Week in Review

Welcome to the United Nations View in browser

UN News Global perspective Human stories

Week in Review 15 March 2025

Catch up on this week's must-read stories From the halls of UN Headquarters, in New York, to the remote corners of the world, this week's UN News headlines captured the urgency – and the impact – of the Organization's work in real time. In Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, the Secretary-General vowed to stand by the Rohingya refugees as funding cuts threaten their survival. Meanwhile, in Sudan, children are bearing the brunt of an escalating crisis, with millions facing acute hunger, disease and unimaginable suffering. Across the globe, humanitarians are making life-or-death choices as budget cuts force them to scale back essential aid. On the health front, Europe saw a historic surge in measles cases, while a senior UN official warned that drug traffickers are exploiting war zones to expand their reach. But amid these challenges, the world's largest conference on women reaffirmed the fight for gender equality, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a WHO-backed vaccination drive is bringing hope to remote communities – one boat, one motorcycle and one life-saving dose at a time.

In Bangladesh, UN chief vows to prevent Rohingya suffering as aid cuts loom UN Secretary-General António Guterres, during his visit to the Rohingya refugee camps in southern Bangladesh, vowed to do everything in his power to prevent further hardship as drastic aid cuts threaten food supplies and other critical relief efforts. Read more Humanitarian Aid Sudan war: Children facing 'unimaginable suffering', warns UNICEF chief Sudan is now the world's largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis, the head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Thursday. After two years of war, over 30 million people – more than half of them children – are living in the grip of mass atrocities, famine and deadly disease. Read more Peace and Security Humanitarian system at breaking point as funding cuts force life-or-death choices The UN's top relief official warned on Wednesday that the global humanitarian system has reached breaking point, with funding cuts forcing life-or-death decisions over which aid programmes to sustain and which to shut down. Read more Humanitarian Aid World's largest conference on women calls for equality amid gender backlash Gender equality is a critical goal at a time when the demand for rights faces a global backlash, top UN officials told thousands of diplomats, business and civil society delegates gathered at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday for the world's largest annual conference focused on women's issues. Read more Women Europe grapples with highest number of measles cases in more than 25 years Measles cases in Europe have doubled in just a year, with the highest number reported since 1997, UN agencies announced on Thursday. Read more Health Drug traffickers running routes through war zones, top UN official warns A "new black market" for synthetics and drug trafficking through war zones are fuelling instability around the world, the chief of the UN drugs and crime office said on Monday. Read more Law and Crime Prevention 'Brighter future hangs in the balance' in Syria after 14 years of war The Constitutional Declaration issued by Syria's caretaker authorities marks a pivotal moment in the country's turbulent transition, with UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen expressing cautious optimism about its potential to fill a legal vacuum and pave the way for a "credible and inclusive political transition". Read more Peace and Security WHO injects fresh support into DR Congo vaccination drive The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped up efforts to improve vaccination coverage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by providing vital logistical support, including boats and motorcycles to reach remote communities along the Congo River. Read more Health

COPYRIGHT    |    FAQ    |    FRAUD ALERT    |    PRIVACY NOTICE    |    TERMS OF USE

Unsubscribe    |    Update preferences