We are covering the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. with live updates from UN Headquarters and the field including Gaza, Lebanon and more, as the Security Council holds an emergency session on Gaza. UN News app users can follow the live feed here.
The people of Sudan face an ever-deepening crisis as the relentless war between rival militaries pushes the country further into chaos, the UN’s top political affairs official told the Security Council on Tuesday, underscoring that a ceasefire and a negotiated political solution remain the only viable path to peace.
With Ukraine approaching 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion, civilians are facing mounting challenges as intense attacks continue and winter tightens its grip, according to UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The people of Sudan face an ever-deepening crisis as the relentless war between rival militaries pushes the country further into chaos, the UN’s top political affairs official told the Security Council on Tuesday, underscoring that a ceasefire and a negotiated political solution remain the only viable path to peace.
We are covering the ongoing crisis in the Middle East with live updates from UN Headquarters and the field, as the Security Council prepares to hold an emergency session on the “imminent and substantial likelihood of famine” in Gaza. UN News app users can follow the live feed here.
Dead bodies are lying in the streets of besieged northern Gaza while hospitals run out of blood packs – a situation that’s “nothing short of catastrophic”, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Tuesday.
This year has seen a staggering 1,000 per cent or ten-fold surge in sexual violence against children in Haiti, during an unprecedented crisis which has seen armed gangs continue to terrorize communities amid a growing humanitarian disaster.
Amid the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues efforts to keep hospitals up and running and to evacuate patients requiring specialized treatment, a senior official with the UN agency said in Cairo on Monday.
Amid intensifying military operations in Lebanon and deadly attacks on civilians, medical personnel and infrastructure, UN humanitarians warned on Monday that food insecurity in the war-wracked country is set to worsen.
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The global Famine Review Committee issued an alert on Gaza and the UN human rights office released a scathing report on possible atrocities as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued its military operations there and in Lebanon, where the UN peacekeeping force said the IDF deliberately bulldozed part of UNIFIL's post in Naqoura. Coverage for UN News app users is available here.
Sudan’s displaced have endured “unimaginable suffering” in their search for shelter from the country’s ongoing war, UN humanitarians warned on Friday.
An alarming surge in ransomware attacks is putting the world’s healthcare infrastructure at critical risk, endangering patient safety and destabilising health systems, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday, as the Security Council convened to discuss strategies to counter the growing threat.
There must be “due reckoning” for horrific violations and possible atrocity crimes in Gaza, the UN human rights chief said on Friday following the release of a new report outlining actions taken by Israeli forces during the ongoing war with Hamas.
The decision to extend the transition period in South Sudan once again and postpone long-awaited elections cannot be “business as usual”, the UN Special Representative for the country told the Security Council on Thursday.
Up to two million people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state face the dire prospect of famine, amid a broader economic collapse and worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by the military’s 2021 overthrow of the democratically elected government.
The month-long Israeli siege in northern Gaza has left civilians on the brink of disaster, preventing them from accessing the essentials for their survival, including water, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.
Amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine caused by the ongoing Russian invasion, the head of the UN atomic energy agency (IAEA) said that safety at the country’s largest nuclear power plant “remains a deep source of concern”.
The 62nd round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) took place on 5-6 November 2024 in the Palais des Nations, in accordance with the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008 and the implementing measures of 8 September 2008.
The participants welcomed Magdalena Grono, who officially assumed her duties as EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. She co-chaired this round together with her UN and OSCE colleagues, UN Representative to the Geneva International Discussions Cihan Sultanoğlu and Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Viorel Moşanu.
In Working Group I, the participants continued their discussion on the implementation of the 2008 six-point agreement, with renewed emphasis and focus on non-use of force and international security arrangements. Despite strongly diverging positions, the participants managed to have exchanges on key developments on the ground.
In Working Group II, discussions focused on several sets of humanitarian issues, including freedom of movement, documentation, livelihoods, education and missing persons. The co-moderators called on all participants to constructively and actively engage on all key agenda items, including internally displaced persons and refugees. However, once again this topic could not be fully addressed, notably due to a walkout by some participants.
All participants underlined the importance of the Geneva International Discussions and reaffirmed their commitment to the platform. They agreed to hold the next round in March 2025.
