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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 2026

UN PEACEKEEPERS DAY 

To mark UN Peacekeepers Day, the Secretary-General laid a wreath to commemorate the nearly 4,500 people who have lost their lives since we began our peacekeeping work almost 80 years ago. 

Speaking at the ceremony, he said that as events of this very week remind us, peacekeepers continue to face peril in the cause of peace – and we pay the highest tribute to their service and sacrifice. 

UN Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the international community’s most effective responses to conflict. Across the globe, Mr. Guterres said, the UN Blue Helmet is a symbol of hope for communities in their darkest hour. 

He said he is inspired by the women and men who wear the Blue Helmet, as they are protectors of the vulnerable, and guardians of hope in places where hope is often in short supply. 

UNIFIL 

Just to give you a quick update on the status of the two peacekeepers who were injured on Wednesday, I can tell you that they continue to receive treatment at a UNIFIL medical facility in south Lebanon. We wish them a swift and full recovery.  

UNIFIL continues to observe intensive Israel Defense Forces (IDF) activity across UNIFIL’s area of operations, including sustained airstrikes and helicopter fire in both sectors, East and West. Yesterday, UNIFIL peacekeepers reported a total of 773 firing incidents originating from IDF positions south of the Blue Line within the area of operations. In addition, 15 trajectories of projectiles were detected from north to south, including one crossing the Blue Line, while ground forces observed 29 projectile interceptions by Israel over the area. 

Peacekeepers also observed IDF personnel and vehicles establishing two roadblocks near a UNIFIL position in Sector West. UNIFIL’s freedom of movement is essential for the implementation of its mandate and must be fully respected. 

Also yesterday, UNIFIL observed two armed drones flying over or near a UNIFIL position north of Bayyadah. One of the drones dropped a grenade in the vicinity before turning back. Incidents of this nature are of concern, and we reiterate that all parties must avoid actions that could endanger UN personnel and assets. 

In coordination with OCHA, the mission facilitated three humanitarian missions to Tyre in Sector West yesterday. 

LEBANON 

Earlier today, our Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, Mr. Imran Riza, launched with the Lebanese government the revised Flash Appeal calling for an additional $331.5 million to cover the period from June to August. This brings the overall ask for the Flash Appeal, running from March through August, to nearly $640 million, and this is to sustain life-saving efforts for 1.4 million people. 

You will recall that the Secretary-General announced the initial appeal three months ago in the immediate aftermath of the escalation. Donors have up till now provided $186 million to bolster the humanitarian response, and we and our partners have reached some 680,000 people. However, humanitarian needs are rising, and essential services, including health care and water systems, continue to be severely impacted.       

Reminding that some 1 million people remain displaced because of the conflict, Mr. Riza called for sustained international support to enable the delivery of a broad range of life‑saving assistance, protect civilians, and help restore critical services in affected areas. 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our Deputy Special Coordinator there, Ramiz Alakbarov, today highlighted the impact of the conflict on the environment in Palestine and the importance of integrating environmental considerations into humanitarian, recovery and development efforts. 

In a statement issued for World Environment Day, Dr. Alakbarov – who is also the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator – said that environmental damage has affected people’s health, livelihoods and wellbeing and placed additional pressure on vulnerable ecosystems and natural resources. 

He warned that damage to essential infrastructure, including water and sanitation systems, as well as pollution and the accumulation of debris, has immediate consequences for communities and may have long-term implications.                            

Meanwhile, our colleagues working on sanitation in Gaza report that solid waste management continues to rely on temporary dump sites that are near where displaced people live and therefore increase public health risks. 

Over the past three months, our partners have transferred about 100,000 cubic metres of waste from the Firas Market in Gaza city to a newly identified dump site in Abu Jarad. But the new site cannot be fully developed or effectively utilized without specific fabrics - also called geotextiles - that have only now been approved and are in the procurement phase. 

There’s a need to secure access to Gaza’s landfills close to the eastern perimeter. We also need approval to bring in equipment and other inputs to clear explosive ordnance and remove waste and rubble. 

Finally, our mine action colleagues say that in the last two weeks of May, they have raised awareness of the risks linked to explosive ordnance among more than 16,000 children and adults. But they still lack approvals to take into Gaza the necessary equipment to dispose of explosive ordnance.  

MIDDLE EAST 

Since the start of his assignment in late March 2026, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Middle East Conflict and its Consequences, Jean Arnault, has been conducting extensive consultations with countries of the Middle East affected by the conflict, members of the Security Council and other Member States, including with counterparts at Headquarters and in the region. 

In his engagements, Mr. Arnault has amplified the Secretary-General’s call for an urgent de-escalation and the consolidation of the ceasefire, as well as a comprehensive and durable settlement and the need to avert the devastating consequences of a resumption of hostilities and to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of urgency.  

As he prepares to undertake further consultations, the Personal Envoy is encouraged by the broad regional convergence on the need to bring the current conflict to a quick and definitive end and, among other steps, to undertake the difficult but necessary work of restoring trust and cooperation that had been broken by the conflict.  This emerging consensus can make a powerful contribution to the settlement of the conflict and long-term regional stability. 

CYPRUS 

The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Ms. Maria Angela Holguin, will be in Cyprus from 7 to 14 June, meeting with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders separately on 8 June to discuss the way forward. From Cyprus, she will travel to Ankara and Athens for meetings.   

LIBYA 

We are deeply concerned by the violent protests that took place yesterday outside the UNHCR and UNSMIL headquarters in Tripoli. The Â鶹APP strongly condemns any attack or threat against its personnel or premises. 

