UN needed ‘more than ever before’ says Germany’s candidate to head General Assembly

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Annalena Baerbock presented her priorities during an informal dialogue with Member States held on Thursday at Headquarters in New York.

If chosen, she will only be the fifth woman to lead the UN’s main policy-making organ and most representative body, comprising all 193 Member States who elect a new president annually, rotating among regional groups.

“As President, if elected, I will serve all 193 Member States – large and small. As an honest broker. As a unifier. With an open ear. And an open door,” she said.

No time for despair

The UN turns 80 this year and Ms. Baerback noted that the anniversary comes as the Organization faces numerous existential challenges.

Some 120 conflicts are raging worldwide in places such as Gaza and Ukraine, achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is off-track, and the world body itself is under heavy pressure financially and politically.

Her vision is grounded in the theme “Better Together” which she weaved throughout her remarks, arguing this is no time to despair.

“These crises and challenges weigh heavy upon us as the international community. But they also show the United Nations, our United Nations, is needed more than ever before,” she said.

Making the UN ‘fit for purpose’

She added that the UN needs to be “fit for the future” and “fit for purpose” – her first priority.

She pointed to the Pact for the Future, adopted by Member States last year, which laid the groundwork to revitalize multilateralism, turbocharge the SDGs, and adapt the UN system to 21st century challenges.

She said to maximize its impact, implementation must be linked to the UN80 Initiative. Launched in March by Secretary-General António Guterres, the plan calls for major reforms to cut costs and improve efficiency.

Ms. Baerbock said if elected General Assembly President, she would place strong emphasis on ensuring that the perspectives of all regions and groups are heard in the major reform process.

Delivering for the world’s people

Her second priority highlighted the need for a UN that delivers results. “People must feel that our work makes a real difference in their daily lives,” she said.

She stressed the need for close cooperation with the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission in promoting a more peaceful world.

“You cannot sustain lasting peace without ensuring that there is no shortage of food, that people have jobs, that children go to school, that women are safe,” she said.

She also plans to engage with Member States on reforming the financial system, in addition to giving special emphasis to the climate crisis – “one of the greatest threats of our time.”

A truly inclusive UN

Ms. Baerbock’s third priority calls for a UN that is truly inclusive and embraces everyone, which includes engaging with civil society and especially young people.

“The United Nations is there to serve its people. And building a better future is only possible by engaging with the generations to come,” she said.

“Our work does not end in New York, Geneva, Nairobi or Bonn. But we need to bring our discussions and outreach closer to the people.”

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Over 60 per cent of the Arab world still outside the banking system

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Even more impressively, the number of Egyptian women with an account increased by 260 per cent, though gender gaps do remain.

But how you widen financial inclusion overall is a question the Arab region is currently grappling with.

A new report from the UN Economic and Social Commission in Western Asia (UNESCWA) published on Thursday highlights the challenge.

Nearly 64 per cent of adults in the 22 countries in the Arab region are still without an account – or “unbanked” – a higher number than all other regions of the world and significantly higher than the 24 per cent global average.

The report warns that this level of financial exclusion will negatively impact economic opportunities and the region’s ability to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

“The Arab region cannot afford to treat financial services as a luxury. Without inclusive finance, we cannot hope to lift people out of poverty, support small businesses, or achieve equitable growth,” said ESCWA’s Mario Jales, lead author of the report.

‘The digital divide within the divide’

The report finds that women and disabled people have even less access to financial services – only 29 per cent of women and 21 per cent of disabled people in the region have an account.

Similarly, rural communities and younger and older people also experience lower rates of inclusion in the banking system.

The report also highlighted that access to loans for small and medium-sized businesses is worryingly low, reducing entrepreneurial and other income-producing activities.

In addition to gender disparities, there are variations within the Arab region – 81 per cent of people in low-income countries do not have access to an account in comparison to 67 per cent in middle-income countries and 23 per cent in the high-income bracket.

As of 2024, 69 percent of Egyptian women have bank accounts, a large increase from 2016.

Models of success

Given that regional rates of financial inclusion remain so low, how do countries work to improve them?

The basis of Egypt’s success was the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to promote financial inclusion, a strategy which actively worked to target underserved communities, ESCWA points out.

For example, in Egypt, 22 per cent of ATMs in the country have now been equipped with accessibility features including brighter lighting and Braille keyboards.

Other countries in the region have also implemented national strategies which include targeted initiatives.

Jordan, which has the second widest gender gap in the region, implemented a Microfund for Women to provide loans for income-generating activities. There are now 60 branches across the country, serving 133,000 borrowers, 95 per cent of whom are women.

Moreover, some banks in the region have worked to implement financial literacy classes and others have worked to tailor their services to underserved communities including by lowering minimum deposits.

The report concludes that an expansion of all these activities – national policymaking which targets underserved communities and private bank activities which lower barriers to entry and support financial literacy – will be essential in improving financial inclusion.

“The path forward exists, but it requires political will, targeted investment and a whole-of-society approach,” the report concludes.

Libya’s fragile peace tested again as new clashes roil Tripoli

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Clashes broke out earlier in the week across several districts of the Libyan capital, reportedly triggered by the killing of a prominent militia leader.

The fighting, which involved heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, forced hundreds of families to flee and placed severe strain on local hospitals.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to take urgent steps to consolidate the ceasefire announced on Wednesday.

“The rapid nature of the escalation, which drew armed groups from outside the city and subjected heavily populated neighbourhoods to heavy artillery fire, was alarming,” his spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.

“The Secretary-General reminds all parties of their obligation to protect civilians and calls on them to engage in serious dialogue in good faith to address the root causes of the conflict.”

Alarms raised

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) issued successive warnings throughout the week, calling the situation “deeply alarming” and urging an “immediate, unconditional ceasefire.”

“Attacking and damaging civilian infrastructure, physically harming civilians, and jeopardizing the lives and safety of the population may constitute crimes under international law,” the mission said on Wednesday, praising mediation efforts by elders and civil society leaders.

Years of fragmentation

Nearly 15 years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi and the emergence of rival administrations in 2014, the country remains divided, with the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) based in Tripoli in the northwest and the Government of National Stability (GNS) in Benghazi in the east.

Competition over Libya’s vast oil wealth further complicates the situation. Though the country produces more than a million barrels a day, the living conditions of ordinary Libyans have seen little improvement.

Accountability for atrocities

In New York on Thursday the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that its investigation into alleged war crimes in Libya has entered a new phase, following increased cooperation by authorities there.

Briefing the UN Security Council from The Hague, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan described “an unprecedented six months of dynamism,” citing the January arrest of Osama Elmasry Najim, a commander in the now-dissolved Special Deterrence Force (RADA), and his controversial return to Libya.

Mr. Khan briefed Ambassadors via videolink after the United States imposed punitive sanctions on the court including senior personnel, which threaten the prosecutor and others with arrest if they travel to the US. The US made the order in response to the ICC issuing arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and former defence minister, last November.

