UN launches $25 billion strategy to end preventable deaths of mothers and children
Sep 27, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, Sept 27 (IBNS) The United Nations on Saturday launched an ambitious public-private strategy to end preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents, with initial commitments of more than $25 billion for the next five years to provide life-saving treatments, from immunizations to perinatal care.
Further use of nuclear weapons would be 'horrific,' Ban says on International Day
Sep 27, 2015, at 03:02 pm
New York, Sept 27 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday highlighted that 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the first and last use of a nuclear weapon in war, as he renewed his call for complete global nuclear disarmament.
UN and partners spotlight gap between rising humanitarian needs and available resources
Sep 27, 2015, at 03:02 pm
New York, Sept 27 (IBNS)As discussions on the new global sustainable development continued at the United Nations in New York, world leaders, UN officials and humanitarian partners focused on one of the most important challenges today, namely the growing gap between the increasing numbers of people in need of humanitarian assistance and sufficient resources to provide relief.
-1443263857.jpg "Nine Pakistanis killed in Mina stampede: Officials")
Nine Pakistanis killed in Mina stampede: Officials
Sep 26, 2015, at 09:37 pm
Islamabad, Sept 26 (IBNS): Pakistan on Saturday announced the names of nine people who were killed in the stampede outside the holy city of Mecca which has claimed lives of more than 700 Haj pilgirms.
Crisis in Africa's Lake Chad Basin 'must not be forgotten' - UN humanitarian chief
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:26 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator on Friday reminded the world to pay attention to the Lake Chad Basin, now an epicentre of "violence and terror" where children as young as six-years old have been used as suicide bombers and the scene of the fastest-growing displacement crisis in Africa.
UN already forging ahead on ways to implement ambitious new development agenda
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:22 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Within hours of the General Assembly's adoption on Friday of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations was already looking ahead to the monumental task of wiping out poverty, fighting inequality and tackling climate change over the next 15 years.
UNICEF launches new appeal to support refugee and migrant children in Europe
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:21 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Warning of a "massive" increase in the numbers of children on the move to Europe, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced on Friday that it will be appealing for $14 million to address the needs of migrant and refugee children who have escaped war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
'Many people have reached the end on the line in Iraq,' warns senior UN relief official
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:17 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Ten million Iraqis, or a quarter of the population, are going to need humanitarian aid by year's end amid "dramatically" worsening conditions that are forcing many people to leave their homeland because they no longer see a future inside their country, a senior UN relief official said on Saturday.
Malala Yousafzai urges world leaders at UN to promise safe, quality education for every child
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:14 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly alongside 193 youth representatives from the Organization’s 193 Member States, Pakistani education advocate Malala Yousafzai on Friday asked world leaders to promise that every child will have the right to safe, free and quality primary and secondary education.
Syria: UN cites utter desperation behind 'tsunami' of refugees into Europe
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:13 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Despair at appalling living conditions among the 4 million Syrians who have already fled to neighbouring countries is fuelling the current flood of refugees to Europe as they flee once more, this time from restrictions and under-funded aid programmes that have led to child labour and even 'survival sex,' the United Nations said on Friday.
Malawi facing worst food crisis in decade, requires $81 million in relief aid - UN agency
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:10 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) More than 2.8 million people will face hunger in the coming months in the worst food crisis in a decade in Malawi, where a staggering four out of every 10 children suffer from stunting, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Friday.
UN rights expert urges Brazil to introduce measures to 'fulfill promises of equality' for minorities
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Warning that despite a wealth of legislation, minority groups in Brazil have not seen the promises of equality fulfilled, a United Nations human rights on Friday urged Brazilian authorities to introduce immediate measures to overcome serious structural challenges facing the country’s most vulnerable communities.
Security Council welcomes reinstatement of the transitional authorities in Burkina Faso
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:02 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Welcoming the recent reinstatement of President Michel Kafando and the transitional authorities of Burkina Faso in the wake of a coup d’état last week, the United Nations Security Council urged all parties in the country to refrain from violence and resume the transition process without delay.
UN adopts new Global Goals, charting sustainable development for people and planet by 2030
Sep 26, 2015, at 05:19 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) The 193-Member United Nations General Assembly today formally adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with a set of bold new Global Goals, which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hailed as a universal, integrated and transformative vision for a better world.
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:00 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Pope Francis spoke at length on a range of subjects from equity and the environmental protection to the promotion of the rule of law and eradicating global poverty.
