UN Chief: "We are witnessing an El Niño of war" - Media Encounter | United Nations

“We are now witnessing an El Niño of war,” the UN Secretary-General said. Ahead of his trip to Egypt tomorrow (23 Oct), United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres briefed reporters in New York today (22 Oct). He said he would carry a message calling for an end to the widening of war, the protection of civilians and political space for diplomacy and peace. He said, “Today, conflicts are not only intensifying. They are expanding.” Referring to protests in Europe and elsewhere over the rising cost of living, Guterres said, “The violence and destruction we have seen on the streets is unacceptable – and those responsible for criminal activities must be held accountable.” At the same time, he said, “we cannot let intolerable violence obscure the legitimate and very real grievances of the many peaceful protestors.” On the spreading of conflicts globally, he said, “From the Middle East to Ukraine to Sudan, we are seeing civilians and civilian infrastructure deliberately thrust into the line of fire.” “Attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects are prohibited under international law. They must stop,” the UN chief said. On Yemen, the Secretary-General pointed to “escalating hostilities around the city of Ta’iz and elsewhere” and described continued Houthi attacks against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia as “totally unacceptable.” “We need restraint – and Yemen needs a political horizon,” he said. Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Guterres said, “In Gaza, essential aid is still being severely restricted by Israel ahead of the fast-approaching winter.” He stated that in the occupied West Bank, “Palestinians continue to suffer daily attacks by Israeli settlers. The clear goal is to drive communities off their land.” “The situation is out of control,” the UN chief said. According to Guterres, the World Food Programme “urgently needs 450 million US dollars to feed people in Gaza and the West Bank for the next six months,” an amount equivalent to around 90 minutes of global military spending. “I appeal to donors to step up,” the Secretary-General said.


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!