All right, good afternoon. Um,

uh, we had a guest lined up for today,

uh, Demoru who is the director of

operations at OCHA. Uh, but given

everything that is going on, uh, we've

postponed till next week. She was here

to speak to you about Haiti. Uh, but we

will get her back uh, next week. As a

reminder, tomorrow is an official UN

holiday in observance of Good um, uh,

Good Friday. Uh the headquarters is

scheduled to be closed. However,

sometimes the security council forces us

to be open. So uh

>> stay tuned. Uh I don't know the so we

will uh stay tuned. Anyway, [snorts]

um

earlier this morning, the Secretary

General spoke to you um on the onset of

the second month of the Middle East

crisis and warned that we are on the

edge of a wider war that would engulf

the whole Middle East with dramatic

impacts around the globe. He said that

when the Strait of Hormuz is strangled,

the world's poorest and most vulnerable

cannot breathe. The spiral of death and

destruction must stop, Mr. Guter said

and diplomatic efforts uh must uh diver

deserve the space and support to succeed

anchored firmly in international law

including the charter of these United

Nations. Um he said he remains in close

contact with the parties and dispatching

his personal envoy Jean Arnu to the

region to support these efforts. Once

again he told the United States and

Israel that it is high time to stop the

war and told Iran to stop attacking its

neighbors. And I can add that Jean Arnu

is finalizing arrangements to travel to

the region. He will visit countries

affected by the conflict and meet with

authorities there. He also plans to meet

with facilitators of the diplomatic

track to discuss the ways and means for

the United Nations to contribute to

efforts to bring about a comprehensive

and durable settlement to this conflict.

We'll obviously keep you updated of his

activities as we are able to share them

with you. Earlier today in um in Lebanon

in Beirut, there was a solemn ceremony

that took place at the air Beirut's

international airport to pay tribute to

our three fallen peacekeepers from

Unifil. And as you will remember, there

are Corporal Farzal Ramadan, Major Zulmi

Iskandar, and First Sergeant Muhammad

Nurwan.

uh all are from the Indonesian armed

forces and they lost their lives on two

incidents, one on March 29th and another

one on March 30th. All of uh and they

lost their lives while bravely

implementing their mandates and

peacekeeping duties as part of UNIFIL.

The three peacekeepers were postumously

awarded the UNIFIL and Lebanese armed

forces medals in recognition of their

dedicated service to UNIFIL's mission in

South Lebanon. Meanwhile, the picture on

the ground remains concerning and bleak.

Uh UNIFIL reports continuing rocket fire

towards Israel and air strikes and

artillery shelling impacting several

locations in uh southern Lebanon coming

from Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces

have expanded their incursions into area

towards the west with tank and clashes

seen in areas in sector west located

about 12 kilometers north of the blue

line. The hostilities continue to

endanger the peacekeepers. This morning,

one peacekeeper was wounded in the

shoulder by a bullet at a UN position

near Mace Jebel in sector east. Unifil

immediately issued a stop fire request.

The peacekeepers received treatment at

the position's own medical facility. Uh

the the falling bullet likely originated

from clashes between Hezbollah and

Israeli defense forces in that area.

Meanwhile, in separate incidents, the

peacekeepers demanded the Israeli

defense forces remove an Israeli flag

that they have erected near a UN

position in Kafer Kella that is in

sector east. Uh, as you can imagine, the

flag undermines the perception of

UNIFIL's impartiality and risks drawing

fire towards peacekeepers amid the

ongoing clashes that we are seeing. We

remind again of all of their obligations

to avoid any action that could put the

lives of peacekeepers at further risk.

On the humanitarian uh front, colleagues

on the ground in Lebanon say that one

month since the start of the ongoing

escalation in the country, the

humanitarian situation continues to

deteriorate at an alarming speed. More

than 1.1 million people have now been

forced from their homes, having to flee

their homes, sometimes more than once.

Uh all displacement orders as

displacement orders from the Israelis

continue to impact uh newer areas.

In one month, nearly 15%

15% of Lebanon's territory has been

impacted by displacement ordered orders

issued by Israel. Uh while many have

fled, finding refuge in shelters with

relatives or informal settlements,

others are remaining and need urgently

need assistance. Hospitals are

struggling to keep up. Half of the

facilities that are supported by the UN

population fund in areas impacted

directly by the conflict have been

forced to close due to the violence.

