Currently, half the world’s population does not have access to safely managed sanitation. This has profound negative impact on health, education and economic outcomes for countries and communities. The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund was established to raise US$2 billion over the coming five years to support countries in bringing sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health to all.
Sometimes, the crisis in West Africa and the Sahel region is so difficult and so complicated as to seem virtually unsolvable. But where many people see only a mission impossible, the United Nations sees an opportunity.
For many years in Nigeria, farmers and cattle herders have been in conflict over land rights. But the disputes have reached crisis levels in recent years, killing thousands of people and displacing many thousands more from their homes, left in ruins by attacks. More people have been killed in such disputes than by the Boko Haram insurgency. One of the main culprits? Climate change.
The global population is expected to reach nearly 10 billion people by 2050, which will significantly increase the demand for food. The steady increase in hunger since 2014, after a decade of progress, indicates that there is a need to accelerate and scale-up action to strengthen the resilience and adaptability of food systems and livelihoods.
On the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres reinforced his call for global solidarity. He urged combatants to lay down their arms and join in a global ceasefire. Across the globe, UN country teams covering 162 countries and territories are rallying their efforts, along with governments and partners, to combat COVID-19.
One million lives have been lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with local and national authorities, partners and civil society, UN teams continue to fight COVID-19 with the same continued ferocity and commitment. Today, we highlight some of their efforts across the globe.
75 years on from the founding of the UN, young people are being enlisted to share their visions of a better planet, and help decide the next chapter of the Organization.
