Global Crises in Focus at the UN General Assembly

The UN General Assembly convenes on Tuesday, with attention focused on the significant wars in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, and Sudan. In light of this, it becomes abundantly clear that neither the global organization nor the world powers have so far been able to end the violence. Since last year's assembly, the world has undoubtedly plunged further into chaos and turmoil. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the civil war in Sudan dampened the mood back then. Now these conflicts are further overshadowed by Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip, which has triggered a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The United Nations itself has had a turbulent year. A record number of 220 of its staff have been killed in the Gaza Strip war. Its humanitarian resources, which form a critical backbone of global relief efforts, are overwhelmed and underfunded due to the rapid increase in crises caused by wars, climate change, and natural disasters. At the same time, UN leadership struggles to play a meaningful role in conflict mediation. "International challenges are moving faster than we can address them," Secretary-General António Guterres stated at a press conference last week. "We see out-of-control geopolitical divisions and escalating conflicts – not least in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Sudan, and beyond." The Security Council, which usually holds one meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly, will hold three sessions this year. The topics are Ukraine, Gaza, and the broader issue of leadership challenges in conflict resolution.