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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

MONDAY, 27 APRIL 2026

NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS 

This morning, the Secretary-General addressed the opening of the 11th review conference of the parties to the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.  

He told Member States that for the first time in decades, the number of nuclear warheads is on the rise, and nuclear testing is back on the table. Hard-won norms are eroding and arms control is dying, Mr. Guterres added.  

Across the decades, the Secretary-General reminded Member States that they developed a web of instruments to prevent the use, to prevent the proliferation and to prevent the testing of nuclear weapons, and to achieve their total elimination. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the bedrock of these efforts.

The Secretary-General called on countries to keep their promises under the Treaty. He also called on them to use the discussions starting to lay the groundwork for the Treaty to evolve, so that it is able to ensure that until nuclear weapons are eliminated, humanity never cedes control over their use; and that nuclear science and technology can be used to benefit sustainable development. 

SECURITY COUNCIL 

The Secretary-General, as well as Arsenio Dominguez, the head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), briefed the Security Council this morning on maritime security, with the Secretary-General warning that merchant shipping is being used as a tool of pressure and navigational rights and freedoms – bedrock principles of the Law of the Sea – are being undermined.  He said that the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints and its blockage has resulted in the worst supply chain disruption since the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Prolonged disruption risks triggering a global food emergency – pushing millions, especially in Africa and South Asia, into hunger and poverty, Mr. Guterres warned. 

The Secretary-General said that the UN Charter's prohibition of the threat or use of force applies fully at sea. Navigational rights and freedoms of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz must be respected, as affirmed by the Council’s 2817 Resolution. 

Mr. Guterres appealed to the parties to open the Strait, to let ships pass with no tolls and no discrimination, let trade resume and let the global economy breathe, he said. 

Arsenio Dominguez, the IMO Secretary-General, said that his agency’s main concern remains the safety and the well-being of the roughly 20,000 innocent seafarers who are trapped in the Gulf due to this conflict.  

Following the IMO Council decision, he has begun the development of an evacuation framework, using existing traffic separation scheme, to securely evacuate ships and seafarers from the conflict zone, provided it is safe to do so. 

LEBANON/ISRAEL 

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, is currently in Israel. She is conducting meetings with senior Israeli political and security officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Defense Minister Israel Katz.  

This visit is part of her regular consultations with key interlocutors on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, while also taking into account the recent developments, including the renewal of the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, and the actual situation on the ground. 

The Special Coordinator continues to convey a clear message to all sides: the cycles of violence which have devastated lives, devastated homes and devastated livelihoods in Lebanon and northern Israel must come to an end.  

The UN, including through her work, continues to explore opportunities to build trust between the parties and consolidate the cessation of hostilities, with a view of advancing stability along both sides of the Blue Line. 

Yesterday, UN peacekeepers reported 299 firing incidents originating from south of the Blue Line or within the area of operations of the Israel Defense Forces, representing one of the highest volumes since the cessation of hostilities. No rockets were detected from north to south, but one interception of a projectile by the Israel Defense Forces was observed by UNIFIL. Clashes between the IDF and Hizbullah have also been reported have been reported by our peacekeeping colleagues.  

We continue to urge all sides to exercise restraint and uphold the agreed cessation of hostilities. We call on all actors to constructively engage through diplomatic channels to fully implement resolution 1701.     

UNIFIL continued to face obstructions, including yesterday when the IDF blocked UNIFIL movements near Bayyadah in Sector West, forcing one UN patrol to return to a nearby position. 

These conditions underscore the risks faced daily by our peacekeepers. Yesterday, a solemn memorial was held in Beirut to honour a UNIFIL peacekeeper who died on Friday, following critical injuries sustained in a projectile explosion at his base last month. 

The Head of Mission and Force Commander for UNIFIL Diodato Abagnara paid tribute to Indonesian Corporal Rico Pramudia, 31 years old. He recalled his dedication, professionalism, and sacrifice in the service of peace. He is the fourth Indonesian peacekeeper to lose his life in southern Lebanon in less than a month. 

Major General Abagnara said: “You came here, far from home, to serve the UN flag, to bring peace to this land, and here, in the south of Lebanon, you gave everything.” And I add that this is true of all peacekeepers who serve under the UN banner. Corporal Pramudia is survived by his wife and young son. We send his family and the people and government of Indonesia our deep condolences. UN Peacekeepers should never be targeted. 

LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that continued demolitions, shelling, and airstrikes continue to disrupt daily life for civilians, particularly in southern Lebanon, increasing uncertainty for many families about whether it is safe for them to return home. As of today, more than 115,000 displaced people remain in collective shelters across Lebanon. 

According to authorities, some 50,000 housing units were completely damaged, leaving tens of thousands of people without homes to return to, especially in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs. 

Although more than 140,000 people have been reached with psychosocial support and other protection, our partners say that women and girls continue to face heightened risks. 

