UN News Today 02 April 2026 |

Middle East warn risks dramatic impacts for rest of globe: Guterres

UN chief António Guterres warned on Thursday that the world was “on the edge of a wider war” as he highlighted the global fallout of the Middle East conflict.

Any further escalation will only make a bad situation worse, Mr. Guterres told journalists in New York:

“The conflict is already being felt everywhere. Look no further at the impact of the denial of freedom of navigation. When the Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world’s poorest and most vulnerable cannot breathe…The spiral of death and destruction must stop.”

The UN chief highlighted how people in many countries are now struggling with rising food and energy costs, from the Philippines, to Sri Lanka, to Mozambique and communities far beyond.

Mr. Guterres said that diplomatic efforts were underway to find a peaceful path forward. He reiterated the UN’s position that disputes must be settled peacefully adding that “civilians and civilian infrastructure, including nuclear installations, must be respected and protected.”

Syria needs in spotlight in UN relief chief visit: OCHA

To Syria, where needs remain immense, particularly after the return of some 180,000 Syrians since the Middle East war broke out, along with 25,000 Lebanese.

Highlighting needs in Damascus and beyond, the UN’s top aid official, Tom Fletcher, said that both Lebanese and Syrian families have been fleeing “with virtually nothing”.

He also insisted that Syrians “are rebuilding…reopening markets, restoring services”.

Mr. Fletcher said that the UN’s humanitarian teams were on hand and constantly adapting to help the many people whose lives had been uprooted by the violence.

Ahead of Syria, Mr. Fletcher spent two days witnessing the devastating impacts of the conflict in Lebanon, where more than one million people have been displaced in a matter of weeks, amid ongoing Israeli and Hezbollah clashes, leaving “lives upended” and critical infrastructure “shattered”.

New York mayor discusses deeper cooperation with UN chief

Finally to UN headquarters in New York, where VIP guest and the city’s Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, discussed stronger ties with the global organization.

UN chief António Guterres welcomed Mr. Mamdani to UN Headquarters on Tuesday for his first ever visit; it was an opportunity to thank the Mayor for the support received from the city.

Noting the critical role that cities play in today’s world, the Secretary-General discussed how to deepen cooperation.

Here’s Mr. Mamdani now:

“We are so proud to be the host city of the United Nations and we’re proud at what it represents, which is the fact that we are part of something larger than just ourselves.”

The New York mayor noted that the city is home to more than three million New Yorkers who were born outside the country, including  himself. “The United Nations is something that we are proud to welcome each and every day and we’re excited to continue that partnership,” he declared.

Daniel Johnson, UN News