#Yemen on the brink: Secretary-General urges restraint

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Yemen’s leaders to return to the path of peace and release all UN personnel detained there, following a briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday. Since 2014, Yemeni government forces supported by a Saudi-led military coalition have been battling Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran and control the capital, Sana’a.


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UN Chief on Yemen - Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on all parties in Yemen to “exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, and resolve differences through dialogue.” He also strongly condemned the continued arbitrary detention of UN staff and partner personnel.


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The new UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents - Press Conference | United Nations

Press Conference by Anna Joubin-Bret on the new UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents.


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Gaza: Ceasefire remains fragile - Special Coordinator Briefing | United Nations

“On 11 December, the Israeli cabinet decided to approve or regularize 19 settlements in the occupied West Bank,” a senior UN official told the Security Council, warning that settlement activity this year has reached record levels. Briefing the Council, Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said the decision included the settlements of Ganim and Kadim in the northern West Bank, which had been evacuated by Israel in 2005. He said that “in 2025, settlement advancement reached its highest level since UN tracking began in 2017,” urging Israel to abide by its obligations under international law, and recalling the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, which obliges Israel “to cease all new settlement activities, evacuate settlers, and end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory promptly.” Alakbarov also raised concerns over developments in East Jerusalem, telling Council members that “on 8 December, Israeli authorities forcibly entered the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem, seizing property and replacing the UN flag with an Israeli flag.” He recalled that the Secretary-General strongly condemned these actions and emphasized that the “compound remains United Nations premises and is inviolable and immune from any other form of interference.” Turning to the humanitarian situation, Alakbarov said UN winterization efforts were underway, “distributing tents, blankets and other essential supplies, reaching people where they are.” However, he warned that “conditions remain dire, and the risk of hypothermia is increasing with the onset of winter weather,” confirming that the first hypothermia-related death of a two-week-old newborn boy from Khan Younis, was confirmed earlier today.


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Election process underway in Central African Republic

Over 90 tons of sensitive electoral materials, including ballot papers, tally sheets, and other election forms, arrived in Bangui, Central African Republic, on Monday, 2025. The UN Mission in the country, MINUSCA will help dispatch them throughout the country, as part of its security, logistics and technical support, as part of its mandate. This operation represents a key step in the organization of the combined elections scheduled for December 28, 2025.


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Security Council, Occupied Palestinian Territory & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | UN

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: Security Council Occupied Palestinian Territory Lebanon/Israel Sudan Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region Democratic Republic of the Congo SECURITY COUNCIL Today, Ramiz Alakbarov, the Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council and said that the ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile, as we have seen with continued attacks and strikes in Gaza. The UN is doing its part to support the ceasefire and meet the staggering needs of the population, he added. He urged Israel and Hamas to fully implement the ceasefire, exercise maximum restraint, and adhere to international law, including relevant UN resolutions. The ceasefire must be consolidated to enable recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, he added. The United Nations stands ready to support these efforts. Mr. Alakbarov said that while hunger has improved due to increased aid and commercial foodstuffs, key protein sources remain out of reach for most of the population, alongside severe shortages of clean water, medical care, and shelter. Humanitarian access remains restricted, with aid convoys facing logistical and security obstacles. He called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and allow the full, unimpeded entry of humanitarian assistance. The Deputy Special Coordinator also condemned rising settler violence across the West Bank, which intensified during the olive harvest. Attacks have become more frequent and violent, often with the presence or support of Israeli security forces. OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that heavy rains are compounding the already dire conditions that families are enduring. Our partners report that the storm continued overnight and into today, causing severe flooding of more than 40 designated emergency shelters – mostly in Khan Younis and Gaza City. Some displaced families sought shelter in bathrooms or temporary learning spaces after their tents were damaged. The latest estimates from our partners indicate that some 700 tents have been damaged or otherwise impacted by the flooding, with thousands of people affected. Teams helping manage displacement sites are clearing blocked drainage channels and pumping floodwater away from shelter yards. In recent days – and despite ongoing challenges to the humanitarian response – the UN and our humanitarian partners have been working to address the needs of families across the Strip, despite the harsh conditions on the ground. Yesterday, the UN and our partners coordinated nine humanitarian movements inside Gaza with the Israeli authorities. Four were facilitated and three were impeded but eventually completed. These missions allowed us to collect critical supplies from the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings – including food, fuel, blankets, tents, and winter clothing. The other two missions were impeded – and only one of them was able to be partially accomplished.  In Khan Younis, damage to the Bani Suhaila Mekorot water pipeline was repaired yesterday, after access to the facility was granted by the Israeli authorities. The UN and our partners continue to provide support to affected families through a system that was set up for a rapid, joint response to flooding alerts. It brings together UN agencies and non-governmental organizations, working side by side to distribute tents, tarp, warm clothes, blankets and dignity kits across Gaza. Last Saturday, our partners providing nutrition support distributed 7.5 kilograms of high-energy biscuits per household to more than 1,000 families who were affected by the latest rainstorm in various areas. Also, our partners supporting agricultural services told us that the distribution of veterinary kits resumed on Sunday after being temporarily paused due to adverse weather. Since the start of the distribution on 9 December, approximately 400 herders have received these kits, along with animal fodder. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-12-16


