Peacekeeping, Palestine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (13 May 2025) | United Nations

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: Secretary-General/UN Peacekeeping Occupied Palestinian Territory Sudan South Sudan Libya UN Women Financial Contribution SECRETARY-GENERAL/UN PEACEKEEPING Earlier today, the Secretary-General spoke at the Opening Ceremony of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting taking place in Berlin. He reasserted that in trouble spots around the world, our Blue Helmets can mean the difference between life and death, adding that they are a clear demonstration of the power of multilateral action to maintain, to achieve and to sustain peace. Mr. Guterres spoke about the challenges that we are now facing, including having the highest number of conflicts since the foundation of this organization. On top of that, we face dramatic financial constraints across the board. During his speech, and in honour of the 4,400 peacekeepers who have died in the line of duty since the start of UN Peacekeeping, Mr. Guterres asked the attendees of the meeting to join him in a moment of silence. Also, in Berlin, the Secretary-General met separately with Germany’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs - Johann Wadephul - as well as the Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius. Among other topics, they discussed the importance of Germany’s role in peacekeeping. And I just to flag, as a sign of the importance of this meeting, we have more than 130 delegations in Berlin at this Peacekeeping conference. On the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting, the Secretary-General also held bilateral meetings with Ministers and officials of other countries, including Italy, Finland and China. He is ending the day with a visit to an exhibit on UN Peacekeeping in action which has been held at the German Ministry of Defense in Berlin. The event features display on mine action, women in peacekeeping, renewable energy and the United Nations Police. Tomorrow, he will meet with Friedrich Merz, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, and he will also have a couple of press engagements. OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY   The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that no aid or commercial supplies have entered Gaza now for more than 70 days. The ongoing, full-scale blockade of the Strip is taking a disastrous toll on the population.   Meanwhile, hospitals continue to come under attack. Today, in Khan Younis, Israeli forces hit the surgical department of Nasser Medical Complex, and several casualties were reported. The complex is one of only eight public hospitals that are still partially operating across Gaza.   Following the attack, the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Gaza, Suzanna Tkalec - together with an OCHA team – visited the hospital, where she spoke with staff and a team of international doctors that are there. She said she was appalled by yet another attack on this hospital, which is the fourth since the beginning of this conflict. Ms. Tkalec stressed that these attacks are unacceptable and must stop, adding that healthcare facilities and those serving them must always be protected.   UN humanitarian partners on the ground report that only five hospitals across the Gaza Strip are still providing maternity care. Midwives lack medical supplies, they lack equipment, with our partners reporting that some 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are suffering from malnutrition and need urgent support.   OCHA reports that the Israeli authorities continue to deny and impede attempts by humanitarians to carry out critical missions in Gaza. Today, out of 11 requests by the United Nations for coordinated humanitarian movements, five were denied outright, including one planned mission to retrieve fuel from Rafah to supply hospitals, ambulances and water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. The other six missions, which included the rotation of staff, were facilitated. With both supplies and time running out, OCHA says that principled humanitarian assistance and other essential supplies must be allowed into Gaza to save lives – and humanitarians’ work to reach people across the Strip must be facilitated. Israel, as the occupying power, must abide by international humanitarian law and facilitate aid for people in need, wherever they are.   And at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon, the Security Council will hold an open meeting on Gaza. Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, will brief. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=13%20May%202025


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