New task force to develop strategy to strengthen UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse
Jan 07, 2017, at 02:00 pm
New York, Jan 7 (Just Earth News): The United Nations on Friday announced that it plans to strengthen its approach to preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse by creating a high-level task force that will develop a “clear, game-changing strategy†to achieve “visible and measurable further improvement.â€
Lack of water access in Damascus is creating risks for children, UN warns
Jan 07, 2017, at 01:59 pm
New York, Jan 7 (Just Earth News): Following two weeks with no access to running water for millions of people in and around Damascus due to ongoing fighting near the Syrian capital, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday raised the alarm over a potential increase in diarrheal diseases among children.
Syrian refugees in Lebanon face economic hardship and food shortages – joint UN agency study
Jan 07, 2017, at 01:58 pm
New York, Jan 7 (Just Earth News): A joint United Nations agency study has revealed that Syrian refugees in Lebanon remain highly vulnerable and that despite living there for years, their economic situation continues to be difficult, leaving more than a third food insecure.
-1483724575.jpg "UN rights expert to assess potential abuses in northern Myanmar")
UN rights expert to assess potential abuses in northern Myanmar
Jan 07, 2017, at 04:45 am
New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): An independent United Nations expert will assess the human rights situation in Myanmar starting next week, it was announced, following increasing concerns about civilians in Kachin State and the escalating violence in Rakhine State.
-1483723944.jpg "Canada: Multiple homes destroyed by fire in Bradword West Gwillimbury")
Canada: Multiple homes destroyed by fire in Bradword West Gwillimbury
Jan 07, 2017, at 04:33 am
Toronto, Jan 6 (IBNS): Five homes, which were being constructed in a Bradword West Gwillimbury neighbourhood, were destroyed in a fire Toronto on Friday morning, media reports said.
Age UK pilot programme shows great promise in reducing loneliness
Jan 07, 2017, at 12:12 am
London, Jan 6 (IBNS): Half a million people over the age of 60 usually spend every day alone, with nearly half a million more usually going at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all, according to new research for Age UK as it launches its latest report ‘No one should have no one: working to end loneliness amongst older people’.
After five years of ‘ruthless war’ in Syria, 2017 can be a year of diplomacy, says UN envoy
Jan 06, 2017, at 01:55 pm
New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): Looking back over the past month, which saw some of the most difficult challenges for humanitarian workers in Syria but which also witnessed evacuations of thousands of civilians from war-ravaged eastern Aleppo, United Nations envoys for Syria said on Thursday that things have to change in 2017 and that “it can change in 2017.â€
Jan 06, 2017, at 01:54 pm
New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): A team of United Nations human rights experts is supporting a recent decision by a United States school district in Connecticut to remove offensive and inaccurate historical information about slavery from its classrooms.
UN agency data on labour migration shows 160 million migrants in global workforce
Jan 06, 2017, at 05:46 am
New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): There are about 160 million migrant workers around the world, according a recent United Nations study, which provides useful labour migration data for policy makers as they seek to make headway on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Safe water now available for hundreds of thousands affected by Hurricane Matthew – UNICEF
Jan 06, 2017, at 05:45 am
New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): Responding to the humanitarian needs in Haiti, which witnessed massive destruction by Hurricane Matthew in early October last year, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) continues to deliver aid and provide relief to those most affected by the storm.
Climate change will lead to annual coral bleaching, UN-supported study predicts
Jan 06, 2017, at 05:44 am
New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): If current trends continue and the world fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nearly all of the world's coral reefs will suffer severe bleaching – the gravest threat to one of the Earth's most important ecosystems – on annual basis, the United Nations environment agency on Thursday reported.
-1483590528.jpg "Tim Barrow appointed as UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union")
Tim Barrow appointed as UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union
Jan 05, 2017, at 03:29 pm
London, Jan 5 (IBNS): Britain has appointed Tim Barrow as the UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union.
Welcoming DR Congo political accord, UN Security Council urges efforts to resolve remaining issues
Jan 05, 2017, at 10:58 am
New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday welcomed a comprehensive political agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and called on all stakeholders to continue to exercise flexibility and compromise in their discussions to swiftly resolve all pending issues, particularly those related to the holding of elections in the country within 2017.
Top UN official in Haiti, Security Council welcome announcement of president-elect
Jan 05, 2017, at 10:57 am
New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations official and the Security Council on Wednesday joined the international community in congratulating the next President of Haiti, whose election completes a repeatedly delayed process that took over a year.
