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November 15, 2025 Peace and security

Transnational organized crime has become one of the most serious threats of the 21st centuryIt kills hundreds of thousands of people, undermines state institutions, destroys ecosystems, and robs communities of a sense of security and faith in the future.

Today, criminal networks operate like well-organized corporations, and modern technology makes them even more stealthy and dangerous. The use of cryptocurrencies, anonymous companies, online platforms, and virtual assets allows them to move funds around the world in seconds.

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Stolen Past: How the International Community Combats Illegal Trafficking of Cultural Property

Illegal trafficking in arms, drugs, rare species of animals and plants, cultural property, counterfeit medicines, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, money laundering, and obstruction of justice all undermine human well-being and economic development.

A global threat requires a global response.

In 2024, the UN General Assembly proclaimed November 15 International Day for the Prevention and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized CrimeThis date is intended to highlight the need for international cooperation and draw attention to the scale of the threat.

Criminal groups have long since evolved beyond traditional mafia structures. They are now flexible networks operating across multiple jurisdictions. Victims, criminals, witnesses, and financial flows are spread across multiple countries, making international cooperation vital.

The key document for this remains UN Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeIt covers all serious crimes of a transnational nature and is today one of the most ratified international legal instruments.

The human price

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 22 percent of all intentional homicides worldwide—roughly 100,000 deaths per year—are linked to organized crime. But the damage doesn't end there.

Counterfeit medicines threaten the health of millions, illegal logging and mining destroy nature, polluted rivers and soils undermine food security, cyber fraud deprives people of their savings, and money laundering erodes trust in public institutions.

Blocking the channels of illegal income

The UNODC 2025 campaign focuses on the financial dimension of the problem. Transnational crime generates billions of dollars in illicit profits annually. These funds fuel human trafficking, drug trafficking, corruption, and armed conflict.

Modern technologies allow criminals to conceal the origin of funds, their final recipients, and their routes. Cryptocurrencies, shell companies, and complex cross-border transfer schemes make investigations increasingly challenging.

To effectively combat organized crime, the UN calls for:

Track illicit financial flows; Disrupt the financial structures of criminal groups; Strengthen international intelligence sharing and cooperation; Modernize legislation on virtual asset control; Enhance law enforcement investigative capacity; Return stolen assets to victim states and communities.

Financial investigations can identify the leaders of criminal networks, expose links between various crimes, and deprive groups of their economic base.

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November 14, 2025 UN

The UN Security Council held its annual debate on Friday to discuss its working methods, including the process for selecting the next Secretary-General in 2026.

Governments will soon begin submitting nominations for the leadership of the 80-year-old organization, whose top position traditionally rotates among geographic regions. However, the UN's highest office has so far been held exclusively by men.

The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, the most representative body of the UN, on the recommendation of the 15 members of the Security Council.

"Significant" responsibility

“As the year draws to a close, the Security Council approaches one of its most significant responsibilities – the process of selecting the next Secretary-General,” said Danish Ambassador Christina Marcus Lassen, co-chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions.

In the coming months, the Security Council, she said, will discuss how voting and interaction with candidates will proceed and how other UN member states will be informed about this work and its results.

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's Permanent Representative, reported that in October, during its presidency of the Security Council, his country began working on a joint letter with the General Assembly calling on UN member states to nominate their candidates.

"We expect the document to be adopted quickly to formally begin this important process," he noted. "We hope the Security Council's efforts will help facilitate the selection of the most worthy candidate for the future head of the Secretariat."

A woman as General Secretary?

The next UN Secretary-General will take office in January 2027 and will be elected for a five-year term.

Since the post had never been held by a woman, the representative of Chile advocated for an "open, inclusive, and gender-inclusive process." "After 80 years, the time has come for a woman to lead this organization—a woman who, through her leadership and vision, can infuse the multilateral system with the credibility it needs to respond to the challenges of our time," he said, recalling that "it is now the turn of the Latin American and Caribbean region to assume this position."

Procedure for holding meetings

More than 40 countries took part in the debate, which discussed the updated consolidated guidelines on the Security Council's working methods, known as Note 507, adopted last December.

How exactly the Council meets has become especially important over the past year, given the scale of the crises, noted Lorraine Sievers, co-author of the book "UN Security Council Procedure."

"Of course, the primary focus is on the statements made here and the votes on draft resolutions," she said. "But even when Council members and non-Council members demonstrate sharply divergent positions, the Security Council and the UN itself can build or lose credibility depending on how organized and professionally the Council's meetings are conducted."

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Felipe de Carvalho, Belém

November 14, 2025 Climate and environment

Representatives of the Manduruku people of the Amazon blocked the main entrance to the "Blue Zone" – the area designated for negotiators at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. Their demands include an end to projects in territories inhabited by indigenous peoples. The conference's director-general called the protests "legitimate" and stated that the government is listening to the demonstrators.

On Friday morning, approximately 90 representatives of the Manduruku indigenous people held a peaceful protest, blocking the main entrance to the conference's "blue zone." The "blue zone" is an area open only to negotiators and other accredited participants.

Access to the forum through the main entrance was blocked for approximately an hour, and an army patrol was called in to enhance security. The Manduruku people live in the Amazon, primarily in three Brazilian states: Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Pará.

"Legitimate" protests

According to news agencies, the demonstrators were protesting against Brazilian government projects that could affect communities living in the Tapajós and Xingu river basins. They also demanded an end to mining in indigenous areas.

Speaking to reporters, COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni said the protesters' demands were related to national policy. They were sent to meet with Minister of Indigenous Affairs Sonia Guajajara and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Marina Silva.

Ana Toni called the demonstrations "legitimate" and emphasized that the government is ready to listen to the protesters. She noted that over 900 indigenous representatives have been accredited to COP30—a significant increase from the 300 participants at last year's conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Presence and responsibility

In an interview with the UN News Service, Amanda, a young participant from the Pankararu people (Pernambuco state), said COP30 offers an opportunity to highlight the issues of indigenous peoples. However, Amanda believes more representatives of indigenous peoples could have been invited to the conference.

"We could make a much greater contribution if more indigenous representatives were involved in these discussions," she said. "The demands [made by the protesters] are certainly justified. We demand that our right to land, our right to life, be respected. We are creating this protective barrier, and we want to be heard. Being here today, representing those who were unable to come, places a responsibility on us."

The most inclusive conference

The COP-30 President noted that many indigenous leaders said the meeting in Belém was the most inclusive they had ever attended.

Chilean indigenous youth activist Emiliano Medina said indigenous representatives discussed a declaration emphasizing their commitment to combating the climate crisis.

He noted that such protests are a form of activism that allows people to make demands and point out policy shortcomings. Medina added that similar protests are taking place around the world in communities affected by climate change.

CS in Amazonia

In a conversation with journalists, Ana Toni emphasized that Brazil has a "strong democracy," which allows for various forms of protest both inside and outside the conference.

She noted that the decision to hold the conference in the Amazon was made precisely to ensure broad participation of indigenous peoples – something that would have been difficult to achieve if the event had been held in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo or Brasilia.

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November 14, 2025 Peace and security

A massive attack on Ukraine's capital, the Kyiv region and other parts of the country early Friday morning reportedly killed eight civilians and injured many more, including children.

The UN Secretary-General strongly condemned Russia's attack on civilian targets in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine. Antonio Guterres reiterated its call for a complete, immediate and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace that fully respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, international law and UN resolutions.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, expressed deep regret over the new wave of drone and missile strikes that damaged residential buildings, medical facilities, and heating systems in the city.

"I condemn the continued widespread harm to civilians through strikes that destroy vital infrastructure as winter approaches," Shmale said in a statement posted on social media.

Airstrikes on Friday morning also reportedly caused damage to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv. In his statement on Friday, the UN Secretary-General reiterated the principle of the inviolability of diplomatic facilities.

Attacks on the energy system

Ukraine is facing increasing attacks on its power grid, according to a recent report by UN human rights experts.

"In October, several regions of Ukraine experienced emergency power outages caused by ongoing targeted attacks by the Russian Federation and the resumption of large-scale strikes on energy infrastructure," the document notes.

