UN rights expert urges durable solutions for Haiti's displaced, vulnerable
Jul 05, 2014, at 06:11 pm
New York, July 5 (IBNS) Four years after the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti, it is time to move from a largely humanitarian approach to a development based drive, a United Nations human rights expert said on Friday, while calling for durable solutions for the internally displaced and the vulnerable segments of the population of the island nation.
UN refugee agency warns Sudan over forced return of Eritrean asylum seekers
Jul 05, 2014, at 05:27 pm
New York, July 5 (IBNS): Sudan has forced dozens of Eritrean refugees and other asylum seekers to return to their home country, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday, warning that the recent deportations are “an act of repression†and could place the lives and liberty of those expelled at risk.
With focus on sustainable development, UN praises role of cooperatives at 'critical time'
Jul 04, 2014, at 03:41 pm
New York, July 4 (IBNS): As the international community focuses on climate change, sustainable development and a new anti-poverty agenda beyond 2015, United Nations officials are highlighting the role cooperative enterprises can play in economic development, social justice and environmental protection.
Number of South Sudanese sheltering at UN bases to remain high in coming months
Jul 04, 2014, at 03:39 pm
New York, July 4 (IBNS) The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Thursday that the number of conflict-displaced persons sheltering at its bases is likely to remain high over the coming months in light of insecurity and the projected worsening of the food security situation.
Syria: UN agency warns of grave risks to refugees if funding gaps remain unmet
Jul 04, 2014, at 03:38 pm
New York, July 4 (IBNS) Failure to close the funding gap to meet the needs of the growing number of people fleeing the conflict in Syria could mean grave risks for the refugees as well as for the stability of the region, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
Security Council, UN envoy 'appalled' at murder of Somali parliament member
Jul 04, 2014, at 03:35 pm
New York, July 4 (IBNS) The Security Council and the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) have condemned the killing on Thursday in Mogadishu of parliamentarian Mohamed Mohamud 'Hayd'.
Urgent efforts needed to avert further crises in Somalia, Yemen UN relief officials
Jul 03, 2014, at 06:45 pm
New York, July 3 (IBNS): Urgent action is needed to prevent a worsening of the humanitarian crises in both Somalia and Yemen, senior United Nations relief officials warned on Wednesday, as they urged donors to help them step up their response as well as to consolidate the recent gains made in both countries.
'Death penalty has no place in 21st century,' declares UN chief
Jul 03, 2014, at 06:31 pm
New York, July 3 (IBNS) The death penalty has no place in the 21st century, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Wednesday, calling on all States take concrete steps towards abolishing or no longer practicing this form of punishment.
'Leave no stone unturned' to halt Ebola's rapid spread in West Africa, urges UN agency
Jul 03, 2014, at 06:24 pm
New York, July 3 (IBNS)Urging health authorities in West African countries affected by the largest Ebola outbreak in history to “leave no stone unturned†in their efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus, a United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) official on Wednesday underscored the critical need to engage community, religious and opinion leaders in the region to be at the forefront of the response.
Ban announces review of probes related to UN-African Union Darfur peacekeepers
Jul 03, 2014, at 06:14 pm
New York, July 3 (IBNS) Concerned by recent allegations against the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan’s Darfur region, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a review of related investigations and reviews over the last two years to determine what, if any, corrective action needs to be taken.
Iraq: UN officials voice concern about humanitarian situation, abuse of women, girls
Jul 03, 2014, at 06:01 pm
New York, July 3 (IBNS) Amid reports of deliberate targeting of women and girls in Iraq, senior United Nations officials on Wednesday voiced deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian and security situations in the country, where more than 1.2 million people have fled their homes in fear for their lives.
UN officials deplore murder of Palestinian boy in Jerusalem
Jul 03, 2014, at 05:55 pm
New York, July 3 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process have both condemned the murder of a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem, and called on both Israelis and Palestinians to refrain from exacerbating an already tense situation.
Initial UN report aims to 'reconnect science and policy towards global sustainable development'
Jul 02, 2014, at 03:50 pm
New York, July 2 (IBNS) To achieve a sustainable transition by 2050, when more than nine billion people will live on Earth, there needs to be significant adjustment to the current patterns of consumption and production, delegations heard on Tuesday as a United Nations high-level political forum considered a new report aiming to lay the foundation for a new global sustainable development agenda.
Ukraine: UNESCO condemns killing of Russian journalist near Donetsk
Jul 02, 2014, at 03:49 pm
New York, July 2 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, condemned on Tuesday the killing of Russian television journalist Anatoli Klian, who was shot to death last night in crisis-torn eastern Ukraine.
Child rights being violated in conflict situations with total impunity, says UN official
Jul 02, 2014, at 06:26 am
New York, July 2 (IBNS) The rights of children are being violated in conflict situations with total impunity, a United Nations official said on Tuesday, as she presented a report on grave abuses committed against children in places such as Iraq, Syria, South Sudan, Nigeria and the Central African Republic (CAR).
