UN condemns 'horrific' attack that killed four UNICEF staff in Somalia
Apr 21, 2015, at 03:58 am
New York, Apr 20 (IBNS): The United Nations has strongly condemned this morning's attack on a UN vehicle in north-eastern Somalia, which killed four UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) workers and seriously injured four others when a roadside bomb exploded alongside the minibus in which they were riding.
UN urges robust rescue operations after migrant catastrophe in Mediterranean
Apr 20, 2015, at 01:39 pm
New York, Apr 20 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has expressed shock at the news of the latest boat capsizing in the Mediterranean Sea in which hundreds of people are feared lost, adding that such a catastrophic event provides yet another indication of the need for a “robust†rescue-at-sea mechanism aimed at preventing future tragedies.
Doha: UN conference ends with call for action on crime prevention
Apr 20, 2015, at 01:38 pm
New York, Apr 20 (IBNS): As the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice ground down to a close on Sunday in Doha, Qatar, the head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) called on Member States to implement the Doha Declaration and take definitive action on comprehensive crime prevention and criminal justice policies and strategies.
UN humanitarian agencies mobilize assistance amid fighting in Iraq
Apr 20, 2015, at 01:37 pm
New York, Apr 20 (IBNS): The United Nations' humanitarian agencies are rushing support to thousands of Iraqis fleeing a flare-up in hostilities throughout the country's Anbar Governate, the Organization confirmed on Sunday.
Earth Day concert: UN chief says, make global goals a global reality
Apr 20, 2015, at 01:35 pm
New York, Apr 20 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has declared 2015 a year for global action on climate, gender and development issues, warning revellers attending the 2015 edition of the Global Citizen Earth Day concert that there is “no Plan B because there is no Planet B.â€
As Yemen fighting surges, UN issues urgent appeal for country’s civilians
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The United Nations has launched an urgent appeal for over two hundred million dollars to help Yemen’s civilians with critical aid amid the country’s intensifying conflict, the Organization’s humanitarian wing confirmed on Friday.
Dire human rights situation in Ukraine likely to deteriorate further: UN
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:35 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that it is increasingly worried that the dire situation in parts of the east of Ukraine is likely to deteriorate further due to breaches of the ceasefire and violations of the Minsk Agreement.
UN mission condemns murderous attack on civilians in DR Congo town
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:34 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has strongly condemned Wednesday’s deadly attack on civilians in North Kivu province and expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims.
Doha: UN conference weighs efforts to combat cyber-crime
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): Efforts to tame the fast-growing cybercrime threat took centre stage at the United Nations Crime Congress under way in Doha, Qatar, as a diverse group of experts in the field urged strong partnerships between the public and private sectors to create a safer digital landscape.
Burundi: UN refugee agency warns surge in people fleeing pre-election violence
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:31 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The number of Burundians seeking refuge in neighbouring countries has surged in recent weeks following an uptick in pre-election violence and intimidation throughout the African nation, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.
UNICEF urges Australia, Cambodia to protect rights of child refugees in Nauru
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) raised concerns on Friday regarding reported decisions by the Governments of Australia and Cambodia to start transferring refugees currently in an Australian-funded processing centre in Nauru to Cambodia for settlement.
Spate of deadly xenophobic violence in South Africa draws UN concern
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency has on Friday welcomed efforts by South Africa’s Government to contain a recent wave of xenophobic violence that has accounted for the deaths of six people in the past three weeks in South Africa.
UN officials condemn murders of politician, journalist in Ukraine
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:24 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced serious concern over recent reports regarding the killing of prominent political and media figures in Ukraine.
Syria: UN appeals for $30 million for besieged civilians in Yarmouk camp
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:22 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The United Nations agency tasked with the ensuring the well-being of Palestinian refugees is appealing for $30 million to carry out life-sustaining assistance to 18,000 civilians from besieged Yarmouk refugee camp, including 3,500 children.
Public, private sectors essential for progress on climate change: UN chief
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General, in his remarks to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting on climate change in Washington D.C., said that collaboration and bold leadership from both the private and public sectors is needed to progress on climate change at this “enormous opportunity to chart a new path.â€
Accurate and timely data vital to post-2015 agenda: UN Assembly President
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): At an event on Friday where participants discussed the importance of the data revolution to sustainable development, the President of the United Nations General Assembly stressed the importance of data to negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda and on financing for development.
