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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026

SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS 

This morning, the Secretary-General arrived in The Hague to participate in the commemoration of the eightieth anniversary of the International Court of Justice, which will take place tomorrow at the Peace Palace. 

This afternoon, the Secretary-General met with the Mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen. 

Afterward, the Secretary-General said that he couldn’t be in The Hague in a better moment, as we mark the 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice that is the fundamental pillar of the international justice system. 

He added that “this is a difficult moment, a moment in which international law has been putting into question by many.” He said that lawlessness brings chaos and destruction, and so it is very important to reaffirm the primacy of international law, and to reaffirm that the force of the law must prevail over the law of the force. 

Tomorrow, apart from addressing a Solemn Sitting of the ICJ, the Secretary-General is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister and Minister for General Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten, and with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Tom Berendsen. He will also meet the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands and with Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. 

SECRETARY-GENERAL/WASHINGTON 

Yesterday afternoon in Washington, the Secretary-General joined World Bank President Ajay Banga at the closing of the Bank's Water Forward Initiative. He told participants that the UN fully supports the Bank's initiative and added that no strategy for development is sustainable if water is not an essential part of that strategy. It is totally unacceptable, he said, that access to water is not considered a basic human right. &�Բ�����;

Mr. Guterres called on governments to show the political will to engage in bilateral or multilateral dialogue to manage water crises, which can, all too often, be drivers of conflict.  &�Բ�����;

The Secretary-General then helped launch the Borrowers’ Platform, which he called a historic breakthrough to address deep inequities in the global financial and debt architecture. He said borrower countries have long lacked a space comparable to creditor coordination forums.

The Platform will allow borrowing countries to sit together, share experience, build technical capacity and speak with a collective voice. The Secretary-General stressed that changing power relations is essential to achieving a fairer, more inclusive international financial system, noting the central role of UNCTAD as its secretariat. 

While in Washington, the Secretary-General met with the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, and also with the Finance Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Aurangzeb. The Secretary-General and the Finance Minister discussed the recently-launched platform. The Secretary-General took the opportunity to once again thank Pakistan for its effort in helping to resolve the current conflict in the Middle East. &�Բ�����;

LEBANON 

Turning to Lebanon, we are aware of the announcement made by US President, Donald Trump. about a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. We welcome steps that would end hostilities and suffering on both sides of the Blue Line. The United Nations, through its political and peacekeeping missions, remains ready to support these efforts and continues to urge the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 towards a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution to the conflict. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert continues her good offices with the parties in this regard. 

As we have always stated, there is no military solution to the conflict.  

In Lebanon, our humanitarian colleagues say that the needs continue to deepen across the country as high-intensity hostilities persist, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the violence. And in northern Israel, civilians should be able to return safely to their homes. 

OCHA says that in Lebanon 1.2 million people have been displaced following sweeping displacement orders covering around 15 per cent of the country. 

Fighting around the town of Bint Jbeil, the governorate of Nabatieh, continues to threaten civilian movement and humanitarian access. Today’s strike on the Qasmiyeh bridge, which is a critical route to Tyre, has further cut off areas south of the Litani River, impacting more than 106,000 people. Only one crossing is still open now.          

Attacks on healthcare continue. Tebnin Hospital, a key trauma facility in the southern Lebanon, saw its emergency department and other critical facilities damaged, but reportedly remains operational. 

Since the escalation, attacks on healthcare have resulted in 88 deaths and more than 200 injuries among health workers. These incidents constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law and are severely undermining people’s access to healthcare. 

Our humanitarian partners continue to respond in the face of major operational constraints and severe underfunding. Since March 2nd, our partners working in water and sanitation have distributed more than 140,000 blankets and 114,000 mattresses, as well as over 100,000 hygiene kits. More than 3 million litres of bottled drinking water have also been delivered to affected populations. 

The Lebanon Flash Appeal was launched on March 13th aims to reach 1 million people and requires $308 million. But just over a month later, the appeal is less than a quarter per cent funded. Critical humanitarian assistance and services are at risk of being severely curtailed or suspended, as the number of people who need aid continues to surge. 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

Turning to the situation in Gaza, our colleagues with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tell us that yesterday, UN teams collected fuel, food, medical supplies, clothing and other items from the two operational cargo crossings, Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem and Zikim. 

On Tuesday, humanitarians collected cargo only from Kerem Shalom, because collection and offloading activities at Zikim have so far only been allowed on alternating days. &�Բ�����;

Meanwhile, our mine action partners tell us that last week, they provided education sessions to more than 12,000 people in Gaza City, Deir al Balah and Khan Younis on risks linked to explosive ordnance. They remind us that over a dozen accidents injuring more than 30 people have occurred so far in 2026.  

