In the quiet valleys of Uttarakhand, in northern India, the sound of the wind is replacing the sound of children’s laughter. The hills are not just losing people; they are losing their songs.In fact, the hills of Uttarakhand are emptying. Across valleys once alive with terraced fields, festivals and village schools, families are leaving for towns and plains – not out of choice but because they must. The causes are multiple and intertwined: reduced climate resilience, fragile livelihoods, weak educational infrastructure, limited local jobs, and political decisions that prize visible infrastructure over people-centred development. Unless these drivers are understood and addressed together, the exodus will deepen – along with the social and ecological costs for the region and the nation. Climate vulnerability: the slow unravelling of mountain lifeThe Himalayan landscape that supports the agriculture of Uttarakhand, as well as its water resources and its village, is undergoing rapid changes. Both state and national reports highlight the retreat of glaciers, the growth of hazardous glacial lakes, and an uptick in extreme weather events that lead to landslides, flash floods and erosion. These risks hit hardest those living on steep slopes with small landholdings. The Uttarakhand State Climate Change Cell (SCCC) and the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) are keeping track of these developments, and caution that unchecked infrastructure development and tourism could worsen exposure to such hazards.These environmental shifts are translating into economic challenges. Crop patterns are changing, yields are declining and seasonal job opportunities are dwindling. When fields can no longer provide for basic needs, migration often becomes a necessity. Recent discussions with stakeholders have highlighted significant drops in glacier reserves and the urgent need for comprehensive action plans in the Himalayas, and stress the fact that the impacts of climate change are already driving migration in the western Himalaya.Education gaps: future-readiness is missingEducation can both protect people and open to them a world of opportunities – provided it is accessible, of good quality and connected to local economies. The educational situation in many Uttarakhand hamlets – and no doubt in other mountain regions around the world – is characterized by a lack of infrastructural development, the absence of teachers, limited digital access and few vocational training opportunities. Analyses conducted by the government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) show that a large number of rural schools in India lack Internet connectivity and basic educational materials – a disadvantage that was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. When kids and young people do not see practical ways to get good jobs through the nearby schools, families think of moving to cities either for their children’s education or to find them jobs. Studies on child migration have shown that education (or its absence) is one of the primary factors leading to families moving. Children who are thus dislocated face greater vulnerabilities unless systems are in place to include migrants in learning programmes. For Uttarakhand, this implies that education policy should be climate-aware, mobile population-inclusive and connected to the local economy, rather than provide credentials that are suitable only for the urban environment.Jobs and livelihoods: why roads and hotels aren’t enoughThe main development model in many hill districts focuses on building roads, creating tourism infrastructure and developing real estate. This model shows some growth in gross domestic product but leads to seasonal and uncertain jobs. Often, these jobs benefit outside investors more than local residents. Agriculture, pastoralism and small-scale crafts, which have historically supported mountain livelihoods, have been weakened by climate change, land degradation and lack of interest from younger generations. Studies tracking migration from Uttarakhand reveal that many villages have been partially or completely abandoned. The populations that remain are often older and poorer.To achieve sustainable local jobs, we need to invest in climate-resilient agriculture, improve value chains through processing local produce, support decentralized renewable energy, promote mountain-friendly tourism models run by local cooperatives and provide the digital skills required for remote work. If we do not implement these focused strategies, the jobs created will continue to be temporary, offer low pay and prove inadequate as a means to stop people from leaving.Political neglect and misguided indicators of progressDevelopment decisions are influenced by political motivations. Compared to slower, less visible investments in teacher training, community health, watershed rehabilitation or risk-sensitive village relocation, large, visible projects like highways, hotel complexes and urban-focused tourism receive political credit more quickly. As a result, the measurement of "progress" is skewed and more easily counts kilometres of roads than the years that children spend in school or the disaster resilience that households help develop.Furthermore, policy responses frequently lack integration: livelihood programmes, education policies and climate planning are all created independently with little input from the community. Because of this disconnect, interventions