The United Nations often faces financial problems and must borrow money from time to time to make up for late payment of contributions. But last year saw the lowest payments in five years. UN Secretary General António Guterres was therefore forced to implement a series of austerity measures.
At the beginning of February, it was decided, among other things, to turn down the heating in the famous UN headquarters on the East River in New York. According to reports, the heating must now be reduced from about 22 to about 21 degrees Celsius.
The Secretary General’s spokesman now wears a scarf
It is probably a more symbolic difference, but in the draughty high-rise buildings with thousands of employees, there are already changes in the choice of clothing. Because it is chilly in some meeting rooms, many employees now wear thick sweaters to work. “We are trying to ensure that we have sufficient liquidity to guarantee basic supplies,” Guterres spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said on Wednesday.
The scarf he recently wore at a press conference was not a prop. He wears it “because I’m cold,” Dujarric says. Other UN employees also complain about cold rooms and cold fingers, but otherwise continue to do their work.
The United States leads the way among defaulting states
The reason for the austerity measures are overdue payments by UN member states. The lack of cash has made “aggressive measures” necessary, according to the United Nations. Otherwise the money risks running out in August.
The most serious factor is the lack of a contribution from the United States: Washington owes the United Nations about a billion dollars for the years 2023 and 2024, partly due to budget problems in Congress. in money for peacekeeping operations amounts to over three billion dollars.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
