The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Hello, good afternoon, everyone.
**Guests Today and Tomorrow
In a short while, I will be joined by my guests, Felipe Paullier, the Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, and Sahira Al Nahari, a Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They will be here to brief you on the issues surrounding mental health and football.
Then, tomorrow, our guest will be our friend, Máximo Torero Cullen, Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He will be here to brief you on the high cost of a healthy diet and what to expect from the upcoming State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report 2026, which will be launched on 21 July in Rome.
**Secretary-General/Trip Announcement
Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will start a visit to China, where he will have several official engagements. During the visit, the Secretary-General will travel to Yunnan Province. He will visit the Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor in Dali, a 900-hectare nature-based restoration project that has significantly boosted local biodiversity.
Afterwards, in Kunming, he will interact with beneficiaries and local counterparts of UN programmes supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in China. Among these are programmes on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, low-carbon rural development and sustainable agriculture, rural revitalization, as well as gender equality and social inclusion.
While in China, the Secretary-General will also attend the opening ceremony of the World AI (Artificial Intelligence) Conference in Shanghai. In his address, he will emphasize that the defining question is not whether artificial intelligence will transform our world, but whether that transformation will reduce inequalities and expand opportunity. The Secretary-General is expected to underscore that the technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all of humanity, and that it cannot be governed by a handful of countries or companies. The Secretary-General will also deliver remarks at the opening session of the World AI Conference Meteorological Forum.
The Secretary-General will return to New York on Monday, 20 July.
**Critical Energy Transition Minerals
This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, addressed a high-level meeting on critical energy transition minerals. She stressed that advancing the energy transition, at speed and scale, has never been more urgent or vital.
Ms. Mohammed noted that the climate crisis is driving us deeper into planetary overshoot with rising temperatures pushing us closer to irreversible catastrophic tipping points. And at the same time, she added, a global energy crisis is exposing the folly of a world still hooked on hydrocarbons, with limited access to cleaner fuels for the poor, and accelerated destruction of our natural systems, pushing ecosystems to the brink.
The Deputy Secretary-General pointed out that these crises have one common cause: fossil fuels. She underscored that they demand the same answer: a fast, fair and inclusive transition to clean energy, along with shared benefits from decarbonization, and a surge in adaptation finance, resilient infrastructure and climate justice for those already facing climate harm.
Her full remarks have been shared with you.
**Iran/Gulf
Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said today that the return to wider hostilities in the Middle East between the [United States] and Iran is a huge setback for civilians in the region and beyond. It undermines peace efforts and deepens instability, with grave risks for human rights across the entire region.
He said that all parties must respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, including by taking all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian objects, and must respect their obligations under international human rights law. They must also independently and promptly investigate all alleged violations.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is gravely concerned by the latest attacks on shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz reported on Monday night, which have claimed the lives of at least two seafarers and injured several others.
IMO condemned these attacks, saying that the cycle of escalation must end. These actions carry profound human costs and consequences that will be felt across the region and far beyond its borders.
Both statements are online.
**Yemen
The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, is in Muscat in Oman. Today he held meetings with senior Omani officials and Ansar Allah’s chief negotiator, Mohamed Abdul Salam.
The discussions focused on the need for immediate de-escalation and establishing an agreed way forward to preserve the relative calm Yemen has experienced since the 2022 truce agreement.
The Special Envoy stressed the need for the parties to engage in negotiations under UN auspices on political, security and economic priorities, to advance a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the conflict.
As you know, the Security Council also met on Yemen yesterday. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Khaled Khiari, expressed deep concern over the risk of a wider regional escalation and called on all actors to engage constructively in negotiations under UN auspices.
For his part, Indrika Ratwatte, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said that any further escalation, in Yemen or across the wider region, could have immediate and severe humanitarian consequences, including more displacement, higher prices for essential imports and additional constraints on humanitarian access.
The remarks were shared with you.
**Lebanon
From Lebanon, OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) reports that people continue to return to their communities in the south of the country, although many families remain unable to go home. More than 430,000 people are still internally displaced.
Since the latest ceasefire announcement, 50 collective shelters have closed in South Governorate, while 45 remain open, hosting around 7,000 people. New shelters have also been set up in Tyre district for families moving closer to their communities but unable to return because their homes have been damaged or destroyed.
Insecurity, damaged homes and infrastructure, the presence of unexploded ordnance and limited access to basic services are hindering safe and sustainable returns.
We stress that all returns must be safe, voluntary and dignified, and call for sustained humanitarian access and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian personnel and health workers.
Our partners continue to respond to growing needs. Since the escalation began, they have reached more than 330,000 people with protection services, including child protection assistance and support for survivors of gender-based violence.
The $640 million revised Lebanon Flash Appeal is only 43 per cent funded, constraining the response at a time when humanitarian needs remain high.
**Occupied Palestinian Territory
Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tells us that the UN and our humanitarian partners continue to face significant challenges in reaching communities located near the “Yellow Line” in northern Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
Yesterday, OCHA and our humanitarian partners consulted representatives of 17 displacement sites hosting about 3,000 families, following reports of movements of Israeli forces and disruptions to humanitarian services in the area.
Community representatives reported that the yellow blocks marking the line had moved northward. They described daily movements of Israeli tanks, construction of sand embankments, and recurrent gunfire. Families reportedly remain inside their tents for much of the day due to fears of being injured by gunfire or stray bullets.
Humanitarian partners also received reports this afternoon of intensified military activity in the vicinity of sites near the “Yellow Line”, including reported tank movements towards one of the sites. Initial reports indicate that one Palestinian was killed and three others were injured at one of the sites. The injured were reportedly transferred to the ICRC Field Hospital for treatment.
Our humanitarian partners report that the insecurity is severely disrupting the delivery of essential assistance, including water, food, bread, hygiene support and routine site-management services. A water-truck driver was reportedly injured by gunfire last Wednesday.
Some residents told humanitarian partners they wish to relocate, but have few viable options because of limited space elsewhere, shortages of tents and other essential items, and inadequate access to services. Others say they remain because they fear losing access to their homes, land or property.
Under International Humanitarian Law, civilians must be protected at all times, and humanitarian organizations must be able to reach people in need safely and without impediment.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, OCHA reports that between 10 July and yesterday, settlers reportedly attacked Palestinians working on agricultural land in an area in southern Hebron governorate. Some 30 Palestinians were injured, including children, women and older persons. Damage to olive trees and agricultural infrastructure was also reported.
These incidents reflect a recurring pattern of settler violence affecting Palestinians attempting to access and cultivate their agricultural land.
Our humanitarian partners are providing assistance, including legal assistance, to affected communities. We reiterate that civilians must be protected and that all incidents of violence must be addressed in line with international law.
**Security Council
This morning, the Head of our Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, briefed the Security Council. He said three broad trends stand out in the region: the concerning security situation, the renewal of momentum for dialogue and cooperation, and finally, the democratic developments occurring in the region.
On the security situation, Mr. Simão said the threat posed by terrorist and other non-State armed groups remains acute, especially in the central Sahel and northern Nigeria.
He added that these groups are adapting their tactics, increasingly using advanced technology, such as drones and cryptocurrencies. Their attacks are coordinated across multiple fronts, including across countries, and their actions intersect with transnational organized crime.
The human cost of the violence is devastating, the Special Representative said, adding that regional actors are working hard to find solutions.
He told Council members the region is also experiencing a renewed momentum for dialogue, and noted that on issues related to the Sahel, there is a shift from confrontation towards collaboration and constructive engagement that is beginning to produce concrete results.
Mr. Simão flagged peaceful elections in Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea, as well as reforms and continued steps towards accountable governance in the region.
The Special Representative will be available to speak to you at the stakeout, immediately after the end of consultations, and we will alert you a few minutes before.
**Sudan
Turning to Sudan, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warn that fighting and disease outbreaks continue to take a heavy toll on civilians across the country.
Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that multiple drone attacks have been reported across Darfur and Kordofan in western and central Sudan. In North Kordofan State, humanitarian partners said that on Sunday a drone reportedly struck a fuel station in the Al Malaja area of El Obeid. On the same day, in North Darfur, a drone struck several trucks travelling along the road between El Fasher and Um Kadada. In a separate incident, another reported drone attack resulted in civilian casualties in Kubum town in South Darfur State.
For its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that, as of 7 July, there have been 1,330 confirmed cases and 114 confirmed deaths from the cholera outbreak.
We, along with our partners, continue to pre-position supplies and scale up the response to the outbreak as cholera continues to spread to new areas in Darfur and Kordofan.
Our humanitarian colleagues note that new cases were also reportedly confirmed in Kampala displacement camp in South Darfur, and a first suspected case was reported in Tawila locality in North Darfur.
