UN agencies expand operations in southern Africa as poor harvests deepen food insecurity
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): An estimated 27.4 million people in southern Africa face food insecurity in the next six months, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Monday, announcing the expansion of their operations to respond to the challenge, caused by poor harvests across the region.
UN atomic energy chief encourages States to improve global emergency response
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): Opening a week-long conference in Vienna, Austria, on strengthening national systems in dealing with nuclear and radiological emergencies, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told delegates on Monday that national-level response plans in preparedness need to be in line with international safety standards and best practices.
UN atomic energy chief encourages States to improve global emergency response
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): Opening a week-long conference in Vienna, Austria, on strengthening national systems in dealing with nuclear and radiological emergencies, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told delegates on Monday that national-level response plans in preparedness need to be in line with international safety standards and best practices.
UN chief concerned by rising number of executions in Iran
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): Expressing his "deep sadness" at the recent execution by Iran of two juvenile offenders, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday noted with concern the alarming increase in executions in the country over the last decade.
UN and partners deliver critical relief supplies to besieged areas of Syria
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): A joint United Nations, International Red Cross (ICRC) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent operation delivered on Sunday essential medical and humanitarian supplies to 30,000 people in the Fouah and Kefrayah in Idlib governorate and Zabadani and Madaya in the Rural Damascus governorate, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
UN raises concerns about unaccompanied refugee and migrant children in Europe
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Warning of poor weather conditions and fast-approaching winter, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday raised concerns about the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children on the move in Europe, where several countries are faced with overstretched national capacities and insufficient coordination.
UN rights experts appeal to stop attacks against persons with albinism
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS): The first United Nations human rights expert on albinism on Thursday issued an urgent appeal for coordinated action in southern and eastern Africa to tackle the upsurge in attacks against persons with albinism.
New law threatens civil society independence in Kazakhstan: UN expert
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, on Thursday warned that a new bill amending the law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Kazakhstan, may compromise the independence of associations and also challenge their existence.
UN and French Government urge inclusion of food security in climate change debate
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS): Targeted policies and investments in food security and agriculture should be at the centre of debates on climate change, according to a top UN official and the French Minister for Agriculture, speaking at the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in Rome this week.
UN-backed telecom summit shines spotlight on young innovators
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS): The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on Wednesday hosted at its 2015 telecom summit in Budapest the winners of the Young Innovators Competition, who benefited from expert mentorship to help accelerate their innovations globally through a series of workshops, pitching sessions and collaborations.
UN global advocate Daniel Craig visits Cyprus
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS): In his new role as the United Nations Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards, renowned actor Daniel Craig underscored the humanitarian importance of the UN's de-mining efforts in Cyprus, his first country visit for the Organization.
UN mission concerned by Taliban threats against Afghan media outlets
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS): Expressing serious concerns at recent statements made from the Taliban that identified specific Afghan media outlets and its staff as targets, the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA) on Tuesday urged all parties to the conflict to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression.
'Knowledge saves lives,' UN stresses on International Day for Disaster Reduction
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday stressed the "indispensable" power of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge in his message on this year’s observance of the International Day for Disaster Reduction.
UN urgently appeals for $86 million to tackle food insecurity in Zimbabwe
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): The United Nations in Zimbabwe has appealed to humanitarian and development partners for $86 million that is critically needed to fill a shortfall to support 1.5 million people affected by food insecurity in the country.
Member States pledge $100 million to UN agency supporting Palestine refugees
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Twenty-two Member States of the United Nations are planning to pledge $100 million dollars to support next year's budget of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which provides educational, health, relief and social services for some five million such refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza.