Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York
25 November 2025
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
**Briefing today
Good afternoon. At 2 p.m., there will be a briefing in this room by Annalena Baerbock (Germany), who as you know is the President of the UN General Assembly. She will brief you on issues including the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
**Violence Against Women
And on this day, we have a message on behalf of the Secretary-General, in which the Secretary-General views violence against women and girls as a global scourge, intensified by digital technology. In a video message for the commemoration of the Day, the Secretary-General says that ending this scourge requires collective action, with Governments criminalizing online abuse, tech companies ensuring safe platforms and communities rejecting online hate. On the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, the Secretary-General urges the world to unite to end this violence, now and everywhere. In a short while, I will be joined by our guests from UN-Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), who will brief you on this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
**Palestinian Solidarity
Earlier this morning, on behalf of the Secretary-General, Courtenay Rattray, the Chef de Cabinet, delivered remarks to the Special Meeting of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The Secretary-General, in the remarks, reaffirmed a fundamental truth: the Palestinian people have a right to dignity, a right to justice, and a right to self-determination.
He welcomed the recent ceasefire and the Security Council resolution on Gaza, urging all parties to fully implement these measures and to move toward the next phase. He called for unhindered humanitarian access and reminded Israel of its obligations under international law. He also appealed to Member States to meet the $4 billion Flash Appeal target for this humanitarian crisis.
Mr. Guterres also reiterated his call for an end to the unlawful occupation and for the irreversible progress toward a two-State solution, based on pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States. He concluded with a message of hope: Hope that children in Palestine and Israel will one day wake to a world without fear. Hope that families across the Middle East will live in dignity, and not in despair. And hope that two peoples — bound by history, by geography and humanity — will live side by side in peace.
**Occupied Palestinian Territory
Turning to the situation on the ground in the Palestinian territories: I can tell you that we continue to be concerned by the impact of today's heavy rain on people across the Gaza Strip. This comes after other days of rain. Once again, tents and entire areas where displaced people are sheltering have been flooded.
Many families in Gaza are living in poorly equipped shelters, prone to flooding. This inevitably leaves people highly vulnerable to inclement weather.
We and our partners are doing everything possible to mitigate the issue, including the repurposing of empty sacks of flour and food to contain flooding in displacement sites. But our humanitarian colleagues stress that much more is required. As you well know, the needs are immense and the humanitarians working to further scale up the response still face impediments.
Part of these hurdles are the systematic denial of critical items, as well as the ban on the operation of key aid groups, including some of our partner NGOs. We continue to work to see that these restrictions are lifted.
Today's rains come as our partners continue to address the damage caused by the last round of heavy rains on 14 November. Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that three child-friendly spaces in Khan Younis that had suspended operations due to damage from the storm have resumed their activities, restoring children's access to essential protection and support services.
As we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, I just want to flag that according to our colleagues at the UN Population Fund, most women in Gaza have been displaced at least four times and live in overcrowded shelters lacking privacy and protection.
The agency warns that girls in Gaza are at risk of early marriage, and that gender-based violence is on the rise, as are the cases of suicide or attempted suicide among survivors.
UNFPA's teams are providing psychosocial care on the ground, reopening safe spaces for women and girls, and providing support to tens of thousands of people.
OCHA also reports that humanitarian partners have recently established a new safe space for women and girls in Al Kateeba area of Gaza city. The site will provide psychosocial support and other relevant services to survivors and those at risk of gender-based violence.
**Lebanon/Israel
Turning north, to southern Lebanon. Our colleagues at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights warned today that almost a year since the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, attacks by the IDF continue on Lebanon, causing civilian deaths and destruction, alongside worrying threats of wider violence.
Meanwhile, our peacekeeping colleagues (UNIFIL) tell us that it has recorded 106 Israeli air strikes since the cessation of hostilities was announced on 27 November of last year.
Just this last Saturday, UNIFIL peacekeepers observed four Israeli air strikes in three locations in the mission's area of operation in south Lebanon; all were in Sector East. Such strikes are in violation not only of Lebanese territorial sovereignty but of Security Council resolution 1701 as well.
Peacekeepers also discovered multiple unexploded ordnance, including mortar and artillery shells, and a rocket, in Sector West and in Sector East.
