Noon briefing of 2 June 2026

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

TUESDAY, 2 JUNE 2026

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly meeting, in which Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh was elected as the forthcoming President of 81st session of the General Assembly.  The secretary-general said that the new President-Elect’s theme is an inspiring call to action for the multilateral system — “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.”

The Secretary-General also paid tribute to Annalena Baerbock of Germany for her outstanding leadership during the 80th Session of the General Assembly. He noted how Ms. Baerbock, over her term, pushed Member States forward on the implementation of the Pact for the Future and had organized interactive dialogues with the candidates for the next Secretary-General.

He said that the Pact for the Future and the UN80 Initiative represent a blueprint for action, a blueprint for solutions and bold reforms to carry the United Nations into the future

The work of the General Assembly, he added, is critical to bringing these commitments to life and delivering real solutions and results that can renew the world’s faith in the work that the UN does.

And Morocco was selected to be the first seat for the next General Assembly session

SECRETARY-GENERAL/ EL NIÑO AND LA NIÑA UPDATE

In a video message released today on the World Meteorological Organization El Niño / La Niña Update, the Secretary-General noted that the science is clear: El Niño is arriving on our doorstep in the coming months with 90 per cent certainty. He stressed that the world must treat it as the urgent climate warning that it is.

The Secretary-General warned that El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world. He emphasized that the only effective response is climate action equal to the crisis, ending out addiction to fossil fuels, accelerating the shift to renewables, protecting the most vulnerable, and delivering early warning systems for all.

UKRAINE

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the latest overnight large-scale missile and drone attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv. These attacks reportedly killed at least 20 people, including two children, injured more than 100 others, and resulted in widespread destruction of residential and other civilian infrastructure. 

Once again, we emphasize that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law and must end immediately. We also reiterate the Secretary-General's urgent appeal for immediate de-escalation leading to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire in this conflict.

The Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, also condemned the attacks. Our humanitarian colleagues noted that rescue operations were ongoing as of this morning.

Mr. Schmale pointed out that, instead of enjoying the start of the school summer break, children and their families spent the night in shelters, awakened by air raid sirens and explosions.

Humanitarian organizations, including our own UN agencies, are fully mobilized and providing first aid and psychological support, distributing emergency relief items, and registering affected people for humanitarian cash assistance.

And as you know, yesterday afternoon, the Security Council met to hold a briefing on Threats to International Peace and Security, following a request by Romania.

LEBANON

Despite ongoing de-escalation efforts, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south continues to observe intense air activity and exchanges of fire across the Blue Line and within UNIFIL’s own area of operations. As stressed during the emergency Security Council session yesterday, we call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and fully adhere to the cessation of hostilities that was agreed to. 

Today, between midnight and 16:00 p.m. local time, UNIFIL recorded 478 trajectories of projectives, 468 attributed to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), 10 attributed to Hizbullah. The mission also recorded nine IDF airstrikes and 46 violations of the Lebanese airspace.

This followed intense military activities yesterday, when UNIFIL reported 702 [IDF] trajectories of projectiles alongside 47 launches from Hizbullah. UNIFIL also observed intensive air activity across its whole area of operations. Peacekeepers reported strikes in both Sectors of their operations, including on road networks.

The escalation in southern Lebanon has included a high volume of artillery, of mortar and rocket fire. Yesterday, UNIFIL recorded 702 firing incidents from IDF positions south of the Blue Line and within UNIFIL’s area of operations.

The peacekeepers also reported two recent safety-related incidents that impacted them. On the night of 31 May, two machine-gun rounds struck a prefabricated UNIFIL accommodation unit in Sector East, penetrating three rooms; no personnel were injured as they were taken shelter in other places. In a separate incident, one fixed-wing drone intercepted by the IDF exploded over a UNIFIL position southwest of Naqoura yesterday; there were no injuries or damage. Both incidents are under review by peacekeepers.

Despite all of these challenges, our peacekeepers are continuing to facilitate humanitarian and institutional support. Yesterday, the mission enabled two humanitarian missions to Tyre following coordination with OCHA. Today, UNIFIL peacekeepers from Italy donated an ambulance and medical supplies to the Lebanese Armed Forces Military Hospital in Badaro, in Beirut. That was done in the presence of the Force Commander, Major General [Diodato] Abagnara.

And just a reminder that the Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, and the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Nawaf Salam, will jointly launch the revised Lebanon Flash Appeal, and that will take place in Beirut on Friday. The appeal remains focused on providing life-saving assistance to people in need.

Imran Riza will also brief your colleagues in Geneva on Friday, remotely from Beirut, on the appeal. 

And I was asked yesterday about the current flash appeal that launched in March for $308.3 million. I can tell you that, as of June, the appeal has secured $185.9 million, which is, according to OCHA, about 60 per cent of what we need.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that yesterday, Israeli forces began routing our convoys through a new road, with a new checkpoint, to reach the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing from inside Gaza.

Today and yesterday, humanitarian convoys have faced significant operational challenges at the new checkpoint, including delays, congestion, malfunctions, and slow screening. As a result, only some of the supplies planned to be collected from the crossing could be picked up.

You will recall that this crossing, is right now the only cargo crossing currently operational for us, because the Zikim crossing in the north has remained closed for a second week.

UN teams are engaging with authorities to secure smoother access to the Israeli crossings along Gaza’s perimeter and the reopening of additional routes.

Meanwhile, to respond to emerging shelter and continuing shelter needs, partners last week distributed nearly 5,000 bedding items, 150 tents and 2,000 tarpaulins to more than 5,700 families. However, partners say that the dwindling stocks, ongoing restrictions on the entry of essential material, and limited access to affected areas make it challenging to meet the daily needs of the many, many displaced people in Gaza.

Turning to the West Bank, Israeli forces on Sunday extended a military order that closes off three refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarm. Information from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East(UNRWA) indicates that more than 33,000 Palestinians from these camps have been displaced and not allowed to return since January of last year. This latest extension prolongs their displacement by another two months, until 31 July.

The UN calls for the lifting of movement restrictions and other policies that cause or prolong displacement, or hinder access to basic services and sources of livelihoods.

SUDAN/CONSULTATIONS

Turning to Sudan. Yesterday I was asked about the activities of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, and I can tell you that he will travel to Sudan later this week to continue consultations with the Sudanese authorities and other stakeholders in the country.

Meanwhile, tomorrow in Addis Ababa, the Quintet, which as you know, comprises the African Union, the European Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States and the United Nations, will convene Sudanese civilian stakeholders for a workshop, as part of the process aimed at discussing the parameters and priorities of a future inter-Sudanese civilian dialogue.

Mr. Haavisto will be there for part of the workshop, ahead of his travel to Sudan.

This workshop will build on the extensive consultations the Quintet has undertaken in recent months with a broad spectrum of Sudanese stakeholders, including political blocs, political parties, civil society actors, women’s groups, youth’s groups, and representatives of displaced communities, on the contours of the dialogue process.

The Quintet is aiming for the dialogue process, and for the preparatory workshop preceding it, to be meaningfully inclusive in a way that reflects Sudan’s political and social diversity.

SUDAN

On the ground in Sudan the situation remains dire, the humanitarian situation. But despite mounting insecurity, access constraints and severe funding shortfalls, we and our humanitarian partners are continuing to do our best to deliver critical assistance to millions of people across the country. 

In April alone, we and our partners provided food aid to more than 3 million people, including nearly 800,000 people in areas experiencing or at risk of severe hunger.

In North Darfur State, the World Food Programme and its partners provided emergency food and nutrition assistance to almost half a million people in Tawila, which as you know, hosts one of the largest population of internally displaced people in Sudan.

At the same time, we remain gravely concerned by escalating intercommunal violence that were seeing in parts of the Darfur region. As we told you yesterday, clashes over the weekend in several villages across Central and West Darfur reportedly claimed dozens of lives.     

And yesterday, the violence continued to spread to additional communities, and tensions remain high despite mediation efforts by local authorities and community leaders.

