Peacekeeping 'a tool to advance political, not military, solutions' - UN deputy chief
Feb 17, 2016, at 03:23 pm
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations peacekeeping is “a tool to advance political, not military solutions to conflict,†Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations today, as the General Assembly subsidiary body opened its 2016 session.
UN agency reaches thousands of people in Chad and Cameroon displaced by Boko Haram violence
Feb 17, 2016, at 03:20 pm
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Tuesday that, along with its partners, the agency has, over the past week, has been able to deliver life-saving food and nutrition support to thousands of people recently displaced by the Boko Haram violence in Chad and Cameroon.
Syria: UN mediator intends to resume Geneva talks next week
Feb 17, 2016, at 03:18 pm
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) After differences between Government and opposition delegations on the priority of humanitarian issues forced a pause in the Intra-Syrian talks earlier this month, the United Nations envoy mediating the discussions has said he intends to resume them by 25 February, and earlier if possible, a UN spokesperson announced on Wednesday.
UN mission in Central African Republic aims to ensure victims of alleged abuse receive help
Feb 17, 2016, at 03:17 pm
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations is working to ensure that the victims involved in four new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR) have access to the help they need, a spokesperson for the world body said on Wednesday.
At Security Council, UN relief chief spotlights need to end 'human catastrophe' in Yemen
Feb 17, 2016, at 03:12 pm
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) With a human catastrophe unfolding in Yemen, the Security Council and the international community must urge the parties to the conflict to ensure unconditional and sustained humanitarian access to all parts of the country, and take greater measures to protect civilians, the top United Nations emergency relief official said on Wednesday.
China's clampdown on lawyers and activists draws concern of UN human rights chief
Feb 17, 2016, at 03:06 pm
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The top United Nations human rights official announced on Tuesday he has sought clarifications from the Chinese authorities about the recent arrests of lawyers, and intimidation of Government critics and workers of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), describing these incidents as “a very worrying pattern†that has serious implications for the activities of civil society there.
UN mourns death of former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Feb 17, 2016, at 03:05 pm
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Boutros Boutros-Ghali, veteran Egyptian diplomat and the first United Nations Secretary-General from Africa, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 93.
Syria: UN 'gravely concerned' over repeated attacks on hospitals, school
Feb 17, 2016, at 03:01 pm
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday expressed grave concern over airstrikes on Mondayin Syria that hit at least four hospitals and a school, reportedly killing more than 45 people and injuring dozens of others.
Syria: Russian aerial bombardment kills 5 civilians
Feb 16, 2016, at 08:59 pm
Al-Herak, Feb 16 (IBNS) Russian airstrikes has targeted Al-Herak town in Syria which left five people killed, reports said.
Gas explosion collapses Russian building, 7 killed
Feb 16, 2016, at 08:45 pm
Moscow, Feb 16 (IBNS) At seven person was killed as a five-storey building collapsed in Russia's Yaroslavl city following a gas explosion on Tuesday, media reports said.
Conflicts and violence take 'huge toll' on children in 2015 - UN envoy
Feb 16, 2016, at 03:14 pm
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) Increasingly complex and widening conflicts have taken a huge toll on children in much of the Middle East in 2015, with parts of Africa and Asia facing protracted and relapsing wars that show no signs of abating, a senior United Nations child rights official said on Monday.
UN experts urge Nigeria to make areas freed from Boko Haram 'truly safe' for returnees
Feb 16, 2016, at 03:13 pm
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations human rights experts have urged the Nigerian Government to ensure that the areas they claim to have liberated from Boko Haram forces are truly safe for the displaced persons to return.
UNICEF chief 'appalled' by reports of attacks on hospitals, schools in northern Syria
Feb 16, 2016, at 03:08 pm
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Anthony Lake said on Monday he is "appalled" by reports of attacks against four medical facilities in Syria, two of which are supported by UNICEF.
World's most vulnerable must benefit from promise and ideals of UN Charter - Ban
Feb 16, 2016, at 03:05 pm
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) Although important steps were taken over the past year to uphold the values and advance the vision set out in the United Nations Charter, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed today that bringing the promise of the Organization's founding document to the most vulnerable must continue to be the goal of its Member States.
UN envoy for Libya welcomes 'major breakthrough' on formation of unity government
Feb 16, 2016, at 02:58 pm
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) Welcoming the announcement by the Libyan Presidency Council on the formation of the Government of National Accord, the United Nations envoy there called today on the House of Representatives “to do what is right for Libya and its people†and endorse the nomination of the national unity government.
