Dec 23, 2014, at 05:44 am
Abuja, Dec 22 (IBNS) A bomb blast at a bus station in Nigeria's Gombe city killed at least 20 people on Monday, media reports said.
North Pole: Santa swamped by millions of letters
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:42 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): With Christmas less than a week away, Santa and his helpers have been busy receiving stacks of letters from children around the world, according to the United Nations postal agency, which estimates the total this year will climb above 7 million.
Central African Republic: Security Council appeals to armed groups to lay down arms
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:34 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the recent resurgence of violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) and reiterated its appeal to all parties to the conflict to “immediately and permanently†lay down their arms, release all children from their ranks, and embark upon the path of dialogue as the only viable means towards achieving lasting peace.
'Suffering an enormous human cost', civilian casualties up nearly 20 per cent in 2014-UN
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:25 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): Civilian casualties in Afghanistan increased by nearly 20 per cent in 2014 compared to the previous year and are expected to rise to a figure over 10,000 by end of December-for the first time since the UN mission in the country began keeping record in 2008.
Adopting resolution, Security Council urges fight against nexus of transnational crime, terrorism
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:21 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): Amid a proliferation of well-funded and well-organized transnational criminal activities in Africa, the Middle East and beyond, the United Nations Security Council today adopted a resolution spotlighting its concern over the ties between cross-border crime and terrorism and called on UN Member States to ramp up efforts in combatting the two activities.
DR Congo: Amid spike in violence, UN refugee agency concerned about humanitarian situation
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:12 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): Continuing violence and multiple attacks in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have sown widespread fear and sparked displacement of thousands of people, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) reported Friday, amid appeals for humanitarian access to help those in distress.
Cambodia: 'Substantial grounds' to believe Montagnards may be in danger, UN warns
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:00 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): The United Nations agencies responsible for human rights and refugees are voicing concern Friday over the health and well-being of 13 Vietnamese Montagnards who have been hiding in the Cambodian jungle for more than seven weeks with no access to assistance or protection.
South Sudan: UN probe uncovers targeting of civilians, abductions, sexual violence
Dec 20, 2014, at 06:57 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): In a report issued Friday, the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has said there is reason to believe that at least 11 civilians were killed and several other serious rights abuses were committed during an attack by opposition forces on Bentiu, the capital of Unity state, in October this year.
'Extremely serious' situation for over a million children in crisis-torn eastern Ukraine-UN
Dec 20, 2014, at 06:53 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): In eastern Ukraine, the situation remains 'extremely serious' for more than 1.7 million children affected by the escalating crisis, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned Friday as it appealed for funds to continue its humanitarian response in the country.
General Assembly decides to refer UN report on human rights in DPR Korea to Security Council
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:34 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) Condemning "ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights" in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Thursday by which it would transmit a UN-backed report probing such violations to the Security Council.
UN envoy condemns latest spate of attacks in Nigeria
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:33 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) The United Nations’ top official in West Africa has strongly condemned a series of attacks in north-eastern Nigeria which reportedly left over 30 people dead and resulted in the abduction of some 200 others.
UN expert group on arbitrary detention welcomes the release of detainees in Cuba, US
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:30 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS)The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Thursday welcomed the recent release of a number of detainees in Cuba and the United States, some of whose cases have been followed by the expert group.
Amid heightened tensions, Security Council extends UN mission in Golan
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:29 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council this morning extended the mandate of its mission in the Golan until 30 June 2015, as it condemned recent fighting in the area and stressed that both Israel and Syria must “scrupulously†abide by the terms of the disengagement accord to prevent any breaches of the ceasefire.
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:29 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) Continuing steady growth in 2013 for the fourth consecutive year, global wood production has fully recovered from the economic downturn of 2008-2009, though production of pulp and paper stagnated largely due to a decline in consumption in China, data released by the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Agency (FAO) revealed on Thursday.
Asia-Pacific report: World's most disaster prone region experiences three-fold rise in deaths
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:28 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) Asia and the Pacific is the world's most natural disaster-prone area and accounts for more than 60 per cent of the world’s hungry people, but continues to drive the global economic recovery, according to the United Nations Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific 2014, released on Thursday.
UN rights chief welcomes conviction of Congolese army officer for crimes against humanity
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:26 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) The top United Nations official on human rights issues has welcomed the recent conviction and sentencing of a senior army officer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for crimes against humanity, adding that the move would help garner momentum for other similar cases currently underway in the country.
UN launches appeal for life-saving aid to millions of Syrians, support to host communities
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:22 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) As Syria's war rages on into its fifth year, the needs for food, shelter and medicine are astronomical, several United Nations agencies said on Thursday as they launched a major appeal, requesting over $8.4 billion to help nearly 18 million people in Syria and throughout the region.
On International Day, UN chief urges greater attention to 'precarious' situation of migrants
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:21 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS)Far too many migrants still live and work in precarious and unjust conditions, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has said on Thursday in a message to mark International Migrants Day.
Boko Haram militants kill 32, abduct scores in Nigeria: Report
Dec 19, 2014, at 02:30 am
Maidugura, Dec 18 (IBNS): In a gruesome attack, suspected Boko Haram gunmen have killed at least 32 people and kidnapped almost 200 others, including women and children during a raid on Nigeria's north-east village, media reports said on Thursday.
Ban strongly condemns deadly Yemen bomb attacks
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:22 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-mon has strongly condemned the bomb attacks in Radaa in Yemen’s Al Bayda province on Tuesday , which killed more than 25 people, including at least 15 schoolchildren.
Central African Republic: UNICEF warns two out of five children without vital aid
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:21 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) Two out of five children urgently needing humanitarian aid in Central African Republic are without it, thanks to a critical lack of funding and continued conflict, a year after extreme violence tore through the country, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) hassaid on Wednesday.
During Ukraine visit, senior UN official pledges broad support for Government
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) The top United Nations political official on Wednesday voiced the Organization’s "unwavering commitment" in helping Ukraine address the range of political, humanitarian, security and development challenges it continues to face amid ongoing fighting in the country’s east.
Ebola: UN Secretary-General will visit West Africa to 'show solidarity with those affected'
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced he will leave on Wednesday for the countries hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak "to show my solidarity with those affected and urge even greater global action" to fight the epidemic, which two United Nations food agencies said could push the number of people facing food insecurity to more than one million by next spring.
Security Council renews cross-border aid delivery to Syria for a year
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:19 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council has on Wednesday renewed for 12 months the use of routes across conflict lines and several border crossings in Syria so that humanitarian assistance can reach communities in need, as it expressed outrage at the escalating violence that has killed nearly 200,000 people.
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:18 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) A sweet new partnership between the United Nations, the Colombian and Austrian Governments and a renowned chocolate manufacturer is slated to bring free-trade practices and a critical source of income to Colombian farmers who have long relied on revenues from illicit drug crops, the Organization’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has announced.
Donors pledge over $400 million for 2015 UN rapid humanitarian response fund
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:18 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) International donors have pledged $418.6 million for a United Nations fund aimed at enabling the speedy delivery of humanitarian aid into the epicentres of crisis zones around the world, falling short of a broader appeal made by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Organization’s top relief official.
Libya: UN mission encouraged by "step in the right direction" towards dialogue
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:17 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said on Wednesday that it is encouraged by the positive response it has received to its invitation for a UN-convened Libyan political dialogue.
Ban Ki-moon hails decision by US, Cuba to normalize relations
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:16 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed the "very important step" taken by the leaders of the United States and Cuba towards normalizing relations between the two countries.
UN capacities 'pushed to the limit' in 2014, Ban says in year-end wrap-up
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:15 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) After a year of "discord, disease and disruption" that saw peace operations, diplomacy and humanitarian capacities "pushed to the limit" responding to West Africa's Ebola outbreak, terrorist groups and ongoing conflicts in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed reporters on Wednesday at United Nations Headquarters, where he summed up the year and looked ahead to 2015.
World Bank safeguards 'go out of their way' to avoid references to human rights – UN expert
Dec 18, 2014, at 03:14 pm
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS) The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, on Wednesday urged the World Bank to recognize the central importance of human rights to its draft environmental and social policies, also known as safeguard policies, which apply to its investment project financing.