Security Council: Ban and UN envoy outline talk about political solution for Syria
Jul 30, 2015, at 02:10 pm
New York, Jul 30 (IBNS): Describing the more than four years of “slaughter†in Syria as a “shameful symbol of the international community’s divisions and failure,†United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday appealed to the Security Council to endorse his Special Envoy’s recommendations on reaching the political solution that “all parties claim to support.â€
Turkey: Suicide bomber responsible for Suruc massacre identified
Jul 22, 2015, at 01:14 am
Suruc, July 21 (IBNS): The suicide bomber allegedly responsible for the attack in the Turkish town of Suruc on Monday that killed 32 people have been identified, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday.
Jun 30, 2015, at 03:39 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) Humanitarian access to civilians trapped by the Syrian conflict is being increasingly obstructed by the ongoing fighting in the country and a shortfall in critical funding, a senior United Nations relief official warned today.
UN Syria Envoy to hold consultations on re-start of peace talks
Apr 15, 2015, at 04:58 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): The United Nations announced on Tuesday that the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Syria will proceed with a series of in-depth, separate consultations with Syrian stakeholders and regional and international actors to take stock of their views on reopening peace talks based on the 2012 so-called Geneva Communique.
UNESCO chief condemns killing of journalists in Mexico, Syria
Feb 03, 2015, at 06:47 pm
New York, Feb 3 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agency mandated to defend press freedom on Monday denounced the assassination of Moisés Sánchez Cerezo, a Mexican journalist recently found murdered weeks after his disappearance, and Kenji Goto, a Japanese freelancer killed by Islamist extremists in Syria.
Syria: UN forced to suspend food aid, warns of 'disastrous' impact as winter nears
Dec 02, 2014, at 01:44 pm
New York, Dec 2 (IBNS) A life-saving programme providing food vouchers to more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees has been suspended due to lack of funds, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Monday, warning that the move will have a devastating impact on families who are already facing a dire situation as the harsh winter months approach.
UN says Palestinian refugees from Syria face 'increasingly grave' situation region wide
Nov 25, 2014, at 05:59 pm
New York, Nov 25 (IBNS) The plight of Palestine refugees from Syria in the Middle East is becoming increasingly grave caused by closed borders and a series of forced returns from neighbouring countries, Chris Gunness, spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said on Monday.
Iraq, Syria top priorities for new UN human rights chief
Sep 09, 2014, at 05:38 pm
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) The new United Nations human rights chief on Monday urged the international community to stop the “increasingly conjoined†conflicts in Iraq and Syria, lashing out at the armed group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) for trying to create a “house of blood.â€
UN reports improved humanitarian access to Syria for first time in six months
Aug 29, 2014, at 06:00 am
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) For the first time in six months, there has been some improvement recently on humanitarian access to Syria, but much more needs to be done by the parties to the conflict to ensure rapid and unhindered access to people in need, a senior United Nations relief official told the Security Council on Thursday.
Adopting resolution, Security Council approves sanctions against militants in Iraq, Syria
Aug 16, 2014, at 04:51 pm
New York, Aug 16 (IBNS) Expressing its "gravest concern" that parts of Iraq and Syria are now under the control of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusra Front, the United Nations Security Council on Friday placed six individuals affiliated with the terrorist groups on its Al-Qaida sanctions list and threatened measures against those who finance, recruit or supply weapons to them.
UN concerned over rising levels of violence in Syria
Jun 05, 2014, at 05:16 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): The demand by the UN Security Council for aid access to war-torn Syria has not produced the intended result, the United Nations humanitarian chief said on Wednesday, while warning that the needs of those affected are rising steadily as the conflict rages on.
UN warns of failure to refer Syria to international court
May 31, 2014, at 05:39 pm
New York, May 31 (IBNS): A group of independent United Nations human rights experts on Friday emphasized that the United Nations Security Council's inability to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) leaves the door wide open for new atrocities in the ongoing conflict.
UN concerned over ignored aid access in Syria
May 30, 2014, at 05:17 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): Three months after the UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution aiming to boost humanitarian aid access in Syria, a senior United Nations official is once again appealing for rapid, unhindered and safe access to besieged Syrians.
Ban condemns attack on electoral rally in Syria
May 24, 2014, at 08:17 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned a deadly mortar attack on an electoral rally in southern Syria and reiterated his call for an end to violence in the country.
Russia, China blocks UNSC referral of Syria to ICC
May 23, 2014, at 04:35 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Despite repeated appeals by senior United Nations officials for accountability for crimes being committed in Syria, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was unable on Thursday to adopt a resolution that would have referred the situation in the war-torn nation to the International Criminal Court (ICC), due to vetoes by permanent members Russia and China.
Ban highlights crises in Ukraine & Syria at meeting with Putin
May 21, 2014, at 05:39 pm
New York, May 21 (IBNS): With Ukrainians preparing to elect a new president on Sunday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday sat down with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he also discussed a long-overdue political solution in Syria and other challenges to international peace and security.
UN moves vital food aid in north-west Syria
May 17, 2014, at 05:18 pm
New York, May 17 (IBNS): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday it has started moving more food supplies from Turkey into north-east Syria to assist displaced families, while noting continued challenges with humanitarian access to those in need inside the war-torn nation.
UN concerned over drought impact on crops in Syria
May 16, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): Drought and ongoing conflict are not only adding pressure to Syria's already dire food security situation, but also increasing the need for imports and driving up prices, according to the latest outlook issued by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
Chemical watchdog to probe chlorine gas attacks in Syria
Apr 30, 2014, at 05:58 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Tuesday it will seek to "establish the facts" surrounding allegations of the use of chlorine in Syria, where it is already working jointly with the United Nations to rid the country of its chemical weapons.
UNESCO denounces killing of media workers in Syria
Apr 25, 2014, at 05:40 pm
New York, Apr 25 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom on Thursday urged respect for professional and citizen journalists after three media workers from a Lebanese television station were killed while reporting on clashes south of Damascus in Syria.
UN warns Syria against holding election amidst crisis
Apr 22, 2014, at 04:43 pm
New York, Apr 22 (IBNS): Urging Syrian authorities to reconsider plans to conduct a presidential election in early June, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Joint UN-League of Arab States Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi on Monday pledged to continue to seek and build on any opportunity to resolve the country's three-year civil war.
UN condemns rampant use of torture by Syrian forces
Apr 15, 2014, at 07:14 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Monday condemned the rampant use of torture, including allegedly of children, in detention facilities across Syria by Government forces and some armed opposition groups.
UN assists Syrians amidst fears of drought impact
Apr 09, 2014, at 04:57 pm
New York, Apr 9 (IBNS): While noting that the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) provided assistance to a record 4 million Syrians in March, a new report out on Tuesday highlights that, with only one month left in the rainy season, a potential drought may strain the country's already fragile food security situation.