Category: Uncategorized

22 November 2024 Climate and Environment A new draft finance deal delivered to harried negotiators in Baku on Friday – the final scheduled day for the UN climate talks that have been under way for the past two weeks – proposes rich countries commit $250 billion a year to help vulnerable nations cope with our… Continue reading COP29 draft deal proposes wealthy nations give $250 billion in climate finance

Highlighting the deepening humanitarian catastrophe for civilians on Lebanon’s Independence Day, the UN refugee agency, UNCHR, warned of a prevailing sense of uncertainty and fear as the war grinds on. “In recent weeks, Israel dramatically intensified its airstrikes and ground incursions, and this has deepened the humanitarian catastrophe that has affected civilians,” said Ivo Freijsen,… Continue reading Lebanon crisis: Intensifying violence is deadliest in decades, warn aid agencies

Global perspective Human stories People queue for bread at a bakery in Khan Younis, Gaza. 22 November 2024 Peace and Security The crisis in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel continues unabated as people struggle to live in the midst of conflict. Follow this live blog for the latest updates from humanitarians on the ground, our colleagues… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Live updates for 22 November

The urgency is clear: humanity produces over 460 million metric tonnes of plastic annually, with half designed for single use. “By 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish,” UN Secretary General António Guterres has cautioned, with pollution now found “everywhere – all around us and inside us – from our seas… Continue reading Global plastics treaty: UN experts calls for centrality of human rights

“Many millions of Syrians are still outside their country or struggling to survive in a complex landscape of de facto authorities, foreign armies, armed non-state actors and listed terrorist groups,” Najat Rochdi highlighted, adding that 100,000 are arbitrarily detained or missing. Israeli airstrikes on Syria have also increased significantly, both in frequency and scope. Just… Continue reading Most violent year in Syria since 2020, senior UN official tells Security Council

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban issued a stark call for urgent international action on Thursday, describing the situation as “dire” for children. Since the February 2021 military coup, Myanmar has plunged into a deepening crisis. Fighting between military forces and ethnic armed groups has escalated, with reports of heavy artillery, airstrikes, and widespread violence.… Continue reading ‘Myanmar’s children cannot afford to wait,’ warns UNICEF

21 November 2024 Peace and Security The delivery of life-saving aid across Gaza “is grinding to a halt” amid a surge in armed looting targeting humanitarian convoys, the senior aid official in the region said on Thursday. Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Muhannad Hadi said that the survival of two million people now… Continue reading Gaza aid delivery ‘grinding to a halt’ alongside rampant insecurity

By Conor Lennon 21 November 2024 Peace and Security Gang violence is escalating at alarming rates in Haiti: tens of thousands have been forced from their homes, and critical supply chains have collapsed. Despite the rising peril, the UN has committed to remain in the country, helping the most vulnerable to survive the current crisis.… Continue reading As violent gangs extend control in Haiti, UN commits to staying the course

Having just returned from the G20 Summit in Rio, Mr. Guterres shared the resounding message he delivered there: an ambitious climate finance goal is not only essential, but urgent. “Failure is not an option,” he emphasized, warning that the result of inaction could be catastrophic. Just 24 hours before COP29 is due to wrap up… Continue reading COP29 countdown: Failure on climate finance ‘not an option’, says Guterres

The alert from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) follows a new dire assessment from UN-partnered food insecurity experts has shown the hunger crisis is affecting much of the vast central African nation. The embattled east is a particular concern, where the situation is deteriorating after decades of fighting involving around… Continue reading Acute hunger stalks one in four people in DR Congo, warn aid agencies

20 November 2024 Peace and Security Haiti is at a dire crossroads, with extreme levels of gang violence continuing to degrade State authority with “no improvement in sight”, a senior UN political affairs official told the Security Council on Wednesday.  “This is not just another wave of insecurity; it is a dramatic escalation that shows… Continue reading Haiti at a ‘dire crossroads’, Security Council hears

She updated journalists in New York on Wednesday on the worsening situation in Haiti, which has deteriorated dramatically since the installation of a new Prime Minister on 11 November. The verified toll of gang violence this year has reached more than 4,000 dead, though the actual numbers are likely higher, and an estimated 700,000 people… Continue reading Haiti: ‘Very critical situation on the ground,’ warns Humanitarian Coordinator

‘The State of the World’s Children 2024: The Future of Childhood in a Changing World’, explores three megatrends young people face including climate disasters, demographic shifts and technological disparities that will dramatically reshape childhood by 2050. “It is shocking that in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most… Continue reading Children face unprecedented challenges by 2050, UNICEF report warns

The source of the hundreds of billions, if not trillions, of funds that developing nations say will be needed to adapt to a fast-changing climate – governments, multilateral banks, or the private sector – has become a major subject of contention during the last eight days. The good, the bad about cities Meanwhile, away from… Continue reading Baku talks heat up: New climate finance deal, urban challenges in COP29 spotlight

20 November 2024 Peace and Security The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Despite having secured 14 votes in favour, the draft resolution put forward by the 10 elected members of the Security Council (E10), failed to pass owing… Continue reading United States vetoes Gaza ceasefire resolution at Security Council

As the conflict continues in Gaza and Lebanon, the UN Security Council is expected to meet in New York at 10am local time to vote on a draft resolution which demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire as well as the release of all hostages. Stay tuned for live updates from UN Headquarters and the… Continue reading Middle East live updates for 20 November: Security Council due to vote on Gaza ceasefire

Speaking at the G20 Summit – a forum that brings together 19 countries and the European Union, accounting for 85 percent of the world economy – Mr. Guterres delivered a stark assessment. “Our climate is at a breaking point,” he told the gathering of industrial powers. “Unless we limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees… Continue reading ‘Breaking point’ reached on climate, while ‘outdated’ global system needs urgent reform: Guterres

To address this, the United Nations, together with the Organization’s education and science agency, UNESCO and the Brazilian government, launched the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change on Tuesday. The joint effort announced at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil aims to strengthen research and measures to address all disinformation which has the effect of delaying or… Continue reading New UN initiative aims to counter climate disinformation

Peacekeepers have witnessed the “shocking” destruction of villages in southern Lebanon along the UN-patrolled Blue Line that separates the country from Israel, along with ever-deeper Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ground incursions and continuing Hezbollah attacks, the UN said on Tuesday. While the Mission’s monitoring capabilities are limited because of the hostilities, it has seen Israeli… Continue reading Lebanon: Increased violence is the ‘horrific new normal’ for children, warns UNICEF

Fighting is becoming more violent and destructive either side of the UN-patrolled Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel, UN peacekeepers said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, conditions continue to worsen in Gaza, particularly in the north at stricken Kamal Adwan Hospital. Stay tuned for live updates from UN headquarters and the field. UN News app users can… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Live updates for 19 November

18 November 2024 Peace and Security Over 20,000 people have fled their homes across Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince in just four days amid escalating gang violence, with more than 17,000 seeking shelter in 15 displacement sites as critical supply chains collapse.  Haiti has faced instability since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. The current wave of… Continue reading Haiti: Over 20,000 flee as gang violence spurs mass displacement

The Security Council will be holding three high-stakes high-level meetings today, with the United Kingdom’s Foreign Minister David Lammy presiding as Council president for November. Ministers and delegates from the 15-member organ are due to vote on a ceasefire demand on Sudan followed by briefings on the situation in war-torn Gaza, with an afternoon session… Continue reading SECURITY COUNCIL LIVE: Updates on Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine

18 November 2024 Climate and Environment As COP29 climate talks in Baku enter their final week, the UN climate chief told negotiators on Monday to “cut the theatrics,” get down to business and hammer out a new finance deal to compensate countries for climate-driven damages and pay for a clean-energy transition. “We can’t lose sight… Continue reading ‘Cut the theatrics’: UN climate chief tells COP29 negotiators to focus on solutions as talks enter final week

17 November 2024 Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the latest Russian drone and missile attack against the power grid and critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, his Spokesperson said on Sunday. The large-scale strikes occurred overnight and reportedly caused severe damage, power outages and civilian casualties. “Attacks on energy infrastructure will… Continue reading UN chief condemns Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system

António Guterres was speaking to reporters on the eve of the opening of the G20 Summit in the Brazilian city. ‘A simple message’ “I have come to Rio with a simple message: G20 leaders must lead,” he said. “G20 countries – by definition – have tremendous economic clout. They wield massive diplomatic leverage.  They must… Continue reading Ahead of G20 Summit in Brazil, Guterres urges bloc to take the lead in tackling global problems

This waterway, a silent witness to the turmoil of the municipality of Mapiripán, has seen it all – the wildlife trafficking, the coca harvests that fuelled conflict, the human bodies left behind amid a heinous massacre and the relentless erosion of the rainforest it once nourished. Now, Sandra hopes it will carry away the pain… Continue reading Colombian conflict survivors turn forest heroes in search of climate change solutions

16 November 2024 Climate and Environment Leaders in technology and the environment at COP29 in Baku endorsed on Saturday a declaration pledging to use digital technologies to accelerate climate action while reducing the carbon and pollution footprints of tech manufacturing and tackling the growing problem of e-waste. On the first-ever ‘Digitalisation Day’ for a UN… Continue reading COP29: Digital tech and AI can boost climate action, but curbing the sector’s emissions is key

16 November 2024 Climate and Environment The latest round of UN climate negotiations, COP29, opened this past Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan, following a year that broke multiple extreme heat records and saw widespread climate-driven chaos – from wildfires to destructive floods and to hurricanes – strike nearly every corner of the planet. A major increase… Continue reading Will COP29 deliver the trillions needed to tackle the man-made climate crisis?

Global perspective Human stories Thousands of families shelter in damaged and destroyed facilities in Khan Younis, in central Gaza, where UNRWA continues to provide essential services despite increasing challenges. 15 November 2024 Peace and Security At least 100,000 people have been forced to leave northern Gaza in the last 24 hours, with UN colleagues on… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Live updates for 15 November

That message comes after a new UN report revealed that, over the past two years, a sophisticated system that detects significant methane leaks has sent 1,200 notifications to governments and businesses, but only one per cent of those notifications have been answered. “We now have a proven system to identify major leaks so they can… Continue reading COP29: Governments, industry must stop ‘lip-service’ on methane and slash emissions, says UNEP

Speaking in Geneva, Matthias Schmale described the anguish felt by Ukrainians as the war grinds on: “As we are not only approaching winter but also the sad 1,000-day mark since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion in 2022, we are of course thinking of the more than 12,000 people who have been killed.” “To date, civilian… Continue reading 1,000 days into Ukraine war, winter poses critical challenge to aid effort

“You have every right to be angry. I am angry too,” the UN chief posted on social media on Thursday following his meeting with youth representatives and young environmental activists. “I am angry because we are on the verge of the climate abyss, and I don’t see enough urgency or political will to address the… Continue reading COP29: ‘You have every right to be angry’ Guterres tells youth advocates frustrated over lack of climate action

Actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Theo James kicked the campaign off at the COP29 Climate Conference in Baku, alongside a group of eight displaced people with first-hand knowledge of how the climate crisis is impacting families. The actor has been lending his voice to UNHCR’s urgent call to address the impact of record rising temperatures… Continue reading UNHCR amplifies voices of displaced on frontlines of climate change

The biannual report, which focuses on developments affecting global food and animal feed markets, highlights that higher costs for cocoa, coffee, and tea are driving the increase, while disparities in import bills persist across income levels. Cocoa prices have soared nearly four times their ten-year average earlier this year, coffee prices have almost doubled, and tea… Continue reading Coffee, tea and cocoa costs see global food import bill soaring past $2 trillion

“We need a massive global effort to steer our world onto a path to safety; you are out in the front…helping consumers, investors and regulators understand what credible net-zero looks like,” said the Secretary-General. As violent weather inflicts human tragedy and economic destruction worldwide and with efforts to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5… Continue reading COP29: ‘Now is the time to fast-track, not backtrack’ on the path to net-zero

Israeli military operations are blocking, denying or impeding lifesaving aid requests into Gaza on Thursday as the war there and in Lebanon continues to kill, injure and displace growing numbers of civilians. Stay tuned for live updates from our colleagues in the field and at UN Headquarters in New York, where Philippe Lazzarini, head of… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Live updates for 14 November

An update from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said that in the last two days alone, “six attempts to deliver life-saving assistance to besieged areas in North Gaza governorate were blocked”. The missions on Tuesday and Wednesday had aimed to bring food and water to Jabalia, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya, along with protection… Continue reading Israeli war tactics condemned as aid still blocked from reaching north

Speaking at a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York, he detailed the implications of the recent laws passed by the Israeli Knesset, which aim to dismantle UNRWA activities across the occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza and the West Bank. “The intention is to undermine the agency,” he said, emphasizing that these measures are… Continue reading UNRWA chief: Agency enduring ‘darkest moment’, as Israeli laws threaten operations

13 November 2024 Climate and Environment COP29 talks in Baku on Wednesday turned to small island nations facing an existential threat from our warming planet, as UN Secretary-General António Guterres insisted that they “deserve support to deal with a crisis [that they] have done next to nothing to create”.  “You have every right to be… Continue reading COP29 climate talks: Major emitters must right ‘colossal injustice’ on island nations, says UN chief

In an alert, the World Food Programme (WFP) described markets “in decay” across the enclave. “Fresh foods, eggs, and meat barely exist and the prices of any food available have reached record highs,” the UN agency said on X, just days since UN-backed hunger experts warned that famine thresholds may have already been crossed in… Continue reading Middle East: Gaza markets ‘in decay’ as starvation looms

“We are here to respond to a key challenge: turning the energy transition towards justice,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, asking the participants at a roundtable discussion to weigh in on the work of his Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals. The panel launched last year at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates with the… Continue reading COP29: Energy transition must not trigger a ‘stampede of greed’ that crushes the poor

Typhoons Kristine and Leon caused widespread damage in the Philippines, leaving thousands of families and children without access to safe water and sanitation facilities. The 11th and 12th tropical cyclones to hit the country this year affected at least 4.2 million individuals – approximately 1.3 million of them children – and displaced over 300,000.   Worsening… Continue reading The Philippines brace for more storms amid devastating typhoon season

“Sudan is trapped in a nightmare,” Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs told ambassadors, echoing the grim declaration made by the Secretary-General two weeks ago. The latest surge in violence has been especially brutal, notably in eastern Aj Jazirah state (also spelled Gezira), where the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched assaults described by… Continue reading Sudan: Allies of warring generals ‘enabling the slaughter,’ Security Council hears

Mr. Guterres made the appeal in remarks to a high-level dialogue on loss and damage funding during the COP29 UN climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. “In an era of climate extremes, loss and damage finance is a must,” he said. “I urge governments to deliver. In the name of justice.” Most vulnerable affected The… Continue reading COP29: Guterres urges countries to ‘get serious’ on loss and damage funding

Briefing reporters in Geneva from central Gaza, UNRWA senior emergency officer Louise Wateridge warned that amid looming famine in the Gaza Strip and as winter approaches, those forcibly displaced are sleeping on the floor in makeshift shelters surrounded by sewage. “We are extremely concerned when the rains come to the Gaza Strip, what will happen… Continue reading Gaza: ‘People losing hope’ as aid access is refused to north, warns UNRWA

Global perspective Human stories UN staff work on logistics preparations in Khan Younis, Gaza, in April 2024. (file) 12 November 2024 Peace and Security We are covering the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. with live updates from UN Headquarters and the field including Gaza, Lebanon and more, as the Security Council holds an emergency… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Live updates from Gaza, Lebanon and the Security Council

“The sound you hear is the ticking clock. We are in the final countdown to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. And time is not on our side,” he warned. In his opening remarks to the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, the ministerial-level segment of COP29, which officially opened on Tuesday in the… Continue reading ‘Pay up or humanity will pay the price’, Guterres warns at COP29 climate summit

Virginia Gamba, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, highlighted the impact on children of the extreme levels of brutality and lawlessness across the country. “Children are being used by armed gangs in Haiti and we are witnessing some recent troubling trends, notably the use of sexual violence, including rape and… Continue reading Children face unprecedented crisis amid rising violence in Haiti

The update from UN agencies also reported that Israeli strikes have left more than 3,100 people dead and over 13,800 injured since October last year. Turning to the hospitals in conflict areas – Tyre and Jbeil Bint, Marjeoun, Baabda, Lebanon Mount and Baalbek – eight are non-functional, nine are semi-functional and six have sustained damage. Media… Continue reading Lebanon: food insecurity ‘set to worsen’ amid deadly strikes

Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, was speaking during a press briefing on emergencies in the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon, but also in war-ravaged Sudan and beyond. She also upheld the critical role of UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA in Gaza, and appealed for peace. “We urgently call for immediate… Continue reading WHO ‘working tirelessly’ to help save lives as Middle East crisis grinds on

“Let’s dispense with any idea that climate finance is charity;” runaway climate change is impacting “every single individual in the world one way or another,” Mr. Stiell said on Monday. His strong call to action kicked off the latest round of UN climate talks, which will run in the Azerbaijan capital of Baku from today… Continue reading COP29: Push for agreement on a new climate finance deal ‘right from the start’

More than 700,000 people are displaced in the country – over half of whom are children – with recent violence in the capital Port-au-Prince displacing another 12,000 people in recent weeks. Food insecurity is at an all-time high, affecting half of Haiti’s population, or approximately 5.4 million people. Pockets of famine “For the first time… Continue reading World News in Brief: Haiti latest, plastic tide in Samoa, Bakery boost in Ukraine, arbitrary detention in Mexico

According to a 2021 global survey, more than one-third of responding health institutions reported at least one ransomware attack in the preceding year, and a third among them reported paying a ransom. Ransomware attacks are a form of cyberattacks, in which a malicious actor “takes over” or “locks” files on a single computer or an… Continue reading Cyberattacks on healthcare: A global threat that can’t be ignored

The report details the horrific reality faced by both the people of Israel and Gaza since 7 October 2023, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressing the imperative for Israel to fully and immediately comply with its obligations under international law and the rules of war. “It is essential that there… Continue reading Gaza: Possible atrocity crimes unfold, new UN report warns

Nineteen months since conflict erupted between rival militaries the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the transfer of power to civilian rule, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) expressed deep concern that more than three million people have now been forced to flee the country in search of safety. “It’s been over… Continue reading Sudan’s displaced have endured ‘unimaginable suffering, brutal atrocities’

The UN human rights office released a scathing report on the ongoing war in Gaza as deadly Israeli military operations continue to pound the Strip and Lebanon, wreaking havoc on civilians, destroying homes and blowing up public buildings. Follow our live coverage through the day. UN News app users can follow here.

The context in which COP29 begins in Baku, Azerbaijan on November 11 is critical but not hopeless. A UN climate report released just days before the Conference confirmed that global average temperature rise is approaching 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, which would put the world on course for a catastrophic rise of 2.6-3.1°C this century, unless… Continue reading Deadly weather events show cost of climate inaction

Aid workers are being forced to work in unsafe conditions, as insecurity and restrictions by Israeli forces prevent them from reaching people in need, Stephanie Tremblay, UN Associate Spokesperson, told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York, citing reports from the UN relief coordination office, OCHA. “Palestinians there have absolutely no protection as… Continue reading Suffering continues for civilians in Gaza and Lebanon

In a report released on Thursday, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) described the situation in the poverty-struck province as an “unprecedented disaster”. “A perfect storm is brewing,” it said, citing a combination of interlinked issues – restrictions on domestic and international flow of goods, hyperinflation, loss of livelihoods, dwindling agricultural production and lack of essential… Continue reading Looming famine in Rakhine signals wider crisis in Myanmar

“Humanity’s torching the planet and paying the price,” warned UN Secretary-General António Guterres responding to WMO’s latest global temperature analysis covering January to September 2024. Youth-led momentum for change In a powerful video message to 19th Climate Change Conference of Youth, Mr. Guterres emphasized their critical role in driving climate action. “As young people, never… Continue reading Record heat persists as WMO calls for urgent services and investment boost

By Vibhu Mishra 7 November 2024 Climate and Environment Come hell or high water, nations must urgently scale up climate adaptation efforts, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warned Thursday, starting with a commitment to boost adaptation financing at the upcoming COP29 summit. In its Adaptation Gap Report 2024: Come Hell and High Water, UNEP warned… Continue reading Adapt or perish: UN calls for urgent action at COP29 climate summit

Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) – which is also Europe’s biggest nuclear energy facility – has been under Russian control since shortly after it launched a full-scale military campaign in February 2022. In recent days, an IAEA expert team crossed the frontline to replace colleagues at the Zaporizhzhya plant who have been monitoring nuclear safety… Continue reading Ukraine’s nuclear security situation ‘highly challenging’, warns UN atomic watchdog

António Guterres congratulated President-elect Donald Trump following his clear victory in Tuesday’s election. “And I reaffirm my belief that the cooperation between the United States and the United Nations is an essential pillar of international relations,” the UN chief continued in his statement. “The United Nations stands ready to work constructively with the incoming administration… Continue reading World News in Brief: UN-US cooperation, an ‘essential pillar’, DR Congo update, another major storm to hit Cuba

6 November 2024 SDGs One of the main messages conveyed by women leaders, activists, young people and others gathered for a discussion on Wednesday in Cairo at the World Urban Forum was that: “a city safe for women is a city safe for all.” As the twelfth edition of the Forum (WUF12) continued in the… Continue reading A city safe for women is safe for all: Women’s voices lead at World Urban Forum in Cairo

The UN General Assembly is holding an informal meeting on UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees that faces new Israeli laws banning it from operating in Occupied Palestinian Territory, as bombings escalated in Gaza and Lebanon. Stay tuned for updates from UN Headquarters in New York and across the region. UN News app users… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Live updates as General Assembly meets on UNRWA and more

Beit Lahiya town in northern Gaza and Nuseirat refugee camp in the centre of the enclave were the focus of dawn strikes, local media reported. In southern Lebanon, Israeli fire hit Tyre and Nabatieh governorate, with at least 20 killed in the coastal town of Barja, the authorities said. In support of medical teams in… Continue reading Strikes in Gaza, Lebanon, as aid teams support ‘overwhelmed’ burns centre

“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami – one of the deadliest disasters in recent history. More than 230,000 people lost their lives,” Mr. Guterres said in his message for the day. The Secretary General highlighted that approximately 700 million people worldwide remain at risk from tsunamis, emphasising that the best protection… Continue reading Early warning systems critical as world marks Tsunami Awareness Day

Rich in oil resources, the Abyei area straddles the border between Sudan and South Sudan and is claimed by both sides. “The war in the Sudan continues to have a profound impact on the security, economic and humanitarian situations in both the Sudan and South Sudan, including in the Abyei box,” Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General… Continue reading Sudan war keeps reaching across borders, Security Council hears

5 November 2024 Health In a historic health milestone, Sudan has launched its first malaria vaccination campaign amid 18 months of civil conflict, aiming to protect thousands of children from the deadly disease. On Monday, The Federal Ministry of Health, in partnership with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi,… Continue reading Sudan launches first malaria vaccine in landmark child health initiative

“Almost no urban resident will be unaffected, with billions of people subjected to hotter temperatures or exposed to the risks of flooding and other threats,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat.  The report also highlights a significant funding gap for resilient urban infrastructure. Cities overall need an estimated $4.5 to $5.4 trillion investment per… Continue reading Over 2 billion in cities will be exposed to 0.5ºC rise by 2040

As the crisis grinds on, we will be taking you into UN Geneva for the latest briefings from our colleagues in Gaza and Lebanon as well as UN Headquarters in New York and the field for updates on the developing situation in the Middle East throughout the day.

