The UN Chief said on Tuesday that about 43,000 people have lost their lives as a result of armed conflicts in 2022, warning that war is destroying lives around the world.
“Last year, 94 percent of their victims in populated areas were civilians,” Antonio Guterres said during a UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.
He added that the total number forced from their homes due to conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecution reached 100 million refugees in 2022.
Guterrs noted that conflicts are driving global food security, pointing out that more than 117 million people faced acute hunger primarily because of war and insecurity last year.
“The terrible truth is that the world is failing to live up to its commitments to protect civilians; commitments enshrined in international humanitarian law,” he said.
Guterres demanded that those who commit war crimes be held accountable
