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Week in Review 31 January 2026

Catch up on this week's must-read stories This week, choose peace over chaos, António Guterres declared in his annual presser, as the UN enters another tough and existential year – his last at the helm.  Familiar conflicts flared again – in Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, and now South Sudan as Jonglei state threatens to be the flashpoint for a return to more brutal fighting: "All the conditions for a human catastrophe are present," one top official warned Friday. We had a quiet start to 2026 in terms of our in-depth podcast interview series but we've got some interesting ones on the page this week from peacekeeping commanders in South Sudan and disputed Abyei, plus an insightful look at Brazilian 'agrihoods' which offer a blueprint for greener cities. We marked the horrors of the Holocaust and the lessons for now and the future, along with the rest of the world. Check out the extraordinary story of survival as told to the UN this week by Marion Blumenthal Lazan: "We children saw things that no one should ever have to see."

'We children saw things that no one should ever have to see' Holocaust survivor tells the UN Holocaust survivor Marion Blumenthal Lazan, gave a harrowing and heart-rendering account of her childhood under Nazi persecution during Tuesday's Holocaust Memorial event in New York, urging citizens worldwide to push back against 'negativity' by choosing "love, respect and compassion" in how they treat one another. Read more Human Rights Violence roiling Nigeria extends beyond religious lines, amid a deepening humanitarian crisis When the United States ordered airstrikes on Christmas Day against Islamist militants in northern Nigeria, officials in Washington said the action was aimed at protecting Christians facing threats of violence.  Read more Peace and Security Choose peace over chaos, Guterres urges as he sets out final-year priorities With global tensions rising and "reckless actions" triggering dangerous consequences, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday called for renewed efforts on peace, justice and sustainable development as he outlined his priorities for 2026 – the final year of his tenure. Read more Peace and Security Reaching a child in Darfur is 'hard-won and fragile', says UNICEF Reaching a single child in Sudan's Darfur region can take days of negotiations, security clearances and travel across sandy roads that cut through shifting frontlines, UNICEF warned Friday – as children live "on the brink" of survival. Read more Peace and Security A new blow for UNRWA as headquarters in East Jerusalem 'set on fire' The head of embattled UN relief agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, has condemned reports that its headquarters in East Jerusalem have been set alight deliberately. Read more Peace and Security UN chief warns 'law of the jungle' is replacing rule of law Warning that the "rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle," the UN Secretary-General on Monday urged world powers to recommit to international law as the foundation of peace, justice and multilateral cooperation. Read more Peace and Security From family farm to climate tech: How one Kenyan woman is helping farmers outsmart drought "Giving up is not an option - so many people depend on you," the words of Maryanne Gichanga, a participant in a UN supported initiative, which aims to help farmers in Kenya find solutions to alleviate the pressures of climate change on agriculture production.  Read more Climate and Environment South Sudan: 'All the conditions for a human catastrophe are present' Military tensions in South Sudan are "rapidly expanding" between Government forces and opposition militia as fighting continues in restive Jonglei state. Read more Peace and Security Brazilian 'agrihoods' offer blueprint for nature friendly cities A new UN report on global climate finance highlights a stark mismatch: trillions of dollars support activities that harm nature, while only a small share goes to initiatives that protect and restore it.  The study argues that investing in nature makes strong economic sense, given the mounting risks of a rapidly warming planet. In Brazil, one promising example is the rise of UN Environment Programme-backed "agrihoods" – neighbourhoods designed to work with natural ecosystems rather than against them. Marcia Maika leads the initiative, and she's been telling Conor Lennon from UN News that business attitudes are changing. Read more UN Interviews Security Council LIVE: Ambassadors debate as Middle East crises mount The UN Security Council held a high-level open debate on the Middle East on Wednesday focusing on the Gaza peace plan – including the role of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace – the continuing humanitarian crisis in the enclave and turmoil in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, following the demolition of UNRWA's headquarters there. Follow live coverage below, and UN News app users can click here. For full and comprehensive UN meetings coverage, go here. Read more Peace and Security From deepfakes to grooming: UN warns of escalating AI threats to children The staggering amount of harmful AI-generated online content has prompted an urgent call from across the UN system for a raft of measures to protect children from abuse, exploitation and mental trauma. Read more Human Rights From lunch tray to lifelong health: WHO sets global standards for school meals For the first time ever, the World Health Organization (WHO) is providing recommendations for healthy and nutritious food in schools around the world. Read more Health Independent experts alarmed by child rights violations in US immigration procedures UN-appointed independent human rights experts have raised alarm over violations of children's rights during US immigration procedures, nearly a year after federal funding for legal representation for unaccompanied minors was terminated.  Read more Human Rights Between fear and survival: Women and girls flee violence in northern Syria When fighting recently intensified near her neighbourhood in Aleppo, in northern Syria, Fatima and her family had to run.  Read more Peace and Security Young people must be 'truly involved' in transforming education With young people under 30 making up more than half of the global population and over 272 million children and youth still out of school, their participation in shaping education is becoming increasingly vital. Read more Culture and Education

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