Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (11 April 2024)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
-Deputy Secretary-General/Brussels
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Gaza
-Lebanon
-Haiti
-Democratic Republic of the Congo
-Sudan
-Ukraine
-Security Council/Ukraine
-Shipwrecks/UN Refugee Agency
-Financial Contributions
-Guest

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/BRUSSELS
Today, in Brussels, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, delivered a keynote address at the Global Gateway High-Level Education Forum.
She emphasized that with major education events being convened in Paris, New York and Fortaleza, 2024 is the time to strengthen support for countries on SDG4 and education transformation, especially on digital learning, education financing, teachers, skills and country level collaboration as we approach the Transforming Education Summit’s two-year anniversary.
Also today, the Deputy Secretary-General met with Hajah Lahbib, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium. They discussed a number of issues, including the country’s cooperation with the UN, forthcoming milestones such as the Summit of the Future, as well as the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Yesterday, the Deputy Secretary-General attended the Spotlight Initiative’s Governing Body meeting. She highlighted that, seven years into this partnership, it is evident that a comprehensive, large-scale investment in ending violence against women holds immense potential.
Also yesterday, Ms. Mohammed participated in the 4th Annual EU-UN Strategic Dialogue on Sustainable Development, where she addressed various topics, including the Summit of the Future, the reforming of the international financial architecture, and the collaboration on digitalization and skills for the future.
The Deputy Secretary-General held several bilateral meetings with senior Belgian and EU officials, as well as with major education stakeholders. She will be back in New York later today.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Martin Griffiths, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, met yesterday with the heads of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain; UNICEF, Catherine Russell; and the World Health Organization,
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; the Special Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator, Sigrid Kaag; the acting Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Jamie McGoldrick and Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini.
Mr. Griffiths said that the UN welcomes all efforts to increase the amount and type of aid delivered for the people of Gaza, whether by air, sea or, most importantly, land. The UN trusts that no effort will be spared to ensure that aid reaches those who need it across the Gaza Strip, including in the north, that the safety of the UN’s aid workers and of civilians remains paramount, and that the independence of the UN’s humanitarian operations is maintained.
The UN will continue to work with all those committed to alleviating the humanitarian suffering in Gaza and to advocate for principled and safe aid delivery. That is our commitment and obligation to our teams and to the people we serve.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=11%20April%202024