Mr. Najim was arrested by Italian authorities based on an ICC warrant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to abuses at Metiga Prison.

However, his return was a matter of deep concern, said Mr. Khan.

New ‘rule of law’ promises accountability

“There was real dismay and disappointment among victims that Mr. Njeem was returned to the scene of the alleged crimes,” Mr. Khan said.

Despite that setback, he said that the arrest warrant had sent “shockwaves” through Libyan militias and alleged perpetrators in Libya, signalling a growing awareness that “the rule of law has entered the territory of Libya.”

He confirmed that more arrest warrants are being pursued, and that the ICC has responded to a request for assistance from the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom as part of its own investigation into Mr. Njeem.

“There is a black box of suffering in Libya,” he told ambassadors. “We will manage to break it open.”

The Security Council meeting on the situation in Libya.

Libya grants ICC jurisdiction

In another major development, Libya formally submitted a declaration to the ICC under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, granting the court jurisdiction over crimes committed on Libyan soil from 2011 to 2027.

Mr. Khan described this as a “new chapter” in accountability efforts and confirmed that the investigation phase is expected to conclude by early 2026.

About the ICC

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent judicial body established under the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998 and in force since 2002.

Although not part of the United Nations, the ICC works closely with it under a cooperative framework. The situation in Libya was first referred to the ICC by the UN Security Council in 2011 through resolution 1970.

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A historic course correction: how the world’s shipping sector is setting sail for net zero

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Every day, tens of thousands of massive ships criss-cross the world’s oceans, transporting grain, clothing, electronics, cars, and countless other products. Nearly 90 per cent of global cargo is moved this way. But this vital industry comes with an added cost: international shipping is responsible for three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which are heating the planet.

For years, ship emissions were a complex and often postponed topic in international climate discussions. But that changed in April 2025 when the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN body overseeing global shipping regulations, approved a historic plan to make the industry net-zero by around mid-century.

“This demonstrates that multilateralism and the United Nations are still relevant and important in these particular times,” Arsenio Dominguez, IMO’s Secretary-General, told UN News. He reflected on the tense and often emotional negotiations at the Marine Environment Protection Committee’s 83rd session, calling the approval a commitment by IMO and the shipping sector to combat climate change.

The deal, dubbed the IMO Net-Zero Framework, marked the culmination of years of painstaking talks between member States, including small island nations at risk from rising seas and the world’s largest shipping nations.

“I could spend hours just telling you in detail all those great moments working very closely with the delegates of all the member states at IMO in order to get this agreement,” Mr. Dominguez recalled. “That collaborative approach, to see all the member states gathering and rallying each other to get this deal in place, is something that I will always remember.”

Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

A breakthrough years in the making

The 2025 breakthrough did not happen overnight. The IMO’s work to tackle emissions spans more than a decade. In 2011, it rolled out the first mandatory energy efficiency measures for ships. Then, in 2018, member countries agreed on the Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, marking the first international targets to cut the sector’s climate impact.

Building on that progress, IMO ramped up ambition in 2023 and set clear goals: reduce emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2030 and 70 per cent by 2040, and phase in zero or near-zero emission fuels. The 2025 Net-Zero Framework transforms these plans into binding regulation.

“We’re focusing first on 2030, meeting those goals of reducing emissions by at least 20 per cent, and achieving at least a five per cent uptake of alternative fuels, because it’s going to pave the way for the next set of actions and demonstrate what other mechanisms or measures we need to put in place,” Mr. Dominguez said.

Shipping containers at a port in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.

The machinery of global commerce

What’s at stake is more than just the environment – it’s the very machinery of global commerce. In 2023, maritime trade volumes soared past 12 billion tonnes of cargo, UN data shows. “Even the chair you are sitting on right now was likely transported by ship,” remarked Mr. Dominguez. “Things move around by ship because it’s the most efficient method of mass transportation. But that comes with responsibility and some drawbacks”.

Although the shipping sector has been ‘slow’ to regulate its climate impact, the 2025 framework is changing that with two key measures: a global fuel standard to reduce greenhouse gas intensity and a pricing mechanism for ships exceeding emission thresholds.

Polluters will need to purchase ‘remedial units’ or offset their excess emissions by investing in the IMO Net-Zero Fund. Ships adopting zero or near-zero emissions technologies can earn surplus credits, creating an incentive to clean up. A shipowner exceeding their emissions limit might buy credits from another ship that has outperformed its targets or contribute to the fund.

Revenues from the fund will be used to reward low-emission ships and help developing countries with capacity building, technology transfer, and access to alternative fuels.

Oversight by member States and IMO will ensure accountability for the new measures. “We work with the member States, particularly small island developing states and least developed countries, to enhance the implementation of IMO instruments,” Mr. Dominguez explained.

Certification, verification, audits, and reporting processes will monitor compliance. “Everything gets reported to the Organization, and from there we take additional measures.”

Balancing climate action and trade

The measures will cover large ocean-going ships that exceed 5,000 gross tonnes, which are responsible for about 85 per cent of industry emissions.

When asked about potential impacts on supply chains and consumer prices, particularly for countries heavily reliant on imports, the IMO chief emphasised that they have carried out a comprehensive impact assessment.

“There is a cost to pay when it comes to decarbonizing and protecting the environment. There has also been a cost to polluting the environment. So, all these rules, of course, are going to have an impact. What we looked at is reducing that impact as much as possible. If there is an impact, the financial measures and pricing mechanisms will support the industry’s transition’’.

Innovation will play a major role, and some promising technologies include ammonia and hydrogen fuels, wind propulsion, solar-assisted shipping, and onboard carbon capture. “Our rules are there to foster innovation and not to limit it,” Mr. Dominguez said, explaining that the Organization is carrying out an initial analysis. “We are rediscovering the existence of wind in the shipping industry, if I may say it like that…We have to be open to everything that’s happening out there. There’s a lot of work going on alternative fuels.”

This transition will also require investment in training and safety measures for seafarers as these alternative fuels are adopted, he warned. “We have to pay paramount importance when it comes to the people.”

A seafarer on board a ship at Felixstowe Port in England.

An industry in transition

The framework sets a strict timeline: industry emissions must drop by at least 20 per cent (striving for 30 per cent) by 2030, by at least 70 per cent (striving for 80 per cent) by 2040, and reach net-zero by around 2050. The first compliance year will be 2028.

“The end goal of the main objective of the strategy is to decarbonize to reach net zero by around 2050. But it doesn’t mean that we’re not doing anything between,” Mr. Dominguez stressed. “This is a progressive approach.”

The IMO has also committed to constant review and refinement. “For us, it’s not just about the next step,” Mr. Dominguez said. “It will be a constant process of analysis, review, and engagement to gather the experience and expertise needed to tweak or provide any additional support that may be required’’.

Beyond emissions

While greenhouse gases dominate the headlines, Mr. Dominguez explained that shipping’s environmental footprint extends beyond CO₂. “There’s so much more that this Organization [does],” he said.

