"CEREMONIES"

The United Nations marked World Humanitarian Day today at its New York Headquarters with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony paying tribute to the lives lost on this date in 2003 during an attack in Baghdad, and honouring the contribution of tens of thousands of women humanitarian aid workers who provide life-saving support to vulnerable people caught up in crises.UNIFEED

On World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations Staff Union hosted a wreath-laying ceremony in remembrance of the UN personnel who lost their lives in the 2003 bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq.

South Sudanese women in Gok area celebrated the new peace resolution despite that women’s participation in peacebuilding and conflict-resolution process in the country has been limited. UNMISS

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

The Government of Kenya issued birth certificates to 600 children from Shona community, hailing as an important protection measure and first step towards ending statelessness for 3,500 people. UNHCR

At a special ceremony in Malakal, thousands of displaced families rejoiced alongside dignitaries and other community members as they bore witness to the consecration of Dr. Stephen Nyodho Ador Mijowk after a ten-year vacuum in leadership of the Catholic diocese in the Upper Nile region. UNMISS

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General, José Graziano da Silva handed over the helm to Director-General-Elect Qu Dongyu at a ceremony held at the UN agency’s headquarters in Rome. FAO

After three months of negotiations by the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), UNICEF, armed groups and national partners, thirty-two boys and young men were released from the ranks of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In-Opposition loyal to Riek Machar at a ceremony in MirMir. UNMISS

A new contingent of Ugandan peacekeepers charged with ensuring the safety of the United Nations staff arrived Thursday in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, one day after a deadly suicide attack carried out by the Al Shabaab terrorist group, killing at least six people and badly wounding Mogadishu mayor and another five persons. UNSOM

UK is to deploy 250 soldiers to join the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA, the UK Secretary of State for Defence Penny Mordaunt announced on Saturday, during her visit to the city of Gao in Mali’s restive north. MINUSMA