Jan 24, 2016, at 02:55 pm
New York, Jan 24 (JEN/IBNS) Senior United Nations humanitarian officials today called on the authorities and various factions in war-torn Yemen to allow sustained access into the besieged central city of Taiz after seeing first-hand the desperate state of its inhabitants, who lack critical medical supplies, food and other basic needs for survival.
Haiti: UN chief concerned at postponement of polls; calls on all sides to refrain from violence
Jan 24, 2016, at 02:54 pm
New York, Jan 24 (IBNS) Voicing concern at the postponement of tomorrow's already delayed presidential elections in Haiti, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called on all political actors to refrain from violence and complete the electoral process peacefully without further delay.
4 killed in Canada school shooting
Jan 23, 2016, at 03:33 pm
Toronto, Jan 23 (IBNS) At least four people were killed in a shooting at Saskatchewan province in Canada on Friday, media reports said.
El Niño threatens at least 60 million people in high-risk countries: UN agency
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:26 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): El Niño threatens at least 60 million people in high-risk developing countries – UN agency The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners announced today they predict a major global increase in health consequences of emergencies this year due to El Niño.
Imperative to pursue criminal accountability of the DPR Korea leadership: UN expert
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:23 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday called on the international community to further all efforts to improve the human rights situation in the country.
UN Economic and Social Council marks 70th anniversary
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:22 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), its current President on Friday highlighted the organ’s central role in realizing the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years.
Security Council delegation visits Burundi in diplomatic push to end tension
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:21 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Diplomats from the United Nations Security Council are wrapping up a visit to crisis-torn Burundi, after meetings with top Government officials in the capital, Bujumbura, where they encouraged all parties to pursue an inclusive dialogue process that would help end months of political turmoil.
Twenty countries in the Americas reporting cases of Zika virus: WHO
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:19 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Twenty countries in the Americas and about 10 in Africa, Asia and the Pacific have reported cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus infection according to information delivered on Friday by the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
Incitement to anti-gay killings in Malawi draws concern of UN human rights office
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:18 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Eath News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights office on Friday expressed concern over recent developments in Malawi, after the spokesperson of one of the country’s main political parties recently called for gay and lesbian people to be killed, describing them as "worse than dogs."
Zurich: Ban calls on governments to leave no one behind in era of global sustainability
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:16 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): If the landmark Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were a pact between donors and recipients, the 2030 Agenda must become must become the basis of a new social contract, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday, urging governments to show strong ownership in the framework by aligning policies, legislation and resources so that people and the planet can benefit.
UN and partners in Haiti reiterate support for conclusion of electoral process
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:14 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations and its partners in Haiti reiterated on Friday their support for the outcome of the electoral process in the country, where political tensions have simmered ahead of the second round of presidential polls, which was set for Sunday, but which reportedly has been postponed.
Somalia: UN condemns deadly Al-Shabaab attacks against civilian targets in Mogadishu
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:12 pm
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Security Council condemned in the strongest terms on Friday's attack in Mogadishu perpetrated by Al-Shabaab, "which has resulted in a number of deaths and injuries of innocent civilians going about their daily lives."
Syria: UN agencies and 120 humanitarian organizations call for action now
Jan 22, 2016, at 01:49 pm
New York, Jan 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Outlining a series of immediate, practical steps that can improve humanitarian access and the delivery of aid to those in need inside Syria, more than 120 humanitarian organizations and United Nations agencies issued a joint appeal on Thursday urging the world to raise their voices and call for an end to the Syria crisis.
Ban calls on Israel to change policy after reported take-over of West Bank land
Jan 22, 2016, at 01:47 pm
New York, Jan 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for "substantial policy changes on the ground" by Israel, voicing deep concern at reports that the Government has declared of 370 acres in the occupied West Bank south of Jericho as so-called "state land."
Ban holds first joint meeting with Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders
Jan 22, 2016, at 01:45 pm
New York, Jan 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): In his first joint meeting with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged them to "capitalize on the current positive momentum" to reunite the island under a federal government.
Ban announces first-ever High-Level Panel on Women's Economic Empowerment
Jan 22, 2016, at 01:43 pm
New York, Jan 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday announced the first-ever High-Level Panel on Women's Economic Empowerment to provide leadership and mobilize concrete actions aimed at closing economic gender gaps that persist around the world.
Ban welcomes ministerial meeting on dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon
Jan 22, 2016, at 01:42 pm
New York, Jan 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General on Thursday welcomed the holding of a trilateral ministerial meeting on the dispute between Equatorial Guinea and the Gabonese Republic.
NATO Secretary General to attend the World Economic Forum
Jan 21, 2016, at 10:11 pm
London, Jan 21 (IBNS) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, will attend the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan 22 and Jan 23.
Yemeni journalist's death in air strike deplored by UNESCO
Jan 21, 2016, at 03:23 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Deploring the death of Yemeni journalist Almigdad Mojalli, who was killed by shrapnel in an air strike in Sana'a, the capital, the United Nations agency responsible for defending media freedom on Wednesday called on all sides in the strife-torn country to ensure the safety of all journalists.
UN agency calls on donors to support Syrian farmers in their hour of need
Jan 21, 2016, at 03:21 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With the war in Syria now approaching its sixth year, agricultural production has plummeted and food supplies are at an all-time low, pushing millions of people into hunger, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization stressed on Wednesday, calling on governments to boost funding to help farmers keep their lands in production and prevent the situation from deteriorating even further.
Israel must immediately halt planned relocation of Palestinian Bedouin: UN officials
Jan 21, 2016, at 03:17 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Senior United Nations officials for the occupied Palestinian territory have called for an immediate end to Israeli plans to transfer Bedouin living in the Jerusalem area for a settlement expansion, long recognized as a violation of international law and an obstacle to realizing a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis.
Half the population of Central African Republic faces hunger, UN warns
Jan 21, 2016, at 03:16 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): An emergency food security assessment by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners has revealed that half the population of the Central African Republic (CAR) – nearly 2.5 million people – faces hunger.
Business must play part in achieving new Sustainable Development Goals: Ban
Jan 21, 2016, at 03:14 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Speaking at the Global Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called on the world’s business community to play its full role in helping to achieve the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which seeks to eliminate poverty, hunger and a raft of social ills, all within 15 years.
Ban welcomes request by Colombian Government and FARC to set up UN political office
Jan 21, 2016, at 03:13 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the joint request from the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) on Tuesday announcing their decision to request the UN Security Council to establish a political mission in the country to monitor any future ceasefire agreement.
Global foreign direct investment hit eight-year high in 2015: UN report
Jan 21, 2016, at 03:09 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows rose by 36 per cent in 2015, reaching their highest levels since the financial crisis, according to a report out on Wednesday from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which pegged the increase to a wave of cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
UN congratulates Libyans and Presidency Council on naming unity government
Jan 20, 2016, at 03:04 pm
New York, Jan 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Senior United Nations officials on Tuesday welcomed the nomination of the Government of National Accord in Libya by the Presidency Council as a significant step forward in the quest to end the country's political divisions and armed conflict.
'Staggering' civilian death toll in Iraq: UN report
Jan 20, 2016, at 03:02 pm
New York, Jan 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A United Nations report released on Tuesday details the severe and extensive impact on civilians of the ongoing conflict in Iraq, with at least 18,802 civilians killed and another 36,245 wounded between January 2014 and October 2015, while another 3.2 million people have been internally displaced due to violence.
Long-term funding crucial to monitoring nuclear agreement with Iran: UN
Jan 20, 2016, at 03:01 pm
New York, Jan 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The head of the United Nations nuclear agency on Tuesday called for long-term predictable funding to monitor Iran’s agreement with the international community to never seek, develop or acquire nuclear weapons.
Winter poses hazards to child refugees and migrants arriving in Europe: UN
Jan 20, 2016, at 02:59 pm
New York, Jan 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With children now accounting for more than one in three of the tens of thousands of refugees and migrants flooding into Europe, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday voiced concern at the impact recent sub-zero temperatures and snowy conditions were having on them.
Aid deliveries reach four Syrian towns while situation in east grave: UN
Jan 20, 2016, at 02:57 pm
New York, Jan 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Overnight aid deliveries reached the Syrian towns of Madaya, Zabadani, Kefraya and Foah, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which on Tuesday announced it is planning on delivering more assistance.