UN aid chief Tom Fletcher: Preventing World War III must be a priority

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has warned that World War III is a genuine concern and urged immediate efforts to de-escalate tensions. Speaking from his office at the UN building in New York, Fletcher expressed worry that humanity is losing control of weapons, AI, the climate, and the global economy, which is being placed on a war footing.

He emphasized that these forces and "different choke points" are propelling us towards a much bigger war. Fletcher stated that preventing World War III is the biggest job for the next UN secretary general. Despite some progress made during the High-Level Debate at the UN General Assembly, Fletcher said more needs to be done. He made a list of 10 direct requests to countries to save 11 million people, including allowing female humanitarians to work in Afghanistan, releasing UN workers detained in Yemen, and resuming humanitarian work in both countries.

Fletcher also noted progress in getting a coalition together on Afghanistan to ensure female humanitarians can work, as well as support for access to areas affected by the Ebola crisis. He expressed optimism about keeping the Adre border crossing open between Chad and Sudan and potential progress on Palestine. Fletcher acknowledged the challenges of funding cuts and working with the US, acknowledging that while the US remains the biggest international donor, the funding gap for humanitarian work is massive.

He emphasized the need for international cooperation and support to address humanitarian crises effectively.