Afghanistan: UN urges prompt investigation into murder of mission staff member
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply troubled and saddened over Monday's killing in Kandahar of Toorpaki Ulfat, a staff member of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Somalia: UN boosts El Niño preparedness and relief, urges more funding
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Efforts have been ramped up recently to mitigate the impact of floods and draughts in Somalia driven by the El Niño phenomenon between now and December, which may worsen the food security and humanitarian situations, the United Nations has said, while stressing the urgent need for more financial support to continue its relief work in the country.
Ban calls for urgent and collective action to reform UN peace operations
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday urged immediate action to strengthen the Organization's peace operations, telling the 193-member UN General Assembly that is essential to act now and "not wait, as in the past, for crisis or tragedy to propel reform."
Transformative political process key to resolving Syrian crisis: UN envoy
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Only a parallel, all-inclusive transformative political process that is compliant within the framework of the Geneva Communiqué, can lead to a resolution of the ongoing crisis and Syria and tackle terrorism in the region, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country said on Monday.
UN chief condemns suicide attacks in Chad
Oct 12, 2015, at 01:52 pm
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has denounced the five simultaneous suicide attacks in Baga Sola sous-prefecture in Chad on Sunday, which left scores of civilians dead or injured.
Afghanistan: UN agency begins humanitarian assistance to families fleeing Kunduz
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:44 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Afghans who fled fighting in Kunduz have received bread baked from wheat flour fortified with vitamins and minerals along with other food supplies, but the World Food Programme (WFP) is "seriously concerned" about the safety and food security of people remaining in the north-eastern province.
'The stakes are high,' UN chief tells climate finance meeting in Peru
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:41 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Stressing that financial resources are central to meeting the goals of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Agenda, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said that in order to create a low-carbon, climate-resilient future that benefits everybody, allocating appropriate finance is of key importance.
Nepal: Experts begin post-disaster work at damaged UNESCO heritage sites
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): International and national experts from the Nepalese Department of Archaeology and an archaeological team from Durham University have begun post-disaster excavation surveys and rescue excavations at earthquake damaged UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
No new cases of Ebola reported for first time since March 2014: WHO
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:49 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): There were no new cases of Ebola reported in West Africa in the week ending last Sunday, making it the first week since March 2014 with zero cases recorded in the three countries most affected by the outbreak, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which cautioned that there remains a near-term risk of new cases.
Ban welcomes election of chief of UN-backed climate panel ahead of Paris conference
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:19 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the election of Lee Hoesung of the Republic of Korea as Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Hoesung will guide the Panel’s work of assessing the science related to climate change.
Rice genetics placed in global data pool to help develop sustainable crops: UN
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:12 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): The genome sequences of thousands of rice varieties have been placed with a United Nations-backed treaty on plant genetics by the world’s leading rice research institute to help boost plans to set up a global data exchange for crop genetic resources, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Houthis reaffirm acceptance of Security Council resolution to end violence in Yemen: UN
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:09 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has welcomed the latest statements by the Houthis reaffirming their acceptance of a UN Security Council resolution aimed at ending the country’s months-long conflict, the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday.
Ban voices profound alarm at growing number of deadly incidents in West Bank
Oct 07, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced "profound alarm" on Tuesday at the growing number of deadly incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Despite looting of aid agencies in Central Africa UN pledges continued support
Oct 07, 2015, at 02:08 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): Despite worsening security conditions and the recent looting of international aid offices in the Central African Republic (CAR), prompting the temporarily relocation of 200 personnel, the United Nations on Tuesday pledged to keep bringing aid into the war-torn country, where over half the population urgently needs assistance.
No humanitarian agencies left in Afghan city of Kunduz after bombing: UN
Oct 07, 2015, at 02:01 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): There are currently no humanitarian agencies left in Kunduz, the north-eastern Afghan city where an air strike hit the Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) hospital, causing the deaths and injuries of medical personnel, patients and other civilians, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Poverty to fall below 10 per cent, advancing towards UN goal by 2030: World Bank
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): The World Bank announced on Monday that extreme poverty is likely to fall to below 10 per cent this year, "giving fresh evidence that a quarter-century-long sustained reduction in poverty is moving the world closer to the historic goal of ending poverty by 2030" – echoing a top goal set by the newly-agreed United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda.
