While Donald Trump threatens to raze Iran, the United Nations struggles to fund its humanitarian program. The “wannabe autocrats” are holding the world hostage for their imperialistic ambitions, causing long-term damage.
Present in London on Monday, April 20, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordinator, Tom Fletcher, estimated that the military budget squandered in the Middle East war by the White House could have been used to “fund the saving of over 87 million lives,” as reported by the Guardian. According to his estimates, Washington has spent nearly $2 billion per day since the war against Tehran began.
“We could have funded this amount in 15 days,” said Tom Fletcher. The normalization of violent language puts his mission at risk. His “ultra-prioritized plan to save 87 million lives” amounts to $23 billion. “We could have funded this amount in less than fifteen days of this senseless war,” he regretted. “Today, of course, it’s impossible.”
Beyond the civilians directly targeted by the United States and Israel, around 240 million victims of wars, epidemics, earthquakes, or the impact of climate change are in danger. Despite numerous warnings from the United Nations, the war camp continues to carry out massacres.
“We are asking for barely over 1% of what the world spends on weapons and defense,” Fletcher said last December. “I’m not asking people to choose between a hospital in Brooklyn or one in Kandahar. I’m asking the world to think less about defense and more about humanitarian aid.”
The United Nations is forced to reduce its ambitions and deal with the erratic behavior of U.S. diplomacy.
During his visit to England, Tom Fletcher criticized the “real roller coasters” imposed by the White House. Due to the purely capitalist approach of Trump’s international representatives, the UN must also juggle the demands of shareholders and the suppressive policies of the United States, where racist and transphobic policies are implemented.
As Washington pushes for measures against abortion rights and immigration, Fletcher questions whether they should accept the money under these conditions, knowing it will save millions of lives. These dilemmas are imposed on the international community, which continues to rely on the United States.
(Context: The article talks about the challenges faced by the UN in funding its humanitarian program due to the high military spending and aggressive policies of certain countries.) (Fact Check: The figures and statements mentioned in the article have been attributed to Tom Fletcher and the events surrounding the UN’s funding challenges.)
