A trapeze without a net: the life of the UN Spokesperson, with Stéphane Dujarric | Awake at Night

Every day at noon, Stéphane Dujarric steps on stage to field questions about the United Nations from international journalists. As spokesman for the Secretary-General, he must be ready to talk on all aspects of the organization’s work at a time of unprecedented financial and political strain. “There is no way we can move forward in this world without multilateralism, without an organization like this one. It's like a plant, right? It needs to be watered. We can't let it wither away.” An alumnus of the United Nations International School, Stéphane Dujarric was immersed in the world of international diplomacy from an early age. In this episode, he shares why his own family owes everything to the actions of two courageous diplomats, and reflects on how being a procrastinator can be a superpower when faced with the challenge of the 24-hour news cycle. [00:00] Introduction [01:02] A look behind the curtain [05:36] Facing the Press Corps [07:24] When you just don’t know [08:23] Supporting journalists off-camera [09:36] The importance of slowing down [11:03] How his journalism background guides him today [14:06] Navigating the press and leaving social media behind [17:15] Highlighting forgotten crises [19:17] Humanizing the facts [21:29] What keeps Steph awake at night [23:44] When funding disappears [24:53] Ensuring that we are not numb [27:52] Announcing colleagues’ deaths [29:56] “If we can’t help one…” [31:40] Early lessons from an international childhood [38:00] Ways to relax and looking toward the future [39:59] A message for young people [40:37] Closing remarks Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt #podcast #unitednations #awakeatnight #UNSpox #Media About Awake at Night Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.


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Health Situation in Gaza - Press Conference | United Nations

“Overall, little improvement on the services,” said the World Health Organization’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, warning that only half of Gaza’s hospitals are even partly functional. Speaking to reporters via video link from Gaza, Rik Peeperkorn said damage, access restrictions and shortages continue to cripple the health system despite limited signs of recovery. Briefing the UN press corps in New York, Peeperkorn said he had visited several key facilities in recent days, including Nasser Medical Complex and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Khan Younis, as well as Al-Shifa, Al-Rantisi and Al-Ahli Arab hospitals in Gaza City, and a primary health care site in Beit Lahia in the north. “So overall, little improvement on the services,” he said, noting that “50% of hospitals, 18 out of 36, and 43% for primary health care centers, 84 from the 195, are partly functional.” He said access constraints remain a major obstacle. The Indonesian Hospital and Al-Awda Hospital in Jabalia are “currently beyond what you call the ceasefire line, so-called yellow line,” he said, while Kamal Adwan Hospital sits “a little bit almost on this yellow line.” Peeperkorn added that WHO missions to reach Kamal Adwan to establish a primary health care facility “have been, unfortunately, until now, denied.” Despite the challenges, he pointed to limited progress in Gaza City, where Al-Shifa Hospital has resumed some services. “Shifa Hospital is working again as a partially functional tertiary care hospital,” he said. “Ten operation theaters are functional, and outpatient departments are partially functional.” He added that the hospital hopes to expand capacity, saying it “need and want to expand to 700 beds.” Peeperkorn said visits to multiple facilities highlighted both hardship and resilience. “What is heartening to see in all of the hospitals we went to,” he said, “is the rehabilitation work going on.” He described “an immense resilience” driven by “local ingenuity and repurposing of materials from damaged and destroyed buildings,” even as he stressed that building materials remain scarce and costly. “By now one would expect that building materials, cement, etc. would have entered Gaza,” he said, adding that while conditions are extremely difficult, “it’s happening, and I would say that is good news.” At the same time, shortages of medicines and equipment persist. Peeperkorn said hospital staff consistently told WHO they had expected improvements following the ceasefire. “They said, we expect now there is a ceasefire that shortages of essential medicines, medical supplies, and also spare parts for imaging medical equipment, they will see a flow of these, and unfortunately, not yet,” he said. He warned that “approximately 50 percent of the 650 essential medicines are close to zero stock or have less than three months’ supply.” He also highlighted worsening living conditions as winter rains intensify. “The rainy winter clearly has set in, making people even more vulnerable,” Peeperkorn said, describing “thousands and thousands of makeshift tents amidst this rain and wind.” He said shelter conditions remain “deplorable” and stressed that “way more shelter material and tents need to get in.”


