Peacebuilding efforts needed to tackle Boko Haram, end Lake Chad Basin crisis, Security Council told

Sep 15, 2017, at 04:37 am

New York, Sept 14(Just Earth News): While the efforts of the Governments in Africa's Lake Chad Basin have diminished Boko Haram's combat capacity in the region, the terrorist group has changed its tactics, increasing the use of suicide attacks, the top United Nations political official reported to the Security Council on Thursday.

World's poor bearing the brunt of global crises, stresses UN rights expert

Sep 15, 2017, at 04:36 am

New York, Sept 14(Just Earth News): Impacts of climate change and the global economic crisis are compounding the threats faced by people living in poverty around the world, a United Nations rights expert warned, calling on the international development community to put human rights at the centre of their work.

Security Council calls on Guinea-Bissau leaders to 'find common ground' for swift resolution of political crisis

Sep 14, 2017, at 09:42 am

New York, Sept 14(Just Earth News): Concerned by the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday urged political actors to “put the interests of [the people] above all other consideration” and called on the country's leaders to engage in genuine dialogue, find common ground and implement the Conakry Agreement of 14 October 2016, including by appointing a consensus Prime Minister, as required by that accord.

UN chief calls for action on Myanmar and DPR Korea; launches reform initiatives

Sep 14, 2017, at 09:41 am

New York, Sept 14(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday reiterated his call for Muslims from Myanmar's Rakhine state to be granted nationality or at least a legal status that would allow them to lead a normal life, while also urging the international community to help provide assistance for the nearly 380,000 people who have fled into Bangladesh.

Nigeria: Famine averted but millions still at risk, stresses top UN relief official

Sep 14, 2017, at 04:27 am

New York, Sept 13(Just Earth News): Noting important progress in delivering life-saving aid to millions in north-east Nigeria, the top United Nations humanitarian official underscored that international assistance to people suffering amid the crisis must not dwindle.

South-South cooperation key to overcoming inequalities, says UN deputy chief

Sep 13, 2017, at 09:50 am

New York, Sept 13(Just Earth News): Underscoring the importance of South-South cooperation, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on Tuesday urged sustained commitment to mutually beneficial approaches that will ensure shared prosperity and make sustainable development a reality.

UN trade report highlights impact of loss of land and resources to Palestinian economy

Sep 13, 2017, at 09:49 am

New York, Sept 13(Just Earth News): Agricultural output in the Occupied Palestinian Territory decreased by 11 per cent and the sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) share fell 0.5 per cent between 2015 and 2016 on the back of sparse utilization of cultivatable land, lack of irrigation and a ban on the import of suitable fertilizers by Israel, according to a report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

General Assembly opens 72nd session with focus on the world’s people

Sep 13, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Sept 13(Just Earth News): The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday opened its 72nd session, with an emphasis on striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet.

Egypt: UN chief condemns terrorist attack in northern Sinai

Sep 13, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Sept 13(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the terrorist attack that took place on Monday on a police convoy near el-Arish in northern Sinai in Egypt.

Much of the planet’s land severely degraded owing to increased consumption, UN warns

Sep 13, 2017, at 09:46 am

New York, Sept 13(Just Earth News): A new United Nations report warns that a third of the planet’s land is now severely degraded thanks to a doubling in the consumption of natural resources over the past 30 years.

Over 3.5 million refugee children missing out on education, UN report finds

Sep 13, 2017, at 09:45 am

New York, Sept 13(Just Earth News): Over 3.5 million refugee children did not have the chance to attend school in the last academic year, according to a report published on Tuesday by the United Nations refugee agency, which is calling for education to be a vital component of humanitarian response.

UN envoy stresses urgency of adequate, predictable resources for AU Mission in Somalia

Sep 13, 2017, at 09:43 am

New York, Sept 13(Just Earth News): A senior United Nations official on Tuesday called for greater support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and warned that lack of funding could endanger hard-won progress in the country.

INTERVIEW: UN Assembly President aims to achieve ‘results for people’

Sep 13, 2017, at 04:43 am

New York, Sept 12(Just Earth News): Miroslav Lajčák hopes, that under his presidency, the United Nations General Assembly will overcome narrow national interests and produce tangible benefits for people.

Ongoing tensions pose continued dangers for civilians in eastern Ukraine, notes UN report

Sep 13, 2017, at 04:41 am

New York, Sept 12(Just Earth News): Last month saw a decrease in the number of civilian casualties due to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, according to a new report issued on Tuesday by the United Nations human rights office, which added that the sudden flaring and easing of tensions continues to make daily life dangerous for civilians living close to the so-called “contact line.”

Abuse, exploitation and trafficking 'stark reality' for migrant children trying to reach Europe – UN report

Sep 13, 2017, at 04:39 am

New York, Sept 12(Just Earth News): More than 75 per cent of migrant and refugee children trying to reach Europe via the Central Mediterranean route face appalling levels of abuse, exploitation and trafficking, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said, calling on the continent to establish safe and regular pathways for migration.

