UN seeks more ‘cost-effective’ flight logistics in peacekeeping, political missions
Apr 21, 2017, at 12:54 pm
New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday launched an initiative to boost efficiency of United Nations planes and flights, as it was revealed that the Organization spent close to $750 million from 2115 to 2116 on air assets in its peacekeeping and political missions.
Apr 21, 2017, at 12:54 pm
New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the Humanitarian Taskforce (HTF), Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, stated that the horrific attack on a convoy of evacuees this past weekend had impacted everyone at on Thursday’s talks.
Apr 21, 2017, at 12:53 pm
New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): The ground-breaking, United Nations-backed International Finance Facility for Education is vital to ensure that half of the world’s children don’t miss out on the basic schooling needed to meet the 2130 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Security Council condemns latest ‘highly destabilizing’ DPRK ballistic missile test
Apr 21, 2017, at 12:52 pm
New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): Strongly condemning the 15 April ballistic-missile launch conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Nations Security Council on Thursday demanded that the country immediately cease further actions in violation of the UN body’s relevant resolutions and comply fully with its obligations under these resolutions.
UN expert body urges accountability for attacks against children in crisis-torn Syria
Apr 21, 2017, at 12:51 pm
New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): In the wake of the recent attack on an evacuation convoy near Aleppo, Syria, and the purported use of chemical weapons in southern Idlib, the United Nations child rights body on Thursday called for investigations into all attacks on children in the country and for bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Apr 21, 2017, at 12:50 pm
New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): Reporting on the dire situation across the Middle East region, marked by the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War, fractured societies, proliferation of non-State actors and unbelievable human suffering, a United Nations envoy on Thursday reiterated the need for a surge in diplomacy for peace to ease the suffering of innocent civilians.
UN global assessment on higher education reveals disturbing disparities
Apr 21, 2017, at 12:49 pm
New York, Apr 21 (Just Earth News): Noting the lack of sufficient institutions to cater to the growing demand for higher education as well as increasing disparities in its access, the United Nations educational and scientific agency has presented a series of steps to make such education more equitable and affordable.
UN agency uses satellite data to aid farmers in Africa, Middle East boost water efficiency
Apr 21, 2017, at 12:48 pm
New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): The United Nations agricultural agency created an online database that uses satellite data and Google Earth images to figure out how much water is being used to irrigate crops, focusing on parts of Africa and the Middle East that are facing water scarcity.
Venezuela: UN urges all efforts be made to lower tensions in Venezuel
Apr 21, 2017, at 12:47 pm
New York, Apr 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations on Thursday expressed concern about the latest developments in Venezuela, calling on the Government and the opposition to address the country’s challenges for the benefit of the people.
Political momentum must be renewed if Libya’s challenges are to be addressed – UN envoy
Apr 20, 2017, at 12:51 pm
New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): It is more important than ever to forge unity within Libya, the United Nations envoy for the country told the Security Council today, while he called on Libyan stakeholders to regain the optimism generated by the 2015 Political Agreement, which has faded and is being replaced by “frustration and disappointment.â€
UN, African Union sign new partnership framework to better respond to evolving challenges
Apr 20, 2017, at 12:49 pm
New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the Chairperson of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, today signed a new landmark framework to strengthen partnership between the two organizations on peace and security pillars and better respond to the changing dimensions and evolving challenges of peace operations.
General Assembly confirms appointment of Achim Steiner as new UN development chief
Apr 20, 2017, at 12:49 pm
New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): The United Nations General Assembly today confirmed the appointment of Germany’s Achim Steiner as the head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Peacekeepers in South Sudan working to strengthen protection of civilians – UN chief
Apr 20, 2017, at 12:48 pm
New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan has done “significant work†to more effectively protect civilians and respond in case of a crisis, Secretary-General António Guterres has said in a letter to the President of the UN Security Council.
Apr 20, 2017, at 12:47 pm
New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): Without peace in South Sudan, millions of people will go hungry and millions of women and girls could be raped as they try to go about their daily lives, including as they search for food, a senior United Nations official today warned.
Apr 20, 2017, at 04:54 am
New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): The United Nations on Wednesday cited “record-breaking†progress in controlling neglected tropical diseases – which blind, maim, disfigure and debilitate millions of people worldwide, especially in its poorest areas – as an estimated one billion people were reached with treatment for at least one of these diseases in 2015 alone, according to the Organization’s health agency.