Haiti: UN welcomes election of provisional President
Feb 16, 2016, at 02:55 pm
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as well as the UN and its partners in Haiti, have welcomed the 14 February election by the Haitian National Assembly of Jocelerme Privert as the island nation's interim President, one week after the departure of former President Michel Martelly.
UN agency delivers added food supplies to besieged area inside Yemen's Taiz city
Feb 16, 2016, at 02:48 pm
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) For the second time this year, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has managed to deliver food inside an area undergoing heavy fighting in the central Yemeni city of Taiz, where residents are in desperate need of external food assistance.
UN rights expert urges UK and Sweden to serve 'good example,' end arbitrary detention of Assange
Feb 16, 2016, at 02:43 pm
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) A United Nations human rights expert today called on the United Kingdom and Sweden to promptly accept a UN working group's ruling that Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, is being arbitrarily detained and must be allowed freedom of movement.
Syria: for first time in months, UN agency delivers aid to residents of Yarmouk camp
Feb 15, 2016, at 01:53 pm
New York, Feb 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations relief agency charged with the well-being of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East has been able to deliver urgently needed humanitarian supplies to the civilian residents of the besieged refugee camp of Yarmouk, on the outskirts Damascus, for the first time in nine months.
Feb 14, 2016, at 03:03 pm
New York, Feb 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on all Central Africans, including the candidates, to ensure that the presidential run-off and the new round of legislative elections, set to take place Sunday are conducted in a peaceful and credible manner.
Engagement with communities can help address factors underlying violent extremism - UN chief
Feb 14, 2016, at 02:53 pm
New York, Feb 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Fully understanding those who might be susceptible to poisonous ideologies – addressing root causes of radicalization and helping individuals and communities before problems escalate – will assist the international community in developing effective, dignified and rights-based responses to "one of the gravest threats our world faces," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday.
Somalia plane attack: Al-Shabab shoulders responsibility
Feb 14, 2016, at 03:37 am
Mogadishu, Feb 13 (IBNS) Somalian fringe group Al-Shabab on Saturday confirmed its involvement in the Somalian plane attack which took place last month, according to media reports.
Syria: UN-backed task force seeks aid access to besieged areas 'without delay'
Feb 13, 2016, at 03:21 pm
New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Following agreement late yesterday by diplomats meeting in Munich as part of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to work with Syrian parties to implement a nationwide cessation of hostilities, a United Nations-backed task force met on Friday on quickly delivering aid to besieged towns and war-weary civilians in hard to reach areas across the country.
Ahead of elections in Central African Republic, UN urges focus on children's needs
Feb 13, 2016, at 03:18 pm
New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As voters in the Central African Republic (CAR) prepare for the second round of presidential and legislative elections on Sunday, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is urging the candidates to make strong commitments to invest in the survival, education and protection of children to ensure lasting peace in the country.
'Rise to the challenges' to shape a common future, UN chief tells McGill students
Feb 13, 2016, at 03:11 pm
New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Humanitarian action must address the concerns of young people, who should be mobilized and empowered to effect lasting change, United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon told students at McGill University in Montreal earlier today, as part of a three-day visit to Canada.
Europe's restrictive measures draw UN concern as refugee and migrant influx continues
Feb 13, 2016, at 03:08 pm
New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) With the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe showing no signs of easing in 2016, the United Nations refugee agency on Friday reiterated its concern over increasing restrictive measures on the part of European Member States, stressing that greater support mechanisms must be urgently implemented to protect the fundamental human rights of the more than 2,000 people who continue risking their lives every day to reach Europe.
Mali: UN condemns attack against Mission base that kills five peacekeepers
Feb 13, 2016, at 03:05 pm
New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Top United Nations officials have condemned the attack this morning against a UN camp in Kidal, in the north-eastern region of the country, which killed at least five peacekeepers and wounded 30 others.
'Child soldiers are boys and girls we collectively failed to protect' - UN envoy
Feb 13, 2016, at 03:02 pm
New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) An upsurge in global conflicts and brutal war tactics continues to make children extremely vulnerable to recruitment and use by armed groups, the United Nations warned on Friday, appealing to the international community to take greater responsibility for the boys and girls used as child soldiers or risk failing to protect them.
'Status quo' not sustainable, UN and Middle East partners warn
Feb 13, 2016, at 02:54 pm
New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Condemning all acts of terror and urging restraint amid continuing violence against civilians, the United Nations and its Middle East Quartet partners on Friday called on all parties to actively take steps to de-escalate current tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
Ban sends Security Council first report of joint UN body probing chemical weapons in Syria
Feb 13, 2016, at 02:50 pm
New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has on Friday submitted the Security Council first report of the joint body set up between the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria.