UN Geneva Press Briefing
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration, the World Health Organization, and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan.
Dire situation of children in Gaza one year into the announced ceasefire
Ricardo Pires, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said that in the previous two weeks in Gaza, despite an agreed ceasefire, five boys and two girls had been killed and at least 33 children seriously injured in air strikes, drone strikes and gunfire across the Strip. Another two boys had died of injuries sustained previously. A little over one year on since the ceasefire had been announced, more than 340 children had been reported killed and hundreds of others injured. A new UNICEF report showed the staggering human cost of a war that continued to devastate children, taking their lives, their childhoods, and their futures. Some 800,000 children were still displaced and most lived in tents or dangerous bombed-out buildings. An estimated 60,000 children in Gaza had lost either one or both parents.
With winter approaching, these children faced a fourth year struggling to survive in dire conditions. While the ceasefire had allowed for more humanitarian assistance and commercial supplies to enter into the strip and the food security situation has improved, for children in Gaza, the consequences of war permeated every aspect of daily life: where they slept, what they ate, whether they could learn, whether they felt safe enough to play, and whether the people they loved were still by their side. On the other hand, informed Mr. Pires, since the ceasefire, more than 560,000 children had returned to learning, including in over 200 UNICEF-supported learning centers. He warned that many basic services were still not functioning; for example, all six wastewater treatment plants were still out of service. Most of the raw sewage was pumped directly into the sea, affecting the coastline for miles around. Contaminated water could overflow and inundate downstream residential areas, with potentially life-threatening impacts for children and their families. The water could be drained in two weeks, but Israel had not allowed the necessary equipment in. The needs were vast, and funding fell far short of what was required, stressed Mr. Pires.
The future Gaza’s children wanted was one where they could simply live their childhoods, as was their right. To make that a reality, children needed a real ceasefire and the full implementation of the peace plan now. Children needed safety and protection whether they were in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank as well as in Israel. Children needed to recover, to begin to heal, to return to a normal life. This required the Israeli authorities to enable the entry of the materials, equipment, and technical supplies to rehabilitate infrastructure and restore essential services. Without the entry of spare parts, generators and engine oil at scale, even the services still running could not be sustained. It also required that parties to the conflict uphold the terms of the ceasefire and UNSC Resolution 2803 and their obligations under international humanitarian law, concluded Mr. Pires.
Responding to questions from the media, Mr. Pires explained that the violence had reduced since the ceasefire and more nutrition supplies had been able to come in to help treat the malnourished children. While there was no more famine in Gaza, malnutrition and stunting remained a problem. Over 47,000 children had received acute malnutrition treatment over the past year, informed Mr. Pires. Unless the sewage was emptied, diseases were looming large, he said. Humanitarian and commercial goods were both essential for children of Gaza, and such supplies needed to be allowed into Gaza on a continuous and predictable basis.
Damaged homes and energy attacks risk displacing Ukrainians again this winter
Arthur Erken, Regional Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for Europe, speaking from Vienna, said that winter was fast approaching in Ukraine, and for many Ukrainians the months ahead could be the most difficult since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Repeated strikes on critical infrastructure had strained Ukraine's electricity, heating and water systems, while drone and missile attacks in major cities continued to kill and injure civilians daily. Damaged housing, low incomes and unaffordable heating left families with few alternatives and a fragile existence, as temperatures fell. IOM’s latest figures showed that intentions to leave again are highest among those who had returned within the previous three months.
Mr. Erken informed that in close coordination with the Government of Ukraine, IOM was looking very carefully at where the pressure was greatest. Reliable access to water was becoming an urgent concern. Because water systems depended on electricity, prolonged outages could leave the most vulnerable - older people, those with disabilities - as well as residents of high-rise apartment buildings, struggling to access even emergency water sources. With 2.1 million older people living alone in apartment blocks, a prolonged loss of heat or electricity could quickly become a humanitarian emergency. Alternatives to electricity, including gas stoves and fuel, would be critical this winter, and IOM stood ready to respond. For 2.2 million IDPs, said Mr. Erken, going home was not an option: their homes were destroyed, significantly damaged or in an unknown condition.