Meanwhile, drone strikes continue to affect Darfur. Yesterday, drones reportedly struck the town of Kabum in South Darfur State, as well as several parts of the state capital, Nyala.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) once again calls on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to allow for rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained access for humanitarian aid for all people who need it wherever they may be.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO/UGANDA

Turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that escalating violence in the eastern provinces continues to impact civilians, and of course, the response to the Ebola outbreak.

In Ituri, UN partners report that at least seven civilians were killed in villages in Mambasa Territory on 31 May. This attack follows a weeks-long escalation of violence in the province, bringing the total death toll to more than 170 for the month of May alone.

The provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu have not been spared by violence, with authorities reporting casualties and armed clashes preventing communities from accessing their fields. This also created obstacles for humanitarian and health workers carrying out the Ebola response.

The UN reiterates its call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, to protect civilians, and to ensure safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access.      

Meanwhile, the Ebola outbreak continues to expand. We and our partners continue to support national health authorities. This includes the establishment of Ebola treatment centres, the delivery of meals to patients on a daily basis and to frontline health workers. We and our partners are also providing assistance for case management, transporting medical supplies, as well as community engagement, risk communication, and strengthened surveillance to help prevent the spread of the disease even further.

On a positive note, yesterday, the Government of the DRC announced the reopening of the airport in Bunia, following a comprehensive public health assessment of the surveillance and containment measures. The airport had been closed for commercial flights since 23 May, although humanitarian cargo and flights by the UN Humanitarian Air Service had been allowed on an exceptional basis.       

In Uganda, the number of confirmed Ebola cases according to the World Health Organization (WHO) has risen to 11, including two confirmed deaths as of yesterday. Some of the cases have been linked to cross-border transmission from the DRC.

The UN and its partners have launched a $15.8 million three-month emergency appeal to support the Government-led response to the Ebola outbreak in Uganda.

Elsewhere in the region, countries are reinforcing their preparedness measures. Burundi has developed a $17.3 million Ebola Contingency Plan to support preparedness and response efforts, while Zimbabwe has reportedly set up Ebola isolation centres. 

HAITI

The Human Rights Office welcomes the opening of two specialized judicial units in Haiti, which are expected to address complex corruption cases, including the illicit trade of arms and money laundering. They will also deal with serious human rights violations and abuses like killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and child trafficking.

The Human Rights Office says the creation of these specialized units is a significant step toward tackling widespread impunity in Haiti.

So far this year, gang-related violence has resulted in at least 2,300 deaths. Close to 700 people, notably women and girls, have been victims of sexual violence in Haiti, and hundreds of children have continue to be trafficked by gangs. 

Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, urges the Haitian authorities to quickly implement these units in accordance with international human rights law and best practices, with the support of the international community.

BANGLADESH

As we get closer to the ninth anniversary of the large-scale forced displacement of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar into Bangladesh, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is calling on the international community not to forget the 1.2 million refugees who are still in Bangladesh. Most of them, as you know, are living in camps in Cox’s Bazar.

The generous support from Bangladesh and the international community has been critical in meeting their basic needs. But, as we face sharp reductions in humanitarian and development support, Rohingya refugees remain largely reliant on aid. 

This year, we and our partners, in coordination with the Government of Bangladesh, appealed for $710 million to meet the most urgent needs of Rohingya refugees and local host communities. 

This hyper-prioritized appeal is now 60 per cent funded. 

However, UNHCR warns that significant humanitarian needs persist and, without continued international solidarity, the plight of Rohingya families will deteriorate.

GLOBAL DIALOGUE ON AI GOVERNANCE

An update for you on the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, which will take place in Geneva on 6 and 7 July. Media registration for this event is now open, and we encourage you or your colleagues covering AI to register as early as possible. 

You will recall that the AI Dialogue was established by the General Assembly last year. The Dialogue in Geneva will be the first of its kind, and it will gather representatives from governments, the private sector, academia and civil society. The Dialogue was created to ensure that AI governance reflects the priorities of all nations, not just the most technologically advanced, and that the benefits of AI are shared by all. 

We also expect members of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence to present their preliminary report during the event.

**The noon briefing guest was Anandita Philipose, UNFPA’s (United Nations Population Fund) Representative in Lebanon. She spoke to journalists about the situation in Lebanon.