UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the World Meteorological Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Hurricane Melissa
Anne-Claire Fontan, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) tropical cyclone specialist, stated that the massive hurricane was heading towards Jamaica and was expected to have a severe impact on the country in the coming hours. There would be a lot of rainfall, leading to catastrophic flash floodings and numerous landslides. Peak storm surge heights could reach three to four meters above ground level, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa made landfall. This storm surge would be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Since hurricane Gilbert in 1998, Jamaica had not been impacted by such a powerful hurricane. Melissa would also affect Cuba, the Bahamas, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, bringing high levels of rain and strong winds.
Necephor Mghendi, Head of Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for English and Dutch Speaking Caribbean, speaking from Port of Spain, said that the category five hurricane was threatening Jamaica today, putting over one million people at risk. The coastal communities had already been under strain from previous events, including tropical storm Barry [late June 2025], he explained. The indicated total of rainfall could be as many as three times higher than during Barry, which could cut essential services for days, if not weeks. The humanitarian threat was thus imminent. Women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities were particularly vulnerable, especially in coastal communities.
The Jamaican Red Cross had mobilized in preparation for hurricane Melissa, helping with early warning, evacuation and distribution of prepositioned items. Some 400 volunteers were now active on the ground, making sure that people get out of the harm’s way. Local knowledge and community trust were key elements in a crisis like this, when every minute counted. Some CHF 60,000 had been mobilized through the IFRC network to help with the early response. Roads would be tested, floods would be massive, and communication networks were expected to be affected as well. Finally, Mr. Mghendi stressed that there would be a need for international solidarity, and the IFRC was doing its part, standing ready to reinforce and support Jamaica’s own response.
Responding to questions from the media, Mr. Mghendi, for the IFRC, explained that the authorities had prepared over 800 shelters. The main priority was to get the people out of harm’s way, and it was believed that most of them had indeed move away. On preparedness in Cuba, Mr. Mghendi said that the Cuban Red Cross volunteers had been disseminating early warning messages, and prepositioned goods could reach the island quickly. The Red Cross also had teams ready to help the Bahamas, he said. Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), added that OCHA had activated the so-called anticipatory action framework and released USD 4 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help Cuba and Haiti. Mr. Mghendi hoped that the global community would come together to respond and assist those affected by hurricane Melissa. Some 1.5 million people might be directly impacted, but the entire population of Jamaica would feel the effects one way or another.
Ms. Fontan, for the WMO, answering another question, said that for Jamaica this would be the strongest storm of this century. Mr. Laerke said that the first order or priority was saving lives and getting people out of harm’s way, to be followed by providing food, safe drinking water, shelter, and medical care. Longer-term support and reconstruction would eventually be needed after a proper assessment, where the Government of Jamaica would take the lead, with the support of the UN. Tommaso Della Longa, also for the IFRC, added that mental and psychosocial support would also be critical in the hurricane’s aftermath, along with restoring family links.
Escalating violence in El Fasher
Eujin Byun, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), stated that the situation in Sudan had deteriorated even further, and UNHCR was deeply concerned about the escalating violence in El Fasher, forcing many to leave, while many others remained stuck in the city.
Jacqueline Wilma Parlevliet, United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Head of Sub-Office in Sudan, speaking from Amsterdam, said that 650,000 IDPs had already been hosted in Tawila, and in recent days another 25,000 had arrived. Testimonies from those arriving in Tawila, 50 kilometres from El Fasher, suggested that what was already an alarming humanitarian and protection crisis was spiraling rapidly. Indiscriminate violence was taking place in El Fasher, and there were reports of people with disabilities being executed as they could not flee. Protection needs were immense, with constant violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. There were examples of looting, extortion, rape, and recruitment of children into armed forces. The overall situation when it came to the protection of civilians was disastrous. UNHCR focused on protection and assistance to individuals and groups. This was first and foremost a protection crisis, emphasized Ms. Parlevliet. The massive destruction of public infrastructure and people’s private property was happening at the scale not seen before.
In North Kordofan, similar patterns of violence and human rights violations had been reported by survivors, following the recent fall of the town of Bara, resulting in further displacement of thousands within the state. UNHCR was concerned about a possible siege of the town of El Obeid, which was hosting tens of thousands of internally displaced Sudanese, which would further exacerbate humanitarian needs in the region.
Ceasefire was needed immediately, along with humanitarian corridors, stressed Ms. Parlevliet. Many civilians were left in El Fasher, because it was too dangerous or they were too weak to move, following the 500 days of siege of the city. In Tawila, the humanitarian sector was overwhelmed, and much more support was needed to assist those who had fled the violence.
More details are available here.
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), read from a statement shared with the media early today, in which the Secretary-General expressed grave concern by the recent military escalation in El Fasher. The Secretary-General strongly condemned reports of violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights in El Fasher, including indiscriminate attacks and targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure. He reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, urging the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to immediately engage with his Personal Envoy for the Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, and take swift, tangible steps toward a negotiated settlement.
Answering to questions, Ms. Parlevliet said that the UN had maintained lines of communication with all parties to the conflict. All parties had committed to protecting civilians, and they ought to be held to account in this regard. The UN had repeatedly asked for humanitarian pauses and safe passage to deliver humanitarian aid, but the UN had no access at all to people in El Fasher.
Seif Magango, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), speaking from Nairobi, said that the OHCHR was aware of reports of ethnically targeted summary executions, but was not able to confirm the figures. While it was difficult to assert how many civilians remained in El Fasher, there could be as many as 260,000 people there, said Ms. Parlevliet responding to another question. Access for humanitarians was of paramount importance, stressed Tommaso Della Longa, for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), reminding that the Sudanese Red Crescent had lost nine staff. Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that from 1 January to 30 September, over 31,400 children had been admitted for treatment of malnutrition in stabilization centres in Sudan. Some 3.7 million people were believed to need nutrition response in 2025.
Shutdown of telecommunications in Afghanistan
Jeremy Laurence, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), informed that the OHCHR and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan had just published a briefing paper on the serious and far-reaching human rights impacts of previous month’s telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan, a measure which compounded the array of difficulties already faced by the population. From its health systems to the banking sector and everyday operations of small businesses, the people of Afghanistan were heavily reliant on telecommunications systems to access essential services. The new paper was based on more than 100 interviews in the aftermath of the 48-hour nationwide shutdown implemented by the de facto authorities between 29 September and 1 October.
Among the human rights impacts documented were delayed or no access to healthcare and emergency services; disruption of humanitarian operations; exacerbation of existing discriminatory restrictions on women and girls; infringement on people’s daily and family lives due to the inability to contact others; and disruption of the conduct of business and banking. Women and girls in Afghanistan had already been subjected to the most draconian restrictions. Women interviewed had shared their experiences of how their lives had become even more difficult during the shutdown. For example, some women had been unable to contact their male guardians, or mahrams, during the shutdown.
Online learning remained the only avenue left for many Afghan women and girls to receive an education, because of the de facto authorities’ ban on women and girls continuing any education beyond the sixth grade. Furthermore, healthcare workers spoke about preventable deaths which occurred because of the shutdown. Humanitarian workers, for their part, said that the shutdown seriously disrupted their work and delayed the provision of vital support to the population.
The briefing paper can be accessed here, while the press release is here.
ASEAN’s declaration on the right to a safe, clean and healthy environment
Jeremy Laurence, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), welcomed the adoption by ASEAN of a landmark regional declaration on the right to a healthy environment. The ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment marked a vital step forward as the latest regional affirmation of the right to a healthy environment across Southeast Asia. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on ASEAN States to build on the declaration to ensure coordinated leadership and timely action toward addressing transboundary environmental harms.
Full statement is available here.
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), reminded that the Secretary-General had been in Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN-UN Summit, and his remarks had been shared.
Lebanon
Replying to a question, Jeremy Laurence, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that at least 111 civilians in Lebanon were verified to have been killed by Israel since the ceasefire, while over 85,000 civilians remained displaced. All efforts ought to be made to ensure that the ceasefire remain in place. Protection of civilians was paramount.
Announcements
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) informed that the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development was continuing today its 12th session. Today, the Mechanism would discuss the following topics: 1. How and what kind of participation is needed for improving the well-being of individuals and people; 2. The impact of tariffs on the realization of human rights, including the right to development; and 3. Creative industries and the right to development.
He further informed that the Social Forum would hold its 2025 session in the Assembly Hall on 30 and 31 October. The theme of the Forum was “The contribution of education to the respect, promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights for all”. The High Commissioner for Human Rights would address the Forum at the opening meeting. The Forum would then hold a keynote panel on the importance of education in the realization of human rights, before holding panels on several different subjects.
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