The Unsung Heroes Keeping the UN Safe
When we think of the UN, we often picture blue helmets, aid convoys or the storied hall of the General Assembly. But behind the scenes is a team of quiet professionals working around the clock to make it all possible: the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS).
If you haven’t heard of them, that’s kind of the point. Formed in 2005, UNDSS doesn’t seek the spotlight, but plays a critical role in nearly everything the UN does. Without them, aid wouldn’t get delivered, peacekeepers couldn’t deploy and diplomats wouldn’t be able to negotiate safely in conflict zones. UNDSS is, quite literally, the team that makes UN missions possible.
That’s why funding cuts to the UN regular budget—which is the primary source of funds for UNDSS—have such a ripple effect. Without the steady work of UNDSS, other agencies doing lifesaving work that have continued to receive U.S. funding can’t effectively, safely operate.
Here’s how.
The Work of UNDSS
Simply put, UNDSS is the UN’s security team keeping the UN safe.
They’re responsible for protecting at least 180,000 UN and UN agency personnel around the world—including peacekeepers, aid workers and diplomats—along with their families, offices and operations. They’re based in more than 130 countries, including (and perhaps most importantly) fragile and high-risk environments like Afghanistan, South Sudan and Haiti.
Their mission: make sure UN teams can do their jobs safely and effectively, no matter the conditions.
First In, Last Out
Whether it’s a civil war, a natural disaster or a health emergency, UNDSS is there—often the first in and the last out. Before aid agencies can respond, UNDSS teams arrive to assess risk, coordinate with local authorities and develop plans to ensure UN missions can proceed without unnecessary danger.
Their work enabled the UN’s COVID-19 response, for example, kept teams operational during the 2023 floods in Pakistan and orchestrated high-stakes evacuations—such as when Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021, or more recently in Sudan and Ukraine.
One of the cornerstones of this work is the Security Risk Management (SRM) Framework, which helps UN agencies evaluate and mitigate risks before deploying staff or launching operations. In countries like Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this kind of planning enables lifesaving work to continue amid ongoing conflict.
UNDSS also invests heavily in staff training. The widely respected SSAFE program (Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments) prepares personnel for risky deployments through simulations of ambushes, checkpoints and medical emergencies. Many UN workers credit the program with saving their lives in the field.
And because today’s security landscape is as much about data and foresight as it is about armor and checkpoints, UNDSS relies on modern tools to stay ahead of evolving threats. Their Security Information and Operations Centre (SIOC) acts as a global command center, using satellite imagery, geospatial data and predictive analytics to guide decision-making.
They’ve also developed mobile apps like UN Security Alert and TRIP (Travel Request Information Processing), providing real-time updates and security info to UN staff on the move. These tools are vital in fast-evolving situations where every minute counts.
A New Threat: Budget Cuts
Despite its essential role, however, UNDSS is facing a crisis that field simulations can’t address. Due to a dramatic funding reduction—particularly a steep drawdown by the U.S.—UNDSS is being forced to significantly scale back operations. Annual support from the U.S. to its account for operations in crisis zones is projected to fall from $20 million to just $1 million.
This funding crunch means UNDSS is currently preparing for the likelihood of shuttering operations in dozens of countries— many of them the most in need. Haiti, Gaza and Sudan are among the hardest hit. The ripple effects are already being felt: agencies may be forced to withdraw from unstable regions or retreat to capital cities, undercutting localization and community-based efforts.
This isn’t just a UNDSS problem—it’s an ecosystem problem. The UN functions as a tightly connected system. When a foundational service like UNDSS weakens, entire operations risk collapse—even if individual agencies still have funding. That’s because UNDSS safely clears the way for U.S.-funded agencies protecting children, feeding families and aiding in conflict to do their jobs.
The Silent Force Behind Every Mission
UNDSS rarely makes headlines, but their fingerprints are on every successful UN mission—aid distribution, negotiated ceasefires, deployments. They are the unsung professionals behind the scenes, turning chaos into coordination and risk into readiness.
So next time you hear about the UN delivering aid in a war zone or standing up a clinic in the aftermath of a disaster, remember—none of that would be possible without UNDSS.
And U.S. funding helps makes that lifesaving service possible.
