Development and alternative crops provide hope in war on illicit drugs :UN

Jul 16, 2014, at 04:23 pm

New York, July 16 (IBNS) Senior United Nations officials on Tuesdaycalled for a greater focus on development activities and alternative crops in countries where the tight grip of drug lords has disrupted peace, security and development, such as in Afghanistan and Myanmar.

New UN survey shows 10 million Yemenis still struggle for food

Jul 16, 2014, at 04:23 pm

New York, July 16 (IBNS) A new United Nations survey has found that over 10 million Yemenis – more than 40 per cent of the population – do not know where their next meal will come from.

Afghanistan: UN strongly condemns deadly attacks against civilians in Kabul, Paktika

Jul 16, 2014, at 06:49 am

New York, July 15 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations mission in Afghanistan strongly condemned two attacks that took place on Tuesday, one in Kabul and the other in the eastern province of Paktika, which have killed and injured scores of civilians.

Afghanistan: 89 killed in blast

Jul 16, 2014, at 03:18 am

Kabul, July 15 (IBNS) At least 89 people were killed in a blast in Afghanistan's Paktika province on Tuesday, media reports said.

Russia: Metro derailment kills 20

Jul 16, 2014, at 02:27 am

Moscow, July 15 (IBNS) At least 20 people died as a metro train derailed between two stations in Moscow on Tuesday, media reports said.

UK's top diplomat William Hague resigns

Jul 15, 2014, at 07:55 pm

London, July 15 (IBNS): British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced his resignation on Monday.

Human trafficking has no place in modern world, General Assembly President says

Jul 15, 2014, at 03:38 pm

New York, July 15 (IBNS) Human trafficking has no place in the modern world, the President of the General Assembly declared on Monday at a special event at United Nations Headquarters ahead of the observance of the first ever World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

In Haiti, Ban calls for greater efforts to improve water and sanitation, end cholera epidemic

Jul 15, 2014, at 03:33 pm

New York, July 15 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called for intensified efforts to ensure access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation in Haiti, as he launched a new United Nations-supported initiative and met with families affected by cholera.

UN emergency fund provides $1.4 million to vaccinate Somali children

Jul 15, 2014, at 03:31 pm

New York, July 15 (IBNS): The United Nations on Monday announced the allocation of $1.4 million from an emergency account to vaccinate more than half a million children in danger of contracting measles in Somalia.

DR Congo: UN hails appointment of senior adviser on sexual violence, child recruitment

Jul 15, 2014, at 03:30 pm

New York, July 15 (IBNS)The appointment of a presidential adviser on conflict-related sexual violence and child recruitment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) marks "a new dawn" in tackling these scourges, senior United Nations officials said on Monday.

Security Council authorizes UN, partners to use most direct routes for Syria aid delivery

Jul 15, 2014, at 03:13 pm

New York, July 15 (IBNS) In response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria, the Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution aimed at increasing access to civilians in difficult-to-reach areas by authorizing the delivery of assistance across borders and conflict lines.

Lebanon faces 'national calamity' as refugee crisis deepens, UN relief official warns

Jul 15, 2014, at 03:12 pm

New York, July 15 (IBNS) The top United Nations relief official in Lebanon on Monday warned of the implications for Lebanon as the number of refugees in the country grows amid the ongoing conflict in Syria as well as unrest in Iraq and now Gaza.

UN mission welcomes efforts to begin audit of Afghan presidential run-off vote

Jul 15, 2014, at 03:11 pm

New York, July 15 (IBNS) The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has hailed the efforts by the country’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) to start the implementation of an audit plan to help resolve concerns over the results of the presidential run-off poll.

Amidst fierce clashes in Libya, Ban urges need for dialogue

Jul 15, 2014, at 03:09 pm

New York, July 15 (IBNS): Extremely concerned by the dramatic increase in violence against civilians in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, United Nations UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called for a halt to the fighting and a return to the country’s political objectives.

Nobel Prize-winning South African author Nadine Gordimer dies

Jul 15, 2014, at 03:24 am

Johannesburg, July 14 (IBNS) Nobel Prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer passed away at her home in South Africa's Johannesburg city on Sunday, media reports said on Monday.

UN chief demands end to Israeli-Palestinian fighting

Jul 14, 2014, at 09:42 pm

New York, July 14 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday voiced alarm that, despite the Security Council's clear demand for a ceasefire, the situation in and around the Gaza Strip appears to be worsening, with grave implications for the safety of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

UN mission calls for immediate halt to hostilities in Libya

Jul 14, 2014, at 09:35 pm

New York, July 14 (IBNS): The United Nations mission in Libya on Sunday called for a cessation of hostilities in the capital, Tripoli, as well as in Benghazi and other parts of the country, amid reports of heavy clashes and several deaths.

N Korea fires '2 short-range ballistic missiles' today

Jul 13, 2014, at 06:55 pm

Seoul, July 13 (IBNS): North Korea on Sunday fired two short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern waters, the South Korean Military said.

Despite insecurity, UN agency scales up assistance for thousands fleeing northern Nigeria

Jul 12, 2014, at 06:05 pm

New York, July 12 (IBNS)With thousands of families being driven from their homes by the violence spreading through north-eastern Nigeria, United Nations agencies and their partners are providing humanitarian aid to those who have escaped and crossed the border into Cameroon.

UN envoy calls for vigil for abducted Nigerian schoolgirls, pledges "never to abandon them"

Jul 12, 2014, at 06:01 pm

New York, July 12 (IBNS) United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown on Friday called for the world to show support for the kidnapped schoolgirls of Chibok, Nigeria, on 22 July, which will be the 100th day of their captivity.

Syria: UN agency urges Europe to shoulder more of refugee challenge

Jul 12, 2014, at 05:51 pm

New York, July 12 (IBNS)With Syria heading into its fourth year of conflict, a United Nations agency on Friday called on Europe to do more to help Syrian refugees, after a new report found that some nations in the region are turning back asylum seekers and ‘shouldering only a small part’ of the challenges.

UN mission reports rocket fire from south Lebanon towards Israel

Jul 12, 2014, at 05:47 pm

New York, July 12(IBNS)The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reported that earlier on Friday, its radar revealed that three rockets originating from the general area of Ain Arab in south Lebanon were fired towards Israel.

South Sudan: UN agency seeks massive boost in funding, warns of 'refugee exodus'

Jul 12, 2014, at 05:43 pm

New York, July 12 (IBNS) The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) appealed on Friday for $658 million to respond to South Sudan’s growing regional refugee crisis, with as many as 715,000 refugees expected by the end of the year.

Afghanistan: UN proposes new audit plan to resolve stand-off over disputed election

Jul 12, 2014, at 05:38 pm

New York, July 12 (IBNS): With President Hamid Karzai's successor still undeclared, the United Nations in Afghanistan on Friday proposed an additional audit plan that would take up to two weeks to complete, in an effort to help resolve the stand-off.

Gaza: UN rights officials appeal to all sides to protect civilians

Jul 12, 2014, at 05:30 pm

New York, July 12 (IBNS) Voicing alarm at the Israeli military operations resulting in the killing of Palestinian children and other civilians in Gaza, as well as the indiscriminate firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel, senior United Nations officials on Friday appealed to all sides to abide by their obligations to protect civilians.

On World Population Day, UN calls for investment in young people

Jul 12, 2014, at 05:19 pm

New York, July 12 (IBNS): With 1.8 billion young people around the world – the largest generation of youth in history – senior United Nations officials are marking World Population Day with calls for a renewed commitment to helping young people improve their lives and the common future.

Saudi Arabia: UN concerned at harsh sentences against human rights defenders

Jul 11, 2014, at 08:16 pm

New York, July 11 (IBNS): A top United Nations official Thursday expressed concern about the arbitrary arrest, trial and detention of human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia, and urged the authorities to immediately release all those held for their peaceful advocacy of human rights.

With special event, UN to mark 'Victory over Slavery: Haiti and Beyond'

Jul 11, 2014, at 08:05 pm

New York, July 11 (IBNS): Visitors to the United Nations later Thursday and those to the Bronx Museum of Fine Arts tomorrow will have a chance to see an exhibit and a film focusing on the struggle by slaves for independence in Haiti the first successful slave revolt in the world that "continues to inspire."

UN chief appoints Staffan de Mistura as special envoy for Syria crisis

Jul 11, 2014, at 08:01 pm

New York, July 11 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday announced that he has appointed veteran diplomat Staffan de Mistura as the new special envoy tasked with seeking a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in Syria.

Middle East: Ban urges Israel, Palestinians to find common ground

Jul 11, 2014, at 07:52 pm

New York, July 11 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday warned the United Nations Security Council of the “risk of an all-out escalation in Israel and Gaza” and made an urgent appeal for maximum restraint, saying his “paramount concern is the safety and well-being of all civilians, no matter where they are.”