Seventieth anniversary treaty event to focus on UN contributions to international affairs
Sep 25, 2015, at 03:25 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Ahead of an annual United Nations-hosted treaty signing event in New York, the Chief of the UN Office of Legal Affairs Treaty Section, Santiago Villalpando, briefed the press today, highlighting the contributions multilateral legal instruments make to the Organization's work.
Top UN relief official alarmed as aid agencies ordered to leave Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine
Sep 25, 2015, at 03:24 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Alarmed by news that the de facto authorities in crisis-torn eastern Ukraine have ordered United Nations agencies in Luhansk to end operations and to leave the area by tomorrow, 25 September, the top UN humanitarian official urged the authorities, as well as parties “with influence over [them]†to ensure the resumption of humanitarian aid by UN and non-governmental agencies.
Sep 25, 2015, at 03:23 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Speaking at a presidential dialogue on the African Urban Agenda at United Nations Headquarters in New York today, the Secretary-General addressed the leaders of several African countries and highlighted the importance of effective urban planning as a vital tool for development.
Seven new advisers named to UN Emergency Relief Fund
Sep 25, 2015, at 03:19 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Since its inception in 2006, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated more than $4 billion in support of humanitarian operations in 95 countries and territories facing natural or man-made catastrophes, ranging from the victims of earthquakes and tsunamis to survivors fleeing war and atrocities in their own homelands.
All eyes on UN as world body prepares to adopt new Sustainable Development Goals
Sep 25, 2015, at 03:18 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) World leaders, heads of global financial institutions and other dignitaries are heading to New York, where, after months of intense negotiations, the United Nations is set to launch a landmark new framework for sustainable development that will aim to end poverty and build a life of dignity for all, leaving no one behind.
UN chief 'deeply saddened' at deaths in wake of stampede at Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia
Sep 25, 2015, at 03:16 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep sadness to learn of the death of more than 700 Hajj pilgrims, as well as of injuries to many others caused by a deadly incident in Mina Valley, near Mecca, in Saudi Arabia.
Yemen: UN condemns terrorist attack on Sana'a mosque
Sep 25, 2015, at 03:14 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned today’s terrorist attack at the al-Bolayli mosque in Yemen’s capital Sana’a, which happened during prayers for the Eid al-Adha holiday.
On World Maritime Day, UN highlights importance of maritime education and training
Sep 25, 2015, at 03:07 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Marking the observance of World Maritime Day, top UN officials highlighted the importance of the international shipping industry, as well as the necessity of maintaining high education and training standards within the sector as a key part of the implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals.
Syria: UN health agency urges donors to assist countries ‘doing the heavy lifting’
Sep 25, 2015, at 03:04 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Crippling funding shortfalls are hindering the ability of emergency teams to meet the escalating health needs of the millions of Syrians displaced by civil war and donors need to step up support to countries in the region doing the “heavy lifting,†warned the World Health Organization (WHO).
UN welcomes expanded EU support to refugees fleeing conflict, urges speedy implementation
Sep 25, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on Thursdayin welcoming a decision by the European Union (EU) to increase resources for humanitarian assistance to countries neighbouring war-ravaged Syria.
Colombia: Ban welcomes 'significant progress' towards reaching final peace agreement
Sep 25, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Following a recent upsurge in fighting between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Government, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursdaywelcomed the agreement reached by the parties in Havana, Cuba on the issue of victims and commended their commitment to place victims at the center of the peace process.
Death toll in Mecca stampede crosses 700
Sep 25, 2015, at 12:48 am
Mina, Saudi Arabia, Sept 24 (IBNS): The death toll in the stampede tragedy at Mina near the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia rose to 717 on Thursday, media reports said.
Three new suspected cases of typhoid near Yarmouk camp in Syria
Sep 24, 2015, at 02:08 pm
New York, Sept 24 (IBNS) Following humanitarian operations in the southern Syrian town of Yalda, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said it has identified three new suspected cases of typhoid.
UN agency opens two new camps for displaced Iraqis in Baghdad
Sep 24, 2015, at 02:07 pm
New York, Sept 24 (IBNS) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), partners and local authorities announced on Wednesday the recent opening of two new camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Baghdad province, providing shelter to close to 3,500 Iraqis who have had to flee the Anbar province due to recent fighting.
Following coup d'etat in Burkina Faso, Ban welcomes reinstatement of President
Sep 24, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New Yoek, Sept 24 (IBNS): Following a coup d'etat last week in Burkina Faso, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed the reinstatement of President Michel Kafando and of the transitional institutions in the country.