Thousands of desperate civilians on the run as battle for Fallujah continues – UN
Jun 01, 2016, at 03:10 pm
New York, June 1 (Just Earth News): Nearly 3,700 people, or 624 families, have fled Fallujah over the past week amid a new offensive by Iraqi forces to retake the besieged city from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), the United Nations said today, with humanitarian officials also reporting that those civilians left behind risk being used as ‘human shields’ by the terrorists.
Jun 01, 2016, at 03:06 pm
New York, June 1 (Just Earth News): At least 880 people appear to have died over the past week as their vessels capsized in the Mediterranean, bringing the total fatalities along the dangerous crossing route to 2,510 so far this year, the United Nations refugee agency said today, as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a comprehensive and collective response to large movements of refugees and migrants.
UN rights office concerned over denial of participation for journalist's group, LGBT organizations
Jun 01, 2016, at 02:52 pm
New York, June 1 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday added its voice to the concerns raised over a decision this past week by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to deny the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) consultative status.
DPI/NGO: 'You have unlimited power' Ban tells youth, rallying support for UN 2030 Agenda
May 31, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, May 31 (Just Earth News): On first day of the sixty-sixth United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organizations Conference in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged youth to continue to raise their voices in pushing governments to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UN rights chief welcomes 'hard-won' verdict in trial of former Chadian President Habré
May 31, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, May 31 (Just Earth News):The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday welcomed the "historic" verdict of the special court in Senegal convicting the former President of Chad Hissène Habré of crimes against humanity, summary executions, torture and rape.
UN children's agency 'alarmed' at refugee and migrant deaths in the Mediterranean
May 31, 2016, at 01:32 pm
New York, May 31 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has expressed alarm at the number of migrant and refugee deaths in the past week in the Central Mediterranean, many of whom were believed to be unaccompanied minors.
DPI/NGO: 'Let us work together to foster education for global citizenship,' Ban tells UN conference
May 31, 2016, at 01:30 pm
New York, May 31 (Just Earth News):The sixty-sixth United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organizations Conference kicked off on Monday in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighting the vital role that NGOs, academia and youth play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Syria: Australian man reportedly killed fighting ISIS
May 30, 2016, at 03:02 pm
Sydney, May 30 (IBNS) An Australian man has been killed while he was fighting against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria, media reports said.
LDCs: UN calls for greater support to least developed countries, adopts new declaration in Turkey
May 30, 2016, at 01:17 pm
New York, May 30 (Just Earth News):A major United Nations meeting focusing on the world's least developed countries (LDCs) has closed on Sunday in Antalya, Turkey, with a call for greater support to the world's most vulnerable nations, and the adoption of an outcome document paving the way for further concrete action and progress in the years to come.
Mali: UN Mission strongly condemns ambush that leaves five 'blue helmets' dead
May 30, 2016, at 01:15 pm
New York, May 30 (Just Earth News): Five United Nations peacekeepers were killed in an ambush in central Mali earlier on Sunday, with another 'blue helmet' seriously injured, according to preliminary information reported by the country's UN mission, which deplored the “heinous act of terrorism†as all the more shocking because it occurred on the day set aside for the global community to honour UN peacekeepers.
May 30, 2016, at 01:14 pm
New York, May 30 (Just Earth News):Against the backdrop of the Taebaek Mountains, the United Nations flag was raised alongside that of the Republic of Korea on Sunday, ahead of the sixty-sixth Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organizations Conference beginning in Gyeongju to focus on education in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
May 30, 2016, at 01:12 pm
New York, May 30 (Just Earth News): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday praised the “invaluable partnership†between Rotary International and the United Nations, telling delegates gathered in Seoul, Korea, for the organization's annual international conference that Rotarians had been instrumental in working with the UN to defeat polio.
Syria: Over 6000 escape due to IS attacks
May 30, 2016, at 12:12 am
Damascus, May 29 (IBNS): Due to attacks carried out by militant group Islamic State, more than 6000 people have escaped from different parts of northern Syria, a monitor group reported on Sunday.
UNHCR concerned about fighting in northern Syria affecting thousands of vulnerable civilians
May 29, 2016, at 10:13 pm
Geneva, May 29 (IBNS) The UNHCR on Sunday said it is deeply concerned about the plight of some 165,000 displaced persons reportedly massing near the Syrian town of Azaz in northern Syria.
May 29, 2016, at 12:23 pm
New York, May 29 (Just Earth News): More than two dozen journalists from the world's least developed countries are in Antalya, Turkey, to report on a United Nations conference focused on the state of their homelands, and to ensure that key messages are disseminated as widely as possible thanks to their local news outlets.
