Clashes in Central African Republic force thousands to seek refuge at UN peacekeeping base
Aug 28, 2015, at 06:42 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS): Clashes between rival militias in the past few days have forced several thousand people to flee their homes in the Central African Republic (CAR) town of Bambari and seek shelter at a former cotton factory inside the compound of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, the UN refugee agency said today.
Ancient crops to be deposited in Norway's Arctic seed vault for future generations - UN
Aug 28, 2015, at 06:35 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS): As a significant step towards preserving the world's most important ancient crops for future generations, the head of the United Nations agriculture agency, together with scientists and delegations from Peru, Costa Rica and Norway, Thursday witnessed a ceremony during which potato seeds were deposited to the "safety box" in Arctic seed vault.
Urging end to 'delaying' tactics, UN rights experts call for fairness in Guatemala's genocide trial
Aug 28, 2015, at 06:31 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS): United Nations experts on genocide prevention and transitional justice Thursday called on Guatemalan judicial authorities to "prevent any further attempt at interference, obstruction of justice or manipulation of the law," when the genocide trial against the country's former de facto Head of State, and the former chief of intelligence resumes in January 2016.
Aid community must scale up support to troubled Lake Chad region, urges senior UN official
Aug 28, 2015, at 06:26 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS): A senior United Nations relief official Thursday called on the international community to ramp up its support in response to the multifaceted humanitarian challenges affecting Chad, the seventh largest refugee-hosting country in the world.
Aug 28, 2015, at 06:23 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has announced that a round of Libyan political dialogue began today in Skhirat, Morocco, with discussions expected to focus on expediting the process towards finalizing the Libyan Political Agreement, including reaching agreement on a Government of National Accord.
UN humanitarian agencies reach thousands of South Sudanese cut off for months
Aug 28, 2015, at 06:20 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS): Emergency relief teams from the United Nations have managed to reach more than 27,000 people in a town in South Sudan cut off by insecurity since March where "there were only some fish and a few tomatoes for sale in the market, and almost nobody had the means to buy them."
Ban welcomes South Sudanese leader Kiir's signature of agreement to resolve conflict
Aug 28, 2015, at 06:17 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS): Welcoming President Salva Kiir's signing of the agreement on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the move is "a critical and necessary step towards ending the 20 month-long conflict that has devastated [the country] and subjected its people to unspeakable suffering."
Ban strongly condemns use of chemical weapons and toxic chemicals as weapons in Syria conflict
Aug 28, 2015, at 06:15 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS): Deeply disturbed by continuing reports of the use of chemical weapons, as well as the use of toxic chemicals as a weapon in Syria, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday strongly condemned any such use by any party to the conflict and stressed that the entire international community has the responsibility to hold the perpetrators to account.
UN humanitarian chief urges Security Council action to end 'immense suffering' of Syrians
Aug 28, 2015, at 06:09 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian chief Thursday urged the Security Council to do everything in its power to push for a political solution to end the conflict in Syria, as he described the immense suffering and destruction he witnessed for himself during a recent visit.
UN refugee agency chief urges Europe to formulate collective response to migrant crisis
Aug 27, 2015, at 04:21 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) With the number of migrants fleeing to Europe the violence in their countries of origin continuing to increase, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, on Wednesday urged the European Union to speed up the formulation of an adequate collective response to this unprecedented crisis.
At Security Council, UN envoy says Libyan parties must come together, make 'final push' for peace
Aug 27, 2015, at 04:00 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) With the United Nations-supported political dialogue process in Libya nearing its last stages, "time is running out" for leaders on all sides and at all levels to make the "final push," the head of the UN Mission in the country (UNSMIL) told the Security Council today.
As momentum builds for December climate talks in Paris, Ban looks ahead to 'bold' outcome
Aug 27, 2015, at 03:56 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) Commending France's "exemplary leadership" on efforts to tackle climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday affirmed that the international community is now at a stage where the final elements of the new climate agreement are being negotiated.
Aug 27, 2015, at 03:42 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) Near Gevgelija, a southeast town bordering Greece, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has established a child-friendly space with a mobile team to support women and children fleeing violence in their home countries and moving through the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
UN food relief now reaching more than 400,000 flood victims in Myanmar
Aug 27, 2015, at 03:38 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is now delivering rice, beans, cooking oil and salt to more than 400,000 people affected by flooding in Myanmar and "reachable only on foot, after floods and landslides destroyed roads across the country," the agency said today.