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DRC: Gap between diplomatic efforts and the reality - DPO Briefing | United Nations

Briefing by Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The head of UN peacekeeping operations Jean-Pierre Lacoix said, “The recent developments in South Kivu undeniably illustrate the gap that exists between diplomatic efforts and the reality experienced by civilian populations affected by the ongoing hostilities,” calling for the immediate implementation of resolution 2773 (2025). Lacroix briefed the Council today (12 Dec) on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the work of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). As indicated in the Secretary-General's latest report, the UN peacekeeping chief highlighted that DRC continues to face a security and humanitarian crisis, with civilian populations in the affected areas being the primary victims. In recent days, the new offensive launched by the AFC/M23 in South Kivu has revived the specter of a regional conflagration with incalculable consequences. He called for “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and the respect by the parties for the commitments made within the framework of the Washington and Doha processes,” adding that it “remains essential if diplomatic progress is to finally translate into a tangible improvement in the situation on the ground.” The Under-Secretary-General reiterated, “At this critical juncture it is essential that the Security Council do its utmost to create the conditions necessary for MONUSCO to play its role in protecting civilians, while meeting the growing expectations related to its role in supporting ongoing peace efforts.” “It is also vital that Member States ensure that the Mission is provided with the necessary resources to deliver on its core, mandated responsibilities,” he added. Lacoix also highlighted the role of the Security Council is “more crucial than ever.” He said, “A clear, united, and resolute response from the Council is essential to prevent an escalation of the conflict, avert the risk of fragmentation of the DRC, and contain the growing regionalization of violence.” “The Council has the necessary political and normative tools to enforce its resolutions, support ongoing mediation efforts, and send an unequivocal message to all parties regarding the imperative of respecting the ceasefire, international humanitarian law, and the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” the Under-Secretary-General concluded.


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Winter in Gaza

Storm Byron has struck Gaza with force, deepening the suffering of already displaced families, the World Health Organization’s representative in the occupied Palestinian territories reported during a UN press conference in New York on Friday. According Dr Rik Peeperkorn, the cold, rainy winter has set in in Gaza, leaving people even more vulnerable to disease amid compromised water and sanitation systems. Winter conditions, combined with poor water and sanitation, are expected to drive a surge in acute respiratory infections, including influenza as well as hepatitis and diarrheal diseases, he concluded.


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The UK is Actually becoming a Fascist Country

The Kavernacle: The UK is Actually becoming a Fascist Country

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Hurricane Melissa: WFP is working on recovery and rehabilitation - Press Conference | United Nations

World Food Programme (WFP) is working on the recovery and rehabilitation with countries in the Caribbean after Hurricane Melissa, urging investing more on anticipatory actions to climate shocks, a WFP senior official said. WFP's Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Region, Lola Castro, briefed reporters from Port au Prince, Haiti today via video link. On Haiti, Castro said that the Programme managed to distribute in advance cash transfers to over 50,000 people to prepare for the storm. On the overall situation in the region, the Reginal Director said, “What we are trying to do now, after reaching over 725,000 people in the four affected countries, most affected countries in the region, World Food Program we are trying now to really work on the recovery and rehabilitation through a number of tools. Homegrown, school feeding; working with the governments on social protection systems that register everybody who is affected by these shocks.” She reiterated the importance of investing more on anticipatory action. Castro said that the Programme this time managed to do cash transfers, to send messages, to move the food from eastern Cuba to western Cuba and other non-food items before the storm strike, and then to help the people in immediate hours of the aftermath of the storm. Asked about humanitarian access in Haiti, Castro said that 90 percent of Port-au-Prince is occupied by gangs – making it “very, very difficult” to move by road. “But we have an excellent UN security and access teams that negotiates the access of humanitarian assets, not only food but also water, medication, other needs that the population has,” she added. The Regional Director reiterated, “It is extremely important to understand that we follow all humanitarian principles, and we basically are targeting very vulnerable, affected populations.” Castro also said, “We ensure that that food reaches the people with our teams and with the NGOs and the civil society that ensure that the food and the non-food items also for other UN agencies reaches the people.” She explained, “We have monitors on the ground, we have presence on the ground, and we confirm this happens,” adding that it's “extremely difficult. It's very dangerous.” The Regional Director also said the access in Haiti is “very complicated and it's not getting better unfortunately.” Moving onto Jamaica, Castro said that the situation is “very, very delicate.” She said, “we have been trying to work together with the government in both a mix of in-kind distributions, but also moving all these people into the social protection system of the government so that they can receive cash transfers if possible before Christmas. So they can as the markets are restarting already, they can go and buy what they need to restart their lives and livelihoods.” On Cuba, the WPF official said, “there is quite a big challenge. And also access roads and infrastructure has been heavily damaged in Cuba, including the electricity that is barely working in this area while the government is trying to restart.” She added, “initially we started with around 185,000 people receiving the first days in the shelters, and almost 800,000 people were moved to shelters in Cuba, so there was no loss of life, which is very fortunate. The preparedness works. They are very well on that. And 185,000 people receive immediate food now.”


