Iraq: lack of funding for UN-led relief efforts leaves country on 'verge of collapse'
Jun 09, 2015, at 10:37 pm
New York, Jun 9 (IBNS): Crisis-torn Iraq, one of the world's most severe emergencies, is on the verge of collapse because of a lack of funding could force the closure of more than half the relief operations in the country over the coming weeks, the top United Nations humanitarian official there has warned.
Addressing Economic and Social Council, UN deputy chief advocates 'true global pact for development'
Jun 09, 2015, at 10:14 pm
New York, Jun 9 (IBNS): Experience in the past two decades, particularly the 15 years of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), has shown the potential of a "true global pact for development," the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said on Tuesday during a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the UN World Summit for Social Development.
Somalia: UN envoy applauds successes as country 'comes together'
Jun 09, 2015, at 10:12 pm
New York, Jun 9 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in Somalia on Tuesday lauded the progress made in the Horn of Africa country amid military and political gains on the ground and a successful partnership between international and national stakeholders.
At governing body, UN atomic agency chief spotlights uranium fuel bank: Fukushima report
Jun 09, 2015, at 10:09 pm
New York, Jun 9 (IBNS): A new report on the 2011 nuclear accident in eastern Japan's Fukushima area and two agreements related to the establishment of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reserve of low enriched uranium were among the key points highlighted by Director General Yukiya Amano to the Agency's Board of Governors on Tuesday.
Jun 09, 2015, at 10:07 pm
New York, Jun 9 (IBNS): Jose Graziano da Silva, two days after his re-election as the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for another four years, on Tuesday announced that eradicating hunger, raising levels of nutrition and addressing climate change are among the agency’s top priorities during his second term.
Almost 1,000 civilians killed in Afghanistan conflict during first 4 months of this year
Jun 09, 2015, at 10:04 pm
New York, Jun 9 (IBNS):The conflict in Afghanistan is resulting in thousands of people being killed or wounded, forcing families to leave their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring communities, according to Mark Bowden, the UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative in the country.
New UN report details litany of human rights violations, 'rule by fear' in Eritrea
Jun 09, 2015, at 10:00 pm
New York, Jun 9 (IBNS): Amid "systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations," the human rights situation in Eritrea has degenerated into a climate of fear in which dissent is stifled and large swathes of the population are subjected to forced labour and imprisonment, a new United Nations report has found.
At G7 Summit, Ban outlines draft UN action plan to prevent violent extremism
Jun 09, 2015, at 09:57 pm
New York, Jun 9 (IBNS): Concerned by the spread of violent extremist groups and the "malicious and hateful ideologies" that fuel them, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday outlined elements of an action plan he will present later this year to reinforce good governance, which he sees as terrorism's true deterrent.
Ban appoints Senegalese national as Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF
Jun 09, 2015, at 09:51 pm
New York, Jun 9 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of Fatoumata Ndiaye of Senegal as Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Germany: Ban rallies support for 'once-in-a-generation' UN sustainability agenda
Jun 08, 2015, at 01:48 pm
New York, Jun 8 (IBNS): The world has before it a unique opportunity to build a better future for all,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Sunday in Bonn, Germany.
Afghanistan: Taliban shadow district governor killed
Jun 07, 2015, at 09:26 pm
Kabul, June 7 (IBNS) A shadow district governor of Taliban in Afghanistan's Paktika province has been killed by the security forces, media reports said on Sunday.
Libyan political dialogue round set for Monday in Morocco: UN mission
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:35 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced on Friday that the next round of Libyan political dialogue sessions in Skhirat, Morocco, will commence on Monday, 8 June.
Nigeria: Citing ‘horrifying acts of cruelty', UN rights chief urges justice for victims
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:34 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): The human rights situation in Boko Haram-held areas of northern Nigeria is one of “absolute terror†and “grave†violations, the top United Nations human rights official said today amid a wider call for Nigerian authorities to thoroughly investigate reports of abuses committed by the country’s armed forces.
