UN News Today 25 June 2025 |

Billions still lack safe energy, UN report warns

Energy news first, and a new UN-backed report published Wednesday showed that while 92 per cent of the world now has electricity, over 660 million people still lack access; most live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Even more alarming is the finding that 2.1 billion people today still rely on firewood and other polluting fuels to cook, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. It added that this is a crisis that has stagnated since 2022.

“The same pollutants that are poisoning our planet are also poisoning people,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a call for urgent investment in “clean cooking” solutions.

According to this year’s Energy Progress Report, distributed renewable energy systems such as solar mini-grids and bio-gas are the recommended ways to deliver energy to rural and remote populations, especially for clean cooking.

The report points out that sub-Saharan Africa faces the biggest challenge in energy access, with 85 per cent of people without electricity and four in five families lacking clean cooking access.

Without faster investment and stronger global cooperation, the world is unlikely to meet its 2030 energy targets — putting lives, health and climate goals in jeopardy, WHO warned.

Gaza food aid remains drastically insufficient, OCHA warns

To Gaza, where aid teams have warned once again that food aid delivered into the territory remains “drastically insufficient” while hunger deepens and violence around distribution points escalates.

In an alert, the UN humanitarian coordination wing OCHA said that deliveries of supplies remain far below the needs of the population.

It noted that convoys face restrictions, insecurity and lack of resources such as fuel, hampering operations.

Since 19 May, only 9,000 tonnes of wheat flour have entered the enclave following Israel’s nearly 80-day blockade.

When deliveries do get through, most food is seized by desperate people or armed groups before it even reaches its destination, OCHA said.

The aid agency’s latest update indicated that security threats remain widespread across Gaza, with attacks on civilians attempting to collect food along convoy routes and around non-UN aid sites.

Severe hunger is having a growing impact on children: more than 18,700 have been admitted for acute malnutrition treatment since January. In just two weeks this month, 1,648 new cases were identified.

Niger’s cancer therapy service get a boost from UN nuclear agency initiative

To Niger, where cancer care is getting a welcome boost from the IAEA – the UN’s nuclear agency – offering help to more patients who no longer have to go abroad for treatment.

The African nation opened its first ever radiotherapy facility in 2021, with technical assistance and training from the IAEA.

New state-of-the-art equipment is now coming on-stream, to complement the existing cobalt-60 machine, which works by emitting a beam of tumour-busting gamma rays.

Over 32 radiation therapy technologists, nurses and other key staff working at Niger’s National Cancer Centre have received training from IAEA so far.

The world has seen an 18 per cent increase in radiotherapy machines since 2015 but significant gaps remain, the UN agency said.

It has welcomed the support of the Islamic Development Bank and the United States for its global Rays of Hope initiative and highlighted the need for more radiotherapy services.

By 2050, the number of cancer cases is predicted to increase to 35 million.

Daniel Johnson, UN News

Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved.