Nov 12, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News): Gravely concerned about allegations of rape and sexual assault of women and girls in Northern Rakhine state in Myanmar following recent border attacks, Zainab Hawa Bangura, the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict called on Friday on the Government to ensure that an impartial and effective investigation is conducted into the alleged incidents.
Risk of ‘outright ethnic war’ and genocide in South Sudan, UN envoy warns
Nov 12, 2016, at 01:55 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News): Visiting conflict-plagued South Sudan, the United Nations envoy on genocide prevention on Friday warned that the African country is at risk of plunging into “an outright ethnic war†and of genocide being committed.
UN development agency working with Cuban government in areas hard-hit by Hurricane Matthew
Nov 12, 2016, at 01:53 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is cooperating with Cuban authorities to support early recovery in Baracoa, MaisÃ, ImÃas and San Antonio del Sur, the areas of the island nation most-affected by Hurricane Matthew.
Mosul offensive against ISIL pushing Iraq’s civilians into war-ravaged Syria – UN rights wing
Nov 12, 2016, at 01:52 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News): Amid the intensification of the military offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) in Iraq’s Mosul city and the resulting displacement of civilians, the United Nations human rights wing said on Friday that it has received reports that Iraqi civilians are also fleeing into Syria, which itself is reeling under a five-year long conflict that has displaced millions of Syrians and left hundreds of thousands trapped in besieged cities.
Rehabilitating drylands key to global food security, according to new UN report
Nov 12, 2016, at 01:51 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News): A new report released on Friday by the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) reveals that drylands, which cover some 40 per cent of the earth’s land surface, are critical in order to buffer the negative impacts of climate change, land degradation, and drought.
MARRAKECH: Private sector commits to actions on sustainable energy for a just climate future for all
Nov 12, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News): In connection with the theme-based actions being announced at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Marrakech (COP 22), new commitments and initiatives to use renewable energy were in the spotlight on Friday as one of the most effective ways to implement the landmark Paris Agreement, which entered into force on 4 November 2016.
Tough action on pneumonia and diarrhoea can save more than one million lives annually – UNICEF
Nov 12, 2016, at 01:48 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News): According to the latest statistics from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), pneumonia and diarrhoea kill some 1.4 million children each year, mostly in middle and low-income countries, despite the fact that these illnesses are largely preventable through straightforward and cost-effective solutions.
Nov 12, 2016, at 02:43 am
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News): As mass graves and further evidence of sexual exploitation of women and girls, torture and killings, child recruitment and other grave human rights abuses committed by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) extremists in Iraq come to light, the top United Nations human rights official has called for immediate action to ensure that the rights and the needs of victims and survivors are met – including the need for justice, truth and reconciliation.
New letters by Indian Muslim soldiers from WW1 disclosed
Nov 11, 2016, at 11:16 pm
London, Nov 11 (IBNS): On Armistice Day, a literature expert at Birmingham City University (UK) has disclosed previously unreported letters from the early 1900s by some of India’s Muslim soldiers who fought in World War One.
Nov 11, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News): Film star Liam Neeson has said that he was impressed by the strength and spark of the Syrian children after visiting the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan as part of his advocacy work as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador.
Nov 11, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News): Despite continuing challenges, a mood of optimism has taken hold in Lebanon following the recent election of President Michel Aoun and additional political breakthroughs are expected.
Senior UN police officers brief Security Council on their work and challenges they face
Nov 11, 2016, at 01:53 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News): Briefing the Security Council on Thursday, police chiefs from United Nations missions highlighted the work of their respective units and informed the Council members of the challenges their officers face the ground.
Syria: UN envoy urges action to avert mass hunger in eastern Aleppo ahead of ‘killer’ winter
Nov 11, 2016, at 01:51 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News): The United Nations humanitarian envoy for Syria on Thursday urged actions to stave off the threat of mass hunger in eastern Aleppo before the arrival of winter that he fears could be “a real killer†for a quarter of a million people trapped there.
Civilian death toll in Iraq nearly doubles from September to October – UN
Nov 11, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News): The number of civilians killed in Iraq last month has nearly doubled since September according to recently released figures by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
FEATURE: UN Police heavyweights steer strategies for safer world
Nov 11, 2016, at 01:48 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News): Crisp uniforms and the jingle-jangle of brass filled the corridors. With them, came an extra sense of security that permeated United Nations Headquarters in New York this week. For the eleventh year running, erect posture and striding confidence was the daily modus operandi, as the Heads of United Nations Police Components amassed for UN Police (UNPOL) Week 2016, which runs from 7-11 November.
