Sudan, Nepal, Ukraine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (4 Sep 2026) | United Nations

Main points from the UN Daily Press Briefing (4 Sep 2026)

UN operations & UN press schedule

• Monday is US Labor Day, so there will be no briefing; staff remain reachable “on call.”
• Tuesday includes a handover day for the incoming President of the UN General Assembly (Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Bangladesh), with brief remarks at the GA stakeout (East Foyer).

Sudan: de-escalation, protection of civilians, and political dialogue

• Pekka Haavisto (Personal Envoy for Sudan) arrived in Khartoum to engage stakeholders on:
  • measures to de-escalate violence
  • ways to strengthen protection of civilians
• He previously spoke by phone with General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemeti”), discussing the same issues.
• On Tuesday, Haavisto will work in Khartoum with the “Quintet” (African Union, EU, IGAD, League of Arab States, UN) to discuss:
  • the political landscape
  • initiatives to advance intra-Sudanese dialogue
• The briefing emphasized the need for a negotiated settlement reflecting Sudanese democratic aspirations, supporting a Sudanese-led, Sudanese-owned, inclusive, comprehensive peace process.

Nepal: flash floods/landslides flash appeal

• UN and humanitarian partners launched a nearly $50 million flash appeal for a four-month response to help about 84,000 people affected by catastrophic flash floods and landslides.
• Reported impacts include:
  • loss of family members, homes, and livelihoods
  • destruction of infrastructure disrupting transport, power, and water/sanitation
• The UN Resident Coordinator (Leda Peters Yayha) said aid will include cash, shelter, health care, food, clean water, and protection for hard-to-reach communities.
• WFP:
  • dispatched food to 8,000 people early on
  • procured 180 metric tons locally
  • planned air support, including helicopters and unmanned aircraft
• UNICEF reported a flight with 84 metric tons of critical supplies arrived in Kathmandu with EU support, including items for:
  • safe water
  • disease prevention
  • children’s learning
  • support for health/nutrition workers

Ukraine: ongoing attacks and humanitarian impacts

• Humanitarian updates focused on repeated attacks in Kyiv and Odesa over the prior two days.
• A drone strike in central Kyiv near the St. Sophia Cathedral (UNESCO heritage site) led to rapid humanitarian support including first aid, psychosocial support, and emergency supplies.
• A humanitarian convoy delivered aid to Donetsk and Kherson, including:
  • hygiene kits
  • first aid
  • essential medicines for local hospitals
• Humanitarian operations were also disrupted:
  • a UNICEF-contracted water truck in Kharkiv was struck, injuring the driver
  • a Ukrainian Red Crescent office in Kherson was destroyed
  • WHO reported an air attack in Kyiv Oblast damaged a major WHO warehouse holding humanitarian supplies
• Humanitarian coordinator Matthias Schmale called for continued international support, including for hard-to-reach areas.

Yemen: concern over escalation

• The briefing expressed concern about sharply escalating military clashes across multiple fronts (including Taiz).
• UN called on parties to:
  • exercise restraint
  • de-escalate
  • avoid actions risking further escalation
  • prioritize dialogue within UN-led efforts toward a negotiated political settlement

Lebanon: returns, infrastructure damage, and funding gaps

• Humanitarian coordinator Imran Riza visited Nabatieh and met communities including returnees and displaced people.
• Authorities highlighted challenges from damaged infrastructure affecting water and sanitation, including damage to the Myfadoun water well station (solar panels and pumping equipment).
• OCHA reported the 2026 Lebanon flash appeal ended last month; despite ~52% underfunding ($330m received), partners reached over 1.2 million people since escalation began—especially with cash, food/agriculture, and health assistance.
• Remaining needs include:
  • constrained access
  • many families unable to return safely
• Partners will update the Lebanon response plan through year-end, reiterating the need for continued access and support.