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E5 on West Bank and East Jerusalem - Media Stakeout | United Nations

Joint stakeout led by James Kariuki, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, on behalf of Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia, on the West Bank and East Jerusalem.


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Ban Ki-moon Calls for Security Council Reform and Stronger UN Leadership for Peace | United Nations

Former UN Secretary-General and an emeritus member of the Elders, Ban Ki-moon, said that to truly promote leadership for peace, the international community must fundamentally reform and reinvigorate the Security Council. Ban spoke at the Council’s meeting under the theme of Maintenance of international peace and security: Leadership for peace. The former UN chief said, “I am of the view that UN leadership must more confidently reassert its active political role in diplomacy for peace, including mediating and settling crises.” “Member States must support this role, and guard against situations in which only powerful countries dictate political settlements. And this needs to start here, in this Council, in this Chamber,” Ban added. He suggested that the next Secretary-General should be empowered by a single, seven-year term, explaining that two five-year terms leave the Secretary-General overly dependent on this Council’s Permanent Members for an extension. Ban also highlighted that the Council “must be made fit for purpose for the twenty-first century world, rather than the twentieth century.” He said, “The Council has long been plagued by divisions and disruptive tactics. But the irresponsible way many States now disregard their obligations today is especially concerning. “ In particular, some Permanent Members of this Council regularly undermine the UN’s universal peace and security mandate; through their use of the veto to shield themselves, their allies, and their proxies from accountability,” the former UN chief said, He continued, “Without concrete reforms to curb the arbitrary use, and misuse, of veto power by permanent members, the UN's sense of helplessness will not be overcome. Civilians will remain unprotected in conflict. Impunity will still reign.”


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#UN Peacekeepers Killed in Drone Attack in Kordofan, #sudan

Drone attacks on UN logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, on Saturday killed six peacekeepers - all members of the Bangladeshi contingent serving in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)


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Ban Ki-moon calls for Security Council reform #unsc #securitycouncil

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the Security Council today, suggesting that the next Secretary-General be appointed for a single seven-year term rather than two five-year terms, arguing that the current system is overly dependent on permanent members for extensions.


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UN Alliance of Civilizations Global Forum opens in Riyadh

The 11th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations opened in Riyadh this Sunday. UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the Conference by recalling the audience: 'Twenty years ago, we launched an initiative to help show that humanity – in all its diversity – could talk, listen, and build together. Today, that vision is more urgent, than ever. Bringing it to life requires the timeless tools of dialogue and diplomacy.'


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