Many health care workers themselves have

been forced uh to move. Hospitals and

primary health care centers are

overwhelmed and they are underst

staffed. Our partners working in health

are working to maintain essential

services. UNFPA has deployed nine mobile

health uh units across Lebanon to

provide maternal care and emergency

obstetric support in collective

shelters. Service also include care for

survivors of sexual violence,

psychosocial support and the

distribution of dignity kits and

essential supplies for pregnant women

and new mothers. However, the response

is facing growing constraints.

Disruptions to major global transport

routes are delaying their delivery of

critical assistance to those who need it

the most. Our partners are also working

to reroute shipments and secure

alternative supply lines, but gaps

remain at a time where needs are rapidly

increasing. As the situation worsens,

our calls to the international community

remains the same. an immediate

deescalation of hostilities, the

protection of civilians, the protection

of health care centers, the protection

of humanitarian workers, and the full

and unimpeded humanitarian access

especially to the south of Lebanon and

urgent funding for us to be able to

respond to the fast growing needs at

this at the pace that is needed.

Turning to the occupied Palestinian

territory and I'll start first with Gaza

and then move on to the West Bank. Our

colleagues tell say that people's needs

in Gaza continue to far exceed what aid

organization can provide amid severe

restrictions and other impediments. This

underscores the urgent need for

authorities to facilitate the work of

our our excuse me our humanitarian

partners and allow for a wider range of

critical items to enter the Gaza Strip

through available crossings.

Unfortunately, as you know, only one

crossing is open to cargo at this point.

on food security. Um we and our partners

are completed distribution for March

this week, reaching every other family

with rations covering half of the

minimum calor caloric requirements. Our

partners are also serving nearly 1.5

meals and producing about 130,000 2 kilo

uh gram bread bundles every single day.

But this is far from enough. The limited

entry of commercial goods, particularly

cooking gas, continues to constrain what

kitchens and families can prepare.

Nearly one in two household still relies

on unsafe cooking methods, including the

burning of trash. On health, our UN

supported emergency medical teams

provided about 23,000 consultations in

the last week of March alone. That was

throughout Gaza. But persistent delays

in clearing specialized medical and

surgical equipment continues to limit

the ability for us to provide complex

health care. On shelter, most people

remain displaced and the response is

still limited to short-term solutions.

More durable shelter support depends on

the entry of equipment and materials

that are not easily approved, including

those needed to clear debris and

explosive ordinance or to fix damaged

homes. During the last week of March,

our partners reached nearly 14,000

families with assistance including

tarpolins and household items

prioritizing people belongings and whose

belongings were flooded by the recent

rainstorm.

On the education front, our partners

tell us that last week rains damaged at

least 15 temporary learning spaces,

disrupting services to some 20,000

students. uh led by UNICEF education

partners continue setting up specialized

tents for learning and distributing

stationary and recreational items for

children in the West Bank. Ochre

casualty figures for the first three

months of this year indicate that two

out of every three Palestinian

fatalities occurring in the regional

escalation on February 28th. In other

words, 22 of 33 Palestinians killed by

Israeli forces or settlers. In addition,

you'll recall that four other

Palestinians, all women, were killed in

the West Bank by falling munitions

during an Iranian missile attack. More

than 200 settler attacks cause

casualties or property damaged in March,

impacting over 100 Palestinian

communities. That is about six attacks a

day. We and our partners continue to

support the health system in the West

Bank, as well as families who've been

displaced or otherwise affected. But to

prevent further violence and reduce

people's needs over time, Palestinians

must be protected. Perpetrators must be

held to account for these unlawful

attacks, and policies driving such needs

must be reversed. Um, I have a rather

long and grim update for you from the

Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our

humanitarian colleagues warned that the

humanitarian situation continues to

deteriorate uh there due to continuing

violence in the eastern provinces of it,

North Ku, and South Ku. In the Churi

province alone, our humanitarian

colleagues note that at least 30 people

were reportedly killed yesterday in

armed attacks in the locality of Bafwa

Bafwa. That was in Mombasa territory,

bringing the number of civilians killed

there to more than 100 since March 11th.

