The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
6 January 2026
United States Intervention in Venezuela
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said the Secretary-General had delivered remarks to the UN Security Council’s meeting on Venezuela on 5 January (read by Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary A. DiCarlo). The Secretary-General was deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability in Venezuela, the potential impact on the region, and the precedence the United States military operation could set for how relations between and among states were conducted. The Secretary-General was also deeply concerned that rules of international law had not been respected regarding the military intervention on 3 January. The UN Charter enshrined the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any member state. The Secretary-General called on all Venezuelan actors to engage in an inclusive, democratic dialogue to determine their future, as well as on the international community to act in adherence to the principles, laws and rules, to promote peaceful coexistence.
Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said the High Commissioner for Human Rights was deeply worried about the situation in Venezuela following the United States of America’s military operation over the weekend. It was clear that the operation undermined a fundamental principle of international law: that States must not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The United States had justified its intervention on the grounds of the Venezuelan Government’s longstanding and appalling human rights record, but accountability for human rights violations could not be achieved by unilateral military intervention in violation of international law. The people of Venezuela deserved accountability through a fair, victim-centred process.
The Office feared that the current instability and further militarisation in the country resulting from the intervention would only make the situation worse. The state of emergency declared by the Venezuelan authorities that took effect on Saturday raised concerns, as it authorised restrictions on free movement of people, the seizure of property necessary for national defence, and the suspension of the right to assembly, among other measures. The High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the United States and the Venezuelan authorities, as well as the international community, to ensure full respect for international law, including human rights.
The full statement is available here.
Responding to a question from the media, Ms. Shamdasani said the United States military operation violated the United Nations Charter, which stated that states must not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Using human rights as a justification of this military intervention was not acceptable. The High Commissioner had stated that a narrative was emerging which sought to justify the military intervention as a response to the Maduro government's appalling human rights record.
But far from being a victory for human rights, this military intervention, which was in contravention of Venezuelan sovereignty and the UN Charter, damaged the architecture of international security, making every country less safe.
Answering another question, Ms. Shamdasani said the Office hadn’t been in touch with the Venezuelan Government over the past few days but were constantly in contact with civil society and were assessing the situation on the ground. The Office had been expelled from the country in February 2024 and had since been monitoring the situation from Panama. OHCHR were concerned about the establishment of the state of emergency, which enshrined measures which could be used to further limit Venezuelan people’s freedom, especially given the record the Government had in suppressing free speech and freedom of assembly, using the pretext of national security.
Ms. Shamdasani, answering another question, said it was important to have clarity: this was an action taken in contravention of international law, and the international community must come together with one voice to make that clear. This contravened the UN Charter, which was set up by member states. Ms Vellucci emphasised that the UN Charter needed to be upheld as a whole. It was vital to respect the Charter and international law.
Answering further questions Jens Laerke, for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said OCHA had been responding to the humanitarian situation in Venezuela for several years. A response plan had been established late last year, identifying almost eight million people (a quarter of the population) in need of humanitarian assistance, asking for around 600 million USD. Of the nearly eight million people, nearly 900,000 people were in a high state of need, requiring food, nutrition and medical services, which the Venezuelan state had been unable to provide for many years. The recent events were politically dramatic, but the needs of people day to day had not drastically changed. This was the basis of OCHA’s work going forward this year.
Responding to an additional question, Mr. Laerke said he did not know if the United States administration planned to support humanitarian operations in Venezuela. The United States had recently pledged a substantial amount of money for several countries’ crises. Moving forward, the United Nations was trying to mobilise the entire donor base to step up, including for the 600 million USD response plan in Venezuela.
Answering another question, Eujin Byun, for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCHR), said there were currently no reports of displacement or cross-border movement linked to the recent events. UNCHR were closely monitoring movements and were working with other UN partners to provide humanitarian assistance.
Ms. Shamdasani said the High Commissioner had been clear that this was an act which made states less safe around the world. It sent a signal that the powerful could do whatever they liked. OHCHR were calling on all states to speak with one voice, in defence of the UN Charter and international law.
Answering another question, Ms. Shamdasani said all efforts had been made by OHCHR to reestablish their presence in Venezuela and the door was always open. The High Commissioner had stated that the Office did not believe in points of no return and would always be there to support the Venezuelan people.
Responding to an additional question, Ms. Vellucci said the member states decide on the agenda of the Security Council and when the topic of Venezuela would be discussed again. So far there had been no word regarding a special session of the Human Rights Council.
Responding to a final question, Ms. Shamdasani clarified that it was Article 2.4 of the United Nations Charter which had been contravened.
Crans Montana Fire
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva had expressed condolences regarding the recent terrible incident in Crans Montana. As a mark of respect for the victims of the tragic fire, the United Nations Office at Geneva would fly the UN flag at half-mast on Friday 9 January, the day of national mourning declared by the Swiss Government.
Announcements
Ms. Vellucci said on Thursday 8 January 2026, the Organizational Meeting of the Human Rights Council would be held in the Assembly Hall at the Palais des Nations. The meeting would cover topics including: the election of President for the 20th cycle from the Group of Asia-Pacific States; the election of Vice-President for the 20th cycle from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States; and the selection of “troikas” for upcoming sessions of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , UN WOMEN , UNHCR , WFP , WHO , WTO , UNEP
OCHA – $160M CERF allocation to 12 underfunded crises; UNHCR – 5.8M refugee children remain out of school amid funding cuts; UN Women – Middle East escalation and food security among women/girls; WHO – Gaza supplies and overall situation; WFP – Yemen food insecurity and impact on global hunger ; UNEP - First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals in Geneva | 16-20 November 2026
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNHCR , WHO
Yemen's health system nears collapse amid conflict, causing rising casualties and medicine shortages.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Update by the Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WIPO , WHO , UNICEF , UNHCR , IOM , WFP , FAO
WIPO Global Innovation Index 2026 launch and press conference, WHO Composition of influenza vaccines for the 2027 Southern Hemisphere flu season, UNICEF Yemen hunger and malnutrition; UNHCR Sudan displacement into Chad; IOM Ebola and population movements in DRC; WFP emergency food assistance in Nepal; and FAO food loss and waste.
