UN INFORMATION SERVICE GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the World Health Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration.

Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dr. Thierno Baldé, World Health Organization (WHO) Incident Manager for the Ebola Response, connecting from Bunia, provided an update on the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of today, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had recorded 2,423 confirmed cases, including 967 deaths and 469 recoveries. The outbreak was being reported in five provinces, but Ituri remained the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for close to 90 percent of cases and over 80 percent of deaths.

Dr. Baldé informed that this was an outbreak with different and variant patterns: some areas had high intense transmission such as Bunia and surrounding areas, others were displaying some stable trends, yet others were just starting the outbreak. By using a granular approach and integrating emerging analysis, WHO had identified three main dynamics: one of high intensity transmission, another of emerging areas, and some which were now showing signs of stability. WHO had prioritized the expansion of safe and dignified burials, referral systems, and clinical management capacity in the most active transmission hotspots. There were also some encouraging signs: Mongbwalu, where the outbreak had been first detected, was currently showing some signs of stabilization, with a similar trend in Goma, North Kivu Province. All WHO response teams were aware of the importance of the work they did every day and they continued to engage actively with communities, and to work with them in a spirit of listening and openness, to be guided by them in their interventions. More solidarity was needed to ensure continued operational capacities, concluded Dr. Baldé.

Responding to questions from the media, Dr. Baldé said that the outbreak was dynamic, with people moving around, which sometimes led to spread and resurgence of cases. Listing all of contacts, reaching out to them, building trust with and mobilizing communities were all important factors in addressing the current outbreak.

The growing impact on civilians of Russia's war against Ukraine

Thameen Al-Kheetan, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the war in Ukraine was having a deepening impact on civilians by the day. The scale and intensity of long-range attacks impacting residential buildings and critical civilian infrastructure were shocking. These attacks had to stop. In recent days, he said, there had been multiple attacks causing civilian casualties across Ukraine, as well as in the Russian Federation. Civilians and civilian infrastructure were strictly protected under international humanitarian law, and any such deliberate attack was a war crime.

On 19 July, Kyiv had been hit for the seventh time this month: in the largest reported missile attack on the capital since the start of the full-scale invasion, at least 35 ballistic and hypersonic cruise missiles had targeted the city. Authorities reported one civilian death while 20 others were injured, and there was damage across five districts. On the same day, glide bombs had hit residential areas of Zaporizhzhia City, reportedly destroying part of a five-storey residential building. Authorities reported three civilian deaths. Recent attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea had further increased risks to maritime operations. In the latest incident on 19 July, a merchant vessel sailing under the flag of Guinea-Bissau had been hit by cruise missiles shortly after departing a port near Odesa; ten people, including at least eight crew members, had been reportedly killed and seven injured. At the same time, long-range drone attacks by Ukraine had also reportedly continued to cause civilian casualties and damage to logistics infrastructure belonging to a private company inside Russia. Overnight on 17-18 July, Russian authorities had reported attacks including strikes on the Wildberries logistics centres in the Moscow and Tambov regions killing eight civilians and causing injuries to 86 others.

Danielle Bell, Head of UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, speaking from Kyiv, said these attacks were not isolated; they were becoming more frequent and deadly, with civilian casualties higher by a third compared to 2025. Long-range missiles and drones against densely populated urban area, along with short-range drones in frontline areas were behind the rise in casualties. Ms. Bell provided an example of a building hit in Odesa, where 19 civilians had been killed and over 70 injured. Widespread use of first-person view drones was also responsible for higher civilian casualties in recent months. People were taking measures to protect themselves, including hiding between buildings but still felt both tracked and trapped. Civilian casualties from such drones in frontline communities over the first six months of 2025 were up by over 60 percent, said Ms. Bell. The previous week, in Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia, the authorities had spoken of anti-drone protection units, whose objective was to provide civilians with improved security. Civilians across Ukraine were facing increased risks, whether they were living close to the frontlines or further away, stressed Ms. Bell.

Answering questions from the journalists, Ms. Bell said that the drone-protection units were fairly new. They were now being deployed with civilians, such as farmers in the field. The latter watched out for approaching drones and then aimed to interrupt them using various anti-drone devices or shot them down. Increased use of anti-drone nets was also observed, said Ms. Bell. Those were fishing nets made of nylon, which covered streets, thus protecting civilians and vehicles. Ms. Bell reiterated that in the first six months of 2026, there had been 1,396 civilian casualties, and 7,978 civilian injuries, an increase of over one third compared to 2025.

She explained that the mandate of her Mission was focused on recording human rights violations in Ukraine, where they had access. Speaking of civilian casualties in Russia, in the first six months, the Mission, using open sources, had recorded 250 civilians killed and 1,596 injured, which represented a 121-percent increase compared to 2025. This information had not been verified independently. There was an increase of Russian attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea, she said in a response to another question. Regarding Russian attacks on farming, Ms. Bell said that there was not sufficient information to speak about an emerging pattern. OHCHR had consistently reported on civilian casualties in Russia, but there was more coverage now because the figures were higher. It was not always to ascertain what the intended target was, said Ms. Bell. OHCHR measured the impact on civilians, recording harm and observing the facts on the ground.

More details can be found here.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that the 2026 Humanitarian Appeal for Ukraine of USD 6.31 billion, which aimed to help 4.12 million people in need, was currently 62.5 percent funded.

