New York - Geneva: Europe and the Arabs
Developments in the wars and crises that have been taking place in Arab countries for years have become the focus of statements, declarations, and meetings held by international organizations affiliated with the United Nations and others. These efforts aim to provide relief services, humanitarian or medical aid, or to seek solutions, "even temporary," to prevent the escalation of crises and thus halt the increase in the death toll.
Gaza
The United Nations announced that there is no more aid to distribute in Gaza, stating that the relief operation is "stifled by the closure" of the crossings by Israel. Meanwhile, humanitarian workers on the ground reported that people are "sifting through garbage, trying to find something edible."
This is what Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said in response to journalists' questions in Geneva on Tuesday, describing the "harsh, brutal, and inhumane reality" of the situation in Gaza. Mr. Laerke said that the Humanitarian Country Team working in the occupied Palestinian territory, which includes some 15 UN agencies and 200 non-governmental organizations, had received an oral briefing on the proposed Israeli plan to close the current aid system and deliver supplies through Israeli corridors under conditions set by the Israeli military. According to the UN Daily News, a copy of which we received this morning, Wednesday, the OCHA spokesperson confirmed that the United Nations "does not accept this proposal" because it falls short of the basic humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality, and independence in aid delivery. He said that the Israeli plan "appears to be a deliberate attempt to weaponize aid," stressing that aid must be provided based on humanitarian need, "and not be used in any way as a tactic to move people to any specific location." The OCHA spokesperson reiterated his call for the crossings to be reopened, noting that aid is stuck outside the Strip and ready to enter. He said that Gazans are in dire need of food, water, and healthcare, but instead, "they are receiving bombs." Yemen
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen said that "the airstrike carried out by Ansar Allah on Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, and the subsequent Israeli strikes on Sana'a Airport and the port of Hodeidah in Yemen in response," represent a dangerous escalation in an already fragile and volatile regional context.
UN Envoy Hans Grundberg called on all concerned parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any escalatory actions that could exacerbate the suffering of civilians.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has provided urgent assistance to seven health facilities in Yemen amid worsening shortages of medicines, medical personnel, and essential supplies across the country.
This assistance, supported by the British Foreign Office, comes at a time when the public health crisis is worsening due to the economic decline and ongoing insecurity. Approximately 20 million people in Yemen are expected to require health assistance this year, with less than 40% of health facilities operating with limited capacity or completely shut down. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that the seven health facilities are located in the governorates of Aden, Lahj, Shabwah, Sana'a, and Al Bayda, and serve approximately 295 patients daily.
Efforts are particularly focused on strengthening infection prevention and control measures, by installing handwashing stations, providing cleaning materials, and organizing training to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.
He stressed the need for all actors to comply with their obligations under international law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. He stated that a return to dialogue remains the only sustainable way to ensure lasting safety and security for Yemen and the entire region.
Syria
"Everyone in Syria knows someone who is missing." – With these words, Karla Quintana, President of the Independent Foundation for Missing Persons in Syria, describes the magnitude of the tragedy plaguing the families of the missing in Syria after years of waiting and uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones. In an interview with UN News, Quintana reviews the efforts being made in this regard and how the foundation plans to help Syrians uncover the fate of their loved ones, highlighting the practical steps being taken on the ground, from hearing testimonies from families to leveraging international expertise to uncover the fate of thousands.
The Independent Foundation for Missing Persons in Syria was established by a resolution of the UN General Assembly in June 2023 to determine the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons in Syria and to support victims—including survivors and families of the missing.
Quintana called on the international community to continue supporting the foundation's work, not only financially but also through technological, scientific, and political support, and by sharing information related to missing persons inside and outside Syria.
Quintana described the foundation's mission as "enormous," noting that the exact number of missing persons remains unknown, but is estimated to be in the tens of thousands or more. She emphasized that the foundation is searching for all missing persons, regardless of their nationality, religion, or the reasons for their disappearance. Despite the difficulty of the task, she expressed her hope that the international community would come together to provide answers and truth to the families of the missing after years of waiting.
Quintana visited Damascus last February for the first time, where she met with the families of the missing and heard testimonies they had not been able to share before.

Libya
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) expressed its deep concern over the video circulating on social media, which allegedly shows House of Representatives member Ibrahim al-Darsi "detained, chained, and bearing clear signs of torture."

In a press release, the UN Mission expressed its sympathies to Mr. Al-Darsi's family and colleagues at this difficult time as they witness "this horrific video." The Mission immediately requested UN digital forensics experts to assess the authenticity of the video and reiterated its call on the Libyan authorities to expedite an independent and comprehensive investigation into Mr. Al-Darsi's enforced disappearance since May 16, 2024, "when he was abducted after attending a Libyan National Army military parade in Benghazi." The Mission affirmed its readiness to support an independent investigation into Mr. Al-Darsi's disappearance and allegations of torture. The UN Mission condemned the widespread and systematic violations "committed by law enforcement and security actors in detention centers in Benghazi, Tripoli, Sabha, and other locations across Libya," documented by the Mission and other independent UN mechanisms. "These violations are exacerbated by the continued impunity of the perpetrators of these crimes." The mission reminded all concerned parties that arbitrary detention, abduction, torture, enforced disappearances, and deaths in custody constitute gross human rights violations and may constitute international crimes prosecuted before the International Criminal Court. The mission stated that the Libyan authorities must ensure that these practices end immediately and that the perpetrators are brought to justice. The mission also called for a full and independent investigation into all alleged human rights violations in detention facilities and reiterated its call for the release of all those arbitrarily detained across Libya.
Sudan
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, expressed her shock and deep concern at the intensification of drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Port Sudan, the country's main humanitarian hub.
This follows attacks launched early Tuesday, which reportedly targeted the international airport and other facilities in Port Sudan, including a fuel storage facility and an electrical transformer. Ms. Nkweta-Salami said in a press statement that such attacks will only deepen the suffering and humanitarian needs, "and exacerbate the logistical challenges and difficulties faced by humanitarian actors in delivering urgent aid to the rest of the country."

She added that Port Sudan International Airport is a "lifeline" for humanitarian operations, serving as a key entry point for humanitarian workers, medical supplies, and other life-saving relief items into Sudan.
She added that the availability of fuel in Port Sudan is critical for delivering humanitarian supplies to areas most in need across Sudan.
The Humanitarian Coordinator stressed that damage to critical infrastructure could disrupt supply chains and raise the prices of essential commodities, "exacerbating human suffering in what is already the world's largest humanitarian crisis."