DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
13 April 2026
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today¡¯s briefing by St¨¦phane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
**Iran/US/Israel
Alright, good afternoon. I¡¯ll start with an update on the situation in the Middle East.
After weeks of destruction and distress, it is clear that there is no military solution to the current conflict in the Middle East.
While no agreement was reached at the talks hosted by Pakistan between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran in Islamabad, the discussions themselves underscored the seriousness of their engagement and constituted a positive and meaningful step toward renewed dialogue.
Given the deeply rooted differences, an agreement cannot be reached overnight, and the?Secretary-General calls on the talks to continue constructively in order for an agreement to be reached.
At the same time, the ceasefire must absolutely be respected and all violations must cease.
The Secretary-General thanks the continued efforts of the mediators ¨C Pakistan, which hosted these talks, as well as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and T¨¹rkiye ¨C and he calls for the international community to continue to support those efforts.?
The Secretary-General stresses that all parties to this conflict must respect freedom of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz, in line with international law.
We need to remember that some 20,000 seafarers have been caught up in this conflict and are currently stranded on ships, with hardships increasing daily.
Disruptions in the maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz have already had a direct impact well beyond the immediate region, with increased global economic fragility and insecurity in many sectors. ?
The disruption of fertilizer and related raw material is already having a very negative impact on agriculture, worsening the perspectives of food insecurity. With that in mind, the Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva, working with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Chamber of Commerce, continues engaging extensively with relevant parties to design and operationalize the mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz that we announced on 27 March.
For his part, the Secretary-General¡¯s Personal Envoy, Jean Arnault, remains actively engaged in the region, consulting closely with key stakeholders and continuing his outreach in support of a comprehensive and durable agreement.
We may have a more official statement shortly after the briefing.
**Iran
Turning to the situation in Iran, our OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) colleagues say that we and our partners continue to support the Government-led humanitarian response humanitarian in the face of sharply rising needs.
UNICEF (United Nations Children¡¯s Fund) has been working with its partners to support children and families, including by increasing psychosocial support.
As needs grow, UNICEF is also helping to restore access to essential health services. In coordination with the Ministry of Health, two mobile health units, eight primary healthcare tents, and more than 80 emergency primary healthcare kits have been deployed. Tents and emergency kits are also being delivered, helping reach more than 225,000 people.
For its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) has supported 33,500 refugees with food and cash assistance.
As you will have seen over the weekend, the principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, which brings together the heads of UN agencies and international NGO (non-governmental organization) partners, expressed their alarm by the sustained violations of the rules of war and international humanitarian law in this conflict. In a statement, they noted that thousands of civilians have been killed, with many more displaced. Health workers and facilities have been targeted, while global supply chains are also impacted, driving up food and fuel prices. The principals of the Committee spoke out against all attacks on civilians. ¡°Even wars have rules,¡± they said, ¡°and these rules must be respected.¡±
**Lebanon/Israel
Turning to Lebanon, as you well know, negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese authorities are expected tomorrow in Washington.
We encourage both Lebanon and Israel to leverage all available diplomatic avenues at their disposal to immediately end hostilities and address outstanding provisions under Security Council resolution 1701. We stand ready to work with the parties to facilitate efforts in this regard.
Our Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, continues her good office¡¯s role in support of the parties towards the full implementation of that resolution and towards a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution to the conflict. We call on all parties to engage constructively in that regard.
On the peacekeeping front, our Blue Helmets continue their operations on the ground in support of de-confliction, protection of civilians and humanitarian access, to the extent possible amid the ongoing fighting. Peacekeepers continue to report rocket fire towards Israel and airstrikes in UNIFIL¡¯s (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) area of operations, including around Shama, At Tiri, and Bint Jbeil in Sector West, where heavy clashes are continuing.
Peacekeepers continue to encounter obstruction and aggressive behaviour. Earlier today, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers attempted to block the passage of a UN convoy in near Shama. The UNIFIL convoy was able to pass after a few minutes. Separately, today Israel Defense Forces soldiers fired ¡°warning shots¡± over a UNIFIL position in At Tiri. These follow the two incidents yesterday in which Israel Defense Forces tank rammed UNIFIL vehicles near Shama.
We once again remind all sides of their obligations to protect UN peacekeepers, to respect UN peacekeepers and to respect our work and our facilities.
**Lebanon/Humanitarian
On the humanitarian front, as high-intensity hostilities continue, you can imagine humanitarian needs continue to grow and deepen across the country and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence. Israeli military activity remains particularly intense in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa governorate.
As of yesterday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and over 6,500 injured, as casualties continue to rise, according to the Government.
