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UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING

13 June 2025

Israeli attacks on Iran

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), read the statement by the Spokesman of the UN Secretary-General regarding the previous night’s Israeli attacks on Iran.

“The Secretary-General condemns any military escalation in the Middle East. He is particularly concerned by Israeli attacks on nuclear installations in Iran while talks between Iran and the United States on the status of Iran's nuclear programme are underway. The Secretary-General recalls the obligation of UN Member States to act in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. The Secretary-General asks both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford.”

Responding to a question, Ms. Vellucci emphasized the importance of a peaceful resolution of the conflict. A military de-escalation was needed immediately.

Deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Chad

François Batalingaya, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Chad, speaking from N’Djamena, stated that Chad was in crisis, and eastern Chad was reaching a breaking point. A humanitarian catastrophe was unfolding in one of the world’s most fragile and climate-exposed regions: this year marked Chad’s sixth consecutive year of food insecurity. During the lean season, 3.3 million people would struggle to feed themselves.

Since the outbreak of war in Sudan, over 850,000 Sudanese refugees had crossed into Chad, joining the 400,000 existing Sudanese refugees who had arrived in waves over the last 15 years - tripling the number in just two years. Right now, nearly 300,000 people were stranded at the border, waiting to be relocated inland. Tens of thousands, mostly women and children, were sleeping in the open without shelter, clean water, or health care. These were survivors of war, who arrived traumatized, hungry, and with nothing. They recounted stories of mass killings, sexual violence, and entire communities destroyed.

Despite its own challenges, Chad had kept its borders open. Even before this latest influx, nearly one million people in eastern Chad had already been in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Now, they were sharing what little they had with those fleeing the war. Clinics were overwhelmed, malnutrition was rising, and basic services were stretched to the brink. Now, cholera had also been detected in El Geneina, just 10 kilometers from Adré, the epicenter of the refugee crisis.

The UN and our 65 humanitarian partners had a response plan of USD 1.4 billion, but only 9.3 per cent of that funding had been received, halfway through 2025. Mr. Batalingaya stressed that if the international community failed to act now, lives would be lost, and the crisis would deepen. The question was whether the world would respond – or look away.

Answering questions from the media, Mr. Batalingaya said that Chad was a neglected, forgotten crisis competing with other crises that were getting much more attention. He asked the media to highlight the suffering of civilians, particularly women and children, in eastern Chad. Adré today had over 200,000 Sudanese refugees; this town used to have some 50,000 residents before the war. Some 173,000 refugees ought to be relocated from the Adré area further inland. The other area affected by the massive influx of refugees was around Tiné, he explained. An estimated 2,000 people continued to arrive to Chad every day.

Emergency in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Damien Mama, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), connecting from Sake, spoke of the deliveries of a new contingent of HIV and TB medication to health centers in North Kivu, the first delivery in over a year, reaching thousands of patients who had been left without treatment for many months. Destruction from recent fighting was visible, but there were also signs of hope. UNDP was in North Kivu, dedicated to providing solutions based on local perspectives as expressed by the population on the ground. He mentioned an example of a woman who had lost her sewing machine and asked for another one so she could continue to make her living. UNDP would remain to provide long-term solutions, help restart the economy, restore income-generating activities, and rebuild homes.

Mr. Mama said that over next five months, UNDP was planning to support creation of 1,000 jobs, support 10,000 of victims of sexual and gender-based violence, help 6,000 survivors launch income-generating activities to restore agency and dignity, and launch community radio programs to counter hate speech and promote peaceful coexistence. UNDP was uniquely positioned to act now, bridging the gap between humanitarian relief and long-term development. To fully implement the Crisis Response Plan, UNDP needed USD 25.6 million, of which USD 14.5 million had been secured, thanks to Canada, Korea, Sweden, the UK, core partners, and own UNDP funding. The funding gap stood at USD 11.1 million. That gap was the difference between hope and despair, between recovery and dependency, and between building peace and watching conflict deepen.

Responding to questions, Mr. Mama said that the DRC Government was cooperating with the UN to help victims of war. He reminded that Sake, bordering Rwanda, was a town taken over by the M23 before they had taken over Goma.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that Bintou Keita, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, was currently visiting Goma to express her solidarity with its people. She was also scheduled to meet with representatives of the M23/ Alliance du Fleuve Congo to discuss priorities of the peacekeeping mission’s mandate, notably the protection of civilians.

Health situation in Sudan

Dr. Shible Sahbani, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Sudan, speaking from Port Sudan,  said that he had just returned from Khartoum, which had only recently become accessible again to humanitarians and international organizations.  It was a city ravaged by two years of conflict, where entire neighborhoods had been severely damaged, many hospitals were out of service or face shortages of electricity, safe water, and basic medicines and human resources. The overcrowded living conditions, unsafe water and a crumbling health system had created a deadly mix which had led to a devastating cholera outbreak. More than 20,000 cases and 250 associated deaths had been reported in the State since July 2024. Beyond the capital, other areas in Khartoum State and beyond were also seeing a sharp rise in cases. Until 11 June, nationwide, 78,551 cases with 1,854 deaths had been recorded across 14 States and 98 localities

Dr. Sahbani said that cholera could be relatively easily treated with rapid access to rehydration solutions and antibiotics but was deadly without it. Khartoum’s hospitals and health centres were struggling to cope with the large number of cholera cases. In displacement sites, isolating the sick was nearly impossible, increasing the spread of the disease.  He informed that Sudan’s Federal and State Ministries of Health, with support from WHO and UNICEF, had launched a ten-day oral cholera vaccination campaign in five high-risk localities of Khartoum State. The goal was to protect more than 2.6 million people over the age of one year and stop the outbreak. The campaign was being rolled out in Jebel Awalia, Sharg Elneel, Omdurman, Karrari, and Umbada, using both mobile and fixed vaccination sites.  These early interventions were already showing results: daily cases had dropped from over 1,500 to around 400.  

