UN human rights chief urges end to 'endemic impunity' for violations in Darfur
Aug 22, 2015, at 04:14 pm
New York, Aug 22 (IBNS): A new United Nations report paints a grim picture of "systemic failure, or outright refusal" by authorities in Darfur to take human rights violations seriously and points to the failure of initiatives taken so far by the Government to combat "endemic impunity."
Kosovo: Security Council says progress demands commitment from parties
Aug 22, 2015, at 04:11 pm
New York, Aug 22 (IBNS): The enormous strides already taken by Kosovo and Serbia through the European Union-facilitated dialogue demand continuing commitment from both the parties and the international community, the United Nations Security Council was told on Friday.
UN refugee agency concerned by violence at border of Macedonia and Greece
Aug 22, 2015, at 04:09 pm
New York, Aug 22 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency is concerned about the increasingly precarious situation at the border between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), where force was used earlier on Friday to prevent people from crossing.
UN official in Somalia appeals for scaled-up assistance in newly opened areas
Aug 22, 2015, at 04:06 pm
New York, Aug 22 (IBNS): Just back from an assessment mission in southern regions of Somalia, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the country has underscored that while relief supplies are reaching the areas “after years of isolation,†much work lay ahead for people to rebuild their lives in the towns of Baardheere and Diinsoor, in the Gedo and Bay regions, respectively.
Azerbaijan: UN rights experts condemn prison sentencing of human rights defenders
Aug 22, 2015, at 04:02 pm
New York, Aug 22 (IBNS): Condemning the recent prison sentencing of two prominent Azerbaijani human rights defenders, United Nations human rights experts on Friday expressed concern about the activists’ health during their pre-trial detention and called on the Government to immediately halt any persecution against human rights advocates.
Ban calls for restraint as violations jeopardize ceasefire between Israel and Syria
Aug 22, 2015, at 03:52 pm
New York, Aug 22 (IBNS): Deeply concerned over the serious violations of the Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria, United Nations Secretary-General ban Ki-moon on Friday called on all involved to exercise maximum restraint to prevent any further escalation in an already tense regional environment.
South Korean Defense Minister assures action against any further North Korean attack
Aug 22, 2015, at 03:03 am
Seoul, Aug 21 (IBNS) Han Min-koo, South Korea's Defense Minister reassured his countrymen on Friday, vowing an action against any further attack by neighbour North Korea.
Sri Lanka: Ranil Wickremesinghe takes oath as PM
Aug 21, 2015, at 08:47 pm
Colombo, Aug 21 (IBNS): UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday took oath as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
After Tianjin explosion, UN expert calls on China to ensure transparent investigation
Aug 21, 2015, at 01:41 pm
New York, Aug 21 (IBNS): The Government of China and relevant businesses in the country should ensure complete transparency in the investigation of the chemical disaster in Tianjin, including both causes and effects of the explosion, says an independent United Nations human rights expert.
UN chief urges Burundian President to ‘pursue path of inclusivity and reconciliation’
Aug 21, 2015, at 01:40 pm
New York, Aug 21 (IBNS): Noting the inauguration on Thursday of Pierre Nkurunziza for his third term as President of Burundi, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged him to “pursue a path of inclusivity and reconciliation,†and reiterated his call on all Burundian stakeholders to undertake a broad and transparent political dialogue.
Security Council: UN officials spotlight need for effective and accountable security institutions
Aug 21, 2015, at 01:38 pm
New York, Aug 21 (IBNS): The Security Council on Thursday turned its attention to the need to develop effective, affordable and accountable security institutions, with senior United Nations officials representing peacekeeping, development and conflict-related sexual violence outlining concrete steps to lay the foundations for rule of law, peace and sustainable development.
UNHCR welcomes joint declaration by France and United Kingdom on Calais
Aug 21, 2015, at 01:37 pm
New York, Aug 21 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday welcomed the joint declaration signed by the Governments of France and the United Kingdom on the situation in Calais and the associated action plan to deal with it.
Central Africa: UN mission to ‘stamp out’ sexual exploitation by peacekeepers
Aug 21, 2015, at 01:35 pm
New York, Aug 21 (IBNS): Condemning all cases of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by its personnel, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on Thursday said that it is determined to “stamp out†this “extremely seriously problem.â€
Killing an average of eight children a day, 'brutal' Yemen conflict must end: UNICEF
Aug 20, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): An average of eight children are killed or maimed every day in Yemen as a direct result of the conflict that has gripping the country since April, according to a new report released on Wednesday by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Syria: UNRWA reaches near Yarmouk camp as typhoid outbreak hits Palestinian refugees
Aug 20, 2015, at 02:28 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): The United Nations relief agency responsible for the welfare of Palestine refugees across the Middle East announced on Wednesday it has conducted its first humanitarian mission to Yalda, near the besieged Yarmouk camp in Syria, where six cases of typhoid have been confirmed.
UNESCO chief deplores killing of two leading scholars of Syrian antiquities
Aug 20, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): Within one week, the Syrian cultural heritage community suffered two immense blows with the murder of archaeologist Khaled Assad in Palmyra, and the killing of the Assistant Director of laboratories at the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, Qasem Abdullah Yehiya, in Damascus, according to the United Nations.
UN reports new allegations of sexual misconduct by peacekeepers in Central Africa
Aug 20, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): A series of new “disturbing†allegations of misconduct in the Central African Republic were announced on Wednesday by the Deputy Special Representative and Deputy Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the country (MINUSCA).
Palestinian children can return to UN-run schools this year due to fund-raising
Aug 20, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): The United Nations relief agency dealing with Palestinian refugees has declared the school year open will on time on Wednesday for the 500,000 boys and girls in the increasingly unstable Middle East, where multiple crises and a major funding shortage nearly forced the delayed of the opening of 685 schools in the region.
Libya: UN agency helps country upgrade response to boats in distress of its coast
Aug 20, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): Following a spate of deadly shipwrecks of the coast of Libya, the UN refugee agency has announced that it has set up a forum to improve the country’s response to boats in distress its waters by streamlining information sharing and coordination with international organizations
Security Council warned that 'risk of escalation in Israel and Palestine is palpable'
Aug 20, 2015, at 02:16 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): The top United Nations political official on Wednesday warned the Middle East has recently witnessed "unconscionable" hate crimes, "reprehensible" retaliatory violence, provocations at Jerusalem's holy sites, and a worrying increase in rockets launched from Gaza towards Israel, as he urged all sides to work together to reduce tensions and prevent extremist attacks.
Somalia: UN urges resolution to crisis after legislators approve motion to impeach President
Aug 20, 2015, at 02:15 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): Envoys from the United Nations and other international organizations on Wednesday joined to express deep concern that a parliamentary motion to impeach Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud would impede progress on the country’s peace and State-building goals.
Security Council: UN relief chief cites massive human suffering in Yemen
Aug 20, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): Just back from Yemen and “shocked†by what he saw there, the top United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council on Wednesday that the scale of human suffering is nearly incomprehensible, and that unless stakeholders get the parties to stop the fighting and return to the negotiating table, soon “there will be nothing left to fight for.â€
Security Council strongly condemns seizure of UAE embassy in Yemen
Aug 20, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday condemned “in the strongest term†the storming and seizure of the United Arab Emirates embassy in Sana’a, Yemen, by the Houthis on the 17 August 2015.
Thai police release sketch of Bangkok blast suspect
Aug 19, 2015, at 10:45 pm
Bangkok, Aug 19 (IBNS): The Thailand Police have released the sketch of a suspect behind the blast in capital Bangkok on Monday,media reports said.
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:38 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General on Tuesday expressed serious concern about the recent escalation of violence along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, which reportedly resulted in a number of casualties on both sides, including civilians.
UN chief welcomes peaceful parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:35 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) Applauding the people of Sri Lanka for their peaceful and broad-based participation in yesterday’s parliamentary elections, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has encouraged the new Government to make further progress on good governance, accountability and reconciliation.
After new displacements, UN officials call for an immediate halt to demolitions in the West Bank
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:32 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) Senior United Nations officials are calling on Tuesday for an immediate freeze on demolitions in the West Bank, after dozens of structures were demolished yesterday by Israeli authorities in Palestinian Bedouin refugee communities, near East Jerusalem.
Record civilian casualties and widening conflict stretch humanitarian capacities in Afghanistan : UN
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:30 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) The Afghan conflict has intensified in 2015, resulting in record high levels of civilian casualties and new displacements that are stretching the humanitarian community’s ability to sufficiently meet life-saving needs, the United Nations relief wing reported today.
South Sudan: UN chief looks forward to President Kiir's endorsement of peace agreement
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:27 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday welcomed the signing by former South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar and the Former Detainees of the compromise peace agreement put forth by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Partners Forum (IGAD) mediation, meant to end the conflict raging in the country for the past 20 months.
Aug 19, 2015, at 05:24 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS) The escalating refugee crisis in Greece is continuing, with migrant arrivals accelerating “dramatically,†the United Nations warned today, urging the Greek Government to strengthen reception facilities and services and for wider Europe to bolster humanitarian coordination.