The war in Lebanon has now killed more than 3,000 people in Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah missile hits in Israel, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini made an impassioned plea to protect the UN agency for Palestine refugees at the General Assembly's meeting on UNRWA's fate days after Israel informed the world body of new laws to ban it as bombings and displacement continued on Wednesday across Gaza and Lebanon, with UN officials pleading for a ceasefire and conditions worsening for civilians. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini made an impassioned plea to protect the UN agency for Palestine refugees at the General Assembly's meeting on UNRWA's fate days after Israel informed the world body of new laws to ban it as bombings and displacement continued on Wednesday across Gaza and Lebanon, with UN officials pleading for a ceasefire and conditions worsening for civilians. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday commended voters across the United States for their “active participation in the democratic process”, which will see Donald Trump return to the White House when he takes the oath of office in January.
Amid new Israeli airstrikes reported in Gaza and Lebanon on Wednesday morning, UN humanitarians delivered vital trauma treatment supplies to Lebanon’s sole specialist burns hospital, where the caseload has spiked because of the massive escalation in violence.
As the crisis grinds on, we will be taking you into UN Geneva for the latest briefings from our colleagues in Gaza and Lebanon as well as UN Headquarters in New York and the field for updates on the developing situation in the Middle East throughout the day. UN News app users can follow here.
In addition to driving a regional refugee crisis, the brutal war in Sudan is exacerbating instability in the contested region of Abyei, a senior UN peacekeeping official said on Tuesday, highlighting escalating challenges.
In a historic health milestone, Sudan has launched its first malaria vaccination campaign amid 18 months of civil conflict, aiming to protect thousands of children from the deadly disease.
In a historic health milestone, Sudan has launched its first malaria vaccination campaign amid 18 months of civil conflict, aiming to protect thousands of children from the deadly disease.
Madame President,
Excellencies,
On 31 October, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced through its official news agency that it had launched a Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at approximately 7:11 AM local time earlier that day. With a flight duration of one hour and 26 minutes, the missile flew a distance of approximately 1,000 kilometres, reaching an altitude of over 7,000 kilometres before falling into the sea. The DPRK described this latest launch as a “very crucial test” that “updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability of the DPRK”.
Regrettably, the DPRK did not issue any airspace or maritime safety notifications, posing a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic, with the potential for unintended incidents.
Madame President,
Since the DPRK announced its five-year military development plan in January 2021, aimed at acquiring new military capabilities, it has launched at least 11 ICBMs. The Hwasong-19 sets new records in terms of flight duration and altitude, and is the second solid-fuel ICBM developed by the DPRK which does not need to undergo fueling prior to launch. It is reported to be larger than its predecessor, the Hwasong-18, and may be capable of carrying larger warheads or even multiple warheads.
Madame President,
The DPRK’s launch of yet another ICBM is of serious concern and represents a grave threat to regional stability. Despite numerous meetings of the Security Council in 2023 and 2024, the DPRK has not heeded calls to refrain from further launches.
The Secretary-General strongly condemned the Hwasong-19 launch by the DPRK as a clear violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. He again called for de-escalation, the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, an environment that is conducive to dialogue, and the resumption of talks, emphasizing that diplomatic engagement remains the only pathway to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Madame President,
We remain deeply concerned about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK’s persistent pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, continues to undermine the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) that underpins it.
There is a crucial need for practical measures to reduce tensions and reverse this dangerous trajectory. We encourage all Member States to seek unity and to create an environment conducive to dialogue and cooperation. At this challenging juncture for securing global peace and security, it is imperative to prioritize de-escalation and work toward a stable and secure Korean Peninsula.
Madame President,
The United Nations and its partners stand ready to assist the DPRK in addressing the basic needs of its populations. We call on the DPRK authorities to facilitate the full return of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team. A collective return of the international community would enhance international support for the people of the DPRK and facilitate progress towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Thank you, Madame President.
The UN-supported polio vaccine campaign concluded in besieged northern Gaza on Monday, with agencies inoculating 94,000 children, but thousands still remain out of reach.
The launch of “yet another” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) poses a “grave threat” to regional stability, a senior UN political affairs official warned on Monday, as the Security Council discussed the rising tensions in the region and beyond.
The increasing impact of fighting between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and militants from Hezbollah on Lebanese civilians “is of grave concern”, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Monday, condemning the mounting loss of life.
War in Sudan has devastated towns and cities across the country and pushed the healthcare system to collapse, just as cases of cholera and dengue fever are surging and hunger levels remain “above the famine threshold”, humanitarians have warned.
Attacks on a clinic and UN staff member were reported during a resumed polio vaccine campaign in besieged northern Gaza, Israeli forces continued airstrikes on Lebanon on Sunday and in Yemen, a new water project launched a “lifeline” for populations fleeing conflict, with updates from Syria.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon has surpassed the devastation wrought by the war with Israel in 2006, UN agencies said on Saturday, publishing the latest updates from the ground amid calls for an immediate ceasefire.
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We are following the news as it happens from UN offices in Geneva and New York and on the ground in Gaza and Lebanon, bringing you the latest updates throughout the day as conflict continues to roil the region. UN News app users can follow here.
UN Secretary General António Guterres has strongly condemned escalating attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state, as new reports reveal over 135,000 civilians were displaced in just 10 days.
Madam President,
Just last week, we briefed this Council on the continued large-scale suffering and destruction that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in violation of the UN Charter and international law, continues to inflict on the people of Ukraine.
Since then, relentless Russian attacks have continued to cause further civilian casualties and additional damage to critical infrastructure across Ukraine.
We once again reiterate that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international law. They are unacceptable no matter where they occur and must cease immediately.
To date, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified that nearly 12,000 civilians, including hundreds of children, have been killed since February 2024. Nearly 26,000 civilians have been injured.
Millions remain displaced, and in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance. Millions more in Ukraine remain under the threat of further displacement as a result of widespread Russian attacks, particularly in eastern and southern Ukraine.
The massive damage to Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, in particular energy infrastructure, risks exacerbating the already dire humanitarian conditions and access to essential services as we are entering the cold winter season.
In addition to the devastating toll on civilians in Ukraine, this war continues to inflame regional and global tensions and divisions.
As the Secretary-General warned this Council on 24 September, “the longer this tragic war continues, the greater the risk of escalation and spillover.”
We have followed with serious concern the recent reports of military personnel of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) being deployed to the Russian Federation, including their possible deployment to the conflict zone.
The United Nations does not have any additional details on these developments and is not in a position to verify or confirm claims or reports made. Our knowledge on this topic is therefore based solely on information that is publicly available.
According to media reports and statements made by officials of Member States, troops from DPRK have reportedly arrived in the Russian Federation, with estimates of their size varying widely.
The reports regarding the presence of DPRK troops in Russia follow the signing, on 19 June 2024 in Pyongyang, of “the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea” that reportedly outlines cooperation on security and defense-related issues, among others.
This treaty was ratified by the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, on 24 October. The upper house is expected to follow suit.
The alleged troop deployments also follow earlier reports of the DPRK having allegedly transferred military supplies, including ballistic missiles and artillery shells, to the Russian Federation, for possible use in its military operations in Ukraine.
We urge all relevant actors to refrain from any steps that may lead to spillover and intensification of the war in Ukraine.
In this regard, we also recall the relevant Security Council Resolutions on DPRK. The question of whether the reported presence of North Korean troops in Russia might fall within the scope of these resolutions is a matter for the Security Council to determine.
We reiterate our call on all countries to abide by the resolutions of the Security Council, including those concerning the DPRK.
Madam President,
As we have repeatedly warned, the dangerous, escalatory trajectory of the war in Ukraine will only lead to further suffering, mounting destruction and deeper geopolitical divisions that we simply cannot afford.
It is therefore time for us all to redouble our efforts towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine – in line with the UN Charter, international law, and resolutions of the General Assembly.
The United Nations continues to support all meaningful efforts to that end.
Thank you.
A senior UN disarmament official on Thursday called on all parties to the conflict in Ukraine to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further escalate the war.
“Catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity” bordering on starvation are expected to impact hundreds of thousands of people in coming months, driven principally by violence and conflict. Five hunger hotspots are of particular concern: Haiti, Mali, the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), South Sudan and Sudan, UN agencies said on Thursday.
