UN agencies in Colombia stepping up response efforts in aftermath of devastating landslides
Apr 08, 2017, at 02:20 pm
New York, Apr 8(Just Earth News): Responding to the devastating landslides in Colombia's Mocoa municipality that have claimed at least 300 lives, left more than 370 missing, and destroyed hospitals and infrastructure, United Nations relief agencies have stepped up their response to alleviate humanitarian suffering among the affected people.
UN, humanitarian partners to launch $40M appeal for flood-hit Peru
Apr 08, 2017, at 02:19 pm
New York, Apr 8(Just Earth News): The United Nations and humanitarian partners in Peru are expected on Fridayto launch an appeal for $39.2 million to provide urgently needed aid to people affected by the latest flooding in Peru.
UN condemns deadly Stockholm attack; wants those responsible to face justice
Apr 08, 2017, at 02:17 pm
New York, Apr 8 (Just Earth News): The United Nations on Fridaycondemned the attack in Stockholm, Sweden, and expressed hope that those responsible for the violence will be swiftly brought to justice.
Strengthening the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Apr 07, 2017, at 01:54 pm
New York, Apr 7(Just Earth News): Following his analysis of the report of the High-Level External Independent Review Panel on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by International Peacekeeping Forces in the Central African Republic, former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Jane Holl Lute of the United States as Special Coordinator on improving the Organization’s response to sexual exploitation and abuse, in February 2017.
Top UN official in DR Congo concerned about rising number of civilian deaths in Kasai
Apr 06, 2017, at 04:10 am
New York, Apr 5(Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday expressed concern about a reported rise in the number of civilian casualties in the central Kasai region as a result of clashes between the Kamuina Nsapu militia and the Congolese security forces.
UN agency dispatches 3.5 million doses of yellow fever vaccine to counter outbreak in Brazil
Apr 01, 2017, at 01:24 pm
New York, Apr 1(Just Earth News): In response to the yellow fever outbreak on-going in Brazil, some 3.5 million doses of vaccine from the emergency stockpile were deployed to the country through a United Nations-backed coordination mechanism, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
UN calls for recognizing the rights of people with autism to make their own decisions
Apr 01, 2017, at 01:23 pm
New York, Apr 1(Just Earth News): Ahead of World Autism Awareness Day, the United Nations on Friday called for recognizing the rights of people with the spectrum neurological condition, which is believed to affect 70 million people around the world.
UN, partners warn 108 million people face severe food insecurity worldwide
Apr 01, 2017, at 05:59 am
New York, Apr 1(Just Earth News): Despite international efforts to address food insecurity, around 108 million people worldwide were severely food insecure in 2016, a dramatic increase compared with 80 million in 2015, according to a United Nations-backed report on food crises that offers benchmark for action needed to avoid catastrophe.
UN report explores ways urbanization can be a catalyst for rural development
Mar 28, 2017, at 05:54 am
New York, Mar 28 (Just Earth News): One way to encourage mutually beneficial developments for urban and rural areas alike is to develop value chains and food systems more efficient and inclusive, a United Nations-backed report examining the ‘quiet revolution’ towards sustainable urbanization has found.
UN envoy calls for urgent measures to protect ceasefire in Syria
Mar 26, 2017, at 02:16 pm
New York, Mar 26 (Just Earth News): Voicing deep concern over recent escalation of fighting in Syria, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country has urged Iran, Russia and Turkey to undertake urgent efforts to uphold the ceasefire which has been in effect since late December last year.
Mar 25, 2017, at 02:35 pm
New York, Mar 25 (Just Earth News): Stressing the importance of remembering slavery and slave trade in human history, the legacy of which “resounds down the ages,†United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday highlighted the contributions that people of African descent have made and are continuing to make to their communities and to the world.
UN condemns deadly terrorist attack in London; expresses solidarity with UK government and people
Mar 24, 2017, at 02:38 pm
New York, Mar 24 (Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres and members of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday extended condolences on behalf of the Organization to the Government and people of the United Kingdom for the loss of life and injuries suffered in yesterday’s terrorist attack in London.
UN envoy and Pope Francis meet on enhancing cooperation to protect children from violence
Mar 24, 2017, at 08:00 am
New York, Mar 24 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy advocating an end to violence against children has met with His Holiness Pope Francis to discuss greater cooperation on protecting children from sexual and other forms of violence.
UN atomic agency co-hosts international meeting on cancer in developing countries
Mar 23, 2017, at 05:12 am
New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News): Cancer can be a death warrant in some developing countries, spurring the United Nations atomic agency and the international community on Wednesday to hold a high-level discussion on how to get more funding and support for treatment to parts of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
UN approves $22 million loan to boost agricultural work to prevent famine in Somalia
Mar 22, 2017, at 01:56 pm
New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News): The United Nations agricultural agency will be further scaling up its activities in drought-hit regions of Somalia thanks to a $22 million loan approved this week by the UN emergency response fund.
UN agency voices concern about forced return of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon
Mar 22, 2017, at 05:17 am
New York, Mar 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday expressed concern that forced returns of refugees from Cameroon’s far north region to crisis-gripped north-eastern Nigeria are continuing despite the recent signing of a tripartite agreement aimed at ensuring the voluntary nature of returns.
UN disability rights committee opens with a call to spotlight gender issues
Mar 21, 2017, at 12:24 pm
New York, Mar 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations committee monitoring efforts to protect rights of persons with disabilities on Monday opened its spring session on Monday in Geneva with a call to pay special attention to gender issues.
UN aid 'pushed to limits' as 320,000 more civilians may flee west Mosul
Mar 21, 2017, at 04:41 am
New York, Mar 20 (Just Earth News): Humanitarian agencies are bracing for the possibility that in coming weeks about 300,000 to 320,000 civilians may flee the western districts of Iraqi's Mosul city where Government forces are fighting to oust the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) terrorists, a senior United Nations aid official in the country has said.
UN forum in Paris to spotlight mobile learning for refugees and displaced persons
Mar 18, 2017, at 02:02 pm
New York, Mar 18 (Just Earth News): Education experts and government officials will gather at the Paris headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from 20 to 24 March, to discuss ways of expanding the use of mobile technologies to “reach people where they are†and improve education opportunities for refugees and displaced persons and others in emergency situations.
UN announces interagency group to coordinate global fight against antimicrobial resistance
Mar 17, 2017, at 01:56 pm
New York, Mar 17 (Just Earth News): The United Nations on Thursday announced the establishment of an Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, which will be co-chaired by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan.
UN reports slow women’s political parity; launches latest ‘Women in Politics’ map
Mar 16, 2017, at 01:50 pm
New York, Mar 16 (Just Earth News): Women’s voices are still missing from the executive branches of governments and parliaments worldwide, slowing achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations agency tasked with supporting gender equality on Wednesday said at the launch of a visual representation of women’s political empowerment.
UN rights wing urges calm, protection of civilians amid hostilities in eastern Libya
Mar 15, 2017, at 01:07 pm
New York, Mar 15 (Just Earth News): Raising alarm over reports of serious human rights and humanitarian law violations and abuses stemming from recent fighting in eastern Libya's oil crescent area, the United Nations human rights arm has called on all parties to ensure that civilians are protected and that the situation is de-escalated.
UN aid chief urges global action as starvation, famine loom for 20 million across four countries
Mar 11, 2017, at 01:53 pm
New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): Just back from Kenya, Yemen, South Sudan and Somalia – countries that are facing or are at risk of famine – the top United Nations humanitarian official on Friday urged the international community for comprehensive action to save people from simply “starving to death.â€
UN announces new approach to 'stamp out' sexual exploitation and abuse
Mar 10, 2017, at 02:14 pm
New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Underscoring that the United Nations should not be, in any way, associated with the vile and vicious crimes of rape, sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, Secretary-General António Guterres has outlined a new victim-centred approach to prevent and respond to such abuses committed by those serving under the UN flag.
UN agriculture agency warns of water scarcity in North Africa and Near East
Mar 10, 2017, at 02:08 pm
New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Accessible fresh water in North Africa and the Middle East has fallen by two-thirds over the past 40 years, posing a huge challenge requiring “an urgent and massive response,†the head of the United Nations agriculture agency said on Thursday.
New UN supply chain system to slash delays, save lives in large-scale health crises
Mar 10, 2017, at 02:07 pm
New York, Mar 9 (Just Earth News): In collaboration with partners and as a part of a global supply chain network, the United Nations emergency food relief agency has set about developing the first-ever information platform to better manage supply chains and efficiently match deliveries with demand in responding to large-scale health emergencies such as pandemic outbreaks.
UN chief Guterres unveils proposals to end 'scourge' of sexual exploitation and abuse
Mar 10, 2017, at 04:34 am
New York, Mar 9 (Just Earth News): Underscoring that the United Nations should not be, in any way, associated with the vile and vicious crimes of rape, sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, Secretary-General António Guterres has outlined a new victim-centred approach to prevent and respond to such abuses committed by those serving under the UN flag.
UN experts call for sensitive and timely response to online gender-based abuse
Mar 09, 2017, at 02:29 pm
New York, Mar 9 (Just Earth News): Urgent attention, creativity and cooperation are needed to address online gender-based abuse, but authorities should be careful to avoid curtailing freedom of expression in doing so, two United Nations human rights experts said on Wednesday.
UN human rights experts call for global treaty to regulate dangerous pesticides
Mar 08, 2017, at 01:05 pm
New York, Mar 8 (Just Earth News): Two United Nations human rights experts are calling for a comprehensive new global treaty to regulate and phase out the use of dangerous pesticides in farming, and move towards sustainable agricultural practices.
UN envoy urges protection of children as key to peace-making and conflict prevention
Mar 08, 2017, at 01:03 pm
New York, Mar 8 (Just Earth News): The rights of children must also be a cornerstone of conflict prevention, peace-making and peace building efforts, the United Nations focal point on children in armed conflict on Tuesday told the UN Human Rights Council, expressing deep concern at the scale and severity of grave violations committed against children in the past year.