Colombia: UN office expands alternative development strategy to eliminate illicit crops

Apr 19, 2016, at 02:08 pm

New York, Apr 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As part of an initiative providing assistance to family farms that depended on illicit crops for income, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has announced that hundreds of personnel and visitors can now purchase alternative development products on the premises of its central office in Bogota, Colombia.

Afghanistan: children increasingly struggle to access health care and education, UN reports

Apr 19, 2016, at 01:59 pm

New York, Apr 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Conflict-related violence in Afghanistan has harmed health and education personnel, reduced the availability of health care and limited children’s access to essential health and education services, the United Nations said in a new report released on Monday.

Following earthquake in Japan, UN stands ready to provide assistance

Apr 19, 2016, at 01:56 pm

New York, Apr 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations stands ready to provide assistance to Japan following powerful earthquakes that struck Kumamoto province last Thursday and Saturday, killing over 40 people and displacing some 110,000 from their homes.

Desert Locust outbreak in Yemen leaves surrounding countries potentially at risk

Apr 13, 2016, at 01:38 pm

New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The presence of recently discovered Desert Locust infestations in Yemen, where conflict is severely hampering control operations, poses a potential threat to crops in the region, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Tuesday.

Political progress to end Darfur conflict through dialogue ‘remains elusive’ – UN peacekeeping chief

Apr 07, 2016, at 01:35 pm

New York, Apr 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Intensified fighting since January has resulted in a rapidly worsening security situation and large-scale displacement in Sudan’s Darfur region, the top United Nations peacekeeping official warned on Wednesday, stressing that it is important that Security Council “impress on all parties to the conflict […] that a political solution remains the only viable option.”

Food gap widens in conflict-stricken South Sudan – UN assessment

Apr 06, 2016, at 01:01 pm

New York, Apr 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Civil strife and unfavorable rains have further reduced crop production in South Sudan, contributing to a cereal deficit of 381,000 metric tons – 53 per cent greater than in 2015 – and aggravating the already severe food shortages, two UN agencies warned on Tuesday.

Libya: UN envoy welcomes arrival of Presidency Council in Tripoli, urges peaceful handover of power

Mar 31, 2016, at 02:14 pm

New York, Mar 31 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations envoy for Libya on Wednesday welcomed the arrival in Tripoli of the Presidency Council, which marks an important step in Libya's democratic transition and path to peace, security and prosperity.

UN calls for more 'equitable' responsibility-sharing to relieve plight of Syrian refugees

Mar 31, 2016, at 01:53 pm

New York, Mar 31 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Addressing a one-day, high-level conference in Geneva on Syrian refugees, senior United Nations officials stressed the needs to provide resettlement and other answers for their plight, urging third countries to share those responsibilities with Syria's immediate neighbours.

On slavery remembrance day, UN chief shines a light on African diaspora's legacy

Mar 26, 2016, at 01:10 pm

New York, Mar 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday highlighted the African diaspora's contributions to society, including culture, medicine, science and spirituality, as the global community gathered to honour the millions of Africans forcibly exploited by slavery.

In Brazil, UN expert highlights deadly consequences of delaying land demarcation

Mar 22, 2016, at 02:46 pm

New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Following a visit to Brazil, a United Nations independent human rights expert on Monday expressed alarm about the extent of documented and reported attacks on indigenous peoples in the country's central-western state of Mato Grosso Do Sul.

Ban welcomes announcement of release of Djiboutian prisoners by Eritrea

Mar 19, 2016, at 03:02 pm

New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has learned of the arrival in Djibouti on Friday of the Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and the announcement of the release of four Djiboutian prisoners by the Eritrean authorities.

Addressing violent extremism ‘urgent human rights priority,’ warns UN chief

Mar 18, 2016, at 02:38 pm

New York, Mar 18(Just Earth News/IBNS):Top United Nations officials on Thursday urged the international community to develop effective, rights-based responses to violent extremism by examining its drivers and shifting away from the “security only” approach to dealing with the scourge.

Myanmar: UN recommends measures to address ongoing food insecurity in cyclone-hit areas

Mar 18, 2016, at 02:23 pm

New York, Mar 18(Just Earth News/IBNS):More than seven months after Cyclone Komen struck Myanmar, poor rural communities are still seeing increased levels of food insecurity, a situation highlighting their vulnerability to withstand similar emergencies in the future, warns a joint United Nations agency report released on Thursday.

Côte d'Ivoire: beach resort attack 'horrible act of violence,' says UN tourism agency

Mar 14, 2016, at 01:57 pm

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations tourism agency on Sunday strongly condemned the attack at a hotel in Côte d'Ivoire's beach resort town of Grand Bassam, which reportedly killed more than a dozen people.

