Aug 19, 2015, at 05:38 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General on Tuesday expressed serious concern about the recent escalation of violence along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, which reportedly resulted in a number of casualties on both sides, including civilians.
UN chief welcomes peaceful parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:35 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) Applauding the people of Sri Lanka for their peaceful and broad-based participation in yesterday’s parliamentary elections, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has encouraged the new Government to make further progress on good governance, accountability and reconciliation.
After new displacements, UN officials call for an immediate halt to demolitions in the West Bank
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:32 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) Senior United Nations officials are calling on Tuesday for an immediate freeze on demolitions in the West Bank, after dozens of structures were demolished yesterday by Israeli authorities in Palestinian Bedouin refugee communities, near East Jerusalem.
South Sudan: UN chief looks forward to President Kiir's endorsement of peace agreement
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:27 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday welcomed the signing by former South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar and the Former Detainees of the compromise peace agreement put forth by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Partners Forum (IGAD) mediation, meant to end the conflict raging in the country for the past 20 months.
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:24 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) The escalating refugee crisis in Greece is continuing, with migrant arrivals accelerating “dramatically,†the United Nations warned today, urging the Greek Government to strengthen reception facilities and services and for wider Europe to bolster humanitarian coordination.
Evolving peacekeeping landscape requires stronger global-regional partnership, Security Council told
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:18 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) Since the United Nations increasingly shares responsibility for peace and security with regional organizations, everything possible should be bone to help them resolve regional problems and to include the States concerned in solutions,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
Aug 19, 2015, at 03:53 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) Welcoming Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's commitment to strictly enforce his 'zero tolerance' policy against sexual exploitation or abuse by United Nations personnel, the Security Council on Tuesday stressed the importance of the UN quickly investigating the most recent allegations of misconduct by peacekeepers, and if substantiated, working with the troop contributing countries involved to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Aug 19, 2015, at 03:52 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) On the eve of World Humanitarian Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is drawing attention to the 100 million people affected by natural disasters, conflict, hunger and disease, whose needs are far outstripping the capacity to help them, but he is also reminding the international community that "each one of us can make a difference" and "create a more humane world."
Libya: UN human rights office alarmed by reports of ISIL-led violence, reprisal killings
Aug 19, 2015, at 03:34 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday expressed concern over violence in Sirte, Libya, involving militants claiming allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
All 54 passengers of the Indonesian plane that crashed are dead
Aug 18, 2015, at 09:51 pm
Jakarta, Aug 18 (IBNS) All 54 people on board a Trigana Air aircraft were killed in a crash two days ago in Indonesia's Papua province, media reports said on Tuesday.
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.