We are concerned by the spread of misinformation and disinformation regarding the work of the Â鶹APP in Libya. We wish to clarify that UNHCR works closely with the Libyan authorities to identify and support solutions outside Libya for people fleeing war and persecution, and in need of international protection, including solutions in third countries (such as resettlement) and voluntary returns, when feasible. 

The Â鶹APP appreciates the support of the Libyan authorities in maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of protesters and UN personnel and facilities.  

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 

Turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, OCHA warns of intensifying violence claiming civilian lives and severely restricting humanitarian access in the provinces of North and South Kivu. 

In North Kivu province, an armed attack in Beni territory on the night of June 2nd reportedly killed at least 24 civilians and triggered fresh displacement, according to local authorities. 

In neighbouring Masisi territory, heavy clashes on June 3rd caused further displacement, compounding a crisis that had already displaced some 270,000 people as of May. 

The renewed violence has compelled humanitarian organizations to restrict movements in several areas, further limiting access to affected populations. 

In South Kivu province, hostilities on June 3rd in Fizi and Mwenga territories, reportedly involving the use of drones, sparked new displacement, according to local civil society. Over the past two years, persistent insecurity in these areas has cut off more than 165,000 people from regular assistance. 

Our OCHA colleagues express grave concern that ongoing violence in the two eastern provinces could hinder the response to the Ebola epidemic as well as ongoing humanitarian assistance. 

Despite these challenges, provision of life-saving assistance continues wherever possible. Since April, humanitarian partners have provided cash assistance to more than 8,000 people in Beni territory. 

We call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and provide unimpeded, safe and sustained humanitarian access.                                            

And earlier today, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have launched a joint continental preparedness and response plan on the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The plan aims to raise US$ 518 million to support African countries together with partners to prepare, detect and respond to the outbreak. 

The six-month plan will cover the period from now until November, and brings together governments, partners and communities under a unified ‘One Response’ approach to strengthen outbreak response measures, including emergency coordination, disease surveillance, lab testing, infection prevention and control, clinical care, community engagement, research, logistics and support for essential health services. 

The plan complements national response plans launched by the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.                            

UNOPS 

The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), in its annual report that was issued today, says it provided technical, operational and logistical support through more than 1,100 projects across 130 countries and territories. In those projects, it delivered around $2.7 billion in support of humanitarian response, sustainable development and peace and security initiatives. The majority of the projects were in response to conflicts and crises including in high-risk areas, the report adds.  

Two-thirds of UNOPS’s work was in complex situations, in line with the continued focus to operate in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.  

Through its projects, the report says, the organization created around 26 million days of paid work for local communities, among them the poorest, including 10 million days of work for women.  

FOOD PRICE INDEX 

Global food prices were largely unchanged in May, according to new data released Friday by the Food and Agriculture Organization. The Food Price Index, which tracks international prices for major food commodities, averaged 130.8 points in May. The index was down 0.2 per cent from April but remained 2.9 per cent higher than a year ago.  

FAO says that while global food commodity markets have remained broadly resilient, disruptions to key trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, could reduce fertilizer use and place additional pressure on food prices, underscoring the need for international cooperation. 

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 

Today is World Environment Day. In a message, the Secretary-General says that warning signals are everywhere. He noted that the past eleven years have been the eleven hottest on record, and the damage goes far beyond rising temperatures.  

The Secretary-General pointed out that the world is heading for a temporary overshoot above 1.5 degrees, and every fraction of a degree brings greater harm, especially to the most vulnerable. He stressed that our task is to make that overshoot as small, as short, and as safe as possible, and rapidly bring temperatures back down.  

The Secretary-General stressed that this means slashing emissions, accelerating a just transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewables, cutting methane, protecting forests, land, seas, and helping communities adapt to the devastating impacts already here.  

And it means, he added, fulfilling climate finance promises to developing countries, to save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen economies.  

For his part, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stressed that over the past three years, his Office has recorded nearly 600 environmental and land defenders killed or disappeared worldwide. In at least 55 countries, they have been detained for their activism.

Mr. Türk urged all Governments to ensure the safety of environmental defenders and accountability for all abuses. "When our planet – our home – is on fire, we can’t punish the firefighters who are trying to extinguish the flames. We must equip and support them – with human rights," he said.

THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHING  

Today is also the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over a third of fish stocks are being overexploited. It is estimated that 1 in every 5 fish caught comes from Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.  

INTERNATIONAL DAYS/WEEKEND 

Saturday is Russian Language Day. The Russian Language Day is celebrated on 6 June, the birthday of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. [If you are in Paris next week, UNESCO will open its doors for an official ceremony to celebrate the Day, followed by a concert.]  

And Sunday is World Food Safety Day. Food safety helps ensure that what we eat remains safe at every stage of the food chain: from farm to table. This includes measures to prevent contamination during production, proper storage and efforts to reduce food-borne illnesses.  

PROGRAMMING NOTE/MONDAY 

On Monday, noon briefing guests will be Mr. Steven Hill, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs; Ms. Bahia Tahzib, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN; Mr. Rafael González Quirós, Director of the Oceanographic Centre of Gijón; and Mr. Fabien Cousteau, Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer and Founder of the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center.  They will brief on the third World Ocean Assessment. 

**Guests today 

We have here today our guest, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who will discuss the International Day of Â鶹APP Peacekeepers, which is observed on 29 May.  

Serving in Lebanon and South Sudan, Major Abhilasha Barak of India and Inspector Stephanie Königs of Germany respectively were awarded the Military Gender Advocate of the Year and the Woman Police of the Year Awards. 

And with us from Goma due to the health crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sergeant Matías Reyes who, earlier today, received the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage.