UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Thursday for an end to widening conflicts and stronger protection for civilians, warning that wars are spreading their economic consequences far beyond the battlefield.
"Today, conflicts are not only intensifying. They are expanding," Guterres told reporters. "In climate, we know El Nino as a disturbance in one part of the planet that disrupts weather patterns and upends lives thousands of kilometers away. We are now witnessing an El Nino of war."
Conflicts are fueling one another, with consequences spreading farther and faster, he warned.
Guterres said attacks against civilians and civilian objects are prohibited under international law and must stop. But the effects of war extend beyond battle zones, disrupting energy markets, shipping lanes, supply chains and financial systems.
He warned that these shocks were hitting an already deeply unequal world, where some people could absorb higher prices while others had to choose between food and heating, and where poorer countries faced difficult choices between servicing debt and investing in health and education.
Guterres called for an end to fighting, including in the Middle East, and urged respect for international law, civilian protection and freedom of navigation, while giving diplomacy room to succeed.
Speaking ahead of a planned visit to Egypt on Friday, Guterres reiterated his call for peace.
"We need to stop the widening of war, protect civilians and create the political space for diplomacy and peace," he said. "People everywhere want security. They want dignity. They want governments and international institutions to deliver." ■