UN partners continue to reach people where and when they can. As of today, UN partners have distributed more than 7 million hot meals, nearly 100,000 meal boxes, as well as mattresses and hygiene kits to those who need them. Nearly 225,000 displaced people have received medical consultations. 

However, the response remains severely underfunded. The Flash Appeal for Lebanon is only about one-third funded, with just under $103 million in the bank. 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that yesterday, an aid worker was shot and killed in Gaza. The aid worker was killed next to his place of work, during working hours. This NGO provides medical services with support from the Humanitarian Fund, which OCHA manages on behalf of the Humanitarian Coordinator. The NGO says it has suspended services while a security assessment is underway. As of last week, OCHA has recorded the killing of 589 aid workers in Gaza since October 2023. 

On a more positive note, OCHA says that over the last week, partners leading on emergency shelter took about 34,000 mattresses and 19,500 blankets into Gaza, for further distribution. And between 22 April and last Saturday, they delivered tarpaulins, plastic rolls, bedding kits, and clothes to more than 3,200 households.   

Over the past week, our partners leading on protection provided services to more than 20,000 people across Gaza. More than 10,000 of them were provided with mental health and psychosocial support, while other services included case management, legal assistance, and support for people with disabilities. 

In the West Bank, OCHA says that settler attacks against Palestinians continue, causing casualties, property damage and displacement. Since the start of this year, and as of last Monday, about 680 settler attacks have been recorded in over 200 Palestinian communities, resulting in the full displacement of nine communities. 

Today, OCHA released a map that shows the impact of settler attacks on Palestinians between 2023 and 2025. That period recorded more than 4,500 settler attacks that resulted in 50 Palestinians killed and over 4,600 injured, as well as more than 3,900 Palestinians displaced due to settler attacks and access restrictions.

OCHA reiterates that Israel, as the occupying power, has an obligation to protect the Palestinian population. Conduct harming civilians should be assessed to determine whether violations have occurred. Perpetrators of violations must be held to account in line with international humanitarian law. 

SYRIA 

In answer to questions about the arrest of former Syrian regime official, Amjad Youssef, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General said that the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Claudio Cordone, has just concluded a visit to Syria, where among other things, he engaged with the Government on the arrest of Youssef, saying this is a significant moment of accountability for the country. 

The UN welcomes all efforts and steps taken towards ensuring accountability of all those responsible for international crimes potentially committed in Syria, with a view to placing the victims and their families at the center of justice. 

The UN believes that transitional justice requires a comprehensive strategy anchored in a legal framework aimed at achieving truth, accountability, reconciliation, reparations, and non-repetition.  

Affected communities must also have a genuine voice in shaping Syria’s transitional justice strategy. The country has an opportunity to demonstrate that the new era will be defined by the rule of law. 

MALI 

In a statement issued over the weekend on Mali, a situation that the Secretary‑General continues to follow closely, Mr. Guterres expressed his deep concern following the attacks in several locations across Mali. He strongly condemns these acts of violence, expresses solidarity with the Malian people and stresses the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.  

The Secretary-General calls for coordinated international support to address the evolving threat of violent extremism and terrorism in the Sahel and to meet urgent humanitarian needs. He reiterates his call for robust security coordination and collaboration across the region. 

MALI/HUMANITARIAN  

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the situation in Mali remains severe, driven by escalating insecurity, blockades and access constraints.  

Before this latest crisis, some 6.4 million human beings in Mali needed humanitarian aid, while 1.5 million people faced acute food insecurity. 

Aid operations were already facing challenges arising from insecurity, fuel shortages and disease outbreaks. 

The response is also critically underfunded, with the $578 million Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan only 13 per cent funded, meaning that $76 million is in the bank. 

SUDAN 

Turning to Sudan, we join our colleagues at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in condemning an attack that hit an aid truck in North Darfur. On Friday, a UNHCR truck carrying emergency shelter kits came under attack by a drone while transiting through the town of Umm Drisaya. The driver escaped unhurt, thankfully, but all the supplies were destroyed in the fire. 

The truck was heading to Tawila, where 700,000 men, women and children have sought safety after fleeing fighting in other parts of Sudan. 

UNHCR will continue to work in Sudan to reach displaced people, including nearly 9 million people displaced within the country's borders and more than 860,000 others that have crossed the borders to other countries. 

On Saturday, a drone reportedly caused casualties in residential neighbourhoods in El Obeid city in North Kordofan. Local medical group Sudan Doctors Network said that seven people were killed and over 20 were injured. These are ordinary families in their homes, caught in violence that continues to reach civilian neighbourhoods. We condemn all of these attacks. 

The UN reiterates that civilian infrastructure must never be targeted, and civilians must never be targeted, and all parties must ensure rapid and unhindered humanitarian access. 

Elsewhere, in Blue Nile, a recent assessment by our partners has revealed a worsening humanitarian situation across displacement sites driven by overcrowding, the lack of privacy, inadequate shelter, poor sanitation and escalating risks of gender-based violence, among others.

