More than 300 die in boat tragedies on Mediterranean, marking year’s deadliest week: UN
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:32 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) The past few days have been the deadliest this year for people making irregular crossings on the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe, with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reporting that at least 300 people have died in successive boat tragedies.
Amid multiple crises UN children’s agency deploys largest aid operation ever in a single month
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:29 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) This August the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) shipped 1,000 metric tonnes of life-saving supplies for children caught in the world’s most urgent crises -- the largest emergency supply operation in the organization’s history in a single month.
UN rights expert seeks access to Israel, occupied Palestinian territories for assessment mission
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:25 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) An independent United Nations expert has requested access to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to gather first-hand information on the impact of current hostilities on the human rights situation.
Ahead of Samoa conference, iTunes, UN team up to showcase music from small island nations
Aug 26, 2014, at 04:38 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS) Ahead of a major United Nations conference in Samoa on small island developing countries, iTunes has teamed up with the UN to create a dedicated page on the popular site – launched on Monday – featuring music from artists born and raised in some of the world's smallest islands.
UN Rights Council appoints final member on panel to investigate purported Gaza violations
Aug 26, 2014, at 04:32 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS) The United Nations Human Rights Council announced on Monday the appointment of the last of three members of its probe to investigate purported violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and particularly in the Gaza Strip since the conflict began on 13 June.
UN adviser calls for taking 'leap of faith' to ensure peaceful, unified Myanmar
Aug 26, 2014, at 04:18 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS) The United Nations Special Adviser for Myanmar on Monday wrapped up a visit to the country during which he visited Rakhine state to see first-hand the progress made to provide aid to local communities, as well as actions being taken to address underlying causes of recent violence.
South Sudan: UN mission condemns detention of ceasefire monitors in Unity state
Aug 26, 2014, at 05:13 am
New York , Aug 25 (IBNS) The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has condemned the detention of a team of six ceasefire monitors and three aircrew in Bouth, Unity state, on Saturday by forces allied to Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in opposition.
Iraqi civilians suffering 'horrific' persecution, ethnic cleansing: UN rights chief
Aug 26, 2014, at 05:12 am
New York, Aug 25 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights chief on Monday condemned the appalling and horrific crimes against humanity being committed daily in Iraq by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups.
Iraqi civilians suffering 'horrific' persecution, ethnic cleansing: UN rights chief
Aug 26, 2014, at 05:12 am
New York, Aug 25 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights chief on Monday condemned the appalling and horrific crimes against humanity being committed daily in Iraq by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups.
Indian Army hand over Pakistani resident to authorities
Aug 24, 2014, at 05:29 am
Srinagar, Aug 23 (IBNS): Showing human gesture, the Indian Army on Saturday handed over a Pakistan administered Kashmir resident Mangta Khan (72) who had by accident crossed over into the Indian territory on Aug 20 this month.
Aug 24, 2014, at 03:35 am
New Delhi, Aug 23 (IBNS) Marking the anniversary of the first successful slave uprising in the Western hemisphere, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Saturdaythat the struggle to overcome slavery "has strengthened awareness of the equality of all men and women, which we have all inherited directly."
Hamas admits executing Israeli teens: Israel
Aug 23, 2014, at 09:49 pm
New Delhi, Aug 23 (IBNS): Senior Hamas official Salah al-Aruri admitted during a conference of Islamic clerics in Turkey that Hamas's armed wing, the Kassam Brigades, was responsible for the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens in June and has praised the perpetrators for their "heroic action".
Security Council condemns murder of American journalist in Iraq, demands release of hostages
Aug 23, 2014, at 05:39 pm
New York, Aug 23 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Friday strongly condemned the “heinous and cowardly†murder of James Foley, an American journalist, by the militant group Islamic State (IS) and demanded the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all other hostages.
Ban condemns killing of dozens of Sunni worshippers in eastern Iraq
Aug 23, 2014, at 05:37 pm
New York, Aug 23 (IBNS) Condemning in the strongest terms the reported attack on a mosque in eastern Iraq, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called on all Iraqi authorities to ensure that the attack is properly investigated and its perpetrators held to account.
Ban urges Russia, Ukraine to exercise restraint after aid convoy crosses border
Aug 23, 2014, at 05:36 pm
New York, Aug 23 (IBNS) Reacting to reports that a Russian aid convoy crossed the Ukrainian border without Kiev’s permission, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged all sides to continue to work together to ensure that humanitarian supplies reach those most in need.
Gaza: Ban confers with world leaders, stresses importance of durable ceasefire
Aug 23, 2014, at 05:33 pm
New York, Aug 23 (IBNS) After the breakdown earlier this week of the latest temporary ceasefire in Gaza, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed the need for efforts to guide the parties towards a durable peace, on Friday making a round of phone calls to a number of key players in the Middle East and beyond concerning the situation.