Occupied Palestinian Territory: Gaza rainy-season risk and West Bank displacement

• Concern centered on civilian safety in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
• In Gaza:
  • partners support preparations for the rainy season
  • more funding and access are urgently needed
• WHO (via Dr. Tedros) warned that as winter approaches, public health risks are growing due to displacement in overcrowded tent sites; rainy flooding could spread contaminated sewage and increase disease risk.
• WHO called for increased access to:
  • lab/diagnostic supplies
  • essential medicines
  • rehabilitation equipment
  • public health support
• In the West Bank:
  • since 2023, 6,400 Palestinians have been displaced across 130 communities due to settler violence
  • over 25,000 were displaced this year alone (over half children)
  • 48 communities have been fully displaced since 2023

Syria: dangers from explosive remnants of war

• OCHA warned about the danger explosive remnants pose to civilians, especially children.
• Over the previous week:
  • a dozen incidents across six regions
  • 9 killed (including 6 children) and 13 injured
• A landmine incident in Deir ez-Zor killed five children and injured three.
• The briefing emphasized contamination on agricultural grazing land, requiring:
  • large-scale clearance
  • risk education
  • assistance to affected people

UN leadership diplomacy: Deputy Secretary-General in Rome & AI convening

• Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed is in Rome meeting:
  • Italian government officials
  • the Holy See
  • heads of Rome-based agencies
• Discussions include sustained UN support and commitment to multilateralism and advancing food system transformation.
• She will also participate in a regional convening on artificial intelligence and human development, building on earlier meetings in Cairo, Mexico City, and Xi’an, focused on:
  • how AI reshapes societies
  • steering AI development toward human development
• The briefing also recorded the Secretary-General’s briefing to member states on the UN “AD” initiative, noting progress from diagnostics to design and increasing implementation (including a merger of learning/training entities).

Colombia: earthquake humanitarian response amid access constraints

• Partners reported ongoing relief after an earthquake:
  • 29 organizations reached nearly 125,000 people
  • assistance delivered across 49 municipalities in Valle del Cauca, Chocó, Risaralda, and Caldas
  • support included water/sanitation, hygiene, health, shelter, food, and protection
• UNDP and ECLAC support early recovery, but continued violence involving non-state armed groups hampers access and puts civilians at risk.
• Only $40 million of $148 million required for the response has been received.

Migration deaths at sea: IOM and UNHCR warning

• The UN noted concern about reports of a boat found after being adrift in the Atlantic for almost a month.
• IOM said the situation is not exceptional on this route due to:
  • enormous distances
  • limited monitoring and rescue capacity
• Spanish authorities recovered 44 survivors; more than 80 are believed to have died or gone missing; only five bodies recovered.
• UNHCR said the tragedy underscores the extreme risks for people fleeing conflict, violence, and persecution.

Food prices: FAO index update

• FAO reported food price pressures are rising again due to weather:
  • August benchmark world food commodity price index: 133.3
  • +1.9% from July and +2.5% from a year ago
• Biggest rise: sugar (~+12%) due to adverse weather affecting EU sugar beet yields and reduced production in Brazil.
• Wheat prices: up 15% year-on-year, linked to disruptions in Black Sea export logistics and high temperatures in Europe.
• FAO forecast global cereal production at 2.98 billion metric tons, 2% lower than last year (still the second-largest on record).

International days

The briefing briefly highlighted observances including:

• International Day of Charity (framed in the text for Sunday/Monday)
• International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls
• International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
• World Day of Police Cooperation
• World Duchenne Awareness Day

It also referenced UN messages related to climate/clean air, policing cooperation, and Duchenne disease (no cure).

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Presenters / Contributors

• Aziz (welcomed guests / moderator role in the transcript)
• Pekka Haavisto (Personal Envoy for Sudan)
• General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemeti”) (Sudan RSF commander; mentioned)
• Leda Peters Yayha (UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal)
• Imran Riza (Humanitarian Coordinator, Lebanon)
• Tom Fletcher (Emergency Relief Coordinator; quoted/mentioned)
• Dr. Tedros (WHO Director-General; referenced)
• Matthias Schmale (Humanitarian Coordinator, Ukraine)
• Amina Mohammed (Deputy Secretary-General)
• Maria Jose Torres Macho (UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia; mentioned)
• Dr. Khalilur Rahman (President-designate of the UN General Assembly; mentioned)
• World Food Programme (WFP)
• UNICEF
• OCHA
• WHO
• UNHCR
• IOM
• FAO
• UNEP and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition
• Holy See and Rome-based agencies (referenced in meetings; no individuals named)