UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has termed today the “most sombre” ‘United Nations Day’ — an annual day to commemorate the agency’s creation — of his career.

In a post on X, he said, “Today is the most sombre UN Day I can remember in my 35 years with the UN.

“A call — if nothing else — that we must summon all energies to prevent this jigsaw of wars from becoming one, irreparable global conflict,” he added.

“A call to world leaders to step back from the brink.”