Ahead of World Refugee Day, UN agency launches ‘Stand #WithRefugees’ initiative
Jun 17, 2016, at 12:40 pm
New York, June 17 (Just Earth News):Ahead of the World Refugee Day on 20 June, more than 60 film, TV and music stars have joined refugees, faith leaders and the United Nations refugee agency staff to back a petition highlighting the plight of forcibly displaced people.
UN humanitarian coordinator reports more than 26,000 people affected by Myanmar floods
Jun 16, 2016, at 01:07 pm
New York, June 16 (Just Earth News):Heavy monsoon rains since the beginning of June have caused flooding in five states and regions of Myanmar, resulting in 14 deaths and affecting at least 26,000 people, a United Nations humanitarian coordinator reported on Wednesday.
On World Day, Ban calls for ending elder abuse as a pathway towards Global Goals
Jun 16, 2016, at 04:55 am
New York, June 15 (Just Earth News):Marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday emphasized that ending neglect, abuse and violence against older people is crucial as the international community continues to work together towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and fulfil their underlying pledge to leave no one behind.
States must do more to safeguard adolescent health rights – UN expert
Jun 16, 2016, at 04:54 am
New York, June 15 (Just Earth News):A United Nations human rights expert on Wednesday called on States to remove all legal barriers to access health facilities, goods and services interfering with the rights of adolescents to be heard and taken seriously, and that limit their right to make autonomous decisions.
South Sudan: UN relief wing reports increase in violence against aid workers
Jun 16, 2016, at 04:50 am
New York, June 15 (Just Earth News):While thousands of vulnerable people in South Sudan have been reached with assistance and protection in recent months, violent incidents against aid workers increased during the month of May, the United Nations humanitarian wing reported on Wednesday.
Prolonged political crisis could erode Guinea Bissau’s development gains, UN envoy warns
Jun 15, 2016, at 01:25 pm
New York, June 15 (Just Earth News):The longer the political crisis continues in Guinea Bissau, the more likely the country could see setbacks to its development and economic gains, warned the head of the United Nations peacebuilding office there, urging the Security Council to pay greater attention to the situation.
'Little progress' made on finding viable solution to Darfur conflict – UN peacekeeping chief
Jun 15, 2016, at 01:21 pm
New York, June 15 (Just Earth News):Given the unchanged nature of the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, the mandate of the African Union-United Nations mission there should be extended for another year, without changes to its priorities or its authorized troop and police ceiling, the top UN peacekeeping official said on Tuesday.
On World Day, UN health agency calls for rapid increase in voluntary blood donations
Jun 15, 2016, at 03:34 am
New York, June 14 (Just Earth News): On World Blood Donor Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for a rapid increase in voluntary blood donations in more than half of the countries globally in order to ensure a reliable supply of safe blood for patients whose lives depend on it.
Rocket and mortar attacks in Yemen’s Taiz condemned by UN rights office
Jun 11, 2016, at 02:04 pm
New York, June 11 (Just Earth News):The United Nations human rights office on Friday strongly condemned a series of rocket and mortar attacks against several residential areas and markets in Taiz, Yemen, since last Friday, which killed 18 civilians including seven children, and injured 68 others.
Haiti: UN supports Government in potable water campaign reaching 30,000 residents
Jun 11, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, June 11 (Just Earth News): Some 30,000 residents of three localities in Haiti now have access to potable water, thanks to a sanitation campaign launched by the Government and supported by the United Nations following a cholera epidemic that killed almost 100 people in the community.
'This is not yet the moment' for tangible peace talks – UN envoy for Syria
Jun 10, 2016, at 01:44 pm
New York, June 10 (Just Earth News):The United Nations envoy mediating a resolution to the crisis in Syria said on Thursday that the time is not yet right for a resumption of the intra-Syrian talks, but that the intention is to begin an official third round “as soon as possible,†as efforts continue towards the decisive outcome of a political transition.
Justice for crimes committed in Darfur must not be sacrificed – ICC Prosecutor
Jun 10, 2016, at 01:42 pm
New York, June 10 (Just Earth News):More than a decade has passed since the situation in Darfur, Sudan, was referred to her Office, yet the victims' quest for justice is still far from being realized and they continue to be subjected to grave crimes and suffering, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday. New York, June 10 (Just Earth News):More than a decade has passed since the situation in Darfur, Sudan, was referred to her Office, yet the victims' quest for justice is still far from being realized and they continue to be subjected to grave crimes and suffering, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday.
Americas: Regional meeting aims to aid overall UN disaster reduction efforts
Jun 07, 2016, at 12:38 pm
New York, June 7 (Just Earth News):With efforts under way to assist countries to take up a comprehensive strategy with achievable targets, the United Nations is seeking to drastically reduce the number of people affected by natural and man-made disasters from the 100 million who suffered last year.
Jun 07, 2016, at 12:31 pm
New York, June 7 (Just Earth News):Four international organizations, including the United Nations, on Monday reaffirmed their support to the political dialogue in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and called on all Congolese stakeholders to work towards its successful holding.
