As the dust settles on a tentative ceasefire between Israel and Iran, United Nations Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva delivered a sobering reminder: One-quarter of humanity now lives under the shadow of armed conflict. The warning comes amid concerns that recent de-escalation efforts in the Middle East could unravel, potentially exacerbating what the UN official calls "a crisis of peace."
In an exclusive interview with CGTN's Wang Guan, Moreira da Silva revealed that global displacement has reached 105 million people – equivalent to the population of Vietnam and South Korea combined. "Peace is not abstract," he emphasized. "It's the difference between a child attending school or fleeing artillery fire."
The UN Charter's 79th anniversary this year finds its principles tested like never before. While acknowledging progress in some regions, Moreira da Silva stressed that Asia's growing economic influence brings both opportunity and responsibility: "Stable markets require stable societies. Every dollar spent on conflict prevention saves $16 in reconstruction costs."
Analysts suggest the warning carries particular urgency for business leaders eyeing emerging Asian markets and diaspora communities monitoring regional stability. As humanitarian needs outpace funding by $32 billion globally, the UN official called for renewed multilateral cooperation, framing peacebuilding as "the ultimate sustainable development goal."