In West Kordofan, which has seen the highest number of cases, six new suspected cases and two associated deaths have been recorded by health partners.
On 12 July, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) delivered essential health supplies to El Fula in West Kordofan to support the ongoing cholera response. The supplies are expected to benefit more than 429,000 people. In Nyala South, our partners continued preventive and control measures, including community outreach and health awareness campaigns, household chlorination and the distribution of chlorine strips to reduce the risk of transmission.
This time last year, Sudan faced a major cholera outbreak that resulted in more than 80,000 suspected cases and over 2,000 associated deaths.
We once again call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. We also reiterate the need for rapid and flexible funding so our partners can respond to growing needs across Sudan.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
Turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our OCHA colleagues report that efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak are scaling-up following the spread of the disease to two additional provinces: Haut-Uele and Tshopo.
The confirmation of cases in Kisangani, a city of more than 1.6 million people and a major transport hub linking the country’s east and west, highlights the risk of wider transmission along key transport corridors, including the Congo River.
Our Senior Ebola Coordinator, Julien Harneis, returned yesterday from a mission to Kisangani with the Congolese Minister of Health, the Incident Managers from Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the WHO, to support provincial authorities in strengthening the response. National organizations, faith-based groups and local community networks are already mobilized on the ground.
We and our humanitarian partners, in support of the authorities, are expanding surveillance, laboratory capacity, case management and community engagement efforts to contain the outbreak. The response has made important gains in recent weeks, with 85 per cent of alerts now being investigated, and 80 per cent of identified contacts being traced and monitored.
Eleven decentralized labs are now operational, raising testing capacity to up to 250 samples per day. At the same time, treatment capacity has expanded to 22 Ebola Treatment Centres and seven transit centres, providing more than 700 beds across affected areas.
Meanwhile, ongoing insecurity in parts of North Kivu and Ituri continues to hamper the response. At least four civilians were reportedly killed and several others abducted during an armed attack overnight between 12 and 13 July in Beni territory, North Kivu Province. Several people remain unaccounted for, and population displacement has been reported.
On a positive note, South Kivu has now recorded 49 consecutive days without a new confirmed case of Ebola, twice exceeding the maximum incubation period. The province is maintaining enhanced surveillance as it moves towards a possible declaration of the end of transmission.
We call on all stakeholders to ensure the safety of health workers and humanitarian personnel and to facilitate access to affected communities. Continued community engagement, early reporting of suspected cases and a secure operating environment remain essential to interrupting transmission and bringing this outbreak under control.
And we have an update from our peacekeeping colleagues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) on their support to the implementation of a ceasefire in North and South Kivu, in line with Security Council resolution 2808.
As you will recall, under this resolution, MONUSCO is authorized to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, including through the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism-Plus.
In this context, our colleagues report that yesterday, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Vivian van de Perre, travelled to Goma aboard a MONUSCO flight, accompanying three members of the Congolese Armed Forces designated by their Government to serve as representatives to the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism-Plus.
This deployment, supported by the peacekeeping mission, marks an important step towards the full operationalization of this mechanism and regional peace efforts.
**Financial Contribution
And last, we have a quiz today. Ready?
This country is one of extreme landscapes and ancient history, boasting the largest proven oil reserves in Africa and the longest Mediterranean coastline in North Africa. Despite being over 90 per cent desert, it is home to the Great Man-Made River, the world’s largest irrigation project. [response: “Libya!”] You got it, Libya.
We say thank you to our friends in Tripoli for their full payment to the Regular Budget.
Libya’s payment brings the number of fully paid-up Member States to 120.
And so, we’ll turn to you for questions before we go to our guests. Yes?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Yeah, in Gaza, 11 Palestinians were killed, including a police, head of a police centre, and a woman. However, I haven’t seen that coming in your briefing, 11 Palestinians. It’s not one.
Deputy Spokesman: Although we didn’t have those numbers confirmed, I did, at the start of this briefing, point out the fighting in Gaza. So, I did talk about that, including the movement of Israeli tanks. And the initial reports that we have from our side is that one Palestinian was killed and three others were injured. Those numbers may increase.
Question: Okay. And the second question, the Israeli Cabinet met officially and celebrated, in fact, the decision to expand settlement activities with a budget of 8.5 billion shekels, which equals $2.8 billion, to expand the settlement activities, including legalizing all outpost centres or unlegalized centres and building new 12,000 units. And [Benjamin] Netanyahu and his Cabinet, [Bezalel] Smotrich and others, were in this meeting, and they were celebrating that decision. What is your opinion?