Addressing that risk more meaningfully requires clearance to take critical equipment into Gaza and conduct the full range of disposal activities. &�Բ�����;

Restrictions, including limitations on the entry of items listed as “dual use” or non-humanitarian, including equipment needed to dispose of explosive ordnance, continue to hamper the humanitarian response.  &�Բ�����;

Last week, our partners provided nearly 8,000 people with a range of services, including mental health support and sessions on legal rights, reproductive health and the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. That’s alongside the provision of cash and items to support women and girls with their personal hygiene and wellbeing. &�Բ�����;

Meanwhile, there are reports this week of continued attacks including Israeli strikes and shelling affecting residential areas, placing civilians at risk.   

On Saturday, two people, including a toddler, were reportedly wounded when a UN school used as a shelter for internally-displaced people in Jabalya Camp was hit by gunfire. We once more stress that civilians and civilian facilities must always be protected. &�Բ�����;

OCHA reports that high levels of displacement continue in the West Bank. The first two weeks of April recorded the displacement of some 150 people, bringing the overall number of displaced so far in 2026 to more than 2,500 Palestinians, including over 1,100 children; this displacement is mostly due to settler violence and access restrictions, but is also linked to demolitions and evictions. &�Բ�����;

UKRAINE 

Turning to Ukraine, OCHA says that, between yesterday and today, large-scale attacks across the country have caused multiple civilian casualties and extensive damage to residential areas. 

From Dnipro this morning, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, said that, for many communities, such attacks have become a daily reality, extending far beyond front-line areas. He reiterated that civilians and those assisting them must be protected under international humanitarian law. &�Բ�����;

Authorities report that 21 civilians were killed, including a child, and some 145 injured. 

The cities of Odesa, Dnipro and Kyiv were among the most affected. Multiple residential buildings, office premises, a shopping centre, a hotel and a school were damaged.  

Hostilities in front-lines regions also continue to cause widespread damage to housing and civilian infrastructure, including schools in the Kharkiv region. &�Բ�����;

As you know, the Secretary-General has strongly condemned the recent large-scale attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.  Such attacks, wherever they occur, violate international humanitarian law and are unacceptable and unjustifiable and must stop immediately. &�Բ�����;

The UN and our humanitarian partners are mobilized and supporting national responders in search-and-rescue operations, putting out fires and debris clearance. They also delivered first medical and psychological aid. 

SUDAN  

Turning to Sudan. This week we marked a tragic milestone which is three years since the war in Sudan began. Our humanitarian colleagues report that drone attacks continue to claim the lives of innocent civilians. 

On Tuesday, an attack struck a market in the village of Adikon in West Darfur, near the crucial Adre border crossing. Five civilians were killed and four others were injured.  

We reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted, in line with international humanitarian law. We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and for rapid, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all those in need.  

And yesterday, you saw that the International Sudan Conference was convened in Berlin.  

I can tell you that we appreciate the leadership provided by Germany, the European Union, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the African Union in co-hosting the event. 

We are heartened by the significant humanitarian pledges made and the collective resolve of Member States to secure a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Sudan. 

We welcome the joint call for de-escalation and an end to the war issued by leading Sudanese civilian parties at the conference. Their ability to overcome differences and speak with a unified voice sends a powerful signal and represents an important step forward. 

We are working with our partners in the Quintet, namely the African Union, European Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the League of Arab States and we remain committed to accompanying Sudanese stakeholders to build on this momentum.   

ABYEI 

Our peacekeeping mission in Abyei, UNISFA, reports that around 30 civilians who had sought refuge at its base in Noong, Abyei, have now returned home after tensions eased. They had fled following the killing of a man from the Misseriya community in Amiet market.  

In response, the Mission rapidly deployed peacekeepers and engaged local communities to help de-escalate the situation. Additional quick reaction forces from Bangladesh, China, Ghana, India and Pakistan were deployed overnight after suspected armed elements were seen moving toward central areas. 

While the situation is now calm, UNISFA warns it remains unpredictable. 

MONUSCO 

Turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo: on 10 April, in Djugu territory of Ituri province, the UN Mission in that country, MONUSCO, deployed a rescue operation and secured the release of four people, including a mother and her child, who had been held hostage by the Convention pour la Révolution Populaire (CRP) armed group since 27 January. We can confirm that they have now been reunited with their families and communities.  

MONUSCO continues to proactively fulfill its protection of civilians’ mandate across Ituri, through sustained patrolling, rapid response and robust cooperation with Congolese authorities and local communities. 

**Guests today and tomorrow 

Noon briefing guest today was Jean Martin Bauer, WFP’s (World Food Programme) Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis. He briefed on "HungerMap Live",  WFP's global hunger monitoring system. 

The guest tomorrow is Fabrizia Falcione, the UNFPA’s (United Nations Population Fund) Country Representative in Sudan, who will join us virtually to discuss the situation in Sudan.