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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

FRIDAY, 29 MAY 2026

SEXUAL VIOLENCE 

The Secretary-General’s report on conflict-related sexual violence was issued today, and it said that cases of conflict-related sexual violence verified by the United Nations in 2025 rose sharply from 2024, marked by extreme brutality, and overwhelmingly targeted women and girls. A total of 77 parties, including state and non-state actors, are listed this year for cases of conflict-related sexual violence, including parties added to the list in previous years. 

The report says that in 2025, documented cases of sexual violence as a tactic of war, torture, terrorism and political repression surged, while multiple and overlapping political, security and humanitarian crises worsened. 

Abduction and sexual violence formed part of a broader pattern of attacks by armed groups in remote areas in Burkina Faso, Mali and northern Mozambique, with girls as young as 11 being forced into sexual slavery and repeated rapes in captivity, leading to unwanted pregnancies.   

The Secretary-General said that sexual violence was perpetrated in detention in multiple settings, such as in Israel and the State of Palestine, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. In Myanmar, patterns of sexual violence continued to be used in detention settings as part of the repertoire of political violence to intimidate and punish opponents. 

The full report is online, and, as I mentioned, you just heard from Pramila Patten. 

LEBANON 

Moving to Lebanon, our peacekeeping mission there in southern Lebanon continues to observe intensive Israel Defense Forces (IDF) air and ground activity across the UNIFIL area of operations. 

IDF activity was also reported north of the Litani River. Yesterday UNIFIL reported 350 firing incidents attributed to the IDF and 25 to Hizbullah. 

Also yesterday, a UNIFIL convoy carrying an injured peacekeeper was stopped by the IDF and delayed for about an hour before being able to proceed. As a reminder, all parties have to ensure UNIFIL has unrestricted access and freedom of movement in the conduct of its activities mandated by the Security Council. 

On the occasion of the International Day of the Peacekeepers, which, as you know  is marked today, but ceremonies will take place next week on Friday. In Lebanon, UNIFIL held a solemn ceremony at its Naqoura headquarters, which included a tribute to fallen peacekeepers. As you will recall, six UNIFIL peacekeepers have been tragically killed in the hostilities in southern Lebanon since 2 March, with several more wounded. In his remarks at the ceremony, the General heading UNIFIL, General Diodato Abagnara stressed that a political and diplomatic path remains the only viable solution to the conflict, adding that UNIFIL remains committed to supporting the parties in restoring the cessation of hostilities and creating the conditions for a permanent ceasefire. 

On the humanitarian front, our OCHA colleagues report that humanitarian access and emergency response capacity continue to face severe constraints.  

 In Nabatieh, strikes reportedly impacted a key road in Marjayoun. That took place yesterday. That road is critical for emergency medical evacuations, also for aid and humanitarian workers to move about, and for people’s access to essential goods and services.  

Elsewhere in Lebanon, local authorities tell us that repeated evacuation orders forcing families to flee repeatedly and then return to their homes as security conditions shift.  

The Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, said today that he is deeply alarmed by the intensification of hostilities and the impact the evacuation orders have on communities across the country. 

In a statement, he referred to reports that airstrikes have harmed civilians as they attempted to leave areas under displacement orders, stressing that international humanitarian law clearly states that civilians, including health workers and first responders, must be protected. 

Meanwhile, we and our humanitarian partners continue to provide critical assistance across the country. Since March 2nd, the World Food Programme and its partners have distributed more than 11 million hot and cold meals to people affected by this conflict in Lebanon. 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our OCHA colleagues tell us that last night, an Israeli air strike hit a residential area less than 600 feet – that is about 200 metres - from five humanitarian facilities in Deir al Balah. Luckily, no casualties were reported. �į&�Բ�����;

This followed an order from the Israeli military to shelter in place shortly before the strike. No staff members were injured, and the team is currently assessing the damage. �į&�Բ�����;

We reiterate that civilians, including humanitarians, must always be protected.  �į&�Բ�����;

As for the crossings, since Sunday, Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem has been the only operational entry point into Gaza for humanitarian and commercial goods, as Zikim has been closed. &�Բ�����;

We continue to call for more crossings to be open and of course for more critical supplies and assistance to be let in. �į&�Բ�����;

Meanwhile, between 11th and 17th May, partners working on protection have provided mental health and psychosocial support, as well as other protection, to more than 10,000 people, half of them caregivers and children.  �į&�Բ�����;

Services included recreational activities, art and drama sessions, counselling and parenting support, which was provided in shelters, it was provided in camps, in schools and displacement sites across Gaza.  