These were all referred to the Lebanese Army for disposal. UNIFIL peacekeepers have discovered more than 300 unexploded ordinances over the last year.
We continue to call on all parties to uphold their ceasefire obligations in good faith
Meanwhile, UNIFIL peacekeepers are also continuing to train the Lebanese Armed Forces, at sea and on land.
**Sudan
Turning to Sudan and the continuing devastating humanitarian situation in North Darfur State. Our partners are providing urgent services to people who escaped El Fasher, but needs far exceed resources.
The International Organization for Migration tells us that as of yesterday, more than 106,000 people have been displaced from El Fasher and surrounding villages since the city was taken over by the Rapid Support Forces a month ago.
Our Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, who, as you know, recently visited Tawila, stressed the need for unhindered access to civilians wherever they are. Tawila, as you know, is the town where many of those displaced are arriving, facing acute malnutrition and life-threatening illnesses.
Our humanitarian partners in the city report significant challenges to their operations, including funding shortfalls and insecurity along key access routes. Our humanitarian colleagues say that health facilities are overstretched, and mobile clinics are struggling to manage growing caseloads of injuries, acute malnutrition and respiratory infections. Our partners also warn that without urgent reinforcement of basic services and increased funding, the already dire conditions in Tawila could worsen even further. Despite these challenges, aid organizations continue to do whatever they can to deliver aid.
We are also deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in other parts of Darfur. In Central Darfur State, Médecins Sans Frontières said today that for the second time this year, the organization has been forced to reduce support to Zalingei Hospital to keep its own teams safe.
This comes after a Ministry of Health worker was fatally shot outside the facility a week ago, with four others injured.
Hostilities are continuing to imperil civilians in the Kordofan region and forcing families from their homes. IOM reports that more than 600 people were displaced from two villages in South Kordofan State on Saturday.
We call again for the protection of civilians across Sudan, as well as safe and unimpeded access to deliver life-saving assistance, also urging donors to scale up funding to meet the growing needs across Darfur, Kordofan, and other parts of Sudan that need help.
**Abyei
Just South of Sudan, in Abyei. Our peacekeeping mission (UNISFA) there reports that the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities signed an agreement this week, renewing their pledge to prevent conflict, safeguard livelihoods and ensure the protection of civilians along migration corridors.
The leaders of both communities called on the peacekeeping mission to strengthen its protection of civilians mandate and enhance security measures in the Amiet common market.
Abyei also faces heightened security risks and resource pressure due to an influx of displaced people during the migration seasons, both during the southward migration movement at the start of the dry season, and the reverse migration when cattle herders move northwards as the rainy season gets under way.
**Nigeria
Across the continent in Nigeria. The World Food Programme today warned that the growing instability across northern Nigeria, including a surge in attacks, is driving hunger to levels never seen before. Nearly 35 million human beings are projected to face severe food insecurity during the 2026 lean season. This is the highest number ever recorded in Nigeria. Children are at greatest risk, as one can imagine.
Funding shortfalls have compounded the crisis, limiting WFP's ability to provide the assistance people need. If you recall, in July, WFP was forced to scale down nutrition programmes. That impacted 300,000 children.
Without urgent funding, WFP will exhaust resources for emergency food and nutrition support in December, leaving millions vulnerable in 2026 and risking further instability in a crisis the world cannot afford to ignore.
**Ukraine
Moving to Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that large scale attacks continued in the capital and across multiple regions, killing and injuring dozens of civilians.
Between yesterday and this morning, in Kyiv, a large-scale attack killed at least seven civilians and injured 20 others. Residential buildings, a pre-school and a playground were also damaged. The attacks further disrupted electricity, heating and water supplies, which as you know has been a challenge throughout Ukraine.
Strikes also impacted the regions of Chernihiv, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kherson, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia.
Critical infrastructure sustained extensive damage. Authorities reported that parts of Kharkiv were left without electricity and water. More than 50,000 people in the Kyiv and Chernihiv region faced emergency outages.
Nationwide, more than 100,000 consumers remain without electricity following the latest wave of strikes. Rolling outages continue, further complicating preparations for the onset of winter.
Humanitarian organizations provided emergency assistance in Kyiv and the surrounding areas. This included hot meals and warm clothing.
