UN agencies expand operations in southern Africa as poor harvests deepen food insecurity
Oct 20, 2015, at 04:58 pm
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): An estimated 27.4 million people in southern Africa face food insecurity in the next six months, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Monday, announcing the expansion of their operations to respond to the challenge, caused by poor harvests across the region.
UN expert warns that despite Mali's progress, security situation human rights
Oct 20, 2015, at 04:51 pm
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): Wrapping up his recent visit to Mali, a United Nations independent expert noted positive developments on the ground but stressed that the "precarious security situation" creates an environment in which violation so of the most fundamental human rights can still occur.
Yemen: UN envoy completes visit to Saudi Arabia as part of efforts to secure peace
Oct 20, 2015, at 04:46 pm
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen on Monday concluded a visit to Saudi Arabia before his briefing to the Security Council this week on his preparations for peace talks that he hopes will "lead to concrete benefits for the Yemeni people and the foundation for sustainable peace."
UN atomic energy chief encourages States to improve global emergency response
Oct 20, 2015, at 04:32 pm
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): Opening a week-long conference in Vienna, Austria, on strengthening national systems in dealing with nuclear and radiological emergencies, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told delegates on Monday that national-level response plans in preparedness need to be in line with international safety standards and best practices.
UN atomic energy chief encourages States to improve global emergency response
Oct 20, 2015, at 04:26 pm
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): Opening a week-long conference in Vienna, Austria, on strengthening national systems in dealing with nuclear and radiological emergencies, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told delegates on Monday that national-level response plans in preparedness need to be in line with international safety standards and best practices.
Global event to turn world 'UN blue' to mark 70th anniversary of United Nations
Oct 20, 2015, at 03:55 pm
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): Ahead of UN Day, marked annually on 24 October, the United Nations announced on Monday that around 200 iconic monuments, buildings, museums, bridges and other landmarks in nearly 60 countries around the world will be lit up blue – the official colour of the Organization – as part of a global campaign to commemorate its 70th anniversary.
UN chief concerned by rising number of executions in Iran
Oct 20, 2015, at 03:49 pm
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): Expressing his "deep sadness" at the recent execution by Iran of two juvenile offenders, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday noted with concern the alarming increase in executions in the country over the last decade.
Ban praises Slovakia and Austria for 'taking care of so many refugees'
Oct 20, 2015, at 03:46 pm
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): While visiting a humanitarian centre in Slovakia on Monday where refugees have been accommodated by the Government, United Nations Secretary-General urged all leaders to show their "global solidarity and compassionate leadership."
UN and partners deliver critical relief supplies to besieged areas of Syria
Oct 20, 2015, at 03:43 pm
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): A joint United Nations, International Red Cross (ICRC) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent operation delivered on Sunday essential medical and humanitarian supplies to 30,000 people in the Fouah and Kefrayah in Idlib governorate and Zabadani and Madaya in the Rural Damascus governorate, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
-1445282088.jpg "Pakistan: Explosion in bus kills 11")
Pakistan: Explosion in bus kills 11
Oct 20, 2015, at 06:14 am
Quetta, Oct 20 (IBNS): An explosion in a bus in Pakistan's Quetta city killed at least 11 people on Monday, media reports said.
Libya: Security Council urges parties to endorse and sign political agreement
Oct 19, 2015, at 07:03 pm
New York, Oct 19 (IBNS): Recalling their statement last week which commended Libyan dialogue participants on finalizing a political agreement for the creation of a Government of National Accord, members of the UN Security Council on Monday urged all Libyan parties to endorse and sign it.
'I am standing with these refugees,' says Ban visiting reception centre in Rome
Oct 19, 2015, at 06:56 pm
New York, Oct 19 (IBNS): After meeting with families of refugees at a reception centre in Italy on Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the global community has to “stand with people who do not have any means†and provide basic necessities, such as education and sanitation.
UNHCR backs plan to protect people fleeing disasters and climate change
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:34 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency has joined 110 nations to strengthen steps to protect people displaced across borders by disasters and climate change.
UN raises concerns about unaccompanied refugee and migrant children in Europe
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:33 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Warning of poor weather conditions and fast-approaching winter, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday raised concerns about the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children on the move in Europe, where several countries are faced with overstretched national capacities and insufficient coordination.
'Hunger is more than a lack of food – it is a terrible injustice,' says Ban
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): On World Food Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is underlining that "hunger is more than a lack of food—it is a terrible injustice," while reaffirming the global community’s commitment to work together “to end hunger in our lifetime.â€
Milan Expo: UN officials call for social protection and fairer food systems
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Celebrating World Food Day at the Milan Expo 2015, senior United Nations officials joined leading figures in the global fight against hunger in an appeal to the international community to speed up efforts on eradicating hunger and improving the way food is produced and consumed.
At least seven people dead after boat collision off the coast of Lesvos: UN agency
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Up to seven people have been killed – four of them children – in a collision between a smuggling boat and a Greek Coast Guard vessel off the coast of Lesvos, Greek authorities and the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.
More than half a million children now risk malnutrition in Yemen: UNICEF
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:16 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Yemen's spiralling crisis has caused "alarming malnutrition levels" among children because of the limited availability of and lack of access to food due to blocked or damaged delivery routes and restrictions on food and fuel imports caused by the conflict, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday.
Iran: UN rights experts outraged at the execution of two juvenile offenders
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): United Nations human rights experts on Friday expressed their outrage and profound sadness at the execution of a juvenile offender convicted for the death of her husband, whom she had been forced to marry at the age of 16, and which follows the death of a young man last week, who’d been sentenced to death at age 17.
Rights of victims of trafficking during migration must be protected, UN tells EU
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:07 pm
New Delhi, Oct 17 (IBNS): Urging the Europe Union (EU) to safeguard the rights of migrants at risk, especially the most vulnerable, a United Nations human rights expert on Friday called on EU member States to ensure their anti-trafficking measures do not include restrictive and exclusionary immigration policies that are not effective and further heighten risks for trafficking and exploitation.
Ending violence in Middle East focus of emergency Security Council session
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Against a backdrop of escalating violence in the Middle East, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun briefed an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on Friday, reporting on the latest violent incident in which a large group of Palestinians set fire to the compound containing the holy site of Joseph’s Tomb in the West Bank city of Nablus.
Ban says new 2030 Agenda can help eradicate poverty
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): This can be the first generation to witness a world without extreme poverty, where all people – not only the powerful and the privileged – can participate and contribute equally, free of discrimination and want, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Friday, urging global action to fully implement the newly-adopted goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.
UN envoy calls for concerted efforts to eliminate bullying in all regions
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:02 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Speaking at a panel discussion on protecting children from bullying, the United Nations envoy on violence against children said bullying is a "serious concern" for millions of children all over the world and it is compromising their right to education.
Global food accord aims to tackle hunger in protracted crises: UN agency
Oct 17, 2015, at 01:59 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): The first global agreement involving all stakeholders of food aid aims to "do business differently" in order to combat hunger and undernutrition among people living in protracted crises around the world, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday.
Belgium: UN experts call for robust action to address risks from foreign fighters
Oct 17, 2015, at 01:58 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS): Belgium needs to develop an inclusive national vision and action on the issue of foreign fighters at federal, regional and local levels, the United Nations Working Group on the use of mercenaries said on Friday following a five-day visit to the European nation.
Despite calm in Kunduz, conditions for humanitarian assistance not yet restored: UN
Oct 16, 2015, at 01:17 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS): While reports indicate that Kunduz city centre in northeast Afghanistan remains relatively quiet, with sporadic fighting taking place on the outskirts, full conditions for the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance have not yet been restored, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
UN rights experts appeal to stop attacks against persons with albinism
Oct 16, 2015, at 01:16 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS): The first United Nations human rights expert on albinism on Thursday issued an urgent appeal for coordinated action in southern and eastern Africa to tackle the upsurge in attacks against persons with albinism.
Handwashing Day: UNICEF warns inadequate hygiene endangers development goal
Oct 16, 2015, at 01:14 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS): More than 40 per cent of health facilities have no water resources within 500 metres in sub-Saharan Africa where the practice of handwashing with soap is dangerously low even though it is "one of the cheapest, simplest, most effective health interventions," the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.
Rural women are the backbone of sustainable livelihoods: Ban
Oct 16, 2015, at 01:12 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS): Marking the International Day of Rural Women, the United Nations on Thursday affirmed the role of women as significant and crucial for the progress of rural households, local and national economies.
Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay elected to serve on Security Council
Oct 16, 2015, at 01:05 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS): In one round of voting the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday elected Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay to serve as non-permanent members on the Security Council for two-year terms beginning on 1 January 2016.