Jun 01, 2016, at 03:31 pm
New York, June 1 (Just Earth News): The verdict announced by a special court in Senegal on the conviction of the former President of Chad, Hissène Habré, of crimes against humanity sent “a strong signal†to those who perpetrate serious crimes of international concern, United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.
Thousands of desperate civilians on the run as battle for Fallujah continues – UN
Jun 01, 2016, at 03:10 pm
New York, June 1 (Just Earth News): Nearly 3,700 people, or 624 families, have fled Fallujah over the past week amid a new offensive by Iraqi forces to retake the besieged city from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), the United Nations said today, with humanitarian officials also reporting that those civilians left behind risk being used as ‘human shields’ by the terrorists.
Guinea-Bissau: Ban urges all political stakeholders to avoid escalation after outbreak of protests
May 28, 2016, at 04:43 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News): In the wake of protests in Guinea-Bissau, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged all political stakeholders and their supporters to act responsibly, refrain from violence and avoid an escalation of the situation by settling their concerns through dialogue.
INTERVIEWS: Top UN peacekeeping, logistical officials discuss threats to 'blue helmets'
May 27, 2016, at 10:49 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News): In extreme circumstances like deliberate targeting by jihadists and traffickers to more complicated assignments, on Thursday's United Nations peacekeepers need courage, a high degree of professionalism and resilience, the head of the so-called 'blue helmets' on Thursday said.
Haiti: UN agencies support Government in vaccination campaign against cholera
May 26, 2016, at 01:59 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): Two United Nations agencies said on Wednesday they are supporting the Government of Haiti in a vaccination campaign against cholera that aims to reach 400,000 people in 2016.
Syria: credibility of peace talks at risk without renewed truce, aid access, UN envoy warns
May 20, 2016, at 12:33 pm
New York, May 20(Just Earth News): Without improved humanitarian access and a restoration of Syria’s cessation of hostilities, the credibility of the next round of peace talks would be in question, the United Nations envoy mediating the talks said on Thursday, vowing to take the "last resort" option of air drops if there is no improvement in access to besieged areas by the first of June.
May 19, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, May 19 (Just Earth News): While cities have emerged over the past 20 years as the world’s economic platforms for production and innovation, helping millions escape poverty through better jobs and improved quality of life, mass urbanization has also led to overcrowding, deepened inequalities and triggered a raft of environmental and health challenges, according to a new United Nations report.
Syria: UN condemns camp bombing, underlines political solution ‘more urgent than ever’
May 07, 2016, at 01:09 pm
New York, May 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other senior United Nations officials on Friday “unreservedly†condemned yesterday’s bombing of two camps for displaced people in Sarmada, located in north-western Syria, which according to early reports by first responders, killed around 30 civilians including children.
Palm oil pushes global food prices up in April; cereal production outlook improves – UN
May 06, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, May 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Global prices of key staple food commodities rose in April, marking a third consecutive monthly increase after four years of decline, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday.
UN envoy ‘cautiously hopeful’ for re-launch of truce in Syria
May 04, 2016, at 01:39 pm
New York, May 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Following discussions in Moscow on the intra-Syria talks, the United Nations envoy facilitating the process has said that he is cautiously hopeful that the cessation of hostilities pact will be re-launched, “perhaps even later on Tuesday.â€
May 04, 2016, at 01:35 pm
New York, May 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Speaking ahead of United States President Barack Obama’s visit to Flint, Michigan, three United Nations experts are calling for immediate action to address the serious human rights concerns related to the contamination of the city’s water supply and the devastating consequences for residents there, who have been dealing with water-related crises since April 2014.
Hundreds evacuated from four besieged areas in Syria – UN mediator
Apr 22, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, Apr 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): In what he called “modest but very real†progress on the humanitarian track of the crisis in Syria, the United Nations envoy for the country on Thursday reported that, among other steps, more than 500,000 civilians have been reached during the cessation of hostilities, and yesterday, some 500 people were medically evacuated from several besieged areas.
Apr 20, 2016, at 02:02 pm
New York, Apr 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With a cessation of hostilities largely holding in Syria, the situation is “encouraging,†but areas under siege remain particularly vulnerable, according to a senior United Nations humanitarian official.
South Sudan: UN refugee agency warns of worsening civilian situation
Apr 20, 2016, at 01:48 pm
New York, Apr 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday expressed extreme concern over a combination of new fighting in previously peaceful areas, food insecurity and severe humanitarian funding shortages, which continue to cause a worsening of the situation in South Sudan for many civilians.
UN agency welcomes Jordan’s measures to improve Syrian refugees’ access to jobs
Apr 20, 2016, at 01:47 pm
New York, Apr 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday welcomed a series of recent measures by the Government of Jordan that could help up to 78,000 Syrians to able to work legally in Jordan in the short term and thousands more in the coming years.
Addressing sexual violence central to Mali peace process, UN envoy says
Apr 19, 2016, at 02:14 pm
New York, Apr 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Concluding her first visit to Mali, a United Nations envoy has stressed the need to make the issue of sexual violence in conflict a central consideration of the ongoing peace process in the African country.