UN News - Global perspective Human stories

• Groundbreaking report reveals powerful link between poverty and the climate crisis
  Nearly 80 per cent of the world’s poor – 887 million people – live in regions that are exposed to extreme heat, flooding and other climate hazards, highlighting the urgent need for global action to address the issue. 
• UN condemns Madagascar military takeover, urges return to constitutional order
  The UN has condemned Madagascar’s military takeover, calling for the immediate restoration of constitutional order following last week’s ouster of President Andry Rajoelina.
• Funding crisis forces deep cuts to UN peacekeeping missions
  A severe funding shortfall is threatening to cripple UN peacekeeping operations worldwide, with the Organization warning that it will have to scale back patrols, close field offices and repatriate thousands of ‘blue helmets’ due to delayed payments from Member States.
• Gaza: UN pushes to scale up aid delivery
  As a fragile ceasefire holds in the Gaza Strip, UN aid teams are intensifying efforts to deliver urgently needed assistance. 
• UN welcomes Afghanistan-Pakistan ceasefire
  The United Nations called on Thursday for Afghanistan and Pakistan to permanently end recent deadly hostilities and protect civilians. 
• World Food Day LIVE: The task of feeding the world
  Amid the destruction of the Second World War, nations responded to the danger of hunger and malnutrition by creating the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on 16 October 1945. The UN agency celebrates this achievement as World Food Day every year on its birthday, recognizing the work of all those who are committed to ensuring food for everyone. We’ll be bringing you the highlights live from FAO throughout the day. UN News app users can follow coverage here.
• UN rights chief hails Bangladesh prosecutions over enforced disappearances
  Bangladesh has begun legal proceedings against security officials accused of sanctioning enforced disappearances and torture under the previous government – a move UN human rights chief Volker Türk called “an important step towards accountability.”
• Afghan quake aftermath: Children facing heightened risk from disease
  Over 212,000 Afghan children are now at risk of acute watery diarrhoea and other deadly waterborne diseases, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
• UN rights chief underlines need for a permanent ceasefire and accountability in Gaza
  Recovery in Gaza must also include accountability for violations, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Wednesday.
• Guterres highlights ‘maximum impact’ reform agenda
  The Secretary-General on Wednesday outlined a set of proposals to strengthen the UN’s effectiveness and improve coordination across its three core pillars: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.
• Humanitarian funding cuts pushing millions into hunger: WFP
  Nearly 14 million people could face severe hunger by the end of the year, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday, as slashed humanitarian funding threatens six of its most critical operations. 
• Gaza peace plan ‘at precarious moment’ as killings continue on both sides
  The UN relief chief on Wednesday urged Israel and Hamas to honour their agreement to return deceased hostages and allow aid at scale into Gaza, warning that it should not be used as “a bargaining chip” amid reports of new civilian killings and extrajudicial executions.
• Record rise in carbon dioxide levels during 2024: UN weather agency
  Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rose by a record amount in 2024, reaching new highs and locking in further long-term warming and extreme weather, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• Why are over 670 million people going hungry?
  More than eight per cent of the world population or around 673 million people are not getting enough to eat and going hungry, according to the UN.
• Nations confront deep divisions over carbon emission cuts to global shipping
  The UN maritime agency opened a special session in London on Tuesday, where nations are debating – and may adopt – a landmark framework to curb greenhouse gas emissions for global shipping, amid intense debate and open US opposition.
• Israel restricts Gaza aid, saying Hamas must do more to return deceased hostages
  Israel announced late on Tuesday that it will limit the flow of aid to Gaza, accusing Hamas of breaching the ceasefire agreement by returning only four of the bodies of deceased hostages so far.
• Humanitarians call for greater support amid immense needs
  With the end of the year fast approaching, humanitarians are urging donors to step up support for their operations which remain underfunded due to brutal cuts to aid budgets. 
• The ‘clean revolution is unstoppable’ but will it arrive too late?
  A new report released on Tuesday warns the world is falling behind on its clean energy goals, prompting UN chief António Guterres to call once more for a ramped-up transition to a net zero global economy.
• UN envoy warns Libya’s transition at risk amid stalled political roadmap
  The UN’s top envoy for Libya warned on Tuesday that the country’s long-delayed political transition will stay on hold unless rival institutions swiftly resolve differences over election laws and key appointments.
• Ukraine: Top humanitarian strongly condemns Russian attack on UN aid convoy
  Russian drones hit a “clearly marked” UN convoy on Tuesday which was bringing desperately needed aid to a war-torn frontline town in southern Ukraine. 
• WHO calls for greater investment in brain health and care services
  Countries must scale up investment and care to treat neurological disorders, responsible for over 11 million deaths each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. 
• Gaza: $70 billion needed to rebuild shattered enclave, says UN
  Around $70 billion will be needed to reconstruct Gaza and make it safe after two years of war, UN development experts said on Tuesday, while aid agencies reported that far too little aid is getting in to meet the needs of desperate Palestinians.
• Deputy UN chief pays tribute to Beijing’s key role in advancing women’s rights
  UN Deputy-Secretary General Amina Mohammed has acknowledged the Chinese capital’s enduring association with the fight for women’s rights and gender equality, 30 years on from the adoption of the landmark Beijing Declaration, a foundational international treaty.
• UN releases $11 million for Gaza aid as ceasefire, hostage release bring ‘fragile hope’
  The UN is stepping up its emergency response in Gaza, releasing $11 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to meet urgent needs before winter – a move that underscores both the expanding humanitarian effort and the funding shortfall threatening to stall it.
• World News in Brief: Record hunger in Haiti, repeated attacks in Sudan’s El Fasher condemned, Maldives medical milestone
  As the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate in Haiti, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Monday that women, children and displaced families are disproportionately affected as malnutrition and hunger rise.