Top UN official commends Niger for tackling complex humanitarian crisis

Sep 12, 2017, at 09:50 am

New York, Sept 12(Just Earth News): A top United Nations official on Monday commended the Government of Niger for tackling the country’s complex humanitarian crisis, including leading the provision of life-saving aid to hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable, and highlighted the need to address its root causes.

At close of 71st General Assembly, outgoing President stresses sustainability

Sep 12, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Sept 12(Just Earth News): The United Nations General Assembly on Monday closed its 71st session with a focus on sustainable development, as outgoing president Peter Thomson handed over the gavel to his successor, Miroslav Lajčák.

New mission in Colombia ready to boost confidence for stable peace, says UN envoy

Sep 12, 2017, at 09:46 am

New York, Sept 12(Just Earth News): As the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia prepares to begin its activities, its chief expressed the hope on Monday that, with the support of the Security Council, the new operation should be able to strengthen the country’s confidence for a stable peace.

UNICEF: Decades of progress for children at risk across Middle East and North Africa

Sep 12, 2017, at 05:00 am

New York, Sept 11(Just Earth News): Nearly one-in-five children across the Middle East and North Africa – over 90 per cent of whom live in conflict-affected countries – need immediate humanitarian assistance, according to new analysis by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Further development of DPRK nuclear programme cause of grave concern – UN atomic energy chief

Sep 12, 2017, at 04:58 am

New York, Sept 11(Just Earth News): Noting signs suggesting that a nuclear plant in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) could be operating, the head of the United Nations atomic agency called on the country’s leadership to comply fully with its obligations under Security Council resolutions.

UN chief sends condolences, offers help after earthquake in Mexico

Sep 12, 2017, at 04:57 am

New York, Sept 11(Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres has offered his condolences to the Government and people of Mexico and said the United Nations stands ready to provide support, should it be requested.

Switzerland: train derails at Andermatt rail station, 27 injured

Sep 12, 2017, at 01:02 am

Bern, Sept 11 (IBNS): A train derailed in Switzerland's canton of Uri left 27 people injured on Monday, media reports said.

Continued risk of catastrophic damage as Irma traverses path of destruction, warns UN

Sep 09, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Sept 9(Just Earth News): Hurricane Irma continues to wreak havoc in the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, the United Nations humanitarian wing said on Friday, warning that areas along its path continue to remain at risk of significant damage.

Return of refugees in DR Congo fraught with challenges, reports UN agency

Sep 09, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Sept 9(Just Earth News): Despite improvements in the security situation in conflict-affected parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the return to peace continues to be fragile and the return of the displaced populations remains fraught with challenges, the United Nations refugee agency said.

Hasten efforts to achieve sustainable global goals, urges deputy UN chief

Sep 09, 2017, at 09:45 am

New York, Sept 9(Just Earth News): Noting the efforts being undertaken around the globe to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called for picking up the pace to ensure that the 2030 deadline is met.

INTERVIEW: UN must lead ‘surge in diplomacy’ for peace, Guterres says ahead of 72nd General Assembly

Sep 09, 2017, at 04:50 am

New York, Sept 8(Just Earth News): As the excitement starts to build ahead of the United Nations General Assembly’s annual high-level session – which sees Heads of State and Government and top ministers from nearly all Member States gather in New York to weigh in on the vital issues of the day – Secretary-General António Guterres sat down with UN News to talk about the role of the 72-year-old Organization in a world that is facing more challenges than ever.

‘Robust action’ required to assist growing number of refugees on Greek islands – UN

Sep 09, 2017, at 04:47 am

New York, Sept 8(Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday urged “robust action” to improve conditions on Greece’s eastern Aegean islands, where the number of new refugee arrivals increased last month.

On International Day, UN promotes online literacy in digital world

Sep 09, 2017, at 04:46 am

New York, Sept 8(Just Earth News): New technologies open opportunities to improve lives and connect globally, but they can also marginalize those who are illiterate and lack other essential skills needed to navigate them, a senior United Nations official on Friday said, highlighting that some 750 million adults worldwide are not literate.

At high-level forum, UN stresses importance of education in building ‘culture of peace’

Sep 08, 2017, at 09:42 am

New York, Sept 8(Just Earth News): Education can promote ideals of non-violence, equality and mutual respect, United Nations officials said on Thursday at a high-level event on how to achieve a culture of peace amid current global challenges and threats to stability, prosperity and the planet.

UN, partners seek $106 million in humanitarian aid for drought-hit Kenya

Sep 08, 2017, at 09:41 am

New York, Sept 8(Just Earth News): The United Nations and its humanitarian partners in Kenya on Thursday appealed for $106 million to scale-up their response to the most urgent needs resulting from the egregious effects of the drought in northern Kenya.