UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING

2 June 2026

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Food Programme, the International Organization on Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

World Meteorological Organization Update on El Niño

Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said the WMO latest El Niño/ La Niña update confirmed that El Niño conditions were developing in the tropical pacific and were expected to influence weather and climate patterns in the months ahead. Experts estimated an 80 percent possibility that El Niño conditions would emerge between June and August 2026, increasing to 90 percent in the remaining forecast period. Most forecast models suggested it would be at least moderate, with the possibility to become strong. El Niño was a main driver of global weather and climate patterns and could cause heatwaves and heavy rainfall. El Niño contributed to 2024 becoming the hottest year on record. No two El Niño events were exactly alike and could vary between regions, including in the form of heavy rainfalls and floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, and extreme heat. For this reason, WMO outlooks would be especially critical in decision-making and preparedness in the months to come.

An El Niño event could exacerbate extreme heat conditions, including through causing more heat related deaths. But El Niño did not have to be a recipe for disaster. With WMO’s early forecasts, steps could be taken to reduce risks and act before hazards became crises. 128 countries in the world now reported they had multi-hazard early warning systems in place. It needed to be ensured that all countries were able to have access to the technologies to implement early warning systems, to act early before hazards escalated into crises.

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva, read the message of the Secretary-General who thanked the WMO for the vital new update, stating the world must treat El Niño as the urgent climate warning that it was.

Responding to questions from the media, Ms. Saulo said the early warnings for all initiative was launched in 2022 and was seeing significant progress. It was clear that the world needed more early warnings system, with 60 percent of countries already reporting having these systems in place. However, there was significant work ahead to ensure that all countries were covered by early warning systems in 2027. More resource mobilisation was needed to fund countries who required support, but implementation was also a challenge for the world.

Responding to another question, Ms. Saulo said science had improved significantly and as such, the Latin-American region was increasingly prepared. However, there were many countries whose fishing levels were impacted by El Niño, as well as droughts and rains. The continent was prepared but extreme events occurring on top of El Niño were becoming more extreme, making preparation increasingly difficult.

Wilfran Moufouma Okia, Chief of Climate Prediction, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said collaboration between countries was becoming stronger, with national and regional centres working with the WMO to channel information from the global entity to national services.

Answering additional questions, Ms. Saulo said an infographic was available which highlighted the expected impacts worldwide. The most common were enhanced and diminished precipitation in different regions of the world. Mr. Moufouma Okia said the ability to anticipate an El Niño event lasted six months. Beyond this, the WMO would need to restart the simulation to reconfirm the situation. Ms. Saulo said monthly updates would be provided by the global community, coordinated by WMO. The consistency among forecasts would increase in the coming months.

Responding to another question, Ms. Saulo said for Brazil, it was important to pay attention to hydro-power generation. The Amazon basin had been under stress for many months, emphasising the need to coordinate between global, regional and local agencies. The southeastern part of Brazil usually experienced floods and landslides. The cascading impacts extended to trade, hydropower and risk management, from the environment into the economic and the security of people, which was why these updates were so important.

Answering other questions, Ms. Saulo said it was important to ensure information was precise, as well as the terminology used, with WMO taken as the official voice in this regard. Mr. Moufouma Okia said the timing of the peak of El Niño was uncertain, which was why WMO was prudent with the use of wording including “moderate” and “strong”. Ms. Saulo said there was a need to mobilise resources before a catastrophe was expected, which was why the early warning for all initiative was so important. Work was done in advance with the financing sectors and risk sectors to move from a proactive phase to a reactive one.

Answering another question from the media, Ms. Saulo said Australia was an area which needed a lot of attention due to less water and increased warming and risk of wildfires. The signal for Canada and the western United States was not as clear as in other parts of the world. Mr. Moufouma Okia said El Niño was a naturally occurring phenomenon, but it added warmth to the system, meaning it was important to prepare and ensure the information provided was robust.

