Published on: 2026-08-01
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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31 July 2026 UN
Top news of the day at the UN and worldwide: the world faces extreme weather events due to the intensification of El Niño; more than 2,500 children have been killed or injured since the start of the military escalation in Iran; UNICEF calls for the protection of the rights of children arriving in Ceuta from Morocco; the World Breastfeeding Week begins on August 1.
Climate crisis
Speaking on Friday to journalists at the United Nations headquarters in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that climate change continues to accelerate rapidly. According to new forecasts from the World Meteorological Organization, the natural phenomenon El Niño will intensify. The consequences could be abnormal heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires worldwide. The UN chief called on governments to expand measures to protect populations and to abandon the use of fossil fuels.
The situation in the Middle East
Almost six months after the escalation began in the Persian Gulf region, this conflict has become one of the main sources of global instability, the UN Secretary-General stated. The only “good news in recent days,” António Guterres called the agreement announced on Thursday by US President Donald Trump: it provides for the disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), more than four thousand children have been killed or injured in six countries of the region over the past five months, with over 2,500 of them in Iran.
Migrants from Morocco
Amid reports of tens of thousands of migrants arriving from Morocco to the autonomous city of Ceuta, UNICEF’s office in Spain is urging authorities to ensure the rights of minors are respected. The organization emphasized that their repatriation cannot be conducted en masse and must be accompanied by “reliable legal guarantees” provided by the law. Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency stated that they are “closely monitoring the situation” and also expressed regret over the deaths of people attempting to reach the autonomous city.
Breastfeeding Week
The proportion of children exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life has increased from around 37 percent in 2012 to over 47 percent today. This is stated in a joint statement by the heads of UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), published ahead of World Breastfeeding Week, which begins on August 1. The UN agencies remind that breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to protect a child’s health. It is also beneficial for the mothers themselves. However, many families still lack access to services and support measures in this area.
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