UN Secretary-General: The World Has Entered an 'Era of Chaos'

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, warned on Wednesday that the world has entered an 'era of chaos'; a situation that he said has caused suffering globally and neutralized progress. According to Voice of America, while outlining his priorities for 2024, the UN Secretary-General told representatives of member countries: 'Today, there is a lot of anger and hatred in our world. It seems that every day and every moment, war is lurking.' He stated that people only want peace, security, and a life of dignity. Guterres added: 'For millions of people around the world caught in conflict, life has become a deadly and continuous hell.' He then referred to the conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, as well as the situations in Myanmar, Yemen, Haiti, and across the African coast. Guterres said that if countries fulfill their commitments under the UN Charter, the right of all individuals to live in peace and dignity would be guaranteed. He then emphasized that this charter is regularly violated by some countries without any repercussions. The UN Secretary-General condemned the most powerful body of the organization - the Security Council composed of 15 countries - for what he termed participation in chaos. He stated: 'The UN Security Council, the main platform for establishing global peace, has reached a deadlock due to geopolitical rifts. This is not the first time the council has faced a rift, but it is the worst of its kind.' He noted that this disruption is deeper and more dangerous today than during the Cold War years. Guterres said the Security Council must undertake serious reforms to reflect today's realities, including adding a permanent seat for the African continent. He also called for reform of the international financial system and pointed out that the poorest countries in the world are drowning in debt.