UN allocates $3 million to Somalia-Kenya cross-border pilot project for Somali refugees
Dec 23, 2016, at 03:01 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News):The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund is set to allocate $3 million on a pilot project that will provide peacebuilding and professional skills to Somali refugees volunteering to return from Kenya to Somalia.
Three years into conflict, humanitarian needs in South Sudan continue to rise – UN relief wing
Dec 23, 2016, at 02:59 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News):Since fighting first erupted in South Sudan three years back, tens of thousands have died, food insecurity and acute malnutrition are at unprecedented levels, and more than three million have been driven from their homes, the United Nations humanitarian arm has reported.
Civilians brave freezing temperatures as Aleppo evacuations resume – UN
Dec 22, 2016, at 03:27 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News): With civilians in war-battered eastern Aleppo braving sub-zero temperatures, evacuations escorted by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) resumed on Wednesday, as the agency estimates that more than 25,000 people have been evacuated from besieged neighbourhoods over the past five days, the United Nations said.
Population growth in Occupied Palestinian Territory to drive demand for housing, services – UN
Dec 22, 2016, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News): The number of people living in Gaza is expected to more than double over the next 30 years, according to a report released this month by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which examines demographic changes and opportunities for development in the Gaza Strip and throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UN chief hails peaceful and inclusive legislative elections in Côte d’Ivoire
Dec 22, 2016, at 03:12 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has applauded the Government and the people of Côte d’Ivoire for this Sunday’s peaceful and inclusive legislative elections as well as the progress in the country since last year, his office said.
Majority of trafficking victims are women and girls; one-third children – new UN report
Dec 22, 2016, at 03:10 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News): According to a new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the vast majority of all human trafficking victims – some 71 per cent – are women and girls and one third are children.
Guinea-Bissau: Ban urges leaders to demonstrate goodwill to resolve political crisis
Dec 22, 2016, at 03:07 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern over the impact of a prolonged political and institutional crisis in Guinea-Bissau, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the country's leadership to work towards a long-lasting political solution to the crisis on the basis of a regional roadmap agreed in September this year.
As evacuations resume in Aleppo, UN prepares to redeploy staff to monitor process
Dec 21, 2016, at 02:58 pm
New York, Dec 21 (Just Earth News): As the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) resumed this morning evacuations from besieged neighbourhoods in eastern Aleppo, the United Nations reported that it has received authorization to send 20 international and national staff to the city to play a critical role in the monitoring and the response.
As bitter winter grips Middle East, UNICEF faces funding gap for support to millions of children
Dec 21, 2016, at 02:54 pm
New York, Dec 21 (Just Earth News): Millions of children throughout the Middle East are in danger as bitter cold temperatures and winter weather bear down on the region, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today, as it warned the agency faces a $38 million funding gap as it races to provide assistance.
UN condemns ‘horrific’ terrorist attack in Berlin
Dec 21, 2016, at 02:50 pm
New York, Dec 21 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the terrorist attack in Berlin last night and expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families “of the victims of this horrific act,†as well as to the German Government and people.
Dec 21, 2016, at 02:42 pm
New York, Dec 21 (Just Earth News): Stressing that the killing of “about three†people, which the President of the Philippines admitted to personally committing, while serving as the Mayor of the city of Davao clearly constituted murder, the United Nations human rights chief called on the judicial authorities in the country to uphold the rule of law and investigate the self-professed crimes.
Ban commends West African countries’ firm decision to stand by Gambian President-elect
Dec 20, 2016, at 03:38 pm
New York, Dec 20 (Just Earth News):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday commended decisions by a bloc of West African countries to take all necessary actions to enforce the outcome of the presidential election in Gambia, guarantee the protection of President-elect Adama Barrow, and attend the new leader’s inauguration ceremony on 19 January 2017.
UN condemns assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey
Dec 20, 2016, at 03:33 pm
New York, Dec 20 (Just Earth News):Strongly condemning the assassination on Monday of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov in Ankara, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Security Council emphasized that there is no justification for targeting diplomatic personnel and civilians.
Strengthen preventative measures for victims of forced labour, UN expert tells United States
Dec 20, 2016, at 03:31 pm
New York, Dec 20 (Just Earth News):Following an official visit to the United States, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons is calling for improvements to legislation and additional resources to combat cases of forced labour and labour exploitation.
UN-backed $547 million appeal launched for humanitarian needs in Occupied Palestinian Territory
Dec 20, 2016, at 03:22 pm
New York, Dec 20 (Just Earth News):The United Nations and the State of Palestine on Monday jointly launched an appeal seeking $547 million in funding for 2017 to support the humanitarian needs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Stop targeted repression and double standards, UN rights experts tell DR Congo authorities
Dec 20, 2016, at 03:14 pm
New York, Dec 20 (Just Earth News):Raising alarm over “double standards†applied by the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – allowing pro-government youths to conduct public political activities while repressing dissenting voices – a group of United Nations rights experts on Monday called on the Government to end the “targeted repression†and to guarantee conditions that allow fundamental rights and freedoms to be exercised peacefully.
Security Council approves UN monitors for Aleppo evacuations
Dec 20, 2016, at 03:08 pm
New York, Dec 20 (Just Earth News):Alarmed at the “devastating†humanitarian crisis in Aleppo, where perhaps thousands of civilians remain trapped, the Security Council on Monday requested the United Nations and other relevant institutions to carry out “adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations from the eastern districts†of the war-battered city.
Philippines: UN expert rejects Government-imposed conditions on fact-finding mission
Dec 17, 2016, at 02:06 pm
New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News):The United Nations Special Rapporteur on summary executions urged the Government of the Philippines to lift a series of preconditions it has imposed on her planned visit to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killings of suspected drug dealers, since President Rodrigo Duterte took office.
UN rights chief urges Gambian leader to respect results of presidential election
Dec 17, 2016, at 01:44 pm
New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News):The increased military presence deployed across Gambia since President Yayha Jammeh rejected the election result risks heightening the current climate of intimidation and harassment in the country, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warned on Friday.
General Assembly calls on Member States to support new UN approach to cholera in Haiti
Dec 17, 2016, at 04:58 am
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): Recognizing the moral responsibility of the United Nations to the victims of the cholera epidemic in Haiti, the General Assembly on Fridaywelcomed the new UN approach to tackling the disease – formally launched earlier this month by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – and called on all 193 of the world body’s Members States to provide the two-track plan their full support.
Iraq: UN refugee agency steps up response as Mosul conflict displaces nearly 100,000
Dec 17, 2016, at 04:44 am
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): With the number of people displaced from Mosul approaching 100,000 since the military operation to oust terrorists from the Iraqi city began three months ago, the United Nations refugee agency is bolstering its capacity to host and support civilians fleeing the fighting.
UN campaign previews hub in Germany to drive action on Sustainable Development Agenda
Dec 16, 2016, at 03:12 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): Together with the Government of Germany, the United Nations SDG Action Campaign offered a behind-the-scenes tour of the Global Campaign Center in Bonn, a new hub that will deliver on the Campaign’s mandate to inspire action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UN invited to monitor and assist fresh evacuation efforts under way in war-ravaged Aleppo
Dec 16, 2016, at 03:02 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): The United Nations was on Thursday invited to monitor and assist in the renewed effort to evacuate sick and wounded civilians and opposition fighters from the remaining rebel-held areas of Syria’s war-ravaged city of Aleppo, a senior UN humanitarian envoy announced on Thursday.
Central African Republic: Arbitrary killings, sexual violence cited in new UN human rights report
Dec 15, 2016, at 02:25 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): Central African Republic: Arbitrary killings, sexual violence cited in new UN human rights report Violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Central African Republic (CAR), which include arbitrary killings, sexual violence and inhuman treatment, continue to plague the country, according to a United Nations report published today.
Syrian Government ‘palpably failing’ to ensure safety of its people – UN human rights chief
Dec 15, 2016, at 02:19 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): Expressing shock at the apparent collapse of a deal enabling evacuation of thousands of civilians from eastern Aleppo, the United Nations human right chief said on Wednesday that the resumption of extremely heavy bombardment by Syrian Government forces and their allies on civilian-populated areas “is almost certainly a violation of international law and most likely constitutes war crimes.â€
Northeast Nigeria: 400,000 children could suffer from malnutrition – UN
Dec 15, 2016, at 02:10 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): With about two-thirds of health facilities in parts of Nigeria’s restive north-east region either completely destroyed or partially damaged, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that 400,000 children there could suffer from severe acute malnutrition over the next year.
UN rights chief urges establishment of hybrid court for atrocities in South Sudan
Dec 15, 2016, at 02:02 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday urged the African Union to quickly establish the hybrid court for South Sudan to investigate and prosecute those bearing criminal responsibility for the atrocities.
UN expert calls for concerted action to guarantee rights for persons with disabilities
Dec 14, 2016, at 03:03 pm
New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): Following the recent global commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday issued a warning that some of the most basic components of the convention have yet to be realized and that urgent steps are necessary to level inequalities.
Dec 14, 2016, at 02:50 pm
New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): Celebrities and advocates came together last night to honour UNICEF’s 70 years of advocacy for children around the world at an event in New York that included conversations with Goodwill Ambassadors and musical performances.
Dec 14, 2016, at 02:39 pm
New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): Aleppo should represent the end of the quest for military victory, not the start of a broader military campaign in a country already ravaged beyond all recognition by five years of war, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told an emergency meeting of the Security Council today, calling on the 15-member body to “do all we can to stop the carnage†and ensure that all the parties in the “wretched†conflict seek an inclusive political resolution.