A United Nations funding appeal for Haiti has been slashed by more than $100 million due to a disappointing response from donors. UN Humanitarian Aid Coordinator for Haiti Nigel Fisher made the announcement at a press conference in the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Tuesday. "The original budget for 2012 for Haiti was US $231 million. However, [...]
The Security Council on Wednesday heard about the ongoing hardship in Gaza from the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry. Serry visited Gaza earlier this month where he said he was struck by the "fragility and unsustainability of the present situation." He was also concerned about funding challenges faced by UNRWA, [...]
The UN Secretary-General has expressed sadness following the death of Ghana's President John Atta Mills. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr. Ban extended heartfelt condolences to President Mills's family and to the government and people of Ghana. He said the late leader will be remembered for his statesmanship and dedicated service to his country. [...]
In response to the worsening security conditions in Syria, Turkish authorities have decided to close their border with Syria. In an interview with Mamadou Alpha Diallo, Sybella Wilkes, spokeswoman of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said the border was closed to all commercial traffic, but remains open for refugees. Duration: 2’34″
A United Nations team that includes human rights officers was dispatched this week to Côte d'Ivoire to investigate a deadly attack on a relocation camp for internally displaced people (or IDPs). At least seven people were killed and 67 injured in the incident, which took place in Nahibly, in the western part of the country, [...]
Nearly six million children in Afghanistan are now protected against measles, thanks to a recent vaccination campaign supported by the United Nations. The youngsters, aged between nine months to 10 years old, also received anti-polio drops. Afghanistan has committed to stamping out measles by 2015. Charles Appel reports. Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health implemented the [...]
It is "important" that Syria's neighbours remain open to people fleeing the conflict there. That assessment comes from Sybilla Wilkes, a spokesperson with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). She spoke with UN Radio on Wednesday regarding Turkey's decision to close its borders with Syria to commercial traffic due to the worsening security situation. "We've had [...]
The UN Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) is operating at a reduced level, the head of UN peacekeeping told journalists in Damascus on Wednesday. Hervé Ladsous reported that approximately half of the 278 unarmed military observers have returned to their home countries. UNSMIS had suspended activities in June due to intensification of the armed violence [...]
The new head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) is hoping for a reduction in violence during the operation's final mandate in the country. Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye, who was introduced to the press in Damascus on Wednesday, said he was taking charge at a very difficult time. UNSMIS had suspended its activities [...]
During the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, more than one million people died and a quarter of a million women were raped. Rwandans have been working tirelessly to rebuild from this tumultuous past and today their country is one of the fastest growing economies on the African continent. Furthermore, women have now come to the forefront [...]
