Flooding remains a major threat to Gazans. Top news of the day | Monday: UN budget, DRC, Gaza, mines UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: The Secretary General proposed a revised UN budget, efforts to support the population of DR Congo, preparations for cold weather in Gaza, a record level of victims of mines and explosive remnants of war.
Revised UN Budget
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today presented to the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly the Organization’s revised budget for 2026, as well as a new budget for peacekeeping operations. The Secretary-General proposes to reduce regular budget revenue to $3.238 billion. That’s $577 million, or 15.1 percent, below the 2025 level. Special political missions will face budget cuts of more than 21 percent, largely due to mission closures and staffing optimizations. In total, 2,681 staff positions – about 18.8 percent – would be cut as proposed.
Situation in DR Congo
The United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) supported the screening process for some 9,500 candidates seeking to join the country’s army in Haut-Lomami province. Thanks to this, it was possible to identify and remove 25 underage boys from the process. Similar measures were introduced as part of the Action Plan signed in 2012 by the DRC government and the UN to stop child recruitment. In addition, the country’s Ministry of Health today announced the end of the Ebola outbreak in Kasai province. The World Health Organization and partners have provided technical and financial support to the government to stop transmission.
Helping Gazans
Humanitarian organizations in Gaza are stepping up efforts to prepare for winter. Speaking to reporters in New York on Monday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the situation in the enclave remains extremely dire. IDPs continue to suffer due to cold weather and heavy rains. However, flooding remains a serious threat. Humanitarian agencies distributed more than 8,800 blankets and more than 300 tents in November, and additional supplies were delivered to the enclave this week. remnants of war rose to its highest level in four years. This is stated in a report presented on Monday in Geneva with the support of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research. In 2024, 6,279 victims of this type of weapon were recorded in the world. Children in countries affected by armed conflict are especially vulnerable. The report’s authors warn that the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention is facing its most serious crisis in decades.