In Egypt, Assembly President points way towards more relevant, responsive and inclusive UN
May 29, 2016, at 12:21 pm
New York, May 29 (Just Earth News): With unprecedented opportunities ahead to enhance the work of the United Nations, as well as that of the wider multilateral system, UN Member States have before them a straightforward “but not easy†road, the President of the General Assembly said on Saturday, starting by working harder to make their societies, their economies and their politics more inclusive and more sustainable.
New stamps for International Day of UN Peacekeepers unveiled at UN
May 28, 2016, at 04:48 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News): Ahead of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers – celebrated annually on 29 May – the UN Postal Administration (UNPA) on Friday announced the issuance of a set of six new stamps for the occasion.
Security Council approves two-month extension for African Union Mission in Somalia
May 28, 2016, at 04:47 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Friday approved a two-month extension of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), allowing adequate time for the 15-member body to consider the outcome of its recently-concluded visit to the Horn of Africa country.
FEATURE: Speaking with UN peacekeepers in Liberia, South Sudan and Central African Republic
May 28, 2016, at 04:46 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News):Dr. Catherine Buzmion-Cheong, a United Nations peacekeeper, was working in Liberia when the first case of Ebola was confirmed in the West African nation.
UN official acclaims 2016 Crime Commission session for role in sustainable development
May 28, 2016, at 04:44 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News):As the week-long annual session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) came to a close in Vienna on Friday, the head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlighted that bonds had been strengthened between efforts in crime prevention and criminal justice and work undertaken to promote sustainable development.
Guinea-Bissau: Ban urges all political stakeholders to avoid escalation after outbreak of protests
May 28, 2016, at 04:43 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News): In the wake of protests in Guinea-Bissau, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged all political stakeholders and their supporters to act responsibly, refrain from violence and avoid an escalation of the situation by settling their concerns through dialogue.
UN chief welcomes region-led meetings of political dialogue for Burundi
May 28, 2016, at 04:42 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday welcomed the meetings of the political dialogue for Burundi, held in Arusha, from 21 to 24 May under the auspices of the Facilitator of the East African Community (EAC), Benjamin William Mkapa, former President of Tanzania.
UN agency urges Greece to find alternatives for refugees and migrants at ‘sub-standard’ sites
May 28, 2016, at 04:41 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News): “Seriously concerned†by what it termed sub-standard conditions at several sites in northern Greece where refugees and migrants were evacuated this week from the makeshift site at Idomeni, the United Nations refugee agency on Friday urged the Greek authorities, with the financial support provided by the European Union (EU), to quickly find better alternatives.
In Japan, Ban calls on G7 to back global goals, climate action, UN humanitarian response efforts
May 28, 2016, at 04:39 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News): Addressing world leaders at an event on the side lines of the G-7 meeting currently under way in Nagoya, Japan, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the gathering to remain focused on key UN and global priorities: climate change; humanitarian action, refugees and migrants; global health; and the Sustainable Development Goals.
World Heritage sites at risk from climate change – joint UN report
May 28, 2016, at 04:38 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News):Some 31 natural and cultural World Heritage sites in 29 countries across the world are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, a new report released by the United Nations has found.
UN refugee agency begins delivering supplies to families escaping besieged Fallujah
May 28, 2016, at 04:37 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency said on Friday that it is delivering emergency relief supplies to families who managed to escape the besieged Iraqi city of Fallujah over the past few days.
South Sudan: New team of explosive detection dogs arrives at UN mission
May 28, 2016, at 04:35 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in South Sudan said on Friday it will receive 37 new explosive detection dogs as part of an increase in the presence of such dogs throughout the country.
UN relief chief calls for more assistance for ‘distressing and dire’ situation of Syrians
May 28, 2016, at 04:34 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News): Following a visit to Hatay in southern Turkey, the top United Nations humanitarian official has called for greater assistance for Syrians in need, both inside the country and across the region, warning that the humanitarian situation for millions of people remains “unrelentingly distressing and dire.â€
UN rights office warns of severe lack of funding for human rights body for the Americas
May 28, 2016, at 04:31 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News):The United Nations human rights office on Friday said it is disturbed by the severe financial crisis the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is facing, warning that the Commission's capacity to respond to victims of rights violations across the Americas may be seriously diminished if it doesn't receive the necessary funding in the coming weeks.
LDCs: UN conference on least developed countries opens in Turkey to assess progress made since 2011
May 28, 2016, at 04:29 pm
New York, May 28 (Just Earth News):A United Nations conference focused on the world's least developed countries (LDCs) kicked-off on Friday in Antalya, Turkey, to assess these 48 States' progress over the past five years, and to find ways of accelerating their path towards sustainable development.