Proper handwashing may save the lives of 800 children a day worldwide – UNICEF
Oct 15, 2016, at 01:37 pm
New York, Oct 15 (Just Earth News): On the eve of Global Handwashing Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that more than 300,000 children under the age of five died last year due to diarrhoeal infections linked to a lack of safe drinking water and sanitation – a rate of 800 per day that could have been prevented by proper handwashing.
Oct 15, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, Oct 15 (Just Earth News): To tackle illicit financial flows, a United Nations human rights expert has urged Secretary-General-designate António Guterres, as well as the UN General Assembly, to consider as a priority abolishing tax havens and convening a world conference on the issue, while safeguarding effective protection of whistle-blowers.
Ban welcomes reported release of 21 Chibok schoolgirls abducted in Nigeria
Oct 15, 2016, at 01:34 pm
New York, Oct 15 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday welcomed the reported release of 21 Chibok schoolgirls, who were abducted by the Boko Haram insurgent group more than two years ago, while expressing deep concern about the safety and well-being of the remaining schoolgirls and other victims still in captivity.
Haiti: UN supporting government to provide emergency food assistance to 750,000 people
Oct 15, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, Oct 15 (Just Earth News): United Nations relief agencies are continuing work on the ground to assist Haiti in the aftermath of powerful Hurricane Matthew with the World Food Program (WFP) on Friday helping to provide supplies for some 750,000 people, while the UN health agency and its regional partner have appealed to donors for $9 million for emergency health operations.
Central African Republic: UN rights office urges all parties to exercise ‘utmost restraint’
Oct 15, 2016, at 01:32 pm
New York, Oct 15 (Just Earth News): In the wake of a number of killings and attacks on civilians in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called on all actors in the country to exercise restraint and prevent any further escalation in violence.
Only one out of six children under the age of two worldwide receives adequate nutrition – UNICEF
Oct 15, 2016, at 03:49 am
New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a new report on Friday with the alarming statistic that five out of six children worldwide under two years old are not receiving adequate nutrition for growth and brain development.
UN refugee agency welcomes France’s decision to close Calais ‘jungle’ camp
Oct 15, 2016, at 03:43 am
New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday welcomed the announcement by President François Hollande earlier this month that France will close the informal camp for refugees and migrants in the northern port town of Calais, stressing the vital importance of finding proper alternative accommodation for the thousands of people there.
UN human rights chief expresses concern about Viet Nam's crackdown on blogger
Oct 15, 2016, at 03:42 am
New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Friday expressed concern about a growing crackdown by the Government of Viet Nam on human rights defenders, including the arrest this week of popular blogger and Government critic Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, known online as Mother Mushroom.
Thailand prepares to bid final goodbye to King Bhumibol
Oct 14, 2016, at 07:34 pm
New Delhi/Bangkok, Oct 14 (IBNS): President of India Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, a message from the President's Secretariat said on Friday.
New Zealand Prime Minister mourns death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Oct 14, 2016, at 03:39 pm
Wellington, Oct 14 (IBNS): New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on Friday mourned the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Oct 14, 2016, at 01:37 pm
New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): Briefing the Security Council on Thursday, the top United Nations political official said that while the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) and its affiliates have continued to face military setbacks, they nevertheless continue to pose a significant and diversified threat.
Security Council dispatches UN special envoy to Burundi for talks on political crisis
Oct 14, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): The Security Council will dispatch a senior United Nations envoy to consult with officials in Burundi to “find a way forward on all issues related to peace and security and UN activities in the country,†after the Government earlier rejected a Council resolution on establishing a police officers’ component there and amid reports that it will withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Oct 14, 2016, at 01:35 pm
New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): Highlighting “considerable†inequalities among countries when it comes to enabling people with tuberculosis to access cost-effective diagnosis and treatment, a new United Nations health report has called for political commitment and increased funding to prevent, detect and treat the disease if global targets are to be met.
UN receives ‘partial’ approval from Syrian government on October aid deliveries, envoy reports
Oct 14, 2016, at 01:34 pm
New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): Unless the deadly violence in Aleppo subsides, the United Nations will be unable to carry out its humanitarian responsibilities to victims of bombardments, shelling and attacks against civilians, UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy stressed on Thursday.
Security Council extends UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti for six months
Oct 14, 2016, at 01:32 pm
New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): Accepting Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s recommendation, the Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti for six months at the current force and police strength.
Pivotal role midwives play in keeping mothers and newborns alive must be recognized – UN
Oct 14, 2016, at 01:21 pm
New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): The first global survey of midwifery personnel has revealed that too often, midwives face cultural isolation, unsafe accommodation, and low salaries, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday, calling for an end to the discrimination and lack of respect that hinder their ability to provide quality care to women and newborns.
UN health teams in Haiti to respond to cholera outbreaks, prevent possible epidemic
Oct 14, 2016, at 04:16 am
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): With scattered outbreaks of cholera reported in the wake of the devastation wrecked by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, the United Nations health agency has deployed field teams in the island to respond to the health situation and to prevent it from taking epidemic proportions.
UN refugee agency condemns rising violence against civilians in Central African Republic
Oct 14, 2016, at 04:15 am
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Thursday condemned attacks on civilians in the Central African Republic (CAR), where clashes between rival groups have forced thousands of people to flee their homes and disrupted vital humanitarian aid operations.
António Guterres appointed next UN Secretary-General by acclamation
Oct 14, 2016, at 04:14 am
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): The General Assembly on Thursday appointed by acclamation the former Prime Minister of Portugal, António Guterres, as the next United Nations Secretary-General, to succeed Ban Ki-moon when he steps down on 31 December.
On International Day, UN urges building disaster resilience by reducing 'appalling' loss of life
Oct 14, 2016, at 04:12 am
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Over the past twenty years, 90 per cent of the 1.35 million people who have died in 7,056 disaster events have come from low and middle-income countries, according to a new United Nations report released on Thursday described by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as a “damning indictment of inequality.â€
American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan awarded Nobel Prize in Literature
Oct 14, 2016, at 01:04 am
London, Oct 13 (IBNS): American singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, who is regarded as one of the most popular and influential rock musicians of the world, was on Thursday awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2016.
Donald Trump faces multiple groping claims
Oct 13, 2016, at 06:55 pm
Washington, Oct 13 (IBNS) : The dirt flying in the run-up to the US Presidential election grew thicker as five women came forward with claims that Republican candidate Donald Trump had groped, kissed and leered at them, media reports said.
Sydney teens charged with terrorism offences
Oct 13, 2016, at 03:12 pm
Sydney, Oct 13 (IBNS): The New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team (NSW JCTT) has charged two juveniles with terror related offences following their arrest in Bankstown on Wednesday.
UN Member States set to appoint next Secretary-General
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:59 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): The General Assembly on Thursdayis expected to act on the recommendation of the Security Council regarding the appointment of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations; last week, the Council forwarded to the 193-member body its nomination, António Guterres, former Prime Minister of Portugal, to be the next UN chief.
Urgent solutions for refugee and migrant children in Calais ‘long overdue’ – UNICEF
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:58 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): With the imminent clearance of the Calais camp and wet winter weather fast approaching, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe, said on Wednesday that the commitment by the United Kingdom and France to find urgent solutions for the hundreds of refugee and migrant children languishing there for months, “could not come a minute too soon.â€
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:57 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): While Haiti is still counting its dead and assessing the damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, the powerful Category 4 storm that battered the tiny island nation last week, a senior United Nations peacekeeping official on Wednesday reported that significant headway is being made clearing the roads to make facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid.
Colombia: Ban welcomes announcement of talks between Government and National Liberation Army
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:56 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the announcement that formal negotiations between the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) will begin later this month, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed hope that the two sides will reach a sustainable peace agreement as soon as possible.
In wake of Hurricane Matthew, UN to deliver food for 180,000 people in hard-hit eastern Cuba
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:54 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is working with the Cuban Government to provide food for 180,000 people in hard-hit eastern areas of the island as they cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.
Syria: Conflict plunging to new ‘lows,’ UNICEF says, deploring killing of school children
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:53 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Deploring yesterday’s deadly attack on a primary school in the Syrian city of Darra, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reiterated its call on all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and protect children and schools.
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:52 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Nicholas Haysom has experience in challenging political situations. His service with the United Nations has seen him serve as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s top political advisor at UN Headquarters in New York – but has also involved service in some of the toughest field assignment locations, such as Iraq and Afghanistan.