The United Nations was established, in the aftermath of a devastating war, to help stabilise international relations and give peace a more secure foundation. Amid the threat of nuclear war and seemingly endless regional conflicts, peacekeeping has become an overriding concern of the United Nations, and the activities of the blue-helmeted peacekeepers have emerged as among the most visible. But the United Nations is much more than a peacekeeper and forum for conflict resolution. Often without attracting attention, the United Nations and its family of agencies are engaged in a vast array of work that seeks to improve people's lives around the world. Here, in brief, is a sampling of what the United Nations and its component bodies have accomplished since 1945, when the world organisation was founded.