UN 80 : Humanitarian Triumphs That Changed the World, by Thomas Gidney (5/7)

Épisode de geneveMonde.ch par David Glaser · 21 août 2025 · 7 min

Humanitarian aid and peacekeeping form two central pillars of the United Nations’ work. While failures have made headlines - such as in Srebrenica, Rwanda, or Somalia - the overall record shows that the UN has been more successful than unsuccessful, particularly in the humanitarian field.

Humanitarian Triumphs That Changed the World

Through agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN has led some of the most important humanitarian achievements in modern history. The eradication of smallpox in 1980 - a joint effort between WHO and national governments - saved millions of lives and stands as one of humanity’s greatest public health victories. Global polio cases have been reduced by over 99% since 1988 thanks to coordinated vaccination campaigns, though conflict zones still hinder complete eradication.

Feeding the Hungry, Healing the Sick

The WFP has provided emergency food assistance to hundreds of millions, from famine relief in Ethiopia in the 1980s to large-scale operations in Yemen, Syria, and South Sudan today. UNICEF’s child immunisation and nutrition programmes have drastically reduced child mortality rates worldwide, while WHO has coordinated rapid responses to health crises such as Ebola outbreaks.

Peacekeeping: Quiet Victories in Fragile States

Peacekeeping has also recorded successes - from ending decades-long wars in places like Namibia, Cambodia, and Liberia, to supporting democratic transitions and enabling humanitarian access in volatile regions. Since the end of the Cold War, the scale and scope of UN humanitarian operations have grown significantly, responding to both natural disasters and complex emergencies.

The Power and Politics Behind the Aid

The United States remains, by far, the largest single financial contributor to the UN system, funding not only peacekeeping but also a substantial share of humanitarian aid. However, political decisions - such as the Trump administration’s push to relocate or reduce certain US contributions - have shown how dependent the system remains on the will of its most powerful members.

Lessons from the Frontlines

The lesson from decades of work is clear: when adequately funded, politically supported, and given clear mandates, UN humanitarian and peacekeeping missions can save millions of lives and help prevent conflicts from spiralling out of control.

Interview by David Glaser

Photo: UN/Cia Pak - U.S. President Donald Trump at the General Debate of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 24th, 2019.

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