Local humanitarian partners are also

reporting more than 390 people have been

abducted in the same period alone. The

[snorts] violence has triggered a new

wave of displacement, adding more than

50,000 people already displaced in the

territory. Our partners also tell us

that there's been widespread looting,

including food, medicines, and medical

supplies from health facilities. Nine

health facilities in Mombasa territory

have been sus have suspended operations

also since March 11th. That has of

course severely limited access to health

care for more than 55,000

human beings. Um, and these people are

already underserved to start with. In

South Ku, local sources report that at

least 20 civilians have been killed and

around 10 others injured in clashes

since March 23rd in the territory of

Ulvira. Uh, also in territories of

Kalche and Winga, homes and livestocks

have been damaged, forcing families to

flee. Humanitarian needs are rising,

particularly access to food, health care

remains limited. In neighboring North

KU, continued fighting in Ma Masi

territory displaced about 6,000 people

between March 28th and the 29th, adding

that more than 180,000 people already

displaced there. Despite the insecurity,

our partners continue to provide

assistance where they can. Between March

16th and 27th, more than 30,000 people

receive food assistance in Weso Town in

Masi. OCHA urges all armed groups to

respect international humanitarian law

to protect civilians and civilian

infrastructure and to facilitate safe

and unhindered uh humanitarian access.

The humanitarian response plan for the

Democratic Republic of the Congo remains

critically underfunded. Sadly, no

surprise there. The 1.4 4 billion

humanitarian appeal is only 30% funded

with o just over $421 million received

so far. As needs grow, the response

needs more funding, more cash. And in

South Sudan, amid the difficult news

that we're seeing globally, there is

some hopeful developments to note. Our

mission peacekeeping mission there

reports that upper Nile State Indian

peacekeepers from the engineering unit

have successfully reopened a key section

of the Malakal rank main supply route

which has been closed since um last

year's floods. The new road alignment,

which entails reclaiming land from flood

waters to restore the road, will provide

safer access, significantly improving

mobility in the area and facilitating

the delivery of humanitarian assistance

uh to people in need in local

communities. These efforts underscore

the vital role that peacekeeping

missions play in supporting stability

and enabling critical assistance to

reach vulnerable civilians, some of the

most challenging environments. Um back

here, our assistant secretary general

for peaceuilding and political affairs

uh briefed the security council on its

first ever consideration of cooperation

between the United Nations and the Gulf

Cooperation Council. He said amid

heightened regional tensions,

partnership with regional and

subregional organization such as the GCC

is vital in advancing peace, security,

and stability. Mr. Kari also welcomed

the GCC's engagement on key issues in

the Middle East including the occupied

Palestinian territory, Sudan, Yemen,

Lebanon, and Syria. And I want to flag

this afternoon the council will

reconvene for a briefing on cooperation

between the United Nations and the

League of Arab States. Mr. Kari will

brief again and also briefing will be

the secretary general of the League of

Arab State, Mr. Abugate. Uh just to read

into the record a statement we issued

yesterday in which the secretary general

said he was deeply saddened to learn of

the passing of Steven Lewis, a tireless

humanitarian and diplomat and steadfast

champion of the values of the UN. He was

not only a diplomat but also an activist

at heart, relentless in pressing the

world to confront justice and act. As

the secretary general special envoy for

HIV AIDS in Africa, he refused to allow

this crisis to be discussed in abstract

terms, demanding action measured in

lives saved, not in words spoken. And

his deep engagement with African

continent endured throughout his life,

including in recent years, where he

continues speak out for equitable access

to health interventions and support for

affected communities. Uh our

peaceuilding fund has approved $2.5

million for initiative in Guinea Bisau

to strengthen anti-corruption efforts.

The initiative will address systematic

corruption by building the capacity of

oversight and audit institutions by

building the um advancing digital

solutions and reinforcing partnerships

with national stakeholders at national

and local level. The peaceuilding

initiative to be implemented by the UN

development program and the office on

drugs and crime will prioritize

strengthening civilian institutions,

civil society, justice and

accountability mechanisms at the

community level for continued peace

building impact. It builds on you on

past UN investments in the country in

those areas.

