On World No Tobacco Day, the UN's health agency is calling on countries to work together to end the illicit trade of tobacco products. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that one in every 10 cigarettes consumed is illicit, making them cheaper and more accessible to people from low-income groups, as well as to children. [...]
Up to 90 per cent of the world’s electronic or E-waste, worth nearly US$19 billion, is illegally traded or dumped each year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In Asia, China, Hong Kong, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Viet Nam appear to bear the brunt of illegal E-waste shipments. Organised crime syndicates are also [...]
The separation between war and peace is not as clear cut as it used to be, according to the former Head of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Jean-Marie Guéhenno served in this position for 8 years from 2000 to 2008. He recently published a memoir about international peacekeeping in the 21st century called "The [...]
A "male culture" still persists at the United Nations but the situation has changed tremendously over the last couple of years according to the outgoing UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. After 38 years of service with the Organization, Angela Kane is retiring at the end of May. She has held many different positions over [...]
Fighting in northern Mali forces some 57,000 to flee their homes About 57,000 people have fled their homes in northern Mali as a result of renewed fighting between armed groups over the past four weeks, according to the UN Refugee agency (UNHCR). There are already more than 43,000 internally displaced people throughout the country who [...]
Peacekeepers working with the United Nations in Lebanon have paid a "heavy price" for securing peace in the country, according to a senior Irish soldier. Forty-eight Irish peacekeepers have died there since 1978. Commander Kevin McDonald is now on his fifth deployment to Lebanon. He's working for the UN mission in the country, UNIFIL. Suzanne [...]
Terrorist threat under spotlight in Security Council The threat to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts and foreign terrorist fighters was discussed by the UN Security Council on Friday. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that no country can tackle the challenge of terrorism alone. "Member States have to enhance their cooperation and exchange [...]
The situation for thousands of people fleeing fighting in the Iraqi city of Ramadi has been described as desperate by UN humanitarian agencies. On Friday the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said it was deeply concerned by the challenges Iraqis are facing to reach safe areas. The terrorist group known as ISIL is said to have [...]
More than 3,300 peacekeepers who have lost their lives while serving under the United Nations flag have been honoured at a wreath laying ceremony in New York. The ceremony took place on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers which is marked on 29 May each year. The theme for this year is "UN70 and [...]
Despite the progress that has been made over the past 20 years to improve the situation of young people around the world, they still face daunting challenges. That's what the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi said on Friday at a meeting of the UN General Assembly to mark the 20th anniversary of the [...]
Violence in Burundi has claimed the life of a fifth youngster since the start of political demonstrations last month, the UN said Friday. The victim sustained bullet wounds in the capital Bujumbura on Thursday morning and was between 15 and 16 years old, the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF said. To date, 200 youths have been [...]
The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is about expressing "tremendous gratitude" to the men and women who serve the Organization in the world's most insecure locations. That's according to the Head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, who recently wrapped up a visit to the UN's two newest operations in Mali and the [...]
The first ever Chinese UN peacekeeping combat force to an African country has deployed to South Sudan. The African country gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 and has suffered periods of internal conflict ever since. The Chinese battalion is part of a force of 12,500 peacekeeping troops authorized by the UN Security Council. Ana [...]
The illicit tobacco trade poses major health, economic and security concerns and likely affects one in 10 cigarettes smoked globally, UN health experts say. Ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Sunday 31 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) wants more countries to combat the trade by joining a new treaty banning the practice. Developed by [...]
China has confirmed its first case of potentially fatal Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS), the UN health agency said Friday. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the individual is a Republic of Korea national in his mid-40s who's now in a hospital isolation unit. The man can be linked directly to another 10 [...]
• Up to 90 per cent of the world’s electronic waste, worth nearly US $19 billion, is illegally traded or dumped each year. That's according to a report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Ghana and Nigeria are among the key destinations in Africa for large-scale shipments of obsolete computers and other hardware. [...]
The destruction of cultural heritage is a senseless form of violent extremism which seeks to destroy the past, the present and the future of human civilisation, according to the UN Deputy Secretary-General. Jan Eliasson spoke on Thursday at UN's headquarters in New York about the international community's growing concern over the takeover of the city [...]
Syrians "not given up hope" The Syrian people have not given up hope that peace can return to their country, the outgoing UN humanitarian chief has said. Valerie Amos was addressing the Security Council for the last time before stepping down as the head of the UN humanitarian office, OCHA. She said the hope was [...]
Still "male culture" at UN but this is changing, says top female UN official A "male culture" still persists at the United Nations but the situation has changed tremendously over the last couple of years according to the outgoing UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. After 38 years of service with the Organization, Angela Kane [...]
Asia-Pacific records highest reduction in undernourished people The Asia and Pacific region has achieved the largest reduction in the number of undernourished people in the world, according to research released by the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO. The UN agency estimates that people in most of the countries that it monitored now get enough to [...]
The media has an important role to play in maintaining the international focus on the Middle East peace process, according to a senior UN official The annual UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East, aims to enhance dialogue and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. Participants at the seminar held in Astana in [...]
Peacekeepers serving the UN continue to be dedicated to protecting vulnerable civilians despite growing security threats and often difficult living conditions, according to the Assistant Secretary-General for UN peacekeeping. Edmond Mulet was speaking ahead of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, marked annually on 29 May. More than 3300 women and men serving the organization [...]
Urgent funding needed for health care projects in Iraq More than 84 per cent of UN health care projects in Iraq will be forced to close if urgently needed funds are not secured by the end of June this year. This warning has come from the World Health Organization (WHO) which warns that more than [...]
A new partnership to reduce food has been formed by the UN agriculture agency and wholesalers around the world. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Union of Wholesale Markets are partnering to boost food security in cities through better markets. Cathrine Hasselberg reports. The UN agriculture agency and the World Union [...]
Unemployment among Palestinians has increased by 25 per cent, according to the International Labour Organization. The ILO said the 2014 increase was driven by the stalled peace process with Israel and the effects of last year's war in Gaza. The UN agency added that workers in Gaza and the West Bank face "consistently bleak" employment and [...]
The Asia and Pacific region has made progress in reducing the number of people living in extreme poverty, but millions of people are still deprived. That's according to a new United Nations report on the region. It points out that the proportion of people living on less than $1.25 per day is projected to fall [...]
The number of people who have fled their homes in Africa's Sahel region has reached over 3.5 million, more than doubling in the past 16 months, UN aid experts warned Thursday. Armed groups are now a major driver of the problem, which has created huge difficulties for struggling host communities. Daniel Johnson has more. Chronic [...]
India is about to reach one billion mobile connections according to a board member of the country's Telecom Regulatory Authority. The population of India is around one and a quarter billion. The push to get more people connected is part of the government's Digital India initiative. The international technology sector has been meeting in Geneva [...]
Additional evidence that starting antiretroviral therapy early can save lives has been welcomed by the UN agency dealing with HIV and AIDS, UNAIDS. An international randomized clinical trial, known as the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment or START has found compelling evidence that the benefits of immediately starting antiretroviral therapy outweigh the risks. Ana Carmo [...]
Colombian parties urged to listen to voices of women All Colombian parties engaged in the peace dialogue to end over fifty years of armed conflict have been urged to listen to the voices of women. The call has been made by Zainab Bangura, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, following [...]
Sudan urged to facilitate return of internally displaced persons The government of Sudan has been urged to create conditions for the people displaced by conflict between government and rebel forces in Darfur to return home. The call has come from the newly appointed UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, [...]
The world is entering a new era typified by a "war of information" mounted by terrorist groups, the UN Security Council has heard. The Council has been discussing the protection of media workers in conflict situations around the world. So far in 2015, 25 journalists have lost their lives while doing their job. Cathrine Hassselberg [...]
