INTERVIEW: Fast-response ‘vanguard brigade’ of peacekeepers now a reality
Apr 05, 2017, at 05:13 am
New York, Apr 4(Just Earth News): A “vanguard brigade†of UN Peacekeepers which can be deployed within 60 days to new trouble-spots, would have been “impossible†to envisage just two years ago.
Renewable energy sources could be cheaper than fossil fuels within 10 years – UN-backed report
Apr 04, 2017, at 11:02 am
New York, Apr 4(Just Earth News): A new United Nations-backed report has revealed overwhelming consensus that renewable power will dominate in the future, with many experts saying that even large international corporations are increasingly choosing renewable energy products either from utilities or through direct investment in their own generating capacity.
Peace ‘incomplete’ without demining, UN chief says ahead of World Mine Awareness Day
Apr 04, 2017, at 10:59 am
New York, Apr 4(Just Earth News): On the eve of the International Day for World Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, Secretary-General António Guterres urged all Governments to remember landmines and explosive remnants of war when discussing peace agreements or when sending urgent humanitarian aid to conflict zones.
Those responsible for St. Petersburg metro attack must be held accountable – UN chief Guterres
Apr 04, 2017, at 10:58 am
New York, Apr 4(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned on Monday’s explosion on the metro in Russia’s second largest city of St. Petersburg and underlined need to bring those responsible to justice.
Follow China’s example, shut down ivory factories and shops, UN agency urges countries
Apr 04, 2017, at 04:12 am
New York, Apr 3 (Just Earth News): Applauding the Chinese Government’s closure of many of its ivory factories and retail outlets, the United Nations environment wing has called on other countries and territories to follow China’s example and improve the survival prospects for elephants across the world.
Lack of infrastructure, jobs drives rural youth to cities, says UN rural poverty agency head
Apr 04, 2017, at 04:11 am
New York, Apr 3 (Just Earth News): Investing in rural youth is essential to stem the migration of young people looking for work in cities and to keeping a global food supply, the new head of the United Nations agency charged with eradicating rural poverty on Monday said.
Syria: Agriculture should be kick-started now despite huge destruction – UN report
Apr 04, 2017, at 04:10 am
New York, Apr 3 (Just Earth News): With six years of conflict in Syria causing more than $16 billion of lost crop and livestock production and destroyed farming assets, a United Nations report published on Monday stressed the need to reboot and kick-start the agricultural sector now to dramatically reduce the need for humanitarian aid and migration.
Incremental progress but ‘we’re not yet there,’ UN mediator on Syria reports
Apr 01, 2017, at 01:17 pm
New York, Apr 1 (Just Earth News): The latest round of the United Nations-facilitated intra-Syrian talks concluded on Friday in Geneva where UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told journalists the discussions had been serious and the parties engaged, but “we’re not yet there.â€
Approval of Somalia’s new cabinet a ‘green light for action,’ says UN envoy
Apr 01, 2017, at 01:15 pm
New York, Apr 1 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the Somali Federal Parliament’s approval of a new cabinet, the United Nations envoy for the country expressed hope that the new Government will be able to address the challenges confronting the Horn of Africa nation.
Some 300 million people suffer from depression, UN warns ahead of World Health Day
Apr 01, 2017, at 05:57 am
New York, Apr 1(Just Earth News): More than 300 million people are now living with depression, which is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide, according to the latest estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) released ahead of World Health Day.
In Iraq, UN chief Guterres urges more support for those who have 'suffered enormously'
Apr 01, 2017, at 05:55 am
New York, Apr 1 (Just Earth News): Highlighting the lack of resources for United Nations programmes assisting those displaced by the fighting in Iraq's Mosul Secretary-General António Guterres urged the international community to do more to help the people who have “suffered enormously and go on suffering.
Colombia: UN receives 7,000 weapons from FARC-EP as hunt for hidden caches continues
Mar 31, 2017, at 12:56 pm
New York, Mar 31 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Mission in Colombia is set to register some 7,000 weapons this weekend, but the search for other caches of weapons hidden by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) continues, the Mission’s chief has said.
More must be done to place Syrian refugees; conflict sees worst violence in months – UN
Mar 31, 2017, at 12:55 pm
New York, Mar 31 (Just Earth News): The world’s attention has moved away from Syria following the battle for Aleppo, despite the fact that the last few months have been “some of the worst†for civilians, the United Nations humanitarian chief on Thursday told the Security Council, reiterating calls for an end to the six year conflict.
In Baghdad, UN chief Guterres pledges solidarity with Iraqi government and people
Mar 31, 2017, at 12:54 pm
New York, Mar 31 (Just Earth News): On what he called a “visit of solidarity†with Iraq, Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday welcomed the commitment of the country’s leaders to civilian protection and national dialogue, and pledged the ongoing support of the United Nations as the Government seeks to bolster aid delivery to needy populations and rebuild Iraq institutions.
UN agriculture agency takes step to help rice farmers bolster production
Mar 31, 2017, at 12:52 pm
New York, Mar 31 (Just Earth News): Concerned about global rice production and eradicating hunger around the world, the United Nations agricultural agency on Thursday announced that it has teamed up with an international research institute to enhance rice farming and make it more adaptable to climate change.