With winter approaching, the window to act was narrowing. Less than seven per cent of IOM’s Ukraine Crisis Response Plan for 2026 had been funded, severely limiting the assistance available. Additional support was critical now, before winter conditions worsened, forcing more families to leave their homes in a desperate bid for survival. IOM was calling for urgent support to repair damaged homes, improve insulation and maintain essential services including energy systems to help communities survive. The international community had to act now, early enough to prepare and ensure Ukrainians the continuity of our support, concluded Mr. Erken.
Answering questions, Mr. Erken said that Poland, Germany and Czechia were European countries hosting the largest numbers of Ukrainian refugees, and these countries were likely preparing for further influxes of Ukrainians, should the situation in the country further deteriorate in winter. Russian drones had been targeting both civilian homes and energy infrastructure, he said. Ricardo Pires, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), who had visited Ukraine recently, spoke about the impact on children he had witnessed. There were serious worries about the impact of a severe winter on them.
Consultations on Sudan
Nayla Hajjar, Special Assistant to the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, informed that on 21 October, the Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan would be co-hosted by Switzerland and the UN Office of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto. This high-level meeting would bring together Member States and international organizations and provide a chance to coordinate different initiatives and peace efforts. The regional dimension of the conflict would be discussed as well. Ms. Hajjar confirmed this would be a one-day meeting which would bring together 27 principals and a total of about 80 participants. Ms. Hajjar would share her contacts so that journalists would be able to reach her. A press conference with the co-hosts would be organized immediately after the meeting, in the late afternoon on 21 October. The opening remarks could be attended by the media, after which the session would be closed to the journalists. The hope was that at the end of the meeting there would be a joint statement with agreed actionable points.
Questions on Yemen
Responding to questions on the situation in Yemen, Ricardo Pires, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said that UNICEF was facing access challenges in Taizz because of the ongoing hostilities. These constraints affected the movement of people and humanitarian supplies, but UNICEF and partners were continuing to deliver supplies inside Taizz city using prepositioned supplies. Thirty children were confirmed to have been killed since the beginning of September, he informed. Zoe Brennan, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that displacement continued, and had passed 233,000 in Taizz. Matthew Saltmarsh, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), confirmed that an outbreak of cholera had been confirmed in the Markazi refugee camp in Djibouti, with over 30 cases and one death. Over 4,000 people had now arrived from Yemen to Djibouti. Tarik Jašarević, for the World Health Organization (WHO), added that the hospitals in Taizz were running out of supplies, and the road closures were blocking resupplies, including fuel, oxygen, medicine and surgical material. Sustained, safe humanitarian access to Taizz was necessary, he stressed.
Announcements
Matthew Saltmarsh, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), informed that Barham Salih, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, would hold a press stakeout outside the Assembly Hall around 12:15 pm, on the occasion of the end of the UNHCR’s 77th Executive Committee. Mr. Saltmarsh said that the shortfalls in funding had impacted refugees around the world, but this week had heard encouraging messages from governments participating in the ExCom.
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the Secretary-General was in Yerevan to attend COP17 on biological diversity. His remarks to the leaders had been shared with the media.
He also announced the launch of UN Geneva’s 2025 Annual Report, UN Geneva at 80: Building Resilient Multilateralism for Tomorrow. Marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the report reflected a year of resilience, adaptation and continued commitment to multilateralism amid growing global challenges, financial constraints and institutional reform. It highlighted UN Geneva’s vital role as a centre for dialogue and diplomacy, supporting peace processes, human rights and disarmament efforts, while servicing nearly 8,800 meetings throughout the year. The report showcased important milestones in the Strategic Heritage Plan, including the reopening of the historic Assembly Hall, as well as progress in strengthening partnerships, engaging young people and civil society, and advancing innovation and sustainable development. The report was available here.
Mr. Gómez further informed that on 20 October at 2:30 pm, the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) would hold a press conference on wildlife trade and conservation policy discussions at the 81st meeting of the CITES Standing Committee.
Today, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was reviewing the report submitted by Cabo Verde.
On 19 October, the Human Rights Committee would open its 146th session, during which the Committee would review reports submitted by Austria, Rwanda, Cameroon, and Jamaica.
Finally, 17 October would be the International Day for Eradication of Poverty, on which occasion the Secretary-General’s message had been shared.
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