UN presses donors to continue vital support for Malian refugees in Mauritania
Feb 12, 2016, at 03:08 pm
New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Three United Nations humanitarian agencies on Thursday urged donors to mobilize the necessary resources to maintain the vital assistance to 50,000 Malian refugees in Mberra camp in south-eastern Mauritania.
Low on funds, UN and partners race ahead of rains to tackle needs in South Sudan
Feb 11, 2016, at 02:32 pm
New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) With humanitarian needs rising in South Sudan, the top United Nations relief official in the country has called for urgent funding to allow aid organizations to rapidly increase humanitarian action during the current dry season.
As budget advisory panel turns 70, Ban lauds 'strong collaboration' on reaching UN's goals
Feb 11, 2016, at 02:21 pm
New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday praised the UN's advisory committee on budgetary matters for its help in carrying out the world body's lifesaving work around the world, as the 16-member body marked the 70th anniversary of its establishment.
World Humanitarian Summit must be 'turning point' in cooperation to tackle crises – UN chief
Feb 10, 2016, at 03:42 pm
New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) World leaders must come together in 2016 to renew their commitments to humanity and unite to prevent and end crisis and reduce vulnerability, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, telling UN Member States that the World Humanitarian Summit will provide an opportunity for "concrete steps towards ending the suffering experienced by billions of people today."
Ban honours memory of Holocaust victims at New York synagogue
Feb 07, 2016, at 03:04 pm
New York, Feb 7 (IBNS) Visiting Park East Synagogue in New York City to honour the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called on people to work together “to build bridges and end anti-Semitism, bigotry against Muslims, and all other forms of hatred.â€
Migration and multilateralism will be hallmarks of 2016, says senior UN official
Feb 06, 2016, at 02:06 pm
New York, Feb 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The world is facing a political, economic, moral and social crisis as governments and communities struggle to provide effective solutions for the unprecedented numbers of people fleeing war, instability or persecution, the top United Nations migration official said today, calling for deceive multilateral action to tackle "the global issues lurking behind today's vast movement of people."
'Violence must stop now,' says UN expert as fresh fighting displaces thousands in North Darfur
Feb 06, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, Feb 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Warning that, in the last two weeks, a new escalation of violence has forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes in the Jebel Marra area of Darfur, a United Nations human rights expert on Friday called for an immediate end to hostilities that have triggered new protection and humanitarian concerns in the long-restive region of Sudan.
Record $10 billion pledged in humanitarian aid for Syria at UN co-hosted conference in London
Feb 05, 2016, at 02:51 pm
New York, Feb 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS) An international conference on war-torn Syria in London on Thursday pledged a record $10 billion after United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon laid out three main objectives: raising $7 billion in immediate humanitarian aid, mustering long-term support, and protecting civilians.
New allegations of sexual abuse emerge against UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic
Feb 05, 2016, at 02:44 pm
New York, Feb 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) reported on Thursday that it has identified seven new possible victims of sexual exploitation and abuse in the town of Bambari, just days after the UN revealed which countries' troops have been accused of abusing minors.
Saudi Arabia donates $59 million to UN agency assisting Palestine refugees
Feb 05, 2016, at 02:32 pm
New York, Feb 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Shelters, schools and health centres in Gaza, the West Bank and Jordan will benefit from $59 million donated by Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Near East under three agreements signed on Thursday.
UN mediator suspends intra-Syrian talks for three weeks
Feb 04, 2016, at 02:27 pm
New York, Feb 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Just two days after declaring the official start of delayed intra-Syrian talks in Geneva to end five years of bloody warfare, the United Nations mediator suspended them for three weeks on Wednesday following differences between Government and opposition delegations on the priority of humanitarian issues.
Citing 'new agenda for humanity,' UN deputy chief urges bold action on humanitarian funding
Feb 04, 2016, at 02:12 pm
New York, Feb 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Maintaining the United Nations momentum towards the first-everWorld Humanitarian Summit – set for 23 and 24 May in Istanbul, Turkey – Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson on Wednesday urged bold action to alleviate the suffering of 125 million people who depend on the international community to survive.
At Cambridge, Ban says universality of human rights is key to preventing crises of 21st century
Feb 04, 2016, at 02:08 pm
New York, Feb 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Warning of "a strong sense that that we are off track and in a deep mess," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called on the world to move from a pattern of reaction to crises to a culture of prevention, with a heightened focus on the universality of human rights in tackling the "mega-crises" of the 21st century.
Closing 2016 Youth Forum, senior UN official says young people key to new sustainability agenda
Feb 03, 2016, at 02:49 pm
New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Marking the end of the two-day United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, the President of the 54-member body told hundreds of youth leaders that the event exceeded high expectations and that the time is now for young people to get behind global efforts to ensure sustainable development for all.
As flood of child refugees and migrants into Europe soars, UN calls for enhanced protection
Feb 03, 2016, at 02:31 pm
New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Child protection systems across Europe are completely overwhelmed as the rate of youngsters in the flood of refugees and migrants has soared to one in three compared with one in 10 less than a year ago, the United Nations warned today, calling for strengthened steps to prevent exploitation and abuse.