Children's suffering

According to media reports, at least six people were killed in the attack on Kyiv on Friday. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that two children, aged seven and ten, were among the wounded.

"Ukrainian children are experiencing increasingly frightening, sleepless, and cold nights. Attacks continue, affecting homes, power grids, and heating systems," the foundation said in a social media post.

UNICEF also shared the story of a boy named Vyacheslav, whose home was damaged by the strike and whose neighbors were reportedly killed.

"First there was a roar, it kept getting louder, and then everything exploded. Our windows were blown out," he recalls. "I was really scared."

UNICEF called for an end to the attacks and for the protection of children.

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November 14, 2025 Climate and environment

Over the past 33 years, natural disasters have caused $3.26 trillion in damage to global agriculture (US$99 billion annually), representing approximately four percent of global agricultural GDP. This is according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), "The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security."

The document represents the largest global study to date on the impacts of natural disasters—from droughts and floods to pest outbreaks and marine heatwaves. The report also demonstrates how digital technologies are helping to shift from crisis response to crisis prevention.

Losses and regional imbalances

From 1991 to 2023, 4.6 billion tons of grain, 2.8 billion tons of fruits and vegetables, and 900 million tons of meat and dairy products were lost due to natural disasters. This is equivalent to a reduction of 320 kilocalories in the human daily diet, or 13-16 percent of average energy needs.

The largest absolute losses were in Asia, at $1.53 trillion (47 percent of global losses), reflecting both the scale of production and the region's high vulnerability to floods, storms, and droughts.

North and South America collectively lost $713 billion (22 percent), primarily due to droughts, hurricanes and extreme temperatures.

Africa suffered losses of 611 billion, but it was here that the damage was the most significant in relative terms – 7.4 percent of agricultural GDP.

Small island states remain particularly vulnerable, with losses accounting for a disproportionately high share of agricultural GDP. Marine heatwaves caused $6.6 billion in losses, affecting 15 percent of the world's fisheries, yet losses in aquaculture remain underestimated – despite the industry providing livelihoods for 500 million people.

Digital revolution in the agricultural sector

The FAO emphasizes that digital technologies are becoming a key tool for risk reduction. Artificial intelligence, remote sensing, mobile communications, drones, and sensors provide localized data in real time, improving early warning, insurance, and preventative measures.

Successful solutions include the SoilFER platform for sustainable farming, the FAMEWS system for monitoring caterpillar infestations, and the Climate Risk Toolbox, which has been used in over 200 projects. More than nine million farmers already use digital platforms, and early warnings enable the evacuation of up to 90 percent of the population in risk areas.

Digitalization must be inclusive

Despite significant progress, more than 2.6 billion people worldwide remain digitally excluded, primarily in rural areas that are most vulnerable to disasters. The FAO emphasizes that technology must be people-centered and supported by skills development, institutional support, and policy reform.

The organization calls on governments, international partners and the private sector to invest massively in digital infrastructure, integrate innovation into national strategies and ensure greater access to digital technologies for smallholder farmers, women, youth and indigenous peoples.

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November 14, 2025 Peace and security

Thousands of people are reportedly remaining in El Fasher after armed forces captured the North Darfur capital last month following a lengthy siege. Their loved ones, who had fled earlier, have lost contact with those who were unable to leave.

Meanwhile, from El Fasher comes terrifying informationThe blockade has forced people to eat peanut shells and animal feed, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Friday. He condemned the mass killings of civilians, ethnically motivated executions, and other crimes reportedly continuing in the region.

At a meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk told member states that traces of blood in El Fasher were visible even from space.

"We warned that the seizure of the city by the Rapid Reaction Force would lead to bloodshed," he said, calling for immediate international action to stop the violence. The UN's top human rights official made this statement while speaking at a special meeting of the Council.

“All parties to this conflict must know: we are watching you, and justice will prevail,” the High Commissioner emphasized.

Horrors of war

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 100,000 people have fled El Fasher and surrounding villages in the past two weeks alone.