Nearly a quarter of a million children in South Sudan are at significant risk of malnutrition as a result of the ongoing conflict between government and rebel forces in the country. The warning has come from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) which says many children are trapped without access to basic medical services and food. [...]
A bridge designed by a Belgian artist symbolizes some of the core values of the United Nations: dignity, respect, diversity and solidarity. That's what the UN Secretary-General said on Wednesday at an event in Brussels where he met with organizers of a music festival. Catherine Hasselberg reports. 200,000 young people and music fans from around [...]
Millions of people's lives are at risk in Yemen as fighting continues unabated, the head of the UN's health agency warned Wednesday. With conflict in the Arabian peninsula country responsible for nearly 2,000 fatalities, the World Health Organization's Margaret Chan said people are also dying because hospitals lack fuel and basic medicines for diabetes [...]
Information and communications technology or ICT must continue to meet the needs of the world, according to a senior Internet executive. Around one third of the global population is online, but Fadi Chehadé, President of ICANN, says policies adopted by the international community must increase access further. ICANN is a nonprofit organization that is responsible [...]
The number of people around the world who are hungry and suffer from undernourishment has dropped to 795 million according to figures released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO). That's a decrease of over 210 million since 1990, during which time the global population has increased by 1.9 billion. The figures are crucial [...]
There are around 700,000 people with disabilities in Cambodia who face obstacles on daily basis that prevent them from fully enjoying their equal rights; that's according to the UN. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is now working to improve their conditions through a joint disability programme named the "Disability Rights Initiative Cambodia" (DRIC). Cathrine Hasselberg [...]
Top UN envoy asked to postpone consultations to resolve Yemeni crisis Warring parties in Yemen have been urged by UN Secretary-General to engage in consultations facilitated by the United Nations to end the crisis in the Gulf state. The country is embroiled in a conflict between rebel Houthi forces and those supporting the internationally recognized [...]
The European football team Valencia Club de Fútbol (CF) and the UN agency dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women are teaming up to promote gender equality across the globe. Valencia's strip will feature the UN Women's logo and there'll be other activities as part of a wider campaign. The 96-year-old football club [...]
Around one third of the world's population, or 3.2 billion people, has access to the Internet according to the UN's International Telecommunication Union, (ITU). Figures released by the ITU also show that globally mobile telephone subscriptions have increased to over seven billion. The international community is currently meeting in Geneva to discuss the progress made [...]
Violence in Burundi and the plight of the world's sea migrants are just two problems that require the international community's immediate attention, the UN's top human rights official said Tuesday. In a break with protocol, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein's issued his warning to the Human Rights Council in Geneva as it continues with preparations for [...]
Rebuilding homes that have been destroyed by a massive earthquake that hit Nepal in April has been described by a senior UN official as "a daunting task". Magdy Martínez-Solimán, Assistant Director at the UN Development Programme (UNDP) briefed the press in New York on Tuesday following his visit to the South-East Asian country. Catherine Hasselberg [...]
Efforts are underway in Mali to provide food to some of the three million people who do not have enough to eat. The UN World Food Programme, says it is distributing 13 tonnes of high energy cereal bars. The food aid comes against a backdrop of escalating attacks by armed groups in the north of [...]
Pause in Syria fighting urged to allow farmers to harvest A pause in fighting in Syria has been urged by the World Food Programme (WFP) so farmers can safely harvest and transport crops within the country. WFP said there are indications that the 2015 harvest in Syria may exceed the last two years' harvests. The [...]
A reduction in cholera cases among Burundian refugees and locals in Tanzania's Lake Tanganyika region, has been confirmed by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The agency says the cholera epidemic, which has been spawned by a massive influx of people fleeing political unrest in Burundi, has claimed 30 lives. Catherine Hasselberg reports. Since early April, [...]
The young people of Ireland have been thanked by the United Nations Secretary-General for what he called their "wonderful global citizenry". Ban Ki-moon spoke in the Irish capital, Dublin on Tuesday as he concluded his visit to the country. Cathrine Hasselberg reports. The UN Secretary-General participated in an event for the launch of Ireland's UN [...]
A bid by the Kyrgyzstan authorities to make non-government organisations register as "foreign agents" has been strongly criticised by rights experts. Under a draft law headed for the Kyrgyz parliament, all foreign-funded civil society groups engaged in what are called "political activities" are expected to have to comply with the new classification. The UN's human [...]
Nuclear technology is playing its role in the management of valuable water resources along the River Nile in Africa. The Nile River Basin is an expansive area of groundwater found around the river itself, covering some 3.2 million square kilometers. Eleven countries depend on this groundwater, so the way it is managed is extremely important [...]
A sharp increase in suicide bombings has been reported in north-east Nigeria with women and children used in more than three-quarters of the attacks, UN experts say. Children's agency UNICEF warned Tuesday that there have already been 27 suicide attacks in the first five months of this year, compared with just 26 in the whole [...]
Each year, pollution kills almost nine million people worldwide, mostly in developing countries. That's according to the World Bank which is backing a new campaign called '"Pollution Management and Environmental Health". The campaign aims to support affected countries to significantly reduce air, land and water pollution levels through pollution management planning and investments to improve [...]
70,000 children face malnutrition in Nepal One month after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal, an estimated 70,000 children under the age of five are at risk of malnutrition and require urgent humanitarian support; that's according to the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF. Around 15,000 children in 14 of the worst-hit districts need therapeutic foods for [...]
One month after a massive earthquake devastated Nepal, the international community is "running against the clock" to deliver aid to remote communities, the UN has said. More than 8000 people were killed in the tremor on April 25. There was also widespread damage to the country's infrastructure. Monsoon rains which are due to arrive in [...]
Eight thousand new shelters have been constructed by the UN to accommodate more than 60,000 people displaced by fighting in South Sudan. Ongoing fighting between the Government and rebels has forced an estimated one and a half million people across the country to flee their homes. Daniel Dickinson reports Working with humanitarian partners, the UN [...]
"Time of test" for international community The international community is enduring a "time of test" which demands strong global cooperation and bold action, the United Nations Secretary-General has said. Speaking at the Tipperary International Peace Award ceremony in Ireland, Ban Ki-moon said the "lines between terrorists, transnational criminals and extremists" were blurring. He said greater international [...]
The International community has become "increasingly frustrated" at the lack of progress in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian authority. That's according to a report released by the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. Tensions have increased in recent weeks between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank with [...]
African countries need to look at how they can grow local economies to prepare for a booming population. That's according to Africa Economic Outlook report released on Monday by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP. As the population of the continent is set to triple by 2050, the report says increased economic activity is vital [...]
Highlighting the impact of decisions reached in Geneva is the aim of a cookbook with a difference that's been concocted by Michael Moller, Director-General, ad interim of the United Nations Office at Geneva. The book “Recipes For Peace, Rights & Wellbeing” has contributions from 60 UN agencies and partners in the Swiss city. Among genuine [...]
Combating online fraud which costs at least US$3.5 billion a year is the task facing UN and industry experts participating in a global forum beginning Monday. Four UN agencies – UNCTAD, ITU, UNESCO and UNDP – have joined forces at the World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) to continue efforts to limit the [...]
The killing of a Burundian presidential candidate has been condemned by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Zedi Feruzi, leader of the opposition UPD was shot dead in the country's capital Bujumbura late on Saturday night. It's the latest incident connected to political unrest in Burundi. Daniel Dickinson reports The Great Lakes country has experienced seven weeks [...]
Up to 90 per cent of the world’s electronic waste, worth nearly US $19 billion, is illegally traded or dumped each year. That's according to a report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Ghana and Nigeria are among the key destinations in Africa for large-scale shipments of obsolete computers and other hardware. Cathrine [...]
