A young girl in a camp for Internally displaced people in northern Iraq.
Humanitarian Aid

Delivering Humanitarian Aid to those in need

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), mandated by the General Assembly, leads global emergency responses in coordination with UN entities. It ensures rapid and coherent disaster response and coordinates international responses to health crises, provides aid to those affected by disasters and conflicts, aids refugees, focuses on child welfare, supports women and girls, offers services and funds for large-scale feeding operations, and helps farmers re-establish production after emergencies, among other tasks.

A young girl stands near her tent in the Warga Dalal camp for Internally displaced people in northern Iraq.
Photo:©OCHA/Iason Athanasiadi
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid wait to cross into Gaza from Egypt through Rafah.

Second aid convoy ‘another glimmer of hope’ for millions in Gaza: UN relief chief

22 October 2023 — More aid arrived in Gaza on Sunday aboard 14 trucks that passed through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator said in a post on social media....

Families flee their shattered neighbourhood, Tal al-Hawa, to seek refuge in the southern Gaza strip.

‘The world must do more’ for Gaza, 5 UN agencies say

21 October 2023 — The aid that entered Gaza on Saturday "is only a small beginning and far from enough", five UN agencies said in a joint statement.  They called for a humanitarian ceasefire and...

World Health Organization teams are on the ground in western Afghanistan ensuring the injured get the medical help following the earthquake.

Afghanistan earthquakes: ‘Staggering’ health consequences

20 October 2023 — Families in western Afghanistan, who have lost everything to a series of devastating earthquakes, need urgent assistance to withstand the harsh winter, the UN relief wing...

UN Sustainable Development Goals

17 Goals to transform our world

The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries — poor, rich and middle-income — to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.

Thomas the Tank engine

Student Resources on the SDGs

Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals! On our student resources page you will find plenty of materials for young people and adults alike. Share with your family and friends to help achieve a better world for all.

children holding up books

SDG Book Club

Reading and learning are essential to children’s growth and development; stories can fuel their imagination and raise awareness of new possibilities. The SDG Book Club aims to encourage them to learn about the Goals in a fun, engaging way, empowering them to make a difference.

Act Now

ActNow Campaign

ActNow is the United Nations campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs can improve life for all of us and everyone can join the global movement for change. To log your actions, download the app.

SDG7 - affordable and clean energy

Goal of the month

 
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

More about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

More from the
United Nations

Featured stories from across the United Nations and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

A destroyed building in the Gaza Strip Secretary-General, Peace and Security

The Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel

The United Nations has played a significant role in addressing the enduring conflict between Israel and Palestine, and has been actively involved in seeking a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Over the years, the UN has facilitated peace talks, provided humanitarian aid, and supported initiatives aimed at fostering understanding and reconciliation between the two parties. UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced grave concern over the on-going escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza, and stressed the need to prevent the violence from spreading into the wider region.

Two women pumping clean water in Cameroon. UNOPS, Water, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Clean water to combat waterborne diseases in Cameroon

Waterborne diseases, such as cholera are endemic in Cameroon, where outbreaks have been reported every year for the past six years. Between 2022 and 2023, almost 1,900 cases of cholera were confirmed, and hundreds of deaths were recorded. In the rural municipality of Koutaba, located in western Cameroon, most people rely on extracting clean water from deep underground. Unfortunately, the deteriorated infrastructure, or lack thereof, has made it challenging to access clean water. With funding from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), UNOPS is working with the government of Cameroon and local communities to provide clean drinking water to more than 120 villages, distributed across three different regions of the country.

Brazilian restaurateur Bela Gil (right) in conversation with another chef. FAO, Water

Four heroes fighting for the sustainable use of water resources

Water is essential for life and food production. Globally, 70% of freshwater is used for agriculture, which is why changing the way we grow our food and produce agricultural products can have the greatest impact. Approximately 2.4 billion people currently live in countries, where water resources are under stress, yet global water demand for agriculture is expected to increase by 35% by 2050. From the food to the fashion industries, we often take this fundamental element for granted. On this World Food Day, FAO is drawing attention to water and highlighting four individuals, who are taking action to manage this precious resource wisely, while inspiring others.

A young boy sitting in a pile of destruction.
Humanitarian Aid, WFP

Gaza situation is devastating, warns WFP

Food-insecurity levels were already alarmingly high, with one third of people in Palestine – 1.8 million – experiencing food insecurity. In the immediate aftermath of the spike in conflict, the UN World Food Programme's emergency operation aims to provide a critical food lifeline to over 800,000 people.

A young girl staring out a window.
Women and Gender Equality, UNFPA

No home to return to

Mariam is among the more than 100,000 people, who have fled into Armenia following the escalation of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan. About one third of the refugees are reportedly under 18, and approximately half are women and girls, who face a  heightened risk of gender-based violence.

Natural Resources and the Environment, UNEP

Curbing mercury’s toxic fallout

Despite its widespread use, mercury has been known for centuries to be toxic. Adopted in 2013, the Minamata convention aims at stepping up action on mercury pollution to help attain a pollution-free planet.

A famer holding a harvest of eggplants.
Agriculture and Food, UNCTAD

Time to turn the tide on food investment

Transforming agrifood systems will contribute not only to eradicating poverty, ending hunger and improving nutrition, but also ensure that they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

What we do

Due to the powers vested in its Charter and its unique international character, the United Nations can take action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21st century, including:

A UNIFIL peacekeeper from Spain on a regular patrol in the vicinity of Al Wazzani, south-eastern Lebanon as the sun sets in the horizon. Since 1948, more than a million women and men have served as UN peacekeepers.

Maintain International Peace and Security

The United Nations came into being in 1945, following the devastation of the Second World War, with one central mission: the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN does this by working to prevent conflict; helping parties in conflict make peace; peacekeeping; and creating the conditions to allow peace to hold and flourish. These activities often overlap and should reinforce one another, to be effective. The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security. The General Assembly and the Secretary-General play major, important, and complementary roles, along with other UN offices and bodies.

Students at Butkhak High School in Kabul, Afghanistan, cheer in unison on the last day of Global Action Week, an international campaign advocating free, quality education for all.

Protect Human Rights

The term “human rights” was mentioned seven times in the UN's founding Charter, making the promotion and protection of human rights a key purpose and guiding principle of the Organization.  In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights brought human rights into the realm of international law.  Since then, the Organization has diligently protected human rights through legal instruments and on-the-ground activities.

A child has a meal at a food distribution centre in the Rwanda camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), near Tawila, North Darfur. More than 8,000 women and children living in the camp benefit from nutrition programmes run by the World Food Programme

Deliver Humanitarian Aid

One of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in its Charter, is "to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character."  The UN first did this in the aftermath of the Second World War on the devastated continent of Europe, which it helped to rebuild.  The Organization is now relied upon by the international community to coordinate humanitarian relief operations due to natural and man-made disasters in areas beyond the relief capacity of national authorities alone.

Grace, a farmer from Kipilat village, and a leading member of the forest community in Ainabkoi, Kenya, planting a tree in 2012.

Promote Sustainable Development

From the start in 1945, one of the main priorities of the United Nations was to “achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.”  Improving people’s well-being continues to be one of the main focuses of the UN. The global understanding of development has changed over the years, and countries now have agreed that sustainable development offers the best path forward for improving the lives of people everywhere.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivers its order on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Nicaragua on 11 October 2013 in the case concerning Construction of a Road in Costa Rica along the San Juan River.

Uphold International Law

The UN Charter, in its Preamble, set an objective: "to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained."  Ever since, the development of, and respect for international law has been a key part of the work of the Organization.  This work is carried out in many ways - by courts, tribunals, multilateral treaties - and by the Security Council, which can approve peacekeeping missions, impose sanctions, or authorize the use of force when there is a threat to international peace and security, if it deems this necessary.  These powers are given to it by the UN Charter, which is considered an international treaty.  As such, it is an instrument of international law, and UN Member States are bound by it.  The UN Charter codifies the major principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations.