Ban appoints Philippines national as head of UN internal oversight office
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, following consultations with Chairs of Regional Groups, informed the General Assembly on Monday of his intention to appoint Heidi Mendoza of the Philippines as the new Under-Secretary-General for the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) for a five-year non-renewable term.
Burkina Faso: Ban meets with transition President Kafando
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): In a meeting on Monday with Michel Kafando, the Transitional President of Burkina Faso, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his sympathy for the lives lost and the many injured during the coup d’état that took place on 16 September 2015.
Afghanistan: UN envoy urges unbiased inquiry into fatal Kunduz hospital air strike
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): Nicholas Haysom, the United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan, reiterated on Monday the need for an impartial investigation into the deadly air strike on the Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in Kunduz, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of medical personnel, patients and other civilians this past Saturday.
Boko Haram violence an 'affront to humanity,' Ban declares
Oct 05, 2015, at 01:14 pm
New York, Oct 5 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the bomb attacks of 2 October in the outskirts of Abuja, Nigeria, as well as the multiple suicide bombings of 1 October in the city of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, all by suspected Boko Haram elements.
After Jerusalem attack, Ban warns of dangerous slide towards escalation
Oct 05, 2015, at 01:12 pm
New York, Oct 5 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the attacks on Saturday in the Old City of Jerusalem, including the killing of two members of an Israeli family and injuries to Israelis and Palestinians in subsequent incidents in various Jerusalem neighborhoods.
Afghanistan: UN strongly condemns 'tragic, inexcusable' Kunduz hospital airstrike
Oct 04, 2015, at 10:36 pm
New York, Oct 4 (IBNS) Senior United Nations officials on Saturday condemned what they called a “tragic†and “inexcusable†air strike on the Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in Kunduz, a city in northern Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of medical personnel, patients and other civilians.
Oct 04, 2015, at 10:33 pm
New York, Oct 4 (IBNS) Opening the floor at the United Nations General Assembly today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador said "we have concluded a stage in the world’s history marked by important progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), however, this progress has not been sufficient."
Island States at UN call for 'genuine and durable partnership' to meet Global Goals
Oct 04, 2015, at 10:32 pm
New York, Oct 4 (IBNS) Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly today, leaders of small island States called for the urgent need to expand genuine and durable partnerships within the international community to successfully implement and meet the objectives of Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Libya: Ban urges parties to reject violence, act quickly on draft peace plan
Oct 03, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): Stressing that 18 months of violence has only led Libya down a path of death, displacement and destruction, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged all parties to put aside their differences and act on the draft peace plan they have before them.
Gandhi's dedication to non-violence still remains example for all: UN chief
Oct 03, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for a renewal of the commitment to non-violence and lives of dignity for all, noting that the example set by Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi is relevant now as it has ever been.
Over 500 children dead, 1.7 million at risk of malnutrition owing to Yemen violence: UN
Oct 03, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday underscored the devastating toll six months of violence has taken on the children of Yemen, where at least 500 have lost their lives and more than 1.7 million are at risk of malnutrition.
Hailing Somalia's ratification, UN renews call for universalization of child rights treaty
Oct 03, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led a chorus of United Nations officials in hailing Somalia's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and in renewing the call for the last remaining country that has yet to join the treaty to do so.
UN chief expresses condolences following mass shooting at Oregon college
Oct 03, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his deep sadness in the wake of the mass shooting that took place on Thursday at a college in the state of Oregon in the United States.
UN relief official calls for end to Central African Republic violence
Oct 03, 2015, at 02:16 pm
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian chief called on all those involved in the violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) to end the hostilities and immediately allow the resumption of assistance.