Yemen: UN welcomes ceasefire as humanitarian relief begins to arrive
May 14, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian official has welcomed the commencement of a ceasefire in Yemen aimed at allowing the delivery of “lifesaving†relief and aid to the country's civilian populations.
Arms Trade Treaty vital to halting flow of casual instruments of death: Security Council
May 14, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The widespread availability of small arms and light weapons, and their ammunition, is the common factor in over 250 conflicts witnessed across the globe in the last decade, the United Nations Secretary-General told the Security Council on Wednesday, pointing to 50,000 deaths along with displacement levels unseen since the Second World War as direct consequences of such violence.
UN report shows mixed results for reaching MDG health targets by end of 2015
May 14, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The United Nations health agency on Wednesday reported that by the end of 2015, the world will have met the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for turning around the epidemics of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, and boosting access to drinking water, but will likely fall short of reaching other health-related goals in areas such as child and maternal deaths and basic sanitation.
UN voices alarm over pushbacks of boats carrying migrants in Southeast Asia
May 14, 2015, at 02:15 pm
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency has said it is “extremely alarmed†at reports suggesting that Indonesian and Malaysian authorities have pushed back boats carrying numerous migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh.
UN official tells Forest Forum how it can contribute to sustainable development
May 14, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, May 14 (IBNS): A new international agreement on forests should aim at advancing implementation of sustainable forest management and bring about a reversal of deforestation, the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) said on Wednesday morning.
UN welcomes European Union proposals for ‘visionary’ migration reforms
May 14, 2015, at 02:09 pm
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency and the world body’s top envoy on international migration have applauded European Union (EU) authorities’ proposals for dealing with refugees and migrants arriving in Europe via the Mediterranean, calling for swift implementation of the reforms “for the urgent purpose of saving lives.â€
Rebel group responsible for violations in DR Congo massacres: UN report
May 14, 2015, at 02:06 pm
New York, May 14 (IBNS): A United Nations human rights report released on Wednesday says that a Uganda-based rebel group has committed grave violations of international humanitarian law in crisis-riven north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
North Korea said to execute its defence minister
May 13, 2015, at 05:58 pm
Seoul, South Korea, May 13 (IBNS) The defence minister of North Korea was recently executed as a "traitor" for showing disrespect for its top leader, Kim Jong Un, The New York Times quoted south Korean intelligence officials as saying on Wednesday.
UN voices deep concern as deadly violence flares up across South Sudan
May 13, 2015, at 02:34 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): A deadly outburst of violence between residents of a United Nations protection-of-civilians (PoC) site in the South Sudanese capital of Juba has prompted the Organization's strong condemnation and triggered wider concern over the safety of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the country.
UN human rights office draws attention to ‘alarming’ reports of massacre in Angola
May 13, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday urged the Angolan Government to ensure “a truly meaningful, independent, thorough investigation†into reports of an alleged massacre in the central province of Huambo with “wildly differing†casualty figures.
UNESCO chief denounces the murder of Mexican journalist
May 13, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): While stressing the need to end impunity of crimes against media workers, the head of the United Nations agency charged with promoting press freedom urged on Tuesday a full inquiry into the killing of journalist Armando Saldaña Morales in Mexico.
Ahead of humanitarian pause, Yemen sees deadliest week of fighting: UN
May 13, 2015, at 02:28 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): Nearly 200 civilians have died in Yemen in the past week, as the country has seen its deadliest period of fighting since violence broke out on 26 March this year, according to figures released on Tuesday by the United Nations human rights office.
Geneva: UN envoy continues Syria consultations with national and regional stakeholders
May 13, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS):The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is continuing his meetings in Geneva aimed at bringing a political solution to the ongoing crisis in the Middle Eastern country, a spokesperson for the Organization confirmed on Tuesday.
Bosnia and Herzegovina must take 'fresh chance' it has been given: Security Council
May 13, 2015, at 02:24 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): As Bosnia and Herzegovina readies to mark the 20th anniversary of the end of the bloodiest conflict in Europe since the Second World War, it must seize the opportunity to “finally say farewell to the politics of the past†and decisively commit to a new way of doing politics that puts the interests of citizens firmly in first place, the United Nations Security Council heard on Tuesday.
UN calls on Greek Government to ‘implement’ anti-racism measures
May 13, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): The Government of Greece must implement stronger measures in order to effectively address hate speech and verbal abuse against vulnerable groups including irregular migrants and minorities such as the Roma people, according to a United Nations human rights expert.