UN urges 'maximum restraint' as tensions rise after missing Israeli teens found dead
Jul 02, 2014, at 06:24 am
New York, July 2 (IBNS) With tensions mounting in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip following yesterday’s discovery of the bodies of three Israeli teenagers missing since mid-June, the United Nations is on Tuesday calling strongly on all Israelis and Palestinians to exercise maximum restraint and to prevent the situation from worsening further.
UN reports Iraqi violence killed more than 2,400 people in June
Jul 02, 2014, at 06:20 am
New York, July 2 (IBNS) Iraq's violent insurgency has claimed some 2,400 lives – more than half of them civilians – a "staggering number", declared the top United Nations envoy there, as he called on all Iraqi leaders to work together to foil attempts to rip apart the country’s fabric.
UN chief condemns explosion in northern Mali
Jul 02, 2014, at 06:17 am
New York, July 2 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned an improvised explosive device explosion in northern Mali which killed a United Nations peacekeeper and injured six other 'blue helmets.'
UN relief officials issue urgent appeal as food shortages hit 800,000 refugees in Africa
Jul 02, 2014, at 06:16 am
New York, July 2 (IBNS): The heads of two United Nations humanitarian agencies on Tuesday issued an urgent appeal as food shortages hit nearly 800,000 refugees in Africa, threatening to worsen already unacceptable levels of acute malnutrition, stunting and anaemia, particularly in children.
No one could have predicted scope of South Sudan crisis, outgoing UN envoy says
Jul 01, 2014, at 03:36 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS) As the top United Nations envoy in South Sudan prepares to complete her tenure, she says that no one could have predicted the horrible conflict that has gripped the world’s youngest nation for the past six months and urged the parties to put the country and its citizens above all else in order to restore peace and stability.
Strongly condemning murder of missing Israeli teens, UN chief urges calm on all sides
Jul 01, 2014, at 03:36 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS): Strongly condemning the murder of three Israeli teenagers abducted in mid-June in the West Bank, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday declared that the perpetrators’ attempts to stoke tensions in the region "must not be allowed to succeed", expressing hope that Israeli’s and Palestinians will work together to uncover the truth.
Iraq: Displaced girls, women face increasing risk of sexual violence, UN warns
Jul 01, 2014, at 03:35 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS): An estimated 20,000 women and girls in Iraq are at an increased risk of sexual violence as a result of the mounting crisis in northern and western parts of the country, warned the United Nations on Monday, urging immediate action to ensure their protection.
Nigeria: Ban strongly condemns ongoing 'horrific attacks' by Boko Haram
Jul 01, 2014, at 08:50 am
New York, July 1 (IBNS) Strongly condemning the ongoing "horrific attacks" being carried out by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has deplored that such violence has become an almost daily occurrence, and reiterated the readiness of the United Nations to support the country.
New UN forum seeks to set the stage for future global development agenda
Jul 01, 2014, at 08:49 am
new York, July 1 (IBNS): As countries ramp up their efforts to achieve the set of anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of the 2015 deadline, a new United Nations forum seeks to spur them on as well as to help them create the foundation for new global sustainable development agenda.
'Outraged', UN experts urge Egypt to overturn largest confirmed mass death verdict
Jul 01, 2014, at 08:47 am
New York, July 1 (IBNS): The credibility and integrity of the Egyptian justice system has become “deeply compromisedâ€, a group of United Nations human rights experts on Monday said, urging the Government to impose a moratorium on the death penalty and to offer new and fair trials for 183 people whose death sentences have been confirmed.
Palestinians in Syria's Yarmouk camp now without aid for one month: UN
Jul 01, 2014, at 08:46 am
New York, July 1 (IBNS): The United Nations agency charged with ensuring the well-being of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East has warned on Monday that, despite reports of a truce between the Syrian Government and armed groups inside Yarmouk camp, it is still unable to carry out humanitarian operations there.
Facebook under fire over research manipulaing users' emotions
Jul 01, 2014, at 04:30 am
Washington, June 30 (IBNS): Social networking site 'Facebook' has landed itself in a huge controversy after a study revealed that it secretly manipulated the feelings of 689,003 users to understand "emotional contagion".
UN chief voices 'grave concern' at deepening crisis in Iraq
Jun 30, 2014, at 04:19 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday expressed his grave concern at the deepening crisis in Iraq and the rising number of civilian deaths and injuries, with over one million Iraqis having fled their homes due to the fighting.
In final meeting with Israeli President Peres, Ban decries global terrorism
Jun 30, 2014, at 04:12 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday stood again in solidarity with Israelis after the recent abduction of three students, and decried the use of terrorism in countries in the Middle East and around the world.
Iraq: Security officials, rebels continue clashes
Jun 30, 2014, at 02:19 am
Baghdad, June 29 (IBNS): The crisis in Iraq continued as the country's government forces continued the offensive to retake the Tikrit city from Sunni rebels, media reports said.