Today is World Autism Day. We celebrate

talents and contributions of autistic

people who enrich our world. The

Secretary General called for a renewed

commitment to inclusion and embracing

diversity. On Saturday, we will mark the

International Day for Mind Awareness and

Assistance in Mind Action. In his

message, the Secretary General calls on

member states to adhere to relevant

instruments, including the

anti-personnel mind ban convention, and

urges all those who've recently

withdrawn to rejoin. And on Sunday, it's

the International Day of Conscience, a

day that highlights the need to uphold

the values of peace, tolerance, and

solidarity, and act with conscience to a

more sustainable world. Chris, you

ready? We have a quiz.

Um,

this country's most popular sport is

cricket.

All right.

>> No.

>> Oh, just just

wait.

Just wait.

Um there are only 12 countries in the

world that have achieves achieved test

status. Uh this is one of them. It

achieved test status in 2000. Um

it is currently ranked uh ninth in the

world according to the international

cricket council. The one day that Mr.

Dakar is not online.

>> Okay. It is known as the Tigers.

>> Who said Bangladesh?

>> There we go. We thank our friends in

Dhaka for their full payment in full to

the regular budget. We're now up to 98.

They paid $317,897.

We thank them for every one of those

dollars. If you have a question, you may

ask it or you may yield.

Okay.

Ifra then then Stephano.

>> Thank you Steph. Um,

>> sorry that's the boss.

>> I know the secretary general doesn't

comment on the work of the security

council. Um, but today he uh highlighted

um resolution 2817 which condemned

Iran's attack on the GCC. Um also in

your uh briefing just now you emphasized

um clearly the disruption caused by um

uh major global transport routes and the

impediments it's causing for delivery of

aid. This comes at a time when the

security council is about to vote on yet

a new resolution to protect the strait

of Hormuz and calling on international

community to use all the tools necessary

uh to ensure the freedom of navigation

and security, maritime security. Um does

the secretary general see any um uh the

worth for the resolution, the need for

it, any word on it?

I think you you kind of answered my

question in your preamble um in your

preamble. Uh we're not going to get in

the midst of a discussion on resolution

that is uh being looked at very

carefully right now by member states

where we know there are some uh

divergent uh views. It is always useful

when the council speaks uh with one

voice and the secretary general's

position is that the freedom of

navigation must be restored in

accordance with international law in the

state of Hormuz for all the reasons that

he listed this morning. Mr. Vakara,

>> thank you. Stefan, um today we found out

about that the secretary general was

going to deliver his remarks to the

press about 40 minutes before. Uh that

is unusual. I mean 40 minutes. But my

question is did they decide to do the

speech they did after or before

President Trump's speech last night?

>> No, it was uh he had to be completely

transparent uh he had wanted to speak uh

today. We weren't sure able to we only

confirmed it uh this morning. Uh but it

should not be interpreted as a reaction.

Uh

the secretary general said what he what

he had to say u and I can tell you that

the text was prepared in advance of what

was said of the white house yesterday.

>> Okay. So any reaction of of uh President

Trump's speech there was something that

he was looking for. They didn't find

anything.

>> Well I mean listen I will leave you to

to analyze it. I think the secretary

general has been very consistent in his

position on this conflict and I will

leave it to uh your um your pen or as we

would say in French to do the compare

and contrast. Yes sir.

>> Uh thank you Steph. Just two logistical

questions for you. Uh first Pakistan's

foreign ministry has noted that

Islamabad is prepared to host direct US

and Iran negotiations. While it's not

confirmed, is the UN postured to send a

representative or any high level

delegation?

>> We we have no nothing to share with you

at this point, but I can tell you the

secretary general has been very clear

that he will support uh uh all efforts,

especially coordinated efforts to bring

an end to this conflict in line with

international law and the charter.

>> And then just a second question if I

may. Um also on meetings today uh you

the United Kingdom led a coalition of 40

countries which convened virtually to

address solutions on reopening the

straight of Hormuz. Uh can you confirm

if any

>> sorry say I say again

>> uh the UK led a coalition of 40

countries who convened today virtually

to address solutions on reopening the

strait of Hormuz. Uh could you confirm

if any UN officials

>> No, there was no no I mean not that I

know of. We will check uh we'll double

check but not that I know of. At least

no one no one traveled from uh from New

York and there was no uh there was no

secretariat representative Abdel Hamid.

