Amid unprecedented needs, UN and partners launch $1.6 billion aid appeal for South Sudan
Feb 14, 2017, at 03:19 pm
New York, Feb 14 (Just Earth News): Against the backdrop of dramatic deterioration of the humanitarian situation in South Sudan due to a combination of conflict, economic decline and climatic shocks, the United Nations together with relief partners have appealed for $1.6 billion to provide life-saving assistance and protection to 5.8 million people across the country.
UN chief Guterres engages in 'constructive' discussions on Yemen, Libya with Saudi Foreign Minister
Feb 13, 2017, at 12:47 pm
New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News): Visiting Saudi Arabia, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Sunday that he and the Arab country's foreign minister had “very important and very constructive discussions†on the possible future political solutions for Yemen and Libya.
The world needs science and science needs women,' UN says ahead of International Day
Feb 11, 2017, at 02:15 pm
New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News): 'Female engineers and computer programmers wanted,' is the call from a new United Nations report that shows women are increasingly graduating with life science degrees, but still rare in engineering and computer science, especially in developed economies.
UN calls for 50 per cent increase in funding for mine action in 2017
Feb 10, 2017, at 04:24 am
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News): The United Nations has launched a $511 million international appeal for humanitarian mine action in conflict and post-conflict settings for 2017, a 50 per cent increase from last year's $347 million consolidated appeal.
UN and international partners express support for working with new Somali president
Feb 10, 2017, at 04:23 am
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News): The United Nations and its international partners in Somalia on Thursday said that they were eager to partner with President Mohamed Abdullahi 'Farmajo', his new Government and the people of Somalia to avert another famine in the country and to assist with improving security for all Somalis.
UN commemorates 20 years of protecting children in armed conflicts
Feb 09, 2017, at 01:19 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News): Top officials from the United Nations and the international community on Wednesday applauded two decades of efforts to protect children from the scourge of war by marking the 20th anniversary of General Assembly resolution 51/77 (1997) on promotion and protection of the rights of children.
Libyans must make 2017 the ‘year of decisions,’ UN envoy tells Security Council
Feb 09, 2017, at 01:18 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News): Still seeking to implement a political accord signed more than a year ago, Libyans must make 2017 “the year of decisions†and political breakthrough, the United Nations envoy for the North African country urged on Wednesday.
With UN support, surgeon Denis Mukwege and Panzi Hospital aid rape survivors in Guinea
Feb 09, 2017, at 01:16 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News): The United Nations office working to end conflict-related sexual violence helped to bring world-renowned surgeon Denis Mukwege and a team from his Panzi Hospital to Conakry, Guinea, to provide medical and psychological treatment for 30 of the women and girls raped in politically-motivated violence in 2009, it was announced on Wednesday.
Senior UN official urges Libya to protect migrants from conflict-related sexual violence
Feb 08, 2017, at 02:35 pm
New York, Feb 8 (Just Earth News): The highest United Nations official tasked with advocating against the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war urged on Tuesday Libyan authorities to protect migrants from rape and other human rights violations.
Feb 08, 2017, at 05:51 am
New York, Feb 8 (Just Earth News): Stalled peace talks in Burundi are forcing hundreds to flee every day seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, the United Nations refugee agency warned on Tuesday, appealing for more support, particularly land to shelter for new arrivals and to ensure protection of children and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence.
UN rights expert urges Thailand to loosen restrictions around monarchy defamation law
Feb 08, 2017, at 05:48 am
New York, Feb 8 (Just Earth News): As a student activist awaits trial in detention for posting a news article about the new monarchy on social media, an independent United Nations expert on Tuesday called on Thai authorities to stop using royal defamation laws to stifle free speech
China blocks move to blacklist Masood Azhar again
Feb 08, 2017, at 05:36 am
New Delhi, Feb 7 (IBNS): Extending its support for Pakistan, China has once again blocked the move of United Nations to blacklist Masood Azhar, the chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group.
UN Middle East envoy 'concerned' over scheduled vote on Israel's settlement regularisation bill
Feb 07, 2017, at 06:19 am
New York, Feb 7 (Just Earth News): The top United Nations Middle East envoy on Monday expressed concern about the scheduled vote by the Knesset, Israel's legislative body, on a bill that would “legalize†Israeli settlements on privately-owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.
UN renews call for protection of Afghan civilians, after casualty figures spike in 2016
Feb 07, 2017, at 06:17 am
New York, Feb 7 (Just Earth News): Attacks in Afghanistan by the Taliban, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) and pro-Government troops killed or injured more children and other civilians in 2016 than at any other time since the United Nations began keeping records, it was announced on Monday.
Rights expert urges UN Member States to halt Israel’s illegal settlements in West Bank
Feb 04, 2017, at 01:24 pm
New York, Feb 4 (Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert has called on the Security Council and the General Assembly to explore effective diplomatic and political measures to ensure Israeli compliance with Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), which affirms that all Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory constitute a flagrant violation of international law.
UN report details 'devastating cruelty' against Rohingya population in Myanmar's Rakhine province
Feb 04, 2017, at 05:30 am
New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News): In a report issued on Friday, the United Nations human rights arm said that the widespread human rights violations against the Rohingya population by Myanmar's security forces in the country's northern Rakhine state indicate the very likely commission of crimes against humanity.
UN agency creates tool box of new technologies, good practices to help keep food safe
Feb 02, 2017, at 04:59 am
New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): From avian flu to locusts and E. coli bacteria, food is contaminated every day by diseases and pests, leading the United Nations agricultural agency to create a set of emergency prevention tools to save lives and improve food safety and security.
UN fund allocates $6 million to help thousands in violence-hit parts of Central African Republic
Feb 01, 2017, at 02:09 pm
New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): The top United Nations relief official on Tuesday approved an allocation from the Organization’s humanitarian emergency response fund to assist the response to new emergencies triggered by a surge of violence in the Central African Republic’s Kaga Bandoro, Bambari and Bria areas.
Banks, UN set standards on channelling investments for sustainable development
Feb 01, 2017, at 04:49 am
New York, Jan 31 (Just Earth News): Nearly 20 leading global banks and investors, totalling $6.6 trillion in assets, have launched a United Nations-backed global framework aimed at channelling the money they manage towards clean, low carbon and inclusive projects.
UN agency ‘alarmed’ by uncertainty facing refugees in the process of being resettled in US
Jan 31, 2017, at 01:51 pm
New York, Jan 31 (Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations refugee agency on Monday said he is “deeply worried†by the uncertainty facing thousands of refugees around the world who are in the process of being resettled to the United States after the country suspended its refugee programme last week.
UN mission in South Sudan ‘deeply concerned’ by clashes between Government and opposition forces
Jan 31, 2017, at 01:50 pm
New York, Jan 31 (Just Earth News): Amid an outbreak of violence in the South Sudanese city of Malakal, the United Nations mission in the country on Monday called on the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the SPLA in Opposition to silence the guns.
UN food relief agency chief welcomes progress on anti-hunger programmes in north-east Nigeria
Jan 28, 2017, at 01:34 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations food relief agency on Friday welcomed the progress made by the humanitarian community and the Government of Nigeria in fighting hunger and malnutrition in the West African country’s north-east.
UN rights chief urges probe into Askarov case despite Kyrgyz decision to uphold life sentence
Jan 25, 2017, at 01:13 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday voiced deep concern about a decision by a Kyrgyz court to uphold a life sentence against human rights defender Azimjan Askarov, saying it highlights “serious shortcomings†in the country’s judicial system.
UN agency urges support for small farmers to help them not just get by, but thrive and feed others
Jan 23, 2017, at 05:46 am
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News): Highlighting growing challenges, such as climate change and natural resource scarcity, facing small farmers in developing countries, the head of the United Nations agricultural agency called for information technology tools that can help boost their resilience as well as feed a growing world population.
UN confirms destruction of sites in Palmyra, other ancient Syrian cities
Jan 21, 2017, at 01:34 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has confirmed the destruction of Palmyra’s famed tetrapylon and the facade of the ancient Syrian city’s Roman theatre, following its evaluation of the destruction of cultural heritage sites in iconic Aleppo.
UN agency revises funding requirements to tackle Africa's worst displacement crisis
Jan 21, 2017, at 04:35 am
New York, Jan 20 (Just Earth News): With conflict in South Sudan now entering its fourth year and its people facing dire humanitarian challenges, the United Nations refugee agency has revised upwards its funding requirements for 2017 to address new needs of those who have been displaced due to renewed fighting, increased violence and resulting food insecurity since July last year.
Secretary-General Guterres: UN to focus more on conflict and crisis prevention
Jan 20, 2017, at 01:26 pm
Switzerland, Jan 20 (Just Earth News): In a session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said his priority at the UN would be reform of the organization’s peace strategy and architecture to recalibrate focus towards prevention – and not just resolution – of conflict. Pointing out that peace-keeping consumes over 70% of the UN’s budget, he said: “On Thursday, most of our operations take place in countries where there is no peace to keep. Peace-keepers become, inevitably, parties to the conflict.†By preventing conflicts and helping countries that finally emerge from conflict, the UN will be able to limit its peace-keeping role.
UN rights expert welcomes US decision to lift most unilateral sanctions on Sudan
Jan 20, 2017, at 01:25 pm
New York, Jan 20 (Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert on Thursday welcomed the decision of President Barack Obama to lift most sanctions unilaterally imposed by the United States on Sudan.
UN agencies, partners launch new plan to address plight of refugees and migrants in Europe
Jan 20, 2017, at 04:44 am
New York, Jan 19 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee and migration agencies along with a host of partners on Thursday unveiled a new strategy and appeal to help address the challenges confronting hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants in Europe.
Top UN humanitarian official in Syria allocates $19 million for emergency response in Aleppo
Jan 19, 2017, at 01:45 pm
New York, Jan 19 (Just Earth News): Amid an overall scale-up in relief operations in Syria, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the country, Ali Al-Za’tari, approved on Wednesday $19 million from the Syria Humanitarian Fund to sustain immediate life-saving and early recovery assistance for tens of thousands of people in war-ravaged Aleppo.