A terrorist attack at a mosque in Qatif, in Saudi Arabia, which resulted in the death of at least 21 people, has been strongly condemned by the UN Security Council. The attack has been claimed by the militant group, ISIL also known as Da'esh. Daniel Dickinson reports. ISIL said it was behind the suicide bombing on [...]
Talks on nuclear non-proliferation at the United Nations in New York have ended without an agreement. The 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons , known as the NPT, failed to reach a consensus on how to achieve a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and [...]
Asia has, for the first time, become the region which has invested more in other countries than the world's most developed regional economic blocs. That's according to the agency dealing with trade, investment, and development issues at the United Nations, UNCTAD. It says Asia invested US$440 billion in other regions compared to US$390 billion in [...]
11,000 flee ancient Syrian town as militants arrive Preparations are underway to provide aid for some 11,000 people who fled the ancient Syrian town of Palmyra after the area was overrun by militant forces. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said the displaced people are "exhausted and scared." The agency is sending more relief supplies to [...]
Fears raised for doubling of Burundian refugees An international call has been made for the protection and assistance for up to 200,000 Burundian refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries amid ongoing political turmoil and violence in the Great Lakes country. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, says 100,000 have arrived since April. It fears the refugee [...]
Around 60,000 women and girls in the developing world have benefitted from a programme initiated by the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA to treat obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula is a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that is caused by prolonged obstructed labour. It leaves the woman incontinent and unable to control the [...]
Comments by the Hungarian Prime Minister apparently suggesting a link between migration and terrorism have met with strong criticism from the UN's human rights office. It said it was "shocked" by Viktor Orban's remarks attached to a questionnaire recently sent to Hungarian citizens. In it, the Prime Minister alludes to the Paris terror attacks and [...]
Myanmar's decision to take in more than 200 boat migrants has been welcomed by the UN refugee agency which on Friday called for further action to rescue more than 3,500 people still stranded at sea. UNHCR described Myanmar's initiative to shelter sea migrants floating off its coastline near Rakhine State as a helpful initial move. [...]
At least 1,037 civilians, including 130 women and 234 children, lost their lives in Yemen in the three weeks up to 20 May, according to the UN human rights office. At least another 2,450 civilians were injured. Fighting has resumed in the Gulf state following a five-day pause to allow humanitarian supplies in. Ana Carmo [...]
A cholera epidemic in Tanzania’s lakeside Kagunga area has killed 31 people and is a serious risk for tens of thousands of displaced Burundians, the UN refugee agency said Friday. Amid pre-election violence in Burundi, some 65,000 refugees have sought shelter on the lake's shores in what UNHCR describes as "horribly overcrowded" conditions. The agency's [...]
Nauru has been urged by the UN to withdraw recent amendments to the country's criminal code which it says "unduly restrict" the freedom of expression. The maximum penalty for being found guilty of breaking the code is seven years in prison. Daniel Dickinson reports The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, [...]
South Sudan is facing what's been described by the UN as a "very serious" shortage of medical supplies. It's thought that many of the 1400 medical facilities in the country will have run out of medicine and other supplies by September. South Sudan continues to endure a civil conflict which has pitted rebel forces against [...]
The hip-hop artist, Akon, says his experience growing up in Africa was the driving force behind his efforts to bring sustainable energy to the continent. The American and Senegalese singer established Akon Lighting Africa, two years ago. Akon presented his initiative, which has brought solar power to 14 African countries, to a sustainable energy meeting [...]
Asia becomes the world’s largest investor region Asia has, for the first time, become the region which has invested more in other countries than the world's most developed regional economic blocs. That's according to the agency dealing with trade, investment, and development issues at the United Nations, UNCTAD. It says Asia invested US$440 billion in [...]
Humanitarian financing panel launched A new high-level panel has been appointed by the UN Secretary-General to examine the challenges of financing the growing number of humanitarian crises around the world. Over the last decade, the demand for humanitarian aid has risen dramatically. The number of people in need has more than doubled since 2004 to [...]
Women's empowerment through menstrual health In many developing countries, millions of girls and women are left to manage their menstrual cycles with whatever they can find, such as cloth, paper or clay; that's according to the UN. When you add a lack of access to water and soap, the programme manager for the UN's Water [...]
Armed youths lead killings in South Sudan, says UNICEF Children have been raped, abducted and killed amid escalating conflict in South Sudan as warring groups try to make ground ahead of the rainy season, the UN Children’s Fund has said. UNICEF says survivors have been forced to flee armed groups in Unity State and seek [...]
People in Kenya are benefiting in significant ways from cultural heritage sites according to the Director General of the National Museums of Kenya. Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia was speaking in Nairobi on the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The UNESCO international day is aimed at deepening people's understanding of the values of [...]
The international community has been urged to commit both practically and financially to development goals for the next 15 years that are being decided on in September. The call was made by the UN at a meeting on sustainable energy which was concluding in New York on Thursday. The UN says that around 2.8 billion [...]
The destruction of a cultural site in Syria would be a war crime and an enormous loss to humanity if it goes ahead, the Director-General of the UN cultural agency, UNESCO has warned. Fighters of the terrorist group ISIL, also known as Da'esh, have entered the UNESCO world heritage site of Palmyra in central Syria. [...]
An aid convoy has crossed into western Libya from Tunisia to provide relief supplies to 51,000 people displaced by conflict. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said it was supporting the displaced Libyans as they do not have sufficient access to food. Violence and insecurity in the North African country is continuing and has led [...]
"Transformative vision for education" agreed The international community has agreed, to what the UN cultural organization, UNESCO has described as a "transformative vision for education." The agreement, known as the Incheon Declaration, will set the agenda for education across the world for the next 15 years. UNESCO's Director-General, Irina Bokova, said it reflected the determination [...]
An outbreak of cholera amongst Burundian refugees in Tanzania has claimed 27 lives, the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, has confirmed. The outbreak occurred among 50,000 Burundians gathered on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Cathrine Hasselberg reports Unrest in Burundi has forced more than 110,000 people to flee to neighbouring countries. The majority has fled to [...]
A radical change in the way the global community reacts to health emergencies is needed if we're to avoid another tragedy like Ebola, UN experts said Thursday. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued the warning after saying that the Ebola epidemic "is not over" in West Africa. The virus has killed more than 11,100 people [...]
The world needs to consider how it can ensure access to enough food for the planet's seven billion inhabitants. That's the message that the United Nations is promoting at the recently opened Expo Milan 2015 in Italy. The event runs until the end of October and has as its theme: “Feeding the Planet. Energy for [...]
A high-altitude rescue effort involving up to 20,000 porters is under way in a bid to reach Nepal's most isolated communities three weeks after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the country. As part of Operation Mountain Express, each porter is expected to carry 30 kilogrammes of aid on their backs to people living in areas [...]
Attack on UN in Mali condemned An attack against a residence where several UN military personnel are living in Bamako, Mali, has been strongly condemned by the UN Mission in the country, MINUSMA. An unidentified armed assailant shot and wounded a local security guard, who prevented an attempt to set fire to a MINUSMA vehicle [...]
Four civilians including a woman and her child have been killed in a mortar attack at a UN compound in Melut in South Sudan. Eight other civilians were injured after two mortar shells landed at the UN base. It's thought the shells were fired in an exchange between government and opposition forces. Gabriel Shaddar has [...]
Changes in the way people around the world use energy are driving development according to the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Jan Eliasson was speaking at UN headquarters at a ministerial-level meeting on global energy issues. Here's Ana Carmo with more details. 2015 has been described as a milestone year for the United Nations [...]