Partners remind us that to continue these services, particularly for children and adolescents, we need fuel, we need safe spaces to provide these services. We need more staff as well as basic resources. 

ROMANIA

In answer to questions about reports of the drone that hit a residential building in Romania, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General is alarmed by the reported overnight drone strike involving a residential building in the city of Galați, in Romania. This reportedly injured two people. Just yesterday, in his remarks, as you will recall, the Secretary-General warned the Security Council about the dangers of further escalation of the war in Ukraine.

We strongly condemn any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur.

SOUTH SUDAN 

Moving to South Sudan, the World Food Programme (WFP) are telling us that they are urgently scaling up their emergency response in Akobo county, where hundreds of thousands of people are facing catastrophic levels of hunger and malnutrition amid escalating displacement and conflict. 

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update, parts of Akobo County are experiencing IPC Phase 5, which is catastrophic levels of hunger, which is the highest level before an actual famine. 

Since launching its emergency response three weeks ago, WFP has reached more than 60,000 vulnerable human beings in Akobo county, including in Akobo. By the end of this week, a 33-truck convoy operated by WFP is expected to deliver more than 200 metric tonnes of food and nutrition assistance, along with an additional 100 metric tonnes of emergency relief supplies.                            

To sustain life-saving operations like these during the rainy season, when roads are impassable, WFP will continue delivering aid by air to ensure uninterrupted assistance reaches isolated communities. More than 60 WFP Aviation flights, including airdrops, airlifts and Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) passenger flights, have already transported some 430 metric tonnes of critical supplies into the area.  

That being said, as always, we need more money because we have more work and there are more needs. WFP urgently requires $266 million to continue providing life-saving food and nutrition assistance, as well as critical logistical support for the wider humanitarian response in South Sudan until the end of the year. 

 EBOLA   

As you may have seen, Dr. Tedros, the head of the World Health Organization, arrived in Kinshasa yesterday.  

Upon his arrival, he spoke to reporters and said he travelled to the DRC to show his support for the communities impacted by the outbreak.  

He also asked the international community to increase its support for the Ebola response, so that health workers get the medical supplies and the protective equipment they need.  

In Kinshasa, he met with the UN country team and our humanitarian partners. 

Meanwhile in Bunia, WHO teams are establishing a drinking water supply system at the Ebola treatment centre there. This will ensure reliable access to water and will also strengthen infection prevention and control.  

PASSING OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHIKADIBIA ISAAC OBIAKOR 

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Lieutenant General Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor, former UN Military Adviser for the Peacekeeping Operations and a distinguished Nigerian military officer.  

General Obiakor served as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia following his appointment by then Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He then went on to  become the first African national to serve as the Military Adviser for peacekeeping operations here at UN Headquarters in New York. 

Following his retirement from active military service, General Obiakor continued to serve the United Nations, including by leading Boards of Inquiry on conflicts in South Sudan, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.                                                                             

Throughout his career, he demonstrated remarkable leadership, professionalism, and commitment in the service of international peace and security. Our thoughts are with him, his friends, his comrades in arms, and the people and Government of Nigeria. 

INTERNATIONAL DAYS 

Tomorrow is the International Day of the Potato. This year’s theme, “Where potatoes grow, livelihoods flourish” highlights the vital role potatoes play in supporting food security, rural livelihoods and local economies, from the Andean highlands to communities across Africa, Europe and Asia. 

And Sunday is World No Tobacco Day. Ahead of the observance, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that at least 40 million children from age 13 to 15 worldwide use tobacco products and urges governments to take stronger action to protect young people from tobacco and nicotine addiction.   

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION 

The payment to the regular budget from Timor-Leste brings the total number of fully paid-up Member States to 111.    

**Briefing Monday 

On Monday, Ambassador Leonor Zalabata, Permanent Representative of Colombia and President of the Security Council for the month of June will brief reporters on the Council’s programme of work.  

 We will confirm to you the exact time of the start of the briefing later, but we expect it around 12:45 p.m.