UN reports rising civilian casualties and humanitarian crises in 2025

At a UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians, Edem Wosornu, Director of OCHA's Coordination Division, presented data on behalf of Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher. Reports covering 20 armed conflicts indicated that one civilian was killed approximately every 14 minutes in 2025. The UN recorded over 1,350 attacks on healthcare workers and facilities across 18 conflicts. Additionally, 147 million people faced acute food insecurity primarily due to ongoing conflicts. Sexual violence remains widespread, with over 9,300 documented cases, mostly involving women and girls, though the actual figure is estimated to be significantly higher. Ambassador Aglaia Balta, Greece's Permanent Representative to the UN, cited the existence of more than 130 armed conflicts globally. Greece highlighted that the international community is facing a deepening crisis characterized by a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law.