As deadline slips in South Sudan, UN chief urges African partners to revive peace process
Jan 26, 2016, at 02:32 pm
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With South Sudan’s parties missing last week’s deadline to set up the Transitional Government of National Unity amid deadlock over establishing 28 states, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called on the war-torn country’s African partners to save the peace process.
UN experts urge Pakistani authorities to halt evictions and demolition for new Lahore metro line
Jan 26, 2016, at 02:28 pm
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Concerned that construction on a new metro line in Lahore, Pakistan, has led to numerous forced evictions and damage to historic and cultural heritage sites, United Nations human rights experts have called on the Government to stop the work and provide more details on the project.
Jan 26, 2016, at 02:23 pm
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Against the backdrop of renewed military confrontation, the political process to resolve the conflict in Darfur through dialogue remains fragmented with limited progress, the United Nations peacekeeping chief on Monday informed the UN Security Council.
Jan 26, 2016, at 02:14 pm
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Wrapping up visit to Mal, the United Nations Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, Toby Lanzer, said that he had seen both progress and challenges on security and access to basic services for crisis-affected communities, while underscoring the importance of full commitment – from national authorities and the international community – to move the country forward.
UN agency and partners seek $500 million for Nigeria and Central African Republic refugee crises
Jan 26, 2016, at 02:05 pm
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners on Monday called on donor nations for more than half-a-billion dollars this year to help hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee conflicts in Nigeria and the Central African Republic (CAR), and for the host communities providing them with shelter and other basic services.
UN Economic and Social Council marks 70th anniversary
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:22 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), its current President on Friday highlighted the organ’s central role in realizing the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years.
Twenty countries in the Americas reporting cases of Zika virus: WHO
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:19 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Twenty countries in the Americas and about 10 in Africa, Asia and the Pacific have reported cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus infection according to information delivered on Friday by the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
Incitement to anti-gay killings in Malawi draws concern of UN human rights office
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:18 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Eath News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights office on Friday expressed concern over recent developments in Malawi, after the spokesperson of one of the country’s main political parties recently called for gay and lesbian people to be killed, describing them as "worse than dogs."
Somalia: UN condemns deadly Al-Shabaab attacks against civilian targets in Mogadishu
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:12 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Security Council condemned in the strongest terms on Friday's attack in Mogadishu perpetrated by Al-Shabaab, "which has resulted in a number of deaths and injuries of innocent civilians going about their daily lives."
Syria: UN agencies and 120 humanitarian organizations call for action now
Jan 22, 2016, at 01:49 pm
New York, Jan 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Outlining a series of immediate, practical steps that can improve humanitarian access and the delivery of aid to those in need inside Syria, more than 120 humanitarian organizations and United Nations agencies issued a joint appeal on Thursday urging the world to raise their voices and call for an end to the Syria crisis.
Ban welcomes request by Colombian Government and FARC to set up UN political office
Jan 21, 2016, at 03:13 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the joint request from the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) on Tuesday announcing their decision to request the UN Security Council to establish a political mission in the country to monitor any future ceasefire agreement.
Winter poses hazards to child refugees and migrants arriving in Europe: UN
Jan 20, 2016, at 02:59 pm
New York, Jan 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With children now accounting for more than one in three of the tens of thousands of refugees and migrants flooding into Europe, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday voiced concern at the impact recent sub-zero temperatures and snowy conditions were having on them.
Aid deliveries reach four Syrian towns while situation in east grave: UN
Jan 20, 2016, at 02:57 pm
New York, Jan 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Overnight aid deliveries reached the Syrian towns of Madaya, Zabadani, Kefraya and Foah, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which on Tuesday announced it is planning on delivering more assistance.
Libyan parties delay naming unity government, UN urges steps to end divisions
Jan 19, 2016, at 02:49 pm
New York, Jan 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations in Libya has expressed regret over the decision of the country’s Presidency Council to postpone the formation of a national unity government for 48 hours beyond the deadline set by a UN-facilitated political agreement, emphasizing that all efforts to combat and eliminate these terrorist groups must be led by the Libyan State.
Peru will compensate woman in historic human rights abortion case: UN
Jan 19, 2016, at 02:41 pm
New York, Jan 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Nearly a decade after the UN Human Rights Committee agreed that a Peruvian woman’s rights were violated for having been denied an abortion – and recommended that the Government compensate her – the UN human rights office announced on Monday that Peru has said it will pay compensation for having refused her access to a legal medical procedure.
UN welcomes report on Iran completing required nuclear measures, calling it 'significant milestone'
Jan 17, 2016, at 02:52 pm
New York, Jan 17 (IBNS) Following the release of a report confirming that Iran has completed necessary preparatory steps to start the implementation of a plan of action aiming to resolve the nuclear issue, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday welcomed the achievement of having reached “Implementation Day,†highlighting that he is heartened by the lifting of sanctions on Iran.
