‘Age of chaos’ engulfing the world must end, says UN chief

NEW YORK. – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that the world has entered an “age of chaos” that is causing a multitude of suffering and thwarting progress – and must be reversed.

“There is so much anger and hate and noise in our world today,” the secretary-general told member states as he laid out his priorities for 2024. “Every day and at every turn, it seems – it’s war.”

He said people just want peace and security and to live their lives with dignity.

“For millions of people caught up in conflict around the world, life is a deadly, daily, hungry hell,” he said.

He mentioned what could happen soon in the Israel-Hamas conflict, “I’m especially alarmed by reports that the Israeli military intends to focus next on Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been squeezed in a desperate search for safety. Such an action would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare with untold regional consequences.”

Guterres also mentioned hotspots in Ukraine, Africa and Asia.

“In Ukraine. I repeat my call for the justice and sustainable peace.”

“The fighting must stop in Sudan before it destroys even more lives and spreads.”

“In Myanmar. We need sustained international and regional attention to help urgently for the best towards the democratic transition and return to civilian rule,” he added.

Guterres ended his speech with a call to all, “if countries fulfil their obligations under the charter, every person has a right to a life of peace and dignity would be guaranteed.”

In Geneva, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday that cutting funds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) would have “catastrophic consequences” for people in wartorn Gaza.

“No other entity has the capacity to deliver the scale and breadth of assistance that 2.2 million people in Gaza urgently need,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference in Geneva.

“Decisions by various countries to pause funds for UNRWA, the largest supplier of humanitarian aid in this crisis, will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza,” Tedros said.

Speaking of the situation in Gaza, he said that the WHO faces significant challenges in supporting health systems and workers there, with over 100 000 people having restricted access to healthcare due to fierce fighting.

Most hospitals in Gaza have already ceased functioning due to heavy bombardments and shortages of fuel and supplies. The Nasser Hospital in central Gaza is only minimally functional, the UN has said.

The risk of famine increases due to persistent hostilities and limited humanitarian access. The WHO urges reconsideration of funding cuts, emphasizing the urgent need for assistance, safe access to humanitarian aid, release of hostages, protection of healthcare facilities, and a ceasefire.

In Ramallah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged Guterres to step up international efforts to stop the ongoing Israeli

“aggression” against the Palestinian people.

Abbas made the remarks during his meeting at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah this week with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Abbas called on Guterres to continue his personal efforts and intensify international efforts “to withdraw Israeli occupation forces from the entire Gaza Strip and not to confiscate any inch of its land,” WAFA reported.

Abbas underlined the need to ensure an increase in humanitarian aid, relief materials, and shelter for the Palestinians. – ChinaDaily.com