A commitment by South-East Asian states to address the plight of thousands of people stranded in boats off their coastline has been welcomed by the UN refugee agency. UNHCR's statement on Wednesday follows an announcement by the foreign ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand that their countries will "continue to provide humanitarian assistance" to 7,000 [...]
Political process to resume in Yemen The resumption of a political process in Yemen has been announced by the United Nations. Talks will begin in Geneva on May 28th. They're expected to bring together members of the Yemeni government and other players in the political scene, including rebels. Yemen continues to suffer from conflict as [...]
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or North Korea has cancelled a planned trip to the country by the UN Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon was due to visit the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a joint project of North and South Korea, on Thursday. Daniel Dickinson reports The two countries have continued to endure strained relations following the [...]
Providing health care to millions of Palestine refugees has become increasingly complicated as conflict and upheaval persist in the Middle-East, the UN said Wednesday. The warning, from United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), comes as it continues to help more than five million registered Palestine refugees in Gaza, West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. [...]
Efforts are underway to minimize risks to children exposed to pesticides used during agricultural production. According to figures released by the United Nations, around four million children globally are working in the agriculture sector. But now a new tool is being released to promote the safer use of pesticides. Bernd Seiffert is the UN Food [...]
Almost two years since the outbreak of the conflict in South Sudan, the situation there is worsening according to the Head of UNMISS, the UN mission in South Sudan. Ellen Margrethe Løj said people continue to die. There are also now more than two million internally displaced people in the country. Joshua Mmali spoke with Ms [...]
UN chief to make first visit to North Korea in 20 years The UN has confirmed that the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon will make an official trip to North Korea. He will visit the Kaesong Industrial Complex on Thursday, a joint project between North and South Korea. Mr Ban, who is a South Korean national, said [...]
400,000 people receive food aid in Yemen Around 400,000 people have received food aid in Yemen during a five-day pause in fighting, but the UN says that's just a half of the people in need. The World Food Programme (WFP) is appealing for a series of "predictable breaks in the conflict" so it can deliver [...]
The Al-Shabaab terrorist group is expected to attempt to "derail" the political process in Somalia according to the United Nation's most senior official in the country. Nicholas Kay made the comment in his regular address to the UN Security Council on the situation in the Horn of Africa country. Al-Shabaab has created widespread insecurity in [...]
The leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, have been urged by senior United Nations officials to protect migrants and refugees stranded on vessels in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. It's estimated that 88,000 people have made the perilous sea journey since 2014. Ana Carmo reports Around 25,000 migrants, mainly Bangladeshis and Rohingya [...]
Children have been raped, abducted and killed amid escalating conflict in South Sudan as warring groups try to make ground ahead of the rainy season, UNICEF said Tuesday. The UN children's agency says survivors have been forced to flee armed groups in Unity State and seek shelter in camps or hide in swamp land. The [...]
Education is a powerful weapon against the rise of violent extremism, the UN Secretary-General has said. Ban Ki-moon was speaking at the opening of the World Education Forum currently underway in the South Korean city of Incheon. Daniel Dickinson reports. The World Education Forum has brought together more than 130 government ministers from around the [...]
Landslides following in the wake of two large earthquakes in Nepal are hampering the delivery of relief supplies to affected people according to the UN humanitarian office, OCHA. The agency says that a lack of funding, only approximately 20 per cent of the US$423 million appeal has been received, is also holding back aid efforts. [...]
Changes in the way people are employed are the most profound ever seen in modern economic history according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The World Employment and Social Outlook 2015 (WESO) finds that workers are less secure today than ever before. Ana Carmo's report begins with the words of the [...]
Families flee Iraqi city following militant advance Humanitarian agencies say that more than 6,500 families have been displaced in Iraq following reports that militants of the Da'esh or ISIL terrorist group have reached the city of Ramadi. Nearby Khaldiyah Hospital has reported receiving many casualties, and the local authorities have requested international assistance. The UN [...]
Additional powers and a US$100 million fund are needed to tackle future global health alerts, the World Health Organization's chief said on Monday. Margaret Chan described the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa as a "defining moment" for the organization. The UN health agency head made her remarks on the opening day of the organisation's [...]
WHO delivers additional medicines and medical supplies to Yemen More than 20 tonnes of medicines and supplies are on their way to Yemen, the World Health Organization, WHO, has confirmed. The shipment contains emergency health, trauma and surgical kits as well as sanitation and hygiene items for more than 120,000 people. A 5-day pause in [...]
Seven Burundians who fled civil unrest in their country have died in a suspected cholera outbreak in a refugee camp in Tanzania, the UN has confirmed. Over 20,000 refugees are now accommodated at the Nyarugusu camp. Local immigration authorities also reported that over 50,000 Burundians were living in the open in Kagunga on the shore [...]
The smuggling of migrants in different parts of the world is a tragedy that can't be allowed to continue according to the chief of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Yury Fedotov made the comment as the 24th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice got underway in Vienna, Austria. [...]
Tens of thousands of people in South Sudan have been forced to flee fighting just as the country's crucial planting season gets under way, the Red Cross warned Monday. Violence in the towns of Leer in Unity State and in Kodok in Upper Nile state has affected civilians initially displaced by fighting roughly a year [...]
Unrest in Central Africa is stretching the already scarce resources of Chad, even further than normal according to the International Monetary Fund or IMF. Chad has been struggling with drought, poverty and insecurity, a situation which has worsened following the arrival of around 100,000 refugees from neighbouring countries. Despite the challenges, the IMF says this [...]
Political action and financial investment is needed to end what's been described by a senior UN official as "energy poverty." The international community is meeting at the UN in New York this week to discuss, amongst other issues, how to bring electricity to the 1.4 billion people around the world who do not have it. [...]
The Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can be used as a driver of innovation around the world. That's the message from the UN on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) marked annually on May 17. Daniel Dickinson reports ICTs are the catalysts for shaping the future development agenda according to Houlin [...]
Students graduating at Georgetown University in Washington DC in the US have been told by the UN Secretary-General it is their responsibility to "inch the world closer to social justice." Ban Ki-moon made the appeal in his Commencement Address at the university's School of Foreign Service, where he was awarded and honorary degree. Daniel Dickinson [...]
In many developing countries, millions of girls and women are left to manage their menstrual cycles with whatever they can find, such as cloth, paper or clay; that's according to the UN. When you add a lack of access to water and soap, the programme manager for the UN's Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, [...]
Different kinds of family structures have arisen all over the world during the last couple of decades, says a Professor of Law from the University of London. Fareda Banda was present at a panel discussion on Gender Equality and Children's Rights at the UN headquarters in New York, USA this Friday. The new structures are [...]
Mali agreement "strong basis" for lasting peace An agreement signed in Mali between armed groups and the Government is a "strong basis" for lasting peace in the country, the UN Secretary-General has said. A coup d’état in early 2012 has continued to breed instability and violence in the West African country. Ban Ki-moon welcomed the [...]
The resumption of full-fledged negotiations between the Greek Cypriot leader and the Turkish Cypriot leader has been welcomed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey sent troops citing concerns for the Turkish Cypriot community after a Greek military coup. The UN has been facilitating talks between leaders of the [...]
Around twelve babies are being born every hour without access to basic healthcare in the areas of Nepal worst hit by two powerful earthquakes, according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). The agency said maternity facilities were massively damaged by the tremors. It warned that over the next month the lives of almost 18,000 babies [...]
Humanitarian aid is making a difference in Nepal, but the international community needs to do more, according to the UN Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon on Friday addressed the UN General Assembly on the situation in the country, where he said the lives of 8 million Nepalese have been changed beyond recognition. Two earthquakes killed more than [...]
