Secretary General

• Cuba is experiencing a severe power crisis that is disrupting basic services following the imposition of sanctions. • National electricity generation in August met less than one third of the country's total demand. • The UN and its partners are coordinating with Cuban authorities to provide aid to citizens with the most severe needs.

• The United Nations trained nearly 200 community health officers in Rwanda to prepare the government for a potential Ebola outbreak. • Training focused on early detection, risk communication, and infection and prevention and control. • These measures aim to protect Rwanda because its proximity to heavily impacted areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo puts the country at high risk.

Paul Nowak says changes to immigration rules risk overstretching social care and fuelling far-right sentimentAndy Burnham must overhaul Shabana Mahmood’s migration reforms or risk overstretching social care and fuelling far-right sentiment, the TUC general secretary, Paul Nowak, has warned.Speaking ahead of the TUC’s annual congress in Brighton next week, Nowak welcomed the “sense of optimism” around Burnham’s fledgling government, but he urged the PM to act in a series of areas, including migration and the cost of living. Continue reading...

• The UN stabilization mission in the Central African Republic reported a gradual return to normal life in Am-Dafock following an attack by armed groups. • The violence killed 29 people and displaced more than 17,000 residents near the border with Sudan. • The recovery of the region marks a shift toward stability for thousands of displaced civilians returning to their homes.

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a report confirming that the El Niño phenomenon is now firmly established. • The WMO warns that the event will intensify into a "very strong" phase over the coming months. • This shift is expected to significantly disrupt global rainfall and temperature patterns, increasing the risks of extreme heat, floods, and droughts.

• Recent attacks across Ukraine, specifically targeting Kyiv and Odesa, have resulted in significant civilian casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure. • Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale highlighted a concerning pattern of strikes on energy grids, railway systems, warehouses, and shopping malls. • The UN emphasizes that these attacks on civilian targets must not be normalized, as they exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Bishkek, calling for global institutions to be reformed to reflect modern geopolitical realities. • Guterres urged for stronger multilateralism and specifically demanded that the ceasefire in Gaza be respected to protect civilians. • He called for the full implementation of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and the immediate removal of obstacles hindering humanitarian relief.

• The World Government Summit (WGS) Dialogue hosted a virtual event titled ‘The Future of Global Leadership,’ featuring seven candidates for UN Secretary-General, including former presidents and ambassadors. • Participants debated the future of multilateralism, with candidates urging the UN to rebuild global trust and increase agility when responding to geopolitical tensions. • Former President Michelle Bachelet emphasized the need for the UN to become more representative and fair, shifting its focus toward crisis prevention and diplomacy rather than reactive measures.

• Mass flooding in Nepal has resulted in over 500 confirmed deaths, with hundreds of people still missing. • Rescue operations have successfully saved over 3,700 individuals as national authorities work to manage the crisis. • Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher stated that the UN and its partners are rapidly delivering urgent, life-saving support to the affected regions.

• El Niño-driven drought conditions in Djibouti have left 256,000 people—approximately 25% of the population—acutely food insecure through December. • Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $2 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to address the crisis. • The funding is specifically designated to provide critical support to over 53,000 of the country's most vulnerable individuals.

• The UN and humanitarian partners are providing emergency relief in Nepal and China following severe flooding that resulted in multiple deaths and missing persons. • Response teams are deploying essential personnel and critical supplies, including food, shelter, and medical equipment, to affected regions. • Satellite imagery is being utilized to assess the scale of the widespread destruction and coordinate the distribution of aid.

• UN Secretary-General informed the Security Council that 2025 recorded the highest number of armed conflicts since the Second World War. • The report highlighted record-breaking levels of acute hunger globally, marking a critical humanitarian crisis. • In a "shameful milestone," the UN confirmed simultaneous famines in Sudan and Gaza for the first time this century.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Monday that the global food supply has become "collateral damage" due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts. • He highlighted that disruptions to maritime traffic in the Black Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait have severely worsened hunger crises. • The instability is driven by conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine, the US, Iran, and Israel, as well as the Yemeni Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate end to attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure to protect global trade arteries. • Guterres urged all parties to strictly adhere to international law and restore navigational freedoms amidst escalating regional conflicts. • Simultaneously, US Central Command reported that as of Monday, it has redirected 71 commercial vessels, disabled 3, and boarded 2 to enforce a blockade against Iran.

