Ban praises Slovakia and Austria for 'taking care of so many refugees'
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): While visiting a humanitarian centre in Slovakia on Monday where refugees have been accommodated by the Government, United Nations Secretary-General urged all leaders to show their "global solidarity and compassionate leadership."
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).
Libya: Security Council urges parties to endorse and sign political agreement
New York, Oct 19 (IBNS): Recalling their statement last week which commended Libyan dialogue participants on finalizing a political agreement for the creation of a Government of National Accord, members of the UN Security Council on Monday urged all Libyan parties to endorse and sign it.
'I am standing with these refugees,' says Ban visiting reception centre in Rome
New York, Oct 19 (IBNS): After meeting with families of refugees at a reception centre in Italy on Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the global community has to “stand with people who do not have any means†and provide basic necessities, such as education and sanitation.
UNHCR backs plan to protect people fleeing disasters and climate change
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency has joined 110 nations to strengthen steps to protect people displaced across borders by disasters and climate change.
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.
'Hunger is more than a lack of food – it is a terrible injustice,' says Ban
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): On World Food Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is underlining that "hunger is more than a lack of food—it is a terrible injustice," while reaffirming the global community’s commitment to work together “to end hunger in our lifetime.â€
Milan Expo: UN officials call for social protection and fairer food systems
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Celebrating World Food Day at the Milan Expo 2015, senior United Nations officials joined leading figures in the global fight against hunger in an appeal to the international community to speed up efforts on eradicating hunger and improving the way food is produced and consumed.
At least seven people dead after boat collision off the coast of Lesvos: UN agency
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Up to seven people have been killed – four of them children – in a collision between a smuggling boat and a Greek Coast Guard vessel off the coast of Lesvos, Greek authorities and the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.
More than half a million children now risk malnutrition in Yemen: UNICEF
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Yemen's spiralling crisis has caused "alarming malnutrition levels" among children because of the limited availability of and lack of access to food due to blocked or damaged delivery routes and restrictions on food and fuel imports caused by the conflict, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday.
Iran: UN rights experts outraged at the execution of two juvenile offenders
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): United Nations human rights experts on Friday expressed their outrage and profound sadness at the execution of a juvenile offender convicted for the death of her husband, whom she had been forced to marry at the age of 16, and which follows the death of a young man last week, who’d been sentenced to death at age 17.
Rights of victims of trafficking during migration must be protected, UN tells EU
New Delhi, Oct 17 (IBNS): Urging the Europe Union (EU) to safeguard the rights of migrants at risk, especially the most vulnerable, a United Nations human rights expert on Friday called on EU member States to ensure their anti-trafficking measures do not include restrictive and exclusionary immigration policies that are not effective and further heighten risks for trafficking and exploitation.
Ending violence in Middle East focus of emergency Security Council session
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Against a backdrop of escalating violence in the Middle East, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun briefed an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on Friday, reporting on the latest violent incident in which a large group of Palestinians set fire to the compound containing the holy site of Joseph’s Tomb in the West Bank city of Nablus.
Ban says new 2030 Agenda can help eradicate poverty
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): This can be the first generation to witness a world without extreme poverty, where all people – not only the powerful and the privileged – can participate and contribute equally, free of discrimination and want, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Friday, urging global action to fully implement the newly-adopted goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.
UN envoy calls for concerted efforts to eliminate bullying in all regions
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Speaking at a panel discussion on protecting children from bullying, the United Nations envoy on violence against children said bullying is a "serious concern" for millions of children all over the world and it is compromising their right to education.