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Central African Republic: To hold a historic quadruple election - UNOCA briefing | United Nations

“The Central African Republic is preparing on 28 December to hold a historic quadruple election,” the UN’s envoy for Central Africa told the Security Council. Abdou Abarry, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa, said the polls (legislative, regional, municipal and presidential) mark a turning point as Bangui strengthens peace efforts at home and works to secure borders with Chad and Cameroon. “The financing of the 2024–2028 National Development Plan by the country’s partners, amounting to 9 billion dollars, is further proof of this recovery,” he added. Abarry also warned that UNOCA’s ability to carry out its mandate is being undermined by funding shortages. “While we are aware of the financial difficulties our Organization is currently facing, we cannot ignore the impact they have on the functioning of the Office,” he said, noting a “20 percent reduction in staff” and travel constraints that “seriously hamper our ability to carry out our good offices in a region that greatly needs them.”


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UN Chamber Music Society: HARMONY Concert & Album Launch in Celebration of the UN's 80th Anniversary

UN Chamber Music Society presents HARMONY – Global Electronic Music Concert & Album Launch in Celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations. On Wednesday, 17 December 2025, in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of United Nations, the UN Chamber Music Society will present its first global electronic music album – HARMONY. Electronic music is a universal language that has brought people together from all over the world, spreading peace, positivity and inclusivity. The UN Chamber Society is embarking on an ambitious project, re-interpreting electronic music into a lush orchestral setting, as newly arranged and performed by the musicians of the UN Chamber Music Society. The project will encompass an album release with re-interpreted arrangements of music from some of the world’s most cutting-edge electronic artists, and culminating in a high-profile virtual concert in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, which will be broadcasted internationally through the global platforms of the United Nations: UN Web TV and UN YouTube. The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. Currently made up of 193 Member States, the UN and its work are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter. The UN has evolved over the years to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. But one thing has stayed the same: it remains the one place on Earth where all the world’s nations can gather together, discuss common problems, and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity. The music programme of HARMONY will feature and celebrate electronic music works, integrated with classical music arrangements, from all regional groups of the world, representing an artistic tapestry of musicians from diverse backgrounds. HARMONY will feature newly arranged and performed orchestral interpretations of works by some of the world's most innovative electronic artists, including ARTBAT, Paul van Dyk, Kiesza, KSHMR & Marnik, Lachi, Francis Mercier, Mr Tout Le Monde, Sultan + Shepard, and Julio Victoria. By celebrating the works of composers from diverse backgrounds, we help to realign the world of electronic music – symbolizing our hopes of building bridges of understanding of human rights. Founded in 2016 by Brenda Vongova, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council is dedicated to promoting the United Nations’ goals and values at large - through the universal language of music. 100% of the UN Chamber Music Society’s streams of HARMONY will be donated to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs sym.ffm.to/un_harmony


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Human Rights Day - Intl residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals Briefing | United Nations

Briefing by Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the IRMCT, on International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.


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Ukraine: OSCE helped register missing children — Briefing | United Nations

“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is the largest and longest war in Europe since the Second World War,” Elina Valtonen, Finland’s foreign minister and current OSCE Chairperson-in-Office told the UN Security Council. She said Moscow is violating the UN Charter and “each of the ten Helsinki principles,” adding that assistance to Ukraine and work on accountability have been central to her tenure. “I call on all to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace – as soon as possible.” Valtonen said the way the conflict concludes will shape regional and global stability, as well as expectations regarding adherence to international law by a permanent Security Council member. She outlined steps the OSCE has taken on accountability, including support for documenting the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. “Through the OSCE Support Program for Ukraine, we have helped register missing children and support their rehabilitation,” she said. Valtonen also underscored the importance of existing security commitments. “There is no need to re-invent the European security order,” she said.


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Afghanistan: People experience systematic infringements into their lives - Briefing | United Nations

Georgette Gagnon, UN Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, said that the de facto authorities “continue to miss or reject opportunities to engage multilaterally with the international community, risking disengagement particularly from donor countries that are frustrated with Afghanistan’s refusal to seriously address their concerns.” Addressing the Security Council, Gagnon said, “Afghans—women and men—continue to experience systematic infringements into their daily lives through the enforcement of the de facto authorities’ law on the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice.” She also said, “Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan over the presence and activities of the TTP are rising, with deadly cross-border exchanges of fire and airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties. The tensions have led to the closing of key border posts between Afghanistan and Pakistan for the past two months, with economic consequences for Afghanistan and Pakistan and people on both sides.”


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