Ecuador: Government and UN launch emergency appeal to kick-start post-quake assistance
New York, Apr 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Government of Ecuador and the United Nations on Friday launched an urgent $72.7 million appeal to respond to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck coastal provinces of north-west of the country less than a week ago, aiming to kick-start life-saving assistance, protection services and early recovery support to assist approximately 350,000 people over the next three months.
‘We are in a race against time,’ says Ban, as leaders sign landmark Paris climate accord
New York, Apr 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With their signatures of the landmark Paris climate accord, “governments made a covenant with the future,†Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the end of a United Nations ceremony that saw the largest single-day turn-out for such an event, and which puts the world on a path towards low-carbon growth and a more sustainable future.
UN says Paris Agreement on climate change must aim for long-term environmental stability
New York, Apr 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As global leaders prepare to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change on Friday at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction on Thursday called on signatories to go beyond their existing commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if the world is to avoid catastrophic future weather events.
At UN, Forest Whitaker calls on leaders to ensure benefits of global goals ‘touch everyone’
New York, Apr 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Peacebuilding advocate and Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker addressed world leaders on Thursday at the United Nations, asking them to ensure that the benefits of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can touch everyone worldwide.
UN and World Bank chiefs announce members of joint high-level panel on water
New York, Apr 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim announced on Thursday the appointment of 10 Heads of State and Government, as well as two Special Advisors, to the High-Level Panel on Water.
Libya: UN envoy calls for safe evacuation of civilians caught up in Benghazi fighting
New York, Apr 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday called on all the warring parties in Benghazi to ensure that civilians are protected, also urging them to allow and facilitate the safe and immediate exit of all civilians who are trapped in areas affected by fighting.
Ecuador earthquake: UN relief chief calls for more support to vulnerable communities
New York, Apr 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The top United Nations relief official wrapped up his two-day mission to Ecuador yesterday, announcing that he is releasing $7 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund to assist people affected by the deadly earthquake that struck on Saturday, while calling for more support to vulnerable communities.
Ecuador: top UN relief official stresses ‘solidarity’ as earthquake recovery efforts continue
New York, Apr 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien said that more than 21,000 people are in need of immediate shelter following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Ecuador on Saturday night, while the Government has stepped up recovery efforts in conjunction with several UN agencies.
Fiji: humanitarian work ‘far from over’ two months after storm, UN reports
New York, Apr 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Marking two months since Tropical Cyclone Winston hit Fiji, the United Nations senior humanitarian official in the South Pacific has said that “work is far from over†and that there are significant needs for continued relief efforts.
Egypt: Ban calls for fair trial standards in judicial proceedings against rights defenders
New York, Apr 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced he is closely following the judicial proceedings in Egypt against a number of civil society organizations and human rights defenders.
FEATURE: As UN ‘World Court’ turns 70, long-time registrar sees evolution of body’s work
New York, Apr 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Having ruled on such diverse issues as plunder of natural resources in Africa to border disputes in South America and whale hunting in the Pacific, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the main judicial organ of the United Nations – turns 70 on Wednesday and UN Radio has talked with long-time registrar Philippe Couvreur about the evolution of the tribunal’s vital work.
Deadly quakes in Japan and Ecuador spotlight need for rigorous structural safety standards – UN
New York, Apr 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) said on Tuesday that the deaths in Ecuador and the dozens of victims in Japan spotlighted a basic fact about earthquakes; that buildings, and not the shake itself, claim most lives.
Somalia: UN envoy welcomes progress in preparations for elections in 2016
New York, Apr 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Security Council heard on Tuesday from the top United Nations official in Somalia that political progress is being made in the country, but that much remains to be done in a short period, including completing the electoral process for 2016 and boosting support to the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM).
Ecuador: UN food convoy heads to quake-ravaged areas; some 150,000 children impacted
New York, Apr 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations food relief agency has sent a convoy to assist some 8,000 people severely affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the coast of Ecuador, leaving more than 400 people dead and thousands more in desperate need of humanitarian aid.
UN rights chief welcomes release of 83 prisoners in Myanmar
New York, Apr 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations rights chief on Tuesday welcomed the release of a second wave of 83 prisoners on Myanmar's New Year last Sunday, by Presidential amnesty.