Pleading with countries to pay their share, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said the world body's peacekeeping operation is “only as strong as member states' commitment to it.”
Currently, the United Nations' peacekeeping department is leading operations in 11 countries, including Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Lebanon, Cyprus and Kosovo.
The budget for nine of those operations during the fiscal year that ends on June 30 totals USD 5.6 million, 8.2 per cent lower than a year earlier.
Each of the UN's 193 member countries is legally obliged to pay its share toward peacekeeping.
Guterres argued that, with a budget “representing a tiny fraction of global military spending — around one half of one per cent — UN Peacekeeping remains one of the most effective and cost-effective tools to build international peace and security.” “But it's only as strong as member states' commitment to it,” he added at the opening of a two-day, German-hosted conference of ministers to discuss the future of peacekeeping.
Also read: Is Trump side-stepping Israel for a Saudi trade deal?
“Unfortunately, peacekeeping operations have been facing serious liquidity problems. It is absolutely essential that all member states respect their financial obligations, paying their contributions in full and on time.”
Guterres didn't offer details of the problems, but acknowledged that “these are tough times for the financing of our work across the board.” More broadly, the UN has been scrambling to respond to funding cuts for aid operations from its biggest donor, the United States, under President Donald Trump's administration.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that his country, like many others, “is prepared to pledge additional resources” for peacekeeping. But he said there should also be an effort to make missions “more efficient and more focused” through clearer mandates, cutting back on bureaucracy and avoiding duplication.
Follow us