Intensified Israeli attacks on Gaza

Thameen Al-Kheetan, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated that the Israeli military had intensified its attacks in​ Gaza in recent days, killing and injuring dozens of Palestinians. These attacks had stricken residential buildings, at least one tent sheltering internally displaced people, and other crowded areas. Nine months after the announcement of a ceasefire, still, nowhere was safe for Palestinians in Gaza. The Palestinian Ministry of Health had said that over 1,100 Palestinians had been killed since October 2025 by the Israeli military. OHCHR had so far verified the killing of 685 Palestinians from October 2025 to mid-April 2026, including 283 women and children, mostly in Israeli attacks reported across the Gaza Strip.

From 13 to 20 July alone, OHCHR had recorded that the Israeli military had killed at least 57 Palestinians, including six children and eight women. Among these victims, 34 had been killed far away from the Israeli-imposed "yellow line". Meanwhile, the Palestinian population in Gaza remained trapped in an ever-shrinking area, with the "yellow line" constantly being moved westwards by the Israeli occupying power, presenting a continuous threat to life as the Israeli military appears to routinely fire on Palestinians for mere presence in the vicinity of that line, in violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The violations, the suffering and the misery that continude to be imposed on the Palestinians in Gaza could not be ignored. Third States had to take urgent action to insist on full respect for the ceasefire, to put an end to all violations, and to ensure accountability and justice.

Full briefing note is available here.

Responding to questions, Mr. Al-Kheetan said that human rights of the Palestinians ought to be respected, the Israeli occupation had to end, and a fair, durable two-State solution had to be implemented. The whole of the Gaza Strip was under the Israeli occupation, he said. On a question on Israeli attacks against Lebanon, Mr. Al-Kheetan said that reports arriving from Lebanon on killed civilians, including women and children, were truly disturbing. OHCHR was continuing to demand accountability through appropriate processes so that there would be justice for victims. Attacks had to stop so that internally displaced Lebanese civilians could return to their homes in the south. On the Iranian-American conflict, Mr. Al-Kheetan stated that the renewal of hostilities had a terrible toll on civilians. He again stressed the importance of sparing civilians and civilian targets, and that those responsible had to be kept accountable and brought to justice.

Humanitarian situation in Venezuela

Maria Moita, Director of the Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), had returned from Venezuela the previous week, where she had visited the areas most severely hit by the earthquakes. The month since then had been a month of immense loss and uncertainty, but also of recovery and resilience. Ms. Moita had witnessed communities coming together to help those in need; many families were still living next to their destroyed dwellings. The emotional toll was immense, with many people suffering from traumas. People needed a safe place to live, and shelter remained the utmost priority. Many families continued to move between temporary shelters; understanding the way people were moving was important so that they could be adequately helped. The risk of gender-based violence and human trafficking remained high. IOM managed five temporary shelters and had so far reached over 8,000 people with various types of assistance. The recovery had to happen now; people could not wait for the crisis to end before they would start rebuilding their lives. IOM needed USD 98 million to help 850,000 people. The international community needed to stand with the people of Venezuela in their moment of greatest need, emphasized Ms. Moita.

Answering a question, Ms. Moita said that IOM, along with other humanitarian agencies, had received funding from the United States of America. The airport in Caracas was still not operating, having been damaged in the earthquake. IOM was not involved in the deportation process of Venezuelan nationals from the USA, she explained; that was an agreement between the two countries. On the other hand, IOM was helping with voluntary returns and reintegration of returnees, which was on hold since the earthquakes.

Shipwrecks off the coast of West Africa

Matthew Saltmarsh, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that UNHCR was extremely saddened and concerned at reports that 144 people were either dead or missing as a result of tragic maritime incidents off the coast of Mauritania the previous week. The refugees and migrants were reported dead or missing after attempting the perilous sea journey from West Africa towards Europe, highlighting the continued human cost of these dangerous routes. Overall, three rescue and disembarkation operations had been conducted between 14 and 18 July in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, which had brought 387 people safely ashore.

This was a stark reminder that, despite sustained efforts by coastal authorities and humanitarian partners to save lives, the Atlantic route from West Africa towards the Canary Islands remained one of the world's deadliest mixed movement corridors due to long distances, unpredictable ocean conditions, unseaworthy overcrowded boats and limited access to timely rescue. Overall, arrivals to Europe by sea on the major routes were over 40,000 this year compared to 65,407 in the first half of 2025. Still, UNHCR and partners had repeatedly warned that deaths and disappearances at sea continued at alarming levels, with many incidents occurring far from public attention and often resulting in entire boats vanishing. Against this backdrop, the rescues in Mauritania demonstrated that concerted efforts needed to be made to address the root causes driving refugees and migrants to take these perilous journeys, while providing meaningful and quicker access to legal pathways through higher resettlement quotas, increased labour opportunities and education pathways as alternatives to the dangerous sea crossings, concluded Mr. Saltmarsh.

UNHCR's briefing note can be access here.

Taking questions from the journalists, Mr. Saltmarsh would not comment on the reports of the US deciding to disengage with UNHCR; instead, UNHCR would wait for an official communication from the country. On 28 July, the 75^th anniversary of the Refugee Convention would be marked at the Palais des Nations in Geneva; more details would be shared with the media shortly. On another question, Mr. Saltmarsh confirmed that UNHCR would be moving to Palais Wilson, but the exact date was still unknown. The move to the new premises would help UNHCR save some 50 percent on its rent. The future of UNHCR's current building would be decided by the Swiss authorities, who owned the premises.

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