IMO measures address issues like biofouling, which is the accumulation of aquatic organisms like algae and barnacles on the hulls of ships, increasing drag and fuel consumption; underwater noise, which can disturb marine life; and ballast water management, which prevents invasive species from being transported across the globe.

“We always take into account that ships touch many parts of the environment, and we need to protect them,” he added.

The road ahead

When UN News asked about the framework’s adoption at IMO’s extraordinary session in October, Mr. Dominguez stated: “Of course, I’m confident because we just demonstrated that multilateralism is still relevant, that IMO is ready to meet its commitments”.

He explained that the next step will be addressing concerns and developing guidelines for implementing the new measures, including the pricing mechanism.

“That is going to help us meet the very ambitious timeframe that member states are committed to, so that as soon as these amendments enter into force in 2027, we can start demonstrating with tangible results what the shipping industry means when it talks about decarbonization.”

For Mr. Dominguez and many observers, the agreement represents a rare victory for multilateralism – and a new beginning for a critical but long-overlooked sector. “It’s not if we get it right. We are getting it right,” he said. “This is a process, a transition. We’re taking the first steps now that will lead us to the main goal.”

8 million teens in world’s wealthiest countries functionally illiterate: UNICEF

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Comparing data from 2018 and 2022, UNICEF found that the pandemic worsened existing trends: children are underperforming in school, more likely to be overweight or obese, and generally less satisfied with their lives.

This data sets a “worrying benchmark for children’s wellbeing,” said Bo Viktur Nylund, Director of UNICEF’s research office, Innocenti.

UNICEF ranked the Netherlands and Denmark, followed by France, as the top three places to be a child.

In contrast, Mexico, Türkiye and Chile were ranked the lowest, based on measures of mental well-being, physical health, and skills.

Academic decline

UNICEF warned that many of the world’s wealthiest countries experienced “sharp” declines in children’s academic skills following the pandemic, notably in reading and maths skills.

As school shutdowns forced remote learning, children are now estimated to be from seven to 12 months behind where they should be in academic terms.

These setbacks were more severe for children from disadvantaged families, the report underscores.

Across 43 countries, an estimated eight million 15-year-olds were assessed as not functionally literate and numerate. That means around half of the age group surveyed could not understand a basic text, raising the alarm over long term development.

Mental health

Raising concerns around mental health, UNICEF pointed out that in 14 of 32 countries with available data, children’s life satisfaction deteriorated during the COVID pandemic, while adolescent suicide rates plateaued – reversing a previous downward trend.

The number of children aged five to 19 who were overweight rose with those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds facing worse outcomes in terms of mental and physical health.

Prioritising children

Mr. Nylund, called on countries going forward to adopt a “coherent” and ”holistic” approach that addresses “every stage” of children’s lives.

Notably, UNICEF recommends countries include children in decision-making, promoting youth voices and agency across the board.

The agency warns that hard-won gains in child well-being across wealthy countries are becoming “increasingly vulnerable” and urges governments to focus interventions on disadvantaged groups to ensure more equitable educational outcomes.

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‘Politically unacceptable, morally repugnant’: UN chief calls for global ban on ‘killer robots’

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

“There is no place for lethal autonomous weapon systems in our world,” Mr. Guterres said on Monday, during an informal UN meeting in New York focused on the use and impact of such weapons.

“Machines that have the power and discretion to take human lives without human control should be prohibited by international law.”

The two-day meeting in New York brought together Member States, academic experts and civil society representatives to examine the humanitarian and human rights risks posed by these systems.

The goal: to lay the groundwork for a legally binding agreement to regulate and ban their use.

Human control is vital

While there is no internationally accepted definition of autonomous weapon systems, they broadly refer to weapons such as advanced drones which select targets and apply force without human instruction.

The Secretary-General said in his message to the meeting that any regulations and prohibitions must make people accountable.

“Human control over the use of force is essential,” Mr. Guterres said. “We cannot delegate life-or-death decisions to machines.”

There are substantial concerns that autonomous weapon systems violate international humanitarian and human rights laws by removing human judgement from warfare.

The UN chief has called for Member States to set clear regulations and prohibitions on such systems by 2026.

Approaching a legally binding agreement

UN Member States have considered regulations for autonomous weapons systems since 2014 under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) which deals with weapons that may violate humanitarian law.

Most recently, the Pact for the Future, adopted in September last year, included a call to avoid the weaponization and misuse of constantly evolving weapons technologies.

Stop Killer Robots – a coalition of approximately 270 civil society organizations – was one of the organizations speaking out during this week’s meeting.

Executive Director Nicole van Rooijen told UN News that consensus was beginning to emerge around a few key issues, something which she said was a “huge improvement.”

Specifically, there is consensus on what is known as a “two-tiered” approach, meaning that there should be both prohibitions on certain types of autonomous weapon systems and regulations on others.

However, there are still other sticking points. For example, it remains unclear what precisely characterizes an autonomous weapon system and what it would look like to legislate “meaningful human control.”

Talks so far have been consultations only and “we are not yet negotiating,” Ms. Rooijen told UN News: “That is a problem.”

‘Time is running out’

The Secretary-General has repeatedly called for a ban on autonomous weapon systems, saying that the fate of humanity cannot be left to a “black box.”

Recently, however, there has been increased urgency around this issue, in part due to the quickly evolving nature of artificial intelligence, algorithms and, therefore, autonomous systems overall.

“The cost of our inaction will be greater the longer we wait,” Ms. Rooijen told us.

Ms. Rooijen also noted that systems are becoming less expensive to develop, something which raises concerns about proliferation among both State and non-state actors.

The Secretary-General, in his comments Monday also underlined the “need for urgency” in establishing regulations around autonomous weapon systems.

“Time is running out to take preventative action,” Mr. Guterres said.

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Funding cuts in Afghanistan mean ‘lives lost and lives less lived’

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Many women came to the clinic who had walked multiple hours to receive maternal care – some of them with their newborns and some heavily pregnant.

And then there were the health workers themselves, committed to serving those in need in hard-to-reach areas of the impoverished Taliban-controlled nation.

‘Off the radar’

These were some of the scenes witnessed up close by Andrew Saberton, Deputy Executive Director with the UN’s reproductive health agency (UNFPA), on a mission to assess the impact of the recent steep funding cuts.

“I saw and understood the devastating impacts that the massive cuts to UNFPA will have in one of the world’s greatest humanitarian crises, a crisis which may be off the radar of the news but remains one of the world’s greatest crises,” Mr. Saberton told journalists in New York on Wednesday.

During his trip, the senior official visited UN-supported services in Kabul, Bamyan and the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He hoped to understand the difference that UNFPA is making in Afghanistan while also getting a better sense of the impact of funding cuts.

Andrew Saberton (second right), UNFPA Deputy Executive Director for Management, visits the obstetric fistula ward in Kabul, Afghanistan, where survivors receive care.