Ms. Mohammed briefed Member States on the work of the Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals and urged them to share feedback. The Panel recently issued a report which showed that many of today’s rapidly growing clean energy technologies – from wind turbines and solar panels to electric vehicles and battery storage – depend… Continue reading Green energy shift must also bring prosperity and equality: UN deputy chief

4 November 2024 Peace and Security The increasing impact of fighting between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and militants from Hezbollah on Lebanese civilians “is of grave concern”, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Monday, condemning the mounting loss of life. “All actors must adhere to international law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure,” he said,… Continue reading Lebanon: UN condemns increasing loss of life and civilian suffering

4 November 2024 Economic Development While carbon markets have played a limited role in boosting sustainable development for the world’s least developed economies, a new report from UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) shows that stronger domestic laws, regulations, and monitoring could pay big dividends.  UNCTAD’s Least Developed Countries Report 2024 highlighted on Monday that the group… Continue reading Carbon markets could boost climate action in least developed countries

The missile, launched on 31 October at approximately 7:11am local time, reportedly flew for 1 hour and 26 minutes, covered approximately 1,000 kilometres, reaching an altitude of over 7,000 kilometres before landing in the sea. “The DPRK described this latest launch as a ‘very crucial test’ that ‘updated the recent records of the strategic missile… Continue reading DPR Korea’s latest missile launch a ‘grave threat’ to regional stability

In an alert from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, it reported more than 28,000 cases of cholera and 836 deaths in 11 states between 22 July and 28 October. The actual number of people infected with the disease may be higher owing to under-reporting, said OCHA; the UN agency also noted in its latest update… Continue reading First famine, now cholera and dengue fever surge hits war-torn Sudan

“This is an unprecedented occasion in the history of multilateral environmental agreements,” Camila Paz Romero, spokesperson for Indigenous Peoples at the summit, told UN News. “Indigenous peoples and local communities of the world – connected from our knowledge systems in the care of life and biodiversity – remember the long road we have traveled towards… Continue reading COP16: Landmark biodiversity agreements adopted

Gaza: Health teams under attack The northern Gaza polio vaccine campaign began Saturday and is scheduled to continue through Monday, with UN agencies and partners fanning out across the ravaged north during agreed upon humanitarian pauses to ensure safety for civilians and aid workers. The goal is to reach more than 100,000 children with the… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Gaza polio vaccine campaign under fire

As daily Israeli airstrikes and bombings continue to ravage parts of the country, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon has reached levels that exceed the severity of the 2006 war, with ongoing hostilities resulting in 2,867 deaths and over 13,000 injuries since 8 October 2023, Lebanese authorities reported in the latest flash update from the UN… Continue reading Lebanon: UN agencies call for ceasefire as war worsens dire conditions

1 November 2024 Peace and Security UN Secretary General António Guterres has strongly condemned escalating attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state, as new reports reveal over 135,000 civilians were displaced in just 10 days.   “The Secretary General is appalled by the large numbers of civilians being killed, detained and… Continue reading Sudan crisis escalates as attacks in Al Jazirah spark mass displacement

31 October 2024 Peace and Security A senior UN disarmament official on Thursday called on all parties to the conflict in Ukraine to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further escalate the war. Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, delivered the appeal at a Security Council briefing… Continue reading Ukraine: UN official urges restraint, renews call for just and lasting peace

The UN weather agency is highlighting the importance of early warning systems for all corners of the planet and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. “The flooding that we’re seeing in Spain is just one of many, many, many, extreme weather and water-related disasters that have been taking place around the world this… Continue reading Deadly floods in Spain highlight need to cut greenhouse gas emissions

By Vibhu Mishra 30 October 2024 Peace and Security As tensions mount between Pristina and Belgrade, the UN’s top official in Kosovo called for “responsible leadership” from all parties to protect human rights and foster constructive political dialogue. Caroline Ziadeh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo… Continue reading UN envoy urges responsible leadership amid Kosovo-Serbia tensions

Global perspective Human stories A UN report says Israeli incursions in the last year in Gaza and here, in the West Bank, has set Palestinian development back by nearly 70 years. 1 November 2024 Peace and Security We are following the news as it happens from UN offices in Geneva and New York and on… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Live updates on 1 November from the UN and the region

Israel issued new displacement orders that day for several villages and Rashiedeh Palestinian refugee camp, located in the south of the country.  This marked the first time the Israeli army has called for the evacuation of a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, the UN agency said. Thousands on the run The Israeli army also issued… Continue reading Ongoing hostilities and evacuation orders impact thousands in Lebanon

The appeal from Paula Gaviria Betancur, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, comes as the Pacific nation grapples with generational displacement and the threat posed by rising sea levels and unprecedented global heating. The Marshall Islands, a frontline nation in the fight to slow global warming, faces unique challenges. As… Continue reading UN expert calls for action as Marshall Islands faces dual displacement crisis

What do the laws say? The bills, approved overwhelmingly by Israeli parliamentarians (92 in favour, 10 against) on Monday, would prohibit the country’s authorities from having any contact with UNRWA, and bar the agency from operating within Israel itself. The passage of aid into Gaza and the West Bank requires close coordination between UNRWA and the… Continue reading Israeli laws blocking UNRWA – devastating humanitarian impact for Palestinians?

31 October 2024 Humanitarian Aid “Catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity” bordering on starvation are expected to impact hundreds of thousands of people in coming months, driven principally by violence and conflict. Five hunger hotspots are of particular concern: Haiti, Mali, the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), South Sudan and Sudan, UN agencies said on Thursday.  “Without immediate… Continue reading ‘Catastrophic’ hunger persists in multiple countries, warn food agencies

The resolution, titled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba,” passed with 187 votes in favor, two against (Israel and the US), and one abstention (Moldova). Though non-binding, the result drew attention the relative isolation of the US regarding the embargo, which was first… Continue reading General Assembly renews long-standing call for end to US embargo against Cuba

Global perspective Human stories Plastic waste collects in a river in Trinidad. 30 October 2024 Climate and Environment Countries gathered in Colombia to work on a treaty to end plastic pollution must strive for “an ambitious, credible and just” deal that responds to the needs of communities everywhere, including some 20 million waste-pickers, UN Secretary-General… Continue reading People want action on plastic pollution that’s choking us: Guterres

The UN Security Council is due to meet in emergency session shortly after 3pm New York time on Wednesday on Ukraine, amid unconfirmed reports that troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) – more commonly known as North Korea – have been deployed to fight alongside Russian forces. We’ll have live coverage plus… Continue reading War in Ukraine: Live updates from the Security Council and the field

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29 October 2024 Peace and Security Escalating violence and new atrocities in Sudan have pushed the humanitarian crisis to unprecedented levels, with displacement now exceeding 11 million people amid reports of mass killings and systematic-sexual violence across multiple regions, UN officials said on Tuesday.  “The situation in Sudan is catastrophic. There is simply no other… Continue reading Sudan’s ‘living nightmare’ continues as 11 million flee war, mass killings

Speaking at the opening of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), he emphasized that “making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century.” “Nature is life. And yet we are waging a war against it – a war in which there can be no… Continue reading At COP16, Guterres urges world to ‘choose wisely…make peace with nature’

More than 190 nations signed up to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Colombia for the 16th Conference of the Parties or COP16, a meeting which is held every two years to agree on commitments to safeguard the environment. The slogan of the meeting is ‘Peace with Nature’, recognising that economic development should not come at… Continue reading Balancing biodiversity at global UN summit in Colombia

Join us through the day as we bring you the latest news from the Security Council, UN Headquarters and dispatches from across the Middle East as tensions escalate and the war on Gaza and Lebanon grinds on in the shadows of a new Israeli ban on UNRWA, the agency serving nearly six million Palestine refugees… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Live updates on UNRWA, Gaza and more

29 October 2024 Peace and Security Top UN officials continued to line up on Tuesday to defend the irreplaceable role of the global body’s agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, insisting that if implemented, the Israeli parliament’s decision to ban it would only deepen suffering in Gaza. Echoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s warning late Monday that… Continue reading UNRWA cannot be replaced, say UN top officials in response to Knesset ban

28 October 2024 Peace and Security Monday’s vote by the Israeli Knesset banning the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) contradicts principles of the UN Charter, violates Israel’s obligations under international law, and sets a dangerous precedent, the head of the Agency, Philippe Lazzarini has warned. “This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to… Continue reading Lazzarini: Israeli Knesset vote on UNRWA will deepen Palestinian suffering

28 October 2024 Climate and Environment Proposed actions by countries to mitigate the worsening impacts of climate change “fall miles short of what is needed,” according to a major UN report has revealed on Monday. UN climate change secretariat (UNFCCC)’s 2024 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Synthesis Report showed that current plans would result in emissions… Continue reading UN official urges more ambitious, credible climate action plans

“The suffering is growing by the day, with almost 25 million people now in need of humanitarian assistance,” Mr. Guterres told ambassadors at the Security Council, emphasizing the dire conditions civilians are enduring 18 months into the conflict. He described the situation as a series of unrelenting nightmares. “Thousands of civilians killed, and countless others… Continue reading Sudan trapped in a ‘nightmare of violence’, UN chief tells Security Council

UNRWA, the largest UN aid agency in Gaza, reported “no improvements” at Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for lifesaving food, fuel and medicine. “One of our biggest concerns now is people not having enough to eat,” the agency said, adding that aid entering the enclave is at its lowest level in months, with commercial… Continue reading Gaza: No let-up in Israeli military offensive, situation ‘only getting worse’

We will be following the latest breaking news over the day, including from UN staff on the ground in the Middle East, dispatches from Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region as well as the emergency Security Council meeting following escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.

28 October 2024 Climate and Environment New data released by the UN on Monday showing that greenhouse gases have surged to new highs clearly show once again that urgent action and not words is needed from the world’s major polluting nations to protect us all from climate change, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) insisted. The… Continue reading Greenhouse gases surged to new highs in 2023, warns UN weather agency

27 October 2024 Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed shock at the “harrowing levels of death, injury and destruction” in north Gaza amid an ongoing intense Israeli military operation, his Spokesperson said on Sunday. Since the offensive began earlier this month, hundreds of people have been killed, according to Gaza’s Ministry of… Continue reading UN chief ‘shocked’ at harrowing death and destruction in north Gaza

Preliminary reports indicate that between 20 and 25 October, fighters from the paramilitary RSF launched major attacks across eastern parts of the Al Jazirah state (also spelled Gezira), indiscriminately shooting at civilians and committing sexual violence against women and girls. “I am shocked and deeply appalled that human rights violations of the kind witnessed in… Continue reading Sudan: UN official decries attacks against civilians in Al Jazirah state

26 October 2024 Peace and Security The UN’s top humanitarian official warned on Saturday that the entire population of northern Gaza is at risk of dying, calling for an immediate stop to “blatant disregard for basic humanity” by Israeli forces. “What Israeli forces are doing in besieged north Gaza cannot be allowed to continue,” said… Continue reading ‘Entire population of north Gaza at risk of dying,’ warns UN’s top humanitarian official

26 October 2024 Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Saturday called for an immediate halt to all escalatory actions in the Middle East, following overnight attacks by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on targets in Iran. Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN chief, said in a statement that António Guterres is “deeply alarmed” by… Continue reading UN chief urges halt to escalation after Israeli strikes on Iran

The strike occurred in Hasbaya in Nabatiyeh, outside the area of operations of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The building housed several journalists and other media personnel. Expressing concern, Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq, stressed: “When journalists, protected under international humanitarian law, are targeted, so too are our fundamental rights to the freedom… Continue reading UN alarmed by Israeli strike in southern Lebanon that killed journalists

25 October 2024 Health Reports of Israeli troops storming one of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza are deeply concerning, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.  “Since this morning’s reports of a raid of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, we have lost touch with the personnel there,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom… Continue reading Raid on North Gaza hospital ‘deeply disturbing’: WHO chief

Announcing the Pledge at a Security Council open debate on women, peace and security, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasized that women’s rights are being eroded while they are being denied an equal voice in decision making. She cited the worsening crises in Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Yemen, stressing “it is imperative that we reinforce… Continue reading New UN push to ensure women’s equal participation peace

Speaking at the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty held in Paris, Imran Riza expressed grave concerns for civilians. “As hostilities persist, humanitarian needs grow unchecked, and suffering intensifies,” he expressed. The Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, told the conference concrete action to end hostilities was need amid an already catastrophic situation.… Continue reading ‘Lebanon risks falling off a humanitarian cliff’: UN relief coordinator

He urged the bloc to help forge a more equitable global finance system, boost climate action, improve access to technology and work towards peace, particularly in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan. BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, who were later jointed by South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United… Continue reading BRICS Summit: Guterres underscores bloc’s role in boosting global cooperation

24 October 2024 Climate and Environment Annual greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high, and urgent action must be taken to prevent catastrophic spikes in temperature and avoid the worst impact of climate change, according to a new report released on Thursday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). In short, countries must start curbing… Continue reading ‘Climate crunch time is here,’ new UN report warns

“It is imperative to stop the polio outbreak in Gaza before more children are paralysed and the virus spreads,” said Louise Wateridge, spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA. “The vaccination campaign must be facilitated in the north through the implementation of humanitarian pauses.” To interrupt transmission, at least 90 per cent of… Continue reading Gaza: Polio could spread unless vaccines reach war-torn north

Right now, the reality is grim: in 2023, the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubled compared to the previous year, and the number of UN-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence increased by 50 per cent. Meanwhile, the proportion of international aid committed to supporting gender equality in conflict-affected contexts has dropped in recent years,… Continue reading Explainer: How to advance women’s roles in peace and security

23 October 2024 Health Countries facing conflict, natural disasters and humanitarian crises are struggling to provide routine childhood immunisations leaving many children vulnerable to the resurgence of polio, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned in new report.  On World Polio Day, UNICEF has issued a stark warning: polio cases in fragile and conflict-affected countries have… Continue reading 85 percent of children affected by polio in 2023 lived in fragile and conflict-affected areas: UNICEF

“The fires of conflicts are raging the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza, and in Lebanon. And the heat is being felt in Syria too – spiralling escalation is already having a major impact on Syria and Syrian civilians,” Geir Pedersen said, briefing ambassadors on the Security Council. “I want to issue a clear warning: regional… Continue reading Syria facing alarming regional spillover, UN envoy warns

“We can confirm that an UNRWA vehicle has been hit in Deir Al-Balah,” a spokesperson confirmed. “So far, we have reports one UNRWA staff member was killed.” Since the deadly Hamas-led invasion of Israel a year ago triggered the ongoing war, almost 48,000 people in Gaza have been killed during the resulting Israeli offensive, including… Continue reading World News in Brief: UNRWA staffer killed in Gaza, Central African Republic update, terror in Türkiye, journalists face financial reprisals

Intensified Israeli airstrikes on 23 September forced nearly 120,000 people to flee their homes within a week, according to UNHCR. As of 20 October, that number has spiked to 809,000 displaced within Lebanon. A further 425,000 – of whom around 70 per cent are Syrian refugees and about 30 per cent Lebanese – are estimated… Continue reading Civilians and peacekeepers at risk, amid escalating Lebanon conflict

The mandate was established through Security Council resolution 1888 (2009) which called for appointing a Special Representative to lead UN efforts to address rape during conflict, among other actions. “It recognized that like bullets, bombs and blades, the widespread systematic use of sexual violence decimates communities, drives displacement and inflicts trauma that echoes across generations,”… Continue reading ‘Trauma that echoes across generations’: UN highlights weaponisation of sexual violence

The UN Security Council on Tuesday heard briefings from top officials on the Haiti crisis and although gangs continue spreading terror and fear there is a “glimmer of hope” that stability can return to the Caribbean island nation in the months ahead, said the UN Special Representative, following years of turmoil, extreme weather disasters and… Continue reading SECURITY COUNCIL LIVE: UN to brief ambassadors on Haiti crisis

Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča, whose portfolio straddles both Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, voiced concern over attacks on energy infrastructure as winter approaches. Drones, death and devastation Mr. Jenča said at least 208 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 1,220 injured in September, making it the month with the highest number of civilian casualties this year. Overall,… Continue reading Daily death and destruction continues in Ukraine, Security Council hears

Setting the stage for the discussions, Robin Geiss, Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), highlighted the blistering pace of scientific developments across fields like advanced robotics, 3D printing, generative AI and outer space. While it took nearly 50 years for the 1880s electric grid to reach 100 million homes, ChatGPT achieved the… Continue reading The promise and peril of runaway technological advances

21 October 2024 Peace and Security Ongoing airstrikes across Lebanon “continue to kill and injure civilians and displace a growing number of families,” according to the latest update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “Late last night, hundreds of people were reportedly displaced in Beirut and across the country following… Continue reading ‘Hundreds displaced overnight’ as airstrikes destroy humanitarian facilities in Lebanon

Considered the world’s most important event to conserve biodiversity, the summit is taking place in Cali, the third largest city of the South American nation, and will host some 15,000 attendees, including a dozen heads of State, 103 ministers and over 1,000 international journalists. Aiming to promote international cooperation, agree on investments to protect ecosystems… Continue reading The latest UN biodiversity summit opens in Colombia; here’s what’s at stake

“Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilisation itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history and not its future,” said Tedros Adhanom-Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This certification of Egypt as malaria-free is truly historic, and a testament to the commitment of the people and Government of Egypt to rid themselves of this… Continue reading World News in Brief: Egypt malaria-free, tropical storm lashes Cuba, Mozambique killings, WHO support for South Sudan

21 October 2024 Peace and Security The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has expressed growing alarm over Israel’s military operations in northern Gaza, warning that the combination of relentless attacks, forced displacement and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid could amount to the wholesale “destruction” of the Palestinian population in the region. Life has become “impossible”… Continue reading UN rights office raises alarm over relentless Israeli attacks in north Gaza

The UN chief’s call came in a video message to the opening ceremony of the gathering, which officially begins on Monday 21 October in one of the most biodiverse countries on earth. Over the next two weeks, government experts, environmental activists and indigenous groups will tackle pressing global challenges in biodiversity protection.   Formally the… Continue reading A ‘people’s COP’ to heal the planet: UN biodiversity summit opens in Colombia

20 October 2024 Peace and Security The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has said that an Israeli army bulldozer demolished an observation tower and the perimeter fence of a UN position earlier on Sunday in Marwahin, in the southern part of the country. A press statement issued by the Mission, formally known as the… Continue reading Israeli army ‘deliberately demolished’ watchtower, fence at UN peacekeeping site in southern Lebanon

By Vibhu Mishra 18 October 2024 Peace and Security The UN Security Council on Friday renewed for one year the sanctions regime on Haiti – including a targeted assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo measures – aimed at curbing the illicit flow of weapons to criminal gangs which have sown chaos across the Caribbean… Continue reading UN Security Council extends sanctions, arms embargo on Haiti

“Although he does not comment on events of this nature, the Secretary-General is interested that this now leads to an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza,” Farhan Haq told the daily press briefing at UN Headquarters. Increasingly dire in the north Providing the latest updates,… Continue reading Gaza at a ‘critical juncture’ as top UN officials call for a ceasefire now

“Despite [Israel Defense Forces] demands to move from positions close to the Blue Line, a unanimous decision was taken by all UNIFIL Troop Contributing Countries and the UN Security Council, and our peacekeepers remain deployed in all their positions along the Blue Line,” said Andrea Tenenti, Spokesperson for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).… Continue reading Lebanon: Peacekeepers pledge to stay, doing ‘whatever they can to help’

Following standard protocol, electronic countermeasures were used to bring down the so far unidentified uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), according to UN spokesperson Farhan Haq at the regular press briefing in New York. UNIFIL has launched an investigation into the incident. The downing of the drone follows other concerning security developments in recent days that have… Continue reading Lebanon: Drone brought down by UNIFIL ship as cross-border fire intensifies

Figures from the global IPC food security initiative show that 133,000 people – or 6 per cent of the enclave’s population – are already experiencing Phase 5 or “catastrophic” food insecurity. It’s feared this number could rise to around 345,000 people – or 16 per cent of the entire population – between the winter months… Continue reading Over 1.8 million in Gaza face extreme hunger

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that a response plan had been activated to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing and water sampling. The case was confirmed in Akkar, the country’s northernmost governorate. Speaking in Geneva late Wednesday, Tedros noted that the Lebanese health authorities had launched an oral vaccination drive in August targeting… Continue reading Lebanon: Cholera fears for communities uprooted by war

In the first week of October alone, close to 25,000 people fled to eastern Chad, marking the highest weekly influx this year. This follows months of intensifying violence in Darfur, and Chad now hosts over 600,000 Sudanese refugees, which is more than any other country in the region.  Since the conflict began 18 months ago, almost three… Continue reading World News in Brief: Sudan’s refugee crisis, UNRWA Gaza update, violence rising in South Sudan, call to halt latest US executions

16 October 2024 Peace and Security Deadly Israeli airstrikes hit targets across Lebanon on Wednesday, prompting renewed condemnation from top UN negotiators and humanitarians, who warned that essential services in the south of the country are close to collapse. “Today, Israeli airstrikes hit the town of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, yet again… As the theatre and… Continue reading Lebanon war: Essential services in south facing collapse, warns UN

Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, told the Security Council that recent Government initiatives reflected an “important re-centreing” of the peace process. These include a rapid response plan with development projects, public investments and services. “I welcome initial indications that the plan will focus strongly on rural reform in order to transform… Continue reading ‘Historic progress’ for Colombia peace process – but challenges remain

“It’s a double win when demining – which is always a good thing – is linked to sustainable agriculture and energy security, even when a conflict is ongoing,” according to Chris Loughran and Camille Wallen. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the nation has become one of the world’s most heavily mined… Continue reading Ukraine: Time to recognise ‘tremendous potential’ of demining

The crisis is unfolding as Yemeni Government forces, who are backed by a Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels – also known as Ansar Allah – continue their nearly decade-long war. Mr. Grundberg urged the Council “to unite in stopping the bloodshed and supporting every effort to bring peace to a region in desperate need of… Continue reading Despite regional escalation, peace is still possible in Yemen: UN envoy

“What we’re hearing is that amongst the 22 people who were killed were 12 women and two children,” said Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). “We understand it was a four-storey residential building that was struck. With these factors in mind, we have real concerns with… Continue reading Lebanon crisis: UN human rights office calls for probe into Israeli strike

Addressing the UNHCR Executive Committee in Geneva, High Commissioner Filippo Grandi said that nowhere is “uncertainty and anxiety more palpable at the moment than in Lebanon”. “Uncertainty clouds the lives of ordinary civilians in Lebanon today. Surely, if airstrikes continue, many more will be displaced and some will also decide to move on to other… Continue reading Lebanon: Calls for ceasefire amid escalating displacement and shelling

14 October 2024 Peace and Security A second round of polio vaccinations for thousands of children began in central Gaza on Monday despite reported strikes on a school-turned-shelter in Nuseirat and a hospital courtyard in Deir Al-Balah where “multiple tents” were set ablaze as people slept. “Throughout the night, I spoke to a colleague sheltering… Continue reading Gaza: School set for polio vaccine campaign hit in deadly strike, says UNRWA

13 October 2024 Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Sunday reiterated that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed, following the deliberate breach of a UN peacekeeping position by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) armored vehicles in southern Lebanon. The incident took place early on Sunday morning (local time), when… Continue reading UN chief calls for safety of peacekeepers after IDF breaches UN position in Lebanon

13 October 2024 Peace and Security Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tanks forcibly entered a United Nations position in southern Lebanon early Sunday morning, with UN peacekeepers at the same location also “suffering effects” from smoke after several rounds were fired in its vicinity, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reported. According to the… Continue reading Lebanon: IDF tanks force entry into UN peacekeeping position, UNIFIL reports

South Sudan now ranks as the second largest recipient of people fleeing Sudan, with more than 810,000 new arrivals since April 2023, including returning South Sudanese refugees who were sheltering in Sudan and refugee and asylum seekers from other countries. UNHCR warned that the situation is likely to worsen, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian challenges… Continue reading Sudan: Refugee numbers swell as war continues to drive displacement

In an appeal for an end to the “killing, destruction [and] bellicose posturing” by those in power, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said that the situation for civilians on the ground “in Lebanon, Gaza, Israel and Syria is getting worse by the day”. On Friday, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that… Continue reading Middle East crisis: UN human rights office condemns worsening violence

The lyrics include references to an earthquake, a massive wave, land submerged under water and locating to higher ground. “When there is an earthquake and a tsunami, you are in panic, you cannot be expected to think. This is why the emergency drill must be ingrained and be second nature. This has to start from… Continue reading Twenty years on: Indonesia ‘better prepared’ following tsunami

11 October 2024 Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated the Japanese anti-nuclear weapons organization Nihon Hidankyo which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The grassroots movement of survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, known as hibakusha, is committed to achieving a nuclear-free world. Mr. Guterres described the… Continue reading Guterres congratulates Japanese anti-nuclear group on Nobel Peace Prize win

11 October 2024 Peace and Security Amid escalating hostilities in Myanmar sparked by a 2021 military coup that have plunged millions into a deepening humanitarian crisis, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday urged the country’s neighbours “to leverage their influence” to bring about peace.  The UN chief’s appeal comes as aid agencies warn that millions… Continue reading Myanmar is spiralling, warns UN chief in peace call to regional bloc ASEAN

Addressing the preparatory meeting of the 29the session of Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Pre-COP29), Ms. Mohammed called for urgent climate action, emphasising the need for increased financial investments, reforms in global financial architecture and a transition away from fossil fuels. Poorest pay the price With “extreme weather devasting… Continue reading ‘Minutes from midnight’: Mohammed calls for urgent climate action

Global perspective Human stories Southern suburbs of Beirut following recent Israeli airstrikes. 10 October 2024 Peace and Security As the crisis in the Middle East grinds on, we are covering latest updates from the field and at UN Headquarters as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attack UN peacekeepers from the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. At UN… Continue reading MIDDLE EAST: Updating live from the Security Council and across the UN

The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported that ambulances and relief centres had been “targeted or hit in Lebanon, causing further casualties”, adding that the UN health agency WHO and health partners have continued to deliver life-saving surgical supplies to frontline health workers. International humanitarian law provides special protection for ambulances, healthcare workers and their… Continue reading Lebanon crisis: Health workers and facilities ‘targeted or hit’

10 October 2024 Peace and Security Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fired on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon early Thursday morning, according to UNIFIL, the mission operating along the Security Council-mandated “Blue Line” of separation between the two countries which they patrol. “UNIFIL’s Naqoura headquarters and nearby positions have been repeatedly hit,” the UN mission said in… Continue reading Israeli forces fire on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

As turmoil roils the Middle East, we’ll bring you live updates from UN agencies and senior officials on the ground and here in New York, including from the UN Spokesperson and top diplomats inside the Security Council chamber. We’ll cover the Council’s meeting on the situation in the region at 3pm local time, where Secretary-General… Continue reading MIDDLE EAST: Live updates from across the region and UN Headquarters in New York

9 October 2024 Peace and Security The prospect of all-out war in Lebanon appeared undiminished on Wednesday as the head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said that there was “no end to hell” in northern Gaza, where lifesaving relief has shut down. The warning from Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA UNRWA was prompted… Continue reading ‘No end to hell’ in northern Gaza, warns UN aid agency chief

8 October 2024 Peace and Security The situation in Africa’s Great Lakes Region, in particular the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has remained “alarming” amid ongoing violence in the restive country’s east, said the UN Special Envoy to the Region in a briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday.  “It is the civilian population… Continue reading ‘Alarming’ situation in Great Lakes Region of DR Congo

Here is what you need to know about UNIFIL, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon: Security Council mandate UNIFIL was created by the Security Council in March 1978 following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. Its mandate was to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Lebanese Government… Continue reading Explainer: How UN peacekeepers meet the challenge of escalating conflict in Lebanon