Armed groups across Libya are responsible for abductions of civilians including minors, according to the UN Mission in the country, UNSMIL. The people who have been abducted are reportedly at risk of torture and other ill-treatment, and are frequently denied any contact with their families. Stephanie Coutrix reports. The UN Mission in Libya warned on [...]
More than 105,000 people have fled Burundi amid continuing uncertainty in the country after a failed military coup, the UN refugee agency said Friday. UNHCR reported sporadic violence in the capital Bujumbura and a spike in new arrivals in neighbouring Tanzania, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The UN's human rights office meanwhile said that [...]
A negotiated pause in fighting in Yemen appears to be holding but concerns remain that warring parties cannot be relied upon to allow humanitarian agencies to distribute desperately needed aid. The warning comes as the humanitarian ceasefire enters its third day. The UN coordinating agency OCHA is reporting sporadic but "very heavy fighting." Yemen continues [...]
As many as 92 per cent of girls and women in Egypt have undergone female genital mutilation, despite the fact that the procedure was criminalized in the country in 2008. FGM, as it is often referred to, is frequently rooted in cultural and religious beliefs, but has no medical benefit. The United the Nations Development [...]
The needs of women of reproductive age in Nepal are of particular concern to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), especially in the aftermath of powerful earthquakes that recently shook the country. The agency says pregnant women need support to deliver in safe environments, while other women and girls need access to family planning to avoid [...]
Anyone responsible for ordering or committing human rights violations in Burundi will be held accountable, the UN Secretary-General warned in a statement on Thursday. Ban Ki-moon said he is gravely concerned by developments in the Central African country since the announcement of the electoral candidacy of President Nkurunziza, which the UN has warned is unconstitutional. [...]
Women in Nepal receiving reproductive health support The needs of women of reproductive age in Nepal are of particular concern to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in the aftermath of powerful earthquakes that recently shook the country. The agency says this includes preventing unplanned pregnancies through family planning, and supporting pregnant women so they can [...]
ICC Prosecutor calls for more action in Lybia The Prosecutor of the UN-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) is calling on the international community to support Libya, especially on issues of justice and accountability. The North African country has been mired in factional fighting since former president Muammar al-Qhadafi was overthrown nearly four years ago. In [...]
“Widespread and systematic” sexual violence taking place in Syria and Iraq Sexual violence is being committed in a widespread, systematic and sophisticated manner in Syria and Iraq, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, has warned. Zainab Bangura was speaking in New York following a recent mission to the region. Violence [...]
No military solution in Yemen, says UN chief There is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen, the UN Secretary-General has told Khaled Mahfoudh Abdullah Bahah, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the country. During a phone call on Thursday, Ban Ki-moon also told the Vice-President that he would soon convene a meeting of [...]
The security and human rights situation in South Sudan has deteriorated over the past two months according to the UN's most senior official in the country. South Sudan continues to endure a conflict which has pitted government forces against rebels. Inter-communal violence is also on the increase. Daniel Dickinson reports Insecurity has been destabilising South [...]
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people make huge contributions to families and local communities around the world; that's the message of a new video by the UN human rights office which is being premiered in Times Square in New York City. The aim is to get people talking, to spread awareness and to promote [...]
Almost 100 tonnes of seeds and tools are being airlifted by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to conflict-hit farmers in South Sudan. The airlift to the Greater Upper Nile region is taking place ahead of the main planting season. But, so far only one flight has been able to land at its final [...]
Killing of 17 civilians in Afghanistan condemned by UN The killing of at least 17 civilians in two separate attacks in Afghanistan on Wednesday has been strongly condemned by the UN Mission in the country, UNAMA. The Taliban group has reportedly claimed responsibility. An attack against civilians gathered for a cultural event in the Park [...]
The humanitarian outlook in Iraq remains deeply worrying, with the number of people in need of assistance having grown seven-fold in nearly one year, according to the UN. Members of the Security Council were briefed on Thursday on the situation in Iraq, where violence continues to take what has been described as a "terrible toll" [...]
The destruction of cultural heritage in Nepal following two earthquakes in the country has been "dramatic" according to the UN cultural agency, UNESCO. Thousands of people died in the tremors and many more were injured. There was also widespread damage to monuments and temples. The UN is now helping the Nepali government to assess that [...]
The first case of the deadly Ebola virus has been detected in Italy according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The UN health agency said the patient is a healthcare worker who had been at an Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone in West Africa. Stephanie Coutrix reports. WHO said the patient was transferred to [...]
Children in Nepal are facing an unprecedented emotional toll as they deal with the devastating consequences of two major earthquakes in two and a half weeks, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned. Thousands of children and their families are reportedly living in informal settlements across the country after the latest quake left many too [...]
A "surge" in the number of new cholera cases in Haiti has created the risk of a humanitarian crisis, the UN expert in charge of fighting the disease said Thursday. Assistant Secretary-General and Senior Coordinator for Cholera Response in Haiti Pedro Medrano Rojas said that the last three months have seen more than 12,000 new [...]
Developing economies in the Asia-Pacific region continue to fare well in comparison to the rest of the world, but structural weaknesses are holding back growth. That's what the UN Economic and Social Commission for the region (ESCAP) is highlighting in a new report. Cathrine Hasselberg has more. The latest regional macroeconomic outlook report released by the [...]
UN chief calls on Burundian leaders to preserve peace and stability Developments on the ground in Burundi are being followed with great concern by the United Nations. Media reports indicated on Wednesday that the President of the country, Pierre Nkurunziza, was facing an attempted coup amid unrest over his bid to be re-elected to a [...]
Grave violations of humanitarian law reported in DR Congo Grave violations of international humanitarian law were committed in the DR Congo by a rebel group from Uganda, according to a new UN report. The violations, which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, were committed in Beni territory in North Kivu province, over [...]
"Ordinary people" are bearing the brunt of renewed conflict in the East Darfur region of Sudan according to the UN's senior representative in Darfur. Inter-tribal warfare driven by land ownership disputes has recently broken out again in the vicinity of Abu Karinka and Adila towns. Two years ago 120,000 local people were forced to flee [...]
Further measures are needed to combat the proliferation of illicit weapons around the world, according to the UN Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon was speaking at a Security Council debate on small arms and light weapons. The UN estimates that more than 50,000 men, women and children are killed each year as a direct consequence of these [...]
Boosting global health is a key goal for the international community and there have been massive achievements since 2000 – along with some mixed results – according to UN health experts. In the latest World Health Organization report on global health in 194 countries, the agency says they're on course to beat HIV, malaria and [...]
The beginning of a pause in hostilities in Yemen should enable UN agencies and their partners to step up the delivery of lifesaving assistance to people in desperate need, according to the UN humanitarian office, OCHA. The five day so-called humanitarian pause which began in the Middle Eastern country on Tuesday at 11pm local time [...]
Nearly US$600 million a year is lost in Malawi because children miss out on critical nutrients to help them grow properly, UN health experts said Wednesday. The figure features in a World Food Programme report showing that the issue of child under-nutrition costs the south African country around 10 per cent of its economic output. [...]
The movement for gender equality was originally conceived as a struggle led only by women and for women, but this has changed according to the UN agency for gender equality, UN Women. New initiatives, such as the HeForShe and 10x10x10 campaigns, are calling on male leaders to participate in eradicating gender inequalities in the private, [...]
The Prosecutor of the UN-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) is calling on the international community to consider the challenges and needs of Libya, especially on issues of justice and accountability. Speaking to the Security Council on Tuesday, Fatou Bensouda shared the Court's latest report on the North African country, which underlined the deteriorating security conditions. [...]
Sexual violence is being committed in a widespread, systematic and sophisticated manner in Syria and Iraq, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, has warned. Zainab Bangura, was speaking in New York following a recent mission to the region. Violence against women has increased in the region following the emergence [...]
