Haiti: UN official says cholera outbreak needs urgent attention
New York, May 15 (IBNS): The cholera outbreak in Haiti remains the largest in recent world history, according to the United Nations official coordinating the Organization’s cholera response in the country, yet the health crisis has fallen off the international agenda after having ceased appearing in the media.
Two Indians among 14 killed in attack on Kabul guest house
Kabul, May 14 (IBNS) Two Indians and an American were among 14 killed when gunmen stormed a guest house in Kabul on Wednesday niht and attacked the inmates, mostly foreigners.
Yemen: UN welcomes ceasefire as humanitarian relief begins to arrive
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian official has welcomed the commencement of a ceasefire in Yemen aimed at allowing the delivery of “lifesaving†relief and aid to the country's civilian populations.
Arms Trade Treaty vital to halting flow of casual instruments of death: Security Council
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The widespread availability of small arms and light weapons, and their ammunition, is the common factor in over 250 conflicts witnessed across the globe in the last decade, the United Nations Secretary-General told the Security Council on Wednesday, pointing to 50,000 deaths along with displacement levels unseen since the Second World War as direct consequences of such violence.
UN report shows mixed results for reaching MDG health targets by end of 2015
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The United Nations health agency on Wednesday reported that by the end of 2015, the world will have met the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for turning around the epidemics of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, and boosting access to drinking water, but will likely fall short of reaching other health-related goals in areas such as child and maternal deaths and basic sanitation.
UN voices alarm over pushbacks of boats carrying migrants in Southeast Asia
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency has said it is “extremely alarmed†at reports suggesting that Indonesian and Malaysian authorities have pushed back boats carrying numerous migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh.
UN official tells Forest Forum how it can contribute to sustainable development
New York, May 14 (IBNS): A new international agreement on forests should aim at advancing implementation of sustainable forest management and bring about a reversal of deforestation, the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) said on Wednesday morning.
UN welcomes European Union proposals for ‘visionary’ migration reforms
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency and the world body’s top envoy on international migration have applauded European Union (EU) authorities’ proposals for dealing with refugees and migrants arriving in Europe via the Mediterranean, calling for swift implementation of the reforms “for the urgent purpose of saving lives.â€
Rebel group responsible for violations in DR Congo massacres: UN report
New York, May 14 (IBNS): A United Nations human rights report released on Wednesday says that a Uganda-based rebel group has committed grave violations of international humanitarian law in crisis-riven north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
North Korea said to execute its defence minister
Seoul, South Korea, May 13 (IBNS) The defence minister of North Korea was recently executed as a "traitor" for showing disrespect for its top leader, Kim Jong Un, The New York Times quoted south Korean intelligence officials as saying on Wednesday.
UN voices deep concern as deadly violence flares up across South Sudan
New York, May 13 (IBNS): A deadly outburst of violence between residents of a United Nations protection-of-civilians (PoC) site in the South Sudanese capital of Juba has prompted the Organization's strong condemnation and triggered wider concern over the safety of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the country.
UN human rights office draws attention to ‘alarming’ reports of massacre in Angola
New York, May 13 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday urged the Angolan Government to ensure “a truly meaningful, independent, thorough investigation†into reports of an alleged massacre in the central province of Huambo with “wildly differing†casualty figures.
UNESCO chief denounces the murder of Mexican journalist
New York, May 13 (IBNS): While stressing the need to end impunity of crimes against media workers, the head of the United Nations agency charged with promoting press freedom urged on Tuesday a full inquiry into the killing of journalist Armando Saldaña Morales in Mexico.
Ahead of humanitarian pause, Yemen sees deadliest week of fighting: UN
New York, May 13 (IBNS): Nearly 200 civilians have died in Yemen in the past week, as the country has seen its deadliest period of fighting since violence broke out on 26 March this year, according to figures released on Tuesday by the United Nations human rights office.
Geneva: UN envoy continues Syria consultations with national and regional stakeholders
New York, May 13 (IBNS):The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is continuing his meetings in Geneva aimed at bringing a political solution to the ongoing crisis in the Middle Eastern country, a spokesperson for the Organization confirmed on Tuesday.