Impact of the US-Israel-Iran escalation since 28 February on supply operations

Jean-Cedric Meeus, the United Children Fund’s (UNICEF) Chief of Global transport and logistics, speaking from Mogadishu, said nearly 100 days into the latest Middle East escalation, the effects were being felt globally through disruptions to humanitarian supply chains. UNICEF warned that increased logistics expenses, combined with a global funding crisis, were forcing difficult decisions about which children could be reached first. Maritime diversions around the Cape of Good Hope added two to four weeks to shipping times, air freight capacity had tightened, and port congestion was affecting Africa and other regions. Air freight costs for vaccines from India to Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo had risen by 50–70 percent. Trucking costs for therapeutic food from Kenya to Somalia, South Sudan, and the DRC were up 30 percent, while sea freight for education materials to Yemen and Mozambique had increased by 100–150 percent. In Nigeria, rerouting syringes for a polio campaign targeting 12 million children added US$200,000 in costs. In Mali, freight costs rose 36 percent, forcing difficult choices between treating malnourished children and funding other essential programmes. In Afghanistan, route closures had added roughly two months to nutrition supply deliveries.

UNICEF had also nearly exhausted its annual transport contributions from logistics partners, in an unprecedented situation. It was estimated these disruptions could delay critical supplies by four to six months. To respond, UNICEF was using alternative transport routes, expanding local production, diversifying suppliers, and leveraging its global logistics network. Together with the World Food Programme and other UN partners, it had secured temporary suspension of carrier surcharges, saving an estimated US$2 million. However, UNICEF stressed that humanitarian agencies could not absorb rising costs indefinitely and warned that children ultimately bore the consequences when supply chains were disrupted. Despite these challenges, UNICEF remained committed to delivering critical supplies and protecting children's wellbeing.

Speaking about children, Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva,, recalled that on June 4, the international community commemorated the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said WHO had reported worsening fuel shortages, unreliable electricity, and declining health system resilience, with the greatest impacts in Cuba, Gaza, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Yemen. Diesel shortages remained the main operational threat, affecting generators, vaccine cold chains, ambulances, water systems, and humanitarian logistics. Impacts included reduced hospital services, pressure on neonatal and dialysis care, disrupted sanitation and outreach activities, and delayed aid deliveries. Although no large-scale vaccine cold chain failures had been confirmed, risks were increasing in several countries due to prolonged power outages and fuel shortages. Fuel constraints were also affecting pharmaceutical supply chains through higher transport costs, shortages of key manufacturing inputs, and freight delays, raising concerns about future shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies.

Marcelo Risi, for the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said today UNCTAD was releasing a new edition of its monitoring series on the economic consequences of disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, entitled “Strait of Hormuz Disruptions: The burden of oil price shocks on vulnerable economies.” Covering 75 vulnerable economies, the report found that a geopolitical shock was becoming a development shock for countries with the least capacity to absorb it. It was estimated that a sustained 50 per cent increase in refined oil prices could increase some countries’ annual oil import bill by more than 20 billion dollars. The countries covered in the report were home to nearly one billion people, and more than 30 percent of their population lived on less than three dollars a day. For some countries, the impact could exceed five per cent of GDP, creating difficult choices between financing essential imports and investing in development priorities. Higher oil prices increased transport and freight costs, contributed to inflation, weakened purchasing power, put pressure on public finances and could slow economic growth. This was the third in UNCTAD’s series, which would continue to track these impacts.

Responding to questions from the media, Mr. Meeus said UNICEF had long-term partnerships with several commercial airlines, which included allocated space on charters. Due to delays, these had to be utilized earlier than usual, meaning the flights were remaining were almost exhausted. Despite efforts to ensure solar panels, many cold chains were fueled by petrol. There were many ripple effects of this crisis on the humanitarian supply chain. In his response, Mr. Lindmeier said fuel shortages and increased transport costs continued to impact shipping routes, with air freight costs remaining elevated.

Restoration of vital health-care services in Lebanon urgently needs sustained ceasefire and peace

Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Lebanon, speaking from Beirut, said since the recent escalation beginning in March, more than 3400 people had been killed and nearly 10,400 injured, representing some of the deadliest months for Lebanon since the start of the conflict in October 2023. About 130,000 people were living in shelters as they fled fighting, a figure expected to rise after recent evacuation orders issued for parts of Beirut's southern suburbs. In just these three months, WHO had verified 190 attacks on health care, which had killed 128 health workers and injured 332 others. Seventeen hospitals were partially damaged, and three hospitals and 42 primary healthcare centres remained closed. Patients were facing delays of up to 48 hours to reach referral facilities. Rapid assessments showed that up to 80 percent of households across 15 affected districts could not afford health services, including medicines and hospitalization.

WHO was monitoring infectious diseases at shelters and host communities, and although had seen an increasing trend in diarrhoeal diseases in the last week, they had not yet crossed an emergency threshold. WHO was working closely with the Ministry of Public Health, donors and partners to respond, supporting trauma care, training health workers, providing essential medicines, and sustaining health services for the most vulnerable. Disease surveillance was being strengthened through the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network. However, the needs were growing and WHO needed sustained funding; unhindered access for patients to reach care; and protection of health care. A sustained ceasefire and a durable peace framework was required to enable reconstruction, create safe conditions for return, and ensure that people received the support necessary to rebuild their lives with safety and dignity.

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva, said the United Nations was deeply alarmed by the escalation in military activity across southern Lebanon and beyond, and reiterated that civilians and civil infrastructures must not be targeted, urging all actors to avoid further escalation.

Urgent need to prioritize protection and maternal health for women and girls in Sudan

Andrew Saberton, United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) Deputy Executive Director for Management, speaking from Cairo, said he had recently returned from a mission to Sudan, where he saw a country attempting to rebuild despite ongoing conflict. In Khartoum, damaged hospitals, destroyed maternity wards, and the lingering effects of war highlighted the challenges facing returning families. More than 800,000 pregnant women needed assistance, while over 213 attacks on health facilities had left the health system severely strained. Yet there were signs of recovery, with support for rebuilding maternity hospitals and training midwives to restore essential services.

Mr. Saberton had also visited refugee camps in eastern Chad, where conditions remained extremely difficult. Women were giving birth in overcrowded facilities with limited resources, while many continued to face insecurity and gender-based violence. A recent assessment found that three in four women reported feeling unsafe in their daily lives. Women repeatedly emphasized their need for safety, healthcare, education, and livelihoods, as they sustained their families and communities despite immense hardship. Three priorities emerged from the visit: achieving a sustained ceasefire and lasting peace; investing in the rebuilding of health and civilian infrastructure; and urgently increasing humanitarian funding. Protection services were only 20 per cent funded and health services 14 per cent funded. While long-term recovery depended on peace, women and girls could not wait: they need safety, healthcare, and support now.

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva, said just 25 percent of the humanitarian appeal for Sudan had been received at around halfway through the year.

Global funding shortfall to nourish people in need

Rania Dagash-Kamara, Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation for the World Food Programme (WFP), said she had come to Geneva to discuss the funding shortfalls with partners. In November last year, WFP requested 13 billion dollars to meet the acute needs of 110 million people. WFP had funding projections similar to 2016, but the current needs had doubled. The gaps were unprecedented, and the organization was required to make brutal choices on who to reach in each country. Malnutrition clinics were closing, and in many places, there was no food at all. It was a case of pulling out the support now and seeing who would stay alive.

Ms. Dagash-Kamara had recently visited Afghanistan, where a mother had walked four hours to visit the clinic and had been turned away because the clinic was closed in the afternoons for lack of resources. There were no alternative systems waiting to fill the gaps; there was just misery, hunger and destabilisation. The situation was truly grim. There was a push for the private sector to step in, but it was impossible for them to fill the whole gap. The top eight emergency operations required two billion dollars - funding that the organization did not have. When the money was there, WFP could deliver fast in the hardest places on earth, including responding in Lebanon in 24 hours following the Middle East crisis. Internally, WFP had cut expenses ruthlessly and streamlined wherever they could. Today was not a plea for charity, but for continued support to emergencies to hold back the worst.

Responding to questions from the media, Ms. Dagash-Kamara said the number one donor had always been and continued to be the United States of America, augmented by the European Union and Germany. However, recently across the top ten donors there had been a significant pullback. The United States remained the top donor, but the shock to the system had been the collective pullbacks from European countries, representing the current largest gap to be redressed. In 2024, WFP received around 10 billion in contributions and around six billion in 2025, a 14 percent reduction which meant tens of millions of people were unable to be reached.

