Western Sahara: UN announces resumption of family visit flights
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency announced on Thursday that following many months of suspension, family visit flights between Sahrawi refugees living in camps near Tindouf, Algeria, and their families in the territory of Western Sahara has resumed.
Kenya: UN disturbed by arrests of Somali refugees
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The United Nations on Thursday voiced concern over the arrest and detention of over 1,000 refugees and asylum-seekers who were rounded up during counter-terrorism operations launched by Kenyan security forces in Nairobi this month.
UN urges fresh talks with besieged Syrians, authorities
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): Regretting the abrupt halt in talks between the Syrian authorities and the negotiating committee representing civilians and fighters trapped in the Old City of Homs, United Nations-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Thursday urged all the parties to return to the negotiating table and complete the deal that had been on the verge of being signed.
Gaza: UN calls for end to Israeli blockade
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): On his first official visit to the Gaza Strip, the new head of the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees across the Middle East underscored the need to lift the seven-year Israeli blockade and end the "illegal collective punishment" unleashed on the population there.
South Sudan: Ban condemns attack on UN base in Jonglei
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): Amid escalating violence in northern and central South Sudan, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned Thursday's attack on civilians and peacekeepers at the UN mission base in Bor, the war-torn capital of Jonglei state, by a mob of armed civilians who forced their way into the facility and opened fire on displaced persons sheltering inside.
Geneva: Ban welcomes initial talks to defuse Ukraine crisis
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said he was encouraged by the initial round of diplomatic negotiations on the crisis in Ukraine held in Geneva, but stressed that all sides need to follow up words with deeds as the situation remains 'extremely volatile.'
CAR: Ban calls on all parties to end fighting
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): On the heels of his recent visit to the Central African Republic (CAR), where the deadly rift between Christians and Muslims continues to widen, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday in a radio message appealed to all Central Africans to build a unified country through peace.
UN urges UK to address violence against women
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): Violence against women remains a pervasive challenge in the United Kingdom and a more comprehensive and targeted response is needed to address the scourge, an independent United Nations human rights expert said on Wednesday after a two-week mission to the country.
Nigeria: UN seeks immediate release of abducted school girls
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have condemned the abduction of some 100 school girls from their hostel in north-eastern Nigeria on Tuesday and called for their immediate release.
Argentina violated rights of prisoner with disabilities: UN
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): A United Nations human rights panel said on Wednesday that Argentine authorities failed to ensure that a prisoner with disabilities was able to use prison facilities and services on an equal basis with other detainees, and urged them to take steps to rectify the situation.
UNSC marks 20th anniversary of Rwandan genocide
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday marked the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide by calling on all countries to recommit to prevent and fight such serious crimes, as a senior United Nations official warned that many of on Wednesday's conflicts reveal that protection of populations from atrocities remains "lagging and elusive."
UN seeks emergency funds to aid civilians fleeing CAR
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): United Nations humanitarian agencies and their partners on Wednesday launched a joint appeal to donors to fund emergency operations in support of the growing number of people who have been fleeing the conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) since last December.
South Sudan: UN concerned over swelling number of refugees
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): Spiraling violence has forced an increasing number of civilians in South Sudan's oil-rich Unity state are seeking refuge with the United Nations peacekeeping mission, it was confirmed on Wednesday.
Ban pushes for 2015 global agreement on disaster risk
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): Disaster risk reduction and climate change are closely linked, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday stressed, reiterating to the world community his key priorities through the next year as preparations continue for the 2015 world conference on reducing risk from natural disasters.
DR Congo: UN condemns attack on Virunga National Park director
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): A senior United Nations official on Wednesday condemned the attack against the chief warden of Virunga National Park, and urged the international community to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in protecting not only its World Heritage sites but also those who safeguard them.