Military spending reached 2.9 trillion dollars in the same year that development assistance suffered its steepest fall on record, leaving an annual SDG financing gap of four trillion dollars.
Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed highlighted gains in human development since 2020:
Global unemployment fell to a record low of 4.9 per cent in 2025, nearly one billion more people gained access to drinking water over the past decade.
At the same time, Mohammed warned that conflict in the Middle East has disrupted maritime traffic, energy, fertilizer and food corridors, driving up inflation, and that war has erased 77 years of human development gains in Gaza.
Humanitarians are working to save lives but needs continue to outpace resources. Of the $890 million required for this year, $387 million has been received to date.
“We are receiving alarming reports of hostilities in the city of Pokkoku, in the Magway Region,” a UN spokesperson said on the situation in Myanmar. Since July 2, operations in the area have triggered the displacement of more than 20,000 men, women and children.
Myanmar remains one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with more than 16 million people in need of assistance, including almost 3.8 million who are displaced from their homes.
Following the 24 June earthquakes in Venezuela, WFP is scaling up food assistance to reach 500,000 people. It has 3,000 metric tons of food in-country and is appealing for US$50 million for the emergency response.
Following the 24 June earthquakes in Venezuela, UNICEF has delivered 47 metric tons of humanitarian supplies, adding to 22 tons already sent from Panama. 680,000 children need urgent assistance across six affected states. The response requires US$52 million.
More than 500 aftershocks have struck Venezuela since twin 7.5- and 7.2-magnitude earthquakes, including a 5.2-magnitude tremor Mon, the UN coordinator said.
As of Sun night, 1450 people had died, more than 3000 were injured and over 12000 displaced, government figures showed.
“In 2025, almost 70 percent of child casualties were caused by explosive weapons. The highest numbers were verified in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Israel and the State of Palestine, and Lebanon,” — Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director.
The Security Council on 23 June unanimously adopted a draft resolution on accountability for crimes committed against UN peacekeepers.
Since 1948, 1,095 UN peacekeepers have been killed as a result of malicious acts, including 359 since 2013.
9 million people remain off HIV treatment and 1.2 million were newly infected last year.
“The progress achieved should not be confused with success,” Winnie Byanyima said, noting 32.1m of 40m people living with HIV are now on treatment, calling it “tremendous progress.”
UN Peacekeeping is one of the most effective tools to respond to conflict. But it is facing reductions in political support and resources.
Peace does not happen by accident. It requires political will, investment and commitment.
Now is the time to invest in peace, not war.
24,174 children were killed, maimed, recruited, raped, or otherwise affected by grave violations in conflict zones last year, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, said Thursday, calling the toll “many scars on our collective moral conscience.”