UN invites people to become agents of change on World Environment Day
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:31 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): With many of the earth’s ecosystems nearing “critical tipping points,†the United Nations invited each of the seven billion people on the planet to mark this year’s World Environment Day by making one change towards a more responsible consumption of resources – “be it refusing to buy single-use plastic bags or riding a bike to work.â€
UN agency boosting presence on Greek islands to deal with spike in refugee arrivals
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:30 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday announced that it is stepping up its presence in the eastern Aegean islands of Greece where in recent weeks, sea arrivals have been averaging some 600 people a day from countries like Syria, Afghanistan Iraq and Turkey, severely straining local reception capacities.
Crackdown on journalist and activists jeopardize human rights in Iran: UN expert
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:28 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): The arbitrary and unlawful arrest and prosecution of journalists and activists in Iran weakens the protection of human rights of all in Iran, a United Nations expert said on Friday.
Security Council: UN official urges for political efforts to resolve Ukraine conflict
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:27 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): The tremendous human cost of the Ukraine conflict must be first addressed through mutual respect of the Minsk ceasefire agreement and the fulfilment of its political, economic, social and humanitarian provisions, the top United Nations political official affirmed today as he briefed the Security Council on the situation in the conflict-torn Eastern European country.
UN refugee agency seeks $13 million to protect for boat arrivals in Southeast Asia
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:25 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday announced that it is seeking $13 million to help with the needs of new boat arrivals to countries in Southeast Asia, where thousands of refugees and migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh have been risking their lives by crossing the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.
Volunteers can contribute to the new global development agenda’s success: UN report
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:22 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): Volunteers are playing a vital role in making governments worldwide more accountable and responsive to their citizens, but their potential is seriously under-valued, a new report from the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme finds.
Liberia: UNICEF distributes thousands of learning kits after Ebola outbreak
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has begun distributing the first batches of 700,000 teaching and learning kits to thousands of schools across Liberia, where last year’s Ebola outbreak disrupted the education of over one million children.
WHO dispatches team to Seoul after fourth death reported from MERS
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:17 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday announced that in light of the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV, resulting in four deaths in the Republic of Korea, it will send a team to Seoul to conduct a joint mission to look into the situation and assess public health response efforts.
Pakistan: UN experts urge halt to execution of child offender
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:14 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): The Government of Pakistan must halt the execution of a man convicted of a crime committed as a child and reinstate the country’s moratorium on the death penalty, three United Nations human rights experts have urged.
UN concerned by abduction of Eritrean asylum-seekers in eastern Sudan
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): An armed group opened fire on a convoy transporting Eritrean asylum-seekers in eastern Sudan and kidnapped 14 of them, including six boys and one girl, the United Nations refugee agency reported on Friday and urged the Sudanese Government to spare no effort in apprehending those responsible and bringing them to account.
Syria: Security Council ‘outraged’ by intensifying attacks against civilians
Jun 06, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): Amid surging violence in Aleppo, the United Nations Security Council on Friday expressed “outrage†at all attacks against civilians in Syria, as well as indiscriminate attacks.
Reformulation of HIV treatment will save more children’s lives: UN
Jun 06, 2015, at 02:55 pm
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new antiretroviral formulation that can be mixed with food, making it easier for children living with HIV to take their life-saving medicines, the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AID (UNAIDS) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced on Friday.
UN chief condemns rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza
Jun 05, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday has condemned the firing of rockets by militants from Gaza towards Israel which occurred on Wednesday.
UN official calls for global movement to end hunger once and for all
Jun 05, 2015, at 03:02 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday called for a global movement to eradicate hunger as countries look ahead to the new set of development goals that will be adopted in September.
Zambia: UN forum urges faster development action for landlocked developing nations
Jun 05, 2015, at 03:00 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): A United Nations-backed conference aimed at accelerating an ambitious development plan for the world’s 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) concluded on Thursday in Zambia with a global ‘Call to Action’ intended to streamline their path towards sustainable, inclusive and economic progress.
UN official stresses need for renewed momentum towards achieving climate accord
Jun 05, 2015, at 02:59 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): “The clock is ticking faster and faster†before an agreement must be reached in Paris in December, but “so much has happened over the past few weeks,†a senior United Nations climate change official said on Thursday.
Burundi: Concerned over potential violence, Ban urges resumption of dialogue
Jun 05, 2015, at 02:58 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon remains concerned about the potential for escalating violence in Burundi and has reiterated his call for calm and restraint amid the African country’s simmering political tensions.