"Many of them continue to wander," said Jacqueline Wilma Parlevliet, head of the UNHCR office in Port Sudan. Families arriving in Tawila, located approximately 50 kilometers from El Fasher, report "unimaginable horrors" before and after their flight, she noted.

At a video briefing for journalists in Geneva, Parlevlit drew attention to numerous messages about rape and other sexual violence, and the desperation of people trying to find refuge.

"Parents are searching for their missing children, many of whom are in a state of psychological shock due to the conflict and the dangerous journey. Unable to pay ransom, families are losing young male relatives – they are arrested or forcibly recruited into armed groups," explained a UNHCR representative.

Those seeking safety away from El Fasher are forced to take increasingly dangerous routes, bypassing military checkpoints. Some have spent 15 days reaching shelter with minimal food and water.

The small town of El Debba on the banks of the Nile in northern Sudan is home to at least 37,000 residents of El Fasher, with thousands more reportedly attempting to reach it. There are also reports that armed groups are forcibly returning many people back to El Fasher, where conditions remain dire, UNHCR emphasized, citing local sources.

"Thousands of people – especially the elderly, the disabled, and the wounded – remain trapped, either because they are prevented from leaving the city or because they lack the strength or means to escape," Parlevlit said.

A crisis of colossal proportions

Sudan is experiencing the world's largest displacement crisis to date, with more than 12 million people forced to flee their homes and seek refuge either within the country or abroad.

Unexploded ordnance poses a significant threat to many people attempting to return home in other parts of this East African country, according to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). According to UNMAS, 13 million square kilometers of land remain contaminated in the states of South Kordofan, West Kordofan, and Blue Nile alone.

"Many other countries also have problems with explosive remnants of war and mines… But Sudan is a special case. Why? Because the war is taking place primarily in urban areas," said UNMAS Sudan Director Sediq Rashid, speaking from Port Sudan.

He explained that even in the capital Khartoum, people face risks from ammunition, anti-tank and anti-personnel mines.

Displaced families who settle in unfamiliar areas "without any knowledge of past conflicts or contamination" are particularly vulnerable, Rashid noted.

Meanwhile, the number of civilian casualties from mines and other unexploded ordnance continues to rise. "We know that the reported cases represent only a small fraction of the true scale of the damage," added the UNMAS representative.

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November 14, 2025 Healthcare

November 14 marks World Diabetes Day, the theme of which this year is "Diabetes at Every Stage of Life." The World Health Organization emphasizes that the disease affects people of all ages and requires ongoing attention throughout life.

Increase in morbidity

According to the WHO, the prevalence of diabetes continues to rise rapidly, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. From 1990 to 2022, the number of people living with diabetes increased from 200 million to 830 million. In 2022, 14 percent of people over 18 years of age had diabetes, a seven percent increase since 1990. Moreover, more than half (59 percent) of adults over 30 diagnosed with the disease were not taking medication to control the disease. Low- and middle-income countries have the lowest treatment coverage.

Complications of the disease

Diabetes remains a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes, and often leads to lower limb amputations. In 2021, diabetes was the direct cause of 1.6 million deaths, 47 percent of which occurred in people under 70. Another 530,000 deaths were due to diabetes-related kidney disease. High blood sugar accounted for approximately 11 percent of cardiovascular deaths. Overall, diabetes and its related complications are estimated to have killed over two million people in 2021.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes develops either due to insufficient insulin production or the body's inability to effectively utilize it. Long-term hyperglycemia leads to damage to blood vessels and the nervous system. Symptoms can appear suddenly, but in type 2 diabetes, they are often mild, leading to late diagnosis and the development of complications. Type 2 diabetes accounts for over 95 percent of all cases, and is increasingly being diagnosed in children.

Treatment and prevention

The WHO emphasizes that type 2 diabetes can be prevented. A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking can help prevent or delay the onset of the disease. Early diagnosis and regular medical checkups remain key to preventing severe complications.

The organization reminds that diabetes is controllable. A combination of diet, exercise, medication, and treatment of complications helps slow the progression of the disease. WHO continues to support countries in strengthening prevention and treatment systems, including implementing the Global Pact to End Diabetes and achieving global coverage targets by 2030.