The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Denise Brown, visited Damazine, the capital of Blue Nile State last week, highlighting how funding gaps, insecurity, and access constraints continue to limit the ability of aid organizations to scale up their response. 

SOUTH SUDAN 

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) today said that over the weekend that they responded to intercommunal violence, which had resulted in multiple deaths and injuries in greater Tonj, in Warrap state. And they responded by deploying its peacekeepers to the area to help stabilize the situation. Tensions, however, remain high, and the Mission has a quick reaction force on standby to deter further conflict. UNMISS is also engaging community leaders and state authorities in an effort to restore calm. 

Separately, after several attempts due to access denials, the Mission conducted an integrated two-day patrol to Khor Kaltan/Jebel Iraq in Central Equatoria state to assess the situation there following reports of a deadly attack on civilians in late March. The patrol team met with community representatives and security forces on the ground. 

Finally, an UNMISS-supported mobile court in in Leer has concluded its work after hearing 68 civil and criminal cases across several counties in southern Unity state and the Bentiu IDP camp. This resulted in 31 criminal rulings with 18 convictions, with others acquitted or dismissed, and 29 people released from wrongful or prolonged detention. Such mobile justice interventions are part of the Mission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen rule of law and access to justice throughout South Sudan. 

CHAD  

The UN is following with concern the recent developments in Chad, including reports of the arrests of opposition figures. The importance of upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, in line with Chad's international human rights obligations is critical. The UN calls on the Chadian authorities to ensure due process and access to legal representation for all those detained. 

Meanwhile, the UN extends its condolences to the families of the victims of the intercommunal violence in Wadi Fira Province over the weekend, which led to the death of scores of people. The UN encourages continued conflict prevention efforts to prevent further loss of life in eastern Chad. 

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 

In the Central African Republic, our peacekeeping mission there welcomes the peaceful and orderly conduct of the second round of legislative and municipal by-elections this weekend.  

The mission continues to implement its mandate to support the organization of these elections. Today colleagues are securely transporting the results envelopes, polling station records, and equipment back to the capital Bangui.  

As we mentioned, the mission provided multifaceted support to the Central African authorities by transporting nearly 30 tons of equipment from Bangui to 23 locations outside the capital, as well as personnel from the National Electoral Authority. The mission also provided technical support and worked alongside the Central African Defence and Security Forces to implement the Integrated Elections Security Plan.

The head of the peacekeeping mission, Valentine Rugwabiza, welcomed the fact that elections were held throughout the country, including in areas where voters were unable to cast their ballots last December due to the violence. 

UKRAINE 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that over the past week, at least three drone strikes hit humanitarian vehicles in the city of Kherson. Two incidents involved the same local NGO, while another impacted a different organization delivering food. Several aid workers were also injured. Across Ukraine, in the first three months of the year, at least three aid workers were killed and five were injured, according to our humanitarian partners.   

OCHA also notes that intensified hostilities over the weekend through this morning caused nearly 130 civilian casualties and widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, with Dnipro and Odesa among the most affected. The weekend’s attacks also led to casualties and damage in the regions of Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Chernihiv, Sumy and Kyiv.  

UN partners are providing psychosocial support, hot meals and repair materials, alongside first responders. 

In front-line areas, civilians continue to be evacuated. This weekend, some 1,900 civilians, including more than 360 children, were evacuated from front-line areas in Donetsk, with the support of humanitarian organizations and local authorities. 

MICRONESIA 

Regarding the Federated States of Micronesia, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that the UN and its partners are supporting the Government to help people in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which caused catastrophic damage in parts of the country earlier this month.  

UN partners are providing food, clean water, hygiene support and shelter supplies, among other life-saving assistance. The UN has deployed an expert team to help respond to environmental damage. 

In Chuuk, which is the most populous state in the country, per cent of the population, which is more than 34,000 people, where impacted by the typhoon. Nearly 3,000 homes there were damaged or destroyed, driving more than 4,200 people to seek shelter elsewhere. 

Access to communities in remote and outer islands is difficult, with limited and costly fuel adding to the challenge. The UN urgently needs more funding to ensure that we and our partners can reach all those impacted by this super typhoon.   

COLOMBIA

Regarding the violent attacks over the weekend in southwestern Colombia attributed by authorities to the illegal armed group known as EMC, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, Miroslav Jenča,  issued a statement strongly condemning the attacks, expressing sorrow for the loss of life, and calling “urgently” on armed groups to deescalate violence and act with respect for the civilian population. 

The Office in Colombia of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also denounced the attacks. The Office called on armed groups to respect international humanitarian law, and for those responsible be brought to justice. It further called on authorities to fulfill their obligation to protect the civilian population.

BRIEFINGS 

At 2:00 p.m. Ambassador Do Hung Viet, President of the Eleventh NPT Review Conference, will brief journalists about the Conference.  

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION 

Madagascar paid its dues in full to the Regular Budget. Madagascar’s payment brings the number of fully paid-up Member States to 103.