“Peace is our raison d’être. However, as we look at the world today, what is most dramatically lacking is peace,” said the UN chief.

In Guterres’ view, conflicts range from Gaza and Africa to environmental warfare, toxic disinformation and hate speech where civilians bear the brunt.

“For millions of people caught up in wars around the world, life is a deadly, daily, hungry hell,” he said.

The top UN official called the Gaza crisis a “festering wound in our collective conscience” as he harped on his calls for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and the release of hostages.

At the same time, Guterres warned of the dangers of this “era of chaos” as he called for compliance with the obligations of the UN Charter and, consequently, the right of all people to a life in peace and dignity. “Yet governments are ignoring and undermining the very principles of multilateralism without accountability,” he said.

Guterres further remarked on his call for a reform of the Security Council, a body he considered stagnant.

“We are seeing the results: a dangerous and unpredictable battle with total impunity,” he further said about risks ranging from the use of stealthier nuclear weaponry to new domains of conflict and weapons.

To confront it, the secretary-general called for strengthening and renewing global peace and security frameworks, as well as focusing efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), crucial targets for prosperity. pll/rgh/ebr