Libya: UN urges humanitarian ceasefires, safe exit of civilians trapped in Benghazi

Mar 12, 2016, at 02:11 pm

New York, Mar 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The top United Nations relief official for Libya on Friday called for humanitarian ceasefires and the safe exit of civilians trapped in fighting areas in Benghazi, following reports that many families, specifically in the Qanfouda and Qawarsha neighbourhoods, face shortages of electricity, food and medical supplies.

South Sudan: UN announces independent high-level probe into Malakal events

Mar 12, 2016, at 02:09 pm

New York, Mar 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations will convene an independent high-level board of inquiry to conduct an in-depth investigation into how the UN responded last month to deadly violence in the town of Malakal, in northern South Sudan.

Education and reproductive health for girls key to sustainable development – UN

Mar 12, 2016, at 02:07 pm

New York, Mar 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Investing in adolescent girls – especially in their education and reproductive health and rights – will ensure sustainable development for all, according to United Nations officials, government representative, experts, and young women who gathered on Friday at an event at UN Headquarters.

Following missile launch, Ban calls on Iran not to increase tensions through ‘hasty actions’

Mar 11, 2016, at 03:11 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Following Wednesday’s ballistic missile launch conducted by Iran, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on the Government “to act with moderation, caution and the good sense not to increase tensions through any hasty actions.”

UN rights chief calls on EU to adopt more ‘humane’ measures on migration

Mar 11, 2016, at 03:01 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief today reiterated his profound concern about the situation faced by refugees and migrants “in extreme vulnerability,” and urged the European Union to adopt a more humane set of measures on migration at a summit next week.

As 'most disaster-prone region,' Asia-Pacific needs risk-sensitive development, UN reports

Mar 11, 2016, at 02:47 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The Asia-Pacific region continued to be the world's most disaster-prone region in 2015, requiring a paradigm shift from a response-recovery governance to a risk-sensitive development approach, according to a new United Nations report.

Multiple attacks in Israel condemned by senior UN official

Mar 10, 2016, at 03:51 pm

New York, Mar 10(Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has condemned the multiple attacks which took place on Tuesday in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Petah Tiqva and Jerusalem in which at least one person was killed and some 14 others injured.

UN chief appoints French national to head new political ion in Colombia

Mar 10, 2016, at 03:13 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday announced the appointment of Jean Arnault of France as the head of the United Nations political ion that will be deployed in Colombia.

LGBT detainees suffer higher rates of violence, states new UN report

Mar 10, 2016, at 02:57 pm

New York, Mar 10(Just Earth News/IBNS):Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) detainees suffer more acts of violence than the general population in custody, according to a new United Nations human rights report that explored the link between gender and torture.

Hunger intensifies in areas suffering from drought, flooding and conflict – UN report

Mar 10, 2016, at 02:52 pm

New York, Mar 10(Just Earth News/IBNS):Thirty-four countries, including 27 in Africa, are currently in need of external assistance for food due to drought, flooding and civil conflicts, according to a new United Nations report released on Wednesday.

UN rights expert calls on Turkey to reverse seizure of independent media group

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:55 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS):An independent United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday called on the Government of Turkey to relinquish State control over Feza Media Group, which includes the Zaman newspaper.

Ban marks UN’s 20th year in Bonn, stresses need for ‘shared responsibility’ on migration

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:50 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS):Continuing his visit to Germany, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday celebrated the 20th anniversary of the United Nations offices in Bonn, praising the work of the Organization’s agencies based there, and discussed a range of issues with the country’s leaders, including the challenges associated with mass migration.

In boost to relief effort, UN-chartered jet brings life-saving supplies to Fiji

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:46 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS):A large plane carrying life-saving supplies arrived in Fiji on Monday, in a big boost to the United Nations emergency response to Cyclone Winston, one of the strongest storms in history.

With 2.4 million forcibly displaced, UN concerned situation in Yemen could worsen

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:39 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS):The conflict in Yemen has forcibly displaced more than 2.4 million people and the situation is likely to worsen, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday reported, calling for humanitarian access to the hardest-hit areas in the country.

On International Women's Day, UN officials call to 'Step It Up' for gender equality

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:15 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS): Senior United Nations officials from around the world are marking International Women's Day with calls to “Step It Up” with more resources and greater political action to achieve gender equality by 2030.

UN chief deplores terrorist attacks against security forces in Tunisia

Mar 08, 2016, at 02:59 pm

New York, Mar 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the terrorist attacks carried out Monday on police and army posts in the town of Ben Guerdane in Tunisia.