Peacekeeping 'a tool to advance political, not military, solutions' - UN deputy chief
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations peacekeeping is “a tool to advance political, not military solutions to conflict,†Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations today, as the General Assembly subsidiary body opened its 2016 session.
UN agency reaches thousands of people in Chad and Cameroon displaced by Boko Haram violence
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Tuesday that, along with its partners, the agency has, over the past week, has been able to deliver life-saving food and nutrition support to thousands of people recently displaced by the Boko Haram violence in Chad and Cameroon.
Syria: UN mediator intends to resume Geneva talks next week
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) After differences between Government and opposition delegations on the priority of humanitarian issues forced a pause in the Intra-Syrian talks earlier this month, the United Nations envoy mediating the discussions has said he intends to resume them by 25 February, and earlier if possible, a UN spokesperson announced on Wednesday.
UN mission in Central African Republic aims to ensure victims of alleged abuse receive help
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations is working to ensure that the victims involved in four new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR) have access to the help they need, a spokesperson for the world body said on Wednesday.
At Security Council, UN relief chief spotlights need to end 'human catastrophe' in Yemen
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) With a human catastrophe unfolding in Yemen, the Security Council and the international community must urge the parties to the conflict to ensure unconditional and sustained humanitarian access to all parts of the country, and take greater measures to protect civilians, the top United Nations emergency relief official said on Wednesday.
China's clampdown on lawyers and activists draws concern of UN human rights chief
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The top United Nations human rights official announced on Tuesday he has sought clarifications from the Chinese authorities about the recent arrests of lawyers, and intimidation of Government critics and workers of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), describing these incidents as “a very worrying pattern†that has serious implications for the activities of civil society there.
UN mourns death of former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Boutros Boutros-Ghali, veteran Egyptian diplomat and the first United Nations Secretary-General from Africa, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 93.
Syria: UN 'gravely concerned' over repeated attacks on hospitals, school
New York, Feb 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday expressed grave concern over airstrikes on Mondayin Syria that hit at least four hospitals and a school, reportedly killing more than 45 people and injuring dozens of others.
Syria: Russian aerial bombardment kills 5 civilians
Al-Herak, Feb 16 (IBNS) Russian airstrikes has targeted Al-Herak town in Syria which left five people killed, reports said.
Gas explosion collapses Russian building, 7 killed
Moscow, Feb 16 (IBNS) At seven person was killed as a five-storey building collapsed in Russia's Yaroslavl city following a gas explosion on Tuesday, media reports said.
Conflicts and violence take 'huge toll' on children in 2015 - UN envoy
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) Increasingly complex and widening conflicts have taken a huge toll on children in much of the Middle East in 2015, with parts of Africa and Asia facing protracted and relapsing wars that show no signs of abating, a senior United Nations child rights official said on Monday.
UN experts urge Nigeria to make areas freed from Boko Haram 'truly safe' for returnees
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations human rights experts have urged the Nigerian Government to ensure that the areas they claim to have liberated from Boko Haram forces are truly safe for the displaced persons to return.
UNICEF chief 'appalled' by reports of attacks on hospitals, schools in northern Syria
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Anthony Lake said on Monday he is "appalled" by reports of attacks against four medical facilities in Syria, two of which are supported by UNICEF.
World's most vulnerable must benefit from promise and ideals of UN Charter - Ban
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) Although important steps were taken over the past year to uphold the values and advance the vision set out in the United Nations Charter, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed today that bringing the promise of the Organization's founding document to the most vulnerable must continue to be the goal of its Member States.
UN envoy for Libya welcomes 'major breakthrough' on formation of unity government
New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) Welcoming the announcement by the Libyan Presidency Council on the formation of the Government of National Accord, the United Nations envoy there called today on the House of Representatives “to do what is right for Libya and its people†and endorse the nomination of the national unity government.