At Security Council, UN chief urges cooperation to tackle security challenges in Mediterranean
Nov 18, 2017, at 10:41 am
New York, Nov 18(Just Earth News): The Mediterranean – a confluence of civilizations, cultures, religions, trade and migration – is facing multiple security challenges, such as terrorism, illicit trade in narcotics, environmental degradation and forced displacement, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday.
Bonn: UN conference closes with renewed urgency for greater ambition to tackle climate change
Nov 18, 2017, at 10:40 am
New York, Nov 18(Just Earth News): The United Nations Climate Conference (COP23) wrapped up on Friday in Bonn, Germany, with delegations expressing a renewed sense of urgency and a need for greater ambition to tackle climate change.
Famine may be unfolding 'right now' in Yemen, warns UN relief wing
Nov 18, 2017, at 10:38 am
New York, Nov 18(Just Earth News): The United Nations relief wing on Friday, warned of famine-like conditions unfolding in Yemen, as a blockade on aid and other essential goods by a Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels there enters its 12th day.
New UN funding to help sustain critical aid programmes for nearly 150,000 in Chad
Nov 18, 2017, at 10:35 am
New York, Nov 18(Just Earth News): The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) – a pool of funding which supports critical relief operations in crises around the world – has allocated $11 million to help meet the life-saving needs of some 147,000 people in southern Chad, where aid operations are faltering in want of resources.
Wrapping up visit, UN rights chief urges El Salvador to address femicide and abortion ban
Nov 18, 2017, at 10:33 am
New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News): At the end of his first visit to El Salvador, the United Nations human rights chief on Friday highlighted the Government's stated commitment to human rights, as well as several issues facing the Central American country, including the highest rate of femicide in the region and the abortion ban that punishes women “for apparent miscarriages and obstetric emergencies.”
Desperate Rohingya refugees use home-made rafts to get to Bangladesh – UN
Nov 18, 2017, at 10:32 am
New York, Nov 18(Just Earth News): Over the past 10 days, dozens of makeshift rafts carrying more than a thousand people have floated into Bangladesh, proof that Rohingya refugees are resorting to increasingly desperate means to flee to Myanmar, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.
UN rights chief voices concern about Cambodia election after opposition ban
Nov 18, 2017, at 04:58 am
New York, Nov 17(Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief voiced grave concerns Friday about the conduct of credible, free and fair elections in Cambodia next year following the decision by the Supreme Court to dissolve the main opposition party.
In Colombia, UN political chief urges parties to ‘stay the course’ set out in peace accord
Nov 17, 2017, at 05:53 pm
New York, Nov 17(Just Earth News): More must be done to ensure that the remarkable gains of the first phase of Colombia’s peace process are maintained, the top United Nations political official has said, wrapping up a visit to the country with an appeal to all Colombians to rally behind the accord, especially to ensure that former combatants are reintegrated into civilian life.
Conflicts, climatic change drive food insecurity and undernourishment in sub-Saharan Africa – UN
Nov 17, 2017, at 09:56 am
New York, Nov 17(Just Earth News): Adverse climatic conditions, a sluggish global economy and conflicts are key factors driving food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa, the United Nations agriculture agency said on Thursday.
Nov 17, 2017, at 09:55 am
New York, Nov 17(Just Earth News): Noting that at least 11,000 terrorist attacks occurred in more than 100 countries last year, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stressed on Thursday that “terrorism is fundamentally the denial and destruction of human rights.”
All countries should benefit from fast-moving ICT revolution, urges UN agency
Nov 16, 2017, at 09:51 am
New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): Revolutionary advances in technology have the potential to “fundamentally transform” billions of lives, but the threat that many people – especially in the world’s poorer countries – could be left out continues to loom large, a new United Nations report warns.
Afghanistan opium production jumps 87 per cent to record level – UN survey
Nov 16, 2017, at 09:50 am
New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): A profoundly alarming trend in the cultivation and production of opium in Afghanistan reveals an 87 per cent production increase compared to 2016, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) said Wednesday in its Afghanistan Opium Survey 2017.
In Vancouver, UN peacekeeping chief outlines ‘very serious challenge’ facing Mali operation
Nov 16, 2017, at 09:49 am
New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): The “very serious challenge” facing peacekeepers with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) makes it vital that additional efforts are made for the four-year-old operation to fulfil its mandate, the UN peacekeeping chief has said.
Bonn: UN chief urges more ambition, leadership and partnerships on climate action
Nov 16, 2017, at 04:12 am
New York, Nov 15 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations Climate Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany, on Wednesday, Secretary-General António Guterres called for more ambition, more leadership and more partnerships to tackle climate change.
Kosovo: Time for action overtakes time for excuses, UN envoy tells Security Council
Nov 15, 2017, at 09:54 am
New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): Noting recent momentum to advance democracy and good governance in Kosovo, the head of the United Nations Mission there urged for more emphasis on rebuilding trust and reconciliation, including through engagement with women and the youth, as well as on overcoming challenges related to freedom of cultural and religious identity.
