UN envoy for Somalia condemns bomb blasts in Mogadishu
Mar 14, 2017, at 12:58 pm
New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Somalia has strongly condemned this morning’s bomb blasts at two locations in Mogadishu that reportedly killed a number of civilians.
Yemen on brink of famine, warns UN food relief agency chief, appealing for resources and access
Mar 14, 2017, at 12:57 pm
New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): Unless the international community provides additional resources and authorities in Yemen allow aid workers access to hungry people, families in some of the war-torn country’s most food insecure areas will die, warned the head of the United Nations emergency food programme.
Peace efforts and sustainable development top agenda at UN agency’s narcotics conference
Mar 14, 2017, at 12:56 pm
New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): The top United Nations panel dealing with all aspects of narcotic drugs opened its 60th session on Monday with a focus on peace and security, as well as on helping Governments reach their sustainable development commitments.
UN Commission on Status of Women opens with calls for more men to stand up for equality
Mar 14, 2017, at 05:23 am
New York, Mar 13 (Just Earth News): With men still dominating even in countries that consider themselves progressive, the world needs more women leaders and more men standing up for gender equality, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday.
Following visit to Haiti, UN expert urges more aid for Hurricane Matthew victims
Mar 14, 2017, at 05:19 am
New York, Mar 13 (Just Earth News): An independent United Nations expert on human rights is calling for redoubling of efforts to help Haitians affected by Hurricane Matthew.
Syria: UN chief Guterres condemns terrorist attacks in Damascus
Mar 13, 2017, at 01:14 pm
New York, Mar 13 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the terrorist bombings in the Syrian capital of Damascus yesterday, his spokesman said Sunday.
Nation-building amid insurgency ‘an uphill struggle’ for Afghanistan – UN envoy
Mar 11, 2017, at 01:51 pm
New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan on Friday highlighted both the visible progress the conflict-torn country has made and the challenges lie ahead, urging the Government to redouble efforts while calling for continued international political and financial support.
Mar 11, 2017, at 01:50 pm
New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): Noting growing prevalence of “fake news†and propaganda in both legacy and social media, United Nations and key regional human rights experts have called on State actors to ensure that they disseminate reliable and trustworthy information, including about matters of public interest, such as the economy, public health, security and the environment.
Vigilance against Zika virus should ‘remain high,’ UN health agency says in new guidance
Mar 11, 2017, at 01:49 pm
New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): Although a decline in cases of Zika virus infection has been reported in some countries, there is still a need for heightened vigilance, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Friday, issuing fresh guidance on the virus that has been linked to birth defects and neurological complications.
UN agency spotlights role of Governments in preventing child exploitation in tourism
Mar 11, 2017, at 01:49 pm
New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): The United Nations-backed meeting on tourism has spotlighted the leading role of Governments in preventing all forms of child exploitation in the leisure travel industry.
As fresh violence in Yemen sends thousands fleeing their homes, UN agency urges support
Mar 11, 2017, at 01:48 pm
New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): With tens of thousands of civilians forced to flee their homes following a spike in fighting across western and central Yemen, the United Nations refugee agency on Friday appealed for more international support, as well as unrestricted access within the country so that it can reach those now facing “abysmal conditions.â€
Colombian fighting displaced more than 900 families since January - UN agency
Mar 11, 2017, at 04:43 am
New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Despite a peace agreement, ongoing fighting in the Colombian Pacific Coast has displaced more than 3,500 people so far this year – many of them from the Afro-Colombian or indigenous communities, the United Nations refugee agency on Friday announced.
Turkey: UN report details allegations of serious rights violations in country's southeast
Mar 11, 2017, at 04:43 am
New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): The UN human rights office on Friday published a report detailing allegations of massive destruction, killings and numerous other serious human rights violations committed between July 2015 and December 2016 in southeast Turkey.
With fighting near industrial sites, UN expert warns Ukrainians of chemical disaster risk
Mar 11, 2017, at 04:42 am
New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Unless the fighting in eastern Ukraine is stopped and precautions are taken to secure industrial facilities in the area, the armed conflict could lead to a catastrophic chemical disaster, an independent United Nations human rights expert on Friday warned.
Americas region adopts 'historic' disaster risk reduction plan at UN-backed forum in Montreal
Mar 10, 2017, at 02:13 pm
New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Around 50 countries and territories of the Americas at a United Nations-supported conference in Montreal, Canada, agreed a Regional Action Plan on Thursday to better protect their citizens from the destruction caused by natural and man-made disasters.
'Holistic thinking' needed for peace, development in Lake Chad region – Deputy UN chief Mohammed
Mar 10, 2017, at 02:11 pm
New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Highlighting the multifaceted nature of the crisis in Africa's Lake Chad Basin, the deputy United Nations chief underlined the need for a holistic approach that includes responding to the Boko Haram as well as closing the gap between humanitarian assistance and development interventions.
Mali: UN expert calls for stronger protection of civilians amid ongoing violence
Mar 10, 2017, at 02:10 pm
New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Serious security threats in north and central Mali put local populations and humanitarian aid workers at risk, a United Nations human rights expert said on Thursday.
Next intra-Syrian talks set for late March – UN envoy
Mar 10, 2017, at 02:06 pm
New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): The next round of the United Nations-facilitated intra-Syrian talks is expected to convene on 23 March to discuss issues related to governance, constitution, elections and counter terrorism, the UN Special Envoy for Syria has said.
Viet Nam: UN experts urge Government to release blogger ‘Mother Mushroom’
Mar 09, 2017, at 02:33 pm
New York, Mar 9 (Just Earth News): A group of UN human rights experts has urged the Government of Viet Nam to immediately release a popular blogger, known as Mother Mushroom, who has been detained since October last year.
Mar 09, 2017, at 02:27 pm
New York, Mar 9 (Just Earth News): The richness, welfare and prosperity of countries depend on the full integration of women in the development process, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, commemorating International Women’s Day at a ceremony in Nairobi as part of his visit to Kenya.
Recent initiatives important milestones towards greater peace in Mali, say UN, regional partners
Mar 09, 2017, at 08:06 am
New York, Mar 9 (Just Earth News): Commending recent progress, including the launch of interim authorities in Kidal, northern Mali, the United Nations together with regional blocs urged the parties to the peace agreement in the African nation to overcome the difficulties which are impeding the establishment of such authorities in the Taoudéni and Timbuktu regions.
International Day, UN calls for women's full participation in labour force
Mar 09, 2017, at 08:04 am
New York, Mar 9 (Just Earth News): As the rights of women and girls around the world are being reduced and restricted, the United Nations on Wednesday marked International Women's Day with calls for empowering and educating women and girls to reach gender equality in the work place.
Afghanistan: UN mission condemns terrorist attack on Kabul military hospital
Mar 09, 2017, at 08:02 am
New York, Mar 9 (Just Earth News): The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has condemned on Wednesday's terrorist attack on a military hospital in Kabul for which the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) claimed responsibility.
Mar 08, 2017, at 01:02 pm
New York, Mar 8 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency voiced deep concerned at a new law voted on Tuesday by the Hungarian Parliament that could lead to mandatory detention of all asylum-seekers, including many children – for the entire length of the asylum procedure – and warned that it would have a terrible impact on people who have already suffered greatly.
Disasters in Americas show challenge of meeting global risk reduction targets – senior UN Official
Mar 08, 2017, at 01:01 pm
New York, Mar 8 (Just Earth News): Disasters in the Americas over the past year such as Hurricane Matthew show the challenge the world faces meeting the risk reduction targets established by the UN’s Sendai Framework.
Women’s progress uneven and facing backlash, UN rights chief warns ahead of International Day
Mar 08, 2017, at 01:00 pm
New York, Mar 8 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday launched a joint report with the African Union and UN Women detailing the progress and challenges to women’s struggle for human rights in Africa, while the UN rights chief warned that the women’s movement around the world is facing a backlash that hurts both men and women.
UN agency expanding camps around Mosul to cope with surge in displacement
Mar 08, 2017, at 12:59 pm
New York, Mar 8 (Just Earth News): Amid a spike in new displacement triggered by the Iraqi military offensive to recapture western Mosul, the United Nations refugee agency is setting up new camps and expanding existing ones to shelter new arrivals, many of whom are visibly traumatized, hungry and dehydrated.
‘The world must act now to stop this,’ UN chief Guterres says on visit to drought-hit Somalia
Mar 08, 2017, at 12:57 pm
New York, Mar 8 (Just Earth News): Hearing the heart-wrenching stories of desperate families displaced in Somalia, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday urged a massive scale up in international support to avert a famine in the drought-stricken Horn of Africa nation and curb the spread of cholera.
UN migration agency seeks $25 million to aid families in Eastern Ukraine
Mar 08, 2017, at 12:56 pm
New York, Mar 8 (Just Earth News): To meet the emergency needs of 180,000 people in Eastern Ukraine, the United Nations migration agency on Tuesday announced plans to provide aid ranging from blankets to money to cover electricity costs and psychological support at a cost of $25 million.
West Africa can serve as a model for preventive diplomacy – UN political chief
Mar 07, 2017, at 01:19 pm
New York, Mar 7 (Just Earth News): The United Nations political affairs chief on Monday stressed that West Africa could be a model of how the UN can work with local partners in bringing stability to regions or sub-regions.