Palais des Nations – lights out at the UN in Geneva – News

The UN is extremely short of money. That is why it is forced to largely close the venerable Palais des Nations in Geneva for the time being. It will remain dark at the United Nations’ second most important headquarters until at least mid-January. An unpleasant premiere.

A good 8,000 conferences take place every year in the 200,000 square meter UN headquarters in Geneva. Thousands of people usually come and go there every day.

But not around Christmas. That’s why it hasn’t been noticed until now that most corridors remained dark over the New Year, heating and cooling were turned down to a minimum and dozens of escalators and elevators were at a standstill.

Home office is popular

But now the extensive closure will be extended into the next, the first full working week of the new year. Chief spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci: “It’s about saving energy and other operating costs.”

Staff must work from home. Almost all cafeterias and restaurants are closed. Likewise, dozens of boardrooms. Press conferences will only take place virtually.

Above all, the sharp rise in energy prices in Switzerland is simply not included in the UN budget. Now radical savings are the order of the day. Tatiana Valovaya, the top head of the UN in Geneva, is concerned about the functioning of the world body, she told Swissinfo. There are even speculations that wage payments could soon be delayed.

UN is short of money

The UN has been financially strapped for a long time. It is by no means particularly expensive, as she explains in a lively video published at the beginning of the year. “The General Secretariat and all Blue Helmet missions,” says spokesman Farhan Haq, “only cost $1.25 per head of the world’s population. That’s less than a pack of chips.”

A major problem at the moment is that around fifty member states have defaulted on their contributions – some, including the USA, partially. Others even completely. This means that the Palais des Nations will not be able to return to normal operations until January 15th at the earliest. If you can afford it then.