Structure of the
United Nations

The main parts of the UN structure are the General Assembly, the
Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat. All were established in 1945 when the UN was founded.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.

Security Council

The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members (5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members). Each Member has one vote. Under the Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.

Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as implementation of internationally agreed development goals.

Trusteeship Council

The Trusteeship Council was established in 1945 by the UN Charter, under Chapter XIII, to provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories that had been placed under the administration of seven Member States, and ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the Territories for self-government and independence.

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its seat is at the Peace Palace in the Hague (Netherlands). It is the only one of the six principal organs of the United Nations not located in New York (United States of America).

Secretariat

The Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and tens of thousands of international UN staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by the General Assembly and the Organization's other principal organs.

More about the structure of the United Nations

Learn more

Climate Change

Climate change is the defining issue of our time and now is the defining moment to do something about it. There is still time to tackle climate change, but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society.

Women at UN CSW63 Side Event - “Take the Hot Seat”. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

Gender Equality

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is greeted on his visit to the Central African Republic

Ending Poverty

While global poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 2000, one in ten people in developing regions still lives on less than US$1.90 a day — the internationally agreed poverty line, and millions of others live on slightly more than this daily amount.

A young girl holds a smiling infant at the Zaatari Refugee Camp

Our Common Agenda

Following up on a pledge made by UN Member States at the UN’s 75th anniversary, the report Our Common Agenda looks ahead to the next 25 years and represents the Secretary-General’s vision on the future of global cooperation. It calls for inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism to better respond to humanity’s most pressing challenges.

Watch and Listen

Video and audio from across the United Nations and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

Unleashing the power of data

Data literacy is the ability to work with and interpret data. The World Bank’s Data Use and Literacy Program, delivers a range of activities to build capacity for data literacy and data use, enable data-driven decision-making, and democratize participation in the data revolution across low- and middle-income countries.

Children are agents of change

A healthy environment is a basic human right, advocates Francisco Vera, the 13-year-old Colombian Climate Human Rights defender.

Why are more people facing hunger?

Hunger is on the rise, affecting more people than ever before. WFP data shows that each 1% reduction in WFP's assistance could push an additional 400,000 people closer to famine.

UN Podcasts

A palestinian family loading the trunk of the car.

UNRWA’s ‘unsung heroes’ still delivering in Gaza

UNRWA was established more than 70 years ago, and its services include education, healthcare, camp infrastructure and social safety net assistance to Palestine refugees across the Middle East. This includes around two million people in Gaza, where UNRWA schools are now housing roughly 170,000 residents who have fled their homes in the wake of the escalating crisis sparked by Hamas attacks against Israel. UN News spoke to Juliette Touma, UNRWA Director of Communications, who described her 13,000 colleagues as “unsung heroes” who "have been on the ground providing services to people in need". 

Latest Audio from UN News

The United Nations in Pictures

Images from across the United Nations and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

A group of women selling corn in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Photo:OCHA

Cash assistance to empower displaced people in DRC

Decades of armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have forced some 5.5 million people to flee their villages, leaving them in dire need of assistance to survive. Since the humanitarian operations were scaled up in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri Provinces last June, the distribution of cash assistance has significantly increased. In July 2023, the WFP distributed cash to more than 800,000 vulnerable individuals in these three provinces, an eightfold increase within just one month. Learn about the stories of three beneficiaries of this programme: Yalala, Akela, and Nyangoma, and how they invested the money provided by the UN.

A woman playing witha child in Türkiye.
Photo:UNICEF/UN0806130/Karacan

The flexible funding that plays a crucial role in saving children’s lives

In a volatile world, with more children in need than ever and resources increasingly stretched, UNICEF and its partners must have the right support. Global Humanitarian Thematic Funding is a highly flexible form of funding that allows donors to support the UN agency, as it responds rapidly and strategically to immediate needs in humanitarian crises. Thanks to the generous support from partners, Flexible Funding has already saved lives in six countries including Afghanistan, Haiti, Türkiye, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, and South Sudan.

Main Bodies

Departments / Offices

Resources / Services

Key Documents

News and Media

Issues / Campaigns