Category: English

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

November 10, 2025 Peace and security

Last weekend, large-scale attacks and fighting resulted in civilian casualties and disrupted essential services across Ukraine, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq reported, citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Over the past three days, at least 15 civilians have been killed and more than 70 injured. On the night of November 8, missile and drone strikes were recorded in the Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, and Sumy regions, according to local authorities and humanitarian aid workers.

"These attacks also damaged energy and residential infrastructure in several regions, including the Chernihiv, Odesa, and Poltava regions. They led to power, heating, and water outages, further exacerbating the situation for vulnerable populations in the freezing temperatures," said Hak.

Major cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa, are experiencing severe power outages, with electricity available for only a few hours a day. Kharkiv continues to experience heating and water outages, and public transportation has been partially suspended.

OCHA reports that UN agencies and their humanitarian partners quickly mobilized, providing shelter materials, blankets, hygiene supplies, hot drinks, and psychosocial support in several areas, including the Dnipro, Kherson, and Odesa regions.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

November 10, 2025 Peace and security

More than a billion firearms are circulating worldwide, UN Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Eboh stated during an open debate in the Security Council on Monday. He presented the Secretary-General's report, which outlines both the progress achieved and the remaining threats.

According to Ebo, over the past two years, states have taken important steps, including the adoption of the Global Framework for Ammunition Life Cycle Management and the establishment of an expert group on weapons technology.

Regional problems

At the regional level, efforts have recently intensified: arms control roadmaps have been adopted in Central America, the Caribbean, the Balkans, and within the African Union. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General's report documents serious embargo violations in Libya, Yemen, and Haiti, where weapons are reaching criminal groups through poorly secured borders. Problems persist in countries where arms embargoes have been partially lifted, such as the Central African Republic and Somalia.

The UN is particularly concerned about the growth of illicit weapons production, including the proliferation of 3D-printed weapons, particularly in Western Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

In Haiti, criminal groups are expanding their control over territories by using smuggled weapons to undermine state authority. In Africa, illicit arms flows in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region are turning local conflicts into cross-border crises. As Ebo noted, this is a clear symptom of a governance deficit: limited state capacity forces communities to arm themselves for self-defense, further exacerbating instability.

The humanitarian consequences of weapons proliferation

During his speech, Ebo also highlighted the humanitarian consequences of small arms proliferation. In 2024, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recorded at least 48,000 civilian deaths in conflicts—a 40 percent increase from the previous year. In some war zones, up to 30 percent of these deaths were caused by small arms. Furthermore, firearms were also used in 88 percent of cases of sexual violence in conflicts between 2022 and 2024.

Small arms violence has a devastating impact on socioeconomic development. In 2023, the combined revenue of the world's 100 largest arms companies was $632 billion. In 2024, global military spending reached $2.7 trillion—a 37 percent increase from 2015. The Secretary-General's report, "The Security We Need," calls for a reassessment of existing priorities and a rebalancing of investments for peace.

Implementation of technologies and strengthening of border controls

Ebo presented specific recommendations to combat the illicit proliferation of weapons. He called on states to implement comprehensive arms and ammunition management at all stages, from production to disposal. Proposed measures include improved marking and tracing, the introduction of new technologies, and enhanced border controls. Ebo emphasized the important role of the Security Council in integrating these issues into peacekeeping mandates and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs.

The Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs concluded his address with a call for strengthened international cooperation and technical support. He presented a new initiative – a small arms fellowship program aimed at strengthening national capacity and fostering cross-border cooperation. The UN, he stated, stands ready to support countries in implementing effective, inclusive, and sustainable arms control strategies.

Interpol: Three lines of response

Interpol Special Representative to the United Nations, Roraima Ana Andriani, called for increased international cooperation to combat the illicit trafficking of small arms. She noted that weapons from conflict zones are increasingly falling into the hands of criminal and terrorist groups, fueling violence and cross-border crime.

Andriani emphasized that modern technologies—including 3D printing and online illicit trade—make firearms accessible and difficult to trace. Interpol offers three avenues of response: information sharing, joint operations, and strengthening police capacity. The organization has already coordinated raids that seized tens of thousands of weapons and trained hundreds of police officers worldwide.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

November 10, 2025 Climate and environment

The world is rapidly descending into a new cycle of instability, where armed conflicts intersect with intensifying climate disasters. Millions of refugees, internally displaced persons, and residents of host communities are trapped in this dangerous situation, according to a report released today by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The authors warn that climate shocks don't just disrupt established ways of life – they deprive people of the opportunity to rebuild their lives after conflicts and trigger new waves of displacement.

By mid-2025, the number of people fleeing war, violence, and persecution will reach 117 million. Three-quarters of them ended up in countries most vulnerable to climate threats. According to UNHCR, over the past decade, natural disasters have displaced approximately 250 million people within their own countries. Floods in South Sudan and Brazil, record temperatures in Kenya and Pakistan, and severe water shortages in Chad and Ethiopia—extreme events are becoming the final straw for communities already living in a state of chronic instability.

"Extreme weather around the world is putting people's safety at risk. It's destroying homes, cutting off access to basic services, depriving people of their livelihoods, and forcing families – many of whom have already fled – to flee again," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

"These are people who have already suffered great losses. Now they face further suffering—droughts, floods, sweltering heat. And yet, they lack the resources to begin rebuilding their lives," he added.

Read also:

From promises to action: COP30 delegates demand accelerated climate progress

In some regions, this isn't just hardship; it's a direct threat to survival. In flooded areas of Chad, refugees arriving from war-torn Sudan are forced to make do with less than 10 liters of water per day. This is several times lower than the norm. By 2050, it's predicted that refugees living in camps in the hottest areas will spend up to 200 days a year exposed to dangerous heat stress. The combination of extreme heat and high humidity makes some areas virtually uninhabitable.

Environmental problems only exacerbate the situation. New data show that three-quarters of Africa's land is subject to degradation, and more than half of refugee and internally displaced person settlements are located in areas with the highest environmental stress. This means less water, less food, and fewer livelihood opportunities. In some areas of the Sahel, the lack of such opportunities is driving people, seeing no other option, to join armed groups. Thus, environmental problems fuel the cycle of violence.

Meanwhile, countries hosting refugees receive only a quarter of the funding they need.

"Funding cuts severely limit our ability to protect refugees from the impacts of extreme weather. If we truly want stability, we need to invest in the areas where the situation is most dire. To prevent further displacement, climate finance must reach communities already living on the edge," Grandi emphasized.

Despite alarming trends, UNHCR emphasizes that solutions exist. Both displaced people and the communities hosting them must be part of national climate strategies and plans. With the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) kicking off today in Belém, Brazil, UNHCR is calling on governments, financial institutions, and international organizations to take concrete, long-term measures: integrating refugees into climate planning, investing in adaptation, and ensuring that climate funds reach the most vulnerable communities.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.