UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING

Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section, United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the International Organization for Migration, the World Meteorological Organization, the Economic Commission for Europe and the International Telecommunication Union. 

Three years since the attacks of 7 October 2023

Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed of the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General to mark the three years since the attacks of 7 October 2023 issued the night before through which the Secretary-General referred to the “abhorrent, large-scale terror attack on Israel” launched by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups “brutally killing more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals”.  The Secretary-General noted how a “total of 251 people were abducted and taken into the Gaza Strip as hostages, including women, children and the elderly”.  “Three years on, the pain of 7 October endures for the families who lost loved ones, for survivors and for all those whose lives were forever changed”, the statement read. 

Through his statement, the Secretary-General said “the devastating hostilities that followed have inflicted untold suffering on Palestinians in Gaza, including massive loss of life, displacement, and destruction. Civilians continue to endure intolerable conditions”. The Secretary-General urged “all parties to implement their commitments in full and advance to the next phase of the ceasefire, on the basis of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict.” The full statement was available here. 

Health situation in Darfur

Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Sudan, speaking from Khartoum after a 10-day mission to Darfur, said that humanitarian and health needs across the region were immense and continued to outpace available resources. He highlighted the situation in Tawila, which was now hosting more than 700,000 displaced people, while 5.6 million people were displaced across Darfur, representing 65 percent of all internally displaced persons in Sudan. He underlined that despite difficult conditions, displaced communities continued to demonstrate resilience and expressed hopes for improved access to health care, food, education, and peace.

Dr. Abubakar stressed that health facilities faced severe shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and trained personnel, overwhelming existing response capacities. He warned that malnutrition was increasing and expected to worsen due to poor rainfall, crop failures, and the anticipated effects of a strong El Niño event. Access to mental health and psychosocial support services remained very limited, while treatments for HIV, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and other essential health needs were in short supply.

Dr. Abubakar noted that WHO was supporting disease surveillance and outbreak response, Health Cluster coordination, primary and secondary health care services, nutrition interventions, vaccination activities, and the delivery of medical supplies. However, he also stressed that humanitarian needs were growing faster than the resources available to address them. WHO required USD 97.7 million for its health emergency response in Sudan but had received only USD 22 million, leaving a funding gap of approximately USD 75 million. He called for increased resources and safe, unimpeded humanitarian access, stressing that efforts from communities, health workers, and humanitarian partners had to be matched by greater international support. 

Answering questions from the media, Dr. Abubakar explained that poor rainfall and crop failures across Darfur were already contributing to growing food insecurity and increased malnutrition, particularly among children and pregnant women. He warned that worsening malnutrition could heighten vulnerability to disease outbreaks, noting that cholera, measles and diphtheria were already affecting parts of Sudan. Dr. Abubakar also stressed that without increased resources, health risks would continue to rise as the humanitarian situation deteriorated.

Impact of the Ebola outbreak on children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Halimatou Amadou, Chief of Communication for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that more than 1,900 children had lost one or both parents or caregivers to Ebola, or had been separated from them, since the outbreak was declared in May 2026. Of those, 1,581 were in Ituri and 322 in North Kivu. She stressed that these figures reflected only the areas where UNICEF and its partners were operating.

Ms. Amadou said that children were bearing a disproportionate burden of the outbreak. As of 29 September, at least 2,076 children had been confirmed with Ebola and 1,162 had died. Children accounted for just over one quarter of confirmed cases but around one-third of the deaths. She underlined that mortality had been particularly high among children under five years of age, with seven in ten confirmed cases resulting in death.

She noted that the outbreak continued in Ituri and North Kivu, provinces already hosting some 4.4 million displaced people. UNICEF was supporting 12 nurseries located near Ebola treatment centres in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, providing care and protection for young children exposed to the virus, separated from their families, or whose parents were receiving treatment.

Ms. Amadou relayed UNICEF’s call for a nursery at every Ebola treatment centre, along with strengthened paediatric care, expanded social services, family tracing efforts, support for caregivers, and continued access to education for affected children. She recalled that UNICEF needed USD 113.4 million for its Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and had so far received just over one-third of that amount. She stressed that with adequate support, no child should have to face the consequences of the outbreak alone.

Answering a question from the media, Ms. Amadou explained that children who tested negative at their arrival to the Ebola treatment centers were cared for in neighbouring UNICEF supported nurseries. UNICEF also worked with government social services to trace and reunite children with extended family members whenever possible. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of community engagement efforts involving outreach workers, local authorities and religious leaders, particularly in addressing concerns about community mistrust and reluctance to seek Ebola-related care. She said these actors played a key role in promoting public health messages, addressing community concerns and encouraging practices aimed at preventing the spread of the disease, including safe burials.

Population movements in Djibouti

Alexandre Coissac, Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Djibouti, said that the country was facing overlapping migration and humanitarian challenges as people fleeing the conflict in Yemen continued to arrive in the country, while migrants travelling along the Eastern Route from Ethiopia were increasingly becoming stranded. Over the previous three weeks, more than 3,700 refugees had arrived in Djibouti from Yemen, while IOM had also recorded more than 20,000 incoming migrant movements from Ethiopia and 539 Ethiopian migrants returning from Yemen since 10 September.

