Security Council condemns Boko Haram violence, backs regional efforts
Jul 29, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New York, Jul 29 (IBNS): While acknowledging progress made against Boko Haram following joint regional military efforts in recent months, the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday encouraged increased regional cooperation to stamp out the terrorist group, which the Council strongly condemned for its ongoing deadly violence, human rights abuses and mass abductions in the Lake Chad Basin.
UN officials seriously concerned by verdicts in trial of former members of Qadhafi regime
Jul 29, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Jul 29 (IBNS): The verdicts in the trial of 37 Qadhafi regime officials, including against the former leader’s son, Saif al-Islam Qadhafi, handed down today by the Tripoli Court of Assize, has drawn serous concern from senior United Nations human rights officials in Libya, as well as in Geneva, amid fears the trial did not meet international standards on a number of fronts.
Middle East’s largest camp turns three as Syrian refugees top four million: UN agency
Jul 29, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Jul 29 (IBNS): Living conditions for more than half a million refugees living in Jordan is becoming increasingly tough, the United Nations refugee agency warned on Tuesday on the eve of the third anniversary of the establishment of Za’atari camp, which has grown into the largest refugee camp in the Middle East.
Durable ceasefire needed as millions suffering in Yemen: UN relief chief
Jul 29, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, Jul 29 (IBNS): The conflict in Yemen has brought “appalling damage†on an already suffering people, the top United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council on Tuesday, pressing the international community to redouble its efforts to secure a pause in the fighting respected by all parties, thus providing space for relief workers to reach desperate civilians and for the warring sides to agree a durable ceasefire and, ultimately, a political solution.
Violent attacks reported against civilians fleeing ISIL-controlled areas of Iraq: UN
Jul 29, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Jul 29 (IBNS): An increasing number of people in Iraq, including families with children and the elderly, have encountered deadly ambushes as they try to escape areas controlled the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levan (ISIL) by risking their lives on a treacherous mountain journey to safety, the United Nations human rights office reported on Tuesday.
Syria’s grim statistics speak for themselves: Security Council
Jul 29, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, Jul 29 (IBNS): A political solution is more urgent than ever to end the “futile, hopeless†cycle of brutality and violence in Syria, the top United Nations humanitarian official said on Tuesday, urging the Security Council to consider its options through “the eyes of the beleaguered, now long-suffering†civilians.
UN agencies and partners warn of ‘acute shortage’ of meningitis vaccines
Jul 29, 2015, at 02:10 pm
New York, Jul 29 (IBNS): West Africa is at risk of a large meningitis outbreak unless drug manufacturers increase vaccine production by 5 million doses before the 2016 meningitis season starts in January, the United Nations and leading public health organizations warned on Tuesday.
Security Council authorizes ongoing African Union deployment in Somalia
Jul 29, 2015, at 02:08 pm
New York, Jul 29 (IBNS): The Security Council on Tuesday authorized the Member States of the African Union to maintain the deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for an additional 10 months, until 30 May 2016.
Muammar Gaddafi's son sentenced to death
Jul 29, 2015, at 04:03 am
Tripoli, July 28 (IBNS) Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has been sentenced to death by a Libyan court over war crimes linked to the 2011 revolution.
Children in Nepal still at risk three months after devastating quake: UNICEF
Jul 28, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Jul 28 (IBNS): Three months after Nepal's devastating 25 April earthquake and its aftershocks, children continue to face multiple risks as their families have been pushed deeper into poverty and they remain in need of aid, warned the United Nations's Children Fund (UNICEF).
Parties continue progressing towards ‘vision’ of united Cyprus: UN envoy
Jul 28, 2015, at 02:37 pm
New York, Jul 28 (IBNS): The positive and results-oriented climate of the talks between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders continues to foster the progress required towards conclusion of a settlement as soon as possible, the United Nations Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, confirmed on Monday.
Ban welcomes UN’s endorsement of action plan on post-2015 development financing
Jul 28, 2015, at 02:35 pm
New York, Jul 28 (IBNS): The United Nations General Assembly on Monday endorsed the new global action agenda for financing sustainable development adopted two weeks ago by a major UN conference, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the move as a major step that firmly puts the world “on the path to a more prosperous, just and sustainable world for this and future generations.â€
Burundi: UN mission finds environment ‘not conducive’ to credible election process
Jul 28, 2015, at 02:33 pm
New York, Jul 28 (IBNS): While the 21 July election in Burundi that won President Pierre Nkurunziza a controversial third term was relatively peaceful and conducted adequately, the overall environment was ‘not conducive’ for an inclusive, free and credible electoral process, the United Nations Electoral Observation Mission in the country (MENUB) announced on Monday.
UN chief condemns deadly Al Shabaab attack against hotel in Mogadishu
Jul 28, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, Jul 28 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the attack perpetrated by Al Shabaab on Sunday on the Al-Jazeera Hotel in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
‘Paralyzing’ funding gap forces shutdown of health services in Iraq: UN
Jul 28, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Jul 28 (IBNS): The top United Nations humanitarian official in Iraq on Monday declared as “devastating†the “inexplicable†closures of life-saving services in Iraq for people in need, citing the most recent shut-downs of basic health care will directly impact more than one million people, including some 500,000 children who now will not be immunized, spreading risk of a measles outbreak and resumption of polio.