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Evgeniya Kleshcheva, Cristina Silveiro

November 14, 2025 Culture and education

Last year, more than 37,000 items of cultural value, including archaeological artifacts, works of art, coins, and musical instruments, were seized during the international operation "Pandora IX." The operation involved Europol, Interpol, and the World Customs Organization, as well as law enforcement and customs agencies from 23 countries, including Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Serbia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the United States, and other countries.

In particular, according to official Interpol data, Ukrainian customs seized 87 items of historical value, including icons of St. Seraphim of Sarov and ancient coins, which were being illegally exported from the country to Poland, Moldova, and Romania.

In Spain, a gang that looted archaeological sites in the province of Cáceres was uncovered: the criminals obtained thousands of Roman coins using metal detectors and sold them on social media. In Greece, three people were arrested for attempting to sell five Byzantine icons for €70,000. These and other incidents highlight the scale of the problem and the need for international cooperation to address it.

Cultural heritage is not a commodity

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), smuggling of cultural property is one of the oldest forms of criminal activity and ranks among the most profitable forms of illicit trafficking worldwide, alongside weapons and drugs. However, unlike other forms of trafficking that are subject to complete prohibition, trafficking in cultural property itself is not prohibited.

High demand for antiquities and works of art, coupled with inadequate regulation, makes this sector extremely profitable yet low-risk—especially during times of crisis. Organized criminal networks exploit this, operating through complex schemes and profiting from both legal and underground markets.

November 14 is celebrated International Day against Illicit Trafficking of Cultural PropertyThis date was established by UNESCO to commemorate the adoption in 1970 of the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import and Export of Cultural Property and the Illicit Transfer of Ownership. This day is intended to remind people that cultural heritage is not a commodity, but a part of human history that must be protected.

“Illicit trafficking, as well as theft and illegal transfer of cultural property, touches on issues such as cultural rights, cultural identity, our memory, as well as communities and their history,” explained Krista Pikkat, Director of the Division of Culture in Emergencies of UNESCO’s Culture Sector, in an interview with UN News Service.

Historical sites in areas of armed conflict and political instability are particularly vulnerable to smugglers. According to Pikkat, in such situations, authorities have new priorities, and archaeological excavations or museums are often left unsupervised. Smugglers are increasingly using online platforms and auctions to sell illegal finds, including items recovered from underwater archaeological sites.

Preserve artifacts for future generations

UNESCO recently condemned the theft of eight priceless cultural objects from the Louvre Museum on October 19, 2025. The organization's statement stated that such crimes "threaten the preservation, study, and transmission to future generations of precious historical artefacts," while fueling the international trade in stolen cultural property linked to money laundering, tax evasion, and even the financing of terrorism.

© E. Ganz

As noted in the statement, the illicit trafficking of cultural property knows no borders, and combating it requires long-term efforts and international coordination. For decades, UNESCO has been collaborating with Interpol, the World Customs Organization, the UNODC, the International Council of Museums, and other organizations to strengthen legal mechanisms, train museum professionals and customs officers in identifying stolen objects, and raise public awareness. Since 2023, more than 1,200 specialists from 80 countries have completed UNESCO courses, Krista Pikkat explained.

"We are also collaborating with partners like the IAEA to explore how nuclear technologies can be applied to provenance research. It's also exciting to see how new artificial intelligence technologies are providing us with new opportunities to combat illicit trafficking," the UNESCO representative added.

At the end of September, UNESCO officially launched the world's first Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural PropertyThe museum uses 3D modeling and virtual reality technologies, allowing users worldwide to view digital replicas of stolen artifacts. The platform includes educational materials and testimonies from affected communities, as well as a section dedicated to successful examples of cultural property recovery.

"The idea behind the museum is that one day it will be empty," Pikkat noted.

