Ban saddened at death of UN envoy Norman Girvan
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday voiced his deep sadness at the death of Norman Girvan of Jamaica, who had been his Personal Representative on the Border Controversy between Guyana and Venezuela since April 2010.
Syria: UN strongly condemns car bomb attacks in Homs
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): Speaking out strongly against Wednesday's deadly car bomb attacks on a busy shopping street in the Syrian city of Homs, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator said such brutality serves to remind us again of the contempt the parties to this conflict show for human life.
Sudan: UN urges support to prevent further food crisis
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday called for urgent support for farmers and herders in Sudan in order to help prevent a further worsening of the food security situation in the country.
UNSC establishes peacekeeping mission in CAR
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): Deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation and ongoing human rights abuses in the Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday approved the establishment of a nearly 12,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping operation to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access in the war-torn country.
Iran: UN appeals for medical care of political prisoners
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): A group of independent United Nations human rights experts on Thursday voiced alarm at the denial of medical care to two political prisoners in Iran who are at risk of dying in detention due to worsening health conditions, and urged the authorities to provide them with treatment.
Ban joins campaign to get all children into school by 2015
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday joined a prominent roster of global leaders, campaigners and celebrities in Washington, D.C. to help launch a new worldwide campaign that aims to get 57 million children into school.
Around half million people murdered worldwide in 2012: UN
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): Almost half a million people across the world lost their lives in 2012 as a result of intentional homicide, with the highest murder rates logged in the Americas and Africa, and the lowest in Europe, Asia and Oceania, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports.
UN concerned over eviction of indigenous group in Cameroon
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The independent United Nations experts dealing with the rights of minorities and of indigenous peoples on Thursday voiced their concern about the eviction and demolition of houses of the Mbororo pastoralist community in Cameroon, and urged a solution to their plight.
UN concerned by political violence in Burundi
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The United Nations on Thursday called on the Government of Burundi to address ongoing political violence and restrictions on human rights, saying it is receiving "troubling" information about recent developments in the country.
UN establishes peacekeeping mission in CAR
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): Deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation and ongoing human rights abuses in the Central Africa Republic (CAR), the UN Security Council on Thursday approved the establishment of a nearly 12,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping operation to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access in the war-torn country.
China: Bus overturns in Hainan province , 8 killed
Haikou, Apr 10 (IBNS) At least eight students were killed and above 30 others were injured as a bus in which they were traveling was overturned at Hainan province in China on Thursday, media reports said.
UN provides aid to besieged Syrians in eastern Aleppo
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) said on Wednesday it managed to bring humanitarian aid to a besieged neighbourhood in eastern Aleppo, an area that had been cut off from assistance since last June.
UN urges DR Congo to end impunity for sexual violence
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): United Nations officials on Wednesday called on the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to step up the fight against impunity for rape and sexual violence, which remain widespread and largely unpunished despite some progress in holding perpetrators accountable.
UN launches joint talks on development partnerships
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): The United Nations took a major step on the road towards crafting a new, sustainability-focused agenda, as two of the Organization's main bodies - the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) - brought Member States together to weigh action-oriented solutions for mobilizing new and existing development partnerships.
South Sudan: UN reaffirms commitment to protect civilians
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Wednesday that since the hostilities that erupted between the Government and opposition forces last December, an average of 75,000 civilians have found refuge from violence in UN bases across the country.