Budget slashed

The United States has recently announced cuts of approximately $330 million to UNFPA worldwide, $102 million of which will directly impact UNFPA’s work in Afghanistan, according to Mr. Saberton.

Most of this funding would have been used towards the provision of family health and mobile care, both of which are essential in Afghanistan which already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.

This funding would also have gone towards the providing much needed psychosocial support.

He estimates that 6.9 million women and children in Afghanistan will be affected by the cuts. Moreover, UNFPA will only be able to support approximately 400 of the current 900 health clinics that it supports in Afghanistan, each of which provides life-saving care.

Providing aid with few resources

Despite these challenges, Saberton emphasized that UNFPA will remain in Afghanistan and will continue providing life-saving care.

“UNFPA will be staying to deliver, but we cannot sustain our response without help. We need urgent support to keep these services running and to protect the dignity, health and lives of Afghan women and newborns,” he said.

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UN aid office denounces attacks on Gaza hospital

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

OCHA reported that hostilities intensified overnight, with an attack by Israeli forces on the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis which killed and injured several people.

A team from the World Health Organization (WHO) was also inside the hospital at the time.

The hospital premises were hit again on Wednesday morning, reportedly leading to additional casualties.

A ‘decimated’ health system

“These attacks not only further degrade Gaza’s already decimated healthcare system, but also further traumatize patients and medical staff at these facilities,” OCHA said.

The UN Office has documented at least 686 attacks impacting healthcare in the Gaza Strip since war erupted in October 2023, following the deadly Hamas-led attacks on Israel.

OCHA said escalating military activities and increasing explosive ordnance contamination are heightening safety risks for civilians, including aid workers, before stressing once again that civilians and healthcare facilities must always be protected.

First responders in northern Gaza reported that at least 80 people had been killed in the past day following Israeli strikes, including around 50 who died when homes were struck in northern Jabalia.

More displacement orders

Meanwhile, Israel has issued two new displacement orders in North Gaza since Tuesday night, following Palestinian rocket fire.

Eight neighbourhoods have been affected and humanitarians have already observed some fleeing in search of relative safety.

More than 436,000 people are estimated to have been displaced to various areas of Gaza since 18 March.

“Whether they leave or stay, civilians must be able to access the essentials for their survival,” OCHA said.

Displaced child in Gaza City

End aid blockade

The agency also continues to call for the immediate lifting of the blockade of Gaza. No cargo, including aid, has entered for more than 70 days.

The humanitarian situation is deteriorating, which has led to dwindling stocks in local markets and rising prices of the few supplies that remain available.

For example, during the first week of May, a single 25-kilogramme bag of wheat flour was being sold in Gaza City for the equivalent of more than $415 – a more than 3,000 per cent increase when compared with the last week of February.

“The blockade is also hampering the provision of hot meals in Gaza, with only about 250,000 individual meals now being provided each day through some 65 community kitchens,” OCHA said.

“This is compared to 25 April – less than three weeks ago – when 180 community kitchens were producing nearly 1.1 million meals on a daily basis.” 

Humanitarian partners have more than 171,000 metric tonnes of food in the region, ready for whenever the blockade is lifted.

This is enough to sustain Gaza’s entire population, roughly 2.1 million people, for up to four months. 

In Berlin, broad backing for UN peacekeeping as global threats mount

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

UN Secretary-General António Guterres meanwhile warned that peace operations are under growing strain and must adapt to meet today’s rising threats.

The two-day conference on peacekeeping, hosted by the Government of Germany, brought together over 1,000 participants – including defence and foreign ministers – to reaffirm commitment to the UN’s flagship tool for maintaining peace and stability.

It concluded on Wednesday with a wide array of pledges, including 88 military and police units, specialized training, and investments in emerging technologies and strategic communications.

Difference between life and death

“In trouble spots around the world, ‘blue helmets’ can mean the difference between life and death,” Mr. Guterres said in his opening remarks.

“Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations. And the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges.”

Germany, which currently contributes troops to UN missions in South Sudan, Lebanon, and Western Sahara, announced €82 million (around $91.7 million) in funding, along with commitments in training, renewable energy solutions and drone technology.

“Germany continues to be a steadfast supporter of UN peacekeeping,” said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Broad and diverse commitments

A total of 74 UN Member States made specific pledges, ranging from uniformed personnel to training and strategic support.

This includes pledges which will bolster military and police units, including airlift and rapid deployment capabilities (53 national contributions), specialized training (59), technological enhancements (18), advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (38) and safety and protection (16).

Eleven countries also committed to improving accountability and conduct, including support to the trust fund for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, and eight nations supporting the UN’s efforts to counter mis- and disinformation through strategic communications.

Deminers with the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA, clearing an airstrip in Kidal region. (file photo)

Mounting pressures

At a press conference following the meeting, Secretary-General Guterres acknowledged that peacekeepers operate in an increasingly complex and dangerous environment, citing a record number of global conflicts, the targeting of peacekeepers by drones and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the rising threat from disinformation campaigns.

“We need to ask some tough questions about the mandates guiding these operations, and what the outcomes and solutions should look like,” he said, speaking alongside German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Defence Minister Pistorius.

“Every context is different, and missions must be adapted accordingly.”

The UN chief also stressed the importance of sustained financial backing, highlighting that many missions continue to struggle with cash flow shortages due to delayed payments from Member States.

“It is absolutely essential that all Member States respect their financial obligations, paying their contributions in full and on time,” he said.

Crucial reforms

The Berlin meeting feeds into the UN’s broader reform efforts, including an ongoing Review of Peace Operations announced in last year’s Pact for the Future, aimed at making peacekeeping and peace enforcement more flexible, cost-effective, and aligned with real-world needs.

This year’s Ministerial also coincides with the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 10-year anniversary of the 2015 New York Summit on Peacekeeping. It follows similar high-level meetings in Accra, Seoul, Vancouver and London.

Peacekeeping remains one of the UN’s most visible activities, with over 61,000 uniformed personnel from 119 countries currently deployed across 11 missions, supported by more than 7,000 civilian staff.

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US-Houthi ceasefire ‘a welcome opportunity’ to advance peace efforts in Yemen

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Ambassadors were briefed by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, who commended Oman for its efforts to achieve the agreement which came into effect on 6 May.

He said the cessation of hostilities represented an important and necessary de-escalation in the Red Sea following the resumption of deadly US airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.

Resolve the conflict

However, recent events show that the country is still ensnared in wider regional tensions, he said, pointing to Houthi attacks on Ben Gurion Airport in Israel and Israel’s subsequent strikes on Hudaydah Port, Sana’a Airport, and other locations.

“Nevertheless, the announcement of 6 May provides a welcome opportunity on which we must collectively build to refocus on resolving Yemen’s conflict and advancing a Yemeni-owned peace process,” he said.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, and Yemeni Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, have been battling for control of the country for more than a decade.

