UN chief urges Burundian President to ‘pursue path of inclusivity and reconciliation’

New York, Aug 21 (IBNS): Noting the inauguration on Thursday of Pierre Nkurunziza for his third term as President of Burundi, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged him to “pursue a path of inclusivity and reconciliation,” and reiterated his call on all Burundian stakeholders to undertake a broad and transparent political dialogue.

Security Council: UN officials spotlight need for effective and accountable security institutions

New York, Aug 21 (IBNS): The Security Council on Thursday turned its attention to the need to develop effective, affordable and accountable security institutions, with senior United Nations officials representing peacekeeping, development and conflict-related sexual violence outlining concrete steps to lay the foundations for rule of law, peace and sustainable development.

UNHCR welcomes joint declaration by France and United Kingdom on Calais

New York, Aug 21 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday welcomed the joint declaration signed by the Governments of France and the United Kingdom on the situation in Calais and the associated action plan to deal with it.

Central Africa: UN mission to ‘stamp out’ sexual exploitation by peacekeepers

New York, Aug 21 (IBNS): Condemning all cases of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by its personnel, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on Thursday said that it is determined to “stamp out” this “extremely seriously problem.”

Killing an average of eight children a day, 'brutal' Yemen conflict must end: UNICEF

New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): An average of eight children are killed or maimed every day in Yemen as a direct result of the conflict that has gripping the country since April, according to a new report released on Wednesday by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Syria: UNRWA reaches near Yarmouk camp as typhoid outbreak hits Palestinian refugees

New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): The United Nations relief agency responsible for the welfare of Palestine refugees across the Middle East announced on Wednesday it has conducted its first humanitarian mission to Yalda, near the besieged Yarmouk camp in Syria, where six cases of typhoid have been confirmed.

UNESCO chief deplores killing of two leading scholars of Syrian antiquities

New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): Within one week, the Syrian cultural heritage community suffered two immense blows with the murder of archaeologist Khaled Assad in Palmyra, and the killing of the Assistant Director of laboratories at the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, Qasem Abdullah Yehiya, in Damascus, according to the United Nations.

UN reports new allegations of sexual misconduct by peacekeepers in Central Africa

New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): A series of new “disturbing” allegations of misconduct in the Central African Republic were announced on Wednesday by the Deputy Special Representative and Deputy Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the country (MINUSCA).

Palestinian children can return to UN-run schools this year due to fund-raising

New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): The United Nations relief agency dealing with Palestinian refugees has declared the school year open will on time on Wednesday for the 500,000 boys and girls in the increasingly unstable Middle East, where multiple crises and a major funding shortage nearly forced the delayed of the opening of 685 schools in the region.

Libya: UN agency helps country upgrade response to boats in distress of its coast

New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): Following a spate of deadly shipwrecks of the coast of Libya, the UN refugee agency has announced that it has set up a forum to improve the country’s response to boats in distress its waters by streamlining information sharing and coordination with international organizations

Security Council warned that 'risk of escalation in Israel and Palestine is palpable'

New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): The top United Nations political official on Wednesday warned the Middle East has recently witnessed "unconscionable" hate crimes, "reprehensible" retaliatory violence, provocations at Jerusalem's holy sites, and a worrying increase in rockets launched from Gaza towards Israel, as he urged all sides to work together to reduce tensions and prevent extremist attacks.

Somalia: UN urges resolution to crisis after legislators approve motion to impeach President

New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): Envoys from the United Nations and other international organizations on Wednesday joined to express deep concern that a parliamentary motion to impeach Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud would impede progress on the country’s peace and State-building goals.

Security Council: UN relief chief cites massive human suffering in Yemen

New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): Just back from Yemen and “shocked” by what he saw there, the top United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council on Wednesday that the scale of human suffering is nearly incomprehensible, and that unless stakeholders get the parties to stop the fighting and return to the negotiating table, soon “there will be nothing left to fight for.”

Security Council strongly condemns seizure of UAE embassy in Yemen

New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday condemned “in the strongest term” the storming and seizure of the United Arab Emirates embassy in Sana’a, Yemen, by the Houthis on the 17 August 2015.

Thai police release sketch of Bangkok blast suspect

Bangkok, Aug 19 (IBNS): The Thailand Police have released the sketch of a suspect behind the blast in capital Bangkok on Monday,media reports said.