UNICEF demands that water not be used to achieve 'military and political gains' in Syria
Aug 27, 2015, at 03:36 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) Amid the unremitting brutality of the war in Syria and a scorching summer heat wave, there is increasing evidence that parties to the conflict are using water to achieve military and political gains, warned the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Experienced official from Netherlands appointed Deputy UN Special Representative for Mali
Aug 26, 2015, at 03:23 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of Koen Davidse, of the Netherlands, as his Deputy Special Representative in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). He will succeed Arnauld Akodjènou, of Benin, in September 2015.
Senior UN climate change official envisages 'good agreement' at upcoming Pairs conference
Aug 26, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS): The climate change agreement world leaders are expected to sign in December "has to take us to a less than 2 degree global warming path because that is the ultimate test of the whole package that will come out of Paris," according to Janos Pasztor, a senior United Nations official dealing with the issue.
UN agency expresses concern over plight of civilians in southern Lebanon refugee camp
Aug 26, 2015, at 03:12 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) called on Tuesday for restraint in the wake of 24 August clashes between various armed groups that have seriously impacted the refugee community in southern Lebanon's Ein el Hilweh Camp in Saida.
In France, Ban and President Hollande discuss global issues including upcoming Paris climate talks
Aug 26, 2015, at 03:09 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS): In Paris today, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with the President of France, Francois Hollande, with whom he discussed a range of issues, including the climate change conference, which is due to start in December (COP-21) in the French capital, as well as the next steps to be taken to ensure an ambitious outcome.
Aug 26, 2015, at 03:05 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS): Welcoming the decision by rival parties in South Sudan to convene tomorrow a 'mini-summit,' where the Government, "in the interest of peace," is expected to sign the agreement already endorsed by former Vice-President Riek Machar, the top United Nations official in the country on Tuesday said that the security situation on the ground remains "volatile and tense."
Aug 26, 2015, at 03:00 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS) Alarmed by the dramatic increase in grave violations against Yemen's children, the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict has called on all parties to respect their obligations under international law to safeguard civilians from harm, including children.
UN atomic energy watchdog will need more than $10 million a year to assess Iran's nuclear capacity
Aug 26, 2015, at 02:56 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS): The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday presented to its member States for approval a report outlining a 9.2 million euros-a-year (roughly $10.5 million) programme to carry out the verification and monitoring of Iran's nuclear-related commitments as set out in the landmark international agreement reached last month with the Government of Iran.
UN human rights chief urges Maldives to consider release of imprisoned former President
Aug 26, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday expressed deep concern that Government of the Maldives after former President Mohammad Nasheed was once again sent to prison, calling the move a "serious set-back" for the country.
Europe's response to migrant crisis is not working, warns UN rights expert
Aug 26, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS): The European Union should establish a human rights-based, coherent and comprehensive migration policy which makes mobility its central asset, a United Nations expert on Tuesday advocated, assuring is the only way in which the EU can reclaim its border, effectively combat smuggling and empower migrants.
Ban welcomes agreement to resume regular inter-Korean dialogue, hopes for talks on nuclear issue
Aug 25, 2015, at 03:48 pm
New York, Aug 25 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the news of the agreement reached between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on Monday.
Civilian needs mount in Yemen as medical supplies dwindle - UN health agency
Aug 25, 2015, at 03:43 pm
New York, Aug 25 (IBNS) Life saving medicines, trauma kits and blood bank supplies are urgently needed in war-ravaged Yemen, where nearly half the country's health facilities have shut down, leaving thousands of injured civilians with fewer and fewer places to seek emergency assistance, according to the UN health agency.
Aug 25, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Aug 25 (IBNS) Commemorating the 4th anniversary of the "vicious terrorist attack" that killed 23 United Nations employees in Abuja, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday also paid tribute to the “extraordinary fortitude†and determination of the survivors, many of whom suffered terrible injury and trauma.
Iraq: UN hotline set up to reach out to displaced Iraqis scattered in hard-to-reach areas
Aug 25, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Aug 25 (IBNS) United Nations relief agencies on Monday announced the launch of a national hotline in Iraq to respond to the urgent food, medical and shelter needs of people displaced by the fighting now numbering 3.2 million and scattered in over 3,000 hard-to-reach locations across the war-ravaged country.
Syria: UNESCO chief condemns destruction of Palmyra's ancient temple
Aug 25, 2015, at 02:59 pm
New York, Aug 25 (IBNS) Extremists “cannot silence history,†the Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, declared today, firmly condemning the destruction of Palmyra’s ancient temple of Baalshamin, in Syria, a World Heritage site.
Top UN relief official in Central African Republic condemns attack against aid workers
Aug 25, 2015, at 02:52 pm
New York, Aug 25 (IBNS): A senior United Nations relief official on Monday strongly condemned the attack against humanitarian workers that occurred on August 20 in Bambari, in Central African Republic (CAR), and injured one staff from the Red Cross Movement.