A global campaign that aims to make social media history by reaching one billion people on 19 August, World Humanitarian Day, has passed its first milestone. UN and humanitarian aid organizations launched the global campaign to shine a spotlight on humanitarian work and encourage people around the world to get involved by doing something good [...]
Somali political and traditional leaders are being urged to ensure that a new parliament is selected so that the political transition in the country is successfully concluded on 20 August. The appeal has come from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who says he has been encouraged by the progress achieved in the Horn of Africa country. [...]
The London Olympic Games which have just concluded have received a thumbs up from a top United Nations sports official. Wilfried Lemke, the UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development, says the games were a wonderful expression of international cooperation and an inspiration for the entire world. He notes that this is the first [...]
Authorities in Myanmar have taken positive steps to improve human rights but the country still faces serious challenges, according to a UN independent expert. Tomás Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, says although some prisoners of conscience have been freed, he is concerned about the welfare of those still behind bars. Mr. [...]
UN humanitarian officials are concerned following reports of civilian casualties in Somalia as government forces and Al-Shabaab militants appear ready to fight over the southern port city of Kismaayo. This comes less than a week before the end of transitional governance in Somalia on 20 August. Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General, concerned about delays in selecting [...]
The head of the United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA), Valerie Amos, arrived in Syria on Tuesday on a two-day mission to assess the humanitarian situation. In recent days, fighting between government forces and opposition fighters has intensified for control of the city of Aleppo. Derrick Mbatha reports Duration: 3’05″
The World Health Organization of the United Nations, WHO, is working with the Ministry of Health of Uganda and other organizations to stem an outbreak of Ebola epidemic disease. According to WHO, when the first case of ebola was confirmed in Uganda on 28 July 2012, the organization's country office in Kampala immediately went on [...]
Ertharin Cousin, the Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), on Monday began a three-day visit to the neighbouring countries of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. She started her trip in Khartoum, where she met senior government officials, donor representatives and WFP staff. On Wednesday, Ms. Cousin plans to travel to [...]
Hundreds of people are fleeing Syria daily, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. The agency says the refugees need to register so that they can receive assistance such as basic health care, school enrolment for children and other services. However, says UNCHR spokesman Adrian Edwards, many refugees are reluctant to register. "People tend to [...]
UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos arrived in Syria on Tuesday for a three-day mission to review the situation on the ground. In Damascus, she is meeting government officials and humanitarian partners, including the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Ms. Amos is discussing ways to scale up the humanitarian response. Jens Laerke is spokesman for the UN [...]
