The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Press Conferences , Edited News | OHCHR
OHCHR - Media Stakeout: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - 06 March 2026
STORY: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk remarks on the Middle East crisis
Volker Türk UN Human Rights made the following remarks at a press stake out on the current situation in the Middle East.
“The crisis sparked in the Middle East one week ago following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Iran’s counterattacks, has been spreading like wildfire. It is causing significant damage in Iran, Israel and at least a dozen other countries, mostly in the Gulf, with risks of major economic and environmental ramifications across the world,” he said.
“The world urgently needs to see steps to contain and extinguish this blaze – but we are only seeing more inflammatory, bellicose rhetoric, more bombings, more destruction, killings and escalation, only fueling it further. Confusion has also been sown around international law – and some have openly derided the fundamental values of our common humanity,” Türk said.
“I urge the States involved to take immediate steps to de-escalate – to give peace a chance. And on other States to call clearly on those involved to pull back. Cool heads must prevail if we are to prevent further terror and devastation for civilians,”
“Lebanon is becoming a key flashpoint. I am extremely worried about the latest developments following Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel and Israel’s heavy counterstrikes, as well as its extensive displacement orders that have already forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.”
“Given the magnitude of this crisis, I call on Heads of State and Government around the world unequivocally to commit to defending international human rights law, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter itself – we cannot afford for more powder kegs to ignite.”
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact
In Geneva:
Ravina Shamdasani: +41 22 917 9169 / / ravina.shamdasani@un.org
Jeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org
Tag and share - X: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanrights
STORY: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk remarks on the Middle East crisis
TRT: 02:47
SOURCE: OHCHR / UNOG
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 6 March 2026 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior shot: Palais des Nations
- Interior shot: Stake out position Assembly Hall
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights (OHCHR): “The crisis sparked in the Middle East one week ago following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Iran’s counterattacks, has been spreading like wildfire. It is causing significant damage in Iran, Israel and at least a dozen other countries, mostly in the Gulf, with risks of major economic and environmental ramifications across the world.”
- Cut aways: Stake out position Assembly Hall
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights (OHCHR): “The world urgently needs to see steps to contain and extinguish this blaze – but we are only seeing more inflammatory, bellicose rhetoric, more bombings, more destruction, killings and escalation, only fueling it further. Confusion has also been sown around international law – and some have openly derided the fundamental values of our common humanity.”
- Cut aways: Stake out position Assembly Hall
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights (OHCHR): “I urge the States involved to take immediate steps to de-escalate – to give peace a chance. And on other States to call clearly on those involved to pull back. Cool heads must prevail if we are to prevent further terror and devastation for civilians.”
- Cut aways: Stake out position Assembly Hall
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights (OHCHR): “Lebanon is becoming a key flashpoint. I am extremely worried about the latest developments following Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel and Israel’s heavy counterstrikes, as well as its extensive displacement orders that have already forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.”
- Cut aways: Stake out position Assembly Hall
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights (OHCHR): “Given the magnitude of this crisis, I call on Heads of State and Government around the world unequivocally to commit to defending international human rights law, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter itself – we cannot afford for more powder kegs to ignite.”
- Cut aways: Stake out position Assembly Hall
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Repeated attacks on humanitarian warehouses put vital medical aid at risk in Ukraine - WHO
A new airstrike overnight damaged one of the main warehouses used by the UN health agency to store humanitarian medical supplies in the Kyiv region, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. This is the third attack to affect a WHO-used storage in the last three months.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNITAR , WMO
UNITAR: GA resolution on the merger of the United Nations System Staff College into the United Nations Institute for Training and Research; WMO: Air Quality and Climate Bulletin released; WHO: Ukraine update
2
2
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO
Powerful El Niño heightens extreme-weather risks through 2027, as countries brace for impact - WMO
Fuelled by extraordinarily warm waters across the tropical Pacific Ocean, the El Niño climate pattern is expected to intensify in the coming months. Forecasters are almost certain that it will persist through February next year, with unusually warm conditions expected across the globe.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UN WOMEN , WHO
Nepal flood deaths near 1,000 as those spared struggle to survive – UN humanitarians
With the death toll in Nepal’s catastrophic flash floods inching towards 1,000, rescue workers are facing harsh conditions while survivors lack access to food, safe water and health care, humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , UN WOMEN , WFP , WHO , WMO , OCHA
UN WOMEN/IFRC: Update on the impact of the floods in Nepal, WFP: Food assistance in the West Bank, WHO: Gaza’s rehabilitation needs and continued spread of diseases
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNDRR , IFRC , WHO
Nepal: Flooding disaster “not over” as humanitarians work around the clock
While search and rescue efforts continued Friday following flash floods and mudslides in northern Nepal, UN humanitarians are taking stock of the devastation amid concerns over more flooding to come.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , ITU , OCHA , OHCHR , UNCTAD , UNDRR , UNHCR , UNICEF , WHO , WMO
UNDRR/OCHA/IFRC/UNICEF/WHO: Nepal updates; IFRC/WMO: El Niño Update; WHO: Health situation in Ukraine; UNHCR: 65 years after landmark Convention; OHCHR: Human Rights situation in Haiti;
ITU: Upcoming Greening Digital Companies 2026 report; UNCTAD: World Investment Forum 2026 in Doha 25-27 October
1
1
1
Edited News | UNIFIL
Damaged roads, disrupted services and renewed military activity are putting civilians at risk in south Lebanon, UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) warns.
The UN peacekeeping mission is urging restraint and renewed political engagement to prevent further escalation.
2
1
2
Press Conferences | UNIDIR
Launch of the 2026 Arms Trade Treaty Monitor report
1
1
1
Edited News | ICRC , UNODA
Amid unconfirmed reports that fully autonomous and AI-guided drones are now being used on the battlefield, UN chief António Guterres and the President of the Red Cross on Tuesday renewed their urgent call for stricter controls, before it is too late.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | ICRC , OHCHR , UN , UNICEF
UN/ICRC: Renewed Call from UN Secretary-General and ICRC President to Adopt Rules on Autonomous Weapon Systems; OHCHR: Human rights situation in Myanmar new report; UNICEF: Worsening child nutrition crisis in Afghanistan
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR , Treaty Bodies
UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) publishes findings on Finland, Honduras, India and Kuwait