UN releases $2.5 million from pooled fund to tackle energy crisis in Gaza

Aug 25, 2017, at 04:38 am

New York, Aug 24(Just Earth News): With Gaza entering its fourth month of a serious energy crisis, the United Nations on Thursday released a further $2.5 million from a pooled humanitarian fund to cover urgent needs in the Palestinian enclave.

China: User outrage over 'sex slaves' stickers on social media network QZone

Aug 24, 2017, at 06:07 pm

Beijing, Aug 24 (IBNS): Social networking site QZone received a lot of flak from users in mainland China, who protested against 'sex-slaves' stickers, which were meant to be 'funny'.

At least ten dead, dozens missing in Brazil boat disaster

Aug 24, 2017, at 05:47 pm

Brasilia, Aug 24 (IBNS) : A boat carrying 70 people sank in a major river in the Amazon region of Brazil, leaving at least 10 dead and dozens missing, media reports said quoting authorities.

Australian Jane Connors appointed first UN rights advocate for victims of sexual exploitation

Aug 24, 2017, at 09:39 am

New York, Aug 24(Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Jane Connors, Australian law professional and long-time human rights advocate, as the first United Nations advocate for the rights of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Emigration and food insecurity in Central American 'dry corridor' focus of new UN-backed study

Aug 24, 2017, at 09:39 am

New York, Aug 24(Just Earth News): A new inter-agency study released on Wednesday found a correlation between prolonged droughts in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras – exacerbated by El Niño phenomenon from 2014 to 2016 – and the increase in irregular migration from these countries to the United States, the United Nations food relief agency reported.

On Day of Remembrance, UN says history of slave trade can help combat social injustice

Aug 24, 2017, at 04:42 am

New York, Aug 23(Just Earth News): Remembering the universal demand for freedom that led to the 1791 insurrection by slaves in what is now Haiti, the head of the United Nations cultural and educational agency on Wednesday marked the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition by underscoring the importance of teaching this history to young people.

UN rights experts criticize US failure to unequivocally reject racist violent events

Aug 24, 2017, at 04:41 am

New York, Aug 23(Just Earth News): The United Nations body monitoring implementation of the global convention on prohibiting racial discrimination has called on high-level politicians and public officials of the United States to unequivocally and unconditionally reject and condemn racist hate speech and crimes in Charlottesville and throughout the country.

Syria: UN relief officials condemn targeting of civilians, infrastructure as airstrikes hit Raqqa

Aug 23, 2017, at 09:42 am

New York, Aug 23(Just Earth News): Senior United Nations humanitarian officials for Syria on Tuesday expressed deep concern over many civilians reportedly killed in airstrikes and other attacks in the last few days in Raqqa city, where coalition forces are fighting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorists.

Worldwide remembrance of the slave trade 'a tribute to every victim' – senior UNESCO official

Aug 23, 2017, at 09:41 am

New York, Aug 23(Just Earth News): While the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is a tribute to every victim and their resistance against slavery, it is also a reminder of the importance of teaching history, a senior United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural (UNESCO) has stressed.

UNICEF warns use of children as 'human bombs' is on the rise in north-east Nigeria

Aug 23, 2017, at 09:40 am

New York, Aug 23(Just Earth News): The United Nations children agency on Tuesday expressed extreme concern at the appalling increase in the cruel and calculated use of children, especially girls, as “human bombs” in north-east Nigeria.

Senior UN political official concerned by recent incidents that undermine Middle East peace process

Aug 23, 2017, at 09:39 am

New York, Aug 23(Just Earth News): A senior United Nations political affairs official on Tuesday voiced concerns over recent developments that undermine efforts to end the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including Israel's move to amend a law to cement its control over East Jerusalem.

UN human rights chief welcomes rape law reform in Lebanon, Tunisia, Jordan

Aug 23, 2017, at 04:22 am

New York, Aug 22(Just Earth News): Today, the top United Nations human rights official welcomed the repeal of laws in Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan that allow rapists to avoid criminal prosecution by marrying their victi

UN aid workers urge safe passage for civilians fleeing northern Iraq ahead of battle

Aug 23, 2017, at 04:21 am

New York, Aug 22(Just Earth News): Warning of harassment, revenge attacks and abuse of civilians displaced from the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar, United Nations refugee and migration agencies on Tuesdaycalled for people trying to flee the city ahead of military operations to have safe passage.

Justice vital to help Iraqi victims of ISIL's sexual violence rebuild lives – UN report

Aug 23, 2017, at 04:20 am

New York, Aug 22(Just Earth News): The Iraqi Government must ensure that the thousands of women and girls who survived sexual violence by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) terrorist fighters receive care, protection and justice, and that children born because of such violence do not face a life of discrimination and abuse, a United Nations report published on Tuesdaysays.

