Emotional family reunions highlight need for psychosocial care for all girls abducted by Boko Haram
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:31 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): After more than two years of being held hostage by Boko Haram insurgents in north-east Nigeria, the 21 recently-released Chibok girls have finally been reunited with their families, however, their return emphasizes the necessity of urgent and intensive psychosocial care, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
In turbulent Middle East, UN envoy warns against ‘sleep-walking into another violent conflict’
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:30 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): As the absence of progress towards a two-state solution has led to growing anger and frustration among Palestinians and profound disillusionment among Israelis, the top United Nations Middle East envoy warned on Wednesday: “We must all avoid the risk of sleep-walking into another violent conflict at a time when the region as a whole needs moderate forces†to stand up to rising radicalization.
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:26 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): On 13 June 2016, the United Nations General Assembly elected Peter Thomson of Fiji to serve as President of its seventy-first session, which runs from September 2016 to September 2017. Thomson, who had had been serving as the Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations until his appointment, announced that the theme of the 71st session will be ‘The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform our World.’
UN relief wing and partners ready to rush in aid once pause in Yemen fighting begins
Oct 20, 2016, at 05:14 am
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): Following a month that saw civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict in Yemen, a 72-hour halt to fighting set to take effect later on Wednesday is welcome, but not nearly enough time, according to a senior United Nations relief official, who appealed for more predictable access to be able deliver aid to hard-to-reach communities caught up in the crisis.
Reforesting Kilimanjaro could ease East Africa's severe water shortages – UN
Oct 20, 2016, at 05:13 am
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): There is a need to reforest Africa’s highest mountain to help protect vital water supplies that are under threat across large parts of East Africa, a UN Environment report urged on Wednesday.
Millions more children will have access to ‘5-in-1’ vaccine through UNICEF supply agreement
Oct 20, 2016, at 05:11 am
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): With a price drop to below $1 a dose, UNICEF has successfully secured a five-in-one vaccine for children at half the price the agency currently pays, which will allow it to buy 450 million doses for 80 countries over the next three years.
Saudi prince executed for murdering fellow citizen
Oct 19, 2016, at 03:56 pm
Riyadh, Oct 19 (IBNS): A Saudi prince was executed recently for murdering a compatriot, reports said.
Tackling impacts of land degradation vital to achieving Global Goals – senior UN treaty official
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification told delegations gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, to assess the treaty’s implementation, the impacts of land degradation affect the sustainability of the entire world, so a global effort is needed to tackle it, including through the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UN human rights experts outline steps to strengthen prohibition, prevention of torture
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:31 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): Following a discussion with the main committee of the United Nations General Assembly responsible for social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues affecting people all over the world, three UN human rights experts briefed reporters in New York, highlighting steps to strengthen protection against torture.
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:30 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): Hurricane Matthew, which ripped through Haiti 13 days ago, has left more than 700,000 people in an “extremely difficult situation,†United Nations Special Adviser David Nabarro said on Tuesday, and while steady progress is being made, led by Haitians themselves, the response must be accelerated as the needs are still great, frustrations are high, and access to hard-hit areas remains tough.
Mosul: UN mission calls for Iraqi unity behind Government forces fighting ISIL
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:27 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): With the military operations under way to wrest the control of Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) terrorists, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Tuesday called on the Iraqi people to unite in support of their country’s armed forces and is urging “that every step be taken to avoid civilian casualties.â€
HABITAT III: ‘A human-centred city is a culture-centred space’ says UNESCO report
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:26 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): With top diplomats and urban development experts gathered this week in Quito, Ecuador, for a major United Nations conference on green, clean urban spaces, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has released a new report spotlighting the power of culture as a strategic asset for creating cities that are more inclusive, creative and sustainable.
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:25 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): United Nations humanitarian agencies operating in Iraq are bracing for what could be a displacement catastrophe requiring the largest and most complex global response in 2016, in the wake of the military offensive under way to oust terrorists from Mosul, the country’s second-largest city.
Oct 19, 2016, at 04:23 am
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): United Nations human rights experts have welcomed the release of 21 Chibok school girls from Boko Haram and called upon Nigerians – particularly their families and local communities – to support their immediate reintegration and rehabilitation.
Yemen: UN envoy announces restoration of nationwide cessation of hostilities
Oct 18, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, announced on Monday a plan for the resumption of a comprehensive cessation of hostilities in the war-torn Gulf nation.
Security Council strongly condemns failed ballistic missile launch by DPR Korea
Oct 18, 2016, at 01:35 pm
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Monday strongly condemned the latest failed ballistic missile launch conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which took place on 14 October.
UN launches new fund to support system-wide coordinated response to cholera in Haiti
Oct 18, 2016, at 01:32 pm
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): The United Nations has launched a new trust fund to support a coordinated system-wide response from the UN and its partners to help Haiti overcome the cholera epidemic and support the establishment of strong water, sanitation and health systems in the country.
UN anti-crime chief urges better use of Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
Oct 18, 2016, at 01:31 pm
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): Citing indisputable negative impacts of transnational organized crime on people’s lives and societies, the United Nations top anti-crime official on Monday stressed the need to make better use of the existing global convention and its protocols to tackle this illicit act.
Oct 18, 2016, at 01:30 pm
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): As the world marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, one man who has spent many years working to end poverty among the world’s poorest populations is calling for action now, by investing more in the rural poor.
Sustainable food systems vital to achieving 2030 Agenda nutrition targets – UN Rome-based agencies
Oct 18, 2016, at 01:28 pm
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): Opening its 43rd plenary session in Rome on Monday in the wake of major global agreements on sustainable development and climate change, the main United Nations body focused on food security and nutrition, called for an urgent transformation of the world’s food system and nutrition to eradicate all forms of extreme poverty, hunger, and malnutrition by 2030.
Oct 18, 2016, at 01:27 pm
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): Opening on Monday the United Nations Habitat III conference in the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, Secretary-General Ban-Ki-Moon told the gathered delegations that “transforming our world for the better†means re-making towns and cities through sustainable development.
Central African Republic: UN Mission condemns ‘cowardly’ attacks on peacekeepers
Oct 18, 2016, at 01:26 pm
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on Monday strongly condemned repeated assaults against its peacekeepers, in the wake of two attacks over the past five days.
‘Aleppo will not be there’ in two months if diplomatic stalemate continues, warns UN envoy
Oct 18, 2016, at 01:25 pm
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): Between now and December, “if we cannot find a solution, Aleppo will not be there anymore,†warned United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, speaking to reporters after a meeting on Monday with Foreign Ministers of the European Union in Luxembourg.
Agriculture must adopt climate-smart practices to better help poverty reduction – UN report
Oct 18, 2016, at 04:26 am
New York, Oct 17 (Just Earth News): The rapid transformation of farming and food systems to cope with a warmer world, such as adopting climate-smart practices, particularly to curb greenhouse gas emissions, is critical for hunger and poverty reduction, the United Nations agriculture agency said on Monday in a new report.
UN calls for protection of civilians as Iraq begins military operations to retake Mosul
Oct 18, 2016, at 04:25 am
New York, Oct 17 (Just Earth News): As a large-scale military offensive gets under way to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) fighters, senior United Nations officials on Monday are stressing the need to ensure that civilians in the city are protected and able to access to humanitarian assistance.
Oct 18, 2016, at 04:23 am
New York, Oct 17 (Just Earth News): Poverty is both a cause and consequence of marginalization and social exclusion, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday, stressing that to fulfil the promise of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind, “we must address the humiliation and exclusion of people living in poverty.â€
Agriculture must transform to feed a hotter, more crowded planet, UN says on World Food Day
Oct 17, 2016, at 03:50 am
New York, Oct 16 (Just Earth News): To mark World Food Day 2016, the United Nations is highlighting the close links between climate change, sustainable agriculture, and food and nutrition security, with the message: “The climate is changing. Food and agriculture must, too.â€
'The United Nations is with you,' Ban tells people of Haiti after witnessing hurricane's wrath
Oct 16, 2016, at 02:38 pm
New York, Oct 16 (Just Earth News): Haiti is facing its largest humanitarian disaster since the 2010 earthquake, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday in Port-au-Prince, where he urged friends of the island nation worldwide to “step up†and provide the resources the Haitian people so desperately need in the wake of the “utter devastation†wrought by Hurricane Matthew.
Rural women's empowerment critical to UN Sustainable Development Agenda – Ban
Oct 16, 2016, at 04:42 am
New York, Oct 15 (Just Earth News): Marking the International Day of Rural Women, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that rural women are critical to the success of almost all of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as they all “have gender equality and women's empowerment at their core.â€
Green transformation 'unstoppable' as countries agree to curb powerful greenhouse gases – UN
Oct 16, 2016, at 04:41 am
New York, Oct 15 (Just Earth News): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have welcomed the landmark deal struck on Saturday by nearly 200 countries to reduce the emissions of potent chemicals used in air conditioners and refrigerators – a move that could prevent up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by the end of this century.