Libyan political parties, activists conclude second round of UN-backed talks
Apr 15, 2015, at 04:19 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): A second meeting of Libyan political parties and activists, facilitated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), concluded its deliberations on Tuesday in the Algerian capital by reiterating the commitment to the political dialogue as the only option to resolve the crisis in Libya.
Yarmouk crisis, international community has compelling imperative to act: UN
Apr 14, 2015, at 03:10 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): The thousands of Palestinian and Syrian refugees trapped in the Yarmouk refugee camp have suffered “untold indignities†amid intensifying hostilities between armed groups in the area, the United Nations agency concerned with the well-being of Palestinian refugees declared on Monday.
Nearly 800,000 children forced to flee violence in Nigeria: UNICEF
Apr 14, 2015, at 03:09 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): A new report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveals that least 800,000 children have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the conflict in northeast Nigeria between Boko Haram, military forces and civilian self-defence groups.
UNESCO condemns destruction at Iraq’s Nimrud site
Apr 14, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): The United Nations agency mandated with protecting heritage sites worldwide on Monday denounced further destruction at the archaeological site of Nimrud in Iraq, calling the deliberate damage of culture a "war crime" and pledging to do everything possible to fight it.
Algeria: UN envoy opens latest round of talks between Libyan leaders
Apr 14, 2015, at 03:07 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): Libyan stakeholders must give the country’s United Nations-facilitated peace process a chance in order for a political solution to take hold and end the ongoing fighting in the North African nation, the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has declared.
Doha: UN spotlights equal access to justice in promoting economic development
Apr 14, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): The role fair, transparent and accessible legal frameworks play in poverty eradication – and in promoting sustainable development – was highlighted on Monday by General Assembly President Sam Kutesa and other top United Nations officials told the UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, in Doha, Qatar on Monday.
Official stresses link between demographic shifts and UN development
Apr 14, 2015, at 02:56 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): As United Nations Member States met on Monday in New York to begin the 48th session of the Commission on Population and Development, the head of the UN office dealing with economic and social affairs underlined the importance of the link between population changes and the Organization’s current development priorities.
UN unveils new online tool to reduce risks to aircraft in conflict zones
Apr 14, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has launched a new website issuing warnings about risks to aircraft in conflict zones, which aims to serve as a single source for up-to-date assessments from States and relevant international organizations to reduce risks to civil aviation arising from armed conflict.
UN Postal conference aims to work on strategy reflecting new challenges
Apr 14, 2015, at 02:50 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): In a message delivered on Monday to delegates at the World Strategy Conference for the United Nations postal agency, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underlined the essential role to be played by postal services in global efforts to build a sustainable future.
Doha: UN conference stresses grave need to combat wildlife crime
Apr 14, 2015, at 02:43 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): With wildlife and forest crimes on the rise, yielding enormous profits for criminal networks, United Nations high-level officials at a major anti-crime meeting under way in Doha, Qatar, stressed the gravity of the scourge, saying that it fuels violence, corrupts supply chains and undermines the rule of law.
Human Space Flight Day: UN spotlights the need to advance exploration
Apr 13, 2015, at 02:04 pm
New York, Apr 13 (IBNS): Marking International Day of Human Space Flight, the United Nations on Sunday spotlighted the contribution of space science and technology to sustainable development and underscored the need to push the boundaries of exploration for the benefit of all people.
Human rights, rule of law vital for sustainable development: Ban
Apr 13, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, Apr 13 (IBNS): Kicking off the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Doha, Qatar, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon along with several other top UN officials on Sunday spotlighted the critical connection between rule of law and sustainable development.
Afghan civilian casualties from ground combat rise in 2015: UN
Apr 13, 2015, at 02:01 pm
New York, Apr 13 (IBNS): In the first three months of 2015, civilian casualties from ground engagements rose by eight per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the latest figures released on Sunday by the United Nations with warning that the toll is likely to rise in the coming summer months.
UN: IKEA campaign to brighten lives of thousands of refugees
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): A global campaign launched by the big-box retailer Ikea has raised millions of dollars to help the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) in its efforts to provide refugees with renewable energy devices and educational opportunities, the agency announced on Friday.
Vanuatu: UN urges support for Government-led relief efforts
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The Government of Vanuatu urgently needs funding to continue basic humanitarian relief efforts such as food, safe drinking water and shelter, according to the United Nations humanitarian mission helping the country respond to the effects of Cyclone Pam.
Yemen crisis getting worse by the hour: UN official
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:16 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The humanitarian situation in Yemen is “getting worse by the hour,†the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the country warned on Friday, saying that the escalating conflict has put millions of people at risk of physical injury or death.
UN agency voices concern as violence in Yarmouk refugee camp intensifies
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The violence in Yarmouk camp is intensifying, plunging the Palestinian refugee camp into the “lower reaches of hell†amid running battles between armed groups, a spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday.
Mali: Security Council welcomes political agreement as step towards peace
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The members of the United Nations Security Council on Friday welcomed a peace and reconciliation accord between the Malian Government, armed groups and an international mediation team in what the body described as an “historic opportunity†for resolving the African country’s ongoing political and security crisis.
Central Africa: UN deplores protestor's death after attacks
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:11 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic, known by its French acronym MINUSCA, has deplored the death and injuries resulting from a mob attack against its base in the city of Kaga-Bandoro – the second violent act of this kind in less than a week.
UN mission condemns killing of Afghan civilians in spate of attacks
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:09 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Friday condemned the killing of at least 18 civilians over the last 24 hours in three separate incidents, and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
Ebola outbreak still a global emergency despite drop in cases: WHO
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:08 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): A meeting convened by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa still poses a threat to international peace and security, despite a major fall-off in in case incidence and geographic distribution in the most-affected countries Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Panama: Ban urges business leaders to support new development agenda
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:07 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General, in an address in Panama to the CEO Summit of the Americas, said on Friday that business has a key role in the success of several important international forums taking place in 2015 and will be deeply involved in the implementation of their outcomes.
Israel’s administrative detention against Palestinians draws UN's concern
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) on Friday expressed concern by the continued and increasing use of administrative detention by Israeli authorities against Palestinians, who are being held without charge or trial, often on the basis of secret evidence, for periods of up to six months.
Ban looks forward to peaceful holding of State assembly elections in Nigeria
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:02 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): As Nigeria gets set this weekend to hold its Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the country’s people and Government on the peaceful manner in which the recent presidential and parliamentary elections were held and expressed the hope that similar conditions will prevail during the new polls.
UN forum seeks answers to questions on sustainable development reality
Apr 10, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): As the Economic and Social Council began on Thursday its Development Cooperation Forum in Incheon, Republic of Korea, senior United Nations officials emphasized the need to build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals and to deliver sustainable development for all by finding strategies to mobilize significant financial resources.
Civilians in Yemen willfully abandoned to misery: Ban
Apr 10, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): Countless civilians are being “willfully abandoned to misery†in Yemen, amid a rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian crises inflamed by escalating violence,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters at United Nations Headquarters on Thursday.
Qatar: UN to discuss crime prevention and sustainable development
Apr 10, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): Ahead of a major summit in New York in September on the future global development agenda, the 13th United Nations Crime Congress will convene in Doha next week to discuss the links between crime prevention, security, justice and sustainable development.
UN launches animal vaccination campaign along Syria-Lebanon border
Apr 10, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): An emergency vaccination campaign along the Syria-Lebanon border is underway in order to protect the region’s livestock from preventable infections, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced on Thursday amid growing concerns over the spread of high impact transboundary animal diseases.
Women have very important role in Libyan peace process: UN envoy
Apr 10, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): Libyan women have a crucial role to play in resolving the crisis in their country, a senior United Nations official said in an address to 250 Libyan women gathered in Tripoli, at a dialogue aimed at including women from all walks of life in the political process.
UN bodies present projects showing how ‘Big Data’ can save lives
Apr 10, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): Anonymized data, information from which the identity of the sender has been stripped, from mobile telephone usage could provide vital support in efforts to achieve sustainable development and to respond to humanitarian crises, according to insights derived from a study by the United Nations.