With 4 million Syrian children out of school, $1.4 billion sought by UN to save 'lost generation'
Feb 03, 2016, at 02:20 pm
New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With four million Syrian and host community children in need of education and no let-up in sight in the fighting tearing the country apart, the United Nations and its partners are seeking $1.4 billion at a major conference in London on Thursday to save the current youth generation.
UN in Central African Republic releases $9 million to respond to urgent needs
Feb 03, 2016, at 02:19 pm
New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations announced on Tuesday that the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) in the Central African Republic (CAR) has released $9 million for life-saving assistance to 2.3 million people who need urgent support, including those displaced by violence, returnees, refugees and vulnerable host communities.
Turkey: UN rights chief concerned by actions of security forces
Feb 02, 2016, at 02:13 pm
New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Monday called on the Turkish authorities to respect the fundamental rights of civilians in its security operations and to promptly investigate the alleged shooting of a group of unarmed people after "shocking" video footage of the event.
At Youth Forum, UN launches new initiative to tackle employment crisis
Feb 02, 2016, at 02:09 pm
New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As more than 800 young leaders gather in New York for the annual United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, UN officials on Monday launched a new initiative to tackle youth unemployment, making it clear that success in fighting poverty and inequality will largely depend on them being a driving force.
Libya: $166 million UN-backed humanitarian appeal barely one per cent funded
Feb 02, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Almost two months after its launch, a humanitarian appeal to aid 1.3 million vulnerable people in conflict-torn Libya is 99 per cent unfunded, a senior United Nations official for the North African country warned on Monday, calling on the international community to step up to the plate.
Syria: High Negotiations Committee arrives in Geneva where UN-mediated talks are under way
Feb 01, 2016, at 01:59 pm
New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has met with the delegation of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) at their hotel in Geneva following their arrival last night in Geneva, where UN-mediated intra-Syrian talks began Friday after days of delays.
Syria: UN relief agencies amplify calls for access to besieged civilians
Jan 30, 2016, at 03:15 pm
New York, Jan 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With United Nations-mediated talks on ending the five-year crisis in Syria getting under way today as scheduled, UN relief agencies and their partners are reiterating their appeal for unhindered access by relief workers to more than four million desperate people spread across 18 besieged areas in the war-torn country.
Paris Agreement 'decisive turning point' on climate change: UN Official
Jan 30, 2016, at 03:04 pm
New York, Jan 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Less than two months after 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Paris Agreement, the global community is already seeing signs of it being a decisive turning point, according to a senior UN official dealing with climate issues.
Besieged Syrians believe the world has forgotten them: UN relief chief
Jan 28, 2016, at 02:00 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With United Nations-backed political talks on Syria set to begin later this week, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, on Wednesday urged the entire international community to get behind the process, which seeks to ease the suffering for millions of desperate people and end "one of the most savage and brutal conflicts of the 21st century."
Darfur: UN expresses grave concern over new hostilities and impact on civilians
Jan 28, 2016, at 01:58 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the impact of the ongoing hostilities in Darfur on thousands of civilians who have been forced to flee their homes amid the conflict that began two weeks ago.
Afghanistan: UN mine clearance officials condemn murder of four de-miners
Jan 28, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations demining officials in Afghanistan on Wednesday strongly condemned an attack in which unknown militants shot dead four de-miners while a fifth was reported missing in Helmand province, one of the most heavily mined in the strife-torn country.
Team of experts delayed from entering Burundi to investigate human rights abuses - UN
Jan 27, 2016, at 02:23 pm
New York, Jan 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported on Tuesdaythat a team of independent experts mandated to probe violations and abuses in Burundi has not been able to enter the country.
As food emergency intensifies in drought-hit Ethiopia, UN appeals for more resources
Jan 27, 2016, at 02:16 pm
New York, Jan 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Despite the well-coordinated response already under way to offset the impacts of an El Niño-induced drought in Ethiopia, the United Nations humanitarian wing has warned that the scale of the developing emergency exceeds resources and that more funding is urgently needed to ensure food distribution and child protection amid ongoing malnutrition and water shortages.
Senior UN official points to science as 'vital' in managing disaster risk, promoting development
Jan 27, 2016, at 02:14 pm
New York, Jan 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS): On the eve of the first-ever gathering of scientists to discuss disaster risk management, the head of the United Nations office tasked with synergizing disaster reduction activities emphasized on Tuesdaythe importance of government leaders and decision makers’ attention to the role of science in lowering the exposure to extreme disaster events and promoting sustainable development.
As refugee and migrant flood into Europe continues, UN and partners seek $550 million for 2016
Jan 27, 2016, at 02:05 pm
New York, Jan 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With no let-up in the flood of people pouring into Europe as they flee conflict in the Middle East and elsewhere, the United Nations refugee agency and its partners are appealing to donors for $550 million to support the ongoing humanitarian response for 2016.