Meanwhile, our humanitarian partners continue to scale up services to address gender-based violence nationwide. By the end of October, nearly 360,000 women and girls had received support from 100 organizations, with the highest numbers in the Kherson, Kharkiv and Dnipro regions.
Nearly 160,000 women and girls took part in awareness-raising activities, 85,000 received psychological support, and around 80,000 were provided with dignity kits.
**Weapons of Mass Destruction
You will have seen that yesterday we issued a statement from the Secretary-General on the conclusion of the sixth session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction.
The Secretary-General said he is encouraged by the tangible and steady progress the Conference has made over its successive sessions and assured our continuing support for this critical endeavour to rid the Middle East, and of course the entire world, of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction. The work of this Conference, he said, is a key component of building a Middle East safer and more prosperous future for all.
The Secretary-General commended the President of the Conference, Omar Hilale, who, as you know is the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco, and the participating States of the Conference, for their open, inclusive, and consensus-based approach to advancing the negotiations toward a future treaty.
He also congratulates Omar Al-Kathiri, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations, on his endorsement as the President of the seventh session, and we wish him every success.
**Questions and Answers
Spokesman: Awkward silence, questions. Dezhi?
Question: Hi, Steph. I believe recently, except for me, not that many people ask you about Venezuela situation. This week, we noticed that the US Government labelled a Cartel de los Soles, the organization, as the terrorist group, and they, the US Government also suggests that President Maduro of Venezuela is leading that organization. What is the position of the UN on that labelling?
Spokesman: Listen. We don't have a particular position on... [cross-talk]
Question: Is that even exist, that group?
Spokesman: Right. Let me just...
Question: Okay.
Spokesman: We don't have a particular position on that labelling, on that decision, which was a unilateral decision by the United States. I can tell you though, that we've been following the general situation with grave concern, especially between the US and Venezuela and the Southern Caribbean, and the increasingly confrontational rhetoric, which risks heightening regional unease. It's imperative that all Member States and all actions by Member States fully comply in their obligations under international law, including the [UN] Charter. And the Secretary-General calls on Member States to create opportunities for dialogue and to continue to engage in efforts to find a peaceful way forward.
Question: Has the Secretary-General ever reached out to Venezuela representatives or US ones? Or maybe regional groups?
Spokesman: The Venezuelan representatives have been in touch with us on this issue on a regular basis.
Pam?
Question: Yesterday, you said there was no US-UN, or Ukraine-UN conversations to speak of. Is there any checking in with UN representatives about the revisions to the Ukraine peace plan?
Spokesman: No. I mean, listen. We've all seen the press reports relating to new versions of the discussions. We're obviously following all of this very closely, but we are not party to these discussions.
Question: And no weighing in by anyone on the elements of it, right?
Spokesman: As I said, we're not a party to it. I think, you know the Secretary-General's principled and consistent position on how we would like to see an end to this conflict, and we continue to hold to that position.
Question: Thank you.
Spokesman: Thank you. Okay. Any other questions online? Yes.
Question: Thank you, Steph. So, my question is about Japan and China. As I know, yesterday, you have already answered it from our colleague Dezhi's question. But after your answers, Japanese Ambassador submit a letter to the Secretary-General. So, I can say the situation is not getting better. So, could you give me a comment?
Spokesman: I mean no other comment, except to say that, obviously we're following the situation very closely, and would encourage dialogue between the two to appease the situation.
I know a number of you had asked me yesterday about Sudan and the announcement from the RSF about a possible humanitarian ceasefire, and I just want to let you know that the announcement of a three months humanitarian ceasefire from the RSF is a step in the right direction. But importantly, the proof of sincerity will be that it must protect civilians. It must let aid in at scale and allow us to work independently. We will, of course, test that as we seek to reach as many people, as many Sudanese civilians as we can.
Okay. Thank you. Yes, sorry. Go ahead.
Question: You mentioned in the introduction that the Secretary-General believes that technology has amplified the threats against women. Can you elaborate more on that, please?
Spokesman: I mean, you know, all you need to do is to log on to social media accounts and see the vitriolic hate that is aimed at women. You look at the hate that is thrown at women journalists and women politicians. I think it's an example that is clear, and it's also one of the reasons the Secretary-General calls on technology companies to do their part.
Okay. Thank you. I will get our guests, and we will be right back. Don't move.
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