In an era of complex global challenges, the United Nations remains essential to achieving peace and prosperity for all people. This year was important for the UN and its agencies, as they worked to address global problems and help people around the world. Here are a few (of the many) ways the UN addressed global issues in 2017.

  1. Responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis. UN agencies and partners worked with the government of Bangladesh to respond to the humanitarian crisis as more than 600,000 Rohingya people fled violence in Myanmar, including by providing refugees with food, sanitation supplies, tents, health care, and other essential aid.
  2. Helping Iraq rebuild. Following the liberation of communities in Iraq from ISIL, the UN Development Program (UNDP) continued its efforts to help revitalize and stabilize those communities that were on the brink of ruin, restoring infrastructure, creating economic opportunities, and rebuilding schools and hospitals across the country to allow millions of Iraqis to return to their homes.
  3. Protecting the planet. At the UN Environment Assembly in December, almost 2.5 million pledges from governments, civil society, businesses, and individuals were made to improve the health of the planet. From reducing pollution to protecting the oceans, the UN brought countries and sectors together in 2017 to push for action.

Read the full article about ways the UN made the world a better place in 2017 by Tatiana Niang and Jamie Albaum at United Nations Foundation