Escalating conflict and targeted violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state have forced some 150,000 Rohingya refugees to flee to Bangladesh over the past 18 months – the largest exodus to the neighbouring country in years. 

As armed clashes intensify and conditions worsen inside Myanmar, thousands continue to cross the border seeking safety in the overcrowded camps of Cox’s Bazar, where nearly one million Rohingya refugees already live in densely populated camps.

“This is the largest movement of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh since 2017,” said Babar Baloch, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, briefing journalists in Geneva on Friday.  

He clarified that unlike the mass influx in 2017, when some 750,000 Rohingya fled deadly violence in Rakhine state, this uptick in refugees has unfolded more gradually.

CLIP: 150,000 Rohingya flee to Bangladesh amid renewed Myanmar violence: UNHCR

● Gaza: Deadly choice for civilians between getting shot, or getting fed
● Gang violence is escalating across Haiti
● Renewed fighting leads to surge in Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar

Audio credit: Matt Wells, UN News
Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved. 


UN News Today 11 July 2025 - Gaza, Haiti update, Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar

The current global health system, which has achieved “tremendous” gains over the past decades, is a bit like a bowl of spaghetti, according to Mandeep Dhaliwal, the Director of Health at the UN Development Programme (UNDP). 

The intertwining noodles of pasta have – in some ways – produced a siloed health system, if you run with the metaphor: separate strands never quite connect.

But public health is not a silo, Ms. Dhaliwal told UN News’s Naima Sawaya, ahead of the High-Level Political Forum being held in New York over the next two weeks, which will discuss the world’s commitment to accessible healthcare and well-being for all.

Audio credit: Naima Sawaya, UN News


Reforming the global health system, one bowl of spaghetti at a time

This story explores how sustainable development could be achieved through new models, more specifically passing from top-down commitments to a bottom-up delivery. The financing conversation must evolve to a local scale, and Resident Coordinators of the UN are playing a catalytic role in order to achieve this goal. Indeed, “the SDGs can be won at the last mile—but only if we start putting the first dollars where they matter most.”

Beyond Capitals: Financing the Frontlines of Sustainable Development

In Zimbabwe, a new kind of partnership is changing how development is financed. With traditional aid shrinking, the UN is helping flip the script—moving from short-term support to long-term investment in clean energy. The result: smarter fi nance, deeper impact.

No More Business as Usual: Zimbabwe’s Big Energy Finance Experiment

In the face of climate shocks and limited access to affordable finance, Jamaica isn’t backing down—it’s stepping up. With support from the UN, this Small Island Developing State is pioneering bold partnerships that are flipping the script on traditional development finance.

Jamaica’s Big Bet Turning Vulnerability into a Development Superpower

MSMEs are the world’s quiet powerhouses. In the Philippines, MSMEs gained internet access and digital training through UN-backed satellite connectivity. In Tanzania, SDG-aligned investment mapping helped create 226,000+ new jobs. And in Jordan, nearly $7 million in loans supported rural MSMEs in agriculture and livestock. MSMEs are also scaling up in Ukraine and in Trinidad and Tobago.

Why Small & Medium Business are the Overlooked Powerhouses of Development

Blended finance is emerging as a vital approach to fund sustainable development. This innovative method involves using public or philanthropic funds to mitigate risks for private investors, thereby attracting private capitals towards sustainable initiatives. This story showcases successful UN-led blended finance projects globally and outlines key lessons for all countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Blended Finance: From Buzzword to Real-World Results

The United Nations is turning financial solutions into real-world impact, and Sevilla, Spain, is leading the way. A new UN report highlights how the city’s creative financing models—like green bonds and public-private partnerships—are accelerating progress on SDGs. From renewable energy projects to affordable housing, Sevilla’s approach demonstrates how cities can mobilize funds for climate action and inclusive growth.

From Seville to Solutions - Turning Finance into Impact

• UNICEF mourns the killing of seven children killed queuing up for aid in Gaza 
• Syria: Senior UN envoy speaks out against rising intercommunal violence
• UN human rights chief underscores the importance of advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples at high-level forum

Audio credit: Anna O’Donnell, UN News
Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved.

UN News Today 14 July 2025 - Gaza, Syria, rights of Indigenous Peoples

Bringing together the United Nations development system to deliver on the Global Goals for people and planet.

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