‘Give peace a chance,’ urges UN official, reporting sense of optimism as Aleppo ceasefire hold
Jan 05, 2017, at 10:56 am
New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations humanitarian official reported on Wednesday that though damage to Aleppo was extreme, aid workers were nonetheless inspired by signs of optimism and hope, and asked that peace be given a chance.
UN-backed aid plan requires $310 million for crisis-affected communities in Cameroon
Jan 05, 2017, at 04:39 am
New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): A $310 million humanitarian response plan, backed by the United Nations, has been launched to provide life-saving assistance to 1.2 million people in Cameroon’s northern and eastern regions.
Two UN peacekeepers killed, two injured in ambush in Central African Republic
Jan 05, 2017, at 04:38 am
New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday condemned a deadly ambush on a convoy in the south-eastern part of the country which killed two blue helmets from Morocco and wounded two others.
Libya: Amid threat of renewed conflict, UN envoy urges restraint
Jan 05, 2017, at 04:37 am
New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern at escalating tensions and threat of renewed conflict following developments in central Libya, the United Nations envoy for the country urged all parties to work together on reconciliation and to refrain from any rhetoric that could inflame the situation.
Indonesia puts military ties with Australia on hold
Jan 04, 2017, at 07:44 pm
Jakarta, Jan 4 (IBNS): Indonesia has suspended its military ties with Australia, media reports said.
Iraq: 13,000 people flee Mosul over five days as anti-terrorist operations intensify
Jan 04, 2017, at 01:33 pm
New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): More than 13,000 people have fled Mosul in just five days since 29 December, as the second phase of military operations to retake the Iraqi city from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) terrorists has apparently begun, a United Nations spokesperson said on Tuesday.
With needs for displaced in eastern Aleppo growing, UN renews calls for donor support
Jan 04, 2017, at 01:31 pm
New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): The United Nations on Tuesday reiterated its call for “immediate and long-term support†for more than 100,000 people in the Syrian city of Aleppo, warning donors that it will not be able to provide life-saving assistance without it.
UN health agency fills gap in HIV treatment for patients in Libya
Jan 04, 2017, at 01:30 pm
New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): Just a few weeks ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) began distributing much-needed anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs to patients living with HIV in Libya, following the country’s collapse in medical services and inability to provide life-saving drugs.
Jan 04, 2017, at 05:22 am
New York, Jan 3 (Just Earth News): On his first day in office, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for teamwork, telling staff at the world body’s New York Headquarters that it is not enough to the “do the right thing, we need to earn the right to do the right thing.â€
Turkey Attack: Manhunt for gunman continues, 12 arrested
Jan 03, 2017, at 02:33 pm
Istanbul, Jan 3 (IBNS): The Turkish Police have arrested 12 people so far as manhunt to nab the attacker who killed 39 people during a new year eve party at a nightclub here continued, media reports said on Tuesday.
Iraq: UN envoy strongly condemns Baghdad terrorist attacks that kill many civilians
Jan 03, 2017, at 01:25 pm
New York, Jan 3 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Iraq has strongly condemned on Mondays triple bombings in Baghdad in which large numbers of civilians were killed and injured.
Brazil: Prison riot claims lives of more than 50 inmates
Jan 03, 2017, at 05:33 am
Brasilia, Jan 2 (IBNS): More than 50 inmates were killed as a riot broke inside a prison in the Brazil's Amazon jungle city of Manaus, media reports said.
IS claims responsibility for Istanbul attack
Jan 02, 2017, at 09:40 pm
Istanbul, Jan 2 (IBNS): Militant group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack at a night club in Turkey's capital Istanbul on Saturday, reports said.
Turkey attack: Manhunt underway for shooter
Jan 02, 2017, at 03:07 pm
Istanbul, Jan 2 (IBNS): A manhunt is currently on to nab the unknown person, who attacked a nightclub in Turkish capital Istanbul on Saturday, media reports said.
Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attack in Istanbul on New Year's Day
Jan 02, 2017, at 12:51 pm
New York, Jan 2 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Sunday denounced a terrorist attack at a night club in Istanbul, Turkey, on 1 January, during which at least 39 people were killed and at least 69 were injured.
New UN chief Guterres pledges to make 2017 'a year for peace'
Jan 02, 2017, at 04:27 am
New York, Jan 1 (Just Earth News): On his first day at the helm of the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday pledged to make 2017 a year for peace.