“That’s why I have written directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express profound concern about draft legislation that could prevent UNRWA from continuing its essential work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” he said at the Security Council stakeout in New York.  He said such a measure would suffocate efforts to ease suffering and… Continue reading Israel: New law blocking UNRWA ‘would be a catastrophe’, Guterres warns

The war in Gaza was sparked following a brutal attack by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in southern Israel and has led to an ongoing offensive by Israeli forces against the militants. Ahmed Abu Aita lost 45 relatives, including his wife and son, together with his family-run dairy and cheese business following an airstrike… Continue reading ‘Indescribable’ pain one year after 7 October attacks

“It’s impossible to meet the needs of more than a million people who have been suddenly uprooted, displaced and dispossessed without additional resources coming in,” said Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Country Director in Lebanon (From Beirut): “This was not a country that was well prepared because of all of the challenges that it’s faced over the… Continue reading Fears grow that Lebanon may become another Gaza

Residential areas are under attack, hospitals have been ordered to evacuate, and electricity remains cut off, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday, citing reports from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “As heavy bombing and ground operations in the north continue, medical facilities and other essential services there are at risk… Continue reading Gazans in the north trapped with nowhere to go, as fighting intensifies

“That day left deep scars on individuals, families, and the collective memory of the State of Israel and the world,” said Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, who is based in Jerusalem. “Today, we mourn for the over 1,200 people, including many women and children, who were murdered in cold… Continue reading UN officials remember brutal 7 October attacks, reiterate need for peace

The State of Global Water Resources report released on Monday also highlights that over the last five years below-normal conditions for river flows have been recorded with less water reaching reservoirs.The reduction in supplies has reduced the amount of water available for communities, agriculture and ecosystems. Currently, 3.6 billion people worldwide face inadequate access to… Continue reading Water is ‘canary in the coalmine’ of climate change: WMO

According to the Lebanese health ministry over 2,000 Lebanese have been killed and nearly 10,000 wounded since the start of Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza a year ago. Israel intensified its bombing campaign across the whole of Lebanon following the killing of Hezbollah’s leader last month, and Iran’s ballistic missile assault on Israeli cities,… Continue reading Lebanon: UNHCR chief issues urgent aid appeal to stem humanitarian catastrophe

5 October 2024 Peace and Security In a message to mark one year since the Hamas-led terror attack during which more than 1,250 Israelis and foreign nationals were brutally killed on 7 October, the UN Secretary-General has called on the international community to loudly condemn those “abhorrent acts” which have triggered a shocking wave of… Continue reading Guterres urges global community to repeat ‘utter condemnation’ of 7 October Hamas terror attack

The 15-member Council is charged with taking action, through resolutions and decisions, on any threats to international peace and security, but sometimes adopting a draft into a legally binding document for the UN’s 193 Member States faces multiple hurdles. Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, for example, Council members have drafted,… Continue reading Explainer: The journey of a UN Security Council resolution

4 October 2024 Peace and Security An attack by a notorious gang in the town of Pont Sondé, Haiti, left at least 70 people dead on Thursday, after gunmen armed with automatic rifles opened fire, a spokesperson for the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Friday. Among the victims at the hands of the… Continue reading Gang attack in Haiti’s Pont Sondé leaves 70 dead

At least 18 people were killed, and many more fatalities could be trapped under the rubble of the three-storied building, according to the UN human rights office (OHCHR). The killings “marked yet another escalation of the violence”, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing at UN Headquarters in New… Continue reading UN condemns deadly West Bank airstrike, attacks on Gaza schools

“There were two strikes and a huge crater was created in the no-man’s land between the Syrian and the Lebanese side. It’s very hard for vehicles still to go through this road,” said Rula Amin, Senior Communications Advisor for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, for the Middle East and North Africa. Speaking from Amman, Ms.… Continue reading Lebanon: Medical aid arrives in Beirut amid intensifying Israeli strikes

The report – the first of its kind – analyses the links between child trafficking and the six grave violations against children caught up in war. They are recruitment and use, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.     It was produced… Continue reading Report highlights links between child trafficking and grave violations during conflict

Attacks in the northeast city killed or injured more than 190 people in September alone, said the UN’s top aid coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale. “One thought that’s going through my mind is the mental trauma that people suffer from these repeated strikes,” he continued. “In September alone, there were 53 strikes in Kharkiv. That’s… Continue reading World News in Brief: Deadly strikes in Ukraine, justice must be served over custody deaths, FIFA urged to challenge law-breaking by Israeli clubs

James Swan, acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefed the Security Council in New York alongside Mohammed El-Amine Souef, Head of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The mandate for UNSOM is set to expire at the end of the month, and Somalia has… Continue reading Somalia: UN official reports on electoral progress, ongoing security challenges

3 October 2024 Climate and Environment The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced on Thursday they are partnering to raise awareness about climate change’s harmful effects on winter sports and tourism. The two organizations are joining forces to call attention to the extensive impacts of increasing global temperatures on… Continue reading WMO partnership to highlight damaging impact of climate change on winter sports

3 October 2024 Peace and Security People in Lebanon uprooted by Israeli airstrikes including in central Beirut have described being forced to flee “total destruction”, amid fresh reports of Hezbollah projectile attacks into Israel and close-quarter clashes along the UN-patrolled line of separation between the two countries. In the Lebanese capital, UN humanitarians reported “another… Continue reading Victims of deadly Lebanon escalation describe fleeing ‘total destruction’

By Vibhu Mishra 2 October 2024 Peace and Security Despite the significant peace and security challenges facing Africa, there are reasons to be hopeful, the head of the UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU) told ambassadors at the Security Council on Wednesday, urging their continued focus on the continent. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the Special Representative… Continue reading Security Council briefed on progress in UN-AU partnership for peace

New data from the International Organization for Migration indicates a 22 per cent spike in the number of people uprooted from their homes since June. IOM said that gang violence had forced more than 110,000 people to flee their homes in the last seven months, particularly in Gressier, which lies west of the capital. Grégoire… Continue reading World News in Brief: Half of Haiti’s displaced are children, alarm over low immunisation rates, aid to East Africa

UN humanitarians launched a $426 million appeal for Lebanon on Tuesday to support one million people uprooted by widespread Israeli shelling amid what Israel has described as a “limited, localised and targeted” ground operation into Lebanon, across the UN-patrolled line of separation.

2 October 2024 Peace and Security Hours after Iran fired a reported 200 missiles at Israel in response to Israeli military incursions in southern Lebanon raising fears of a wider Middle East escalation, UN human rights chief Volker Türk insisted on Wednesday that “peace must prevail” in the Middle East, while UN Member States meeting… Continue reading UN rights chief adds voice to urgent calls for Middle East de-escalation

A former combatant fighting for the rights of her people on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines has been talking about how she has swapped her combat fatigues for jilbabs [outer garment]and her life in the jungle for a more peaceful rural community. Suraida ‘Sur’ Amil joined the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB)… Continue reading First Person: Swapping guns for ballpens in the Philippines

Global perspective Human stories UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the media at UN Headquarters in New York (file photo). He said on Wednesday it was everyone’s 1 October 2024 Peace and Security With war ramping up across the Middle East on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for the violence to end now.  “I condemn… Continue reading Guterres condemns ‘escalation after escalation’ in the Middle East

Those discussions come at a time when attacks are escalating between Israel and Hezbollah, an armed group that holds with its allies 62 of the 128 democratically elected seats in Lebanon’s parliament. Here’s what you need to know about the critical resolution that has been the linchpin of peace between Israel and Lebanon for almost… Continue reading Explainer: What is Security Council resolution 1701?

1 October 2024 Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants, as Israel launched what it described as a “limited” ground incursion into Southern Lebanon. “An all-out war must be avoided in Lebanon at all costs, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon… Continue reading All-out war ‘must be avoided in Lebanon at all costs’: Guterres

“Yet again, another unfathomable attack of the Russian Armed Forces killed and injured civilians, this time at the start of their day at a busy marketplace in Kherson City, south of Ukraine,” Matthias Schmale said in a statement. At least five people were killed, and others injured, according to media reports. Mr. Schmale said the… Continue reading Ukraine: Top UN aid official condemns deadly marketplace strike in Kherson

From the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, spokesperson Jens Laerke described chaotic scenes across Lebanon as people continued to flee airstrikes that have killed  more than 1,000 people in the past two weeks alone, according to the UN human rights office, OHCHR.  “We should expect further displacement,” Mr. Laerke told journalists in Geneva. “We do… Continue reading Lebanon crisis: UN launches $426 million aid appeal as ‘limited’ ground invasion reportedly begins

Aid coordination office, OCHA, said it was assessing priority areas for response in Yemen given that the war-ravaged population rely on imports of fuel and food through both Hudaydah and the nearby port of Ras Issa. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the UN noted with concern the claim by the Houthis – who control the ports… Continue reading World News in Brief: Possible ‘dire consequences’ for Yemen following strikes, Ukraine hospital attack, human rights in Algeria

The mission was authorized last October to assist Haiti’s beleaguered police force. Led by Kenya, it currently has around 410 police officers on the ground and is expected to grow to around 2,500. For now, the country remains mired in crisis. The renewal comes as the mission tries to curb rampant gang violence, enable an… Continue reading Security Council renews Haiti mission mandate, calls for more action against gangs

“We need to collectively remain engaged in assisting the country on its path to peace and stability,” said Bintou Keita, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the DRC and head of the UN Mission there, MONUSCO. Ceasefire and dialogue ‘framework’ There has been a notable reduction in fighting among warring parties in the east since a… Continue reading Collective effort essential to get DR Congo on firm path to peace

Among the victims of the weekend bombardment was six-year-old Selena al Smarah, killed along with her parents at home in the southern city of Tyre on Saturday. Her sister Celine, 10, survived but sustained injuries in the attack. The sisters were regulars at an arts workshop run by the NGO Tiro Association for Arts which… Continue reading Lebanon crisis: over one million people flee strikes amid invasion fears

This follows Israeli airstrikes in southern suburbs of Beirut that targeted the leader of the Hezbollah armed group, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed, according to media reports. The development comes amid escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the UN-patrolled line of separation in southern Lebanon, known as the Blue Line, and against the… Continue reading Lebanon crisis: Guterres urges parties to ‘step back from the brink’

The medical facility was hit in twin drone strikes that morning and at least nine people were killed, according to media reports. UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale issued a statement saying he was devastated by the attacks. Not a target “Places providing healthcare must always be safe and not be subjected to such… Continue reading Ukraine: UN official deplores deadly double attack on hospital

Prime Ministers of Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Tuvalu and Tonga underlined the UN’s role as a platform for driving unified, decisive action to mitigate this threat. Indeed, the theme of collective action echoed strongly through the speeches, as they united in their message that without timely action, vulnerable nations like… Continue reading From vulnerability to action: Asia-Pacific leaders urge global responsibility

27 September 2024 Humanitarian Aid The UN Security Council will convene within the hour on the current situation on the ground in war-torn Gaza, where Israeli strikes have killed more than 41,500 Palestinians amid mass displacement and stymied humanitarian efforts as Israel continues hampering the entry of lifesaving aid. The meeting is scheduled to begin… Continue reading SECURITY COUNCIL LIVE: Members to meet on humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Around 80 per cent of the Strip’s 2.3 million people have been displaced during Israel’s nearly year-long offensive, with many “continuing to survive in abysmal conditions, crammed in worn-out tents and damaged structures with limited food, water and other necessities,” OCHA reported, following inter-agency assessments in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis. It’s forecast that flooding… Continue reading Desperation grows in Gaza: At least 11 schools hit this month, nearly 100 dead

“We are witnessing the deadliest period in Lebanon in a generation and many expressed their fear that this is just the beginning,” said Imran Riza, the UN’s top aid official in Lebanon. “The UN and its partners are closely coordinating with the Lebanese government to support the response efforts. This includes aligning aid distribution, conducting… Continue reading Lebanon crisis: ‘This is just the beginning’ say those impacted by deadly escalation

They articulated a compelling case, highlighting how the legacy of colonialism and its lingering effects have left the continent disproportionately excluded. This exclusion is not merely a matter of representation, it directly impacts Africa’s ability to influence discussions on critical issues, such as conflict resolution, climate change and sustainable development. The leaders emphasized the urgent… Continue reading Calls by African leaders for equitable representation on UN Security Council gain momentum

26 September 2024 Peace and Security The UN agency that supports Palestine refugees, UNRWA, is the only “outpost of hope” left in the hellscape that is Gaza, the UN Secretary-General told a high-level ministerial meeting on Thursday in New York. The world has “failed the people of Gaza”, he said. More than 41,000 people have… Continue reading ‘We have failed the people of Gaza,’ Guterres tells ministers

The High-Level Meeting was held to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, observed annually on 26 September.  “There should be no place for these devices of death in our world,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.    Nuclear ‘spectre’ looming  He warned, however, that “not since the worst days of the Cold… Continue reading Governments urged to ‘stop gambling with humanity’s future’ and eliminate nuclear weapons

26 September 2024 Peace and Security A new humanitarian crisis is unfolding at Lebanon’s border with Syria as thousands of people flee Israeli shelling linked to the war in Gaza, UN humanitarians said on Thursday, just as Israel premier Benyamin Netanyahu arrived in New York for the UN General Assembly. Only hours earlier, UN Secretary-General… Continue reading Lebanon crisis: 90,000 displaced in last 72 hours, warns refugee agency

Separated by oceans, the leaders were united in their call on the international community to prioritize urgent action and financial support to combat the climate crisis, emphasizing that their nations are in crosshairs of the emergency and already bearing its impacts. As the small island States continue to fight for their survival, their united message… Continue reading Island nations unite at UN: ‘Empty pledges’ will not save future generations

“Hell is breaking loose in Lebanon” the UN chief warned, noting that the exchanges of fire along the UN-patrolled line of separation “have expanded in scope, depth and intensity.” Monday saw Lebanon’s bloodiest day in a generation, as Israel continues to bombard largely Hezbollah-controlled territory, doubling down on the devastating electronic device attacks which killed… Continue reading ‘Hell is breaking loose in Lebanon’, Guterres warns Security Council

The situation is critical, said UN General Assembly President Philémon Yang, who convened the high-level meeting which included a plenary session and panel discussions.   He noted that estimates indicate up to 1.2 billion people could be forcibly displaced.  “For those on the front lines, the impacts of rising seas threaten livelihoods, inflict damage to settlements and… Continue reading Stop global warming to turn the tide on sea level rise: UN Assembly President

25 September 2024 Economic Development As foreign ministers from the G20 group of industrialised nations met on Wednesday to discuss sustainability and justice issues, the UN chief urged global financial institutions to “cooperate and collaborate for the good of humanity.”  UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said progress on ending the climate crisis, inequality and the harmful… Continue reading UN chief to G20 ministers: Collaboration key to a sustainable future

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“Hundreds of vehicles are backed up in queues at the Syrian border; many people are also arriving on foot, carrying what they can,” UNHCR reported. “Large crowds, including women, young children and babies are waiting in line after spending the night outdoors in falling temperatures. Some carry fresh injuries from the recent bombardments.” UNHCR chief… Continue reading Lebanon escalation: UN boosts support at border with Syria

25 September 2024 Peace and Security With war raging in Sudan and no end in sight to the catastrophic hunger crisis it has created, UN agencies and Member States meeting at the General Assembly in New York on Wednesday prepared to issue a renewed call for urgent action to protect the country’s people. The development… Continue reading Sudan crisis: Countries gather at UN General Assembly for action call

Global perspective Human stories People survey the damage caused by a missile attack on a building in Kharkiv City, Ukraine. 24 September 2024 Peace and Security The UN Security Council is due to be briefed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zellenskyy in New York on Tuesday as he seeks support for a new “victory plan” from… Continue reading SECURITY COUNCIL LIVE: Ukraine President set to brief, as UN chief calls for ‘just peace’

24 September 2024 UN Affairs The world is locked in a “purgatory of polarity” with a growing number of governments and others feeling entitled to a “get out of jail free card”, Secretary-General António Guterres told the UN General Assembly, which opened its annual high-level meeting on Tuesday. Delivering his 2024 report on the UN’s… Continue reading UN’s Guterres urges global solutions as uncertain world edges toward a ‘powder keg’

24 September 2024 Humanitarian Aid Ongoing heavy fighting in Sudan has continued to kill and uproot the country’s people who global leaders should remember as they gather in New York on Tuesday, UN humanitarians have said. In an appeal for greater global solidarity with the people of Sudan, the World Food Programme (WFP) said that… Continue reading Sudan crisis must not be forgotten by world leaders, says UN food agency

Speaking from Beirut in the aftermath of Lebanon’s “worst day in 18 years”, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) deputy representative in the country, Ettie Higgins, said that unless the violence stopped, the consequences could be “unconscionable”. The wide-ranging Israeli strikes conducted on Monday in retaliation to attacks by the armed group Hezbollah killed at least… Continue reading Lebanon escalation: Have we learned nothing from Gaza, UN humanitarians ask

In an oral update to members, Erik Møse, chair of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, said it has documented new cases of torture committed by Russian authorities against civilians and prisoners of war in occupied areas of Ukraine and in the Russian Federation.  “We gathered evidence of sexual violence used as torture, mainly against… Continue reading Torture ‘a common and acceptable practice’ in Ukraine war, UN investigators say

The development comes as the UN’s top official in Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert began an official visit to Israel to meet senior government officials, after insisting that “there is no military solution that will make either side safer”. In Lebanon, it has been reported that people in the south received phone and social media messages on Monday… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Dramatic uptick in violence in Gaza, Israel and Lebanon

The 15-member Council is charged with taking action, through resolutions and decisions, on any threats to international peace and security, but sometimes adopting a draft into a legally binding document for the UN’s 193 Member States faces multiple hurdles. Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, for example, Council members have drafted,… Continue reading Journey of a Security Council resolution

21 September 2024 Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General is gravely alarmed by reports of a full-scale assault on El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, his Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric said on Saturday. UN chief António Guterres called on Lt. General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo to act responsibly and immediately order a… Continue reading Sudan: UN chief alarmed at full-scale assault on El Fasher

By Laura Quinones 21 September 2024 Peace and Security In the heart of Colombia, where the scars of conflict run deep, a remarkable transformation is taking place. Farmers, once displaced and dispossessed, are reclaiming their land, rebuilding their communities, and forging a path towards a more peaceful and prosperous future with the support of the… Continue reading Sowing peace one agribusiness at a time: Colombian farmers reclaim their land and livelihoods

Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, told ambassadors in the Security Council, that strikes and exchanges of fire across the Blue Line, which have been going on for nearly a year, “have expanded in scope and intensity”. In some cases, they reached much deeper into Lebanese and Israeli territory, displacing tens of… Continue reading Lebanon: UN warns of escalating horror in Middle East as ‘communications tools become weapons’

In a modest tent in a makeshift camp for displaced people west of the town of Al-Zawaida in Deir al-Balah governorate in Gaza, children whose lives have been turned upside down by a deadly war and widespread destruction are meeting speech therapist Amina Al-Dahdouh. She is there to help them regain confidence in speaking. An… Continue reading ‘Fear of war’ causing speech problems in Gaza

The Security Council is due to hold an emergency meeting in New York on Friday from 3pm, following Israeli strikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut and in the south, which have left at least a dozen dead. It comes amid an uptick in cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces and two days of deadly… Continue reading SECURITY COUNCIL LIVE: Ambassadors to meet over deepening Lebanon crisis, with region ‘on the brink of catastrophe’

Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council, Geir Pedersen expressed grave concern over the mounting violence and its cascading impact on Syria, which has been embroiled in civil conflict – later drawing in outside forces – since 2011.   He highlighted an attack earlier in the day on a vehicle at Damascus International Airport, warning of… Continue reading Middle East: Regional crisis risks engulfing Syria, UN envoy warns

Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar outlined how the UN agency has been supporting Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, including following the wave of electronic device explosions this week. Hundreds of pagers across the country simultaneously detonated on Tuesday, while walkie-talkies and solar panels blew up the following day.  The attacks reportedly targeted the Hezbollah militant group, killing civilians,… Continue reading Lebanon: WHO appeals for more support for civilians as crises intensify

Last October’s terror attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on Israeli communities marked a devastating day for children, and the suffering has continued unabated, a senior UNICEF official said on Thursday.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for accountability following a “despicable” terrorist attack in Mali this week, his Spokesperson said on Thursday. 

“The series of explosions across Lebanon and rockets fired toward Israel in recent days adds to the volatility,” said Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. He urged all sides “to refrain from steps that will further exacerbate the situation and take immediate steps to de-escalate.” Settlement activity continues Mr. Wennesland made… Continue reading Security Council: Middle East envoy warns against escalation, highlights continued Israeli settlement activity

The alert from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine follows significant destruction to power plants and the worsening energy crisis that has affected access to electricity, clean water and heating, while also pushing up prices for consumers. The strikes on the national grid included one coordinated attack on 26 August which the Mission… Continue reading Russian attacks on Ukraine energy set to push 500,000 people out of country

Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with their allied militias, continue to flout international humanitarian and human rights laws, said Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), while addressing the Security Council. “Violations include summary executions, abductions and… Continue reading Sudan: UN urges immediate action to stop fighting in El Fasher

More than 50 personnel from the UN, international and national NGOs, civil society, and diplomatic missions, are being held by the de facto Houthi authorities in the capital, Sana’a. In addition, four UN staff members have been detained since 2021 and 2023. Protect aid workers “Attacks on humanitarian workers, including detentions and false accusations, violate… Continue reading World News in Brief: Yemen detainee appeal, Typhoon Yagi impacts, ease asylum seekers’ plight, mpox cash boost

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, said the country’s de facto rulers who have imposed their own interpretation of strict Islamic law have “delivered a period of stability not seen in decades” in Afghanistan, yet the population is at risk of a worsened humanitarian and development crisis as international funding declines.… Continue reading Afghanistan: UN warns of growing crisis under increasingly authoritarian Taliban rule

Global perspective Human stories A shopping district in Beirut, Lebanon. 18 September 2024 Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an end to the escalation in violence in the Middle East amid reports of a fresh wave of electronic device detonations in Lebanon which caused further deaths and injuries.  International media reported… Continue reading UN appeals for restraint after further devices explode across Lebanon

With a recorded vote of 124 nations in favour, 14 against, and 43 abstentions, the resolution calls for Israel to comply with international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from occupied land, and dismantle parts of the separation wall it constructed inside the occupied West Bank.… Continue reading UN General Assembly demands Israel end ‘unlawful presence’ in Occupied Palestinian Territory

18 September 2024 Climate and Environment Amid renewed warnings from leading climate scientists that global warming could reach 3C above pre-industrial levels this century, the head of the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) insisted on Wednesday that new technology and AI offer the opportunity to implement the drastic action needed to resist the existential crisis. … Continue reading Climate crisis: Satellites and AI offer hope for global action, says UN weather agency

17 September 2024 Peace and Security The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, has called for calm following attacks across the country on Tuesday which killed at least nine people, including children, and left thousands injured – many critically.  The coordinated attacks reportedly targeted the Hezbollah militant group, with hundreds of electronic pagers belonging… Continue reading Top UN official appeals for calm following wave of attacks in Lebanon

UN News looked at the needs triggered by the ongoing conflict through a lens of how much aid is getting into Gaza compared with what is required to address the grim situation on the ground,  where 2.3 million Palestinians are trapped amid an ongoing war that began almost one year ago following Hamas-led attacks that… Continue reading How aid is (and is not) getting into Gaza

16 September 2024 Climate and Environment New evidence in the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) annual Ozone and UV Bulletin published on Monday reveals strong evidence that the ozone layer is well on track for a long-term recovery. The Ozone and UV Bulletin’s release coincides with World Ozone Day which celebrates the implementation of the Montreal… Continue reading Climate change: Ozone layer still well on track for full recovery

Sigrid Kaag updated ambassadors on the implementation of resolution 2720, adopted last December, which established her mandate following the brutal 7 October Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the start of hostilities in Gaza. She was also tasked with establishing a UN mechanism for accelerating the provision of humanitarian relief consignments to the enclave, operationalized and… Continue reading More action on the ground needed to save civilian lives in Gaza, top UN official tells Security Council

In a new alert, UNRWA highlighted how Gazans’ shelters have become a target for insects and rodents after more than 11 months of war – echoing deep concerns among humanitarians about the lack of basic hygiene items that have left families unprotected from communicable diseases. Echoing those warnings, top independent rights experts meeting at UN… Continue reading Sanitary disaster in Gaza ‘worsening by the day’, warns UNRWA

The UN has described the current global situation as “uniquely dangerous”, with the risk of major powers engaging in conflict at its highest levels since the Cold War, the possibility of nuclear war breaking out higher that it has been for several decades, and the climate crisis driving migration and exacerbating tensions. “We face a breakdown… Continue reading A new global peace plan for ‘uniquely dangerous’ times

A catastrophic climate crisis, a surfeit of nuclear weapons, or unregulated AI: when it comes to potentially existential threats to humanity, there are plenty to choose from. When the United Nations was created nearly 80 years ago, a shell-shocked world was emerging from a conflict so devastating that world leaders were prepared to erect institutions… Continue reading Improving the way we run the world…and beyond

By Vibhu Mishra 15 September 2024 Peace and Security Left unchecked, artificial intelligence (AI) could destabilize democratic systems by spreading disinformation, fueling hate speech and distorting public opinion through deepfakes, the UN Secretary-General has warned. These risks are particularly critical this year, as over 50 countries – representing half the world’s population – hold elections.… Continue reading Unchecked AI threatens democracy, warns UN chief

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted that it had been “a massive success amidst a tragic daily reality of life” for more than two million Gazans who have been caught up in the intense fighting since last October’s terror attacks by Hamas unleashed the war in Gaza. In three phases over twelve days, from 1… Continue reading Gaza: WHO chief hails ‘massive success’ of polio campaign amid tragic reality

13 September 2024 Humanitarian Aid UN humanitarians are rushing to assist scores of newly displaced people in northeast Nigeria, after torrential rains caused a dam to collapse and flood the area, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday. Alau Dam, located just over 10 miles to the south of Maiduguri, the capital of… Continue reading Nigeria: Hundreds of thousands in need of aid as flooding wipes out homes – WFP

Warning the Security Council, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu said that since the last briefing on weapons transfers only two weeks ago, the provision of military assistance and transfer of arms and ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces have continued in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in violation of the… Continue reading UN warns of continued prohibited weapons transfers to Ukraine, Russia

By Vibhu Mishra 13 September 2024 Peace and Security Amid escalating global conflicts, deepening divisions and mounting crisis, the UN Secretary-General on Friday urged everyone around the world to “cultivate a culture of peace”. Speaking at the annual Peace Bell Ceremony, António Guterres warned that war is spreading, inequalities are growing, and new technologies are… Continue reading Guterres calls for ‘culture of peace’ and global unity, as crises mount

The crisis in Yemen, which worsened in 2014 after Houthi rebels (known officially as Ansar Allah) seized the capital, has been marked by complex political and military tensions. More than 18 million people – half the country’s population – remain dependent on humanitarian assistance and protection. Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, told… Continue reading UN warns of escalating conflict in Yemen amid humanitarian crisis, regional tensions

Around 50 per cent of us do have access to at least one social protection benefit – but 3.8 billion people lack any kind of safety net, including 1.8 billion children worldwide, according to the World Social Protection Report 2024-26: Universal social protection for climate action and a just transition. “Climate change does not recognise borders,… Continue reading Half the world lacks social protection amid climate crisis, ILO warns

In a statement released via his Spokesperson, Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the latest Israeli attack on a school serving as a shelter in Nuseirat on Wednesday, which killed six staffers from the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, along with at least 12 others, including women and children. “This incident raises the number of UNRWA staff… Continue reading Guterres condemns death of 6 UNRWA staff and 12 others in Israeli strike, calls for independent probe

These include severe limb injuries, amputations, spinal cord trauma, traumatic brain injuries and major burns. Israeli forces pushed into Gaza in response to the 7 October 2023 terror attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in southern Israel. Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, highlighted that the surge in rehabilitation… Continue reading Over 22,500 have suffered ‘life-changing injuries’ in Gaza: WHO

Stéphane Dujarric said the UN is working to confirm reports that UNRWA staff were killed in the attack on the New Nuseirat school, a site that had previously been deconflicted with the Israeli authorities. “This is the fifth strike on the same location in the past 11 months,” he said. Polio campaign rolls on Meanwhile,… Continue reading Gaza: Israeli airstrike hits UNRWA school sheltering displaced people

“Today’s report from the Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals is a how-to guide to help generate prosperity and equality alongside clean power,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Many of today’s rapidly growing clean energy technologies, from wind turbines and solar panels to electric vehicles and battery storage, depend on such critical energy transition minerals as copper,… Continue reading New how-to guide speeds global race for renewable energy

The United Nations joined its host city, New York, in commemorating the 2,977 lives lost on 11 September 2001, when Al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four aircrafts and flew them into buildings in the United States.

