic meeting in Durban that, we've seen a growth in the number of countries that have adopted laws and policies and practices to combat discrimination, to combat racism and to tackle racial discrimination. And there've been advances in all sorts of sectors. So, we think that Durban was an important point in that trajectory, and as you know, the Secretary-General has been outspoken in fighting racism, in fighting all types of discrimination, and he will continue to do so. Abdelhamid.

Question: Thank you, Stéphane. The biggest news in the West Bank, in fact, the killing of two young men in the village of Al-Mughayyir at the hands of the settlers. Omar al-Naasan, 19, and he was admitted to Birzeit University, and he was prepared to go to his college in September. And the youngest one, Khalil Abu Alia, he's 16. So, this news shocked the whole West Bank, especially the village, it's a small village, and they are number nine killed at the hands of the settlers.

Spokesman: This killing is not only shocking, but we condemn this killing of civilians, of Palestinian civilians, as we continue to do so, and continue to express our extreme concern about the continued violence in the hands of settlers who appear to be able to run rampant in their assault on Palestinian civilians, on their property, and on their way of life. And it is up to the Israeli authorities to do what they must do to uphold their own obligations, to bring the people who are responsible for this violence to account. Okay, I will leave you in the hands of much more exciting people from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent.