South Sudan: Heavy fighting in northeast force, UN to evacuate staff
May 12, 2015, at 03:13 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has expressed growing concern about “continuing and consistent reports†emanating from two north-eastern counties regarding a surge in kidnappings and rapes and an overall uptick in violence, which has forced the UN and other aid agencies to withdraw staff from the region.
Syria: UN resumes aid distribution to civilians displaced from Yarmouk
May 12, 2015, at 03:11 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has resumed the provision of assistance to people displaced from Yarmouk camp in Syria, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed.
Mediterranean crisis demands ‘intensive dialogue’: Security Council
May 12, 2015, at 03:09 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The Mediterranean migrant crisis calls for collective action focused on the immediate need to save lives or else it will represent “a moral failure of the first order,†one that undermines international law and security, a top United Nations migration official warned on Monday.
Mothers and children need more social protection: UN labour agency
May 12, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Calling for greater “social protection†for women as the United Nations draws up a new development agenda, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has cited alarming statics, including that some 800 women die in child birth every day, only 28 per cent of employed women receive cash benefits during their maternity leave, and that child poverty is rising in 18 of 28 countries in the European Union.
Geneva: UN envoy looks forward to consultations with Syrian opposition envoy
May 12, 2015, at 03:07 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations envoy on the Syria crisis has noted recent decisions taken by the National Coalition of the Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces (SOC) and is looking forward to the arrival of the National Coalition's Envoy in Geneva, where UN facilitated consultations are taking place.
Ebola: Expert panel urges ‘unified entity’ within WHO for emergency response
May 12, 2015, at 03:05 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Independent experts tasked to assess the World Health Organization’s (WHO) response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa on Monday said “at present, WHO does not have the operational capacity or culture to deliver a full emergency public health response†and urged investments by its member States to make it fit for purpose.
UN mission in Darfur ‘concerned’ by escalating tensions between tribes
May 12, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Following recent escalation in tensions between the Rezeigat and Ma’alia tribes, the joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur on Monday expressed serious concern about the possible implications and encouraged the leaders and members of both groups to exercise maximum restraint, engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve their dispute.
Ban welcomes Central Africa's peace pact as reflection of people’s aspirations
May 12, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the people of the Central African Republic (CAR) for the adoption of a peace pact that reflects on their aspirations to put the conflict behind them once and for all and to build a more peaceful and democratic country.
Paraguay: UN deplores Government’s failure to protect 10-yr-old rape survivor
May 12, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The Government of Paraguay has failed in its responsibility to protect a 10-year old sexual abuse survivor and provide her with critical and timely treatments, including a “safe and therapeutic†abortion, a group of United Nations experts said on Monday.
In phone call with Ukraine's Prez, Ban discusses country’s ongoing crisis
May 12, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has spoken with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and briefed him on his recent discussions in Moscow, a United Nations spokesperson confirmed on Monday.
UN mission in Libya condemns deadly attack on Turkish ship
May 12, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has on Monday condemned an attack against a Turkish vessel off the Libyan coast which caused the death of one sailor and injuries to others.
Yemen conflict is taking 'dreadful toll' on civilians: UN relief official
May 11, 2015, at 01:34 pm
New York, May 11 (IBNS): The conflict in Yemen is taking a dreadful toll on civilians, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the country has warned, as he also expressed deep concern over Saturday's airstrikes on the city of Sa'ada, where scores of civilians were reportedly killed.
UN rights experts call on Iran to end death penalty
May 09, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): Two United Nations human rights experts have condemned the sharp increase in executions across Iran in recent weeks, urging the Government in Tehran to heed the Organization's appeal for an immediate halt on the use of the death penalty.
Unrest in Burundi sends thousands fleeing: UN agency
May 09, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): The eruption of pre-election violence in Burundi last month has seen over 50,000 people flee to neighbouring countries and threatens to undo some of the most promising developments in recent refugee history in Africa, the United Nations body tasked with protecting displaced people said in Geneva on Friday.
Ukraine: Ban pledges UN support amid conflict in country’s eastern regions
May 09, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): Continuing his travels in Europe to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined the people of Ukraine on Friday to honour the millions of soldiers and citizens who fought to defend human dignity against the aggression of Nazism, and also pledged support from the United Nations as Ukraine deals with a protracted conflict in the east.
Yemen’s children at risk of malnutrition as fighting continues: UNICEF
May 09, 2015, at 02:09 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): More children in Yemen are at risk of dying from hunger and lack of health services than from bombs and bullets, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday amid ongoing fighting across the Gulf country.
Unemployment rate for Palestine refugees reaches 44 per cent in Gaza: UN agency
May 09, 2015, at 02:08 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): More than 27,000 applicants applied for some 200 teaching jobs for the coming academic year in the Gaza Strip, where unemployment has now reached nearly 44 per cent, making it one of the world’s most unstable economies, the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees across the Middle East said on Friday.
UN to begin polio and measles vaccinations in Liberia
May 09, 2015, at 02:06 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): United Nations agencies and their partners on Friday announced a massive campaign to vaccinate more than 600,000 children against polio and measles in Liberia as a crucial step towards recovery and the restoration of health services in the West African country, where Ebola transmissions have dwindled in recent weeks.
Somalia remains one of the largest, most complex emergencies: UN official
May 09, 2015, at 02:04 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): In New York to update Member States and partners on the humanitarian and development situation in Somalia, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia said the “multi-faceted†challenge presented by Somalia is different to that posed in other countries.
UN expert urges Mauritius to prioritize protection against abuse of the aged
May 09, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): While efforts have been made in Mauritius to ensure that older persons fully enjoy their rights, the United Nations rights expert on the issue stressed on Friday that “law is not enough†and encouraged the authorities to make detection of elder abuse and law enforcement a priority.
Ban appoints deputy special representatives for missions in Mali and Haiti
May 09, 2015, at 02:01 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday announced the respective appointments of his Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and also of his Deputy Special Representative for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
Yemen: UN official urges immediate halt to attacks against civilians
May 08, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): The top United Nations relief official for Yemen has voiced grave concern over reports that “scores†of civilians have been killed and injured amid ongoing fighting in the city of Aden, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
UN predicts world food import bill to fall to five-year low
May 08, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): A report on agricultural commodity prices released on Thursday by the United Nations agricultural agency says that hefty supply levels mean rates will continue to decline despite pressure from a slight reduction in global harvests.
UNESCO chief condemns murder of journalists in East Africa
May 08, 2015, at 02:59 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agency mandated to promote freedom of expression and the safety of media workers worldwide has on Thursday condemned the murder of two journalists, a Somalian and a Kenyan, and urged an investigation into the two separate incidents.
UN official warns of widespread sexual violence in Syria, Iraq
May 08, 2015, at 02:58 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): Sexual violence is being committed strategically, in a widespread and systematic manner, and with a high-degree of sophistication by most parties to the conflict in Syria and Iraq, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Bangura, said Thursday as she briefed journalists on her “scoping mission†to the region in April.
UN envoy on Syria meets Saudi minister
May 08, 2015, at 02:56 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): As part of ongoing Geneva consultations on Syria, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country, Staffan de Mistura, met on Thursday with Prince Mohammed bin Saud bin Khaled Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Information and Technology Affairs.
Poland: Ban commemorates 70th anniversary of Second World War's end
May 08, 2015, at 02:55 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in Poland on Thursday at an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, recalled the “tremendous†shared sacrifice and the huge price of victory over fascism, paid by the millions of lost lives.
South Sudan: UN confirms influx of displaced seeking refuge at Mission base
May 08, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): The number of internally displaced persons seeking refuge with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has grown to 53,000 following the latest bout of fighting in the African country, a spokesperson for the Organization has confirmed.
Gruelling lean season ahead for areas of Sahel: UN agency
May 08, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): Thousands of women and children in regions where Boko Haram violence has spilled into Cameroon, Niger and Chad, face a gruelling lean season and worsening malnutrition, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Thursday.
7.1 earthquake hit Papua New Guinea
May 07, 2015, at 08:04 pm
Papua New Guinea, May 7 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale hit Papua New Guinea on Thursday, the US Geological Survey the said.