‘Yemenis want to move forward’

“The challenges facing Yemen are immense: from the deep and significant levels of mistrust between the parties, with some still reportedly preparing for war, to near economic collapse,” Mr. Grundberg told the Council

He said the UN will continue to work to bring the sides to the table to identify and agree on solutions that are acceptable to all.

“Yemenis want to move forward – the status quo is untenable,” he insisted. “And while the frontlines may currently appear relatively stable, what Yemen has now is not peace.”

He stressed the need for continued engagement by the international community to help the Yemeni people realize their desire to build a stable, prosperous and safe country.

Release detained staff

Mr. Grundberg used the briefing to again highlight the plight of personnel from the UN, international and national NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions, who continue to be arbitrarily detained by the Houthis.

“Not only is their detention in violation of international law, but it has also caused a significant chilling effect throughout the international community, which only has one outcome: undermining support to Yemen, which will sadly impact the Yemenis most in need,” he said.

He welcomed the recent release of staff members from the Dutch Embassy and international organization, saying “this demonstrates what is possible, but these releases are woefully insufficient.”

Message to the people

The Special Envoy concluded his remarks by stating that Yemenis have endured over 10 years of instability, uncertainty and economic collapse.

Speaking directly to the population, he reiterated that “I see you. I hear you. You have not been forgotten – and I won’t relent in my efforts to pursue peace and stability in Yemen.”

He urged the warring parties “to be courageous and choose dialogue,” emphasizing that “the United Nations will not waiver in its commitment to support you in finding a negotiated settlement to this conflict.”

A mother holds her 10-month-old girl who is suffering from stunting and malnutrition in Abyan, Yemen.

Humanitarians ‘running out of time’: Fletcher

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, who also briefed the Council, shared the Special Envoy’s relief at the cessation of hostilities in Yemen.

He stressed, however, that “Yemen is not out of the woods” as the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, with children most affected. 

“Half of Yemen’s children – or 2.3 million – are malnourished. 600,000 of them severely so,” he said.

Childhood killers on the rise

Moreover, “malnutrition is not just about hunger,” he added, as it attacks immunity, leaving children vulnerable to deadly infections like pneumonia and diarrhoea – both leading causes of child mortality in Yemen. 

The country also has one of the worst immunisation rates in the world as only 69 per cent of children under a year old are fully immunized and 20 per cent have received no vaccinations at all.

As a result, diseases such as cholera and measles are rising. In 2024, Yemen accounted for over a third of global cholera cases and 18 per cent of related deaths, in addition to having one of the highest measles burdens globally.

“Children are not alone in being disproportionately impacted,” said Mr. Fletcher, as malnutrition also affects 1.4 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in Yemen, placing mothers and newborns at grave risk. 

Overall, some 9.6 million women and girls are in severe need of life-saving humanitarian support, he said.

Appeal to the Council

He warned, however, that humanitarians “are running out of time and resources” as their 2025 response plan for Yemen is barely nine per cent funded.

“These shortfalls have very real consequences,” he said. “Nearly 400 health facilities – including 64 hospitals – will stop operating, impacting nearly seven million people.” 

Meanwhile, funding for 700 midwives is quickly running out and 20 therapeutic feeding centres and more than 2,000 therapeutic feeding programmes have already been forced to close down. 

Mr. Fletcher made three requests to the Council, calling first for action to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, including protection of civilians as well as access to all those in need.

He urged ambassadors to also provide scaled-up, flexible funding to sustain critical aid operations.

“Third, and as the Special Envoy has underlined, back efforts towards lasting peace,” he concluded.

‘Stop the 21st century atrocity’ in Gaza, Fletcher urges UN Security Council

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Mr. Fletcher began his remarks by asking the international community to reflect on what it will tell future generations about action taken “to stop the 21st century atrocity to which we bear daily witness in Gaza.”

He wondered, for example, if “we will use those empty words: ‘We did all we could,’” and urged the Council to act decisively to prevent genocide from happening.

Shrinking spaces, overwhelmed hospitals

In addition to the aid blockade, civilians in Gaza have again been forcibly displaced and confined into ever-shrinking spaces, he said, as 70 per cent of the territory is either within Israeli-militarized zones or under displacement orders.

Furthermore, the few remaining hospitals are overwhelmed, and medics cannot stem the trauma and the spread of disease.

“I can tell you from having visited what’s left of Gaza’s medical system that death on this scale has a sound and a smell that does not leave you,” he said.

“As one hospital worker described it, ‘children scream as we peel burnt fabric from their skin.’”

We can save lives

Mr. Fletcher stressed that the UN and partners are desperate to resume humanitarian aid across Gaza, and the recent ceasefire showed that they can deliver. Meanwhile, lifesaving supplies are waiting to enter the enclave.

“We can save hundreds of thousands of survivors. We have rigorous mechanisms to ensure our aid gets to civilians, and not to Hamas,” he insisted.

“But Israel denies us access, placing the objective of depopulating Gaza before the lives of civilians,” he said.

“It is bad enough that the blockade continues. How do you react when Israeli Ministers boast about it? Or when attacks on humanitarian workers and violations of the UN’s privileges and immunities continue, along with restrictions on international and non-governmental organizations.”

Reject ‘cynical’ US-Israeli aid alternative

Mr. Fletcher recalled that Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law, and as the occupying power must agree to aid and facilitate it.

“For anyone still pretending to be in any doubt, the Israeli-designed distribution modality is not the answer,” he stated, noting that among other things, the plan “makes starvation a bargaining chip.”

“It is cynical sideshow. A deliberate distraction. A fig leaf for further violence and displacement,” he told ambassadors. “If any of that still matters, have no part in it.”

He also addressed the increasing violence in the West Bank, where the situation is the worst in decades, with entire communities destroyed and refugee camps depopulated.

Insist on accountability

Mr. Fletcher noted that international humanitarian workers have been the only international civilian presence in Gaza over the past 19 months, and they have briefed the Council on what they witness daily.

“We have described the deliberate obstruction of aid operations and the systematic dismantling of Palestinian life, and that which sustains it, in Gaza,” he said.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is now considering whether a genocide is taking place there and “will weigh the testimony we have shared. But it will be too late,” he warned.

He said the ICJ has recognized the urgency and indicated clear provisional measures that should have been acted on – but Israel has failed to do so.

Moreover, previous reviews of the UN’s conduct in cases of large-scale violations of international human rights and humanitarian law have pointed to the collective failure to speak to the scale of violations while they were being committed.

“For those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need now?” he asked. “Will you act – decisively – to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law? Or will you say instead, ‘we did all we could?’”.

He told the Council that the degradation of international law is corrosive and infectious, and it is undermining decades of progress on civilian protection.

“Humanity, the law, and reason must prevail,” he said. “This Council must prevail. Demand this ends. Stop arming it. Insist on accountability.”

Fear future judgement

Mr. Fletcher called for Israel to stop killing and injuring civilians, and to lift the brutal blockade so that humanitarians can save lives.