Cross-border Ebola response in the DRC

Zoe Brennan, for the International Organization on Migration (IOM), said IOM warned that reactive border closures in response to the latest Ebola outbreak could increase risks by pushing people towards informal, less-monitored crossing points. IOM data from formal and informal crossings between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda showed that cross-border movement continued despite restrictions, highlighting the need for coordinated regional measures rather than isolated national responses. Cross-border mobility was essential for trade and livelihoods, and border closures did not stop movement; instead, they could drive it underground, making transmission harder to detect. IOM was therefore supporting coordinated health screening, surveillance, and community engagement at borders and other high-mobility areas to help contain the outbreak.

The outbreak was occurring in eastern DRC, one of the world's most complex humanitarian settings. The country faced Africa’s second-largest displacement crisis, with 3.6 million internally displaced people, including nearly one million in Ituri Province, where the outbreak was centred. Early detection, strong surveillance, mobility mapping, infection prevention, and effective communication with communities remained the most important tools for preventing further spread. Population movement needed to be factored into preparedness and response efforts. This was the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak and the third largest on record. Drawing on experience from previous outbreaks, IOM was working with governments and partners across the region to target high-mobility areas. However, significant funding gaps continued to limit response efforts. While IOM welcomed financial support from the United States, it stressed that additional resources were urgently needed.

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said WHO advised against travel restrictions to DRC and neighbouring countries, as they made the response harder. Surveillance and early access screening was the most important. No country should close its borders or place any restrictions on travel and trade, as this also impacted local populations.

Responding to questions from the media, Kit Leung, Senior Migration Health Advisor at the International Organization on Migration (IOM), said the reports were all publicly available online which included specific data from recent movements. IOM was working with local communities to collect data on flow monitoring and had always seen large movements across these borders, which needed to be taken into perspective when reviewing the data. The organization would continue to release data as it became available.

Mr. Lindemier said as of 31 May in the DRC, there were 116 suspected cases, 321 confirmed cases and 48 deaths, with six recovered. In Uganda there were nine confirmed cases reported and one associated death. Suspected cases included anybody who had symptoms which could be Ebola-like. They were then tested and often ruled out; therefore, the suspected cases could fluctuate significantly, while the confirmed cases were cumulative. There was no figure available on suspected Ebola deaths.

European Union deal on migrant centres

Responding to a question from the media, regarding the European Union deal on third-country migrant centres, Zoe Brennan, for the International Organization on Migration (IOM), said IOM were monitoring the situation closely and could provide further response later.

Babar Baloch, for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said UNHCR believed that the safe and dignified return of individuals not in need of international protection, could be explored to certain return hubs, in line with human rights standards. They could also be appropriately used for individuals who had their claims for international protection rejected, who had no other form of legal stay, or who would not return voluntarily to their country of origin.

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

Babar Baloch, for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said as the world approached nine years since the mass displacement of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to Bangladesh, UNHCR and its partners were urging the international community not to forget the 1.2 million refugees living there, most in camps in Cox's Bazar. Since the largest influx in 2017, humanitarian support had provided vital assistance, but growing global crises and funding pressures now threatened essential services. UNHCR had appealed for US$710.5 million to meet the most urgent needs of refugees and host communities, but significant needs remained. Rohingya refugees continued to depend heavily on aid, particularly the most vulnerable, including women, children, older people, persons with disabilities, and around 150,000 recent arrivals. Ongoing violence and persecution in Myanmar had diminished prospects for safe return, forcing some refugees to undertake dangerous sea journeys. The appeal emphasised the need for continued humanitarian assistance, greater investment in resilience and self-reliance, and sustained international solidarity until conditions allowed for voluntary, safe, and dignified return.

The full statement can be viewed here.

Nicaragua death in custody

Marta Hurtado, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said OHCHR deplored the death in state custody of Indigenous activist Brooklyn Rivera and called on Nicaragua to carry out a prompt, impartial investigation into his death following prolonged arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance. Mr. Rivera, a prominent Miskitu leader and former president of the Yatama party, died after more than 32 months in custody, with his fate and whereabouts concealed for much of that time. He was detained after participating in a United Nations forum in 2023 and later prevented from returning home, with his case previously identified as a reprisal for cooperation with the United Nations. Reports also highlighted broader concerns about detention conditions in Nicaragua, including allegations of torture, inadequate medical care, and other deaths in custody. OHCHR urged the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals, full compliance with international detention standards, and guarantees of access to healthcare, legal representation, and due process. The Office also called for renewed access for UN human rights mechanisms to monitor detention facilities and the human rights situation in the country.