Barcelona van attacker shot dead by police

Aug 22, 2017, at 05:44 pm

Barcelona, Aug 22 (IBNS): The prime suspect in Barcelona attack which claimed at least 13 lives and injured 100 others, has been shot dead by police, reports said.

Australia: Danish Crown Prince denied entry to Brisbane bar

Aug 22, 2017, at 03:30 pm

Brisbane, Aug 22 (IBNS): Danish Crown Prince Frederik was denied entry to a bar in Australia's Brisbane because of lack of proper identification, local media reports said.

UN labour agency launches global panel to address rapid transformations in the world of work

Aug 22, 2017, at 09:40 am

New York, Aug 22(Just Earth News): The United Nations labour agency has launched a high-level international body that will chart the course towards a future of decent and sustainable work opportunities for all, and to tackle the challenges of delivering social justice in on Monday's rapidly transforming world of work.

UN Assembly President rings Nasdaq bell; sounds alarm on behalf of world's endangered ocean

Aug 22, 2017, at 09:39 am

New York, Aug 22(Just Earth News): The President of the United Nations General Assembly opened the trading day in New York this morning to send the message that the world's ocean health is in distress.

'No sign of positive evolution' in Burundi, says head of independent UN rights probe

Aug 22, 2017, at 09:38 am

New York, Aug 22(Just Earth News): Ahead of next month's presentation to the United Nations Human Rights Council, an independent panel on Monday said that the human rights situation in Burundi has not improved.

UN health agency rushes to prevent malaria, cholera outbreaks in flood-hit Sierra Leone

Aug 22, 2017, at 04:48 am

New York, Aug 21(Just Earth News): The United Nations health agency is working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria and cholera in the wake of last week's mudslides and flooding in the country's capital, Freetown.

Following El Salvador visit, UN right expert urges authorities to protect people from gangs

Aug 22, 2017, at 04:47 am

New York, Aug 21(Just Earth News): El Salvador is suffering a 'hidden tragedy' due to gang-related violence, an independent United Nations human rights expert on Monday said, urging national authorities to intensify efforts to help and protect people affected by gangs.

Thousands flee as Iraqi forces advance on ISIL-held Tal Afar – UN

Aug 22, 2017, at 04:46 am

New York, Aug 21(Just Earth News): The top United Nations humanitarian official in Iraq has warned against the consequences of displacement as thousands of civilians are expected to flee from Tal Afar and surrounding communities during the Iraqi military operation to retake these areas from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) terrorist group.

'UN stands in solidarity with Finland in its fight against terrorism,' says Guterres

Aug 20, 2017, at 01:20 pm

New York, Aug 20(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned the terrorist attack in south-western Finland which killed at least two people.

'Civilians are Not a Target,' says UN chief on World Humanitarian Day

Aug 20, 2017, at 01:19 pm

New York, Aug 20(Just Earth News): On World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations and its partners are calling on all global leaders to do everything in their power to protect people caught up in conflict, and to stand with the health and aid workers who risk their lives to help them.

Knife attack now in Russian city, eight wounded

Aug 19, 2017, at 08:57 pm

Surgut, Aug 19 (IBNS) : Eight people were wounded in a knife attack in the Russian city of Surgut on Saturday, media reports said.

Finland knife attacker Moroccan teenager : Finnish police

Aug 19, 2017, at 08:01 pm

Turku, Aug 19 (IBNS) : The Finnish police on Saturday said they have identified an 18-year-old Moroccan teenager as responsible for Friday's stabbing spree that left two people dead.

Finland stabbing: At least two dead, six injured

Aug 19, 2017, at 04:16 pm

Turku, Aug 19 (IBNS): At least two people have reportedly died while six others have sustained injuries in a stabbing case in south-western Finland's Turku city, reports said.

Marking World Humanitarian Day, UN urges protection for civilians in armed conflict

Aug 19, 2017, at 12:15 pm

New York, Aug 19(Just Earth News): Civilians in conflict are not a target, top United Nations officials on Friday stressed at a special event marking World Humanitarian Day, which honours aid workers and pays homage to those killed in service, while also drawing attention to the millions of people on Friday living in war zones.

More than 350,000 children vaccinated against polio in hard to reach areas of Syria – UN

Aug 19, 2017, at 12:14 pm

New York, Aug 19(Just Earth News): A United Nations polio vaccination campaign in Syria has provided protection to more than 355,000 children under age five in two governorates, where violence has made access especially difficult.

Yemen's 'man-made catastrophe' is ravaging country, senior UN officials tell Security Council

Aug 19, 2017, at 04:30 am

New York, Aug 18(Just Earth News): Warning about escalating suffering in Yemen's man-made catastrophe, senior United Nations officials on Friday addressed the Security Council, calling on the international community to push for a political solution to the more than two-year-old conflict.