The international community can and must do more to ensure peace and justice in Libya, according to the Prosecutor of the UN-backed International Criminal Court (ICC). Fatou Bensouda was presenting her ninth report to the Security Council on the situation in the North African country. Since the overthrow of Muammar al-Qhadafi nearly four years ago, [...]
"Alarming" reports of alleged massacre in Angola There have been alarming reports of an alleged massacre in the central province of Huambo in Angola, according to the UN human rights office (OHCHR). The Government has reported that nine police officers and 13 civilians were killed in a confrontation in Serra Sumé, when police attempted to [...]
Thousands of people have left UN protection site in South Sudan An estimated 3000 internally displaced persons are reported to have left a UN protection site in Juba in South Sudan fearing further reprisal attacks after communal fighting left one dead and 60 others injured. The fighting started last Friday and resumed Sunday. Some 2,500 [...]
Bosnia and Herzegovina has been given a fresh chance and it must be taken, according to the European Union Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Valentin Inzko was briefing the Security Council on Tuesday on the latest report of his office on the Balkan state. He said twenty years after a devastating war, the country [...]
Search-and-rescue operations need to be stepped up in South-East Asia amid fears that thousands of people are stranded on smugglers' boats, the UN said Tuesday. UN refugee agency UNHCR said that "several thousand" mainly Bangladeshi nationals and ethnic Rohingya and are thought to be adrift at sea after smugglers abandoned them. The agency says it [...]
Women and children in Unity State in South Sudan are being driven out of their villages and into the bush to escape an upsurge in fighting, according to the UN. The Organization and other aid agencies have been forced to suspend operations because of the violence, leaving 300,000 people without the emergency relief they need. [...]
An earthquake of 7.3 magnitude struck Nepal on Tuesday, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds, according to the United Nations. It follows an earthquake which struck the country on April 25 killing more than 8,000 people. The epicentre of the latest tremor was southeast of Kodari, 76 kilometres from Kathmandu. Stephanie Coutrix reports. The [...]
Final preparations are under way for huge aid deliveries into Yemen as UN agencies wait to see if a proposed ceasefire holds between government and rebel troops. Tens of thousands of people across Yemen desperately need help, UN refugee agency UNHCR said Tuesday. Daniel Johnson has more. Duration: 2'01"
An earthquake with a 7.3 magnitude has struck Nepal, two weeks after a devastating tremor killed more than 8,000 people in the country. The quake which hit close to the town of Namche Bazaar, near Mount Everest and to the east of the Nepali capital Kathmandu, has reportedly killed at least 40 people. Media reports [...]
Forests need to be managed sustainably as they are directly linked to the living conditions of many rural populations, according to the Assistant Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Eduardo Rojas has been in New York for the UN Forum on Forests, which is discussing the creation of an "International Arrangement on [...]
Trillions of dollars may be needed to finance a new global development agenda, a senior UN official has said. In September, the international community is due to meet in New York to decide on the so-called Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. They will replace the Millennium Development Goals which are due to expire at the [...]
Consultation on Syria continue in Geneva The UN Special Envoy for Syria is continuing to meet separately with all Syrian actors involved in the conflict. The so-called "Geneva consultations" have been taking place since last week to seek views of all Syrian and relevant regional and international parties on how to end the civil war. [...]
Some 140,000 displaced people in Pakistan have returned home in the past two months, according to the UN humanitarian agency, OCHA. A meeting was held in the capital Islamabad to update donors on the progress made regarding uprooted people returning to two of the country's provinces. Fighting between the government and militants in those provinces [...]
Lessons must be learned from the handling of public health alerts like ebola, experts said on Monday. The warning comes from a high-level panel of independent investigators called in by the World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate the response to the killer disease in West Africa. Chief investigator Dame Barbara Stocking described Ebola as a [...]
More than 300,000 South Sudanese in need of emergency relief do not currently have access to life-saving assistance, according to the United Nations. Ongoing hostilities in South Sudan's Unity state have reportedly forced the humanitarian response to be suspended. Close to a year and a half of conflict has devastated the lives of millions of [...]
Up to 20,000 people could die crossing the Mediterranean Sea in 2015 if the international community does not take action to stem the flow of migrants, a senior UN official has warned. Many of the deaths have occurred as a result of unseaworthy boats operated by people traffickers. Migrants are fleeing insecurity and poverty in [...]
A pause in fighting in Yemen will enable the UN and its partners to scale up their operations and create a lifeline for the population, according to the top UN humanitarian official. It follows the announcement by the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia and the US Secretary of State, of a break in military operations [...]
UN chief attends WWII "Victory Day" celebrations in Russia Commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of World War II continued over the weekend with a "Victory Day" celebration in the Russian Federation, where the UN Secretary-General met with the Russian President. Ban Ki-moon expressed his appreciation for the invitation to commemorate the sacrifice and contribution of [...]
Violence against women in Sudan cannot be justified a United Nations expert has said ahead of the first official UN visit to Sudan on the issue in a decade. Priorities for special investigator Rashida Manjoo include assessing the situation for women in conflict and non-conflict areas, as well as violence against refugees and others who've [...]
Two public officials in Papua New Guinea are facing corruption charges for mismanaging more than US$2 million following a tip-off by mobile phone text message. The text was sent anonymously as part of a UN-supported initiative called "Phones against Corruption". The initiative encourages people in one of the world's most corrupt countries to pass on [...]
One of the most successful African music artists in the last decade, Nigerian singer D'Banj, is using his star power to promote women's empowerment. A new series created by the World Bank called #Music4Dev welcomes artists from around the globe to share their music while raising awareness about development issues. Through this platform, D'Banj says [...]
Liberia has been declared free of Ebola virus transmission by the World Health Organization (WHO). The UN health agency said on Saturday that forty-two days have passed since the last person confirmed with the infectious disease was buried on 28 March. At the peak of transmission during August and September 2014, the country was reporting [...]
"Alarming" surge in Bay of Bengal crossings The number of migrants crossing the Bay of Bengal in South-East Asia has almost doubled over the past year, according to a new report from the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR. The report documents what it calls an alarming rise in the number of Bangladeshis and people from the Rohingya ethnic [...]
"Savage harm" done to children by French troops would have been known by their military masters who should have investigated the matter much sooner, the UN's human rights chief said Friday. In a strong defence of the UN's role in the Central African Republic sex abuse case, High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein insisted that [...]
All regions of Somalia are "high risk environments" and there is no real "safe haven" anymore, according to the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations in Somalia. Philippe Lazzarini is in New York to brief the Security Council on the latest development in the Horn of Africa country. The Al-Shabaab terrorist group has [...]
An estimated one in four violent deaths happen in 18 countries that make up only four per cent of the world's population, a UN-sponsored report showed Friday. The findings, from UN Development Programme (UNDP) partner the Small Arms Survey, found that despite a small drop in violent deaths to 508,000, conflict-related deaths have risen to [...]
Ukraine's WWII soldiers and citizens honoured by UN chief The soldiers and citizens who defended Ukraine during the Second World War have been honoured by the UN Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon is in Kyiv, Ukraine to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war. "I am standing with people of Ukraine to commemorate and [...]
A sharp increase in executions across Iran in recent weeks has been condemned by two United Nations human rights experts. Between 9 and 26 April, as many as 98 prisoners are reported to have been executed, an average of over six per day. Daniel Dickinson reports. The latest wave brings the total number of executions [...]
More than 50,000 Burundians have fled to neighbouring countries following violence which began in mid-April, according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR. Civil unrest in the Central African country was sparked after the President decided to run for a third term. Daniel Dickinson reports The United Nations had warned that President Pierre Nkurunziza's attempt to [...]
