Yellow fever: UN coordinating effort to vaccinate 14 million people in two African countries

Aug 17, 2016, at 01:21 pm

New York, Aug 17 (Just Earth News): Working with health ministries in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations health agency is coordinating one of the largest emergency vaccination campaigns ever attempted in Africa to protect more than 14 million people against yellow fever in an outbreak that has killed more than 400 people and sickened thousands of others.

Bahrain authorities must end ‘systematic harassment’ of Shia population – UN rights experts

Aug 17, 2016, at 05:17 am

New York, Aug 16 (Just Earth News): A group of United Nations independent human rights experts on Tuesday expressed deep concerns at what they see as “systematic harassment” of the Shia population and religious leaders, including stripping the citizenship of many, by authorities in Bahrain.

UN in Iraq condemns reporter’s death, calls for journalists’ safety amid ‘growing pattern of threats’

Aug 16, 2016, at 12:20 pm

New York, Aug 16 (Just Earth News): The United Nations in Iraq has strongly condemned the death of a journalist who was seized by armed men in Dohuk city on 13 August and has called on the government of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to implement urgent measures to guarantee the safety of all journalists and media professionals.

UN condemns 'appalling' deadly attack on civilians in eastern DR Congo

Aug 16, 2016, at 12:18 pm

New York, Aug 16 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined his envoys from the Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday in strongly condemning the killing of dozens of civilians during an overnight attack in Beni, located in restive eastern part of the country, where the UN mission and national authorities have now deployed forces in the wake if the incident.

‘Innovation divide’ persists; investment crucial to vibrant competitive economy, says UN agency

Aug 16, 2016, at 12:14 pm

New York, Aug 16 (Just Earth News): A new report published by the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has shown that for the first time, a middle-income country, China, has joined highly developed economies among global leaders in innovation.

Teenage blogger trial ‘deeply worrying’ sign of Singapore’s attempts to curb free expression

Aug 16, 2016, at 12:12 pm

New York, Aug 16 (Just Earth News): Concerned over increased criminalization of expression , a United Nations human rights expert on Monday expressed serious concern about the upcoming trial of a 17-year old Singaporean for Facebook posts and blog comments that wounded the religious feelings of Muslims and Christians.

UN combats spread of cattle disease in Europe through early-detection training

Aug 16, 2016, at 04:46 am

New York, Aug 15 (Just Earth News):The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today started a programme to train European laboratory staff on how to use nuclear-derived techniques to detect lumpy skin disease – a highly infectious cowpox virus spreading across the continent.

Yemen: UN chief condemns attack on school that killed at least 10 children

Aug 16, 2016, at 04:41 am

New York, Aug 15 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the attack, reportedly an airstrike, on a school in northern Yemen that killed at least 10 children and injured many more over the weekend.

Diary from Syria: An eyewitness account of broken families, grief and survival

Aug 13, 2016, at 12:24 pm

New York, Aug 13 (Just Earth News): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) supports more than 4 million people inside Syria with food assistance. Heading its operation there since December last year is Swiss national Jakob Kern.

Threat of wildfires expected to increase as global temperatures rise – UN

Aug 13, 2016, at 12:22 pm

New York, Aug 13 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) has warned that wildfires could become more frequent and more destructive as global temperatures rise and drought conditions plague many regions of the world.

A political solution is the only solution,’ UN says, as rising violence deepens crisis in Yemen

Aug 13, 2016, at 12:19 pm

New York, Aug 13 (Just Earth News): The United Nations on Friday sounded the alarm over a spike in violence in crisis-torn Yemen, as the world body’s human rights wing reported the number of civilian casualties in the conflict has been “steadily mounting,” with some 815 casualties since April alone.

UN condemns bomb attacks in Thailand

Aug 13, 2016, at 12:17 pm

New York, Aug 13 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the bomb attacks in Thailand that took place on Thursday and Friday, expressing hope that the perpetrators will be quickly brought to justice.

UN health agency boosts response to cholera outbreak in Central African Republic

Aug 13, 2016, at 04:28 am

New York, Aug 12 (Just Earth News): Amid the difficult humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are stepping up efforts to respond to a recent cholera outbreak in villages along the Oubangui River and have stressed the urgent need for more resources and support for the country.

With long-term strategy, UN protects civilians in Gaza from threat of unexploded munitions

Aug 12, 2016, at 01:31 pm

New York, Aug 12 (Just Earth News): Hostilities in the Gaza Strip dating back to 2014 and earlier still pose serious threats to life and physical integrity in the tine enclave as explosive remnants of war (ERW) and other legacy hazards remained littered throughout the strip, said the United Nations humanitarian wing, spotlighting a sustainable strategy to mitigate those risks.

UN rights chief sees ‘worrying signs’ in Bulgaria’s detention regime for migrants

Aug 12, 2016, at 04:36 am

New York, Aug 11 (Just Earth News): United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Thursday expressed serious concern that virtually all people entering Bulgaria in an “irregular manner” are subjected to detention, and that they could be prosecuted and even jailed if they try to leave, “placing many of them in an invidious Catch-22 situation.”

South Sudan crisis deepens as once-stable areas fall into violence – UN relief chief

Aug 11, 2016, at 12:42 pm

New York, Aug 11 (Just Earth News): Recently returned from a three-day visit to South Sudan, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien on Wednesday painted a grave picture of the enormous humanitarian crisis facing the world’s newest country and the devastating impact of the ongoing violence on its people.

UN study charts extent of unregulated gold mining in Colombia, links to organized crime

Aug 11, 2016, at 12:36 pm

New York, Aug 11 (Just Earth News): An estimated 60 per cent of Colombia’s alluvial gold exploitation – through mining streams or riverbeds, often dredged with heavy machinery – is not established within existing normative frameworks and in many cases finances and strengthens organized criminal groups, according to a joint United Nations and Colombian Government study.

Measures to control yellow fever still needed despite drop in number of cases – UN health agency

Aug 10, 2016, at 01:40 pm

New York, Aug 10 (Just Earth News): The United Nations health agency and its partners are continuing their programmes against yellow fever outbreaks even though the epidemic, first reported in January 2016, appears to be declining, with no new cases confirmed in the last six weeks.

‘You are leaders of on Tuesday,’ says Ban, urging youth delegates in Argentina to back Global Goals

Aug 10, 2016, at 01:34 pm

New York, Aug 10 (Just Earth News): Young people are at the heart of many of on Tuesday’s challenges, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday in Buenos Aires, urging a gathering of youth and civil society delegates to claim the new UN Sustainable Development Agenda as their own and to hold their leaders accountable for its implementation.

INTERVIEW: UN summit to provide blueprint for better response to large movements of refugees and migrants, says senior advisor

Aug 10, 2016, at 04:04 am

New York, Aug 9 (Just Earth News): On 2 August, following five months of negotiations, Member States of the United Nations agreed by consensus upon a political declaration that will serve as the basis for discussions and the outcome of the first-ever UN Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants which will be held, on 19 September, at UN Headquarters in New York.

Ban hails Argentina’s commitment to UN values as illustrated by its actions

Aug 09, 2016, at 01:26 pm

New York, Aug 9 (Just Earth News): On a visit to Argentina, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon applauded the South American on Monday country for its strong partnership with the UN and its cooperation with and support to other countries.

Perpetrators of sexual violence in South Sudan 'will be held accountable' – UN envoy

Aug 09, 2016, at 01:25 pm

New York, Aug 9 (Just Earth News): Vowing to “fight” to the end to see that all perpetrators of rape and violence against women and girls in crisis-torn South Sudan are held to account, the United Nations envoy on sexual violence in conflict on Monday said it is extremely important for the Government to take all necessary action to put an end to such crimes.

Pakistan: Ban condemns ‘appalling’ terrorist attack at hospital in Quetta

Aug 09, 2016, at 04:19 am

New York, Aug 8 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned on Monday’s terrorist bombing at the Civil Hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, underscoring that the targeting of mourners at a civilian hospital made the attack “particularly appalling.”

Yemeni peace talks enter 'new phase,' as UN envoy announces month-long pause for consultations

Aug 07, 2016, at 01:24 pm

New York, Aug 7 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy facilitating peace talks on Yemen announced on Saturday that as the discussions wind down for a one-month break, the process will enter a “new phase,” during which “the focus will be on working with each side separately to crystalize precise technical details.”

On anniversary of Hiroshima bombing, Ban urges all States to 'galvanize global will for disarmament'

Aug 07, 2016, at 03:56 am

New York, Aug 6 (Just Earth News): With global tensions rising and progress on nuclear disarmament hard to find, “the world needs the Hibakusha spirit more than ever,” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Saturday, citing the determination and perseverance of those survivors of the 1945 Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb attacks as an example for championing peace and a seeking a better future for all.

UN human rights chief deplores mass executions in Iran

Aug 06, 2016, at 05:13 am

New York, Aug 5 (Just Earth News) The United Nations human rights chief on Fridaydeplored the execution of 20 people in Iran this week for purported terrorism-related offences.

Rights experts ‘deeply disturbed’ at erosion of media freedom in Venezuela – UN human rights office

Aug 05, 2016, at 12:07 pm

New York, Aug 5 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, and the Inter-American Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Edison Lanza, expressed concern at the eroding media freedom in Venezuela, citing a number of reported incidents of harassments of journalists and media groups.

Aid agencies ready to help ease suffering in 'iconic' Aleppo, once truce is secured – UN envoy

Aug 05, 2016, at 12:04 pm

New York, Aug 5 (Just Earth News): As fighting in and around battle-scarred Aleppo intensifies, along with diplomatic efforts to secure a truce, United Nations agencies and their partners are “ready, willing and able” to rush aid to the desperate people trapped there, a senior UN envoy said on Thursday, stressing that a humanitarian pause is critical, both to allow relief workers to enter the area, and for civilians to leave voluntary.

UN agency welcomes ‘landmark step’ by North and Central American countries to protect refugees

Aug 05, 2016, at 12:03 pm

New York, Aug 5 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Thursday welcomed a joint commitment by nine North and Central American countries acknowledging the need for stronger protection of asylum-seekers, refugees and internally displaced people in the region, where crime and gang violence have driven thousands of people from their homes.

Global food prices down slightly in July – UN agency

Aug 05, 2016, at 04:08 am

New York, Aug 4 (Just Earth News): The international prices for major food commodities saw a modest decline in July, following five consecutive months of increases, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).