Over 20,000 people risked their lives in Indian Ocean sea crossings this year: UN report
Aug 23, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, Aug 23 (IBNS) Over 20,000 people risked their lives in sea crossings in the Indian Ocean in the first half of this year, many of them Rohingya who fled Myanmar, according to a new report released on Friday by the United Nations refugee agency.
UN envoy in Yemen calls for constructive cooperation, peaceful solution to crisis
Aug 23, 2014, at 05:30 pm
New York, Aug 23 (IBNS) Amid escalating tensions and ongoing political instability in Yemen, the United Nations envoy to the country on Friday urged all the parties to move the political process forward by addressing the roots of the current turmoil through comprehensive dialogue.
More than 191,000 people killed in Syria with 'no end in sight' : UN
Aug 23, 2014, at 05:28 pm
New York, Aug 23 (IBNS) The number of people killed in Syria is double the number documented a year ago, the United Nations human rights chief on Friday announced, criticizing the international community for its failure to stop the “killers, destroyers and torturers†that have torn the country apart.
Iraq: Attack in Sunni mosque kills 73
Aug 23, 2014, at 03:59 am
Baquba, Aug 22 (IBNS): A Shia Muslim armed group opened fired inside an Iraqi Sunni mosque in Iraq's eastern Diyala province which killed at least 73 people on Friday, media reports said.
Humane world cannot let West Africa suffer 'on such extraordinary scale': UN health chief
Aug 22, 2014, at 03:48 pm
New York, Aug 22 (IBNS) The newly-appointed United Nations System Coordinator for Ebola on Thursday began his visit to countries affected by the deadly disease, as the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) appealed for "massive, coordinated and targeted assistance" in the months ahead, saying "a humane world cannot let the people of West Africa suffer on such an extraordinary scale."
UN expects upcoming Samoa small island conference to generate vital partnerships
Aug 22, 2014, at 03:40 pm
New York, Aug 22 (IBNS) The United Nations expects over 300 initiatives to be announced two weeks from now at a major world conference aimed at fostering partnerships with small island developing States, a top UN organizing official on Thursday said.
Gaza: UN says over 370,000 Palestinian children in need of 'psycho-social first aid'
Aug 22, 2014, at 03:39 pm
New York, Aug 22 (IBNS) The top UNICEF field officer in Gaza reported on Thursday that at least nine more Palestinian children have been killed there in the last 48 hours, bringing the total to 469 since early July, saying that there is not a single family in the tiny enclave that has not been touched by the current violence.
UN chief welcomes destruction of Syria's declared chemical weapons material
Aug 21, 2014, at 03:43 pm
New York, Aug 21 (IBNS)UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the destruction of Syria's declared chemical weapons material on board the United States Maritime Vessel Cape Ray.
Afghanistan: UN mission concerned over acts of intimidation against journalist
Aug 21, 2014, at 03:40 pm
New York, Aug 21 (IBNS)The United Nations mission in Afghanistan on Wednesday expressed its concern about the acts of intimidation against New York Times reporter Matthew Rosenberg, who on Tuesday was banned from leaving the country and told that he was being investigated for an article he had written.
Restoring dignity, ensuring 'safe space' for returning Nigerian schoolgirls critical : UN official
Aug 21, 2014, at 03:39 pm
New York, Aug 21 (IBNS) A United Nations official for Nigeria on Wednesday said that restoring the dignity and integrity of returning schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in Chibok is instrumental in reintegrating the girls back into a "safe space" in society.
Iraq: Major relief effort underway in north as UN envoy warns against targeting of Sunnis in south
Aug 21, 2014, at 06:43 am
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS) A United Nations refugee agency cargo jet carrying 100 tons of emergency relief supplies landed at Erbil in Iraq's Kurdistan region on Wednesday "in the largest single aid push" in more than a decade, as the top UN official in the country warned against increased targeting of Sunni minorities in the south.
Aug 21, 2014, at 06:26 am
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS) As renewed violence signalled the end of the latest Gaza ceasefire, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed grave disappointment at the return to hostilities and urged the parties to "reach an immediate understanding on a durable ceasefire which also addresses the underlying issues."
Aug 20, 2014, at 06:37 pm
New York , Aug 20 (IBNS) With a month left to the before full deployment of the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), the UN envoy for that country on Tuesday said that while there have been pockets of improvements, the overall humanitarian and security situation in the country remains dire and "extremely volatile."
UN Member States receive report on finance for sustainable development
Aug 20, 2014, at 06:32 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS) The General Assembly formally received on Tuesday an expert report setting out options that can be weighed by Member States on ways to finance the United Nations-driven sustainable development agenda, which will aim to improve people’s lives and protect the planet for future generations.