Civilian protection, aid access at risk as violence flares in Central African Republic – UN
Mar 31, 2017, at 04:54 am
New York, Mar 30 (Just Earth News): With a new outbreak of violence erupting in the Central African Republic (CAR), a senior United Nations humanitarian official on Thursday urged warring parties to protect vulnerable civilian populations as a matter of priority and ensure free movements of relief aid workers.
UN refugee agency stresses importance of search missions after latest shipwreck in Europe
Mar 31, 2017, at 04:52 am
New York, Mar 30 (Just Earth News): With nearly 150 people dead or missing in another shipwreck off the Mediterranean coast, the United Nations refugee agency on Thursday stressed the importance of saving lives at sea.
Yemen: UN envoy urges Security Council to put pressure on warring parties to discuss his proposal
Mar 31, 2017, at 04:51 am
New York, Mar 30 (Just Earth News): United Nations envoy for Yemen has urged the members of the Security Council to put pressure on the warring parties in that country to engage constructively in discussing the peace process framework he had presented.
Pro-poor urbanization, sustainable infrastructure can unlock Asia-Pacific's prosperity – UN
Mar 30, 2017, at 01:50 pm
New York, Mar 30 (Just Earth News): Some 400 million people in Asia and the Pacific still confront poverty as part of their daily lives due to widening income inequality, despite the region's impressive gains in reducing poverty in recent decades, a United Nations-backed report has found.
UN health agency highlights importance of measles vaccine amid Europe outbreak
Mar 30, 2017, at 01:49 pm
New York, Mar 30 (Just Earth News): Hundreds of measles cases have been reported in Europe – where the disease was believed to be nearing elimination – leading the United Nations health agency to urge families to vaccinate their children and for national authorities to take urgent measures to stop transmission at the borders.
Medicines should help, not harm, says UN health agency launching global patient safety 'challenge'
Mar 30, 2017, at 01:48 pm
New York, Mar 30 (Just Earth News): Medicines should help, not harm, says UN health agency launching new global patient safety 'challenge'
In Jordan, UN chief calls for 'new Arab world,' united to tackle common challenges
Mar 30, 2017, at 01:45 pm
New York, Mar 30 (Just Earth News): Addressing the League of Arab States Summit in Jordan on Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the importance of unity among the countries in the region to confront the challenges it is facing.
Children in countries facing famine threatened by lack of water, sanitation – UN agency
Mar 30, 2017, at 04:08 am
New York, Mar 29 (Just Earth News): In African and Middle Eastern countries facing famine, unsafe water is as dangerous for severely malnourished children as lack of food, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today warned, noting that nearly 27 million people are at risk in northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.
UN chief confirms the remains found in DRC those of the two missing experts
Mar 30, 2017, at 04:07 am
New York, Mar 29 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has confirmed the deaths of Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan, two members of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo who had been missing since 12 March, and vowed that the Organization would do “everything possible†to ensure that justice is done.
Mobile solutions to empower, educate refugees and displaced persons take spotlight at UN forum
Mar 29, 2017, at 02:01 pm
New York, Mar 29 (Just Earth News): Several initiatives to improve learning through mobile technologies were presented during the Mobile Learning Week 2017, a recently-concluded five-day event held at the Paris headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In Senegal, UN General Assembly President calls for sustainable management of marine resources
Mar 29, 2017, at 01:59 pm
New York, Mar 29 (Just Earth News): Visiting a traditional fishing community in Senegal, the President of the United Nations General Assembly has called on the countries in the region to prioritize conserving and sustainably managing their marine resources.
DR Congo: UN and regional partners express concern about Kasaï unrest
Mar 29, 2017, at 01:58 pm
New York, Mar 29 (Just Earth News): The United Nations and regional partner organizations on Tuesday expressed deep concern about the situation in the central Kasaï region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where at least two United Nations experts disappeared two weeks ago and dozens of police officers were reportedly found dead.
Belarus: UN expert decries Government’s return to mass violence against peaceful protestors
Mar 29, 2017, at 01:57 pm
New York, Mar 29 (Just Earth News): A United Nations-appointed independent expert on the human rights situation in Belarus has expressed dismay over the Government’s return to the policy of violent mass repression against peaceful demonstrators, non-governmental organizations, journalists and political opponents, and is calling on the authorities there to stop harassment and violence.
Protecting human rights essential in promoting sustainable supply chains – UN experts
Mar 29, 2017, at 01:56 pm
New York, Mar 29 (Just Earth News): The only way to achieve socially sustainable supply chains is if human rights are protected and respected, a group of UN experts said on Tuesday in an open letter addressed to G20 leaders currently meeting in Geneva.
Half of all health facilities in war-torn Yemen now closed; medicines urgently needed – UN
Mar 29, 2017, at 01:55 pm
New York, Mar 29 (Just Earth News): More than 14 million people in Yemen have no access to health services, the United Nations health agency on Tuesday said, warning that transportation of medical personnel and treatment for the injured is getting increasingly difficult as this week the fighting enters its third year.