Guterres highlights ‘exceptional level of destruction’ in Gaza ahead of G7 summit
“In Gaza, we are deeply committed to humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, where UNRWA is the backbone of that support”, Mr. Guterres told journalists in Geneva. “We have faced some difficulties and obstacles as is well known, but nothing has diminished our commitment,” he added, amid a sustained disinformation campaign intended to discredit the United Nations agency.
The attacks hindered aid efforts
Turning to the ongoing challenge of providing life-saving humanitarian assistance, especially since early May when the Israeli military closed the key Rafah border crossing, the UN chief noted that Supporting people affected by firepower remains “extremely difficult; Supporting people is extremely difficult when there are so many limitations in accessing supplies needed for humanitarian aid.”
Asked to comment on the findings of a report published earlier in the day by a leading expert Eastern Human Rights Association– Appointed to investigate the war in Gaza, which found Hamas and Israel guilty of war crimes, the UN chief emphasized the enormous scale of destruction and death in the past eight months of conflict.
“We have witnessed…a level of destruction and…an exceptional level of casualties among the Palestinian people during these months of war. no precedent in any other situation in which I have lived as Secretary-General of the United Nations.”
Widening inequality
The Secretary-General spoke on the sidelines of the Global Leaders Forum at the United Nations Geneva, hosted by United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), where he took the opportunity before attending the G7 Summit in Italy starting on Thursday to reiterate his deep concerns about the uneven distribution of wealth in the global economy – and the need for richer nations to support those trying to pursue industrialization.
“Developing and emerging economies outside of China have seen investment in clean energy at similar levels since 2015, and Africa is home to less than 1 million,” Mr. Guterres said. % of installed capacity of renewable energy last year even though it has abundant resources and huge potential.”
“We need the advanced economies to rally behind the emerging and developing economies and to demonstrate climate solidarity by providing the technological and financial support they need to cut emissions.
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There must be “one Clear commitment from the G7 to double adaptation financing next year and close the adaptation financing gap.”
Echoing that message, Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Trade and Development Agency UNCTAD, welcomed “the rise of industrial policy” in some parts of the world that has demonstrated “the role importance” of the State in economic development and transformation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses journalists in Geneva after the opening ceremony of UNCTAD’s Global Leaders Forum.
But she warned that for many developing countries burdened with debt and limited fiscal space, “This revival is a distant horizon”, just as the UN Secretary General told delegates that new trade barriers introduced every year “have almost tripled since 2019, many due to geopolitical competition that without concern about their impact on developing countries.”
Such a trend must be avoided if the world’s most vulnerable countries and individuals are to enjoy the benefits of the United Nations-backed program. Sustainable development goals (SDGs), Mr. Guterres emphasized, declaring that the world “cannot accept division into rival blocs”.
Only achieving the goal can ensure peace and security in places with “a global market and a global economy in which there is no room for poverty.”
The developing world is in the driver’s seat
Some progress has been made in addressing these persistent problems and in the 60 years since UNCTAD was established, “more than a billion people have been lifted out of poverty” and The developing world “is now the engine of global economic and trade activity”Ms. Grynspan noted.
But she added that for some, this could “create the illusion that the ground is less flat today than it was six decades ago,” for “the poor, the unconnected, discriminated against people, rural areas, as well as women and youth – the ground remains uneven, climb too steep”.
