Growth of the world economy has weakened considerably during 2012 and is expected to remain subdued in the coming two years, according to the United Nations in its latest issue of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2013 (WESP), published Tuesday. The report says the global economy is expected to grow at 2.4 per cent [...]
The General Assembly has endorsed the resolution adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO at its thirty-sixth session, proclaiming 13 February, the day United Nations Radio was established in 1946, as World Radio Day; 13 February is World Radio Day — a day to celebrate radio as [...]
United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners on Tuesday appealed for $144 million dollars to help more than one million people in Haiti next year. The UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said that the funding will be used to respond to crises, including food insecurity, cholera, and displacement. The Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Martin Nesriky, [...]
It is becoming increasingly difficult for Syrians to get enough food as the conflict continues in the country, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). It says that the country's hardest hit areas are in the north where insecurity is preventing delivery of food to people in need. Despite these difficulties, the agency continues to [...]
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have joined the Government of Pakistan in condemning the multiple attacks that have killed six health workers in the past 24 hours. At least six people working on a polio vaccination campaign have been reported shot dead in several locations in Pakistan, including Karachi city, Sindh Province and [...]
As Somalis continue to rebuild their country, a group of human rights experts is hoping that all citizens receive the right to protection, not just those who can afford it. Members of a UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries recently returned from a week-long mission to the country to assess what impact these [...]
As Somalia rebuilds its security institutions, the Government should ensure that private security forces are properly regulated and do not become a substitute for competent and accountable police. The call comes from the Chairperson of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries, Faiza Patel who has just wrapped up a seven-day mission to Somalia. [...]
People in the Somali town of Jawhar, 90 kilometres north of the capital, Mogadishu, now live without the stringent rules of the al –Shabaab Islamic extremists. On 9 December, the Somali National Army, supported by African Union troops captured the town, one of the few remaining strongholds of al-Shabaab. The town, in the Middle Shabelle [...]
In Syria, access to health care facilities for both patients and health care providers is one of the main obstacles to the provision of health care along with shortages of supplies and health personnel. That according to the World Health Organization – WHO which says it remains very concerned about the security of health [...]
The plight of migrants who are stranded in crisis situations as a result of man-made or natural disasters is the focus of this year's International Migrants Day. The day is observed on 18 December each year to highlight issues that affect millions of migrants around the world. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that [...]
As the Syria conflict and its impact on civilians continue to escalate, humanitarian needs are rising as residents flee fighting and seek safety in schools run by the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees –UNRWA. The agency says it remains gravely concerned about the safety of the Palestine refugee population in Syria and appeals to [...]
Nearly 400 women and girls were sexually assaulted in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo during the recent fighting for the control of the strategic town of Goma. The United Nations Children's fund UNICEF says care has been provided to more than 275 women and 100 girls who were victims of sexual [...]