2
1
2
Press Conferences | UNCTAD
Gaza reconstruction needs reach $71.5 billion as Palestinian economy and public finances face severe strain. Latest UNCTAD report documents the loss of decades of development gains, economic collapse in Gaza and tightening economic constraints in the West Bank.
The report identifies three immediate priorities: transferring withheld Palestinian revenues, safeguarding the banking system and aligning reconstruction support with the documented scale of damage and economic losses.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Press conference on the situation of human rights in Nicaragua by the UN Group of Human Rights Experts
1
1
1
Press Conferences | ITU , UNHCR , WHO , WMO
YEMEN - UNHCR: Escalating conflict in Yemen could fuel more displacement, refugee movement
CLIMATE - WHO / WMO: Health and Climate impact of El Niño
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR
Mariana Katzarova discusses human rights in Russia as a UN Special Rapporteur.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IOM , OHCHR , UN WOMEN , UNFPA , UNHCR , UNOPS , WHO
UN Geneva briefing: Yemen crisis worsens, urgent aid needed across multiple sectors.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Press conference on the latest report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the UN Human Rights Council
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
Victims Still Waiting: A Global Briefing on Transitional Justice Around the World
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | WMO
As world’s water reserves change, countries must prepare for a new reality: WMO
New data showing that rivers were at their lowest level for decades last year provides further evidence that the climate crisis is real and countries must act immediately to protect themselves from the increasing threat to communities and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.
The key findings from WMO’s State of Global Water Resources 2025 report covering the hydrological cycle and extreme events in the five-year period to last year:
- 2025 was one of driest years for river discharge in 35 years
- Past seven years have seen abnorfmal river flows
- Water storage on Earth’s land surface has decreased in past decade
- Widespread glacier loss across all regions for fourth consecutive year
- Asia and Africa are regions most affected by water-related disasters
- Water data availability has improved, but gaps remain in hard-hit areas
Highlighting the long-term decline in the Earth’s freshwater storage and glacier melt, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo explained that the planet’s water reserves used to act as a planetary “savings account” that absorbed the occasional dry season, avoiding a water crisis. “One of the central stories of the 2025 report is what is happening to that savings account? And the simple answer is that we are depleting it,” she told journalists in Geneva.
Groundwater reserves are equally stretched and have been in decline since 2014, WMO’s report states, with nearly two-thirds of monitored wells worldwide showing levels lower than the historical norm and indicating a shift “further toward deficit…not recovery”.
“At the same time, we are seeing more water-related disasters,” Ms. Saulo said, while also stressing that the currently strengthening El Niño “will increase the risk of drought in some areas, and flooding in others”.
Glaciers disappearing
In 2025, for the fourth consecutive year, every major glaciated region on Earth lost ice mass, leading to short-term hazards including floods and long-term water insecurity, according to WMO.
Responding to a question about whether the changing global water cycle might have contributed to the deadly Nepal-China flooding disaster, Ms. Saulo explained that melting ice and rock was just one factor in the chain of events that ultimately sent a massive and deadly wall of water and debris downstream on 26 August, killing at least 1,367 people.
“You asked if it could happen again? Absolutely; the problem in this region is that there’s 63,700 glaciers at the last count,” she told a Press Conference in Geneva. “Even if you’re looking with remote sensing with satellites at these glaciers, you might see some faults, you might see some slight shifting, that does not mean necessarily catastrophic collapse. So, in order to plan for this, it’s very, very difficult. But the international community is looking very hard at ways in which we can bring people together to solve some of these monitoring issues.”
Data indicates that glaciers shrank between 2023 and 2025 with cumulative losses of 1,400 gigatonnes of water – or about one third of annual fresh water needs.
Every major glacier region on Earth lost ice for the fourth consecutive year.
“All 19 glacier regions around the globe lost ice; in Central Asia, Iceland, the Russian Arctic and western Canada and the United States, it was among the three worst years on record,” said Wayne Jenkinson, WMO’s Director of Hydrology and Cryosphere.
Some regions with smaller glaciers such as Central Europe, the Caucasus, the western Canada and the United States may already have reached “peak water”, Mr. Jenkinson warned.
“After this point, the glacier gives less meltwater each year simply because there is less ice left to melt. That matters for every community downstream that relies on water during hot, dry summers,” he explained.
Narelle van der Wel, WMO’s Head of Cryosphere Monitoring, Predictions and Services, stressed that while some further glacier loss is unavoidable, the eventual scale of the decline is not predetermined.
“Some glacier loss is inevitable, but total loss of glaciers is not yet inevitable,” she said, pointing to emissions reductions as central to limiting future losses.
Preparing for moving baselines
The report does not attribute every observed change to climate change alone. WMO says pressure on water resources and natural variability also contribute.
Mr. Jenkinson said governments need to prepare for “moving baselines” as historical patterns become less reliable.
“The situation 30 years ago is not where we are today,” he said. Countries, he added, need to prepare “for those changes that have really already arrived”.
ends