He urged Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups to release all hostages immediately and unconditionally, and to stop putting civilians at risk during military operations.

“And for those who will not survive what we fear is coming – in plain sight – it will be no consolation to know that future generations will hold us in this chamber to account. But they will,” he said.

“And, if we have not seriously done “all we could’, we should fear that judgement.”

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US deportations raise serious human rights concerns

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

His Office, OHCHR, has received information that over 100 Venezuelan deportees are being detained at a notorious prison in El Salvador.

OHCHR said 142,000 people were deported from the US between 20 January and 29 April, according to official data.

Harsh treatment in detention

In particular, the fate and whereabouts of at least 245 Venezuelans and some 30 Salvadorans sent to El Salvador remain unclear.

Many were deported under the US Alien Enemies Act as alleged members of criminal groups and have reportedly been detained at the Centre for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT) in the Central American country.

Detainees at the maximum-security prison are treated particularly harshly, without access to legal counsel or family members and have no contact with the outside world.

Serious rights concerns

OHCHR has received information from family members and lawyers regarding more than 100 Venezuelans believed to be held in CECOT.

The reports indicate that many were not informed of the US Government’s intention to deport them to be detained in a third country.

Furthermore, many had no access to a lawyer and were unable to challenge the lawfulness of their removal before being flown out.

“This situation raises serious concerns regarding a wide array of rights that are fundamental to both US and international law,” Mr. Türk said.

They include the rights to due process, protection from arbitrary detention, equality before the law, and protection from exposure to torture or other irreparable harm in other States.

Families feel powerless

Neither the US or Salvadoran authorities have published official lists of the detainees, and their legal status in El Salvador remains unclear.

Many family members interviewed by OHCHR voiced deep distress at not knowing where, and in what circumstances, their loved ones are being held. Some only became aware when they recognized their relatives from videos on social media of them in or being taken to CECOT.

“Families we have spoken to have expressed a sense of complete powerlessness in the face of what has happened and their pain at seeing their relatives labelled and handled as violent criminals, even terrorists, without any court judgment as to validity of what is claimed against them,” said Mr. Türk.

“The manner in which some of the individuals were detained and deported – including the use of shackles on them – as well as the demeaning rhetoric used against migrants, has also been profoundly disturbing,” he added.

The High Commissioner welcomed the essential role that the US judiciary, legal community and civil society are playing to ensure the protection of human rights in this situation.

“I have called on the US Government to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with due process, to give prompt and full effect to the determinations of its courts, to safeguard the rights of children, and to stop the removal of any individual to any country where there is a real risk of torture or other irreparable harm,” he said.

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Number of internally displaced breaks new record with no let-up in conflicts, disasters

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

“These figures are a clear warning: without bold and coordinated action, the number of people displaced within their own countries will continue to grow rapidly,” said Amy Pope, Director General of International Organization for Migration.

The recent rise in conflicts worldwide – particularly in Sudan, the Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Ukraine and Palestine has pushed millions more into displacement, adding to the tens of millions who already live in protracted displacement in countries such as Afghanistan, Colombia, Syria and Yemen.

Disasters surging

The number of displaced due to disasters has risen massively, climbing from last year’s 26.8 million to 45.8 million. “The number of disaster displacements in 2024 was nearly double the annual average of the past decade,” IOM said in a new report issued by the internal displacement monitoring centre (IDMC).

Almost 30 countries and territories have reported unprecedented disaster displacement – with cyclones accounting for more than one in two people forced from their homes. The United States alone makes up about one in four of those displaced globally by disasters.

With the frequency, intensity and duration of weather hazards continuously worsening owing to climate change, there is little to suggest that the trend will not continue.

“This report is a call for preventive action, to use data and other tools to anticipate displacement before it happens and for the humanitarian and development sectors to work together with governments to develop longer-term solutions to prevent displacement,” Ms. Pope stressed.

Conflict and violence

Displacement caused by conflict and violence remains high and continues to be a major cause for displacement, too – although it did decrease slightly in 2024, compared to the previous 12 months.

Over 20 million conflict-related displacements have been recorded and almost half of these stem from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“These latest numbers prove that internal displacement is not just a humanitarian crisis; it’s a clear development and political challenge that requires far more attention than it currently receives,” said Alexandra Bilak, director of IOM’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.

“The cost of inaction is rising, and displaced people are paying the price,” she added.

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As funding cuts bite, UN chief announces new dawn for peacekeeping

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Addressing the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 in the German capital, the Secretary-General told dozens of ministers from more than 130 countries that peacekeepers remain key to “help countries move from conflict to peace.”

“In trouble spots around the world, blue helmets can mean the difference between life and death,” he insisted. “They are also a clear demonstration of the power of multilateral action to maintain, achieve and sustain peace.”

Despite the proven value of peacekeeping missions in ensuring a durable peace in countless countries from Cambodia to Liberia and Timor Leste, Mr. Guterres warned that today’s challenges have made this task much harder.

“We are now facing the highest number of conflicts since the founding of the United Nations and record numbers of people fleeing across borders in search of safety and refuge,” he said, before alluding to additional obstacles caused by an absence of political support for peacekeeping mandates.

The UN’s peacekeeping budget runs on a July-June cycle and has unpaid arrears of $2.7 billion.

Practical approach

To counter this and in the face of “dramatic financial constraints” now affecting the UN in its entirety, the Secretary-General announced an urgent review of operations to inspire a new peacekeeping model that is “fit for the future.”

In coming years, “a clear exit strategy” for peacekeepers will be key, Mr. Guterres said, as well as working with Member States and the Security Council “to ensure that any new mandates “are prioritized and achievable with the resources available.”

Other clues about what UN peacekeeping 2.0 could look like post-reform might be gleaned from the missions that the UN chief referred to in his speech in Germany.

Active missions such as UNIFIL in Lebanon have already shown that it is possible to adapt to today’s challenges while still ensuring peace and aid deliveries, Mr. Guterres noted.

And in a nod to MINUSCA in the Central African Republic, the Secretary-General highlighted its work in protecting civilians “and assisting the government to extend its reach beyond the capital where people are in desperate need.”

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, too and despite ongoing fighting there, peacekeepers from MONUSCO also remain in the field and protect vulnerable populations, the UN chief maintained.

As Member States prepared to announce financial pledges for peacekeeping on Wednesday, Mr. Guterres stressed that the overall budget for missions represented only 0.5 per cent of global military spending.

Peacekeeping “is only as strong as Member States’ commitment to it,” stressed Mr. Guterres.

Amid massive cuts to UN funding by Member States, it remains to be seen if the upbeat mood in Berlin translates into desperately needed financial support for the global body’s peacekeeping operations.

“UN peacekeeping today is more vibrant than ever,” insisted Boris Pistorius, Minister of Defence of Germany. “It is and will remain a cornerstone of international stability. Let us commit to making it even more effective for the sake of those who depend on it.”

Cutbacks

The UN chief’s push to streamline the global body comes a day after his call to push ahead with major efficiency improvements and cost-cutting in response to the chronic liquidity crisis caused by Member States falling into arrears.