She cited an example from her own experience, explaining that, being from Estonia, she decided to see which artifacts from her country were included in the collection. Pikkat was curious to learn that Estonia had proposed including several sculptures from the altar of a small village church on the island. The artifacts, created by Lübeck masters in the 16th century, are particularly valuable, she explained, due to their history, which shows that Estonia was a member of the Hanseatic League and actively traded with Germany. The UNESCO representative emphasized that the significance of such artifacts cannot always be measured in monetary terms—their true value lies in the historical, cultural, and spiritual meaning they hold for local communities and society as a whole. The Organization warns that a society deprived of its heritage loses part of its identity and the foundation for future development.

Returning the heritage to the homeland

The international legal framework and intergovernmental cooperation are increasingly making it possible to identify and repatriate cultural treasures illegally exported abroad. For example, in May 2025, Egypt reportedly received back 25 archaeological objects, including a mummy portrait from the Fayum Mound, a gold coin dating back to the time of Ptolemy I—the Greek general and successor to Alexander the Great—and jewelry dating back approximately 2,400 years. These objects were discovered in New York and returned to Egypt thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Egyptian consulate, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, and US law enforcement agencies, according to media reports. Earlier in February, dozens of ancient objects worth over €2 million were returned from New York to Greece and Italy.

According to the latest figures from the Manhattan District Attorney's Special Antiquities Squad, which investigates the illicit trade in antiquities, since its creation in late 2017, approximately 6,100 artifacts worth more than $480 million have been seized, and nearly 5,750 of them have been returned to 31 countries.

UNESCO supports countries in their efforts to identify and return stolen property.

"We organized capacity-building activities in Central Asia. The idea was to work with countries surrounding Afghanistan to prevent the illegal export of artifacts from Afghanistan. Then we heard from the Kyrgyz Republic's National Commission for UNESCO that border guards who participated in the exercises were able to identify another artifact—not Afghan," said Krista Pikkat.

Unsplash/M. Zhufé

In addition, she said, UNESCO is working on issues related to sites lost during colonial times, primarily by promoting dialogue on the topic.

Fighting criminal networks

Recent examples demonstrate that the application of international legal instruments—in particular, the 1970 UNESCO Convention and the 1995 Unidroit Convention on the Return of Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Goods—produces results. However, this is often a complex process, requiring diplomatic efforts, legal expertise, and lengthy negotiations between countries.

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to digital solutions: electronic registries, databases, and blockchain technology, which make it possible to trace the origins of art and antiquities.

Citizens are reminded: when purchasing antiques and works of art, please request official documents of origin and avoid transactions with unknown online sellers. Suspicious items can be reported to local law enforcement agencies or directly to Interpol.

Every returned artifact is a restored link between the past and the present, a reminder that history and culture belong to us all. International Day on November 14 calls for us to remember this responsibility – and to continue the work of protecting cultural heritage, which knows no borders.

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November 13, 2025 Humanitarian aid

Funding shortages threaten the ability of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to fulfill its mandate, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said Thursday in a speech to the UN General Assembly.

According to the head of UNRWA, the agency plays an indispensable role in ensuring stability in Gaza and rebuilding the devastated sector. He emphasized that the funding cuts to UNRWA were due to a "virulent" disinformation campaign that tarnished the agency's reputation.

"Reducing or terminating UNRWA's activities would have serious consequences for the entire region," Lazzarini warned. "In Gaza, it would undermine stabilization and reconstruction efforts and jeopardize political progress."

The agency's role in the region

UNRWA has been operating since 1950, providing basic services, protection and humanitarian assistance to Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

In 2024, the agency provided emergency food aid to approximately 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza. It also provides in-person education to over 50,000 children.

"We have succeeded in raising generations of Palestinians who have become prosperous citizens of the world, contributing to the economic development of the community throughout the region and beyond, including Europe and North America," Lazzarini said.

Later, during a briefing for journalists in New York, he added that "if destruction and trauma continue to accompany the learning process," there is a risk that Palestinian children will be exploited, radicalized, or join armed groups in the future.

The problem of financing

The agency has come under scrutiny over Israeli allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 attacks, and the United States, traditionally the agency's largest donor, froze all its funding in 2023.

Deputy Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, Feda Abdelhadi, described the agency as "necessary and irreplaceable."

"We call on all States to remain firm and principled in their support for UNRWA, duly recognizing its vital role," the diplomat said.

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