UN official in Somalia condemns terrorist attack on hotel in Mogadishu
Jul 27, 2015, at 01:36 pm
New York, Jul 27 (IBNS): The most senior United Nations official in Somalia has strongly condemned Sunday's terrorist attack on Jazeera Hotel in Mogadishu that resulted in several deaths and injuries.
Middle East: Funding crisis may force UN agency to delay start of school year
Jul 27, 2015, at 01:33 pm
New York, Jul 27 (IBNS): Facing its most severe financial crisis ever, the United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestine refugees throughout the Middle East has on Sunday convened an emergency session to weigh the growing risk that it may be forced to delay the start of the academic year in some 700 schools for half a million students across the region.
Yemen: Ban welcomes Saudi-led coalition's announcement of humanitarian truce
Jul 27, 2015, at 01:30 pm
New York, Jul 27 (IBNS): Welcoming the announcement by the Saudi-led Coalition of a unilateral five-day humanitarian pause in Yemen, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on all parties to the conflict to suspend military operations and facilitate safe, unhindered access of relief workers to desperate populations throughout the crisis-riven country.
-1437914474.jpg "US embassy employee shot dead in Pakistan")
US embassy employee shot dead in Pakistan
Jul 26, 2015, at 11:41 pm
Islamabad, July 26 (IBNS): Unknown gunmen have shot dead a Pakistani man who was working with the United States embassy in Islamabad, media reports said on Sunday.
Three killed in Tokyo plane crash
Jul 26, 2015, at 07:34 pm
Tokyo, July 26 (IBNS): At least three people were killed as a light plane crashed in Japan's Tokyo city on Sunday, media reports said.
-1437822322.jpg "Pakistan: 5.5 earthquake hits Islamabad")
Pakistan: 5.5 earthquake hits Islamabad
Jul 25, 2015, at 10:05 pm
Islamabad, July 25 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter Scale hit Pakistan's Islamabad city on Saturday, officials said.
Ban condemns deadly twin suicide bombings in northern Cameroon
Jul 25, 2015, at 03:36 pm
New York, Jul 25 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the twin suicide bombings that targeted the city of Maroua, the capital of Cameroon’s Extreme North province, on 22 July.
New York: Winners of essay contest on UN sustainability agenda honoured
Jul 25, 2015, at 03:33 pm
New York, Jul 25 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday welcomed the 70 winners of the United Nations-sponsored Many Languages, One World contest who wrote “inspired†essays in languages not their own about a new sustainable development path that will lead to an end to poverty and a life of dignity for all.
As conflict disrupts education in Yemen, UNICEF backs ‘catch-up’ classes
Jul 25, 2015, at 03:32 pm
New York, Jul 25 (IBNS): With intensive bombardments and street fighting in Yemen forcing more than 3,600 schools across the country to close and disrupting education for some 1.8 million children, the top United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) official there appealed on Friday to the warring parties to respect the safety of schools.
Greece must take robust action to address refugee situation: UN agency
Jul 25, 2015, at 03:29 pm
New York, Jul 25 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday expressed great apprehension over the refugee situation in Greece – where more than 100,000 people have sought shelter so far in 2015 – saying that notwithstanding its difficulties, Greece, with assistance from wider Europe, has a duty to assist them.
UN rights office renews concern after Cambodian Senate adopts law
Jul 25, 2015, at 03:26 pm
New York, Jul 25 (IBNS): A draft law adopted on Friday by Cambodia’s legislative wing “threatens the very existence of a free and independent civil society†and the crucial work that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) carry out in the country, the United Nations human rights office has warned.
WHO welcomes European regulators’ initial green light on malaria vaccine
Jul 25, 2015, at 03:24 pm
New York, Jul 25 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday welcomed a major regulatory hurdle cleared by a malaria vaccine, saying it expects to make a policy recommendation later this year on its use in the context of an overall panoply of public health tools for combatting the disease which kills one African child a minute.
Incoming President says main UN economic and social body must evolve
Jul 25, 2015, at 03:23 pm
New York, Jul 25 (IBNS): Opening the first meeting of its 2016 session on Friday, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOSC) elected Oh Joon, of Republic of Korea as its new President, who spotlighted the vital work – for the Council and the wider Organization – as the international community transitions from the landmark Millennium Development Goals to the post-2015 development agenda.
As health needs rise in Somalia, funding hits new low: UN
Jul 25, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Jul 25 (IBNS): Somalia – a country where every two hours a mother dies due to pregnancy complications – is facing cuts in life-saving health services because of the lowest funding levels in seven years, according to the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO).
Nepal: UN relief official warns emergency is not over yet
Jul 25, 2015, at 03:18 pm
New York, Jul 25 (IBNS): Three months after the first of the devastating earthquakes that hit Nepal, hundreds of thousands of survivors continue to require and rely on urgent humanitarian assistance, the top United Nations humanitarian official in the recovering country said on Friday.