Release of ship’s crew, ‘a step in the right direction’: UN Yemen envoy
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, seized the MV Galaxy Leader in November 2023 as part of attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea they instigated in support of the Palestinian cause in Gaza. The 25 sailors on…
Lebanon: Food insecurity deepens following conflict, new report reveals
Developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ministry of Agriculture, the report reveals that the impact of hostilities on agriculture and the economy will likely slow recovery. Some 1.65 million people are now…
Ceasefire in Gaza brings hope, but West Bank faces escalating violence
The ceasefire and hostage release agreement, which took effect on Sunday allowed some displaced residents to return, but hundreds of thousands across the Gaza Strip remain dependent on humanitarian aid, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists at the regular press…
Aid surging into Gaza ‘at scale’ but massive needs remain: OCHA, WHO
On day three of the ceasefire which entered into force on Sunday 19 January, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, welcomed the “surge” in lifesaving humanitarian assistance into the enclave, after 15 months of devastating Israeli bombardment. Aid trucks began…
Guterres urges support for the Middle East amid current ‘turbulent period’
António Guterres addressed the Council’s first quarterly debate on the Middle East for the year, held against the backdrop of Sunday’s temporary ceasefire in Gaza, the end of hostilities in Lebanon sparked by the war, and the fall of the…
Middle East crisis: Updates for 20 January; Guterres calls for ‘immediate action’ to protect civilians, release of all hostages
Following the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, the UN Security Council is meeting in New York to hear from the Secretary-General and foreign ministers from the Middle East and beyond. UN chief António Guterres told the…
Guterres welcomes start of ceasefire in Gaza as UN ramps up food deliveries
“We stand ready to support this implementation and scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief to the countless Palestinians who continue to suffer,” the UN chief said in a social media post. He added: “It is imperative that…
‘Lebanon is on the cusp of a more hopeful future’, says UN chief Guterres
“A window has opened paving the way for a new era of institutional stability, a State fully able to protect its citizens, and a system that would allow the tremendous potential of the Lebanese people to flourish,” Mr. Guterres told…
Will those responsible for atrocities in Syria finally face justice?
For years, UN human rights bodies have been documenting, monitoring and publishing reports on abuses, and bringing Syria’s dire human rights record to the world’s attention. The fall of Bashar al Assad in December 2024 was largely greeted with euphoria…
UNRWA chief: Ceasefire is the start, not the solution
Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Lazzarini emphasised that the agreement is only the first step in addressing the region’s overwhelming humanitarian challenges. He joined UN Secretary-General António Guterres in urging all parties to fully implement…