Deputy Spokesman: As you know, we’re against settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory. Settlement activity, we’ve repeatedly said, contravenes international law, and it is unhelpful to the peace process and the two-State solution that we continue to advocate for. Yes, please, Namo?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. On the escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States, do you have any new statements from the Secretary-General on that?
Deputy Spokesman: I read out at the start of this briefing statements from several officials, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Maritime Organization. You saw what the Secretary-General said on Sunday, and he continues to have the same concerns we expressed at the time. And he and his officials, including Jean Arnault and others, continue to work with partners in the region, trying to see what can be done to deal with this crisis.
Question: More specifically on what President [Donald] Trump said yesterday, I believe that the United States would be the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz, and they will be charging a toll on ships going through the Strait. This is the same thing that Iran has demanded. Where does the Secretary-General stand on that?
Deputy Spokesman: Regardless of who says it, the Secretary-General’s position is consistent, that we believe that there must be free movement of shipping across the Strait of Hormuz. We stand against any efforts to restrict the freedom of movement of shipping, and you will have seen that the International Maritime Organization has also come out with a statement against any imposition of tolls by any party. Gabriel?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. On the SG’s trip to China, are there any plans for him to meet with President Xi [Jinping] and/or Foreign Minister Wang Yi?
Deputy Spokesman: At this stage, we’ll let you know about meetings, high-level meetings, as they proceed. There’s nothing to announce at this point.
Question: Okay. And on his trip to China, he’s got quite an extensive agenda, as he always does on these foreign trips. I’m just trying to get a sense, is his main purpose of this trip the AI conference in Shanghai, or was it a mix of many different things?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, it’s a number of things. As you can see, he’s going to be looking at a restoration project that’s boosted biodiversity. He’s going to deal with programmes that have helped to boost support for the Sustainable Development Goals in China. And yes, he will be participating in the World AI Conference in Shanghai.
Question: Thank you. If I could just get one more, Farhan, before we go to our guests, and that’s on a separate topic, Gaza. Specifically, I preface this by saying I understand that the SG and yourself don’t speak for the Board of Peace. That’s very clear. However, the UN works in Gaza, and the UN and your partners rely on external forces for security in Gaza and other means, right? So in the context of that, we hear every day here, including today, how humanitarian partners in the UN, the security situation is severely disrupting the delivery of essential assistance. We hear that multiple times, almost every day. What is the SG’s assessment of the Board of Peace work in Gaza so far in relation to how the UN and your partners are able to do your job?
Deputy Spokesman: Ultimately, it’s not for us to assess the work of the Board of Peace. We are not the body that created it, nor are we the body to whom it reports. Obviously, the Security Council has helped in its resolutions to authorize the work of the Board of Peace, and we will leave it to them to follow up on any monitoring of the work that’s being done. We’re concentrating on our work, and I’ll continue to update you, as will Stéphane [Dujarric] and all of us here at the UN Spokesperson’s Office, about the work that we’re doing, some of which, in terms of our humanitarian mandate, is part of the authorization that has been given to the Board of Peace.
Question: Simple follow-up. Has the situation in Gaza in relation to the UN’s work there gotten better or worse in the last year?
Deputy Spokesman: I would not be able to say that it has done either thing. The Secretary-General, I think, has put it very well — that he said repeatedly that this is not a ceasefire, but a lesser fire. And every day, including just now, I’ve told you about the obstructions we face, including obstructions caused by continued fighting. Sinan?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. I have a question about FIFA and racism. There have been a series of racist comments tied to FIFA 2026 from Senator [Celeste] Amarilla from Paraguay about French player [Kylian] Mbappe, and I think it was yesterday, former Spanish Prime Minister saying France team has, I’m quoting, “no French players”. What is the Secretary-General’s reaction regarding all these racist comments and reactions?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, for that, I would actually just refer you to our colleagues in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights who addressed this very question just last week, and they put out a statement about their concerns about racism expressed during the course of this particular tournament, and particularly referred to one of the quotes that you just mentioned. So please look at what they said about that. Yes, please?
Question: Farhan, about the itinerary of the SG in China, you said he will be in Yunnan and Kunming and then Shanghai. Will he travel on to Beijing?
Deputy Spokesman: At this stage, there’s no travel to Beijing to report. It’s those three locations. All right, let me go get our guest.