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo is expanding its response to an Ebola outbreak that has caused nearly 2,500 deaths as of August 18. • The government and aid partners have established five operational priorities to scale up the emergency response. • To protect critical personnel, the World Health Organization (WHO) has allocated 70,000 doses of the Ebola Zaire vaccine for front-line health workers.

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is leading recovery efforts in Venezuela following a series of earthquakes and floods. • OCHA is currently coordinating support across 80 local and international organizations, working alongside government authorities to provide relief. • More than 300,000 affected individuals have already received essential aid, including food, clean water, hygiene support, and health services.

• UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to aid Colombia. • The funding is designated to support the humanitarian response following a devastating earthquake that struck the region. • To ensure targeted aid, the UN is deploying specialized teams to assess the specific needs of the most impacted areas.

• Air strikes, shelling, and shooting continued in Gaza over the weekend, resulting in dozens of casualties, including civilians, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. • Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported over 150 fatalities during July, marking the highest monthly death toll recorded so far this year. • These escalating attacks highlight the worsening humanitarian crisis and the increasing loss of life within the region.

• A joint study by UNESCO and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean reveals that the region will have 38.3 million fewer school-age children by 2050. • The report highlights a significant demographic shift and recommends integrating data on births, migration, enrollment, and location to better manage educational resources. • This decline matters as it threatens the efficiency of current education systems and requires a strategic reallocation of funding to avoid wasted investment.

• Recent attacks in Ukraine over the weekend resulted in at least 12 civilian deaths and numerous injuries across the country. • Infrastructure damage was reported at World Food Programme (WFP) warehouses in Dnipro and World Health Organization (WHO) facilities near Kyiv. • In response to the crisis, the UN and humanitarian partners successfully delivered 11 metric tons of essential aid to frontline communities in Kherson.

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that over 100 aid organizations have launched emergency responses in Venezuela. • These groups have conducted more than 2,200 activities across 14 states, providing hot meals and tents to those affected by earthquakes last month. • This large-scale intervention is critical for addressing both immediate disaster relief and preexisting humanitarian needs in the region.

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is scaling up containment efforts to combat an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. • The disease has expanded into two additional provinces, Haut-Uele and Tshopo, with specific cases reported in Kisangani. • This spread is critical because Kisangani serves as a major hub, increasing the risk of wider transmission along key transport corridors.

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York to discuss critical geopolitical developments and the existing framework of India-UN cooperation. • During the visit, India officially launched its campaign to be elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term. • The meeting underscores India's strategic goal to increase its influence within global governance structures and strengthen its diplomatic ties with the UN.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that escalating tensions between the US and Iran could severely threaten global peace, security, and economic stability. • Security experts caution that an expanded conflict could destabilize the broader Middle East, potentially displacing millions of civilians and triggering new humanitarian crises. • The situation is critical as instability in the region could create strategic opportunities for extremist groups to exploit the resulting chaos.

• The UN Secretary-General expressed concern over the reported detention of political and civic actors in Uganda, specifically highlighting cases where the whereabouts of some individuals remain unknown. • The Secretary-General emphasized that the rights to liberty, security of person, and freedom of expression—including media independence—are legally enshrined in Uganda’s own Constitution. • This intervention underscores the international community's focus on human rights violations and the erosion of democratic freedoms within the country.

Exclusive: As well as citing personal reasons, Ridley says she is making way for a successor ‘to work alongside new leader’Hollie Ridley, Labour’s general secretary, is to step down this autumn after two years in the job, she has announced to party staff.Ridley, an ally of Keir Starmer who ran Labour’s field operations in the 2024 general win election, said in an internal email she would stand down after the party’s annual conference in September. Continue reading...

• Shashi Tharoor and ED Mathew analyze the critical role of the next UN Secretary-General in maintaining global stability. • The authors argue that the post-1945 international order, which successfully prevented a third world war, is currently weakening. • This transition is significant because the next chief will lead during a period of intensifying international rivalry and eroding diplomatic restraints.

• The humanitarian crisis in Haiti is worsening, with the International Organization for Migration reporting over 2,600 people displaced in Artibonite following clashes between armed groups last week. • UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgent need to strengthen regional diplomacy and accelerate sustainable development to ensure global peace and dignity. • The Secretary-General announced the appointment of Mohamed Yahya of Somalia as the new Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator.