Aug 18, 2015, at 08:19 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): Horrified by the "total disrespect" for civilian life in Syria, as evidenced by airstrikes on a market in Douma, the top United Nations humanitarian official today warned that the protracted conflict in the country not only severely affects the lives of millions of people, but also threatens the stability of the entire region and beyond.
Burundi: Ban condemns assassination of senior army officer amid 'troubling' political violence
Aug 18, 2015, at 08:11 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the assassination Burundi’s former Army Chief of Staff, Colonel Jean Bikomagu, who was shot dead by unknown assailants in the capital, Bujumbura, on Aug 15, the second killing of a senior official in the crisis-torn country this month.
Aug 18, 2015, at 08:09 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on Tuesday said that it is determined to investigate fully all allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by its forces in the country and to hold to account perpetrators of such acts.
UN atomic energy agency receives documents from Iran on nuclear programme
Aug 18, 2015, at 08:06 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has received from Iran information on its nuclear activities in accordance with an agreement signed between the two parties in order for the watchdog agency to assess possible military dimensions of the programme by year's end.
Alarmed by escalation of conflict in Ukraine, Ban calls on parties to resume dialogue
Aug 18, 2015, at 08:03 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): Seriously alarmed by the recent escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine, which has reportedly resulted in the death of civilians on both sides of the contact line, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called all parties to end hostilities and resume talks.
Shocked by explosion in Bangkok, UN chief hopes perpetrators will be 'brought to justice'
Aug 18, 2015, at 08:01 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General ban Ki-moon was shocked to learn of an explosion on Monday close to a shrine in the centre of Thailand's capital, Bangkok, which caused the loss of life of innocent civilians.
Guinea-Bissau: Security Council says dialogue key to peaceful resolution of country's crisis
Aug 18, 2015, at 07:58 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): Expressing concern over the current political developments in Guinea-Bissau, the United Nations Security Council has called on leaders to seek dialogue and consensus in resolving the crisis in the interest of peace in the country.
Mali: UN mission condemns violations of ceasefire in Kidal region
Aug 18, 2015, at 07:55 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): Fighting erupted over the weekend in northern Mali's Kidal region between armed groups, breaking the ceasefire and prompting the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the country, known as MINUSMA, to issue a firm condemnation.
Security Council backs UN special envoy's plan to move Syrian political process forward
Aug 18, 2015, at 07:52 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday reiterated its demand that all parties to the conflict in Syria must cease any attacks against civilians, as well as any indiscriminate use of weapons in populated areas, and work towards a political solution to the years-long crisis.
Aug 18, 2015, at 02:04 am
Bangkok, Aug 17 (IBNS): At least 15 people were killed as a blast rocked Thai capital Bangkok on Monday, media reports said.
Aug 18, 2015, at 12:15 am
Bangkok, Aug 17 (IBNS): A blast in Thai capital Bangkok has left at least 12 people killed and several others injured on Monday, media reports said.
Central Africa: UNICEF provides 'every possible help' to sexual assault victim
Aug 17, 2015, at 12:42 pm
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS): Staff from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have met with a young girl in the Central African Republic reportedly raped by a UN police officer, the head of the agency has announced, explaining that UNICEF is providing her with “every possible help,†including medical assistance and support to deal with the psychological impact of the ordeal.
Wreckage of missing Indonesian plane found
Aug 17, 2015, at 03:09 am
Jakarta, Aug 16 (IBNS): The wreckage of an Indonesian plane, which went missing, in Papua region has been found, media reports said on Sunday.
Indonesian plane carrying 54 passengers missing over Papua region
Aug 16, 2015, at 09:54 pm
Jakarta, Aug 16 (IBNS): An Indonesian plane with 54 people on board went missing in Papua region, media reports said on Sunday.
Iraq: UN rights office hails reform package following countrywide protests
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office has welcomed the Government of Iraq's response to mass protests against corruption and social inequality which crippled the country's capital earlier this month.
