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UN peacekeeping can work in a fractured world if there is political will

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Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Assistant Secretary-General Marta Pobee briefed the Council on priorities for adapting UN peace operations to foster political solutions.

They emphasised the urgent need for the Council and the broader UN membership to overcome divisions and strengthen support for peace operations as unique platforms for advancing diplomacy in conflict zones.

“Peacekeeping missions often operate in highly volatile environments, where political processes are stalled, trust among conflict parties is low and humanitarian conditions dire,” Mr. Lacroix said.

“Progress is incremental, fragile and uneven. A breakthrough in one moment may be followed by setbacks the next. Yet, even modest gains can be critical in preventing a relapse into widespread violence and saving lives.”

He pointed to missions that have made measurable contributions to peace processes, such as MINUSCA in the Central African Republic (CAR), which helped broker the 2019 Political Agreement and launched disarmament efforts, or MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which contributed to reduced violence during the 2023 elections.

Security Council unity crucial

Mr. Lacroix stressed that political coherence and unity among Security Council members are essential for missions to realise their potential.

Without “strong, united political support”, he warned, peace operations are limited to managing conflicts and protecting civilians rather than supporting durable peace agreements.

The Council’s role, he added, must extend beyond mandate authorisation to sustained political engagement. He cited the unanimous adoption of resolution 2773 in February 2025 on the DRC as an example of Council unity reinforcing diplomatic efforts on the ground.

UN peacekeeping missions, such as the one in Mali (MINUSMA, 2013-23), have had to adapt to complex challenges, including harsh environment and myriad armed groups.

Field leadership and flexibility

Mr. Lacroix also highlighted the importance of dynamic mission leadership, calling on senior officials to serve as “steadfast ambassadors for peace” who maintain trust with host governments and conflict actors while adapting to shifting political contexts.

He underscored the importance of regional partnerships, particularly with the African Union (AU). Resolution 2719 (2023), which allows assessed contributions for AU-led operations, was described as a “historic milestone” in UN-AU collaboration.

“Leveraging the investments of troop- and police-contributing countries more purposefully is critical,” he added, noting the example of Pakistan’s dual role as a major troop contributor and elected Security Council member.

Lessons from the cold war

Ms. Pobee’s briefing reinforced these themes while offering historical perspective.

She recalled how during the cold war, despite global tensions, UN special political missions facilitated peaceful dispute resolution, such as diplomatic efforts in Equatorial Guinea in 1969, Bahrain in 1970 and the border dispute between Iraq and Iran in 1974.

She identified several key elements behind those successes: clearly focused, timebound mandates; the pro-active use of the Secretary-General’s good offices; discreet diplomacy and crucially, consent from host governments and conflict parties.

This foundation of trust, she noted, is increasingly absent today, representing a “trust deficit” that complicates peace efforts.

UN special political missions in post‑conflict settings, such as the mission in Nepal (UNMIN, 2007-11) help maintain stability, dialogue and support democratic processes.

A unique tool

Both briefers acknowledged the difficult global context, with deepening Security Council divisions, eroding norms and increasingly complex conflicts involving non-State actors, organized crime and climate-driven risks.

Nonetheless, peace operations, with their combination of civilian and uniformed capabilities, remain indispensable for stabilising fragile settings and enabling political dialogue, they maintained. The longstanding mission in Cyprus was cited as an example of how sustained UN presence can prevent escalation, even amid persistent deadlock.

Mr. Lacroix also urged Member States to pay assessed contributions on time, warning that insufficient resources undermine missions’ ability to fulfil their mandates.

Ms. Pobee added that the UN has repeatedly navigated polarised eras before.

“We have been there…but, one clear lesson is that amid acute geopolitical tensions, peace operations have helped Member States mount tailored responses to challenges to international peace and security,” she said.

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‘Still reeling’: Myanmar quakes worsen humanitarian crisis in fractured country

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The 28 March quake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, struck central regions with deadly force, killing some 3,800 people and injuring over 5,000, according to UN estimates.

The disaster devastated infrastructure and homes across Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway, displacing tens of thousands more in a country already grappling with over 3.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) since the 2021 military coup.

“Communities are still reeling from the earthquakes – the strongest the country has experienced in a century,” said Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), speaking to journalists at the UN Headquarters in New York via video from Beijing after a three-day visit to Myanmar.

“The devastation caused by the quakes compounded the existing challenges of conflict, displacement and severe humanitarian needs.”

Needs outpace resources

UNOPS, which maintains the largest UN presence in Myanmar with nearly 500 staff, mobilized $25 million within weeks of the disaster and has reached half a million people with lifesaving support.

“My colleagues worked swiftly with partners to deliver emergency shelters, clean water, and deploy infrastructure specialists for rapid assessments,” Mr. da Silva said.

However, he warned that far greater international support is needed to meet the scale of needs.

The World Bank estimates total damages at nearly $11 billion, with full reconstruction expected to cost two to three times more. Over 2.5 million tonnes of debris must also be cleared to enable recovery.

Mr. da Silva emphasized that reconstruction must be people-centred, inclusive, and linked to peacebuilding efforts.

“We echo calls from across the UN for an end to violence,” he said. “Recovery and reconstruction should support Myanmar’s journey to peace and reconciliation. Protection of civilians must be a priority.”

Women and girls face disproportionate risks

The humanitarian fallout has hit women and girls particularly hard – many of whom were among those killed or injured – and now face growing protection risks.

According to the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, more than 4.6 million women of reproductive age – including over 220,000 currently pregnant – are at heightened risk.

Damage to health facilities, worsened by monsoon flooding and insecurity, has disrupted access to emergency obstetric care and menstrual hygiene. Gender-based violence meanwhile, is rising sharply in overcrowded, poorly lit shelters.

UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva meets with a woman and her newborn child at a health clinic.

Health system under pressure

The risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and vector-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria is also rising.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) while no major outbreaks had been reported as of 31 May, cases of acute watery diarrhoea and skin infections are ticking up.

Monsoon rains have worsened conditions in temporary shelters, where overcrowding and poor sanitation raise serious health concerns. Mental health remains fragile, with 67 per cent of respondents in a recent survey reporting emotional distress linked to the quake and ongoing conflict.

WHO and its partners have delivered more than 300,000 vaccine doses – including tetanus and rabies – but access remains limited, and health services underfunded.

Protracted crisis

More than 3.25 million people remain displaced within Myanmar since the military coup of February 2021, with at least another 176,000 seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, according to refugee agency, UNHCR.

This excludes the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees from earlier waves of violence.

Myanmar also remains one of the world’s deadliest countries for landmines and explosive remnants of war.

In the first nine months of 2024 alone, 889 casualties were reported – raising fears the toll could surpass the record 1,052 deaths and injuries documented in 2023.