are less effective and local priorities, such as protecting agro-biodiversity or re-establishing traditional water systems, receive insufficient funding. What a people-centred, mountain-appropriate response looks likeReversing or stabilizing migration from Uttarakhand requires a multi-pronged, place-sensitive strategy:Climate-sensitive planning and risk reduction. Glacial lake monitoring, early warning systems, community-based disaster preparedness and hazard-informed land use rules should be scaled up so that people are not forced to leave due to recurrent disasters.Education that prepares for locality. Village learning centres and vocational streams linked to mountain economies (e.g., horticulture, value-added processing, eco-tourism operated by locals) should be strengthened and ensure digital access for blended learning. UNESCO literacy and learning initiatives and evidence on school access suggest models that can be adapted to hill contexts.Livelihood diversification rooted in local resources. Cooperatives, micro-enterprises and climate-resilient agricultural practices should be supported along with investment in decentralized energy access and connectivity to open remote income streams without uprooting communities.Policy coherence and participatory governance. Climate, education and employment policies should be aligned under district-level mountain plans with strong local representation; and progress should be evaluated using social and ecological indicators (learning outcomes, youth employment rates and household resilience) rather than only numbers of infrastructure projects.Targeted incentives to retain youth. Scholarships for local vocational colleges and development support for young entrepreneurs should be established, and public employment schemes should be tuned for terrain constraints to keep skilled youth engaged locally.Many of these measures could be applied to other mountain regions, which are facing similar challenges.A call for integrated careThe migration crisis in Uttarakhand is a result of a combination of ecological pressures and policy decisions that have eroded village life over time. In order to address the problem, one must be humble enough to listen to mountain communities, value their knowledge and support investments in less glamorous but stronger community building blocks: good schools, resilient livelihoods, risk-informed planning and responsible local governance. Progress isn't progress at all if it leaves the mountains empty. Rethinking development for the Himalaya entails putting people and the environment first, making mountain living a respectable and feasible option rather than a forced sacrifice.. About the author: Himani Usha Tripathi is a writer, mentor and performing artist whose work spans education, sustainability, Sustainable Development Goal advocacy and cultural exploration.This story was first published in UN Chronicle. The UN Chronicle is not an official record. It is privileged to host senior United Nations officials as well as distinguished contributors from outside the United Nations system whose views are not necessarily those of the United Nations. Similarly, the boundaries and names shown, and the designations used, in maps or articles do not necessarily imply endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
 

With global tensions rising and “reckless actions” triggering dangerous consequences, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday called for renewed efforts on peace, justice and sustainable development as he outlined his priorities for 2026 – the final year of his tenure. 2026 “is already shaping up to be a year of constant surprises and chaos,” he told journalists in New York.Mr. Guterres – who trained as a physicist before entering public life – said that during times of profound flux, he returns to fixed principles that explain how forces act.Generating ‘positive reactions’Among them is Newton’s Third Law of Motion which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.“As we begin this year, we are determined to choose actions that generate concrete and positive reactions,” he said.“Reactions of peace, of justice, of responsibility, and of progress in our troubled times.”Chain reactionToday, impunity is driving conflicts – fueling escalation, widening mistrust, and allowing powerful spoilers to enter from every direction.“Meanwhile, the slashing of humanitarian aid is generating its own chain reactions of despair, displacement, and death,” as inequalities deepen.He highlighted climate change – “the most literal and devastating illustration of Newton’s principle” – as actions that heat the planet trigger storms, wildfires, hurricanes, drought and rising seas.Power shiftThe world is also witnessing “perhaps the greatest transfer of power of our times”, namely from governments to private tech companies.“When technologies that shape behaviour, elections, markets, and even conflicts operate without guardrails, the reaction is not innovation, it is instability,” he warned.Hegemony is not the answerThese challenges are happening as systems for global problem-solving continue to reflect economic and power structures of 80 years ago and this must change.“Our structures and institutions must reflect the complexity – and the opportunity – of these new times and realities,” he said.