UN human rights office warns Burundi crisis ‘spiralling out of control’
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:55 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The situation in Burundi continues to deteriorate amid ongoing killings, arrests and detentions in the latest post-election turmoil to afflict the country, the United Nations human rights office has reported.
South Sudan: Blockade of aid routes lifted, allowing UN to access conflict-torn areas
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian wing has reported that the month-long restrictions on the movement of goods by air and river routes in South Sudan have been lifted, allowing delivery of aid supplies in crisis-torn Malakal, and has warned of a “dire situation†as fighting continues.
Syria: UN special envoy condemns indiscriminate shelling in civilian areas
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Condemning the continued use of indiscriminate weapons in civilian areas of Syria, the United Nations special envoy for the country has today renewed his call on the warring parties to immediately cease such attacks and focus on finding a political solution to the “unacceptable situation†in their homeland.
UN agency assists Nigeria’s neighbours as violence sparks waves of refugees
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday expressed concern about the escalating violence in and around Nigeria and its impact on the situation of Nigerian refugees in surrounding host countries, including a shrinking humanitarian space in which they can seek asylum.
WHO kicks-off campaign honouring world’s health workers
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing to launch a campaign aimed at honouring the sacrifices and efforts of thousands of international health workers deployed to the frontlines of the world’s most pressing crises, the United Nations agency has announced.
Mali: UN official urges support for relief efforts amid ongoing crisis
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:45 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Food insecurity in Mali will only grow if national parties fail to commit to peace and stability in the country, the United Nations relief official dealing with Africa’s Sahel region warned on Friday as he urged the international community to remain engaged with the country’s urgent humanitarian needs.
UN experts call on Iran to release journalist Jason Rezaian as he awaits verdict
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): United Nations human rights experts on Friday urged the Iranian Government to immediately release the Washington Post’s correspondent in Tehran, Jason Rezaian, who now awaits verdict after his fourth and possible final hearing earlier this week.
Brazil must implement measures against torture: UN expert
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): A United Nations human rights expert on Friday called on Brazilian Federal and State authorities to urgently address the issue of prison overcrowding in the country and show genuine commitment to implement measures against torture.
Ban appoints UN official as acting head of mission in Central Africa
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:36 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday announced the appointment of Parfait Onanga-Anyanga of Gabon as his Acting Special Representative for the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations stabilization mission in the country, known as MINUSCA.
UN rights experts welcome release of Syrian human rights defenders
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:35 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Welcoming recent release of three human rights defenders from Syrian Government custody, the head of a United Nations-appointed human rights panel on Friday urged the authorities to grant an independent organization regular access to those allegedly detained.
UN chief 'deeply saddened' after deadly industrial explosions in northern China
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:33 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and the injuries to scores of people as a result of deadly explosions in Tianjin, China.
Ban addresses top peacekeeping officials amid allegations of sexual abuse by UN 'blue helmets'
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:32 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon conducted on Friday an urgent video conference with the heads of United Nations peacekeeping operations, Force Commanders, and Police Commissioners following a series of revelations alleging abuse by UN 'blue helmets' in the field, Including, most recently in the Central African Republic.
Head of UN food relief agency appeals for continued support to Syrian refugees
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:26 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) The head of United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) called on Friday on the international community to continue supporting Syrian refugees displaced in neighboring countries, appealing to the world “not to forget†the crisis and to provide the agency the means to meet their needs.
Senior UN official in Iraq deplores 'cowardly' terrorist attack that kills dozens at Baghdad market
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:22 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) The acting head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq has strongly condemned on Friday ’s truck bomb attack on a market in east Baghdad, which initial reports say killed at least 45 people and for which the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has claimed responsibility.
Ukraine: UN agency begins cash assistance programme to meet food needs in crisis-torn eastern areas
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:12 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) Responding to the recurring food shortages created by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun cash distributions to some 60,000 people – mostly internally displaced – in Government-controlled areas of the Lugansk and Donetsk region.