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Sahbani stressed that the humanitarian workers needed access to all people in Sudan, so that they could reach the most vulnerable people with the health care they needed. Ultimately, what the people of Sudan needed most was peace, so that they could rebuild their lives and their country.

Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), referred to the previous day’s statement by Tom Fletcher, UN Humanitarian Chief, who sounded again the alarm about the situation in Sudan, which was the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Thirty million people, half the population, needed lifesaving aid. Mr. Fletcher also stressed the need for accountability for attacks on civilians and humanitarians.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), reminded of the UN Security Council’s press statement on Sudan the previous day. She informed that on 17 June at 2 pm, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan would present its latest findings at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Answering questions, Dr. Sahbani said that any massive movement of population could contribute to the spread of cholera. Currently, 13 Sudanese states were affected, including the Darfur, which were bordering Chad. Cross-border collaboration in this regard was necessary, emphasized Dr. Sahbani, including cross-border surveillance. Other key aspects included investing in safe water and sanitation. On another question, Dr. Sahbani said that the rainy season was coming, and with floods and restricted access, an increase in cholera cases could be expected. If decisive actions were not taken, there was a danger that the disease could spread to the broader region, he warned. Dr. Sahbani specified that 78,551 cases had been recorded as of 11 June, of which 1,854 deaths, which translated to the 2.4 percent fatality rate. WHO aimed to keep the fatality rate under one percent.

Situation in Gaza

Responding to questions on Gaza, Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that OCHA could not speak of the intentions of the parties to the conflict. Humanitarians could only speak of the facts on the ground, which currently included a massive communications blackout. All crossing points had to be opened, and it was far from clear that Eretz West would be opening, as it was being reported. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was a failure from a humanitarian point of view, said Mr. Laerke, as it was not providing aid to people in need in a safe manner. As OCHA was not part of the GHF’s efforts, he could not provide details on its modus operandi.

Also answering questions, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that attacks on people trying to receive humanitarian aid were unacceptable. People should not be put in a situation to have to choose between feeding their families and putting their lives at risk.

Announcements

Zeina Awad, for the International Labour Organization (ILO) said that the 113^th International Labour Conference would close today. On that occasion, a press briefing would be organized in the ILO media zone at 1 pm. Among the topics to be addressed at the briefing with the Celeste Drake, ILO Deputy Director-General, Manuela Tomei, Assistant Director-General for Governance, Rights and Dialogue, and Mia Sepo, Assistant Director-General for Jobs and Social Protection, would be the first-ever convention on biohazards in the workplace, the platform economy, and the informal economy.

Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), informed that the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) would hold its Humanitarian Affairs Segment at the Palais des Nations from 18 to 20 June, chaired by Costa Rica. The headline was Renewing global solidarity for humanity and there would be four high-level panels, webcast live, about humanitarian reform, international humanitarian law, financing, and innovation in the aid system. During the week, a group of local humanitarian NGOs would be travelling to Geneva from various countries in crisis. They were mostly women-led organizations with much to say about the places they worked, the daily realities people faced, the funding cuts they were going through and how they saw the future of aid. They would be available to speak to the media, if there was interest. Mr. Laerke confirmed that the UN Humanitarian Chief, Tom Fletcher, would participate in the ECOSOC session.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) informed about the publication of the World Investment Report 2025, which would be presented at a press conference on 19 June at 10:30 am. Rebeca Grynspan, UNCTAD Secretary-General, and Nan Li Collins, UNCTAD Director for Investment and Enterprise, would speak at the conference.

On 18 June at 1 pm, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel would present its latest report to the Human Rights Council.

Ms. Vellucci also informed that 17 June would mark the 100^th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, known as the 1925 Geneva Protocol. The Protocol prohibited the use of chemical and biological weapons in war. The Protocol was the only successful disarmament treaty to be adopted by the League of Nations; today, 146 States were party to the Protocol. The Geneva Protocol had laid the foundations for the subsequent Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention. To mark the centenary of the Geneva Protocol, France and Switzerland would host a special public commemorative event in Room V on 16 June from 3:30 pm. UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu would take part in the event.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women would open on 16 June at 10 am its 91^st session, during which it would review the reports of Mexico, Thailand, Ireland, Afghanistan, San Marino, Chad, and Botswana.

Finally, a press conference would be held in Nice, France at 1pm today to mark the end of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. The presser could be followed live at webtv.un.org.

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UN Geneva Press Briefing - 13 June 2025

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