Civilian infrastructure continues to be damaged. Our colleagues at UNICEF report at least 18 incidents affecting water systems across the country, damaging reservoirs, pumping stations and main supply lines, and disrupting people¡¯s access to safe water.
Despite the severe access constraints and ongoing hostilities, our humanitarian partners continue to deliver assistance wherever they can and however they can.
Since 2 March, UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) have reached some 100,000 people in hard-to-reach areas, providing life-saving support to children and their families. UNICEF has also helped more than 30,000 children by supplying educational, recreational and play materials across 174 shelters in an effort to bring some sense of normality to the lives of these children.
Our partners working in water and sanitation have provided more than 110,000 hygiene kits.
We reiterate again that we need an immediate de-escalation of hostilities; the protection of civilians, including healthcare and humanitarian workers; sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access; and urgent funding so we can reach everyone who needs help.
**Occupied Palestinian Territory
Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tell us that the Israeli authorities have reopened Zikim crossing into northern Gaza for the first time in more than 40 days. Supplies were already?offloaded there?over the weekend, and UN cargo collection inside Gaza resumed earlier today, starting with?food,?nutrition and other humanitarian items administered by the?World Food?Programme (WFP),?as well as UNICEF.?This will help address a critical need by allowing supplies to enter northern Gaza directly, so we don¡¯t have to truck them from the south.?
But major constraints?remain. These include Israeli requirements related to customs clearance, which is often delayed; insufficient scanning capacity, which?makes it difficult to secure approval for critical items; and blanket bans on specific UN agencies and NGO partners that are central and critical to the joint humanitarian response in Gaza.?
Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners supported the medical evacuation of?more than two dozen?patients and?over 40?of their companions through the Rafah crossing. You will recall that?WHO suspended its support to medical evacuations led by the Ministry of Health following a security incident in which a person contracted by WHO to provide services was killed. WHO said the resumption followed commitments from relevant parties to ensure the safety of patients, the people who accompany them and their staff.?
Thousands of people?still need medical services that are unavailable in Gaza. Our health partners?tell us?that more approvals are needed for equipment and other essential items to help the local health system recover so patients can access critical care inside Gaza.
And yesterday, we and?our?partners?offered medical?care,?and information on?food,?water and psychosocial?services?to?nearly 70?people who returned to Gaza through the Rafah crossing.?
**Iraq
Turning to Iraq, some of you asked me about the election of the new President in Iraq, Mr. Nizar Amidi, by the Council of Representatives. I can tell you that this is an important step towards the formation of a new government following the 11 November 2025 parliamentary elections.
**Deputy Secretary-General/Nigeria
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is back in New York, after visiting Nigeria, where the country¡¯s displacement crisis and untapped economic potential were in focus.
Travelling to Zamfara and Benue with the UN Country Team, the Deputy Secretary-General met communities on the frontlines of insecurity and displacement, witnessing firsthand both the scale of needs and the efforts underway to respond.
Ms. Mohammed reaffirmed the United Nations¡¯ commitment to supporting Nigerian-led [solutions], with the UN Country Team set to remain closely engaged.
**Sudan
I think you heard from Denise [Brown, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan], but I can tell you that the Secretary-General¡¯s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, arrived in Berlin today and will remain there to attend the third International Sudan Conference, scheduled for Wednesday, 15 April. Our Humanitarian Chief, Tom Fletcher, is also in Berlin, and he will be attending the conference.
The conference marks the tragic milestone of three years since the war in Sudan began, creating the world¡¯s largest humanitarian crisis. The Secretary-General is expected to deliver a video message to the Conference, which we will share under embargo shortly.
**Security Council
Back here, the Security Council held a briefing on the cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations: today¡¯s focus was the European Union.
Briefing the Council was the Chief of Foreign Policy for the European Union [Kaja Kallas]; briefing for the UN was Khaled Khiari, our Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific. He noted that the European Union, conceived as a project of peace, integration and cooperation in the aftermath of the Second World War, has evolved into a major economic and diplomatic actor and a strong advocate of multilateralism.
He pointed out that in an increasingly complex and uncertain international environment, sustained engagement, dialogue and trust-building are essential. He stressed that respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations remains central to addressing shared challenges, and the European Union plays an important role in advancing these principles.
**Haiti
I just want to flag¡ I think you all saw the horrific stampede in Haiti over the weekend. And I can tell you that the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, Nicole Boni Kouassi, expressed her profound sadness following the tragedy that occurred at the Citadelle Laferri¨¨re on Saturday, where a crowd surge reportedly resulted in the deaths of around 30 people.
Her office offered its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and its solidarity with the Government of Haiti and with the people of Haiti as a whole. It also calls for survivors to receive appropriate medical care and adequate support.
**Senior Personnel Appointment/UNMISS
Just a couple of housekeeping notes. On Friday evening, we announced that the Secretary-General appointed?Ms. Kiki Gbeho of Ghana as his Special Representative for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Ms. Gbeho will succeed the late Nicholas Haysom, to whom the Secretary-General is profoundly grateful for his dedication, effective leadership of UNMISS and distinguished service that he rendered to the United Nations in the cause of peace over the course of more than two decades of service.?
Ms. Gbeho brings over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, coordination and management in political, development and humanitarian affairs at the UN. Since 2024, she has been the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in UNMISS, as well as Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator in South Sudan, and she has periodically served as Officer-in-Charge for the mission.?
**Cyprus
In Cyprus, our colleagues at the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) are monitoring the situation in the Pyla plateau. Its peacekeepers have stepped up patrols and are maintaining a visible presence on the ground, following the observation of unauthorized entry by Turkish Cypriot security personnel into the United Nations buffer zone.
The UN Peacekeeping Force reiterates that unauthorized entry, presence or activity within the buffer zone constitutes a violation of the Mission¡¯s mandate. Respect for the Mission¡¯s mandate is essential to maintaining stability in this very sensitive area.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force is actively engaging with all relevant parties to restore the status quo ante and prevent actions that could adversely affect calm and stability in the area. Maintaining calm and stability across the buffer zone remains the peacekeepers¡¯ highest priority.
**Central African Republic
In the Central African Republic, our colleagues from the peacekeeping Mission in the country, MINUSCA, tell us that since this Saturday, they have been supporting the deployment of electoral sensitive material as well as polling stations stationeries¡¯ kits to remote areas in the country; this in advance of the legislative elections and the by-elections scheduled for 26 April.
To date, more than 10 metric tonnes of electoral material have already been delivered to six prefectures in the country, marking a decisive milestone in the preparations for the second round of the elections.
As part of the Integrated Elections Security Plan, the UN Peacekeeping Mission and the national defense and security forces are finalizing preparations for the elections¡¯ security, taking stock of lessons learned from the successful first round of elections that took place on 28 December 2025.
**Ukraine
Vanessa Frazier, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG/CAAC), is in Ukraine this week [13-17 April] to engage with representatives of the Government?of Ukraine to discuss the protection of conflict-affected children in Ukraine?and?new?opportunities for?collaboration. She will also engage with civil society organizations, the UN community and other stakeholders.
**Football for the Goals
And lastly, on a positive football note. Brazilian football legend Zico is leading a delegation from the Rio de Janeiro-based Clube de Regatas do Flamengo to the United Nations to receive the club's Football for the Goals certificate of membership from Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming, and that will take place in the General Assembly Hall today.
Flamengo is the latest professional football club to join Football for the Goals, and its leadership is at the UN today to officially receive the club's Football for the Goals certificate of membership. Zico will also be named a Football for the Goals Champion, joining a select group of influential individuals from the world of football who use their platforms to advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
**Guest today and tomorrow
And lastly, tomorrow, my guest will be Julius Van Der Walt, Chief of the Mine Action Programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
He will join us virtually to brief you on the situation regarding unexploded ordnance in Gaza.
**Questions and Answers
Spokesperson: Edie?
Question: Thank you, Steph. You said that the Secretary-General believes that an agreement cannot be reached overnight and that talks must continue between the United States and Iran. In light of this, what is the Secretary-General's response to the announcement of a blockade by President [Donald] Trump? And is the United Nations involved in any way in trying to arrange continuation of those talks?
Spokesperson: I'll take your last question first. Obviously, there's the quad of mediators: Pakistan, T¨¹rkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The talks were hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad. Our message to all parties that we speak to, including the ones Jean Arnault is speaking to, is to do whatever we can to support these talks. And we hope that they will resume at various levels, but we hope they will go on. And as I said, we very much want to see the ceasefire holding. You know, we've seen a lot of statements regarding the situation of the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of this conflict. For us, our position remains unchanged. It's that all parties to this conflict must respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law. Ephrem?
Question: Thank you so much, Steph. On Lebanon, how did the Secretary-General react when he learned that Prime Minister Nawaf Salam cancelled his visit? He was supposed to meet with him today. Was there anything in particular that Mr. [Ant¨®nio] Guterres was looking forward to for that meeting? [Cross talk]
Spokesperson: Well, the Secretary-General, you know, I think has a particularly good relationship with the Prime Minister, who he's met a number of times - notably in Beirut and even before when he was named but not yet confirmed. The Secretary-General is very much focused on ensuring that the UN system supports Lebanon in this hour of crisis. Our humanitarian system is truly mobilized. We fully understand why the Prime Minister could not travel, given everything that's going on. Yes, Minlu. And then¡
Question: Thank you, St¨¦phane. So, on the UN specialized task force¡¯s work to ensure the safe passage of for fertilizers to go through the Strait of Hormuz, how will the US blockade of the Strait affect this task force¡¯s work?
