Brief

Experts warn UN faces funding, relevance and Security Council crisis as major powers act alone

At the 81st UN General Assembly, analysts cite funding shortfalls, waning relevance and veto deadlock as the UN struggles to address wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:34:58 GMT

At the start of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, experts said the organisation is confronting an existential crisis of funding, relevance and Security Council gridlock.

What happened

The assembly gathered world leaders while the UN reported that civilian deaths in the Ukraine war in the first eight months of 2026 exceeded the total for 2025. Russia continued to veto Security Council resolutions, and the UN labelled Israel’s conduct in Gaza as genocide but struggled to act.

What the reports add

Al Jazeera quoted Daniel Forti, head of UN Affairs at the International Crisis Group, saying leaders still recognise the UN’s importance as a global conversation platform. Alanna O’Malley, professor at Erasmus University, added that veto use leaves the UN “hamstrung” across conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Iran.

What was said

“Many of you here have seen more than once how the abuse of the veto at the UN weakens the world and pushes peace further away,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the assembly, according to Al Jazeera.

“The vast majority of leaders, from small states, from middle powers, and even a few from major powers, recognise the importance of a UN that is a global conversation platform,” Daniel Forti told Al Jazeera.

How it came about

Earlier coverage by Felo News highlighted the UN’s challenges in addressing the Gaza conflict and the growing strain on its peace‑keeping budget, linking the current concerns to a pattern of unresolved crises.

Key facts

• The UN reported more civilian deaths in Ukraine in the first eight months of 2026 than in all of 2025. (aljazeera.com)
• Russia has repeatedly vetoed Security Council resolutions during the current session. (aljazeera.com)
• UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres told Al Jazeera that the conflicts are having real humanitarian impacts worldwide. (aljazeera.com)

Sources

• [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “As major powers act unilaterally, experts say UN faces crisis in New York”