“Global problems will not be solved by one power calling the shots. Nor will they be solved by two powers carving the world into rival spheres of influence.”He stressed the importance of accelerating multipolarity – “one that is networked, inclusive by design, and capable of creating balance through partnerships” – but it alone does not guarantee stability or peace.“For multipolarity to generate equilibrium, prosperity and peace, we need strong multilateral institutions where legitimacy is rooted in shared responsibility and shared values,” he said.Shared valuesAdditionally, in the pursuit of reform, “structures may be out of date – but values are not,” he said.In this regard, the people who wrote the UN Charter “understood that the values enshrined in our founding documents were not lofty abstractions or idealistic hopes” but “the sine qua non of lasting peace and enduring justice.”He said that “despite all the hurdles, the United Nations is acting to give life to our shared values” and will not give up.Peace, reform and development“We are pushing for peace – just and sustainable peace rooted in international law. Peace that addresses root causes. Peace that endures beyond the signing of an agreement.”The UN is also pressing to reform and strengthen the Security Council – “the one and only body with the Charter-mandated authority to act on peace and security on behalf of every country.”Stating that there is no lasting peace without development, he highlighted action to speed up progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reform the global financial architecture,“That includes ending the crushing cycle of debt, tripling the lending capacity of multilateral development banks, and ensuring developing countries just participation and real influence in global financial institutions,” he said.Climate supportOn climate action, he stressed the need for deep emissions cuts this decade along with a just and equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.“We are demanding far greater support for countries already confronting climate catastrophe, expanded early warning systems, opportunities for nations rich in critical minerals to climb global value chains,” he said.The UN is also working urgently towards a framework for technology governance, including through global dialogue, capacity support for developing countries and the new International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI).The names of 40 proposed panel members will be submitted to the General Assembly soon.AI for the developing worldMr. Guterres has also called for the creation of a Global Fund on AI Capacity Development for developing countries, with a target of $3 billion.“As we begin this year, we are determined to choose actions that generate concrete and positive reactions,” he said.“Reactions of peace, of justice, of responsibility, and of progress in our troubled times.”                                                                *** 

At dawn, the Khowai River lies quiet, its waters cutting through dense forest and steep hills. For the families of Kalicharan Para, nestled deep inside the Atharamura mountain range of Tripura, this river is not just a lifeline— it is the only road they have ever known.Kalicharan Para, a small hamlet in Noonacherra under Mungiakami Block of Khowai district, exists beyond the reach of roads and routine services. To get there, one must endure a five-hour boat journey, navigating rough waters, thick jungle, and unforgiving terrain. For years, this isolation has come at a cost. Children have grown up without routine immunization, and pregnant women have faced motherhood with limited access to essential healthcare.For the public health system, reaching essential health services to Kalicharan Para represented one of the hardest challenges: a community quite literally off the map.Recognizing the urgency, the district administration and WHO National Public Health Surveillance Network (WHO-NPSN), identified the village as a priority high-risk area. What followed was not a routine visit, but a determined effort to carry quality health services across rivers and forests — directly to the doorsteps of the unreached.  When the outreach health team finally arrived at the village, it brought with it more than vaccines and medical kits. Senior officers travelled alongside frontline health workers, signaling that this mission mattered. The team included the Medical Officer from the Primary Health Centre, the Community Health Officer from the nearest Ayushman Arogya Mandir, and state and district leadership led by Dr Soubhik Debbarma, Member Secretary (National Health Mission), and Mr Rajat Pant, District Magistrate and Collector, Khowai. They were joined by the Chief Medical Officer, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, local Primary Health Centre officials, and the WHO-NPSN team led by Dr Tigran Avagyan—united by a shared resolve to reach the unreached.For the villagers, the impact was immediate. Eleven children under the age of five—each previously “zero-dose” children —received their first-ever vaccinations. For their parents, it was a moment of relief and quiet hope: protection against diseases they had long feared but felt powerless to prevent. Alongside immunization, the camp provided basic preventive healthcare services, addressing needs that had gone unmet for years.Yet the most powerful moments unfolded not at the vaccination table, but in conversation. Sitting with villagers, listening to their stories, the teams heard firsthand about the daily realities of living beyond