Important as these sweeping structural reforms are – with potential staff downsizing of up to 20 per cent – they are not the answer to the failure of some countries to pay the Organization to fulfil the mandates they have given it, Mr. Guterres insisted.

According to information provided by the UN Controller to the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), only $1.8 billion has been received against the $3.5 billion regular budget assessments for 2025 – a shortfall of around 50 per cent.

In the budget line for unpaid assessments these amounted to $2.4 billion on 30 April, with the United States owing about $1.5 billion, China $597 million, Russia $72 million, Saudi Arabia $42 million, Mexico $38 million and Venezuela $38 million. An additional $137 million has yet to be paid by other Member States.

For International Tribunals, total contributions outstanding totalled $79 million on 30 April.

At the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, Secretary General António Guterres underscored the vital role of UN peacekeeping and urged Member States to help shape peace operations fit for the future.

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GAZA LIVE: Security Council to meet on aid crisis amid ‘critical risk of famine’ due to Israeli blockade

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

The Security Council is set to meet this afternoon at 3 PM in New York to discuss the deepening crisis in Gaza, where humanitarians warn of “a critical risk of famine” and aid shipments have been blocked for over 70 days. UN relief chief Tom Fletcher is expected to brief ambassadors. Follow live for key updates from UN Headquarters and reports from the region. App users can follow coverage here.

UN aviation council finds Russia responsible for downing of Malaysian Airlines flight

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

The council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) voted on Monday that Russia failed to uphold its obligations under international air law which requires that States “refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight.”

The case was brought by the Netherlands and Australia.

“This represents the first time in ICAO’s history that its Council has made a determination on the merits of a dispute between Member States under the Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism,” the UN agency said.

Caught in conflict

Flight MH17 was heading from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine amid the armed conflict between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian military forces.

All 283 passengers and 15 crew members were killed. They represented some 17 nationalities and included 196 Dutch citizens, 43 Malaysians and 38 Australian citizens or residents.

The Netherlands established a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in August 2014 together with Australia, Malaysia and Belgium, as well as Ukraine.

The JIT determined that flight MH17 was shot down by a missile launched from a Buk TELAR installation that was transported from Russia to a farm field in eastern Ukraine in an area controlled by separatists.

In November 2022, a Dutch court convicted three men – two Russians and a Ukrainian – for murder. They were tried in absentia and sentenced to life in prison. Another Russian man was acquitted.

Breach of civilian aviation treaty

That same year, the Netherlands and Australia launched the case with ICAO, the UN agency that develops and implements global aviation strategies and technical standards.

The case centered on allegations that Russia’s conduct in the downing of the aircraft by a surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine constituted a breach of Article 3 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

War in Ukraine has escalated since the crash following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.

More than 13,000 civilians have been killed to date, and over 31,000 injured, according to the UN human rights office, OHCHR.

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World News in Brief: Sudan aid update, child migrant deaths at sea, nursing shortages, invasive pest scourge

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Port Sudan – the main entry point for humanitarian supplies and personnel into the country – came under attack for the ninth consecutive day. As the UN’s main humanitarian hub in Sudan, drone strikes on the coastal city have gravely impacted aid delivery.

Nonetheless, UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flights were able to resume on 8 May, providing a continuation of a key humanitarian lifeline as the war between rival militaries for control of Sudan continues, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed.

Targeting of civilian infrastructure has sparked panic and displacement. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported last week that 600 people were displaced within Port Sudan alone because of the attacks.

Catastrophic situation in North Darfur

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, warned on Sunday that the situation in the North Darfur camps of Abou Shouk “is catastrophic.”

Although the UN and its partners continue to scale up their humanitarian response, both camps remain, in effect, cut off from aid.

Ms Nkweta-Salami issued an urgent call for a ceasefire and humanitarian pauses to allow life-saving deliveries to resume.

Call for action after deaths of migrant children at sea

Two young children, aged 3 and 4, have died from dehydration aboard a rubber dinghy found adrift in the central Mediterranean, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday.

The vessel, which departed Libya carrying 62 migrants including several children, had reportedly been stranded for days after its engine failed.

Refugees and migrants in a wooden boat are rescued near the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean Sea.

According to survivors, the children had died nearly a day before rescuers arrived.

One additional passenger is believed to have drowned earlier in the journey. Many others onboard suffered severe chemical burns caused by contact with a mixture of seawater and spilled fuel – injuries which require urgent medical attention.

All surviving passengers were eventually rescued and transferred to Lampedusa by the Italian coast guard.

‘Devastating reminder’

Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, called the incident “another devastating reminder” of the deadly risks migrants face.

She stressed the need for coordinated search and rescue missions, and greater investment in support services for migrant families.

“The central Mediterranean remains one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world,” Ms. De Dominicis said. “Without immediate action, more lives will continue to be lost.”

UNICEF continues to call on governments to meet their obligations under international law and protect vulnerable children seeking safety.

Nursing workforce grows, but deep inequalities persist worldwide

The number of nurses around the world has increased in recent years, but a new UN report published on Monday shows that many countries and regions still face serious shortages, highlighting ongoing inequalities in access to nursing care.

Low-income countries are particularly affected, struggling with too few nurses to meet the needs of their growing populations, said the UN World Health Organization (WHO) which crunched the data.

Poor prospects at home

While these countries are training new nurses at a faster rate than wealthier nations, challenges such as rapid population growth and limited job opportunities are making it hard to close the gap, WHO added.

These imbalances in where nurses are working mean that millions still don’t have access to basic health services.

This is holding back efforts to achieve universal health coverage, protect global health, and meet international development goals linked to health.

“We cannot ignore the inequalities that mark the global nursing landscape,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

WHO is urging governments to create more nursing jobs and ensure they are fairly distributed, especially in communities where healthcare services are lacking.

Plant pests continue to threaten global food supplies

Protecting crops from pests is key to ensuring everyone has enough to eat, said the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday, who stressed that access to food is a basic human right.

Each year, around 40 per cent of the world’s crops are lost to plant pests and diseases, causing over $220 billion in economic damage.

Invasive pests turn up the heat

Migratory pests like locusts and armyworms are among the biggest threats, especially in regions already hit hard by conflict and climate change.

Countries in the Near East and North Africa – including Algeria, Libya and Tunisia – are currently dealing with a serious outbreak of desert locusts that began in the Sahel.

These insects destroy crops and pastureland, putting food supplies for both people and animals at risk, and threatening the survival of farming communities.

“No country can face these challenges alone,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, at a high-level conference in Italy marking the International Day of Plant Health.

He called for greater international cooperation and more funding to tackle cross-border pests and diseases.

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UN chief calls for major reforms to cut costs and improve efficiency

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Briefing Member States in New York on Monday Mr. Guterres outlined wide-ranging effort to revamp how the UN system operates – cutting costs, streamlining operations, and modernizing its approach to peace and security, development and human rights.