Mr. Coissac noted that Djibouti was experiencing movements in both directions, with refugees arriving from Yemen, migrants continuing onward towards Yemen, and others returning home. He added that between 20 and 30 September, more than 3,000 stranded migrants had been observed across the country, with many facing dehydration, exhaustion, food and water shortages, as well as risks of exploitation and violence.

Mr. Coissac recalled that IOM was providing emergency assistance, including food, water and voluntary return support. However, he noted that growing numbers of migrants were using secondary routes that were more difficult to access, making IOM’s job on the ground more challenging. He stressed that resources needed include food, water, healthcare, protection services and support for voluntary returns. While Djiboutian authorities had responded rapidly, additional international support was urgently needed to assist people arriving from Yemen, stranded migrants, and the communities hosting them.

Answering questions from the media, Mr. Coissac explained that there had not been an increase in movements from Ethiopia and that most migrants had left for economic reasons and fear of the ongoing situation in the country. He added that most migrants were unaware of the current situation in Yemen and are simply aspiring for a better life. 

Questions on the Ebola case in Kenya

Answering questions from the media on the reported Ebola case in Kenya, Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization, said that the Organization was working with the Kenyan authorities and partners on the ground to gather further information about the case, which was believed to have been imported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He noted that additional details were expected later in the day. 

Suspected plague-related death in Russia

Responding to a question regarding reports concerning the death of a laboratory worker in the Russian Federation, Mr. Lindmeier said that no cause of death had officially been confirmed. Russian authorities had confirmed that laboratory testing of contacts had not detected dangerous infectious pathogens. WHO remained in contact with the Russian authorities under the International Health Regulations (IHR) and continued to monitor the situation. Based on the information available, the WHO’s initial risk assessment estimates the risk to be moderate to low for the Irkutsk oblast, low for the Russian Federation as a whole, and very low for the European region.

Announcements

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization, announced an embargoed virtual press briefing on the launch of the child and adolescent obesity guidelines, to be held on 6 October at 3 p.m. (CEST). He added that the embargo on briefing materials would remain in place until 7 October at 9 a.m.

Mr. Lindmeier also announced the launch, on 8 October, of a new global roadmap to tackle hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, a leading cause of maternal and newborn illness and mortality worldwide. The roadmap aimed to accelerate the prevention, early detection and effective management of conditions including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), announced that the first Global Heat Forum had opened today in Bangkok, bringing together nearly 600 scientists, business leaders, philanthropists and health experts to promote solutions and mobilize financing to address the growing impacts of extreme heat. She noted that WMO was involved in the event in its capacity as co-sponsor of the Global Heat Information Network The four-day forum was taking place against the backdrop of record temperatures and an intensifying El Niño phenomenon.

Ms. Nullis also announced that WMO would release its monthly Global Seasonal Climate Update on 8 October. The report would be provided under embargo to journalists on 7 October. 

Thomas Croll-Knight, for the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), announced that the sixth session of the UN Forum of Mayors would take place in Geneva on 12 and 13 October, bringing together some 80 city leaders from more than 50 countries to discuss the local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. This year's Forum, under the theme Cities Delivering for a Sustainable Future, would focus on sustainable mobility, innovation, green cities, urban resilience, affordable housing, and cultural and natural heritage protection. Mayors were expected to adopt an outcome document outlining shared priorities for advancing sustainable urban development. The Forum will be hosted at the headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and two side events – on disability inclusion in cities and women mayors – will be organized in the margins of the event. 

David Hirsch, for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), announced that media accreditation was open for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (PP-26), which will take place in Doha, Qatar, from 9 to 27 November 2026. The conference, ITU’s highest policy-making body, will elect the Union’s leadership positions as well as Member States to serve on the ITU Council and the Radio Regulations Board for the 2027–2030 period. Participants will also review ITU policies and approve the Union’s strategic and financial plans for 2028–2031. 

Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) recalled the recent statement issued by the United Nations Secretary-General marking the third anniversary of the 7 October attacks. He also informed journalists of the Secretary-General’s visit to Pakistan, where he was scheduled to meet senior government officials, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. During his visit, the Secretary-General would also visit the headquarters of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). The transcript of the Secretary-General’s encounter with the press in Islamabad is available here.

He further referred correspondents to a readout of the recent visit to Afghanistan by Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

He announced that the Universal Postal Union (UPU) would hold a press conference on 8 October to present its 2026 State of the Postal Sector report, which examines the impact of fragmented postal import policies and proposes measures to strengthen resilience in the sector. The report would be released under embargo. 

He also announced a press conference by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on 9 October to launch its upcoming 2026 Trade and Development Report.

Regarding upcoming meetings, he noted that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was reviewing Kazakhstan and would subsequently examine Cook Islands, Kenya and Moldova. He also recalled that the Human Rights Council would continue its consideration of draft resolutions today and tomorrow.

Finally, Mr. Gómez announced that the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) would meet from 2 to 6 November in Geneva to discuss issues related to wildlife trade, compliance, enforcement and species conservation. A press conference will be organized and announced in due time. He also noted that World Space Week would be observed this week, from 4 to 10 October.

***