access—missed services, long journeys, and the sense of being forgotten. These exchanges transformed statistics into lived experiences and underscored the structural barriers faced by communities in Tripura’s most remote corners.The journey did not end at Kalicharan Para. The lessons learned there travelled back to the State Headquarters, where WHO NPSN convened a high-level meeting with senior officials. Together, they discussed building a sustainable and scalable framework to strengthen immunization and essential primary healthcare delivery in hard-to-reach areas—so that geography no longer determines a child’s chance at a healthy life.Kalicharan Para stands today as a powerful reminder of what is possible when collaboration meets commitment, and when systems bend to reach people rather than wait for people to come to them. Deep in the Atharamura hills, a simple truth echoed through the forested silence: “No child should be left behind, no matter how distant the destination.”The story was first published here

29 January 2026: India confirmed two cases of Nipah virus infection this month in the eastern state of West Bengal.Both individuals are 25-year-old nurses—a woman and a man—working at the same private hospital in Barasat, located in North 24 Parganas district. They developed initial symptoms in the last week of December 2025, which progressed rapidly to neurological complications. The two were placed in isolation in early January.The cases were initially identified as suspected Nipah virus infections on 11 January by the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at a government hospital in Kalyani. Confirmation was subsequently provided by the National Institute for Virology in Pune on 13 January.As of 21 January, the male patient is recovering, while the female patient remains in critical condition. Containment and Public Health ResponseFollowing confirmation, an extensive public health response was activated. A total of 196 individuals who had contact with the confirmed cases were identified, traced, monitored, and tested. All contacts have remained asymptomatic and have tested negative for Nipah virus infection.As of 27 January 2026, no additional cases have been detected. Risk AssessmentIndia has demonstrated its capacity to manage Nipah outbreaks during previous events and recommended public health measures are being implemented jointly by national and state health teams. At this time, there is no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission.WHO assesses the risk at the sub-national level in West Bengal as moderate, given the presence of fruit bat reservoirs in the India–Bangladesh border areas and the possibility of sporadic zoonotic spillover. However, the national, regional, and global risk remains low.The cases are confined to North 24 Parganas district, with no reported travel while symptomatic. All identified contacts have tested negative, and surveillance and infection prevention measures have been intensified. The likelihood of spread to other Indian states or internationally is considered low.Historically, Nipah outbreaks in the WHO South-East Asia Region have been limited to Bangladesh and India, occurring sporadically or in small clusters. Human-to-human transmission is rare and usually confined to health-care settings or close family contacts. There have been no known instances of international spread through travel.Based on current evidence, WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions. WHO Recommendations and Community GuidanceCurrently, there is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Nipah virus infection, although several candidates are under development. Early supportive care, including intensive care for severe respiratory or neurological complications, remains critical for improving survival.WHO emphasizes the importance of infection prevention and control in health-care settings and community awareness to reduce exposure risks. Key public health messages include:Reducing bat-to-human transmission by preventing bats from accessing date palm sap, boiling freshly collected sap, washing and peeling fruits thoroughly, discarding fruits with signs of bat bites, and avoiding areas where bats roost.Reducing animal-to-human transmission by wearing protective clothing and gloves when handling sick animals or during slaughtering and culling.Reducing human-to-human transmission by avoiding unprotected close contact with infected individuals and practicing regular hand hygiene.Strengthening infection control in health-care settings, including adequate ventilation, risk assessment, and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment when caring for suspected or confirmed cases.WHO continues to work closely with national and state health authorities in India to support risk assessment, surveillance, and outbreak response efforts.                                                                                   For more details and factsheets, please click hereNipah virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted mainly from bats to humans, sometimes through contaminated food or close contact. With no licensed vaccine or treatment currently available, early detection, supportive care, and strong infection prevention measures remain essential.  This story was first published here                                                                                                                                       ***