Category: English

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

January 14, 2026 UN

At an informal meeting of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Annalena Baerbock, President of its 80th session, delivered an impassioned speech in which she warned of unprecedented threats to the global order. She said that 2026 has begun "in a context where happiness in the world is clearly in short supply," from events in Venezuela to tensions in Iran.

Baerbock stated that multilateralism is experiencing a "moment of truth," and the United Nations is under pressure. Nevertheless, she emphasized, the world needs the UN more than ever – to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, protect the rights of girls in Afghanistan, and work to end the war in Ukraine.

"The world needs the UN, but the UN also needs the world."

The General Assembly President called on Member States to demonstrate leadership and more vigorously defend the UN Charter. She emphasized that the system is not collapsing overnight, but is "crumbling piecemeal," recalling the unprecedented event in December, when, for the first time in 30 years, a traditional resolution concerning the allocation of UN emergency humanitarian assistance was withdrawn from the vote.

Baerbock called on countries to create a broad interregional coalition in support of international law and the principles of the Charter. She also invited delegates to symbolically reaffirm their commitment to these principles by signing a commemorative document commemorating the Charter's 80th anniversary.

Compromise should not turn into concessions

According to Baerbock, striving for consensus is important, but it should not lead to the "erosion of the foundations" of the Organization. If unanimity is impossible, then "a strong majority in the General Assembly is not a failure, but a demonstration of resolve."

UN-80 Initiative

A significant portion of her speech was devoted to reform of the United Nations system within the framework of the UN80 initiative. Baerbock noted that decades of accumulating mandates and expanding structures had led to overburdening and duplication of functions. She called for "a careful trimming of the system, with scissors, not a chainsaw."

The President of the General Assembly thanked States for their progress in revising mandates and emphasized the need to eliminate the "heavy burden" of outdated tasks. She also supported the Secretary-General's efforts to achieve profound institutional transformation.

Baerbock pointed to the UN's chronic financial crisis, emphasizing that no reforms will help if states do not pay their dues on time.

Security Council reform and the election of a new Secretary-General

Baerbock emphasized that the UN Security Council also needs to be updated, as its inability to act undermines trust in the entire system. She announced that a series of interviews with candidates for the post of Secretary-General will be held in April and called on countries to nominate qualified candidates, with a particular focus on women.

"History will remember the path we chose."

Concluding her speech, Baerbock emphasized that the current moment is crucial for the future of multilateralism. She called on states to demonstrate integrity and courage: "Citizens are not coming to save multilateralism—they have entrusted it to you."

According to her, the choice of the next Secretary-General, the scale of reforms, and fidelity to the Charter will be the criteria by which the world will assess whether the Organization has met the challenges of the era.

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.

January 14, 2026 Peace and security

In recent months, Yemen has experienced a series of significant events that have changed key political realities and impacted the security situation, UN Special Representative for the country Hans Grundberg said at a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

Grundberg noted that recent events in southern Yemen demonstrated "how quickly a fragile balance can be upset and how important it is to re-establish the process within a credible political framework." He said de-escalation had been achieved in recent days, but the security situation in certain areas remains volatile.

An integrated political approach

The UN representative emphasized that "the future of the south of the country cannot be determined by one side or by force" and that only Yemenis themselves, including all their diverse views, can find a sustainable solution. He welcomed President Rashad al-Alimi's initiative to convene a dialogue involving southern forces with the support of Saudi Arabia.

The Special Representative emphasized that without a comprehensive approach, “the risk of recurring and destabilizing cycles will remain the country’s permanent trajectory.”

According to Grundberg, Yemenis across the country speak of the same priorities: “service delivery, salaries, freedom of movement, and institutions that serve the people, not factions.”

He also expressed grave concern over the continued detention of UN staff and representatives of other agencies in Sana'a, calling for their immediate release.

The humanitarian situation is worsening

Speaking on behalf of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, Ramesh Rajasingham, a representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen had deepened further in early 2026.

According to the rapporteur, more than 18 million people will face acute food insecurity as early as next month. Nearly half of children under five suffer from acute malnutrition. However, due to a lack of funding, only two million of the nearly eight million people in need received assistance last year. More than 2,500 feeding programs were closed.

More than 450 health facilities have already closed, and another 2,300 are at risk of losing funding. Only two-thirds of children are fully vaccinated, and the country is facing the world's largest measles outbreaks and some of the highest rates of polio and cholera.

Nevertheless, humanitarian partners continue to save lives: in 2025, they supported more than 3,000 health facilities and vaccinated millions of children.

In conclusion, the OCHA representative addressed three requests to the Security Council: to immediately secure the release of 73 UN staff members, to increase funding for humanitarian aid, and to maintain Security Council unity on Yemen.

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.