UN secretary-general António Guterres has warned that the Middle East is being “pushed to breaking point”, with shipping attacks, rising oil prices and widening humanitarian crisis.

The UN chief, at a ceremony in Türkiye, while accepting the Atatürk International Award for Peace, urged a ceasefire and return to diplomacy to resolve the ongoing conflict in the region.

Mr Guterres urged all combatants to cease hostilities, uphold international law, protect civilians, and return immediately to the negotiating table.

“Around the world, we hear much talk of peace, but we see far too little of it,” Guterres said. “International law continues to be trampled, power politics are gaining ground, and inequalities are growing. New technologies, including artificial intelligence, risk accelerating violence rather than preventing it. Military spending is skyrocketing, while lifesaving aid is in freefall.”

In the midst of these, Guterres warned that civilians keep paying the price in rising death tolls, shattered lives and communities.

“The massive military strikes launched by the United States and Israel and the subsequent attacks by Iran on so many countries constitute a grave threat to international peace and security and have caused immense suffering for civilians. The region is being pushed to the breaking point,” he stressed.

According to him, the  consequences are “cascading around the world” amid disrupted trade, rising energy and food prices and deepening insecurity and instability.

“As always, the most vulnerable are being hurt first and worst,” he said.

“The region and the world desperately need an off-ramp,” Mr Guterres said. “As always, the most vulnerable are being hurt first and worst. The region and the world desperately need an off-ramp.”

Mr Guterres’ visit to Türkiye was a part of his latest solidarity visit to a Muslim nation to mark the holy month of Ramadan in what has become an annual tradition.

“These visits are a powerful reminder, to me and to the world, of the true spirit of Islam: compassion, community and empathy,” he said. “This Ramadan, I felt strongly that my solidarity visit must be here, in Türkiye. I came to shine a global spotlight on the extraordinary and generous spirit of the Turkish people.”

Mr Guterres accepted the award on behalf of UN staff, honouring their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and build peace around the world and mourning the loss of aid workers.

“Together, let us give peace a chance,” he said. 

(NAN)