“These are times of peril,” he said, “but they are also times of profound opportunity and obligation. The mission of the United Nations is more urgent than ever.”

Three main objectives

Launched in March, the UN80 Initiative centres on three priorities: enhancing operational efficiency, assessing how mandates – or key tasks – from Member States are implemented, and exploring structural reforms across the UN system.

The conclusions will be reflected in revised estimates for the 2026 budget in September this year, with additional changes that require more detailed analysis presented in 2027.

‘Meaningful’ budget reductions

Mr. Guterres said the changes are expected to yield “meaningful reductions” in the overall budget. For example, the departments for political and peacekeeping affairs could see a 20 per cent reduction in staff by eliminating duplication.

This level of reduction, he said, could serve as a benchmark across the UN system – while also considering unique factors for each department.

Additional examples include consolidating all counter-terrorism work within the main Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), ending building leases and relocating posts away from expensive “duty stations” where cost of living is high.

“There might be immediate, one-off costs involved in relocating staff and providing potential termination packages,” he said, “but by moving posts from high-cost locations, we can reduce our commercial footprint in those cities and reduce our post and non-post costs.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres briefs on the UN80 Initiative.

Efficiencies and upgrades

The first workstream focuses on efficiencies and improvements, developing a new model that improves consolidation, looks at centralising services, relocating to cheaper locations, and expanding the use of automation and digital platforms.

Mr. Guterres said departments the UN’s headquarters in New York and Geneva have been asked to review whether some teams can be relocated to lower-cost duty stations, reduced or abolished.

Reviewing mandates

The second workstream involves a review of how existing mandates are being carried out – not the mandates themselves, which are the purview of Member States only.

A preliminary review identified more than 3,600 unique mandates for the Secretariat alone. A full and more detailed analysis is now underway.

Mr. Guterres emphasised that the sheer number of mandates – and the bureaucracy needed to implement them – places a particular burden on smaller Member States with limited resources.

“Based on this work, Member States may wish to consider the opportunity to conduct themselves a review of the mandates,” he added.

Structural change

The third workstream – focused on structural reform – is already underway, Mr. Guterres said.

Nearly 50 initial submissions have already been received from senior UN officials, reflecting what Mr. Guterres described as “a high level of ambition and creativity.”

Key work areas have been identified for review. These include peace and security, development, human rights, humanitarian, training and research and specialised agencies.

A wide view of the informal meeting of the General Assembly plenary that heard a briefing by the Secretary-General on the UN80 Initiative.

Not an answer to liquidity crisis

Mr. Guterres also touched on the UN dire cashflow situation, noting that the initiative “is not an answer” to the months-long liquidity crisis but by being more cost effective, it should help limit the impact.

“The liquidity crisis is caused by one simple fact – the arrears,” he said, adding that structural reform is not the answer to a fundamental failure by some Member States to pay what they owe on time to meet running costs.

Unpaid dues

As of 30 April, unpaid assessments stood at $2.4 billion, with the United States owing about $1.5 billion, China ($597 million), Russia ($72 million), Saudi Arabia ($42 million), Mexico ($38 million), and Venezuela ($38 million). An additional $137 million is yet to be paid by other Member States.

For the peacekeeping budget (which runs on a July-June cycle), including prior-period arrears, the unpaid amount totals $2.7 billion. For the International Tribunals, total contribution outstanding was $79 million as of 30 April.

Close consultation

The Secretary-General told Member States he would be consulting with them closely and regularly on the cash crisis and needed reforms, seeking guidance and presenting concrete proposals for countries to act on.

UN staff members and their representatives are being consulted and listened to, he added: “Our concern is to be humane and professional in dealing with any aspect of the required restructuring.”

In conclusion, he highlighted that the UN80 Initiative is a “significant opportunity” to strengthen the UN system and deliver for those who depend on it.

In response to the suggestion that the UN should focus on just the one key pillar of peace and security, he said it would be wrong to ditch development and human rights – all three are essential he underscored.

“Let us seize this momentum with urgency and determination, and work together to build the strongest and most effective United Nations for today and tomorrow.”

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Gaza: Guterres hails hostage release, renews ceasefire call

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old American-Israeli national and soldier with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), had been held by Hamas since the brutal 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel in which roughly 1,200 people were killed and another 250 taken hostage.

He is believed to be the last living American held by militants in Gaza, according to media reports.

Free all remaining hostages

The Secretary-General “is profoundly relieved that Mr. Alexander has been freed and is now returning to his family and loved ones after this harrowing ordeal,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in a statement.

The UN chief renewed his urgent call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages, he added, stressing that hostages must be treated humanely and with dignity.

“He calls on all parties to immediately ensure rapid, unhindered, and safe humanitarian relief, including the delivery of critical services, for all civilians in need. Aid is not negotiable,” Mr. Dujarric said.

End the hostilities

The Secretary-General also commended the sustained mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to bring an end to the fighting. 

He urged “all parties to build on today’s release to reach a comprehensive agreement that will ensure the release of all hostages, an end to the hostilities, the provision of humanitarian aid and the long-overdue alleviation of the human suffering in Gaza,” the statement concluded.

Food security experts warned on Monday that Gaza’s entire population, more than two million people, remains “at critical risk of famine” due to the war and Israel’s blockade on aid entry, effective since 2 March.

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UN migration agency helping migrants in the US return home voluntarily

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

In a statement on Monday, the UN agency said it is supporting Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) – not deportation – for those who decide to leave the US.

At the request of the US Government, IOM is helping people who register to go back to their countries of origin voluntarily.

“AVR is a well-established, rights-based approach that helps migrants navigate complex global migration systems, regain control over their lives, and make informed choices,” the agency said.

Safe, dignified returns

“Our role is to ensure that those who lack the means to return on their own can do so in a safe, dignified, and informed way,” IOM added.

The agency made it clear that the US determines its own policies on migration. “IOM does not facilitate or implement deportations. Our involvement begins only after an individual gives informed consent to receive assistance.”

In these instances, “IOM ensures that people have access to accurate information and essential services, in line with international standards.”

The announcement comes as the US seeks to expand deportation of undocumented migrants in continuation of a policy President Donald Trump began nearly 10 years ago under his first administration.

He returned to office in January for a second term and has been cracking down on illegal immigration through raids, detentions and deportations.

In a video posted to social media on Friday, President Trump said that he had signed an Executive Order “to launch the first-ever self-deportation programme for illegal aliens,” offering free flights from the US and payment of an “exit bonus.”

Support for a life-changing decision

IOM was established in 1951 and promotes humane and orderly migration.

For decades the agency has supported AVR programmes in more than 100 countries, “helping people without resources, legal options, or support return to their countries of origin safely and with dignity,” it said.

IOM noted that in the US, “many migrants face a challenging reality – navigating complex systems with limited options and resources,” and “this initiative provides support to those who choose to return, helping them make a life-changing decision with care and clarity.”

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