Spokesperson: Well, I mean, the work that Jorge Moreira da Silva is doing is still, I would say, in the consulting stage, intense consultations. He's meeting with a lot of different Member States. He's been doing that for the last 10 days, trying to see how we can best operationalize it. But let's be clear, though. This task force is not yet operationalized. But what we want to see on the Strait of Hormuz is freedom of navigation, right? Ibtisam, then Gabriel.
Question: Hi. Thank you. Just first quick follow-up on the Berlin conference. It's a donor conference, correct?
Spokesperson: I will double check. I think it's donor and political, as well, but I will double check.
Question: Okay. And then, on Ms. Brown, when she briefed us, she talked about the rape and the continuous killing, something that the UN has been reporting about for a long time. I guess my question here is, what's the message of the Secretary-General, especially for parties who have influence on the warring parties, since they don't seem to be listening in Sudan? And I mean, parties who provide the warring parties with money, weapons, et cetera. And is the UN going also to start finally naming and shaming? Thank you.
Spokesperson: The message is: Support the people of Sudan by supporting a peace process. The last thing the people of Sudan need are more drones, more bombs, more guns, and more bullets. And that is the message, probably delivered in a much more diplomatic way, by our Special Envoy.
Question: But it seems to be that this for three years, it has not been working, so¡
Spokesperson: We continue our efforts. Let's remember, the Secretary-General is not the one with the finger on the trigger. Gabriel?
Question: My question has been asked. Thank you.
Spokesperson: Excellent. Alex?
Question: Thanks, Steph. A quick follow-up on Ms. Vanessa Frazier and her trip to Ukraine. Is she also coming to Russia after that?
Spokesperson: We will announce next step of her trips as they happen.
Question: Thanks.
Spokesperson: I'm going to go to the screen. I'll come back to you, Ephrem. Zahra?
Question: Hi, Steph. Does the initiation of the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by the United States constitute a violation of the ceasefire agreement with Iran, as well as a breach of international law regarding freedom of navigation? And what's the Secretary-General's reaction on this matter, given the risk of escalating the energy crisis and rising global oil prices?
Spokesperson: Well, you know, I think, as I said, the Secretary-General's position has been consistent. No one should do anything that harms the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. That freedom of navigation is based on international law and years and years of custom. We need the freedom of navigation to be restored fully by everyone. We do not want to see a return to the conflict. We do not want to see a return to rockets being launched, to civilians being killed, and we encourage the parties to stay the course and resume the negotiations.
Question: Thank you.
Spokesperson: Ephrem?
Question: Also, on Sudan¡ [Cross talk]
Spokesperson: One second. I'll get back to you in a second. Go ahead, Ephrem.
Question: Also on Sudan, Steph, Martin Griffith as early as April 2023 has warned of a possible genocide being committed. Recently, also, several international bodies have said that there have been hallmarks of genocide in the atrocities in Darfur. And today, Denise Brown mentioned the word ¡°preventing¡± and said it was a key word to prevent further atrocities, and this brings to mind the question of what the office on the prevention of genocide has been doing, because we haven't heard from them in a while.
Spokesperson: That office continues its work. Very often, it is more discreet work in order to get the message through, but they're continuing their work actively. Somebody had a question online.
Question: Yes. It's me, Stefano. Thank you, St¨¦phane. After President Trump's attack on Pope Leo for condemning the war in Iran, does the Secretary-General think the Pope fulfilled his moral duty as a religious leader or stepped into political territory that should be left to governments? And even Pope Leo said, he's not afraid of President Trump; does the Secretary-General feel equally free to speak out in the same way?
Spokesperson: [¡] Far be it from the Secretary-General to judge the work of the pontiff. What I can tell you is that the Secretary-General has immense respect for Pope Leo. They met last year, last June. They met for over an hour, and I think they share a lot of the same sensitivities when it comes to preventing conflict, when it comes to pushing for peace, when it comes to the respect of human dignity. As for the Secretary-General, I think it may never rise to the level that you want, but I think the Secretary-General has been pretty open and blunt in his remarks. Anybody else online before I go back to the room? Okay, Alex.
Question: I guess it's also a follow-up. I'm wondering if you guys have seen that AI picture of President Trump healing somebody in the style of Jesus Christ and if you have any reaction on that?
Spokesperson: I have seen it, and I have none.
Question: Thanks.
Spokesperson: Okay. On that note, I've healed all of you, no doubt. So, I wish you a good day.