Promote affordable, equitable access to diabetes medicines and information for women, UN urges
Nov 15, 2017, at 09:53 am
New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): On World Diabetes Day, the United Nations health agency has said that women – especially those in low-income countries – are particularly vulnerable to diabetes, a condition that can be prevented or delayed with medication, regular screening and healthier lives.
Security Council maintains partial lifting of arms embargo on Somalia for one year
Nov 15, 2017, at 09:52 am
New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): The Security Council on Tuesday renewed until 15 November 2018 the partial lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia, authorization for maritime interdiction of illicit arms imports and charcoal exports, and the humanitarian exemption.
Suffering deepens in Yemen as border shutdowns enter second week – UN agencies
Nov 15, 2017, at 09:51 am
New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): A proposal to deliver vitally needed aid to war-ravaged Yemen via smaller ports than those under blockade will not solve the catastrophic humanitarian situation there, a senior UN official said Wednesday.
Libya’s detention of migrants ‘is an outrage to humanity,’ says UN human rights chief Zeid
Nov 15, 2017, at 09:49 am
New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): The European Union’s (EU) support for Libya’s Coast Guard which has resulted in thousands of migrants being detained in “horrific” conditions inside Libya is “inhuman,” the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday.
Nov 15, 2017, at 04:26 am
New York, Nov 14(Just Earth News): On the heels of one of the worst – and most costly – Atlantic hurricane seasons, a global initiative was launched on Wednesday at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23), in Bonn, Germany, of providing insurance to hundreds of millions of vulnerable people by 2020 and to increase the resilience of developing countries against the impacts of climate change.
Nov 14, 2017, at 05:34 pm
New York, Nov 14(Just Earth News): As World Antibiotic Awareness Week began on Monday, the United Nations, through its Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), called for responsible use of antibiotics in humans and animals to reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
In Manila, UN chief tells South-east Asian summit cooperation is vital to address shared challenges
Nov 14, 2017, at 09:36 am
New York, Nov 14(Just Earth News): Addressing the ninth Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)-United Nations Summit in Manila, the Philippines, Secretary-General António Guterres called for collective global and regional action to combat the challenges facing the world, in particular, those related to climate change.
Bonn: UN climate conference set to recognize the role of women in climate action
Nov 14, 2017, at 04:19 am
New York, Nov 13(Just Earth News): With the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 23), in Bonn, Germany, entering its final week of negotiations, the Fiji Presidency on Monday announced an agreement on a Gender Action Plan, highlighting the role of women in climate action.
Syria: UN health agency calls for immediate and unimpeded access to save lives in Ghouta
Nov 14, 2017, at 04:18 am
New York, Nov 13(Just Earth News): Amid worsening humanitarian, health and security situation in Syria's besieged eastern Ghouta, the United Nations health agency has demanded that all parties to the conflict stop attacks on civilians, facilitate immediate medical evacuations, and allow safe passage of medical supplies.
Nov 12, 2017, at 01:10 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News): Ratings agencies must downgrade businesses responsible for unethical practices such as tax evasion carried out through off-shore-registered companies, two United Nations human rights experts warned, while urging countries to cooperate to counter this global tax abuse problem.
Unhealthy diets could undo progress on food security in Asia-Pacific, warns UN report
Nov 11, 2017, at 09:43 am
New York, Nov 11(Just Earth News): Urgent action is needed to tackle malnutrition and promote consumption of healthier foods in the Asia-Pacific region – home to most of the world’s undernourished people – the United Nations food security agency said Friday.
Accelerate climate action and raise ambition, urges UN chief
Nov 11, 2017, at 04:03 am
New York, Nov 10(Just Earth News): As the impact of climate change worsens around the world, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the global community to redouble efforts to help countries respond to climate shocks, especially the most vulnerable.
Science and technology can help tackle key sustainable development challenges
Nov 11, 2017, at 04:01 am
New York, Nov 10(Just Earth News): Integrated science is essential to strengthen water management, sustainably use the oceans and tackle climate change, the head of the United Nations cultural agency said on World Science Day for Peace and Development.
Syrian conflict has now lasted longer than World War II – UN humanitarian envoy
Nov 10, 2017, at 09:59 am
New York, Nov 10(Just Earth News): While there had been a period of de-escalation in many areas of war-riven Syria – reducing human suffering to some extent – the fighting now seems to be returning to some of the “bleakest days” of the conflict, a senior United Nations official warned on Thursday.
Nov 10, 2017, at 09:58 am
New York, Nov 10(Just Earth News): One out of every four people in Central African Republic (CAR) is either displaced or living as a refugee in another country, a senior United Nations official said Thursday, urging the international community to provide more resources for a humanitarian plan that up to now is only partially funded.