Hundreds of thousands of Liberian children who missed out on life-saving vaccinations against polio and measles because of the ebola virus last year are to get the jabs at last, UN aid agencies said Friday. A joint campaign by the Liberian government, World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF – the first since the ebola outbreak [...]
Women in a remote village of north eastern Indonesia are being empowered to take control of their lives by a new project sponsored by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Traditionally, women in Papua depended on men to make decisions about their lives. Now they are receiving training in agricultural and financial management, and [...]
After 14 months of a "national nightmare", the head of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) says the country is on the road to recovery.Karin Landgren was recently in New York, to present a progress report on Liberia to the Security Council. It says the period was "dominated by the Ebola outbreak". The virus claimed [...]
Food is "key" for advancement of women Women need to be food secure in order to advance and to tackle violence perpetrate against them. That's according to Chido Govera, a farmer, campaigner and educator from Zimbabwe who is teaching mushroom cultivation to hundreds of people in her country as well as in Tanzania, South Africa [...]
Lives saved in Nepal thanks to collaborative rescue operations The search and rescue operations in Nepal, deployed after an earthquake hit the country on 25 April, saved many lives thanks to a collaborative approach between local Nepali and international groups, according to a senior disaster relief official. The teams working to free victims from fallen [...]
The anniversary of the end of the Second World War is a "powerful reminder" of the need to protect the principles of the United Nations according to the UN Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon was speaking at a commemoration in Gdansk, Poland, marking 70 years since the war came to an end. Cathrine Hasselberg reports. The UN [...]
Women and children facing malnutrition after fleeing Boko Haram in Nigeria Thousands of women and children in cross-border regions between Nigeria Cameroon, Niger and Chad face the prospects of malnutrition according to the World Food Programme (WFP). They have fled areas where the terrorist Boko Haram group has been operating. In the first three months [...]
Sexual violence is being committed in a widespread, systematic and sophisticated manner in Syria and Iraq, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, has warned. Zainab Bangura, was speaking in New York following a mission to the region in April. Stephanie Coutrix reports Ms Bangura's two week trip took her [...]
UN health director "moved by terrible human impact" of Nepal earthquake The Director of the World Health Organization, WHO, in south-east Asia said she has been moved by the "terrible human impact of the devastating earthquake" on Nepal. A 7.8 magnitude tremor in April led to the deaths of more than 7,500 people and destroyed [...]
The search and rescue operations in Nepal, deployed after an earthquake hit the country on 25 April, saved many lives thanks to a collaborative approach between local Nepali and international groups, according to a senior disaster relief official. The teams working to free victims from fallen infrastructure were guided by the UN Disaster Assessment and [...]
"Grave concern" has been voiced by the UN over the deaths of civilians in Aden, Yemen. Reports from the port city say scores of people, many of them women and children, are being killed and injured in hostilities. Cathrine Hasselberg reports Yemen continues to suffer from conflict as rebels attempt to take control of the [...]
International prices for agricultural commodities continued to decline in April, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), dropping by 19 per cent compared to the same time last year. The agency released its latest biennial food outlook report on Thursday, which includes the update to FAO's monthly food price index. Food outlook reports [...]
A centre which promotes innovative projects to improve the lives of the world's poorest children has been launched by the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF. The Global Innovation Centre, based in Nairobi, Kenya, will promote projects focusing on priority issues for the survival, growth, and development of young people. Cathrine Hasselberg reports UNICEF says the new [...]
Asylum-seekers trying to get into Australia are being held in "de facto" detention on a Pacific island which has failed to respect key human rights obligations, UN experts said Wednesday. The warning comes from UN investigators who have just visited the island of Nauru, which has an agreement with the Australian government to process migrants' [...]
The situation on the ground in Mali is very tense while the UN awaits the signing of a peace agreement, according to the Force Commander of the UN Mission in the country, MINUSMA. Major General Michael Lollesgaard was appointed in March to serve in the West African country, where a coup d’état in early 2012 [...]
To successfully combat illegal drug trafficking and abuse, a more holistic approach to the problem is needed, according to the deputy CEO of a Thai non-profit which helps people find legitimate ways to earn a living. Mr Dispanadda Diskul from the Mae Fah Luang Foundation is in New York for a panel discussion on identifying [...]
Consultations underway to advance political process in Yemen Consultations aimed at getting the political process in Yemen back on track are being undertaken by the UN. The security situation in the Gulf country remains unstable as rebels continue to battle with the government for control of the country. The Special Envoy on Yemen, Ismail Ould [...]
US$500 million approved for maternal and child health in Nigeria A US$500 million credit to improve maternal and child health services in Nigeria has been approved by the World Bank. The new development financing will help the West African country to achieve its "Saving One Million Lives Initiative." The initiative was launched by the Nigerian [...]
Forests could be the key to ending global hunger according to what has been described as the most comprehensive analysis ever on the link between forests and food security. Around one in nine people across the world do not have enough to eat, with the majority living in Africa and Asia. The global analysis was [...]
As protests continue in Burundi against the President's attempt to seek a third term, the UN is looking at ways to solve the political crisis in the country. A reported 40,000 people have fled the country to Rwanda, the DR Congo and Tanzania due to civil unrest. Vladimir Monteiro, a spokesperson for the UN Electoral [...]
After 14 months of a "national nightmare", the head of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) says the country is eagerly anticipating the moment when it can be declared "Ebola free". Karin Landgren says that if no new case of the virus is confirmed by Saturday, the World Health Organization will make the announcement. The [...]
The killing of two Tanzanian peacekeepers serving in the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been condemned by the UN Secretary-General. The peacekeepers were attacked while on patrol in the village of Kikiki, in North Kivu province in the east of the country. Daniel Dickinson reports. The two Tanzania soldiers [...]
Rebels in the north of Mali must cease hostilities and respect a ceasefire according to the UN's most senior official in the country. A coup d'état in early 2012 continues to breed instability and violence in the West African country. But there are hopes that a new peace deal will be signed next week. Daniel [...]
The spread of armed conflict which left a record 38 million people homeless in 2014 should be a "wake-up call" to governments and the international community, humanitarian experts said Wednesday. A study of 60 countries conducted by UNHCR partner the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) found that 30,000 people fled their homes every day last year, [...]
The global community could finish the job of ending extreme poverty for well under one per cent of the income of rich countries. That's according to economist Jeffrey Sachs who is the UN Special Advisor on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of international poverty eradication targets due to expire at the end of [...]
A campaign to save children's lives on the roads around the world has been launched as part of the Third United Nations Global Road Safety Week. Around 186 300 children under 18 years die from road traffic crashes annually, according to the UN. Cathrine Hasselberg reports. Duration: 2’30″
Liberia is poised to be declared free of the deadly Ebola virus according to the UN's senior representative in the country. More than 10,000 people have died from the disease over the last year in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Daniel Dickinson reports Speaking to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, the Special Representative of [...]
Around 650 deaths reported in Yemen The conflict in Yemen has now taken at least 646 civilian lives, including 50 women and 131 children, according to figures released by the High Commissioner for Human Rights. More than 1,300 civilians have been injured. There has also been severe destruction of civilian infrastructure, including houses, in many [...]
As violence ahead of elections in Burundi continues, some 4000 people have fled to neighbouring Tanzania, 60 per cent of whom are children. That's according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, which is supporting the refugees. At least 12 people have reportedly died in Burundi as a result of violent protests against the decision to [...]
Airlift of humanitarian supplies to quake-hit Nepal begins Humanitarian supplies to meet the emergency needs of some of the 1.7 million children affected by an earthquake in Nepal are being airlifted to the capital, Kathmandu. More than 7300 people are thought to have died in the tremor on 25 April. The UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, [...]