Ban appoints Director of UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute
Apr 18, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has announced the appointment of Cindy Smith of the United States as Director of the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute.
Human rights and counter-terrorism must go hand-in-hand, say UN experts
Apr 17, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): Only through a strict adherence to international human rights standards can the world’s counter-terrorism strategies ultimately succeed, two United Nations human rights experts have declared.
As Yemen crisis deepens, UN food relief agency calls on warring factions
Apr 17, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Thursday that it will, along with partners, reach some 105,000 displaced people in Yemen’s main southern city of Aden over the next few days, while warning that with millions in need amid the deepening crisis, its supplies are now running low.
Doha: At Crime Congress, UN spotlights epidemic of prison overcrowding
Apr 17, 2015, at 02:33 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): With over 10 million people in prisons worldwide, prison overcrowding has reached epidemic proportions in many countries, a senior official from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said on Thursday at the 13th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
UN urges commitment by States to save lives following Mediterranean tragedy
Apr 17, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): The European Union must intensify its efforts in placing the rights of migrants at the centre of its migration policies, a United Nations human rights committee affirmed on Thursday following the latest maritime tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea which may have claimed hundreds of lives.
Progress in fighting Ebola must be followed by long-term recovery efforts
Apr 17, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): Intense efforts to control the Ebola outbreak in the three most-affected West African countries in will continue, the United Nations health chief said in Washington, DC on Thursday, adding that the international community is also looking for ways to build on dramatic recent progress by aiding with efforts aimed at recovery from the outbreak.
Syria: UN agency continues to seek access to besieged Yarmouk camp
Apr 17, 2015, at 02:15 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): While ramping up assistance to Palestinian refugees and Syrian civilians that have fled a besieged camp on the southern edge of Damascus, the United Nations agency tasked with aiding Palestinians throughout the region said on Thursday that it is still seeking unhindered access to Yarmouk camp itself where thousands remain trapped by fighting among armed groups.
Need for sustainable energy targets in post-2015 agenda: UN deputy chief
Apr 17, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): The centrality of energy in a new global development agenda is clear and critical, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said on Thursday as he delivered the opening remarks to a briefing for Member States on Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All).
Libya: Security Council condemns attacks on Republic of Korea, Morocco
Apr 16, 2015, at 02:52 pm
New York, Apr 16 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council has condemned “in the strongest terms†the recent series of terrorist attacks against the embassies of the Republic of Korea and Morocco in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
Somalia: UN envoy condemns terrorist attack against Ministry
Apr 16, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, Apr 16 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in Somalia condemned yesterday a terrorist attack against the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education in Mogadishu city that resulted in the death and injuries of civilians, members of the security forces and Government workers.
After migrant catastrophe in Mediterranean, UN urges for rescue operations
Apr 16, 2015, at 02:50 pm
New York, Apr 16 (IBNS): The latest maritime catastrophe to claim the lives of refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea is yet another indication of the need for a “robust†rescue-at-sea mechanism aimed at preventing future tragedies, the head of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) declared on Wednesday.
Millions of Yemenis face food insecurity amid escalating conflict: FAO
Apr 16, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Apr 16 (IBNS): Nearly 11 million people in Yemen are severely food insecure and millions more are at risk of being unable to meet their basic food needs, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO) said on Wednesday, calling for $8 million in funding to support farmers amidst the escalating conflict.
UN rights chief urges Burundi’s politicians to pick right path at ‘critical moment’
Apr 16, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Apr 16 (IBNS):The United Nations human rights chief said on Wednesday that inside and outside Burundi, stakeholders are extremely concerned about tensions rising sharply as a series of pivotal elections set to take place between May and August this year get under way, and, with the country at “a crossroads,†Burundian parties must choose the path to democracy and the rule of law.
Women’s empowerment key to end sexual violence in combat: UN envoy
Apr 16, 2015, at 02:46 pm
New York, Apr 16 (IBNS): As the great moral issue of our time, sexual violence in conflict is used to terrorise, displace and subjugate victims, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue told the Security Council on Wednesday, urging the body to take action to deal with this growing threat.