WHO draws lessons from Ebola to prepare roadmap for future epidemics
May 13, 2015, at 02:22 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday concluded a meeting on Ebola research and development to look at lessons learned from the outbreak and develop a roadmap for future epidemics so that “we can be better prepared, faster, and more effective†in the next global health emergency.
International community must be proactive in helping Libya restore peace: ICC Prosecutor
May 13, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): With the security situation in Libya quickly deteriorating, the international community must be more proactive in exploring solutions in order to tangibly help the North African nation restore stability and strengthen accountability, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.
UN urges Southeast Asian countries to make efforts to combat people smuggling
May 13, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): Amid continuing reports that thousands of people are stranded on smugglers’ boats in Southeast Asian waters, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday called on governments in the region to ramp up search-and-rescue operations between the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca.
UN mission deplores deteriorating tensions in Sudan’s Darfur region
May 13, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): The joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has strongly deplored “the rapid deterioration of tensions†between the Rezeigat and Ma’alia tribes as both parties continue to engage each other in a series of armed confrontations which have resulted in dozens of casualties.
Ban ‘alarmed’ by outbreak of violence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
May 12, 2015, at 03:18 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed alarm over the recent outbreak of violence in the city of Kumanovo in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and extended his condolences to the families of those killed and injured.
Afghanistan: UN condemns Taliban’s attack on judges and prosecutors
May 12, 2015, at 03:15 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned Sunday's suicide attack against a civilian bus transporting employees of the Attorney General's Office in Kabul, which killed five prosecutors, including three women prosecutors and injured 19 other civilians.
Yemen humanitarian pause ‘a lifeline’ for civilians trapped by fighting: UN official
May 12, 2015, at 03:14 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The top United Nations relief official on Monday welcomed the announcement of a humanitarian pause in Yemen, set to start tomorrow, as aid operations resume in the embattled country following the arrival of two World Food Programme (WFP) cargo ships in Hudaydah over the weekend carrying fuel, food, water, and nutritional supplies.
South Sudan: Heavy fighting in northeast force, UN to evacuate staff
May 12, 2015, at 03:13 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has expressed growing concern about “continuing and consistent reports†emanating from two north-eastern counties regarding a surge in kidnappings and rapes and an overall uptick in violence, which has forced the UN and other aid agencies to withdraw staff from the region.
Syria: UN resumes aid distribution to civilians displaced from Yarmouk
May 12, 2015, at 03:11 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has resumed the provision of assistance to people displaced from Yarmouk camp in Syria, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed.
Mediterranean crisis demands ‘intensive dialogue’: Security Council
May 12, 2015, at 03:09 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The Mediterranean migrant crisis calls for collective action focused on the immediate need to save lives or else it will represent “a moral failure of the first order,†one that undermines international law and security, a top United Nations migration official warned on Monday.
Mothers and children need more social protection: UN labour agency
May 12, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Calling for greater “social protection†for women as the United Nations draws up a new development agenda, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has cited alarming statics, including that some 800 women die in child birth every day, only 28 per cent of employed women receive cash benefits during their maternity leave, and that child poverty is rising in 18 of 28 countries in the European Union.
Geneva: UN envoy looks forward to consultations with Syrian opposition envoy
May 12, 2015, at 03:07 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations envoy on the Syria crisis has noted recent decisions taken by the National Coalition of the Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces (SOC) and is looking forward to the arrival of the National Coalition's Envoy in Geneva, where UN facilitated consultations are taking place.
Ebola: Expert panel urges ‘unified entity’ within WHO for emergency response
May 12, 2015, at 03:05 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Independent experts tasked to assess the World Health Organization’s (WHO) response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa on Monday said “at present, WHO does not have the operational capacity or culture to deliver a full emergency public health response†and urged investments by its member States to make it fit for purpose.
UN mission in Darfur ‘concerned’ by escalating tensions between tribes
May 12, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Following recent escalation in tensions between the Rezeigat and Ma’alia tribes, the joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur on Monday expressed serious concern about the possible implications and encouraged the leaders and members of both groups to exercise maximum restraint, engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve their dispute.
Ban welcomes Central Africa's peace pact as reflection of people’s aspirations
May 12, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the people of the Central African Republic (CAR) for the adoption of a peace pact that reflects on their aspirations to put the conflict behind them once and for all and to build a more peaceful and democratic country.