Humanitarian assistance has been provided by the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, to families who have fled the besieged refugee camp at Yarmouk, just south of the Syrian capital Damascus. The camp, which was originally home to more than 200,000 Palestinian refugees, was recently overrun by fighters from the terrorist group ISIL. Stephanie Coutrix reports. Humanitarian aid [...]
A "massive and continuing" measles outbreak in Sudan prompted the UN Tuesday to call for access to 500,000 children who've been cut off by conflict for the last four years. Children's agency UNICEF made the appeal to armed groups after announcing more than 2,200 confirmed cases of the disease had been diagnosed in the country [...]
The tens of millions of people who died during the Second World War have been remembered at the United Nations. A tree-planting ceremony was held at UN Headquarters on Tuesday to mark the ending of the war. Daniel Dickinson reports. The end of the Second World War, 70 years ago, provided the impetus for the [...]
The Syrian people will never be abandoned by the United Nations, according to the UN Special Envoy for Syria. Staffan de Mistura is beginning one-on-one consultations in Geneva on Tuesday with all groups he says could help find a formula for a political process and an end to the conflict. This includes Syrian government representatives, [...]
Leaders of armed groups in the Central African Republic have agreed to release all conscripted children and to immediately end any new child recruitment. An estimated 6,000 to 10,000 children are currently associated with the country's armed factions according to the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF. Daniel Dickinson reports. The figure includes those children serving as [...]
The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria who's leading consultations to end the conflict announced on Tuesday that the UN "will never abandon the Syrian people" even when the situation looks "mission impossible". Staffan de Mistura said he was acting on clear instructions from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to "operationalise" a UN-led agreement known as [...]
An increasing number of women in the mountainous South-East Asian country of Laos are accessing family planning services for the first time, thanks to a programme supported by the UN Population Fund, UNFPA. Around 70 per cent of the population lives in rural and remote areas, so women have typically found it difficult to obtain [...]
"Clock is ticking" for earthquake relief efforts in Nepal The global humanitarian community is fighting against the clock to deliver critical relief to Nepal’s most devastated communities, a top United Nations official said on Monday. More than 7300 people died when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the south-east Asian country on 25 April. Speaking at [...]
Insecurity and the shortage of fuel are continuing to hinder the delivery of aid to conflict-affected communities in Yemen according to the UN. Fighting between government forces and rebels has left some 12 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Cathrine Hasselberg reports. A recent escalation of the conflict in Yemen has aggravated an already large-scale [...]
Children are bearing the brunt of the conflict in South Sudan, according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). The agency says it is worried as children are dealing with strong psycho-social effects from having witnessed and experienced violence. South Sudan continues to endure a conflict which has pitted government forces against rebels. Stephanie Coutrix reports. [...]
Limiting the use of killer chemicals worldwide and finding a solution to the "tsunami" of electronic waste must be addressed at key talks in Geneva, UN environment experts said Monday. The announcement from the UN Environment Agency (UNEP) comes as 180 countries prepare to hammer out agreements on hazardous products. According to the UN agency, [...]
Regional and sub-regional organizations working with the United Nations need financial support from the rest of the world, according to the President of the UN General Assembly. Sam Kutesa was speaking at the beginning of a high-level thematic debate in New York focusing on strengthening cooperation between the UN and regional groupings. Daniel Dickinson reports [...]
Ratification of children's treaty by South Sudan welcomed The ratification by South Sudan of the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been welcomed by the UN. The Convention was adopted more than 25 years ago and sets out children's right to life, health, education and to play, as well as the right to [...]
More than half a million children in Nepal are being targeted in an emergency measles vaccination drive supported by the UN. Fears are growing of outbreaks in the informal camps that have sprung up since an earthquake devastated the country in April. Daniel Dickinson reports. Measles is very contagious and potentially deadly. Before the earthquake [...]
Women who work in the media are exposed to more severe forms of online harassment which cause them to shut down and self-censor, according to the Associate Dean of Ohio University. Michelle Ferrier has personal experience with this form of cyberbullying from her time as a columnist in Florida. She says the voices of women [...]
Nuclear experts have been meeting to look at ways of improving the safety of nuclear power plants. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency has been focussing on how to improve the response to a possible nuclear accident . It follows the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan in 2011. More than 100,000 [...]
Increases in global warming of even half of a degree Celsius impact people's ability to enjoy their human rights. That's according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, who recently co-published a report on how climate change and the endangerment of human rights are interrelated. John Knox says countries need to [...]
"Appalling numbers" of children die on the roads but the World Health Organization (WHO) believes it may have found a way to tackle this "man-made disaster", it announced Monday. The UN agency's #SaveKidsLives campaign to reduce road accidents – which claim 186,000 children's lives every year – centres on a 10-point action plan. It's aimed [...]
Sixty-one journalists were killed while carrying out their work in 2014, according to the United Nations. World Press Freedom Day on Sunday is celebrating the contribution of media workers to promoting free speech and democracy. As conflicts rage around the world journalists, editors and publishers are increasingly experiencing harassment and sometimes even deadly attacks. Maher [...]
A documentary film which promotes the rights of people with albinism in Africa has been touring rural areas in Tanzania. The film, In the Shadow of the Sun, aims to educate communities and dispel myths about albinos. According to the UN human rights office, at least 73 people with the condition have been murdered in [...]
More than enough food to feed the human family, says UN chief The world produces more than enough food to "feed every member of the human family," yet one in nine people still go hungry. That's according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who on Friday shared a video message at the opening ceremony of a [...]
Africa will need to find more new jobs over the next years than the rest of the world combined. Those are the findings of a report looking at the economic prospects for the Sub-Saharan region, which show the continent is on the cusp of significant demographic change. The report also predicts that the region is [...]
The future prospects for development for indigenous groups around the world is getting worse, according to the secretary-general of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact. Joan Carling says that indigenous people often have a different view on what sustainable development entails compared to the governments which will ultimately make the decision on future development targets. The [...]
Burundian authorities faced serious criticism on Friday for a series of alleged rights violations including the use of live ammunition against protesters. The reaction from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) follows reports of state-sponsored beatings and people being forced to sleep standing up while in detention. OHCHR said that hundreds [...]
UN humanitarian chief encouraged by "generosity and solidarity" in Nepal The response to the devastating earthquake which struck Nepal, killing over 5,500 people has been marked by "generosity and solidarity" the UN humanitarian chief has said. Valerie Amos is currently in the country to review the damage caused by the tremor. The UN and its [...]
The authorities in Nepal are working with the international community to ensure the supply of clean water to prevent the spread of disease following the devastating earthquake which hit the country a week ago. Around 6,000 people were killed and at least 2.8 million displaced by the tremor. Widespread damage was caused to health infrastructure [...]
Twenty nations which are part of the Climate Vulnerable Forum are urging the UN Framework Convention on the issue (UNFCCC) to reduce the current 2 degrees Celsius climate goal. Three independent reports recently highlighted implications for human rights, the workplace, migration and displacement issues if the target temperature is not lowered. Stephanie Coutrix reports. The [...]
UN-led consultations with parties involved in the Syria conflict will begin at UN Headquarters in Geneva on Monday. The so-called "Geneva consultations" will be held with each group separately and are expected to last for an initial period of five to six weeks. Around 220,000 people have died in Syria and a further four million [...]
Abuse allegations against French troops based in Central African Republic were dealt with correctly by human rights staff, the UN said Friday. Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN's top human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said that UN staff "did exactly the right thing" by launching an investigation into the "utterly odious" claims. He [...]
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) is the next stepping stone to create a nuclear free world, according to its Executive Secretary. The CTBT works to make it difficult for countries to start developing nuclear bombs, or for countries that already have them to make more powerful ones. Lassina Zerbo was at UN Headquarters to [...]
