“The humanitarian aid system is built on a concept that when disaster strikes, outside agencies provide a temporary helping hand until people can take back control of their own lives. But across the world, we see millions of people caught in semi-permanent crises. As each year goes by, they are less and less likely to break free.”

Portuguese politician and diplomat

António Guterres is a Portuguese politician and diplomat, born in 1949. Since 2017, he has served as the ninth secretary-general of the United Nations. A member of the Portuguese Socialist Party, he was prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002. He is known for his work in international diplomacy and public service, especially through his long career in Portuguese and global politics.