United Nations: Tensions between countries around the world are constantly increasing. Recently, Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrullah, in response to which Israel has now also spoken of taking revenge.
Dozens of other countries around the world are also embroiled in war. In such a situation, the question arises that what is the United Nations (UN) doing? Is the UN actually succeeding in fulfilling its objectives or has it become just a formality?Â
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The main objective of the United Nations is to maintain peace and security among countries around the world. The UN was established in 1945 to promote peace, security, human rights and development in the world. But at this time, when wars are going on between many countries, the response and action of the United Nations is nowhere to be seen. Many past wars and conflicts show that the UN is failing to play its role.
Is the UN really the keeper of global peace?
The United Nations is an organization of almost all countries around the world. The UN can also take action on violations of international law. It can impose sanctions, censure countries and file lawsuits in international courts.
The main objective of the UN is to resolve international disputes peacefully and prevent war. In the structure of the UN, the five members of the permanent Security Council (USA, Britain, France, Russia and China) have special privileges. These countries often use veto for their political interests, which helps in preventing any important decision. Protection of human rights was promised under the UN. But many countries have been violating human rights and the UN has not taken concrete steps against it.
The Syrian civil war that began in 2011 is a big example of the UN’s failure. Lakhs of people lost their lives and crores became homeless. Despite many UN resolutions, the conflict could not be resolved. The UN’s role in stopping the atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar has been negative. Thousands of people became homeless and thousands lost their lives.
Major wars after the establishment of the UN
Even after the UN came into existence, there have been many wars in the world. These wars took the lives of millions of people and devastated many parts of the world.Â
Korean War (1950-1953): Five years after the formation of the United Nations, North Korea attacked South Korea. After this, a war broke out between the two countries. The United Nations supported South Korea. Millions of people died in this war. A peace agreement could not be reached between North and South Korea and even today tension remains between the two countries.
Vietnam War (1955-1975): This was a long and devastating war in which the United States and South Vietnam fought against the Communist Viet Cong. Millions of people were killed in this war and Vietnam was completely devastated. About 3 million people died, including 2 million civilians. Vietnam’s economy was badly affected after the war.
Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989): The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, resulting in a long and bloody war. Millions of people died and Afghanistan’s economy was completely devastated.
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988): In late 1980, the Iraqi army attacked Iran. Then an angry Iran also declared war. The war between the two countries continued for about 8 years. About 10 lakh people died. The economies of both countries were badly affected.
Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001): After the breakup of Yugoslavia, many wars took place in the region. Millions of people were killed and millions became homeless in these wars.
African Wars: Civil wars and ethnic conflicts have occurred in many countries in Africa, including Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia and Congo. These wars also killed millions of people and left millions homeless.
Israel-Palestine conflict (1948-present): This conflict began due to the establishment of Israel and the occupation of Palestinian land, which continues to this day. Recent clashes between Israel and Hamas and violence in the Gaza Strip are part of this dispute.
Iraq War (2003-2011): At that time Saddam Hussein’s government was in power in Iraq. The United States invaded Iraq. More than 5 lakh people were killed in this war. Iraq’s economic and social system was ruined. Saddam Hussein’s government collapsed, but terrorism and violence continued in the country.
Syrian Civil War (2011-present): The civil war going on in Syria is the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis. The rebellion that started in 2011 against the government of Bashar al-Assad is still going on. In this, Russia and Iran are supporting the Assad government, while the US and Western countries are supporting rebel groups and Kurdish forces.
Yemeni Civil War (2015-present): The Yemeni Civil War is a war between factions loyal to the former and current presidents of Yemen. Saudi Arabia and Iran are also involved in this war. Saudi Arabia is supporting the Yemeni government, while Iran is supporting the Houthi rebels. This conflict is related to power, regional dominance and religious divisions.
Russia-Ukraine War (2022-Present): The war between the two countries has been going on since Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022. More than 2 lakh people from both the countries have been killed so far. Many countries have increased international tension and imposed strict economic sanctions on Russia. Western countries are supporting Ukraine.
Why is the United Nations unsuccessful in stopping war?
Despite being the custodian of peace, the United Nations is proving unsuccessful in stopping war between countries. The biggest reason for this is its policy. There are 193 countries associated with the United Nations but only 5 countries (America, Russia, France, Britain and China) dominate. These permanent member countries of the UN have veto power, due to which if any one country opposes any proposal, it cannot be passed. For example, the Security Council has failed to stop the Russia-Ukraine war because Russia has veto power.Â
This situation often prevents important decisions, especially when member countries prioritize their own political interests. To prevent war, cooperation of all countries is necessary, which is often not available.
The UN does not have enough military or economic power to directly stop a war or control the parties involved in the fighting. The organization works mainly through diplomatic methods, peace talks and sanctions, which are not always effective. The UN also has to respect the sovereignty of countries, so it cannot directly interfere in the internal affairs of any country.
What is the annual budget of the UN?
The United Nations receives a huge amount of money in the form of donations from member countries. About 55 countries of the world regularly donate to the UN. America gives the most funds. The total budget of the United Nations in 2024 is 3.59 billion dollars i.e. about Rs 3000 crores. Whereas in the year 2021, the total was 150 million dollars i.e. Rs 1134 crores.
According to the United Nations, 37 thousand employees are working to establish peace all over the world. The average salary of the officials working in the UN Security Council is 98 thousand dollars per year. That means they get a package of 83 lakh rupees per year and about 7 lakh rupees per month.
When so many countries are involved in war, what is the United Nations doing?
The United Nations (UN) has only made appeals to reduce tensions among various countries. Some countries have also been warned. On the Israel-Palestine war, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed for a ceasefire and demanded to ensure the safety of civilians. Also, appealed to the Palestinian people to return to Gaaz. Similarly, after Iran’s missile attacks on Israel, the UN has warned about increasing violence.Â
The UN is constantly appealing to Russia-Ukraine for a ceasefire and is stressing the importance of a diplomatic solution so that the war can end and stability can be restored. The UN has also expressed concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The UN has appealed to all parties to stop the violence and ensure the safety of the people.
Has the UN ever stopped a war?
The question that is often asked is whether the United Nations (UN) has ever helped end a war? The answer is yes. The UN has played an important role in ending some conflicts, such as the Sierra Leone civil war (2002) and the Liberia civil war (2003). All this was possible through UN peacekeeping missions and mediation.
According to the UN, “Since 1948, the organization has helped end conflicts and foster reconciliation through successful peacekeeping missions in dozens of countries, including Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mozambique, Namibia and Tajikistan.”
The UN has many ways to intervene in conflicts, such as sending peacekeepers, enforcing ceasefires, organising peace talks or imposing sanctions on those who violate international law. UN peacekeeping operations are currently underway in 11 places, including Western Sahara, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Golan, Cyprus, Lebanon, Abyei, Kosovo, South Sudan, India-Pakistan and the Middle East.
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