Discovery of more mass graves reveal 'unfolding horror' in DR Congo – UN rights chief
Apr 20, 2017, at 04:53 am
New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): Raising alarm over increasing reports of serious human rights violations in the Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental provinces of Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations human rights chief underscored that the scale and nature of the allegations could warrant an investigation by an international mechanism, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC).
UN envoy urges Palestinian unity to resolve electricity crisis in Gaza
Apr 20, 2017, at 04:50 am
New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace process on Wednesday called on authorities in Gaza to work together with the international community to resolve a new energy crisis after the area's only power station shut down, saying the consequences of the crisis “should not be underestimated.â€
ISIS claims responsibility for Egypt attack,SITE claims
Apr 20, 2017, at 01:28 am
New York, Apr 19 (IBNS): Militant group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack near St. Catherine’s Monastery in south Sinai of Egypt, media reports said.
Diseases and sexual violence threaten Somalis, South Sudanese escaping famine – UN
Apr 19, 2017, at 01:57 pm
New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): Millions of people are facing the peril of famine in Somalia and South Sudan, and the situation is expected to worsen as the drought and violence fuelling the crises widen, cautioned senior United Nations officials who have just returned from the area.
Unity within Security Council vital to prevent mass atrocities – UN chief Guterres
Apr 19, 2017, at 01:56 pm
New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): Briefing the Security Council, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday stressed the importance of unity in the 15-member body to effectively address human rights violations as well as to prevent mass atrocities.
UN forum highlights importance of stronger partnerships for financing sustainable development
Apr 19, 2017, at 06:08 am
New York, Apr 18(Just Earth News): Underlining the importance of sustainable finance for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, senior United Nations officials on Tuesday called for stronger partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure that resource requirements are met.
Recent attack on evacuated civilians in Syria ‘likely a war crime,’ says UN rights office
Apr 19, 2017, at 06:06 am
New York, Apr 18(Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday expressed great concern about the safety of civilians being evacuated in Syria, saying a weekend attack on a convoy near Aleppo likely amounts to a war crime and the situation in Syria should be referred to the International Criminal Court.
UN blue helmets and Malian forces targeted in ‘cowardly’ terrorist attacks
Apr 19, 2017, at 06:05 am
New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali on Tuesday strongly condemned the “cowardly†attacks that took place against its personnel as well as members of the national armed forces, and voiced deep concern at ongoing insecurity in the northern and central parts of the country.
Recent attack on evacuated civilians in Syria ‘likely a war crime,’ says UN rights office
Apr 19, 2017, at 06:02 am
New York, Apr 19 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday expressed great concern about the safety of civilians being evacuated in Syria, saying a weekend attack on a convoy near Aleppo likely amounts to a war crime and the situation in Syria should be referred to the International Criminal Court.
British PM Theresa May to seek snap election for June 8
Apr 19, 2017, at 12:11 am
London, Apr 18 (IBNS): In a major announcement, British Prime Minister Theresa May has expressed her plan to call a snap general election on June 8.
Somalia: UN, global partners commend creation of National Security Council
Apr 18, 2017, at 11:54 am
New York, Apr 18(Just Earth News): The United Nations and other members of the international community on Monday commended Somalia’s Federal Government and the Federal Member States for agreeing to form a National Security Council, as well as decisions taken on priorities such as fighting corruption and drought response.
Haiti: UN inaugurates water supply system in Lascahobas as part of anti-cholera fight
Apr 18, 2017, at 11:53 am
New York, Apr 18(Just Earth News): Historically, the people in the Madan Mak and Loncy areas of the Lascahobas Commune have always had serious problems with access to safe drinking water.
UN cultural agency promotes power of youth to preserve cultural heritage
Apr 18, 2017, at 11:52 am
New York, Apr 18(Just Earth News): Young people from around the world on Monday joined United Nations staff and international dignitaries in Changsha, China, to show support for protecting and preserving the cultural heritage along the Silk Route.
New UN guidelines to make international trade in plants and seeds safer
Apr 18, 2017, at 04:29 am
New York, Apr 17(Just Earth News): A United Nations commission overseeing plant health has adopted a new global standard to ensure that international trade in plants and seeds – vital to feed the world's population – is free from agricultural pests and disease-causing bugs.
Scale of civilians fleeing Iraq's Mosul 'staggering' – senior UN relief official
Apr 18, 2017, at 04:28 am
New York, Apr 17(Just Earth News): Noting that nearly half a million people have fled Mosul since the start of military operations to retake the city from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) terrorists, a senior United Nations humanitarian official in Iraq warned that the scale of the displacement has stretched relief efforts to their “operational limitsâ€.