Sudan, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (19 March 2026) | United Nations

Noon Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Secretary-General/Travel - Deputy Secretary-General/Travel - Nicholas Haysom - Sudan - Sudan/Humanitarian - UN Interim Force in Lebanon - Lebanon/Humanitarian - Occupied Palestinian Territory - Ukraine - Colombia - International Days - Briefings SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVEL The Secretary-General this morning met and had a working lunch with the members of the European Council in Brussels. He also spoke to the press in Brussels and told them that he had the following message for the United States and to Israel: it’s high time to end this war that is risking getting completely out of control. And the Secretary-General said to Iran: stop attacking your neighbours, they were never parties to the conflict.  He added that the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz causes enormous pain in so many people around the world that have nothing to do with this conflict. Mr. Guterres said that it’s time for the force of the law to prevail over the law of force and for diplomacy to prevail over war. Yesterday in Brussels, the Secretary-General met with Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus and Leader of the Greek Cypriot community. They discussed the way forward on the Cyprus issue. They also discussed the situation in the Middle East. DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVEL The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, is in Oxford, UK, today to deliver a public lecture at the University of Oxford on the topic, “Foundations and Futures: Reimagining the Architecture of Global Cooperation.” While in the UK, the Deputy Secretary-General will have interactions with faculty members and students and meet with dignitaries. She will return to New York over the weekend. NICHOLAS HAYSOM The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Nicholas Haysom, who died on Tuesday in New York. The Secretary-General described him as a principled lawyer, tireless peacemaker and steadfast champion of the values of the United Nations. In every task, he combined deep legal insight with sound political judgment and an unwavering dedication to improving the lives of people. The Secretary-General offers his deepest condolences to his family and loved ones and to all our colleagues who had the privilege to be inspired by him in the pursuit of peace. SUDAN The UN is alarmed by reports that a drone strike yesterday killed at least 17 civilians and injured many more on the Chadian side of the town of Tine, which borders Sudan and Chad. This attack highlights the devastating human cost of the Sudanese conflict and how rapidly the frontlines are shifting, with border communities increasingly exposed to violence. Attacks of this nature also emphasize the risk of broader regional destabilization, with neighbouring countries at growing risk of being drawn into the fighting.  The intensifying use of increasingly powerful drones by both warring parties is expanding the battlefield and accelerating civilian harm across the country.   The UN calls on the warring parties to immediately de-escalate the fighting, comply with international humanitarian law and return to the negotiating table to pursue a sustainable resolution to this conflict.  SUDAN/HUMANITARIAN Despite the many challenges, the UN and its partners continue to respond to needs across Sudan. Last week, Save the Children delivered 30 metric tonnes of medicine and nutrition supplies to Tawila in North Darfur. These supplies are expected to support more than 80,000 children and 57,000 adults, and will enable 20 health facilities and mobile clinics to continue serving displaced communities for six months. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported this week that the overall number of displaced people in Sudan has fallen, with close to 9 million people now estimated to remain displaced within Sudan’s borders, and returns to Khartoum and the eastern states continuing. People who return face huge challenges as they begin to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, often in areas that have suffered severe damage during earlier phases of the war and where huge gaps in basic services remain. Large numbers of Sudanese refugees remain in neighbouring countries in need of support. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-03-19


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