>> Thank you Stfan.

The rate of unemployment in the West

Bank now stands at 28.6

worse than Sudan and Iraq. Do you have

any comment on that? Well, I mean, we're

seeing uh we are seeing the continued

impact of uh of the harassment of

Palestinian uh communities, and as we

know, it has a physical and economic

impact.

Uh the the a second question, the

special reporter on torture issued a

statement commenting on that Israeli law

to execute Palestinian prisoners and she

said that should be uh unnulled

because it won't happen before they go

through torture.

So uh do you agree with her assistance?

>> As you know, we don't it's not for us to

agree or disagree with special operator

tourists. I think the secretary John's

position on that law has been uh

explained a number of times from this

podium and we are against it to be

clear. Uh Zara, I think you're online.

Do you have a question?

>> Hi. Hi SF. One month after the attacks

on Iran began, the president of the

United States has repeated his tweets

last night stating that we will bring

Iran back to the stone age. uh this

streets indication and intent to commit

war crimes under international

humanitarian

law and Rome statute. What is the UN

secretary general response on this?

Well, I mean, I I think the Secretary

General uh has consistently expressed

his concern and not only the the

increased military action and the the

drums of war beating even harder, but

also the increased rhetoric um which is

all too often dehumanizing uh which we

firmly um stand against in all cases.

>> Thank you.

>> One one second. Yes.

question.

>> One second.

>> Thank you, uh, Stefan. Um, yesterday,

Ambassador, uh, US Ambassador Bartos,

who is in, uh, the US representative,

uh, for UN reform, uh, told, uh,

reporters that the US has paid 159

million dollars towards its regular

budget for 2026. Is that something you

>> There was a payment a while ago. I will

There was a payment a while ago. Let me

check if any new money has come. Is

there any uh talks with the US about the

rest of their uh budget?

>> There always are discussions with the

United States on issues of money.

>> Yep.

>> Can I have my followup?

>> Yes, please.

>> Question on that. what uh President

Trump said, we will bring them back to

the stone age.

And he added a very racist comment when

he said where they belong.

Okay. I mean, crossing 2,500 of Iranian

civilization

that I think do do you agree that this

is a racist comment? I mean, I I think I

I I just answered the question about the

dehumanizing language that we stand

against.

>> Uh, sorry, Alex, and then we'll go go

back to you, Sarah.

>> Thanks, Steph. A quick follow up on the

air payment. Are you talking about 160

million that the US has paid or and

something else?

>> I mean, you should ask your colleague.

Uh,

>> yeah. [laughter] Yeah. No, I I I know

there was money that came in a few

months ago. That's

>> and I and yes and I need to check if

what ambassador Borto is talking about

was that or new money. Thank you.

>> Okay,

>> Mr. Vakado.

>> Yeah. is a a follow up on the question

it was uh asked before. Uh this what

President Trump say does the sec I mean

that phrase the stone age uh did the

secretary general in in listening this

phrase that he was bas basically

threatening to use atomic weapons.

You'd have to ask the person who said

those words what he meant.

Okay.

>> No, my question is

>> I I know what I know what you're what

you're asking and I'm answering my best

my limited capacity.

>> Okay. Yes. Yes. Pan.

>> Thank you, Steph. Uh Chinese foreign

minister Wani said today that UN

Security Council actions must not

provide legal cover for unauthorized

military operations, nor should they

heighten tensions or or escalate

conflict. So does agree with the

viewpoints expressed by

>> I mean I think as I said to Ephraim

we're not going to get into the

commenting on ongoing negotiations. We

obviously as you can imagine stand for a

return to peace and not an increased

conflict.

>> Okay. Thank you all. Sorry. I'm sorry.

Not not that I'm eager to leave or

anything but go ahead.

>> Yeah I was late. Maybe somebody asked u

according to some reports a journalist

was kidnapped in Ba 2 days ago and I

have a question is like either it can be

a group it can be a person it can be

government what's secretary general's

message to all this government's groups

regarding the journalist safety

kidnapping detaining

>> journalists need to be able to do their

work freely without fear of harassment

arrest kidnapping or or even worse uh

and I have no doubt that the uh Iraqi

authorities in Baghdad are doing

whatever they can to ensure the release

of the reporter. Thank you.