In Damascus, UN aid chief outlines measures to improve response to Syrian crisis in 2018
Jan 12, 2018, at 01:42 pm
New York, Jan 12 (JEN): After seven years of bloody conflict, the Syrian war has wreaked a “colossal toll” on the country and its people, the United Nations relief chief said on Thursday from the capital, Damascus, where he outlined ways to sustain and improve humanitarian assistance and protection for everyone affected by the crisis this year.
In Hargeisa, UN envoy for Somalia calls for calm and dialogue following clashes
Jan 12, 2018, at 01:39 pm
New York, Jan 12 (JEN): The top United Nations envoy for Somalia has called for calm and dialogue amid reports of clashes between security forces from ‘Somaliland’ and neighbouring Puntland.
Jan 12, 2018, at 01:34 pm
New York, Jan 12 (JEN): Laying out his vision for concrete steps the world can take in 2018 to maximize the contribution millions of migrants are already making to our societies and to agree a set of actions to ensure that the rights of all migrants are fully respected, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday said the issue of migration calls for a truly global response.
UN agencies call for funds to reverse food ration cuts for refugees in Rwanda
Jan 12, 2018, at 01:30 pm
New York, Jan 12 (JEN): United Nations humanitarian agencies on Thursday called for more donor funding to reverse a 25 per cent reduction in food or cash assistance for more than 100,000 refugees in Rwanda.
Tragic start to New Year for migrants as hundreds feared dead in Mediterranean – UN
Jan 11, 2018, at 01:20 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): A little more than a week into the New Year, close to 200 migrants or refugees have reportedly died or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea – with up to 100 unaccounted for since Saturday, the United Nations migration agency said Wednesday.
Colombia: Reintegrating 14,000 ex-combatants remains a challenge, Security Council told
Jan 11, 2018, at 01:15 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): Colombia's peace efforts remain challenged by the task of reintegrating 14,000 former rebel combatants, the top United Nations official in the country said Wednesday as he also reported to the Security Council that the UN will 'closely follow' reports of a just-broken ceasefire between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Colombian Government.
Syria: UN rights chief condemns spike in civilian casualties in 'de-escalation' areas
Jan 11, 2018, at 01:11 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday condemned an upsurge in civilian casualties in Eastern Ghouta in Syria amid the recent escalation in airstrikes and ground-based attacks by Government forces and their allies, noting that at least 85 civilians have been killed since 31 December.
Darfur: Displacement slows but returns remain difficult, warns UN peacekeeping chief
Jan 11, 2018, at 01:06 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): Despite some recent voluntary returns among those displaced in Sudan's Darfur region, lack of security, services and sustainable livelihoods in return areas have become major impediments to returns, the top United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council Wednesday.
UN regional forum for Latin America and Caribbean marks 70th anniversary
Jan 11, 2018, at 12:57 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) celebrated its 70th anniversary on Wednesday with a high-level seminar at its headquarters in Santiago, Chile, reaffirming its commitment to working for the dignity and well-being of all the region's inhabitants.
At UN, universities spotlight hands-on approach to integrating refugees
Jan 11, 2018, at 12:52 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): At a special summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York, universities, led by De Montfort University (DMU), spotlighted ideas for practical ways they can use the skills, experience and voluntary power on their campuses to support those in need in their local areas.
As Syria war grinds on, Syrian refugees in Lebanon are becoming poorer, more vulnerable – UN
Jan 10, 2018, at 01:33 pm
New York, Jan 10 (JEN): More than half the war-weary Syrian refugees in Lebanon are living in extreme poverty and borrowing money for food and to pay rent has become commonplace, the United Nations reported Tuesday.
UN chief welcomes progress on inter-Korean talks as vital to reducing tensions in region
Jan 10, 2018, at 01:30 pm
New York, Jan 10 (JEN): Welcoming the progress made during Tuesday's high-level inter-Korean talks in the small border village of Panmunjom, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres spotlighted, among others, the agreement to reopen military channels as critical to reducing tensions in the region.
UN refugee agency urges Israel to halt forced relocation of African asylum seekers
Jan 10, 2018, at 01:25 pm
New York, Jan 10 (JEN): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday appealed to the Israeli Government to not forcibly send Eritrean and Sudanese refugees or asylum seekers to sub-Saharan Africa.
Syria: 13 million people in desperate need as seventh war-torn winter sets in, UN warns
Jan 09, 2018, at 01:48 pm
New York, Jan 9 (JEN): With millions of desperate people across Syria now facing their seventh winter of war, the United Nations warned on Tuesday that intensified military operations in the country's north are forcing families to flee, in the cold, to areas without enough resources to support them.
Western Sahara: UN chief urges easing of tensions in Guerguerat area
Jan 07, 2018, at 09:42 pm
New York, Jan 7 (JEN): Deeply concerned over rising tensions near Guerguerat in the buffer strip in southern Western Sahara between the Moroccan berm and the Mauritanian border, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday called for maximum restraint in the area.
UN announces special probe into attacks on peacekeepers in eastern DR Congo
Jan 07, 2018, at 09:37 pm
New York, Jan 7 (JEN): The United Nations is launching a special investigation into attacks on peacekeepers in restive eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one month after 15 'blue helmets' were killed and dozens wounded in the deadliest single assault on a UN mission in nearly a quarter century.
UN approves largest-ever emergency funding allocation to scale up response in war-torn Yemen
Jan 06, 2018, at 01:59 pm
New York, Jan 6 (JEN): Despite progress over the past month in opening Yemen’s Red Sea ports to commercial and aid shipments, the United Nations relief chief on Friday approved the largest-ever emergency relief allocation – $50 million – amid concerns that the humanitarian catastrophe in the war-raved country is being made worse by the recent increase in fighting and airstrikes.
UN rights office warns DR Congo authorities against use of excessive force when policing protests
Jan 06, 2018, at 01:54 pm
New York, Jan 6 (JEN): Amid ongoing political tension in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), violent actions by the security forces during recent protests in Kinshasa and other cities suggest “deliberate intention to suppress civil and political rights,” the United Nations human rights office reported on Friday.
Shocked at executions in Egypt, UN rights office raises concerns over due process guarantees
Jan 06, 2018, at 01:51 pm
New York, Jan 6 (JEN): The United Nations human rights wing on Friday expressed deep shock that 20 people were reported to have been executed in Egypt since last week, amid concerns that due process and fair trial guarantees did not appear to have been followed.
UN readying training guidelines to help cabin crews identify, report human trafficking
Jan 05, 2018, at 01:45 pm
New York, Jan 5 (JEN): The United Nations is taking the global combat against human trafficking into the skies as the Organization's human rights office and its Montreal-based civil aviation agency begin putting the final touches on training guidelines that could help airline cabin crew spot possible victims.
UN officials welcome reopening of communications between two Koreas
Jan 04, 2018, at 01:47 pm
New York, Jan 4 (JEN) United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the reopening of the communication channel between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea, his deputy spokesman said on Wednesday.
Haiti: New UN mission to take innovative approach to strengthening rule of law
Jan 04, 2018, at 01:42 pm
New York, Jan 4 (JEN) The head of the new United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti, known as MINUJUSTH, has said the operation will carry out its work in an innovative in the island nation – complete with an unusually tight timeframe and a bench-marking exit strategy.
UN aid wing sounds alarm on behalf of civilians caught up in rising violence in northern Syria
Jan 04, 2018, at 01:33 pm
New York, Jan 4 (JEN) The United Nations humanitarian wing and its partners in Syria on Wednesday expressed deep concern about the protection and wellbeing of tens of thousands of civilians in north-eastern Hama and southern Idlib governorates, following increased hostilities, which have reportedly resulted in scores of deaths and injuries and displacement in the area.
Amid wave of protests in Iran, UN rights chief urges impartial probe into all acts of violence
Jan 04, 2018, at 01:28 pm
New York, Jan 4 (JEN) The top United Nations human rights official on Wednesday urged the Iranian authorities to handle the protests that have taken place around the country “with great care” so as not to further inflame violence and unrest.
US vows to withhold aid to Pakistan, Nikki Haley accuses Asian nation of playing 'double game'
Jan 03, 2018, at 01:20 pm
New York, Jan 3 (IBNS): In what could be seen as a sign of increasing tension between the USA and Pakistan, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has confirmed that its administration is all set to withhold USD255 million in aid to the south Asian nation.
Somalia: UN voices deep concern at reported destruction of housing for displaced persons
Jan 03, 2018, at 01:02 pm
New York, Jan 3 (JEN): A senior United Nations official in Somalia expressed deep concern over reports of the unannounced destruction of settlements for internally displaced persons (IDPs) as well as humanitarian infrastructure in Mogadishu.
UN regrets reported loss of life amid Iranian protests
Jan 03, 2018, at 12:56 pm
New York, Jan 3 (JEN): The United Nations regrets the reported loss of life resulting from the protests in Iran, and hopes that further violence will be avoided, a spokesperson for the world body said on Tuesday.
UN experts decry Saudi Arabia’s use of anti-terror laws against peaceful activists
Jan 03, 2018, at 12:44 pm
New York, Jan 3 (JEN): United Nations human rights experts deplored Saudi Arabia’s continued use of counter-terrorism and security-related laws against human rights defenders and urged the release of all those detained for peacefully exercising their rights.
UN chief issues 'red alert,' urges world to come together in 2018 to tackle pressing challenges
Jan 01, 2018, at 01:40 am
New York, Dec 31(Just Earth News): In his message on the New Year, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is calling for unity among the global community to tackle overwhelming challenges and defend values shared by all.
New UN agency projects to boost farming practices, improve farm animal health
Dec 30, 2017, at 09:47 am
New York, Dec 30(Just Earth News): People around the world, especially poor farmers in developing Asian countries, will benefit through the use of nuclear techniques in combatting diseases affecting farm animals and improve water management practices, the United Nations atomic energy agency has said.