The full statement is available here.

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva, said the Secretary-General was saddened by the death of Brooklyn Rivera and reiterated the needs to respect human rights in Nicaragua, calling for a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Rivera’s death.

Responding to questions from the media, Ms. Hurtado said OHCHR had deep concerns about the cause of Mr. Rivera’s death, as no one knew about his whereabouts until four days before the date of his alleged death. There were serious concerns about possible mistreatment, incommunicado detention and denial of access to adequate medical care in detention. OHCHR had been reporting on these poor detention conditions over the years, and were asking authorities to conduct a prompt, swift impartial and independent investigation into his death, and allow his family to bury him in line with their traditions. The State was responsible for people under its custody and for investigating the cause of death. Without a proper investigation, the cause of death could not be qualified. The Nicaraguan authorities should release all those arbitrarily detained

Specialized judicial units in Haiti

Marta Hurtado, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said OHCHR welcomed the establishment of two specialised judicial units in Haiti as an important step toward addressing entrenched impunity amid ongoing instability, corruption, and gang violence. So far this year, gang-related violence had caused at least 2,310 deaths, 1,106 injuries, 99 kidnappings, and widespread sexual violence, while children continued to be trafficked. Courts and justice officials had also been repeatedly attacked, undermining the functioning of the justice system. The new units were expected to handle complex corruption cases as well as serious human rights abuses, including killings and sexual violence. For them to be effective, they needed to operate independently, impartially, and securely, with strong protection for judges and courts. If properly implemented, they could improve accountability, strengthen the rule of law, and help restore public confidence in the justice system. OHCHR urged swift implementation in line with international human rights standards, with support from the international community.

The full statement can be viewed here.

Announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva, said the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families began its review of the report of Ghana this morning, and would conclude its review of the report of Ecuador this afternoon.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees would hold a press conference on 9 June at 9:30am, discussing the latest report on refugee solutions and annual global trends. Everything would be under embargo until 11 June.

Today was the commemoration of the International Day of Peacekeepers, under the theme “Invest in Peace”. If there was rain this afternoon, the commemoration would be moved from Ariana Park to Building H.

On June 3, the international community would commemorate World Bicycle Day. In cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Belgium, a commemoration on-bike would be organized, beginning 2pm at WIPO, expecting to arrive at the Palais at around 2:30pm. Responding to a suggestion from the media, Ms. Vellucci acknowledged that there were not many parking spaces for bikes at the UN Geneva office. The building works presented a major issue in this regard.

Today, the media would receive an advisory relating to the AI Governance dialogue, taking place in Geneva on 6 and 7 July, which would be taking place alongside the World Summit, from 6 to 10 July of July, and the ITU AI for good Global summit, from 7 to 10 of July. Journalists could organize to receive accreditations for all three events.

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UNICEF Ricardo Pires (PR) with Jean-Cedric Meeus, UNICEF’s Chief of Global transport and logistics (from Mogadishu)

· Impact of the US-Israel-Iran escalation since 28 February on supply operations, with country examples where the pipeline is being affected.

UNCTAD Marcelo Risi (PR)

· Launch of a new monitoring series on the economic impacts of disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz

UNFPA Andrew Saberton, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director for Management (From Cairo)

· Urgent need to prioritize protection and maternal health for women and girls in:

-Sudan

-Lebanon

WHO Christian Lindmeier (Zoom) with Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, WHO Representative in Lebanon (From Beirut)

· Restoration of vital health-care services in Lebanon urgently needs sustained ceasefire and peace

WFP Rania Dagash-Kamara, Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation (PR)

· Global funding shortfall, giving an overall look at where resourcing is right now against an unprecedented level of need.

IOM Zoe Brennan (PR)

· Cross-border Ebola Response in the DRC.

OHCHR Marta Hurtado (PR)

· Nicaragua death in custody

· Specialised judicial units in Haiti

UNHCR Babar Baloch (PR)

· UNHCR, humanitarian partners ask the world not to forget Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh