Europe's restrictive measures draw UN concern as refugee and migrant influx continues

Feb 13, 2016, at 03:08 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) With the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe showing no signs of easing in 2016, the United Nations refugee agency on Friday reiterated its concern over increasing restrictive measures on the part of European Member States, stressing that greater support mechanisms must be urgently implemented to protect the fundamental human rights of the more than 2,000 people who continue risking their lives every day to reach Europe.

Mali: UN condemns attack against Mission base that kills five peacekeepers

Feb 13, 2016, at 03:05 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Top United Nations officials have condemned the attack this morning against a UN camp in Kidal, in the north-eastern region of the country, which killed at least five peacekeepers and wounded 30 others.

'Child soldiers are boys and girls we collectively failed to protect' - UN envoy

Feb 13, 2016, at 03:02 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) An upsurge in global conflicts and brutal war tactics continues to make children extremely vulnerable to recruitment and use by armed groups, the United Nations warned on Friday, appealing to the international community to take greater responsibility for the boys and girls used as child soldiers or risk failing to protect them.

'Status quo' not sustainable, UN and Middle East partners warn

Feb 13, 2016, at 02:54 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Condemning all acts of terror and urging restraint amid continuing violence against civilians, the United Nations and its Middle East Quartet partners on Friday called on all parties to actively take steps to de-escalate current tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

Ban sends Security Council first report of joint UN body probing chemical weapons in Syria

Feb 13, 2016, at 02:50 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has on Friday submitted the Security Council first report of the joint body set up between the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

6.5 earthquake hits Indonesia

Feb 13, 2016, at 01:48 am

Jakarta, Feb 12 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale hit Indonesia on Friday, officials said.

NATO Parliamentary Assembly to visit Headquarters

Feb 12, 2016, at 11:27 pm

New York, Feb 12 (IBNS) The Members of the Standing Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will visit NATO Headquarters for the annual joint meeting with the North Atlantic Council on Monday.

Karachi: Three grenade attacks in Karachi, security increased

Feb 12, 2016, at 10:26 pm

Karachi, Feb 12 (IBNS): Three separate grenade attacks hit Pakistani city of Karachi within a span of two hours, media reports said.

Syria: diplomats agree 'cessation of hostilities;' UN rights chief warns of dire situation in Aleppo

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:43 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As the United Nations human rights chief warned on Thursday of “shocking” violence and abuses in and around the city of Aleppo and other parts of war-ravaged Syria, top-level diplomats meeting in Munich on ending the crisis agreed to work out the terms of nationwide “cessation of hostilities” in the coming week.

In Canada, Ban applauds country's commitment to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:41 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) During his fifth visit to Canada as United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Thursday applauded the country's commitment to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees, stressing that they "deserve opportunity, human rights protection and peace."

'They are our strongest allies,' UN political chief says, urging efforts to engage terrorism victims

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:33 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) At a Headquarters conference on the human rights of terrorism victims, the top United Nations political official on Thursday urged Member States to engage with victims of terrorism and violent extremism, especially the young and the vulnerable, to build on previous commitments and ensure that their human rights are fully respected.

'The world needs science and science needs women,' says UN on new International Day

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:29 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) More than ever today, the world needs science and science needs women, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Thursday marking the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Ban deplores twin suicide bomb attack on camp for displaced persons in northeast Nigeria

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:25 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the recent double suicide attack carried out by suspected Boko Haram elements in the Dikwa Camp in Borno State in restive northeastern Nigeria.

Ban appoints Senegalese General as UN Force Commander for Central African Republic

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:13 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Balla Keïta of Senegal as the Force Commander of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

UN presses donors to continue vital support for Malian refugees in Mauritania

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:08 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Three United Nations humanitarian agencies on Thursday urged donors to mobilize the necessary resources to maintain the vital assistance to 50,000 Malian refugees in Mberra camp in south-eastern Mauritania.

UN health agency delivers medical aid inside Yemen's Taiz city after blocked entry

Feb 11, 2016, at 02:35 pm

New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Following months of blocked access to the Yemeni city of Taiz, and in response to mounting emergency health needs, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday it has successfully delivered more than 20 tonnes of life-saving medicines and medical supplies to meet the most urgent needs of those with limited access to humanitarian aid.

Low on funds, UN and partners race ahead of rains to tackle needs in South Sudan

Feb 11, 2016, at 02:32 pm

New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) With humanitarian needs rising in South Sudan, the top United Nations relief official in the country has called for urgent funding to allow aid organizations to rapidly increase humanitarian action during the current dry season.

Central African Republic: UN report urges steps to end impunity for rights abuses

Feb 11, 2016, at 02:29 pm

New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As the Central African Republic (CAR) prepares for the second round of presidential elections this weekend, a new United Nations report detailing violations and human rights abuses in the strife-torn nation's capital late last year has prompted the head of the UN peacekeeping mission there to call for urgent measures in the fight against impunity and to prevent future violations.

Ban warns illicit drugs impede sustainable development, calls for every solution to be weighed

Feb 11, 2016, at 02:26 pm

New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Illicit drugs promote violence, impede sustainable development, endanger communities and undermine people's health, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Wednesday, calling on the global community to weigh every option available to confront the issue.

As budget advisory panel turns 70, Ban lauds 'strong collaboration' on reaching UN's goals

Feb 11, 2016, at 02:21 pm

New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday praised the UN's advisory committee on budgetary matters for its help in carrying out the world body's lifesaving work around the world, as the 16-member body marked the 70th anniversary of its establishment.

Marc Andreessen apologises for controversial tweet

Feb 11, 2016, at 12:32 am

California, Feb 10 (IBNS): Facebook board member Marc Andreessen on Wednesday apologised after his comment on India and colonialism had triggered a controversy.

North Korea executes military chief: Reports

Feb 10, 2016, at 09:25 pm

Seoul, Feb 10 (IBNS): North Korea has executed chief of country's military on corruption charges, South Korean media claimed on Wednesday.

Trump and Sanders top the New Hampshire primary race to the US presidential election

Feb 10, 2016, at 06:45 pm

New Hampshire, Feb 10 (IBNS) Outsiders Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday in a convincing manner in the run up to the US presidential election.

UN agency provides food to Syrians fleeing Aleppo fighting

Feb 10, 2016, at 03:47 pm

New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Wednesday it has started distributing urgently needed food to people displaced by the recent surge in violence in Syria’s northern Aleppo.

World Humanitarian Summit must be 'turning point' in cooperation to tackle crises – UN chief

Feb 10, 2016, at 03:42 pm

New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) World leaders must come together in 2016 to renew their commitments to humanity and unite to prevent and end crisis and reduce vulnerability, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, telling UN Member States that the World Humanitarian Summit will provide an opportunity for "concrete steps towards ending the suffering experienced by billions of people today."

'Unity and action' needed to counter expanding threat from ISIL, Security Council told

Feb 10, 2016, at 03:32 pm

New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Given the ability of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to adapt quickly to new circumstances and the steady stream of foreign fighters joining the group's ranks, United Nations Member States must mount a strategic response that includes addressing the underlying political and socio-economic causes of conflicts, particularly in Syria and Libya, the top UN political official told the Security Council on Tuesday.

UN officials call for strengthened global partnerships to combat human trafficking

Feb 10, 2016, at 03:28 pm

New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS)While the world clearly has the political will and legal tools to take on human traffickers and their criminal networks, what are needed is more meaningful international cooperation and adequate funding to take effective action, senior United Nations officials said today, warning that the scourge now has victims spread across 152 different citizenships in 124 countries.

After 30 years of conflict, Sri Lanka still in 'early stages of renewal' - UN rights chief

Feb 10, 2016, at 03:24 pm

New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS)After nearly 30 years of conflict and acrimony that not only cost tens of thousands of lives but also eroded vital components of the State, Sri Lanka is still in the early stages of renewal, the United Nations human rights chief said today, ending a mission to the country.

Haiti: UN agency says weather and drought to blame as food insecurity doubles

Feb 10, 2016, at 03:20 pm

New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Haiti's third consecutive year of drought, exacerbated by the global El Nino weather phenomenon, has driven people deeper into poverty and hunger, and doubled the severely food-insecure population, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday

Security Council boosts number of corrections officers for UN mission in Central African Republic

Feb 10, 2016, at 03:17 pm

New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Determining that the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) remains a threat to international peace and security, the United Nations Security Council decided on Wednesday to maintain the current personnel ceiling of more than 12,800 personnel in the military and police components of the UN peacekeeping operation in the country and to increase the number of corrections officers.