Jan 17, 2016, at 02:42 pm
New York, Jan 17 (IBNS) Welcoming positive political developments in West Africa, in particular the holding of peaceful elections in Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Cote-d'Ivoire, members of the UN Security Council stressed the importance of the upcoming elections in Niger, Benin, Cabo Verde, Ghana and The Gambia to be "free, fair, peaceful, inclusive and credible."
You cannot let more people die on your watch in Syria: Deputy UN relief chief
Jan 16, 2016, at 03:43 pm
New York, Jan 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With hundreds of thousands of Syrians living in a "nightmarish reality dictated by a conflict that respects few rules and obeys no laws," the United Nations deputy humanitarian chief told the members of the UN Security Council on Friday that they cannot let more people "die on their watch."
Haiti: Six years after quake, UN cites progress but warns of 'deteriorating' situation
Jan 16, 2016, at 03:31 pm
New York, Jan 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Six years after the devastating earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people and left at least 1.5 million homeless, the United Nations is underlining that humanitarian action has achieved significant results, but that the situation has been deteriorating since June.
$50 million needed to tackle food insecurity in Ethiopia, says UN
Jan 16, 2016, at 03:28 pm
New York, Jan 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As the worst El Niño-induced drought has sparked a sharp deterioration in food security and massive drop in agricultural and pastoral production in Ethiopia, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday presented a $50 million plan to assist agriculture- and livestock-dependent households and enhance their resilience.
Reviving domestic demand key to sustainable growth in Asia-Pacific : UN report
Jan 15, 2016, at 03:02 pm
New York, Jan 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Against the backdrop of a global economic slowdown, reinvigorating domestic and intra-regional demand plays a crucial role in reviving economies in Asia and the Pacific, according to a newly released-United Nations report, which also recommends a proactive fiscal policy emphasising productivity and addressing inequalities in the region.
Mali: UN Security Council calls on all parties to fully implement the peace agreement
Jan 14, 2016, at 03:35 pm
New York, Jan 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Following a briefing on Monday on the situation in Mali by UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous, the Security Council has stressed that all parties signatory to June’s peace agreement bear the primary responsibility for achieving lasting peace in the country.
'No-one left behind' is ethical imperative of development agenda: UN deputy chief
Jan 14, 2016, at 03:33 pm
New York, Jan 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The universal inclusiveness of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an ethical imperative, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told a forum for UN Member States on Wednesday on ethics for development.
Iraq: UN envoy calls on all sides to shun cycle of reprisals following mosque attacks
Jan 13, 2016, at 02:44 pm
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The top United Nations official in Iraq on Monday appealed to all parties in the strife torn-country to avoid being drawn into a vicious cycle or reprisal attacks following the "outrageous" bombing of six mosques in Muqdadiya in Diyala Province.
Nepal: UN political chief encourages dialogue among leaders to overcome differences on constitution
Jan 10, 2016, at 02:36 pm
New York, Jan 10 (IBNS) Expressing deep concern about current developments adversely affecting Nepal's humanitarian situation, economic performance and reconstruction efforts, the top United Nations political official today encouraged the country's leaders to overcome their differences on constitutional arrangements through inclusive dialogue and parliamentary process.
Ban congratulates Sri Lanka on first anniversary of political transition
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:38 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday congratulated the President of Sri Lanka, the Government and its citizens on the first year of the country’s political transition.
Yemen: UN rights chief urges government to reverse decision to expel envoy
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:37 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Friday urged the Government of Yemen to reverse its decision to declare his Representative in the strife-torn country persona non grata [unwelcomed person], saying that it was "unwarranted, counter-productive and damaging to the reputation of the Government and its coalition partners."
Alarming outbreak of violence in new area of South Sudan uproots 15,000: UN
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:35 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Fighting between armed groups and Government soldiers and an apparent breakdown in law and order in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state, with hundreds of houses burned down or looted, has uprooted 15,000 people over the past five weeks, and 500 a day are now pouring into Uganda, the United Nations refugee agency reported on Friday.
Oral cholera vaccines to double to 6 million doses after WHO approves new supplier
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:33 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Faced with a global shortage of oral cholera vaccines (OCV), the United Nations health agency announced on Friday that supply should double this year to six million doses, with further increases later, after it approved a third producer to fight a disease that kills up to 142,000 people annually.
Calling state of besieged Syrian town 'horrendous,' UN seeks humanitarian access
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:32 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As the United Nations and its partners struggled on Friday to gain humanitarian access to the Government-beseiged Syrian city of Madaya, amid reports of people starving to death or being killed while trying to leave, UN officials called the situation "horrendous…ghastly," and a potential war crime.