Despite progress, hundreds of children still die of measles every day – UN-backed report
Nov 11, 2016, at 01:47 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News): A United Nations-backed report issued on Thursday has revealed that despite a 79 per cent worldwide decrease in measles deaths between 2000 and 2015, nearly 400 children still die from the disease every day.
MARRAKECH: Cities are striving to play key role in implementing Paris climate accord
Nov 11, 2016, at 01:46 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Marrakech (COP 22), put its spotlight on Thursday on cities, towns and regions around the world that are striving to play a key role in implementing the Paris Agreement, which entered into force on 4 November, including by reducing their carbon emissions.
UN allocates $12 million in humanitarian funding to support people in Central African Republic
Nov 11, 2016, at 01:45 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations relief official on Thursday announced the release of $12 million from the Humanitarian Fund in Central African Republic (CAR) for 26 projects for national and international non-governmental organizations and UN agencies in the sub-Saharan country.
Nov 11, 2016, at 05:18 am
New York, Nov 10 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is advocating a collaboration between the international conservation community and palm oil developers in order to create sustainable strategies that will save fragile ecosystems and the species that inhabit them, particularly apes.
Sugar, dairy and staple grains push food price index up by 0.7 per cent in October – UN
Nov 11, 2016, at 05:16 am
New York, Nov 10 (Just Earth News): Rise in the price indices of staple grains, sugar and dairy have pushed global food price index up by 0.7 per cent in October 2016 to 172.6 points (9.1 per cent from a year earlier), the United Nations food and agricultural agency said on Thursday.
World closer to ending modern slavery as UN-backed protocol on forced labour comes into force
Nov 11, 2016, at 05:15 am
New York, Nov 10 (Just Earth News): An international protocol on forced labour has entered into force, a major milestone in the fight to end the practice, which the United Nations labour agency estimates victimizes 21 million people worldwide.
Science centres and museums vitally important for sustainable development – UNESCO
Nov 11, 2016, at 05:14 am
New York, Nov 10 (Just Earth News): Noting the centrality of science in major global sustainable development agenda, the head of the United Nations educational and scientific agency underscored the importance of science centres and museums to build skill and capacities as well as to send strong messages about the importance of science for sustainable development.
Barack Obama, Donald Trump meet at White House
Nov 11, 2016, at 04:20 am
Washington, Nov 10 (IBNS): US President Barack Obama on Thursday greeted President-elect Donald Trump at the White House for ensuring a smooth transition of power, media reports said.
Seattle: 5 shot outside convenience store
Nov 10, 2016, at 04:36 pm
Seattle, Nov 10 (IBNS): At least five people were shot outside a Seattle convenience store on Wednesday night, reports said.
International Criminal Court aims to make Libya a priority for next year, says Prosecutor
Nov 10, 2016, at 01:52 pm
New York, Nov 10 (Just Earth News): The International Criminal Court (ICC) will make the situation in Libya a priority in 2017, its prosecutor said on Wednesday, citing the widespread violence, lawlessness and impunity in the country and the tragic consequences of the conflict borne by civilians.
UN agency responding to severe health risks women and girls face amid Mosul military operation
Nov 10, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, Nov 10 (Just Earth News): The United Nations estimates that 1.2 to 1.5 million people are currently being affected by the military operations underway to retake Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS or Da’esh), some quarter million of which are women who potentially need reproductive health services and care for gender-based violence.
Nov 10, 2016, at 01:49 pm
New York, Nov 10 (Just Earth News): Alongside liberating the country’s territory from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), it is essential that processes are undertaken to “capture the hearts and minds†of all Iraqis from all parts of Iraq for it to be peaceful and united, the United Nations envoy to the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Nov 10, 2016, at 01:48 pm
New York, Nov 10 (Just Earth News): In a first for United Nations climate change conferences, a special day was devoted to action on water issues, providing stakeholders gathered in Marrakech, Morocco, for the so-called ‘COP 22’ an opportunity spotlight water as a way of providing solutions to help implement the Paris Agreement.
Small farmers can earn big returns by investing in climate adaptation, new UN report finds
Nov 10, 2016, at 01:47 pm
New York, Nov 10 (Just Earth News): The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Wednesday issued a new report which shows that for every dollar invested through its Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP), farmers could earn a return of between $1.40 and $2.60 over a 20 year period by applying climate change adaptation practices.
UNICEF sounds alarm over safety of children in Myanmar’s Rakhine state
Nov 10, 2016, at 01:46 pm
New York, Nov 10 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern for the safety of children in the northern part of Myanmar’s Rakhine state which is in the midst of “security operations,†the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called upon the Government to protect children there from all forms of violence and to support prompt and independent investigations into reports of grave violations against them.