WHO draws lessons from Ebola to prepare roadmap for future epidemics
New York, May 13 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday concluded a meeting on Ebola research and development to look at lessons learned from the outbreak and develop a roadmap for future epidemics so that “we can be better prepared, faster, and more effective†in the next global health emergency.
International community must be proactive in helping Libya restore peace: ICC Prosecutor
New York, May 13 (IBNS): With the security situation in Libya quickly deteriorating, the international community must be more proactive in exploring solutions in order to tangibly help the North African nation restore stability and strengthen accountability, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.
UN urges Southeast Asian countries to make efforts to combat people smuggling
New York, May 13 (IBNS): Amid continuing reports that thousands of people are stranded on smugglers’ boats in Southeast Asian waters, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday called on governments in the region to ramp up search-and-rescue operations between the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca.
UN mission deplores deteriorating tensions in Sudan’s Darfur region
New York, May 13 (IBNS): The joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has strongly deplored “the rapid deterioration of tensions†between the Rezeigat and Ma’alia tribes as both parties continue to engage each other in a series of armed confrontations which have resulted in dozens of casualties.
Ban ‘alarmed’ by outbreak of violence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed alarm over the recent outbreak of violence in the city of Kumanovo in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and extended his condolences to the families of those killed and injured.
Afghanistan: UN condemns Taliban’s attack on judges and prosecutors
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned Sunday's suicide attack against a civilian bus transporting employees of the Attorney General's Office in Kabul, which killed five prosecutors, including three women prosecutors and injured 19 other civilians.
Yemen humanitarian pause ‘a lifeline’ for civilians trapped by fighting: UN official
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The top United Nations relief official on Monday welcomed the announcement of a humanitarian pause in Yemen, set to start tomorrow, as aid operations resume in the embattled country following the arrival of two World Food Programme (WFP) cargo ships in Hudaydah over the weekend carrying fuel, food, water, and nutritional supplies.
South Sudan: Heavy fighting in northeast force, UN to evacuate staff
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has expressed growing concern about “continuing and consistent reports†emanating from two north-eastern counties regarding a surge in kidnappings and rapes and an overall uptick in violence, which has forced the UN and other aid agencies to withdraw staff from the region.
Syria: UN resumes aid distribution to civilians displaced from Yarmouk
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has resumed the provision of assistance to people displaced from Yarmouk camp in Syria, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed.
Mediterranean crisis demands ‘intensive dialogue’: Security Council
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The Mediterranean migrant crisis calls for collective action focused on the immediate need to save lives or else it will represent “a moral failure of the first order,†one that undermines international law and security, a top United Nations migration official warned on Monday.
Mothers and children need more social protection: UN labour agency
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Calling for greater “social protection†for women as the United Nations draws up a new development agenda, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has cited alarming statics, including that some 800 women die in child birth every day, only 28 per cent of employed women receive cash benefits during their maternity leave, and that child poverty is rising in 18 of 28 countries in the European Union.
Geneva: UN envoy looks forward to consultations with Syrian opposition envoy
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations envoy on the Syria crisis has noted recent decisions taken by the National Coalition of the Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces (SOC) and is looking forward to the arrival of the National Coalition's Envoy in Geneva, where UN facilitated consultations are taking place.
Ebola: Expert panel urges ‘unified entity’ within WHO for emergency response
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Independent experts tasked to assess the World Health Organization’s (WHO) response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa on Monday said “at present, WHO does not have the operational capacity or culture to deliver a full emergency public health response†and urged investments by its member States to make it fit for purpose.
UN mission in Darfur ‘concerned’ by escalating tensions between tribes
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Following recent escalation in tensions between the Rezeigat and Ma’alia tribes, the joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur on Monday expressed serious concern about the possible implications and encouraged the leaders and members of both groups to exercise maximum restraint, engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve their dispute.
Ban welcomes Central Africa's peace pact as reflection of people’s aspirations
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the people of the Central African Republic (CAR) for the adoption of a peace pact that reflects on their aspirations to put the conflict behind them once and for all and to build a more peaceful and democratic country.