Mr. Yang underscored the need for equitable economic growth driven by innovation and green economies, ensuring that “the benefits of economic development are accessible to all nations, large and small.” Peace and security, he added, will also be key priorities, as he urged nations to resolve ongoing conflicts, including in the Gaza Strip, Haiti, Ukraine,… Continue reading Call for ‘solutions across the board’ as 79th General Assembly opens

Corinne Fleischer, WFP Director for the three regions, briefed reporters on her recent visits to the Gaza Strip and Ukraine. An increase in evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military along with a “massive deterioration” in security caused the UN agency to reach fewer people in Gaza in August, though she did not provide figures.… Continue reading WFP continues to support millions amid ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine

UNOCHA/Viktoriia Andriievska Consequences of a missile attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, when a children’s hospital and other buildings were severely damaged.

Secretary-General António Guterres said the past year had been marked by ongoing poverty, inequality and conflict, emphasizing that it was also the hottest year on record. Addressing the session’s final plenary meeting, he highlighted the “hope and inspiration” in what can be achieved if the global community worked as one. He also applauded the leadership… Continue reading General Assembly wraps up with calls for unity and resolve

10 September 2024 Peace and Security Increased violence along the frontlines in Syria, with continued war crimes on all sides, is leaving civilians in the region fearful of a “large-scale war”, a new report from the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry released on Tuesday warns.  After over a decade of brutal fighting, the Commission Chair,… Continue reading Escalating violence in Syria raises fear of ‘large-scale war’

Addressing the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, Nicholas Koumjian, the head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), said that in many instances, civilians were “not just collateral damage but rather the target of attacks”. “Just last week, airstrikes near a night market in northern Shan state reportedly killed about a dozen people, including a… Continue reading UN investigators warn of widespread abuses in Myanmar conflict

Civilians accounted for 93 per cent of the global casualties from cluster munitions in 2023, according to the 100-page Cluster Munition Monitor 2024, produced by the Cluster Munition Coalition, an international civil society group working in over 100 countries. Children made up nearly half of all people killed and injured by cluster munition remnants in… Continue reading New use of cluster bombs threatens global ban, report warns

Addressing the Security Council, Jean-Pierre Lacroix told ambassadors that UN operations “can only ever be as strong” as the collective support of nations. “As geopolitical tensions have mounted, including here in this Council, and amid shifting global and regional dynamics, peacekeeping operations are increasingly unable to rely on Member States to act in a strong,… Continue reading UN peacekeepers saving lives but need stronger political support and resources, top official urges

This year’s International Day for Clean air and Blue Skies, celebrated annually on 7 September, is focused on the theme ‘Invest in #CleanAirNow’ and highlights the economic, environmental and health benefits of investing in clean air. The Day was established in 2019 after the UN General Assembly noted how detrimental air pollutants are and recognised… Continue reading Investing in clean air can saves lives and combat climate change

Coinciding with the powerful and symbolic monument to the ravages of unchecked climate change, the ceremony on 17 August also saw the publication of The Global Glacier Casualty list of 15 extinct and endangered glaciers by Rice University in Texas – a driving force behind the whole project. According to scientists, global warming has led to the… Continue reading Climate change: ‘Graveyard of glaciers’ lays bare existential threat of melting ice

The Fifth Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergy, held from 5-6 September in Rio de Janeiro, was convened as commitments on both fronts remain far off track. Moment of truth In opening remarks on Thursday, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed stressed the need for countries to act now.  “We face a moment of truth… Continue reading UN leads search for synergy on climate and development

6 September 2024 Climate and Environment Recent “catastrophic and massive floods” in Bangladesh have affected millions of people across the country, including those in Cox’s Bazar where nearly one million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar live alongside host communities, spokesperson William Spindler told journalists in Geneva on Friday.  The destruction has prompted the UN refugee agency… Continue reading Millions impacted by ‘catastrophic and massive floods’ in Bangladesh

UN agencies and partners in the Strip will continue to vaccinate “as many Gazan children as possible” during the agreed humanitarian pauses, before moving to the north of the war-shattered enclave, UNRWA added. Thousands of families visited health centers to get their doses from UN medical teams, UNRWA reported. In southern Gaza, more than 152,000… Continue reading Gaza: 160,000 more children vaccinated against polio in southern Gaza

There are still nearly 2,000 people living in the town of Beryslav, including more than 70 children and 90 people who have only limited mobility. “Despite constant shelling, they have not evacuated the area, which has no electricity, which has no gas and which has no water, all due to damaged infrastructure”, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane… Continue reading World News in Brief: Aid trucks on Ukraine frontline, Africa schools close due to insecurity, Georgia rights defenders

“Almost everybody on Earth, basically nine out of 10 people breathe air that is essentially unfit for purpose,” said Lorenzo Labrador, Scientific Officer at WMO. “This means that it is air that exceeds the [UN World Health Organization] WHO guideline limits and contains a high level of pollutants with low and middle-income countries basically being… Continue reading We must do more to keep the air we breathe clean: UN weather agency

Israel’s large-scale operation in the north is continuing, OCHA said in a daily news update, which accounts for 27 of the deaths “where lethal war-like tactics” have been deployed, according to humanitarians, including 10 killed by airstrikes. “Four members of the Israeli forces have been killed in the same period by Palestinians in Hebron and… Continue reading World News in Brief: West Bank deaths, Venezuela rights violations, soaring debt worldwide

“Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen intensifying attacks affecting civilians and public infrastructure”, WHO Ukraine said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The “cruel attack” in Lviv “claimed the lives of at least 7 people, including children, and injured 47 others”, while a health facility was also affected, the… Continue reading Ukraine: Top official underscores need to protect civilians amid ‘massive’ attacks

It’s been nearly 11 months since war erupted in the enclave following Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel. Today more than nine in 10 people have been forcibly displaced by the fighting, leaving them vulnerable to hunger, malnutrition and sickness. “So far, we’ve been able to vaccinate 187,000 children and as we’ve been tent to tent… Continue reading Gaza: Disease and war stalk children, despite vaccine success

3 September 2024 Peace and Security Israeli forces continue to employ “lethal war-like tactics” in the West Bank, including airstrikes, with people being killed, injured and displaced, the UN Spokesperson said on Tuesday. Stéphane Dujarric informed journalists at the regular press briefing in New York that operations have resumed in Tulkarm and continue in Jenin.… Continue reading UN reports ‘lethal tactics’ by Israeli forces in West Bank

“Our colleagues in Ukraine just told us that new attacks today struck Poltava in the centre of the country. Initial reports indicate a number of civilian casualties,” he told journalists attending his daily briefing at UN Headquarters, in New York. At least 50 people were killed, and more than 200 injured, when two Russian missiles… Continue reading Humanitarians support civilians affected by recent attacks in Ukraine

“There were 87,000 vaccinated on the first day out of 156,000 that we are hoping to reach in the Middle Area,” said Louise Wateridge, Senior Communications Officer for UNWRA, the largest UN agency in the Gaza Strip. “It’s very promising that already, we have heard interest from parents who have come from Khan Younis, who… Continue reading Thousands more children protected on day 2 of Gaza polio campaign

Chad hosts more than 1.1 million refugees, many escaping violence in Sudan, where rival militaries have been fighting since April 2023. At the same time, the war has also triggered colossal suffering within Sudan’s borders. “The humanitarian task that we have in Sudan has been very big,” UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said. “It has… Continue reading UN deputy chief appeals for global solidarity as crises roil East Africa

In a surprise move, legislators made the UN chief an honorary citizen of their southeast Asian island nation during the celebrations in the capital Dili, prompting the UN chief to declare he was proud to now be part of such a “heroic people”. What was then East Timor’s struggle to free itself from colonial rule… Continue reading In battle for development ‘you can count on us’, Guterres tells Timor-Leste, marking 25 years of self-determination

The UN Security Council is due to meet at 3pm local time in New York on the continuing crisis in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Just ahead of the meeting, the World Health Organization (WHO) said agreement had been reached with Israel to allow a mass polio vaccination campaign to get underway through a… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council due to meet on Gaza as WHO announces polio pauses for lifesaving vaccination campaign

Global perspective Human stories Aid workers assess the damage following a military raid on a refugee camp in Jenin. (file, July 2023) By Daniel Johnson 29 August 2024 Peace and Security As the crisis in the West Bank continues to escalate alongside the ongoing war in Gaza, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an… Continue reading West Bank crisis: UN chief calls for immediate halt to Israeli strikes

28 August 2024 Peace and Security More than 2,000 nuclear tests have been conducted at over 60 sites around the world since testing began on 16 July 1945, resulting in uninhabitable lands and long-term health problems, Secretary General António Guterres said in his message marking Friday’s International Day to end testing once and for all.  … Continue reading ‘Lessons of the past forgotten’ as nuclear proliferation continues

“This is totally unacceptable and the latest in a series of unnecessary security incidents that have endangered the lives of WFP’s team in Gaza,” said the UN agency’s Executive Director Cindy McCain, calling on the Israeli authorities and all parties to the conflict to act immediately to ensure the safety and security of all aid… Continue reading UN food agency halts operations in Gaza after team attacked

Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, said that last month was particularly deadly for Ukrainian civilians, with at least 219 killed and more than 1,000 injured. Since 24 February 2022 – the date of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, has documented 11,662 civilian killings… Continue reading UN official highlights growing toll of Ukraine war, rising threat of ‘nuclear incident’

“The risk of an oil spill, posing an extremely serious environmental hazard, remains high,” said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, emphasising that the tanker is carrying some 150,000 tonnes of oil on board. “There is widespread concern about the damage such a spill would cause within the region,” he added. ‘Unacceptable attack’ Referring to the situation… Continue reading World News in Brief: IMO tanker attack alert, UN Women on new Afghan law, counter-terrorism in Viet Nam, Paralympics tech

Displacement remains staggeringly high, with over six million Syrians languishing as refugees or asylum-seekers outside the country’s borders and more than seven million displaced internally. Across the country, nearly 17 million people – more than 70 percent of the population – now require humanitarian assistance and protection, with women and children particularly affected. Adding to… Continue reading Security Council: A sustainable future for Syria depends on ending the war

The UN chief was met at the airport by Timorese President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão with a musical celebration and full military honors. Public welcome Thousands lined the streets of the capital Dili as children greeted Mr. Guterres holding UN and Timor-Leste flags. At the presidential palace, he said his visit was… Continue reading In Timor Leste, Guterres celebrates past unity and looks to the future

The development follows “at least four” airstrikes by the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) in the Nur Shams Refugee Camp in Tulkarem on Monday night that left five dead – three Palestinian men and two boys aged 13 and 15. “Three of the fatalities, including the two boys, were killed while they were passing by the… Continue reading West Bank strikes: UN rights office condemns Israeli military escalation

By Vibhu Mishra 27 August 2024 Peace and Security Around 20 villages in eastern Sudan have reportedly been “destroyed”, with 70 impacted overall, after floodwaters burst through a major dam, according to UN humanitarians – adding to the suffering of communities already devastated by the ongoing war between rival militaries. The Arba’at Dam, located around… Continue reading Flooding from Sudan dam collapse worsens humanitarian crisis

Dire conditions brought on by the war have caused the disease to resurface after more than two decades.  Last week, a case was confirmed in a 10-month-old. Countering vaccine misinformation  During his daily media briefing from New York on Tuesday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted that there had been misinformation surrounding the vaccine.  “I want… Continue reading UN upholds safety and efficacy of Gaza polio vaccine

Global perspective Human stories There has been a sharp rise in attacks against civilians in Burkina Faso. Pictured here, slippers outside a communal space at a camp for displaced persons. 27 August 2024 Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the killing of around 200 people in the Burkinabe town of Barsalogho… Continue reading Guterres strongly condemns Burkina Faso terror attack ; hundreds killed and injured

In an update, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke rejected any suggestion of stopping the lifesaving aid operation, despite the multiple challenges linked to the war and ongoing fighting, sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel on 7 October. “There’s been no decision to halt, there never has been, we’ve been there for 10 months, so [it… Continue reading In Gaza, evacuation orders threaten to uproot UN’s aid hub once again

Speaking during a press conference in the capital, Nuku’alofa, Mr. Guterres called for world leaders to drastically slash global emissions, quickly phase out fossil fuels, and massively boost climate adaptation investments to protect people from current and future risks.  “This is a crazy situation: rising seas are a crisis entirely of humanity’s making. A crisis… Continue reading From Tonga, Guterres appeals for ‘a surge in funds to deal with surging seas’

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has been visiting the Pacific Ocean nations, Tonga and Samoa, where sea level rise has been one of the key issues he has been discussing with the communities he has met. On 25 September, global leaders and experts will gather at the UN to discuss how best to address the… Continue reading What is sea level rise and why does it matter to our future?

“I stand here today as a former child soldier, forcefully recruited during the civil conflict that decimated over 50,000 of my compatriots… I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the critical support of the ICRC and the international community,” Musa Timothy Kabba told Members of the Security Council gathered in Geneva on Monday,… Continue reading The Geneva Conventions: ‘Rules of war’ saved me, says former child soldier

More than 640,000 children are targeted to receive the polio type two (nOPV) vaccines, UNICEF said in a post on X. The World Health Organization (WHO), the UN’s main agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA) and other partners aim to coordinate to reach the unvaccinated as the war grinds on against the backdrop of multiple civilian… Continue reading Polio vaccines arrive in Gaza in boost to vaccination campaign: UNICEF

The update highlights information from the first half of 2024 and reveals that 4.5 million people are displaced and 18.2 million overall require humanitarian aid. The refugee agency based its update on 47,000 families who have already “endured years of conflict.” Critical challenges Of the families surveyed, 84 per cent were documented as displaced, mainly from… Continue reading Internally displaced families in Yemen need increased aid: UNHCR

Global perspective Human stories The destruction of buildings and infrastructure in Ukraine has caused widespread environmental damage (file). 26 August 2024 Peace and Security The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine has condemned deadly Russian missile and drone strikes that began overnight and reportedly targeted 15 regions of the country.  “Like millions of people in Ukraine… Continue reading Top UN aid official deplores latest wave of Russian attacks across Ukraine

Secretary-General António Guterres was addressing the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, telling leaders that while much of the world is embroiled in conflict, injustice and socio-economic crisis, the Pacific “is a beacon of solidarity and strength, environmental stewardship and peace.” The Forum consists of 18 Member States, from Australia to Vanuatu, guided… Continue reading ‘The world needs your leadership’, Guterres tells Pacific Islands Forum

25 August 2024 Peace and Security Against the backdrop of another major escalation across the Blue Line dividing southern Lebanon and Israel on Sunday, the UN’s top Middle East envoy said on Sunday “there is no time to lose” for a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all hostages. Posting on X, Tor Wennesland said… Continue reading Middle East: ‘No time to lose’ in negotiating ceasefire and Gaza hostage release: Top UN envoy

For many years, the western part of Mindanao has been the focus of an armed separatist struggle between the Philippines government and various Muslim insurgent groups. In 2019, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was established as part of a peace deal between the government and the main insurgent movement, the Moro Islamic… Continue reading Tears and embraces as murderous 30-year family feud comes to an end in the Philippines

Around one million Rohingya are sheltering in Bangladesh and over 130,000 more have sought safe haven across the region without immediate prospects for return, said António Guterres in a statement issued by his Spokesperson on Friday – just ahead of Sunday’s grim anniversary.  “The dire security and humanitarian situation with ongoing access challenges has exacerbated… Continue reading Guterres calls for end to Myanmar violence, persecution of Rohingya

23 August 2024 Peace and Security A 10-month-old girl paralyzed by polio in Gaza has become the first confirmed case of the deadly disease to be detected in the war-ravaged enclave in 25 years. Head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern at the development and said that the… Continue reading Gaza: First polio case confirmed in war-shattered enclave

The UN General Assembly designated the international day on 22 August, highlighting the need to support those affected by acts of violence due to their religion or beliefs.  The Assembly’s resolution condemned violence against individuals due to their faith, including attacks on homes, businesses, places of worship, and cultural sites, reinforcing the importance of upholding… Continue reading World News in Brief: UN chief condemns religious hate, threats to freedom in Sri Lanka, four young people executed in Somalia, human rights office for Caribbean

At a ministerial-level ceremony in the capital, Maputo, President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi launched an ambitious national roadmap to achieve Early Warnings for All by the end of 2027. The initiative, also known as EW4All, was first announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in March 2022, with the goal of achieving universal coverage within a five-year… Continue reading Mozambique makes great strides towards Early Warnings for All

At the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, known as LLDC3, innovative solutions and strategic partnerships will be outlined and leveraged to “unlock the full potential of these nations.” LLDC3 is set to take place from 10-13 December. Here’s what you need to know about LLDCs and plans for this year’s conference: What are LLDCs?… Continue reading Driving Progress: Botswana prepares for historic UN conference on landlocked countries

By Daniel Johnson 22 August 2024 Humanitarian Aid UN aid teams have warned that vital chorine supplies that are essential for purifying water are running out and deteriorating in Gaza, while humanitarians condemned new strikes on schools sheltering people displaced by the war.  There are enough chlorine reserves to last just one month, said the… Continue reading Gaza: Vital aid supplies running low as schools hit in further strikes

“We need a ceasefire now,” says the top UN official for Middle East peace, briefing the Security Council.

Speaking in Samoa, where he met residents uprooted from their homes by sea level rise and coastal erosion, Mr. Guterres said that Pacific islanders had refused to be victims of climate change. But their ambitious plans to resist this “existential threat for millions” had been put on hold, amid a lack of promised funding, he… Continue reading UN chief urges climate justice for Pacific nations beset by rising oceans

Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, addressed the Council’s high-level debate on the UN Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace. Launched in July 2023, the policy brief shows how conflict prevention and peacebuilding can help to reverse the trend towards violence while reducing the human and economic costs of war. Break the cycle “Prevention and… Continue reading ‘Break the cycle of violence’ through prevention and peacebuilding, Security Council told

21 August 2024 Peace and Security “Continuous” Israeli military evacuation orders in Gaza threaten already extremely vulnerable people in the enclave with further forced displacement, raising concerns that vital services could soon be cut off, UN humanitarians warned on Wednesday. More than 10 months into the war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks in… Continue reading Gaza: Latest evacuation orders leave civilians dangerously close to frontline

UN Resident Coordinator Matthias Schmale said that the attack damaged a transit centre in Pokrovsk town “where people already fleeing for safety had sought shelter”. In a statement, he insisted that civilians and civilian infrastructure – including humanitarian facilities – were protected under international humanitarian law, “which must be adhered to”. Humanitarian partners on the… Continue reading World News in Brief: Ukraine alert over new attacks, more Nicaragua NGO closures, disinformation in DRC

20 August 2024 Peace and Security The urgency of deescalating tensions along the frontier that separates Lebanese and Israeli armed forces, “cannot be overstated”, a senior UN humanitarian official said on Tuesday. Since the start of the military operation by Israel in Gaza in October 2023, in response to the terror attacks by Hamas and… Continue reading Lebanon: Crisis deepens amid escalating conflict and funding shortfalls

The UN chief’s Spokesperson told journalists at the regular press briefing in New York on Monday that Mr. Guterres had spoken to the Prime Minister of Qatar yesterday. “He was briefed on the state of the situation, and he will be staying in close touch and informed,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said. The talks, backed… Continue reading Gaza: UN warns of worsening humanitarian disaster as ceasefire talks continue

Global perspective Human stories WFP prepares food for distribution in Forbaranga, West Darfur. 19 August 2024 Humanitarian Aid On Monday, UN authorities in Sudan confirmed that truckloads of food and supplies have been approved to cross the border from Chad through the Adre crossing. The opening of the vital aid route on Friday was welcomed… Continue reading Humanitarian aid to Sudan civilians stalled by floods and violence

19 August 2024 UN Affairs UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Monday for Houthi rebels in Yemen to immediately and unconditionally release UN staff, humanitarians, diplomatic personnel and others who have been detained for more than two months.  The more than 60 men and women being held are all Yemeni nationals.  They include 13 UN… Continue reading Guterres demands immediate release of UN staff and others detained in Yemen

Overflowing rivers have submerged towns and villages, impacting nearly 400,000 people, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported. Critical infrastructure has been damaged – including roads and railways – along with wide swaths of cropland, threatening both livelihoods and food security. “Across Myanmar, people are facing the painful consequences of widespread… Continue reading Widespread floods and uptick in fighting deepen humanitarian crisis in Myanmar

The sharp increase is being driven by diseases, including cholera and malaria, high food insecurity, and limited access to safe drinking water and other essential services, according to the analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Technical Working Group. Yemen has been mired in conflict and economic collapse for nearly a decade.  As… Continue reading UN and partners report acute malnutrition surge in Government-controlled areas of Yemen

Situated in southern Ukraine, Zaporizhzhya is Europe’s largest nuclear plant and has been under Russian control since shortly after the launch of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. An IAEA team located there was informed that an explosive carried by a drone detonated just outside the plant’s protected area. Appeal for restraint The impact site… Continue reading Ukraine: Deteriorating safety at Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant following nearby drone blast

Around 110,000 people have been displaced inside Lebanon since October, 35 percent of them children, the agency has reported. It is estimated that almost 150,000 people remain within the 10-kilometre Blue Line. Since the Hamas-led terror attacks of 7 October there have been 16 recorded attacks on healthcare, with 21 paramedics killed during hostilities, according… Continue reading World News in Brief: Lebanon latest, Ukraine war update, anti-LGBT law change in Bulgaria

“I am appealing to all parties to provide concrete assurances right away guaranteeing humanitarian pauses for the campaign,” he said, speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York.  “Let’s be clear: The ultimate vaccine for polio is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. But in any case, a Polio Pause is a must.” ‘Polio… Continue reading Guterres appeals for ‘Polio Pause’ in Gaza

15 August 2024 Peace and Security Bombing which devastated a school and market in the Sudanese city of El Obeid on Wednesday has left five girls dead and 20 children injured according to the UN Children’s Fund’s Sudan Representative. The bomb hit the Al-Khansa Secondary School for Girls and a crowded marketplace in El Obeid… Continue reading Attack on a city in Sudan kills at least five and injures more: UNICEF

Hans Grundberg, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, and Lisa Doughten from the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, made the appeal in separate briefings to ambassadors. Civic space shrinking “In four days, on the 19th  of August, we will commemorate World Humanitarian Day,” Mr. Grundberg said.  “Yet, in Yemen, we are facing a clampdown by… Continue reading UN reiterates call to release staffers detained in Yemen

15 August 2024 Peace and Security As the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza passes the dark milestone of 40,000, UN rights chief Volker Türk called on Thursday for an end to the killing “once and for all” and the release of all hostages, while negotiators prepared to meet in Qatar to renew efforts to… Continue reading Most of Gaza 40,000 dead are women and children, says UN rights chief

14 August 2024 Peace and Security The killing, injury and displacement of Palestinians continues in the West Back against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, now in its 10th month, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in an update issued on Wednesday.  The number of Palestinian children killed… Continue reading Humanitarians report rise in children killed and injured in the West Bank

Nicholas Haysom, who also heads the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), briefed ambassadors on political, security and humanitarian developments in the world’s youngest nation, which was scheduled to hold its first post-independence elections in December. Election date proposal expected The latest UNMISS report covers the period from mid-February to mid-July, as political parties continued… Continue reading No date yet for long-awaited South Sudan elections

“Extreme heat is increasing, disrupting children’s health, well-being and daily routines,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. The study compared averages in the 1960s with the period 2020-2024, measuring the days which exceeded 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). It presents a stark warning over the speed and scale at which such days are increasing for almost half a… Continue reading Extreme heat increasingly disrupting child health, UNICEF warns

14 August 2024 Peace and Security The risk of polio spreading in Gaza remains high unless there is an urgent and comprehensive response to the serious health threat, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday. “At least two rounds of [orally delivered polio vaccine] will be necessary to shut down transmission,” the World Health Organization (WHO) and… Continue reading Gaza remains at ‘high risk’ of polio virus spread, warn UN aid teams

More than 100 people were reportedly killed in the attack on the al-Taba’een school in Gaza City, which took place during morning prayer hours. It was one of at least 21 strikes on school shelters recorded since 4 July. “It pointed once again to the desperate need to reach a ceasefire, free the hostages and… Continue reading Security Council: Political affairs chief underlines ‘desperate need’ for Gaza ceasefire

Many were trying to flee the fighting in towns of Maungdaw in Rakhine state and Lashio in Shan state, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists at the daily briefing in New York. “These incidents are part of a deeply concerning trend in the intensifying conflict, with civilians bearing the brunt of a conflict that… Continue reading World News in Brief: Myanmar’s child victims, disenfranchisement in Thailand, aid breakthrough in Syria

12 August 2024 Peace and Security An attack on a UN facility for displaced people in Sudan has left two dead and at least eight others injured, humanitarians have reported. Condemning the incident at the weekend, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said that the youngsters had been playing football when a shell struck its “child-friendly… Continue reading Sudan: UNICEF condemns deadly strike as war grinds on

Addressing the Council, he emphasized that its composition reflected the balance of power at the end of World War Two and has failed to keep pace with a changing world. “In 1945, most of today’s African countries were still under colonial rule and had no voice in international affairs,” he said. “We cannot accept that… Continue reading Security Council: Africa deserves permanent seat at the table, says Guterres

“The Secretary-General condemns the continued loss of life in Gaza, including women and children, as we witness yet another devastating strike by Israel on the Al-Taba’een school in Gaza City, sheltering hundreds of displaced Palestinians families, with scores of fatalities, amidst continued horror, displacement, and suffering in Gaza,” said UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq. The incident occurred on Saturday and at least 100 people… Continue reading UN chief condemns ‘devastating strike’ on Gaza school

11 August 2024 Peace and Security Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep alarm at the evolving situation in El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan, where fierce fighting in the famine-stricken area has been reported, his deputy spokesperson said late Sunday. Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces and elements of the Armed Struggle Movements… Continue reading ‘Protect civilians’ amid clashes in famine-stricken El Fasher, Sudan: UN chief

At around 4:30am during dawn prayer on Saturday, a mosque inside Al Tabaeen School was struck by the IDF “at least three times”, the UN rights office, OHCHR, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory said in a statement, adding that the attacks were “conducted with apparent disregard for the high rate of civilian fatalities”. An initial… Continue reading ‘Another day of horror’: UN rights office condemns Israeli strikes at Gazan school

“Civilians pay the highest price in this war,” Denise Brown said in statement.  “We must not allow this to be normalized. International humanitarian law must be respected, and civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times.” According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), increasing attacks in the Donetsk… Continue reading World News in Brief: Ukraine attacks condemned, new cybercrime treaty, ‘alarmingly high’ executions in Iran

The conflict, which erupted last April between rival militaries – the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has left over 12 million people displaced, both within Sudan and across its borders. “Heavy rains and flooding have already impacted tens of thousands of people across Sudan, causing further displacement, injuries and deaths,”… Continue reading Sudan’s displaced millions face escalating hardship amid war and floods

Vladimir Voronkov, head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), also highlighted the danger posed by ISIL-Khorasan, the Da’esh affiliate in Afghanistan, resulting in heightened threat levels in Europe. These included the attack by the group on the Crocus City Hall near Moscow that killed over 140 concert goers and wounded more than 500. ISIL-K… Continue reading UN counter-terrorism chief highlights Da’esh surge, calling for global action

Global perspective Human stories Khan Younis in Gaza has been heavily bombed. 8 August 2024 Peace and Security The recent surge in violence and attacks in the Middle East is taking a shocking toll on young lives in the region, a senior official with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday in an appeal… Continue reading UNICEF warns against escalating violence in the Middle East

The Zamzam camp houses about 500,000 displaced persons and is located near North Dufur’s besieged capital, El Fasher, which has witnessed some of the fiercest fighting since the start of the war between rival militaries Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last April. An estimated 10.7 million people have been displaced within… Continue reading Sudan: Over a dozen more areas at risk of famine as fighting impedes aid

7 August 2024 Humanitarian Aid A new report from the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) reveals that food insecurity levels in Zimbabwe are rapidly deteriorating after it was hit with historic droughts due to the El Niño weather pattern. This comes just two months after UN humanitarians declared Zimbabwe as one of the hunger hotspots… Continue reading Zimbabwe faces worsening food crisis due to El Niño droughts

Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, which champions gender equality worldwide, told ambassadors in the Security Council that cuts are being made by some governments despite an uptick in conflict and insecurity.  “It is counter-intuitive that, in the face of unprecedented levels of conflict and violence, the number of deployed peacekeeping personnel has dropped… Continue reading Gender equality at risk: UN officials highlight danger of pulling peacekeepers out

Last month saw another extreme weather milestone with the world’s hottest day on recent record registered on 22 July – yet another indication of the extent to which greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are changing our climate, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on Wednesday. 

The resignation and departure of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister after weeks of bloody protests has been met with “euphoria” alongside some concern over the government’s transition, the UN’s top official in Bangladesh said in an interview with UN News on Tuesday.  

6 August 2024 Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General called for nuclear disarmament on Tuesday as the world marked 79 years since the bombing of Hiroshima, promising that the UN will “spare no effort to ensure the horrors of that day are never repeated.” On 6 August 1945, the United States dropped a bomb dubbed… Continue reading UN chief warns of nuclear ‘danger’ as world remembers Hiroshima; urges elimination of weapons

According to the office at least 17 schools have been hit, raising serious concerns about compliance with principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), including distinction, proportionality and precaution. OHCHR also pointed to an escalation in such attacks. Since last Monday, at least seven schools have been targeted – all reportedly serving as shelters for internally… Continue reading UN rights office reports escalation in strikes on schools in Gaza

The development follows the conclusion of an investigation by the UN Office of Oversight Services (OIOS), launched earlier this year after Israel alleged that several UNRWA personnel took part in the brutal assault on its territory in which some 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were taken to Gaza as hostages. However, OIOS was… Continue reading Nine UNRWA staff to be fired for potential role in 7 October attacks on Israel

5 August 2024 Human Rights The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Monday for an urgent de-escalation in the Middle East as tensions mount in the wake of recent deadly attacks linked to the war in Gaza, which is about to enter its 10th month.  “I am deeply worried about the rising risk… Continue reading Middle East: UN rights chief warns against wider war, appeals for urgent de-escalation

3 August 2024 Peace and Security The UN envoy for Somalia has strongly condemned a suicide attack on a popular beachfront in the capital, Mogadishu, that claimed dozens of civilian lives. The Al-Shabaab terrorist group reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place late on Friday night (local time) and involved a suicide bombing… Continue reading UN envoy condemns deadly suicide attack on Somalia beach

The top UN envoy in the Middle East called on Friday for urgent action to address the “growing risk” of regional escalation following recent deadly attacks in Lebanon, the Syrian Golan Heights and Iran linked to the war in Gaza.

Across Europe, more than 50 countries “are paying the ultimate price”, said WHO Regional Director Dr Hans Kluge, only days since Earth recorded its warmest average temperature yet, at 17.16 degrees Celsius (62.89 Fahrenheit), and as exhausting summer heatwaves hit across the northern hemisphere. Dr Kluge said that the three warmest years on record in… Continue reading Heat claims more than 175,000 lives annually in Europe, latest data shows

Mr. Guterres spoke that morning with the country’s acting Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri. Concern for the region “During the conversation, the Secretary-General expressed his deep concern regarding the ongoing situation in the region,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during his daily briefing in New York “He reiterated his public message urging all parties to work… Continue reading Middle East: Guterres underlines need for de-escalation in call to Iranian Foreign Minister

“This first step in a much longer road focuses on activities that will give children a refuge from the horrors they continue to live through,” Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. He added that the children in Gaza “are going through unspeakable atrocities. They are living in… Continue reading Gaza: UNRWA programme aims to get children ‘back to learning’

“The international community must work together to prevent any actions that could make the conflict much bigger and wider very quickly,” Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for political affairs said, warning of skyrocketing tensions in the wake of the killing of a top Hamas leader in Tehran earlier in the day. The killing came against the… Continue reading Security Council debates ‘serious and dangerous escalation’ in the Middle East

31 July 2024 Peace and Security The conflict in Sudan has led to a horrifying surge in violence against children, a new UN report has revealed, underscoring the need for urgent and tangible protection measures. The report on Children and Armed Conflict in Sudan, released on Tuesday, documented a staggering 2,168 grave violations against 1,913… Continue reading Skyrocketing violence against children in Sudan demands urgent protection measures: UN report

31 July 2024 Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the international community to prevent escalation in the Middle East, following an Israeli strike on Lebanon’s capital and the reported killing of a top Hamas leader in Iran. “The Secretary-General believes that the attacks we have seen in South Beirut and Teheran represent… Continue reading Middle East: Beirut and Tehran attacks ‘represent a dangerous escalation’, Guterres warns

31 July 2024 Peace and Security The United Nations has voiced grave concern over Israeli strikes in the densely populated southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, on Tuesday, which resulted in scores of civilian casualties. “As we await further clarity on the circumstances, we again urge the parties to exercise maximum restraint and call on… Continue reading UN calls for ‘maximum restraint’ following Israeli strikes on Beirut suburbs

By Daniel Johnson 31 July 2024 Peace and Security A new UN report published Wednesday into alleged abuses carried out against thousands of Palestinians detained by the Israeli authorities since war erupted in Gaza last October has documented a range of serious violations that may amount to torture. “The staggering number of men, women, children, doctors,… Continue reading Israeli military in spotlight over ‘incommunicado’ detention of Palestinians

30 July 2024 Human Rights UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has joined the Secretary-General in voicing concern over the situation in Venezuela following the recent presidential election.  In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr. Türk said he was “extremely concerned” about increasing tensions in the South American country.  Voting took place on… Continue reading Venezuela: UN rights chief concerned about post-election tension and violence

29 July 2024 Peace and Security The top UN humanitarian official for Gaza said on Monday that the situation in the war-ravaged enclave remains “absolutely catastrophic”, with Palestinian civilians enduring a “horrendous maelstrom of human misery.” Recently returned from the Gaza Strip, Sigrid Kaag, the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza was speaking… Continue reading UN official describes Gaza situation as ‘absolutely catastrophic’ amid severe shortages

Evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military have impacted Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps, forcing families to relocate “again and again, knowing that safety is non-existent in the Gaza Strip”, said the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees, UNRWA, in a post on X. More than nine months into the war in Gaza, only 14 per cent of the enclave has not… Continue reading Gaza: Fresh evacuation orders compound misery for enclave’s displaced

29 July 2024 Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has commended the people of Venezuela “for their determination to express their will peacefully through the ballot box,” his Spokesperson said on Monday.  Following hours of delays, incumbent Nicolas Maduro was formally declared winner of the disputed presidential election held on Sunday, securing a third… Continue reading Venezuela: Guterres ‘calls for complete transparency’ following disputed presidential election

Fierce fighting broke out in early July in eastern Myanmar, collapsing a ceasefire between the military and a coalition of three ethnic armed groups that had banded together in October last year against the junta. Reports indicate that the ethnic armed groups have captured key regional towns, while the tatmadaw – as the Myanmar armed… Continue reading UN officials alarmed by civilian targeting amid renewed fighting in Myanmar

Muhannad Hadi, Deputy UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, and Antonia De Meo, Deputy Commissioner-General of the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, briefed the Security Council on the dire situation. “For nearly 10 months now, Palestinians and Israelis have lived through untold suffering, grief, sorrow, and loss. More than two million… Continue reading ‘Endless nightmare’ of death and destruction in Gaza, UN officials tell Security Council

Deputy UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Adedeji Ebo, briefed ambassadors and also provided an update on casualty figures. Mr. Ebo said that since the last briefing on 14 June, the armed forces of Ukraine have continued to receive military assistance, as well as transfers of arms and ammunition, “in the context of the full-scale… Continue reading Security Council debates weapon transfers to Ukraine

The appeal comes against the backdrop of record temperatures and deadly heatwaves – from the United States to Africa’s Sahel and Europe to the Middle East – that have killed several hundred people this summer. During the Hajj, for instance, scorching heat claimed over 1,300 pilgrim lives. “Billions of people are facing an extreme heat… Continue reading The heat is on: We must rise to the challenge of rising temperatures, urges UN chief

The development comes as media reports indicated that truce and hostage swap talks in Doha scheduled on Thursday in Qatar had been postponed until early next week. Some 116 hostages are still missing, with 44 believed to have died, reports say, nearly 10 months since Hamas-led terror attacks on multiple targets in southern Israel left… Continue reading Gaza: Hunger fears persist as Israeli operations further harm enclave’s farmers

The attacks, which took place on 16 and 18 July reportedly occurred because of a land, lake ownership and user rights dispute. These attacks reportedly stem from conflicts resulting from tribal violence in the southwest Pacific nation in February where about 26 people were also killed. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) had urged the… Continue reading World News in Brief: Rights chief ‘horrified’ at deadly PNG violence, Lebanon-Israel ‘knife edge’, Sudan refugees suffer sexual violence

“Simply put – we do not have the necessary conditions in the Gaza Strip for a robust humanitarian response,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement issued in the wake of an attack on one of the agency’s vehicles and the latest Israeli evacuation order in Khan Younis. Children suffer ‘permanent scars’  Ms. Russell began by acknowledging the dire… Continue reading UNICEF chief calls for urgent security reset in Gaza amid ‘new horrors’

24 July 2024 Climate and Environment Soaring summer temperatures in Europe and Central Asia are killing nearly 400 children a year according to new analysis of the latest available data by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released on Wednesday. UNICEF revealed that 377 children died in 2021 based on data from 23 countries across the… Continue reading Rising heat in Europe and Central Asia killing almost 400 children a year: UNICEF

According to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, some 1.9 million people – nine in 10 in Gaza – have been forcibly uprooted since 7 October, including people who have been repeatedly displaced. For UN aid agencies and partners, “fuel shortages continue to undermine humanitarian operations and jeopardize the functioning of health, water and food production… Continue reading Gaza: Exodus from Khan Younis compounds pressure on meagre resources

23 July 2024 Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General has welcomed a new agreement signed on Tuesday in Beijing by Hamas and Fatah, together with smaller Palestinian factions, aimed at ending years of political rivalry as the war in Gaza grinds on. In response to questions at the regular daily briefing in New York, UN… Continue reading UN chief welcomes agreement between Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas

“The trajectory of the development in Yemen has since the beginning of the year moved in the wrong direction and if left unaddressed could reach a tipping point,” he said. Yemeni Government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition have been battling with Houthi rebels, also known as Ansar Allah, since 2014. The Houthis also began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea –… Continue reading Yemen: UN envoy warns of threat of return to ‘full-fledged war’ as regional tensions escalate

In Khan Younis, the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) reported witnessing “thousands of people fleeing” westwards as part of the exodus from the enclave’s southern city amid ongoing hostilities, leaving children traumatized and crying uncontrollably. “Elderly people on the back of donkey carts…disabled people being pushed in wheelchairs through the sand with the belongings… Continue reading Where do I go now, ask Gazans uprooted by new Israeli evacuation orders

23 July 2024 Peace and Security Renewed attacks on civilians in eastern Burkina Faso by non-State armed groups have forced thousands to flee to neighbouring Niger in search of safety, amid a deepening emergency, UN humanitarians have warned. In an alert, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said that previous attacks in recent weeks along Burkina… Continue reading Attacks on civilians in Burkina Faso force thousands into neighbouring Niger

“One rash move, one miscalculation could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the borders and, frankly, beyond imagination,” said Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, in a briefing via videoconference. The meeting, called by France, United Kingdom and the United States, came on the heels of a Houthi drone attack against Tel… Continue reading Middle East: ‘One rash move could trigger a catastrophe’

22 July 2024 Climate and Environment The world’s forests are becoming increasingly susceptible to wildfires and pests due to climate change, according to a new report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), released Monday.  “Forests and trees are essential components of agrifood systems. The removal of forest cover, especially in the tropics, increases… Continue reading Forests face increasing risk of wildfires and pests due to climate change

He reminded ambassadors that “Syria remains in a state of profound conflict, complexity and division” – one of four key messages he had for ambassadors. His also focused on the plight of Syrian refugees, the need for a political solution, and engagement towards implementation of Council resolution 2254 (2015), which endorses a road map for… Continue reading UN Special Envoy warns of escalation risk in Syria

“Heavy shooting from the Israeli Forces at a UN convoy heading to Gaza city. While there are no casualties, our teams had to duck and take cover” in the incident on Sunday, according to the head of UNRWA, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, in a post on X, which called for the perpetrators to be held accountable.… Continue reading Gaza city-bound UN aid convoy comes under Israeli fire, says UNRWA

21 July 2024 Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has responded to Israel’s airstrikes on the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah, which reportedly killed at least six people and injured more than 80, by calling for all parties involved in the conflict to “exercise utmost restraint”. In statement, Mr. Guterres noted that Israel had… Continue reading UN chief expresses deep concern over Israel strikes on Yemen, and risk of regional escalation

19 July 2024 Humanitarian Aid The head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees UNRWA welcomed the decision by the United Kingdom on Friday to resume funding of the agency “at a critical time, as the agency continues to come under harsh and unprecedented attacks”. Sixteen countries pulled funding from the UN agency in January… Continue reading Boost for UNRWA as UK decides to restore funding

19 July 2024 Humanitarian Aid Heavy fighting in Sudan has severely curtailed humanitarian aid deliveries across vast areas of the southeast, the UN World Food Programme, WFP, said on Friday. In an alert, WFP expressed deep concern about “the escalation of fighting” in Sudan’s Sennar State. More than 136,000 people have already fled their homes,… Continue reading Sudan aid obstacles impact lifesaving relief effort

In a statement, Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) had been identified at six locations in sewage samples collected on 23 June from Khan Younis and Deir al Balah. To date, no one has been treated in Gaza for paralysis or other symptoms caused by… Continue reading Polio stalks Gazans as ‘anarchy’ spreads, humanitarians warn

“They are losing their lives, they are sick, hungry, exhausted, holding families together despite their constant fear and loss,” said Maryse Guimond, speaking from Jerusalem to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York. Ms. Guimond recently concluded a weeklong mission to Gaza – a place she has visited more than 50 times in her six years in the job, including after previous escalations.  This time, she was not prepared… Continue reading No end in sight to the ‘war on women’ in Gaza

In addition to all those forcibly uprooted from their shelters and homes, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that the delivery of lifesaving rations has become even more difficult than it was already. “Many distribution points have had to shut down. Only a few bakeries remain operational,” the UN agency said in a post on… Continue reading ‘Largest’ displacements so far in Gaza’s war of attrition: UN aid agencies

The demonstrations erupted two weeks ago, and students have been clashing with their pro-government counterparts and the police in the capital, Dhaka, and other cities.  The Bangladeshi Government closed all public and private universities after the protests turned deadly on Tuesday, with six people killed and scores injured, according to media reports. Writing on social… Continue reading World News in Brief: Bangladesh student protests, South Sudan attacks continue, opportunity knocks for climate action in Africa

17 July 2024 Peace and Security The World Health Organization (WHO) has registered more than 1,000 attacks on healthcare facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since the October 7 terror attacks in Israel sparked the on-going war in Gaza, the agency’s top official in the region said on Wednesday. In a press briefing, Dr. Rik… Continue reading Over 1,000 attacks on healthcare in Occupied Palestinian Territory since October

17 July 2024 Peace and Security The UN Security Council on Wednesday convened an open debate on the ongoing crisis in Gaza, which continues to be marked by immense suffering – compounded now by a complete breakdown of law and order – and a humanitarian system on the brink of collapse. Addressing ambassadors on behalf… Continue reading Security Council debates Gaza crisis, as civilian suffering continues unabated

Global perspective Human stories UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the media at UN Headquarters in New York (file photo). 16 July 2024 Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres is remembering the 298 people killed in “the tragic downing” of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-affected eastern Ukraine 10 years ago this Wednesday, his Spokesperson… Continue reading Guterres renews call for accountability 10 years after ‘tragic downing’ of flight MH17

The “grim milestone” means that 20 per cent of the population has been forced to flee in the span of just 15 months, he added. “The majority of those displaced are inside the country – that is almost eight million human beings – and over half of those are children,” said Mr. Dujarric, speaking during… Continue reading World News in Brief: Sudan displacement ‘grim milestone’, UN deputy chief in West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire joins UN water treaty

Reports of strikes landing near an aid centre in Deir Al-Balah came from the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, who provided updates on the situation in the besieged enclave. “The [aid] operations are continuing,” he told journalists at UN Headquarters. “But, if there’s a strike 100 metres away from the place where… Continue reading Gaza: Multiple strikes kill dozens near UN aid hub as thousands flee fighting

16 July 2024 Peace and Security The current polarized international political landscape was on raw display at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, as it convened for the Russian presidency’s signature event for the month, entitled “multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order”. Russian Foreign Minister and… Continue reading Polarized Security Council debates meaning of multilateralism

“What Haitians want the most is peace, that will allow them to return to school, to farm their fields, to access basic services such as going to a hospital,” Edem Wosornu, Operations and Advocacy Director with the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said in a joint statement issued on Monday. Ms. Wosornu visited Haiti alongside Lucia Elmi, Director for Emergency Operations… Continue reading UN and EU humanitarians appeal for more support for Haiti

In an alert, Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan, said that heavy fighting between Sudan’s rival militaries had made access to El Fasher “completely impossible”, as the country’s warring parties continue to hold talks in Geneva. The latest warning about the emergency comes 15 months since heavy conflict erupted between rival militaries in Sudan… Continue reading Sudan: 800,000 still trapped in El Fasher where supplies running out, warns WHO

15 July 2024 Climate and Environment Eight critical global shifts are accelerating a triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss, pollution and waste, according to the new Global Foresight Report produced by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Science Council (ISC) released on Monday.  “The rapid rate of change, uncertainty and technological developments we’re… Continue reading The triple planetary crisis: Global Foresight Report reveals global shifts

15 July 2024 Humanitarian Aid Twelve years on from independence the people of South Sudan continue to face huge challenges, exacerbated now by the war in neighbouring Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. The UN health agency insisted that the humanitarian, economic, social and political crises that began with brutal civil conflict… Continue reading South Sudan faces a growing humanitarian crisis, warns WHO

In an update from Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis where victims have been admitted, veteran UN aid official Scott Anderson reported witnessing “some of the most horrific” scenes he had experienced in his nine months in Gaza. “With not enough beds, hygiene equipment, sheeting or scrubs, many patients were treated on the ground without… Continue reading Gaza: fresh airstrikes reported in centre, south, as conflict intensifies

13 July 2024 Peace and Security The UN health agency and partners are responding to help the hundreds hurt during Saturday’s airstrikes by Israeli forces on Gaza’s Al Mawasi area which have reportedly left at least 90 dead and around 300 injured, according to figures from the war-torn enclave’s health ministry. Israeli officials said the… Continue reading Gaza: WHO and partners provide lifesaving treatment following deadly Israeli strikes in Al Mawasi

Leonardo Santos Simão, who heads the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), told the Security Council that by “renouncing ECOWAS”, the three military-led governments would be “relinquishing key benefits” including regional integration, freedom of movement, security cooperation and an integrated regional economy, hurting both themselves and remaining ECOWAS members. The three transitional… Continue reading Top official warns of weakened regional security following withdrawal from West African economic bloc by Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger

Launching its annual sand and dust storm report the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said poor environmental management had made their occurrence worse. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo called for increased vigilance due to climate change. “Scientific evidence shows that human activities are having an impact on sand and dust storms,” she said. She cited higher temperatures, drought… Continue reading World News in Brief: Sand and dust storm scourge, Mali humanitarian update, moving education online

Speaking at a pledging conference for the agency, the UN chief outlined the countless challenges facing Palestinian civilians in Gaza who are “forced to move like human pinballs across a landscape of destruction and death”. “Hopelessness is the greatest ally of instability,” he warned, stressing that through its work, “UNRWA is one of the greatest… Continue reading Gaza: There is no alternative to UNRWA, Guterres declares

For decades, conflict in the mineral-rich eastern DRC has triggered alarming levels of violence, mass displacement, widespread disease, gender-based violence and severe mental trauma, explained Dr Adelheid Marschang, Senior Emergency Officer at the World Health Organization (WHO). ‘Chronic and acute shock’ Today, the vast central African nation now has the “highest number of people in… Continue reading DR Congo: Conflict escalation linked to deadly Mpox threat

Heavy conflict erupted last April between rival militaries over a proposed transition to civilian rule, following a military coup in 2021 and the 2019 ousting of long-time President Omar Al-Bashir. UN Geneva spokesperson Alessandra Vellucci confirmed that only one of the delegations attended the initial discussions after senior representatives from the Sudanese Armed Forces and… Continue reading Sudan: UN-hosted talks on local ceasefires to continue in Geneva

The Assembly also called for an immediate end to attacks against Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure, following weeks of escalation.  The resolution entitled Safety and security of nuclear facilities of Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was adopted with 99 countries in favour and nine against (Belarus, Burundi, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea,… Continue reading General Assembly demands immediate end to Russian aggression in Ukraine

The 2016 deal between the national authorities and the FARC-EP armed group in effect ended more than five decades of conflict, but violence persists.  Hundreds of signatories killed UN Special Representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu told ambassadors that “insecurity is clearly the main obstacle to reintegration and the success of the Peace Agreement”.  He said 421 signatories have been killed since it was signed. “In the face of this,… Continue reading Insecurity main obstacle to realizing Colombia Peace Agreement, Security Council hears

Residential areas, markets, hospitals and sites holding displaced people are all being impacted, he told reporters at the daily briefing in New York. As many as 329,000 people were displaced during the past three months from the last remaining city under Government control in Darfur, according to the UN migration agency (IOM). Civilians must be… Continue reading World News in Brief: Concern mounts over fate of El Fasher, call for consensus over South Sudan elections, indigenous rights in Brazil

In a resolution adopted without a vote, the Council strongly condemned all violations and abuses of human rights in Myanmar, particularly following the military coup in February 2021.   It called upon Myanmar “to end immediately all violence and violations of international law in the country, to ensure full protection of the human rights and… Continue reading UN rights council condemns Myanmar abuses, urges immediate action

Ukrainian authorities have said that the attacks claimed the lives of about 34 civilians, including five children, and injured over 120 others.    The attacks also damaged 130 buildings – rescue services are still working on clearing the wreckage.  Rescue operations The airstrikes on Monday hit and damaged the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, where rescue operations have… Continue reading World News in Brief: Ukraine rescue efforts, Libyan activist abducted, climate impacts on fish stocks, SDG ‘wake-up call’

These are just a few of the concerning findings of a new report into the digital economy by UN trade agency UNCTAD, which insists that the thriving sector’s negative environmental impact must be taken more seriously – and slowed by investment in renewables. “The rise of technologies such as artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, cryptocurrency mining,… Continue reading Digital boom could well be a bust for the environment, warns UN trade agency

“Four schools hit in the last four days. Since the war began, two thirds of UNRWA schools in Gaza have been hit, some were bombed out, many severely damaged,” said Philippe Lazzarini, in a post on X. In a statement posted on Tuesday, the Israeli military said it had been targeting “terrorist infrastructure and terrorist… Continue reading Schools ‘bombed-out’ in latest Gaza escalation, says UNRWA chief

Global perspective Human stories The old City of Sana’a in Yemen. 9 July 2024 Peace and Security The UN human rights office (OHCHR) remains “extremely worried” for the well-being of 13 UN staff and a number of NGO employees arbitrarily detained in Yemen, spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said on Tuesday, demanding their unconditional release. The staffers… Continue reading UN pressing for release of staff detained in Yemen

Two of the country’s main specialist hospitals for children and women were heavily damaged along with key energy infrastructure, reportedly killing dozens of civilians, including children, and injuring over 110. Joyce Msuya, acting UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, told ambassadors in the Security Council on Tuesday, that the UN human rights office (OHCHR) was verifying the… Continue reading Casualties rise in Ukraine amid escalating Russian attacks, Security Council hears

Briefing journalists in Geneva, UN World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said that according to the enclave’s health authorities, 34 people have died of malnutrition and dehydration amid ongoing Israeli bombardment, sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks on 7 October. “In [northern Gaza’s] Kamal Adwan hospital alone, 60 cases of severe acute malnutrition were detected… Continue reading Gazans reeling from closed hospitals, malnutrition and heat risks, warns UN health agency

“These latest figures from the Copernicus Climate Change Service unfortunately highlight that we will be exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius level on a temporary basis with increasing frequency, on a monthly basis,” said the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. The crucial 1.5°C threshold refers to the temperature rise above pre-industrial levels beginning in… Continue reading Earth’s hottest June on record

8 July 2024 Peace and Security Ukrainian cities faced another barrage of missiles fired by Russian forces on Monday with dozens killed and a children’s hospital among the targets, UN humanitarians have said. Condemning the daytime attacks, the UN’s top aid coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, said that several cities were targeted, including the capital,… Continue reading Several Ukrainian cities hit in new wave of Russia missile attacks

5 July 2024 Peace and Security Fresh fighting in southeast Sudan is exacerbating civilian suffering, with reports that over 136,000 people have fled their homes in search of safety, UN humanitarians have said. “People are facing multiple protection risks and have reported widespread looting of homes and personal possessions,” the UN Office for the Coordination… Continue reading Tens of thousands displaced as fighting intensifies in southeast Sudan

The latest escalation, which occurred on Thursday, “heightens the risk of a full-scale war”, the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said in a note to correspondents. “Escalation can and must be avoided. We reiterate that the danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflagration is real,” it added, stressing that a… Continue reading UN warns of escalating tensions on Lebanon-Israel ‘Blue Line’ frontier

5 July 2024 Climate and Environment The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Friday designated 11 new biosphere reserves, recognizing their importance for conserving biodiversity and cultural heritage. The new designations are in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Gambia, Italy, Mongolia, Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Spain.   Additionally, and for the first… Continue reading UNESCO designates 11 new biosphere reserves

“The central goal of our multilateral system must be peace – a pre-condition for sustainable development and the enjoyment of human rights,” he told Heads of States attending the world’s largest regional organisation meeting in Kazakhstan’s capital. António Guterres listed multiple conflicts where ceasefire and lasting peace are needed, from the Middle East to Ukraine and from… Continue reading UN chief to leaders of regional bloc: end wars, deal with existential crises

“Thousands are sheltering in UNRWA schools…and government buildings,” the UN agency for Palestine refugees told UN News, adding that others “are already beginning to turn back, telling us of lack of spaces in other areas”. UNRWA also reiterated warnings that living conditions are “beyond unbearable”, because of the mountains of waste and rubbish piled high… Continue reading Gaza war grinds on as forcibly displaced run out of space to shelter

Maria Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Haiti, briefed ambassadors at the Security Council, highlighting the installation of the Transitional Presidential Council in April and the swearing-in of an interim Prime Minister and new government in June as “clear indications of progress.” Haiti has been embroiled in a complex crisis, marked by… Continue reading Haiti: UN envoy welcomes democratic progress amidst alarming violence

Speaking via video link from Jerusalem, Andrea De Domenico, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT), said people have been forced to “completely reset their lives over and over again.” “People, in the last nine months, have been moved around like ‘pawns in a… Continue reading Gaza ‘split in two’ as civilians, humanitarians reset lives, aid efforts

“This morning, we heard views from members of Afghan civil society, women and men, who provided us – the special envoys and the UN – with valuable insights on the rights of women and minorities in the country, girls’ education, the media, business and many other issues,” Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for political affairs, told… Continue reading World News in Brief: Doha talks on Afghanistan, human rights in Belarus, Rohingya refugees in India, global trade rises

A Category 5 storm, Hurricane Beryl has claimed at least six lives as it barrels through the Caribbean Sea. Initial reports indicate severe damage to homes, infrastructure and power and communications. UN Spokesperson Stephané Dujarric told journalists at the regular press briefing in New York that seven agencies based in Grenada and nine in Saint… Continue reading UN urges international solidarity as Hurricane Beryl devastates Caribbean islands

Public services have collapsed and over 1.9 million have now been displaced, she told ambassadors at the Security Council, underscoring the critical need for a full, immediate and complete ceasefire, release of all hostages and unhindered aid across the enclave. “The war has not merely created a humanitarian crisis, it has unleashed a maelstrom of… Continue reading Gaza is a ‘maelstrom of human misery’

In an alert detailing another night of heavy bombardment across the enclave, the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said that Gazans fleeing the southern city have had to erect shelters at the water’s edge because displacement camps are already packed at the coast. Only a few weeks ago, Khan Younis was deserted after intense Israeli bombardment damaged… Continue reading Gaza: 250,000 set to be displaced by new Khan Younis escalation

1 July 2024 Peace and Security Continued violence and instability in Haiti has resulted in the displacement of over 300,000 children, with an estimated one child being displaced every minute since March, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday. Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, highlighted the horrific impact of violence on children and adolescents.… Continue reading Haiti: Violence displaces one child every minute, reports UNICEF

By Daniel Johnson 1 July 2024 Peace and Security Ongoing heavy fighting in northern Gaza has now forced an estimated 84,000 people to flee eastern Gaza City in a matter of days, while also cutting off access to a key aid distribution hub, UN humanitarians said on Monday. The exodus from Gaza City’s eastern Shujaiya… Continue reading Tens of thousands displaced in new Gaza City escalation

29 June 2024 Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Saturday praised the adoption of a “strong outcome document” at the end of a conference dedicated to combatting illicit small arms and light weapons worldwide, saying it was an important sign of progress. “The proliferation, diversion and misuse of small arms and light weapons continue… Continue reading UN chief lauds ‘strong’ new recommendations to limit proliferation of light weapons

Ms. Nakamitsu noted that in recent months there had been allegations of transfers of ballistic missiles and ammunition from the DPRK (more commonly known as North Korea) to Russia, in violation of Council resolutions, allegedly for use in Moscow’s continuing invasion of Ukraine. “UN Security Council sanctions regimes are at the top of such international… Continue reading Top UN official calls for strict compliance with sanctions on DPR Korea

“You can hear bombardments from the north, the middle and the south…Gaza now really is hell on earth, It’s very hot…Trash is piling up everywhere, people living under plastic sheeting where temperatures soar,” said Ms. Wateridge, a Senior Communications Officer with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, hours after returning to the shattered enclave… Continue reading Going back into ‘hell’: An aid worker’s journey through shattered Gaza

27 June 2024 Peace and Security The UN Security Council on Thursday demanded that Houthi rebels in Yemen immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthi attacks began at the end of last year in what the militant group said was an act of solidarity with Palestinians in… Continue reading Security Council demands Houthis cease attacks in the Red Sea

27 June 2024 Humanitarian Aid Delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza remains a difficult and frustrating task for UN and partner agencies as the conflict there grinds on amid intense civilian suffering. On Thursday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, provided details from aid coordination office OCHA on how difficult providing aid has become for agencies in… Continue reading Gaza: Aid constraints and health issues persist amid ongoing conflict

The artwork by Australian artist Fintan Magee is in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and September’s pivotal Summit of the Future.  “This work examines the human elements in the role of the UN and the fragility of peace. Lasting stability should never be taken for granted and will always require continued diplomacy and… Continue reading ‘Fragility of peace’ depicted in giant new mural on UN tower in Vienna

Briefing ambassadors at the Security Council on the situation in the country, head of the UN mission Valentine Rugwabiza stated that the additional deployment also facilitated the delivery of humanitarian aid in the restive and hard-to-access Haut Mbomou region. Bordering South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the region – which is larger… Continue reading UN mission boosts presence in Central African Republic’s conflict-stricken southeast

27 June 2024 Peace and Security Police chiefs and government leaders convened at UN Headquarters on Thursday for the opening session of UNCOPS 2024.  The summit, themed Advancing our Common Security: UN Policing for a New Era, began with a video highlighting the UN Police’s (UNPOL) mission to promote security, protect human rights, and support Member… Continue reading Global leaders address security and peacekeeping challenges at UN Police summit

Since the February 2021 coup, over 5,000 civilians have been killed, at least three million displaced. More than 20,000 political prisoners remain incarcerated. Military airstrikes against civilian targets have increased five-fold in the last six months, even as the junta loses military outposts, territory, and troops to resistance forces. Potential enablers In a new report,… Continue reading Rights expert urges banks to stop financing Myanmar junta weapons trade

Speaking anonymously and through an interpreter, the 16-year-old called on ambassadors to reinforce protection and security in conflict zones to ensure children like him never have to play an active part in the horrors of war. “When I was born, 16 years ago, there were already armed conflicts in the east of the Democratic Republic… Continue reading UN hears testimony from former child soldier on brutal reality of war

Responding to media reports on Tuesday that the UN had warned the aid effort may have to stop unless the security situation and coordination with the Israeli military improved, Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths denied that any “ultimatum” had been given. “We continue, as we have done for these many, many months to negotiate with… Continue reading We’ll never abandon Gaza, pledges top UN aid official

Mr. Assange had been sought by US lawmakers after massive leaks of classified material via the WikiLeaks platform. Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, told UN News that “people should not and should never be extradited to where they may face a torture or other… Continue reading World News in Brief: UN expert welcomes Assange release, more ICC warrants issued over Ukraine, Human Rights Council updates

Najat Rochdi, UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, told council members that Syria’s dire situation needs political solutions in order for its issues to be sustainably addressed. ‘Climate of fear’ Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi said the security situation in Syria remains violent and tense leaving many civilians in a “climate of fear.” She pointed to… Continue reading Syria: Security Council highlights escalating crisis and civilian suffering

According to the latest UN-partnered Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, 96 per cent of the population – some 2.15 million people – face acute food insecurity at “crisis” level or higher – IPC 3 (check out our explainer on the IPC here). Included in this number are almost half a million people enduring… Continue reading New famine alert for Gaza where families go days without food

24 June 2024Peace and Security Restoring the Iran nuclear deal to its full and effective implementation “remains elusive”, the UN’s top political affairs official said on Monday, adding that participating countries remain at odds with each other. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, was updating ambassadors in the Security Council. The United States… Continue reading Effort to restore Iran nuclear deal ‘remains elusive’, Security Council hears

24 June 2024Health A total of 53 countries had best practice policies in place for tackling industrial trans fats in food as of last year, vastly improving the food environment for 3.7 billion people, or 46 per cent of the world’s population, according to a milestone report published by the UN World Health Organization on Monday.… Continue reading Half the world now following doctors’ orders on cutting trans fats: WHO

James Swan, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) briefed ambassadors noting that the Somali government is prioritising security and combating Al-Shabaab fighters on many fronts. “For its part, Al-Shabaab remains determined to continue terrorist attacks with little regard for the loss of civilian life,” he said. “I condemn these terrorist attacks and… Continue reading Officials highlight ongoing terrorist threats and dire humanitarian needs in Somalia

In a statement issued by his Spokesperson on Monday, António Guterres conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families, the people and Government of Russia, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Gunmen using automatic weapons reportedly opened fire inside a Christian Orthodox church and synagogue in the city of Derbent on Sunday evening, killing an Orthodox… Continue reading World News in Brief: Guterres condemns terror attacks in Dagestan, call to end ‘war on drugs’, women Heads of State

24 June 2024Peace and Security Heavy fighting in Sudan hit a new low over the weekend when a maternity hospital in besieged El Fasher city came under attack, killing a pharmacy worker and prompting new calls on Monday from the head of the UN health agency for the violence to stop. The attack on the… Continue reading Sudan: WHO appalled by horrific attack on El Fasher’s maternity hospital

In a plea for political and financial support from Member States, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini underscored that the agency was “staggering under the weight of relentless attacks in Gaza”, after nearly nine months of intense Israeli bombardment and ground operations. “The pressures on the agency today are greater than ever before,” he insisted. In addition… Continue reading Chief of key UN agency in Gaza warns ‘entire generation’ could be lost

Mr. Piper said that the current global figure of 76 million represented those who have “lost their homes, livelihoods, their communities and in some cases, their legal identities, because of wars, disasters like earthquakes and floods, and other weather-related disasters.” Internally displaced people (IDPs), unlike refugees, have not crossed international borders. While some return home… Continue reading Record levels of displacement amid global conflict and natural disasters

Top officials from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) briefed ambassadors at the 15-member Council, describing the impact on civilians since the Taliban took over in August 2021. Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA highlighted “massive… Continue reading Officials highlight massive poverty, humanitarian despair in Afghanistan

21 June 2024Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Friday voiced profound concern over escalating violence and “bellicose rhetoric” between Israel and Hezbollah militants across the frontier with Lebanon, warning that one false move could trigger a catastrophe for the whole region and beyond. The situation along the Blue Line, the demarcation between Israeli and… Continue reading ‘World cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza’: Guterres

“The population has been almost entirely dispossessed of the means and capacities to ensure food security, shelter, health, and livelihood,” said Maryse Guimond, UN Women’s Special Representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory. “Women were asking me, ‘When can we go back to our homes?’ Each displacement has brought more loss and fear.” Dignity, privacy gone… Continue reading Gaza is more than two million stories of loss: UN agencies

“Violence, particularly in the capital Port-au-Prince, has reached alarming levels, with armed groups controlling large areas and complicating humanitarian access,” the experts, including the Special Rapporteur on the rights of internally displaced persons, said. The clashes between gangs and the Haitian National Police have created a “pervasive environment of fear, restricting freedom of movement and… Continue reading Haiti faces record displacement amid escalating gang violence

Peoples’ Climate Vote 2024, the biggest ever standalone public opinion survey on climate change, also showed that 80 per cent of the respondents support more ambitious climate action. “The Peoples’ Climate Vote is loud and clear,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.   “Global citizens want their leaders to transcend their differences, to act now and… Continue reading Global survey reveals ‘truly astonishing’ consensus for stronger climate action

At a Security Council high-level debate on evolving threats in cyberspace, convened by the Republic of Korea, Council President for June, Mr. Guterres underscored the transformative power of digital technologies. “Breakthroughs in digital technologies are happening at warp speed; digital advances are revolutionising economies and societies,” he said. “They are bringing people together, providing citizens… Continue reading UN chief warns of ‘cyber mercenaries’ amid spike in weaponising digital tools

In its latest report on the dire situation in Gaza issued late Wednesday, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, underscored deep concerns expressed by sister UN agency the World Food Programme (WFP) for all those in southern Gaza, traumatized and crammed into a narrow area along the beach “in the burning summer heat”. “Active conflict and… Continue reading Gaza today: Scorching heat, visible signs of wasting and heavy fighting

Briefing journalists in New York, Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq said that agency assisting Palestine refugee (UNRWA) estimates that only 65,000 people remain in Rafah, compared to six weeks ago when the southern city hosted 1.4 million displaced – before the Israeli evacuation order and military operation there began.  “UNRWA also tells us that for… Continue reading World News in Brief: Women doing ‘inspirational’ work in Gaza, huge increase in Haiti displacement, Uyghur rights in China

That’s a record number on the move – “fuelling profound human suffering”, António Guterres added, while at the same time honouring their strength and courage. Drawing attention to the day each 20 June, is also about stepping up efforts to protect and support those forced from their homes “on every stop of their journey.” Equal… Continue reading Honour the strength and courage of refugees, urges UN chief

The finding follows investigations by the UN human rights office, OHCHR, into six attacks that it has described as “emblematic” of Israeli tactics in the more than eight-month war, involving the suspected use of bombs weighing up to 2,000lbs (920kg) on residential buildings, a school, refugee camps and a market. These weapons measuring approximately 12… Continue reading Laws of war likely ‘consistently violated’ in Israeli strikes on Gaza: UN rights office

The fifth edition of the report, released by the Health Effects Institute (HEI), revealed that air pollution caused 8.1 million deaths worldwide in 2021 and many millions are dealing with debilitating chronic diseases, leaving healthcare systems, economies, and societies. Further, it found that children under five are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, leaving over 700,000… Continue reading Deadly and growing impact of air pollution laid bare in new UNICEF-backed report

Addressing the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized that the crisis there is “emblematic of a decades-long legacy of military domination, the stifling of dissent, and division.” He added that the same dynamics are playing out against the minority Muslim Rohingya and other communities in Rakhine province. “We… Continue reading Systematic terror, brutal atrocities rife in Myanmar: UN human rights chief

Delivering remarks in New York on behalf of the Secretary-General at a meeting aimed at eradicating the illicit trade in small arms, Izumi Nakamitsu, the head of the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs, warned on Tuesday that military expenditures continue to rise across the globe. New conflicts are placing millions of people in the line… Continue reading World News in Brief: Weapons sales threat, More aid for Haiti, global refugee and migrant survey

18 June 2024Peace and Security The UN’s top political affairs official on Tuesday reiterated that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited by international law. More than 170 civilians lost their lives and a further 690 were injured in continued Russian strikes across Ukraine last month. That’s the highest number of civilian casualties in… Continue reading Attacks against civilians in Ukraine ‘unconscionable’, Security Council hears

The war that erupted last April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered political instability, a severe humanitarian emergency and widespread human rights violations. Over 15,500 fatalities have been reported in some 1,400 violent incidents targeting civilians and there are now almost 9.5 million forcibly displaced in… Continue reading ‘Nowhere is safe’ for civilians as Sudan war descends further into chaos

In his traditional opening address to the Human Rights Council now in session in Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also reiterated serious concerns raised by his Office that war crimes have been committed by all sides since conflict erupted on 7 October, sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks on multiple targets in Israel.… Continue reading Gaza: UN rights chief slams ‘unconscionable death and suffering’

Mr. Thiaw spoke to UN News ahead of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, marked annually on 17 June Ibrahim Thiaw: Desertification is happening at the local level as much as it is global. Unless we address this at the local level, we will never be able to actually control it at the… Continue reading INTERVIEW: Sustainable energy offers ‘hope’ in fight against desertification and land loss

16 June 2024Climate and Environment As nearly 40 per cent of land across the planet is degraded with more acres lost every second, governments, businesses and communities must galvanize action to reverse the damage and protect Earth, the UN chief said in a strong message for the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, marked… Continue reading Stop ‘vandalising’ Earth and help the planet thrive, UN chief urges

Global perspective Human stories Climate change impacts continue to fuel tensions and drive displacement in Nigeria. 14 June 2024Humanitarian Aid Despite its huge potential, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, continues to grapple with a host of challenges which are impacting people’s lives and triggering conflict over key resources, a senior UN official in the country… Continue reading Climate change fuels tensions in Nigeria

The head of the UN human rights office (OHCHR) Volker Türk on Friday called for serious measures to be taken to end human rights violations that are jeopardizing reconciliation and peace efforts in Ethiopia. 

14 June 2024Peace and Security A surge of attacks by Russian forces on the Kharkiv area of Ukraine is causing significant civilian casualties, as well as the destruction of homes and crucial infrastructure, the top UN official in Ukraine said today, in a plea not to “normalize” the dire conditions for Ukrainian civilians.   “There has… Continue reading War in Ukraine should not be ‘new normal’, warns top humanitarian there

Alice Nderitu, Special Adviser of the Secretary on the Prevention of Genocide, emphasized that in addition to violence, hate speech also reinforces discrimination, stigma, dehumanization, and marginalization. “Violence does not start when physical attacks are launched. Violence often starts with words. Words of hatred spread intolerance, divide societies, promote and endorse discrimination and incite violence,”… Continue reading Genocide prevention adviser warns of global threat posed by hate speech

“Driving through Gaza City to Jabalia, the destruction is unbelievable.  In the North of Gaza, I didn’t see one single building intact and there was constant shelling with drones buzzing overhead,” he said.  “The people here are traumatised and exhausted. One woman who had lost her husband told me this war has been going on… Continue reading Conflict and lawlessness hamper food aid delivery in Gaza: WFP

The US-led resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of some hostages together with Palestinian prisoners, followed by the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas and the return of Palestinians to their homes throughout Gaza while humanitarian aid flows in at scale. UN News correspondent in Gaza Ziad Taleb spoke to some of… Continue reading ‘Better late than never’: Gazans react to Security Council ceasefire resolution

13 June 2024Peace and Security The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Thursday that calls for the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces (RSF) in Sudan to halt their siege on El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state.  The resolution, put forward by the United Kingdom, received 14 votes in favour, none against, with Russia abstaining.… Continue reading Security Council demands end to siege of El Fasher in Sudan

Many innocent civilians were killed, including children, in a residential area of the densely populated city. It also struck education facilities and several apartment buildings.  “Strikes on Ukrainian cities by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to bring devastating human loss,” said Ms. Brown. Respect international law    “International humanitarian law must be respected,”… Continue reading World News in Brief: Ukraine attacks continue, education in Africa, Albinism update

Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned ambassadors in the Security Council that recent months have seen a “gradual increase” in fighting in several locations, as well as consistent threats by all sides to return to war. If the parties continue the current escalatory trajectory the “question is not if, but… Continue reading UN envoy warns Yemenis not to return to the battlefield

Children were killed and maimed in unprecedented numbers in places such as Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, notably Gaza; Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Ukraine, his annual report on Children and Armed Conflict revealed.  The alarming increase was due to the evolving nature, complexity, and intensification of armed conflict,… Continue reading UN reports ‘shocking’ rise in violations against children in conflict in 2023

In a stark assessment of the dire situation after more than eight months of war, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Tuesday that “a significant proportion of Gaza’s population is now facing catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions”. To date, more than 8,000 youngsters have been diagnosed and… Continue reading Gaza: 8,000 children diagnosed with malnutrition amid ongoing shelling

“In Gaza, we are deeply committed to humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza, where UNRWA is the backbone of that support,” Mr. Guterres told journalists in Geneva. “We have faced a number of difficulties and obstacles that are well known, but nothing diminishes our commitment,” he added, amid a long-running misinformation campaign to discredit… Continue reading Guterres highlights ‘unique level of destruction’ in Gaza ahead of G7 summit

Ambassadors held an open meeting on the human rights situation in the country, commonly known as North Korea, convened by Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. China and Russia opposed the meeting and called for a procedural vote by the 15 members, which was defeated.  Alone and claustrophobic  Briefing… Continue reading Life in DPR Korea still ‘daily struggle devoid of hope’ warns human rights chief

In a video posted on social media, Karim Khan urged victim groups, civil society organizations, national authorities, and international partners to engage with his Office and provide any evidence and material relating to the ongoing atrocities being inflicted on civilians. The ICC has an ongoing active investigation into the situation in Darfur, which began in… Continue reading ICC Prosecutor appeals for evidence of Darfur atrocities

11 June 2024Migrants and Refugees At least 49 migrants have been killed, including many women and children, and a further 140 are missing after the boat they were on capsized off the coast of Yemen on Monday, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported. Some 260 people were abroad the vessel that had… Continue reading Over 180 migrants dead or missing in latest tragedy off Yemen, UN agency reports

The President and Prosecutor with the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) briefed ambassadors on progress made over the past two years as it moves closer towards wrapping up for good. The Mechanism was established by the Council to continue essential functions of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which closed in December… Continue reading UN war crimes tribunals move closer to completion

11 June 2024Peace and Security The UN Development Progamme (UNDP) is helping to tackle the mountain of rubble and waste in Ukraine – one of the fallouts from the full-scale Russian invasion of the country, now in its third year.  The war has affected more than a quarter of Ukraine’s territory, according to the authorities,… Continue reading UNDP supports innovative solution to ‘war waste’ in Ukraine

Speaking in Jordan at an international conference prompted by the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, Mr. Guterres insisted that after more than eight months of intense hostilities, “the horror must stop”. “I welcome the peace initiative recently outlined by President Biden and urge all parties to seize this opportunity and come to an agreement,” the… Continue reading Gaza: ‘high time’ for ceasefire and hostage release, says Guterres

Four additional UN staff members have been detained and held incommunicado by the de facto authorities since 2021 and 2023, without access to their families or their respective organizations and agencies.  “This is an alarming development that raises serious concerns about the Houthis’ commitment to a negotiated solution to the conflict. The United Nations condemns… Continue reading Yemen: UN chief demands release of aid workers held by Houthis

But, briefing the Security Council, Abdou Abarry, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the region also warned that insecurity and humanitarian crises continue to plague nations.   Observers had reported Chad’s presidential elections in May took place “under good conditions”, albeit with some isolated incidents which had not compromised the conduct or credibility of the… Continue reading Envoy highlights progress towards a new political landscape in Central Africa

Global perspective Human stories A woman and child carry possessions through the streets of Rafah. 10 June 2024Women The UN agency championing gender equality called on Monday for greater investment in Palestinian women-led organizations who are at the forefront of humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip.  UN Women published its fourth Gender Alert since the… Continue reading Support Palestinian women-led organizations at heart of Gaza aid response

10 June 2024Peace and Security Further deadly violence in Sudan’s besieged Al Fasher city has forced a major hospital to shut over the weekend after soldiers stormed the facility, prompting alarm on Monday from the UN World Health Organization (WHO) about the serious impact on sick and injured patients. “WHO is appalled by the recent… Continue reading Sudan crisis: UN health agency alerts over attack on key hospital

9 June 2024Peace and Security The scenes of devastation witnessed in the aftermath of Israel’s military operation to release hostages from the Nuseirat refugee camp proves that each day the war continues “it only grows more horrific” the UN’s top humanitarian official said on Sunday. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 270 people including… Continue reading Gaza: Deaths and devastation during hostage rescue operation show ‘seismic trauma’ of ongoing war

“We are very concerned about these developments, and we are actively seeking clarification from the Houthi de facto authorities regarding the circumstances of these detentions and most importantly to ensure the immediate access to those UN personnel,” Mr. Dujarric said.   Of the detainees, two are women and nine are men. Six work for the… Continue reading World News in Brief: UN staff detained in Yemen, cyclone threat for Haiti, rights chief Lao PDR, climate change

7 June 2024Climate and Environment UN World Oceans Day, celebrated on Friday at UN Headquarters in New York, focused on “opening minds, igniting senses, and inspiring possibilities” to protect marine life worldwide.  A powerful video was shown echoing the theme, awaken new depths, warning of immediate protection needs and cautioning that there is no time… Continue reading World Oceans Day event highlights immediate action to protect oceans

At an event commemorating the 49th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed noted progress made, alongside immediate challenges.   “Over the last decade, the region has seen an exponential rise in terrorism that has reversed its development gains. This has been further exacerbated by the resurgence… Continue reading Terrorism, humanitarian crises threaten stability of West Africa: UN deputy chief

Briefing the Security Council in New York, UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya urged the international community to work to end the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year. Ms. Msuya said the civilian toll has continued to mount since her last briefing to the Council three weeks ago. Kharkiv under… Continue reading Ukraine: Security Council hears of escalating toll of Kharkiv attacks

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack reportedly carried out on 5 June by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Wad Al-Noura village, Jazira state, which is said to have killed over 100 people,” his Spokesperson said in a statement overnight, which also underscored “the immense suffering of the Sudanese population as a result of… Continue reading ‘Unimaginable trauma’ haunts Sudan’s displaced while violence, famine threaten millions

Details of that development and the “unprecedented devastation” to the Palestinian jobs market and the wider economy beyond Gaza and the West Bank are outlined in a new report from the ILO. Ahead of its publication, the UN agency’s Director-General Gilbert Houngbo told the 112th International Labour Conference in Geneva on Thursday that the labour market… Continue reading Amid Gaza war, children now work so families can survive: ILO

6 June 2024Peace and Security The UN General Assembly on Thursday elected by acclamation Philemon Yang, former Prime Minister of Cameroon, President for its seventy-ninth session which gets underway in September. President-elect Yang also served as the Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent Africans of the African Union, demonstrating “unwavering dedication” to the principles of… Continue reading Philemon Yang of Cameroon elected President of upcoming General Assembly session

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the Secretary-General “strongly condemns” recent attacks by the Myanmar military in Rakhine State and Sagaing Region that have reportedly claimed the lives of many civilians. “The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the widening regional ramifications of the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and reiterates his appeal for a unified approach,” Mr.… Continue reading UN chief condemns escalating violence and civilian attacks in Myanmar

Yet, as the rival militaries continue fighting, the country’s plight has been overlooked by much of the international community.  “As global leaders focus elsewhere, it is not receiving the necessary attention and support to avert a nightmare scenario for the people of Sudan. The world cannot claim it doesn’t know how bad the situation is… Continue reading WFP expands emergency response to avert famine in war-torn Sudan

6 June 2024Peace and Security The UN General Assembly on Thursday elected Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia to serve as non-permanent members on the Security Council for two-year terms beginning on 1 January next year. They will replace Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland, whose terms end on 31 December. In a secret ballot,… Continue reading Pakistan, Somalia, Panama, Denmark and Greece elected to UN Security Council

6 June 2024Peace and Security Amid early reports that an Israeli strike on a UN-run school in Gaza overnight into Thursday left dozens dead, humanitarians warned that cholera and other potentially deadly diseases stalk people uprooted by the war, forced to live among “mountains of rubbish”. “UNRWA can confirm that one of our schools in… Continue reading Dozens feared dead in Israeli airstrike on UNRWA school in Gaza

“We must feel that we are all citizens of this one planet because unless we do, we won’t solve the problems,” Mr. Attenborough said in an interview with the UN. Over the course of his more than 70-year-long career at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the legendary natural history broadcaster, who turned 98 last month,… Continue reading Stories from the UN Archive: BBC legend and UN Earth Champion

5 June 2024Peace and Security As the UN investigation team charged with investigating crimes committed by the Da’esh terrorist group in Iraq prepares to conclude its mandate in September, significant strides have been made in transferring crucial evidence to the authorities, its acting head said on Wednesday. Thus far, some 28 terabytes (TB) of data… Continue reading UN investigative team hands over key ISIL crime data to Iraq

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom visited the region  for the first time this week to see the dire conditions there for himself. “The staggering scale of the conflict in eastern DRC, the horrific level of violence, and its devastating impact on the children and women I met is heart-wrenching,” said Mr. Bloom. “No child should… Continue reading Orlando Bloom describes ‘devastating impact’ of DR Congo violence on women and children

“We now have five million people in Haiti that are acutely food insecure, of which 1.6 million are classified as facing emergency food insecurity conditions,” said WFP Country Director Jean-Martin Bauer, speaking via videolink to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York. “These are the highest numbers on record. These are the highest numbers we’ve… Continue reading Keep global spotlight on Haiti as millions go hungry, WFP official says

5 June 2024Climate and Environment At least one of the years between now and 2028 will very likely set a new temperature record breaking through the crucial 1.5°C temperature limit, the UN weather agency, WMO, said on Wednesday.  Latest forecasts from the World Meteorological Organization indicated that there was an 80 per cent likelihood that… Continue reading World heading towards new temperature records, UN weather watchdog warns

Choosing the iconic Family Hall of Ocean Life at the American Museum of Natural History in New York to deliver his impassioned plea to grasp the solutions at hand, António Guterres warned that we stand at “a moment of truth”. “In the case of climate, we are not the dinosaurs. We are the meteor. We… Continue reading There is an exit off ‘the highway to climate hell’, Guterres insists

Welcome to our live coverage of one of the most important speeches on climate change that António Guterres has made since becoming Secretary-General. We’ll be reporting live from the event in Manhattan and providing all the background information and briefing you need on the speech itself, and reaction to it inside the hall and around… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Guterres to lay out hard hitting truths on need for climate action

“I leave this job with a sense of work unfulfilled because the world is a worse place now than when I joined up in 2021,” Martin Griffiths said in his final briefing to journalists as UN Humanitarian and Emergency Relief Coordinator.  He said the international community is not resolving conflicts through dialogue, as envisioned nearly… Continue reading Top UN humanitarian laments lack of dialogue to resolve conflict

In a message marking Wednesday’s World Environment Day, António Guterres emphasized that countries “must deliver” on all their commitments to restore degraded ecosystems and land, and on Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, the global agreement to protect biodiversity. “They must use their new national climate action plans to set out how they will halt and reverse deforestation… Continue reading Break free from pollution, climate chaos and ‘biodiversity decimation’, UN chief urges

Humanitarians said that “security and humanitarian access conditions” have been further reduced since May because of increased violence in northern and southern Gaza, especially in Rafah, where Israeli forces continue their bombardment and military offensive.   “Despite the presence of a system to notify and coordinate humanitarian movements, impediments, delays, and denials of missions continue… Continue reading Continuing restrictions hamper humanitarian access inside Gaza

4 June 2024Peace and Security Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is inflicting immense physical, psychological, and emotional harm on children there, the Head of the UN Office in the country said on Tuesday.  In remarks to commemorate the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, Denise Brown also noted that boys and girls in… Continue reading War must never be normalized for child victims: Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine

4 June 2024Peace and Security Violence in the occupied West Bank linked to the war in Gaza passed a deadly milestone with more than 500 Palestinians killed since 7 October, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights chief Volker Türk said on Tuesday. Two of the latest fatalities were 16-year-old Ahmed Ashraf Hamidat and 17-year-old Mohammed Musa… Continue reading More than 500 Palestinians killed in occupied West Bank: UN rights chief

Andrea De Domenico, Head of OCHA‘s Office in the occupied Palestinian territory, recently spent three weeks in the enclave, where over one million people have fled the southern city of Rafah following the step-up in Israeli military operations, according to Palestine refugee agency UNRWA.  Briefing journalists in New York, Mr. De Domenico added that the… Continue reading Ongoing war destroying social fabric in Gaza, UN aid official says

Addressing the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Director General Rafael Grossi indicated no progress had been made in resolving outstanding issues. He mentioned that Iran is still not implementing provisions of the nuclear safeguards agreement, and that withdrawal of designations for several IAEA inspectors are yet to be reversed. “These… Continue reading Iran’s uranium stockpile grows following three years of denied access

3 June 2024Climate and Environment The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has rushed to support tens of thousands of children in Afghanistan who are being affected by ongoing flash floods, mainly in Baghlan, Badakhshan and Ghor. Afghanistan’s most recent floods killed about 350 people, including dozens of children, and damaged more than 7,800 homes leaving over 5,000… Continue reading UNICEF extends aid to children in Afghanistan affected by flash floods

3 June 2024Peace and Security A staggering one million people have now fled Rafah in southern Gaza, the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Monday, amid fresh reports of overnight attacks in southern, central and northern locations by Israeli forces. The city of Rafah on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt had been home… Continue reading Gaza: conditions ‘unspeakable’ as one million people flee Rafah: UNRWA

Only three field hospitals are operating in Rafah in southern Gaza, one of which is only functioning partially, and all of these facilities are overwhelmed and undersupplied, OCHA said, with the seven-month-long war severely impacting civilians and the infrastructure they depend on for healthcare. The UN humanitarian aid agency said the Malnutrition Stabilisation Centre in… Continue reading World News in Brief: Updates on worsening crises in Gaza, South Sudan, DR Congo

31 May 2024Human Rights The UN’s top human rights official on Friday voiced serious concern over the dramatic deterioration of the situation in Burkina Faso, where almost 1,800 people are reported to have been unlawfully killed between November last year and April. Allegations of responsibility point to both armed groups and State actors. “While armed… Continue reading UN human rights chief sounds alarm over rising violence in Burkina Faso

At 10:45 PM local time on 27 May, the DPRK, also known as North Korea, conducted what it described as “the launch of reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1-1 aboard the new-type satellite carrier rocket” from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station. According to the DPRK, the launch failed “due to the air blast of the new-type satellite carrier… Continue reading UN official urges DPR Korea to halt missile activities and return to dialogue

31 May 2024Peace and Security Far too little aid is reaching people in Gaza to the extent that children are now starving, UN humanitarians said on Friday, in a renewed appeal to Israel to respect international law regarding the safe passage of lifesaving relief in the war-shattered enclave. The alert from the World Health Organization… Continue reading Gaza: Children are starving amid persistent aid access obstacles, warn UN agencies

In a bleak assessment of the dire situation in Sudan where conflict is in its second year, the heads of 19 global humanitarian organizations issued an alert that further obstacles to providing aid “rapidly and at scale” will mean that “more people will die”.   UN aid coordination office OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters in… Continue reading Sudan: as millions face famine, humanitarians plead for aid access

Filippo Grandi said the number currently stands at 114 million. “Next month we will update this figure. It will be higher,” he added. Mr. Grandi recalled his last briefing to ambassadors seven months ago, when he shared his views on several crises around the globe. Non-compliance with international law He said the situation has not… Continue reading UN refugee chief urges Security Council to ‘step up’ for millions displaced by war

Speaking at the closing of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island States (SIDS4), Amina Mohammed stressed that despite increasingly existential threats to SIDS, “we do have reasons for hope and optimism”. More than 20 world leaders and senior ministers from over 100 nations joined close to 4,000 other participants on the lush campus of… Continue reading SIDS go forward with ‘new sense of hope, solidarity and determination’

Mr. Guterres began the day by laying a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial Site on the grounds of UN Headquarters in New York in honour of the more than 4,300 “Blue Helmets” who lost their lives over the Organization’s nearly 80-year history.  Later, at a ceremony in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, he called for a… Continue reading Guterres honours service and sacrifice of UN peacekeepers

Martin Griffiths, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis, noting that 16.7 million people now require humanitarian assistance – the highest number since the conflict began 13 years ago.   He stressed that the situation is deteriorating year by year, with a particular emphasis on the ongoing protection crisis, as children continue… Continue reading Top UN officials urge comprehensive approach to Syria’s protracted crisis

The UN agency facilitates experts from China who share their knowledge and skills with farmers in the West African nation through a collaborative process known as South-South cooperation.*  Cabo Verde consists of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, nine of which are inhabited.  Although the country’s name means “Green Cape” in Portuguese, it… Continue reading Cabo Verde beats back climate change through South-South cooperation

Global perspective Human stories Children walking to their shelter at an IDP camp near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, Sudan (file). 30 May 2024Humanitarian Aid  The top UN aid official in Sudan warned on Thursday that “the noose of war is tightening its stranglehold” on civilians in El Fasher, expressing her profound distress… Continue reading Sudan: ‘Noose of war’ tightens on civilians in El Fasher, UN official warns

“Humanitarian facilities in Rafah are forced to close one after another…The flow of humanitarian aid supplies into Gaza, already insufficient to meet the soaring needs, has dropped by 67 per cent since 7 May,” reported the UN aid coordination office, OCHA. Until Israeli troops seized and closed the Rafah border crossing in the very south… Continue reading Amid ongoing Israeli incursions into Gaza, aid facilities shut ‘one after another’

Some missions were accomplished. Others continue today. Since the Organization’s inception at the end of the Second World War, UN Member States have scrambled to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” by deploying their collective efforts to prevent the kind of utter devastation that global conflict brought to Europe, Africa, Asia and beyond,… Continue reading Stories from the UN Archive: Keeping the peace over decades

29 May 2024Peace and Security Violence against children in the central Sahel region of Africa surged dramatically in the last quarter of 2023, skyrocketing by 70 per cent over the previous three months, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Wednesday. The agency revealed that in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, cases of recruitment and… Continue reading UNICEF reports surge in violence against children in Africa’s central Sahel

That was the strong message from President of the Western Pacific nation of Palau Surangel Whipps speaking at an Interactive Dialogue on Wednesday during the Fourth International Conference on SIDS (SIDS4), taking place this week on the twin island of Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean. He told delegates there needed to be a “transition… Continue reading More climate funding needed to ‘transition from rhetoric to decisive action’

“We have distributed an enormous amount of essential medical supplies, but it’s not enough. I mean, this is such an overwhelming disaster, it’s not enough,” said Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Palestine. Speaking in Geneva on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, the senior WHO official echoed widespread… Continue reading Gaza medics struggling in face of ‘overwhelming disaster’ as vital supplies run low: WHO

In a briefing to the Security Council, Tor Wennesland emphasised the urgent need for all sides to change course. “We must reach an agreement to release the hostages and put in place an immediate ceasefire. There is absolutely no time to lose,” he said, stressing that halting the fighting is essential for a comprehensive humanitarian… Continue reading Gaza: UN Middle East envoy reiterates call for ceasefire, hostage release agreement

Their tireless efforts span from monitoring ceasefire agreements to protecting civilians, rebuilding key infrastructure and facilitating elections to help countries and communities transition from war to peace. Peacekeepers can be soldiers, police officers, engineers, doctors, veterinarians, human rights officers, justice and corrections officers, radio producers, environmental scientists and surveillance experts. When we think about keeping… Continue reading Explainer: Five Tools for Keeping Peace

Addressing ambassadors at the Council’s open debate on the role of women and youth, UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo highlighted the significant challenges and impacts faced by women. “Women bear the brunt of the global rollback of human rights,” she stated. She referenced her recent visit to Afghanistan, where women are systematically denied basic rights, including… Continue reading Gender equality, youth aspirations keys to sustainable peace, Security Council hears

Major Radhika Sen served in eastern DRC with the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion.  She will receive the award from UN Secretary-General António Guterres during a ceremony on Thursday.  A credit to the UN  Mr. Guterres congratulated… Continue reading Indian peacekeeper is UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year

Mr. Guterres repeated his longstanding call for a ceasefire in the embattled enclave and the release of all hostages. “He is heartbroken by the images of the killed and injured, including many small children. As he has said before, the horror and suffering must stop immediately,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement issued… Continue reading Guterres ‘heartbroken’ by images of deadly strikes on Rafah camp

“They do not want to leave their ancestral places, even if they go under,” said Jaap van Hierden. Jaap van Hierden, UN Resident Coordinator in Micronesia. Appointed by the Secretary-General as the first UN Resident Coordinator for the North Pacific, he oversees ongoing development efforts across a remote region with thousands of small islands comprising of… Continue reading UN hub reaches remote Pacific islanders: A UN Resident Coordinator blog

28 May 2024Peace and Security Amid further reported bombardment of Gaza overnight into Tuesday, UN and partner organizations have expressed deep concern over the “inhuman” detention of suspected Palestinian fighters in the enclave by Israeli authorities, alleging treatment so poor that some had to have limbs amputated “due to prolonged shackling”. In a new report on… Continue reading Deep concerns over ‘inhuman’ detention of Gazans by Israeli authorities

27 May 2024Economic Development Good morning from the blue waters and lush green hills of the Caribbean. We’re reporting live from the high level opening of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) on the beautiful twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda.  08:45 AM – It all gets going in a… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Small island States meet in Antigua and Barbuda charting new course to sustainable prosperity

“Information coming out of Rafah about further attacks on families seeking shelter is horrifying,” the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said in a post on X, after reports of an Israeli military strike on a tented camp in Tal as-Sultan in northwest Rafah, along with other shelters to the north in Jabalia, Nuseirat and… Continue reading Gaza: Mass casualties reported in Israeli attack on camp for displaced

The SIDS Global Children and Youth Action Summit taking place this weekend on the University of the West Indies campus of the beautiful island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, which is hosting SIDS4, bonded together 80 or so young people from all three official SIDS regions – the Caribbean, Pacific and AIS (Indian Ocean and South… Continue reading In Antigua, island youth build ‘wall of commitment’ to turn tide against climate crisis

25 May 2024Peace and Security An attack by Russian armed forces on a busy shopping centre in Kharkiv on Saturday reportedly killed at least four people and injured around 40. Denise Brown, the UN Humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, strongly condemned the strike and called for civilians to be protected. “I am appalled and shocked by… Continue reading Russian attack on Kharkiv shopping centre ‘utterly unacceptable’, says senior UN official

Adopting resolution 2730 (2024) with 14 votes in favour and one abstention (Russia), the Security Council also denounced disinformation, information manipulation and incitement to violence against humanitarian and UN personnel. Led by Switzerland and co-sponsored by over 90 nations, the resolution noted “deep concern” about the particular vulnerability of national and locally recruited personnel who… Continue reading Security Council denounces attacks against aid workers, UN personnel

The fighting has reportedly forced thousands of people to flee since 10 May and caused hundreds of civilian casualties, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York. “Unfortunately, in El Fasher South Hospital – which is the only functioning hospital in that state – only 10 days of supplies are left, with an urgent… Continue reading Sudan: Deteriorating situation in El Fasher, health system collapsing nationwide

Fierce battles have intensified between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group, displacing tens of thousands of people in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships in recent days. An estimated 45,000 Rohingya have reportedly fled to an area on the Naf River near the border with Bangladesh, seeking protection. Over one million Rohingya… Continue reading Myanmar: UN rights office warns of growing crisis in Rakhine state

Typically, an average year sees 14 named storms with wind speeds exceeding 65 kilometres (40 miles) per hour. However, this year, 17 to 25 storms are expected, with four to seven of them potentially becoming major hurricanes, characterized by winds of at least 178 kilometres (111 miles) per hour. However, this year, 17 to 25… Continue reading WMO warns of up to seven major hurricanes in North Atlantic in 2024

This follows a request from South Africa in a pending case accusing Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention. Reading the new provisional measures in an open session at the court in The Hague, ICJ Justice Nawaf Salam announced that Israel must abide by its obligations under the Genocide Convention to “immediately halt… Continue reading Gaza: World court orders Israel to halt military operations in Rafah

The UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA) is continuing to provide healthcare as best it can but overcrowded shelters and limited sanitation services, coupled with forced displacement, are posing severe health risks, the agency said in a post on X. Furthermore, safe water is unaffordable for many, and people are resorting to burning trash to… Continue reading Increasing disease and humanitarian strain in Gaza amid aid shortages

Denise Brown said civilian lives must be protected during conflict by all sides, but in Kharkiv in recent days, they have instead been targeted in their homes, with businesses and transport links damaged and attacked. “My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones due to the strikes,” she said, adding that… Continue reading World News in Brief: ‘Appalling’ attacks in Kharkiv, plea to aid Myanmar civilians, maritime tribunal boosts climate action, civilian protection

“Now is the time to unleash Africa’s peace power,” he said, opening a debate on its critical role in addressing global security and development challenges, convened by Mozambique, the Council president for May.  Calling Africa “an important voice for the global good”, he cited examples of how the continent has shown “unity and solidarity in… Continue reading ‘Now is the time to unleash Africa’s peace power’ Guterres tells Security Council

The Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) will bring together governments, the UN, civil society, the private sector and leading youth voices to turn new ideas into action, raise new pledges of support and discuss the key challenges that lie ahead for the vulnerable group of nations. Living on the edge There… Continue reading ‘All hands on deck’ in Antigua and Barbuda as small island States chart course to resilient prosperity

The Russian-led draft resolution failed, as it did not secure sufficient votes in favour among the 15 council members. Seven nations supported it (Algeria, Ecuador, China, Guyana, Mozambique, Russia, and Sierra Leone), while seven voted against (France, Japan, Malta, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States). Switzerland abstained. For a resolution… Continue reading Second draft resolution on weapons-free outer space fails in Security Council

22 May 2024Humanitarian Aid Droughts and floods in southern Africa stemming from El Niño have left millions of people food insecure, warns World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain during a recent visit to Zambia – the epicentre of the crisis. The droughts have destroyed harvests in areas where 70 per cent of the… Continue reading Droughts and floods threaten ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ across southern Africa

The appeal on the International Day for Biological Diversity urges governments to fully implement a landmark agreement to halt and reverse nature loss by mid-century, adopted by 196 Member States in 2022.  Safeguarding nature The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to restore ecosystems while creating jobs, building resilience, and spurring sustainable development.   Named for the… Continue reading ‘Be part of the plan’ to end nature loss on Biodiversity Day

Haiti’s health system is now “on the verge of collapse” UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Haiti Bruno Maes warned on Wednesday, amidst an alarming decrease in the number of hospitals still functioning in the violence-wracked Caribbean nation.

In a post on X, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) confirmed that food distribution had been suspended because of a lack of supplies and ongoing hostilities that have made it too dangerous for aid teams to work. “The situation in Rafah has been significantly deteriorating since the initial evacuation orders were issued there on 6… Continue reading Gaza: Rafah aid situation increasingly desperate, UN teams warn

The issue is in the spotlight ahead of the International Day for Biological Diversity, observed annually on 22 May, and covered in the most recent edition of UNU’s Interconnected Disaster Risks report. Among the animals at risk is the gopher tortoise, one of the oldest living species on the planet. This tragic story of biodiversity loss is unfolding at… Continue reading Accelerating extinction rate triggers domino effect of biodiversity loss

The United Nations alone documented over 33,000 civilian deaths in armed conflicts in 2023 – a horrific 72 per cent increase compared to the previous year – Joyce Msuya, UN Deputy Relief Coordinator, told ambassadors at the Security Council. With the actual figures “likely higher”, the harm and suffering caused to civilians in 2023 “signals… Continue reading ‘Alarming lack of compliance’ with international law ramps up danger for civilians

“Medical staff inside the hospital reported an attack on 20 May, with snipers aiming at the building and an artillery rocket hitting the fifth floor,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X. Some 148 staff and 22 patients and their companions have remained “trapped inside” the hospital since Sunday, the WHO Director-General added, before issuing an… Continue reading Gaza: WHO chief calls for end to latest hospital siege

The lead author of the World Economic Situations and Prospects mid-year update, the flagship report from DESA released on 16 May, outlines the main findings in an interview with UN News. Hamid Rashid Inflation has come down significantly from the 2022 peak, but not to the extent that central banks can say that they have won the… Continue reading INTERVIEW: Developing countries risk missing out on net-zero benefits, but fairer future is possible

Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, underscored the need for continuing the vital discussions, which have been supported by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. “If talks do not resume, I fear for the worst for the beleaguered and terrified civilians in Rafah, for the hostages held in unimaginable conditions… Continue reading With Gaza on the brink, hostage talks must resume, Security Council hears

“Our team on the ground is deeply alarmed by the latest reports of further escalating violence and destruction taking place in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing reporters at UN Headquarters on Monday. Renewed violence and the destruction of property in Buthidaung has resulted in the displacement of potentially tens of thousands… Continue reading World News in Brief: Myanmar violence intensifies, praise for Brazil refugee response, Baháí detainees in Yemen

In a statement, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Hamas’s Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Deif) and Ismail Haniyeh “bear criminal responsibility” for murder, extermination and taking hostages – among numerous other crimes – since the Gaza conflict erupted in the wake of Hamas-led attacks in southern… Continue reading World court issues arrest warrants for Hamas leaders and Israel’s Netanyahu

Media reports suggest that infrastructure for the mission is being put in place as supplies arrive by air into the capital, Port-au-Prince. Here’s what you need to know about what happens next: Why is an international security mission necessary? Haiti is wracked by violence that has escalated to unprecedented levels. In an address to the… Continue reading Haiti: Multinational mission and the “inexorable requirement to restore security conditions”

Lives are at risk, and “the cost of inaction is simply too high”,  Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said in a statement on Saturday after concluding a five-day visit to Syria. She expressed grave concern over the complexities and challenges facing the population and humanitarian operations on the ground. “The… Continue reading Syria: WHO Regional Director calls for greater investment in health sector

“Once again, nearly half of the population of Rafah or 800,000 people are on the road,” Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini wrote in post on the social media platform X. formerly Twitter. He said that following evacuation orders demanding people to flee to so-called safe zones, people mainly went to the middle areas in Gaza and Khan… Continue reading Gaza: Nearly 800,000 now displaced from Rafah

“Stronger legislation can help deter potential and repeat offenders and expand the range of investigative tools and resources for law enforcement to stop crimes that affect the environment,” said Angela Me, Chief of Research and Analysis at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), presenting the report. Launched in Vienna, ‘The Landscape of Criminalization’… Continue reading Crimes against nature: UN agency puts environmental legislation under scrutiny

17 May 2024Peace and Security The UN’s top human rights official has personally intervened to try to stop spiralling violence in Sudan that’s having a terrifying impact on millions of civilians, who humanitarians say are “staring famine in the face”. According to the UN human rights office, OHCHR, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, held… Continue reading UN’s rights chief says horrified by Sudan escalation as famine draws nearer

The crisis began when Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal Company in July 1956, and France and the United Kingdom protested. By October of that year, Israeli forces launched an attack on Egypt and occupied Sinai, with British and French troops landing soon after in the Suez Canal Zone. The UN was unable to resolve the… Continue reading Stories from the UN Archive: UN’s first peacekeeping force

Dr. Adnan Al Bursh, 50, the head of the orthopaedic department at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, died on April 19, 2024, in Ofer prison, a detention facility in the West Bank. His body has not yet been released by Israeli authorities. Before his death, he had reportedly been beaten in prison, with his body… Continue reading Rights expert condemns death of Palestinian doctor in Israeli custody, urges independent inquiry

Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert, also the head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), cited notable advancements in infrastructure, economic reforms, and regional influence, signalling an Iraq on the rise.   “[Today] Iraq looks different to the country to which UNAMI was first deployed some 20 years ago. Indeed, it looks different to the country I… Continue reading UN envoy outlines Iraq’s growth and ongoing struggles

Linked to South Africa’s ongoing case charging Israel with violating the Genocide Convention, the new request, filed on 10 May, asked the ICJ’s 15 judges to order Israel to “immediately withdraw and seize its military operations in the Rafah governate” and open up the enclave to international aid workers and journalists. South Africa delivered its arguments… Continue reading Gaza: World court opens hearings on request to halt Israel’s Rafah incursion

“The safety of civilians, homes, schools and hospitals must be ensured. They are not a target,” Denise Brown said in a statement, underscoring that international humanitarian law must be respected.  Ms. Brown said these latest attacks came a day after she returned from the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine, which has come under relentless shelling… Continue reading World News in Brief: More Ukraine attacks, rights appeal for jailed Nigerian singer, International Day against Homophobia

16 May 2024Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres repeated his longstanding call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages held in the enclave, and unimpeded access for aid delivery, in remarks to the Summit of the League of Arab States in Bahrain on Thursday.  “The war in Gaza is an… Continue reading At Arab League Summit, Guterres appeals for Gaza ceasefire and regional unity

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, warned that “time is running out” as famine, disease and fighting close in on the population “and there’s no end in sight”.  “The international community cannot stand by as this crisis spirals out of control, as the noose of this conflict tightens its stranglehold on the… Continue reading ‘Time is running out’ to address crisis in Sudan

More than seven months into the war, babies are still being born too small, warned the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. “Habiba was born in a small tent. She’s two weeks old and weighs less than two kilogrammes,” the UN agency said in a post on X, adding that more than 150,000 pregnant and breastfeeding… Continue reading Gaza: Underweight babies, heavy fighting and a hospital reopening

Lisa Doughten, OCHA’s director of financing and partnerships, said relentless hostilities continue along the border with Russia and on the frontline.  Following several waves of attacks, Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, was struck again that day, injuring 15 civilians, she reported.  Thousands evacuated  “These attacks have triggered yet more displacement from border and frontline communities.… Continue reading Security Council hears of relentless attacks against civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine

14 May 2024Peace and Security The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced at the UN Security Council on Tuesday that the investigative stage of the legal proceedings into alleged war crimes in Libya is expected to conclude by the end of 2025, transitioning into the judicial stage. That “roadmap”, Prosecutor Karim Khan explained,… Continue reading ICC Prosecutor outlines roadmap to complete Libya war crimes probe

This time it was an “arson attempt by Israeli children and young people on UNRWA”, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a social media post on Tuesday. “This has got to stop,” he said. Last Thursday evening, Mr. Lazzarini said Israeli residents had set fire twice to the perimeter of the UNRWA headquarters when staff from several… Continue reading World News in Brief: Arson at UNRWA’s East Jerusalem office, UN probe on staff member’s death in Gaza, food insecurity in South Sudan

The oil-rich nation has grappled with multiple challenges since the overthrow of President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The postponement of national elections, originally planned for December 2021, has further deepened the crisis. Last November, UN Special Representative Abdoulaye Bathily invited leaders of Libya’s five key institutions – the Government of National Unity, the House of… Continue reading UN envoy decries continued political stalemate in Libya

14 May 2024Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guteres is appalled by the escalation of Israeli military activity in and around Rafah in southern Gaza, his spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.  “These developments are further impeding humanitarian access and worsening an already dire situation. At the same time, Hamas goes on firing rockets… Continue reading Guterres deplores Rafah escalation

“Empty streets in Rafah as families continue to flee in search of safety… UNRWA estimates that nearly 450,000 people have been forcibly displaced from Rafah since 6 May,” said the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, in a post from western Rafah on X. “Inland in Rafah is now a ghost town. It’s hard to believe there… Continue reading 450,000 Gazans now uprooted from Rafah as Israeli bombardment continues

Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is gripped by insecurity due to gang violence and now UNHAS, which is managed by the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) is the only option for humanitarian workers to travel safely in and out of the city and for critical equipment and relief aid to be transported and distributed within the country.… Continue reading Dealing with ‘unknowns’ flying in high-conflict Haiti

13 May 2024Peace and Security A staff member of the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) died and another was injured when their UN vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital in Rafah, Gaza, on Monday. Condemning all attacks on UN personnel, Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a full investigation,… Continue reading UN security staff killed in Gaza; Guterres calls for probe

Martin Griffiths, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, stressed the critical need for sustained peace efforts during a briefing to Security Council ambassadors. “The conflict in Yemen has been the key driver of humanitarian needs. It has deeply undercut the country’s economy, decimated half of its health facilities, displaced millions of people, and allowed hunger and disease… Continue reading Calls for sustained peace efforts in Yemen as cholera outbreak worsens

13 May 2024Peace and Security Nearly 2,000 children in Ukraine have lost their lives amidst ongoing and escalating war,  the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday, citing UN-verified data.  UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office and its Regional Director, Regina De Dominicis, released a joint statement saying, “At least 1,993 children in Ukraine… Continue reading Nearly 2,000 children killed in Ukraine war: UNICEF

“Nearly 360,000 people have fled Rafah since the first evacuation order a week ago,” the UN agency said in a post on X, referencing leafleting by the Israeli military ordering those in eastern Rafah to leave their shelters.  In another alert, UNRWA warned of ongoing “restricted humanitarian access” to and across the Gaza Strip that was… Continue reading Rafah exodus reaches 360,000 as UN issues $2.8 billion aid appeal for Gaza, West Bank

Despite two decades of worldwide efforts, more than 4,000 precious wildlife species still fall prey to trafficking every year, a new report by the UN crime and drugs prevention office, UNODC, showed on Monday. 

According to UN emergency relief chief Martin Griffiths, a “strike” damaged the roof of the intensive care unit at Southern Hospital in El Fasher Town – the only working hospital in North Darfur state – where medical supplies are running dangerously low. Some 800,000 people live in and around El Fasher Town where “countless lives… Continue reading Countless lives at stake in Sudan’s El Fasher, warn UN aid teams

The warning comes as the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, reported that over the past week that nearly 300,000 people have now fled Rafah following the Israeli military’s orders for further evacuations from area. “There is nowhere safe to go,” the agency warned in a message on X. Catastrophic consequences In a telephone conversation on… Continue reading Gaza: We must prevent a large-scale offensive in Rafah, UN pleads

For roughly two months, demonstrations have been held outside the East Jerusalem compound, which is in an area where many Israeli settlements are located. The situation came to a head on Thursday evening when Israeli residents lit fires at two locations on the perimeter of the grounds. Mr. Fowler was among the small number of… Continue reading UNRWA staff ‘not going anywhere’ despite forced closure of East Jerusalem compound

10 May 2024Peace and Security With the situation in Rafah “on a knife’s edge”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed again on Friday for Israeli and Hamas leaders “to demonstrate political courage and spare no effort” in reaching an agreement to end the war in Gaza and free all hostages.  Speaking at a press conference in… Continue reading In Nairobi, Guterres reiterates appeal for end to Gaza war

09:55 AM Aid operations have come to a standstill since the start of the military’s ground operation in Rafah, with an estimated 100,000 Palestinians displaced once again, in a highly fluid situation, according to humanitarians. The Assembly is also expected to vote on a draft resolution, co-sponsored by a group of countries, concerning the status… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: General Assembly to hold emergency session on Israel-Palestine crisis

“As Israeli Forces bombardment intensifies in Rafah, forced displacement continues,” said the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in a post on X. “Around 110,000 people have now fled Rafah looking for safety. But nowhere is safe in the Gaza Strip and living conditions are atrocious. The only hope is an immediate ceasefire.” Uprooted again… Continue reading Gaza: As exodus from Rafah continues, ceasefire calls grow

9 May 2024UN Affairs The head of the UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) has temporarily closed its headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem after an arson attack on Thursday following weeks of protests.  Posting on social media, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said “Israeli residents set fire twice to the perimeter” on Thursday evening.  UNRWA personnel and staff from other UN… Continue reading ‘Outrageous’ arson attack forces UNRWA to temporarily shutter East Jerusalem compound

Most of those uprooted by Israeli military evacuation orders in eastern Rafah have already been displaced from other areas of Gaza; they are now leaving with everything they can carry “in vehicles, trucks, (on) motorbikes and donkey carts”, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). An estimated more than 47,500 people left their… Continue reading Gaza: 80,000 displaced from Rafah as Israeli bombardment intensifies, say UN aid teams

8 May 2024Climate and Environment “Unprecedented and devastating” flooding in East Africa has triggered widespread displacement with hundreds of thousands forced from their homes in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia and Tanzania, UN humanitarians warned on Wednesday.  In an alert, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) noted that torrential rains have unleashed catastrophic flooding and mudslides while… Continue reading Unprecedented flooding displaces hundreds of thousands across East Africa

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) attributed the temperatures to a “double whammy” of El Niño and long-term climate change, leading to droughts and wildfires combined with extreme rainfall and hurricanes.  “Unfortunately, 2023 was a year of record climatic hazards in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said the agency’s head, Celeste Saulo. “El Niño conditions during… Continue reading Another climate record: Extreme heat, hurricanes, droughts ravage Latin America and Caribbean

The UNFF serves as a body under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and aims to support the goals of the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF) and to advance other international forest-related instruments, processes, commitments and objectives.  At the forum’s opening ceremony, Juliette Biao, Director of the UNFF Secretariat, said the world currently faces… Continue reading Achieving sustainable forest management remains UN forum’s goal

Small island developing States are particularly vulnerable to climate change consequences, such as rising sea levels and heavy rains that cause flooding, increasing ocean temperatures that affect coral reefs and fishing and frequent hurricanes destroying homes and livelihoods. These countries often suffer from fragile economic conditions and don’t have the means to help their citizens… Continue reading ‘Our voices need to be included’: Trinidadian youth make case for strong role in climate negotiations

It’s called geothermal energy, and it’s an exciting prospect for the country. Geothermal has none of the intermittency issues of wind and solar – in other words, it provides stable energy day and night – and doesn’t take up any surface real estate, keeping the Roseau Valley in its pristine state. Most SIDS are dependent… Continue reading Could the answer to 100% renewable energy in Dominica be under the ground?

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) called for greater international support for the Congolese people to avoid a potential catastrophe for the country and the region. Current conflicts have escalated levels of gender-based violence, displacement and hunger in the restive eastern region where multiple armed groups are battling the national army and each other for control.… Continue reading World News in Brief: DR Congo conflict could spell catastrophe, plastics treaty progress, enforced disappearances rise ahead of Venezuela poll

The current El Niño event began in mid- to late 2023, causing the ocean’s temperature to rise, and its impact has already decimated farming in southern Africa, triggering crop shortfalls and rising commodity prices. At the same time, flooding in Kenya has affected 200,000 people and killed more than 100 people. Around 40 to 50… Continue reading UN officials urge swift action to tackle El Niño-induced extreme weather

26 April 2024Climate and Environment The UN Secretary-General on Friday launched an initiative focusing on ensuring fairness, sustainability and respect for human rights throughout the entire process of sourcing and using critical minerals needed for the clean energy transition. The newly established Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals brings together a diverse group of governments,… Continue reading Climate action ‘cannot trample over the poor’, says Guterres, launching new initiative to protect key minerals for clean energy transition

That’s when environmental protection was not yet a priority of national political agendas, but a growing movement took hold across the planet. In 1971, UN Secretary-General U Thant held a special ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York, proclaiming 22 April the world’s first Earth Day. A team prepares posters and signs to be used… Continue reading Stories from the UN Archive: UN proclaims world’s first Earth Day

The Maraval river winds its way through Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad & Tobago, reaching the sea at Invaders Bay, the evocative name of the site where British troops landed in the late Eighteenth Century.  Today, the area is heavily built up, and construction has begun on a large-scale project that is expected… Continue reading Polluting rivers, beaches and the ocean: How can Trinidad solve its plastics problem?

Following close on the heels of the study of climate change in Europe, published by WMO on Monday, the State of the Climate in Asia 2023 report highlighted the accelerating rate of climate change across several indicators such as surface temperature, glacier retreat, sea level rise and more.  “The report’s conclusions are sobering. Many countries in the… Continue reading WMO report: Asia hit hardest by climate change and extreme weather

The Climate Promise 2025 aims to accelerate efforts from local to international levels to take more ambitious steps to ensure the global temperature does not heat up beyond the 1.5° limit, a goal set with the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the initiative, driven by the UN Development Programme (UNDP),… Continue reading UN chief calls for all hands on deck at Climate Promise 2025 launch

Climate change shocks caused record levels of disruption and misery for millions in Europe in 2023 with widespread flooding and severe heatwaves – a new normal which countries must adapt to as a priority, the UN weather agency said on Monday. 

Renewable energy is generally defined as any energy source that is continuously replenished. It includes solar and wind power as well as bioenergy (organic matter burned as fuel) and hydroelectric power.  IRENA* chief Francesco La Camera spoke to UN News ahead of a special meeting on Friday on transitioning to sustainable sources of energy which… Continue reading Renewable energy transforming the landscape

Dominica, which lies in the eastern Caribbean, is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events, which are being exacerbated by the climate crisis: Hurricane Maria in 2017 was a devastating example, damaging almost all homes and buildings, destroying around three-quarters of the fishing fleet and crippling the economy. The indigenous Kalinago people were particularly affected but,… Continue reading Indigenous Kalinago lead the way towards making Dominica ‘climate resilient’

The large Indian Ocean island is amongst the poorest in Africa where the majority of people make their living off the land or sea. Like many other countries in the region, it is suffering the effects of climate change. UN News’s Daniel Dickinson travelled to the village of Mokala in Anosy region where he spoke… Continue reading Fishers in Madagascar adapt to deadly seas due to climate change

8 May 2024Peace and Security Israeli military manoeuvres and shelling continued in and around eastern Rafah in southern Gaza on Wednesday morning as UN humanitarians stressed that “no fuel or aid” is getting into the enclave. “We’re not receiving any aid, the crossing area has ongoing military operations and is an active war zone,” said… Continue reading No aid getting into Gaza, says UN aid agency

Stranded, their homes demolished, loved ones killed and repeatedly displaced on their land, they had sought refuge in Rafah in the far southern reaches of the Strip to escape death and destruction and to find a safe place that does not exist. They are now heading along the coastal road again to an unknown fate… Continue reading Journey into the unknown: Thousands of Gazan families flee Rafah

In its latest warning to the Israeli authorities not to pursue mass evacuation orders from eastern Rafah, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, insisted that a mass evacuation on such a scale would be “impossible to carry out safely”. “There are nine sites sheltering displaced people in the area. It is also home to three clinics… Continue reading Uncertainty in Gaza amplified by closure of key border crossings

7 May 2024Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Tuesday reiterated his appeal to Israel to stop any escalation in Gaza, amid reports that its forces have taken over key border crossings in Rafah. In the far south of the Gaza Strip, bordering Egypt, the town of Rafah has been hosting hundreds of thousands of… Continue reading Guterres urges Israel, Hamas ‘to show political courage’ and secure ceasefire

7 May 2024Peace and Security The UN’s second Trailblazer award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers has gone to Major Ahlem Douzi, an officer with the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). First awarded in 2022, it acknowledges the exceptional contributions made by women justice and corrections officers serving from… Continue reading Justice officer from DR Congo mission wins UN Trailblazer award

Despite these challenges, the UN remains prepared to support both parties, in close collaboration with the African Union, once they resume political negotiation said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefing ambassadors at the Security Council. Intercommunal tensions The situation in Sudan has also exacerbated intercommunal tensions in Abyei, highlighted by recent clashes over cattle rustling that resulted in… Continue reading Ongoing war in Sudan stalls progress in disputed Abyei region

6 May 2024Humanitarian Aid Donors must continue to support humanitarian efforts to assist millions in need in Yemen, UN agencies and dozens of other aid partners said on Monday.  Nine years of war have left over half the population – 18.2 million people, mainly women and children – in need of assistance and protection services.… Continue reading UN and partners issue urgent funding appeal for Yemen

Briefing reporters late last month, UN Mine Action Service officers said the war has already left behind around 37 million tonnes of debris, and it could take 14 years to make Gaza safe from unexploded bombs. The development comes amid reports that at least two individuals suffered serious injuries in Gaza after opening tin cans… Continue reading Unexploded ordnance leaves dark legacy for Gaza, warn mine action experts

The experts detailed the far-reaching impacts of the violence and lawlessness that has led to chaos across the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other areas under gang control this year. “The outbreak of violence in Haiti has resulted in loss of livelihoods and food insecurity, widespread and multiple displacement, the collapse of education, breakdown of healthcare and… Continue reading World News in Brief: Human rights in Haiti, 750,000 hit by East Africa floods, Namibia health milestone

Multiple news outlets have reported that Hamas’s supreme leader, Ismail Haniyeh, had confirmed the militant group’s acceptance of what it stated were Israel’s ceasefire terms in a phone call with Qatar’s Prime Minister and a senior Egyptian minister. The two countries have been leading negotiations between the warring parties.  However, the Israeli leadership has reportedly… Continue reading UN pledges to stand with Gazans in Rafah; Guterres says ceasefire opportunity ‘cannot be missed’

Due to the negative Russian vote, the Security Council failed to adopt last month’s text, which received 13 votes in favour, with China abstaining. The draft resolution was introduced by United States and Japan and co-sponsored by over 60 nations. Assembly Vice-President Ahmad Faisal Muhamad opened the debate by reading a message from Dennis Francis,… Continue reading General Assembly debates Russia’s veto of space arms race resolution

The Caribbean island nation continues to endure extreme insecurity, with widespread and incessant violence as rival gangs fight each other and the police for control of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The violence, which includes kidnapping for ransom, is playing out against a backdrop of political and economic crises as well as poverty and underdevelopment. Chantale Valcourt… Continue reading ‘Moral obligation’ of Haitian NGO worker to carry on despite kidnapping of two children

“Any ground operation would mean more suffering and death” for the 1.2 million displaced Palestinians sheltering in and around the Strip’s southernmost city, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told journalists in Geneva. Echoing those concerns, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said that “Band-Aid” contingency plans have been made in case a full-scale military incursion does… Continue reading Targeting Rafah could lead to slaughter, warns UN aid agency

Since fighting erupted last April between rival militaries, Sudan has witnessed shocking levels of violence, plunging the country into a devastating humanitarian and protection crisis. Close to 25 million people – more than half the population – are estimated to need assistance, with approximately 17.7 million people facing “acute” levels of food insecurity. The crisis,… Continue reading UN agencies warn of imminent starvation risk in Sudan’s Darfur region

The camps were in the neighbourhoods of Lac Vert and Mugunga, near Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, which has seen a sharp uptick in violence over the past few months.  UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists at UN Headquarters in New York that the situation around Goma continues to remain very tense,… Continue reading World News in Brief: Attacks on civilians in DR Congo, concern over conviction of trade union leader in Cambodia, gang violence in Haiti

“It could take up to three years to retrieve the bodies using the primitive tools they have on hand,” the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said, amid rising temperatures that will accelerate the decomposition of bodies, potentially increasing the threat of disease spreading. Citing the Palestinian civil defence authority, OCHA said that the recovery of… Continue reading 10,000 people feared buried under the rubble in Gaza

2 May 2024Peace and Security The relentless Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip has set back Palestine’s overall socioeconomic development by more than 20 years, according to a new UN report released on Thursday. The joint study by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) revealed that… Continue reading Palestine’s economy in ruins as Gaza war sets development back two decades

The top award for reporters who have born witness to the destruction of much of their homeland under Israel’s relentless bombardment came at the recommendation of an international jury of media professionals. “In these times of darkness and hopelessness, we wish to share a strong message of solidarity and recognition to those Palestinian journalists who… Continue reading World News in Brief: Palestinian journalists win top press freedom prize, child migrant detention, Niger meningitis epidemic

“One third of all the families who live here have children under five, so many babies, so many kids,” said Matthew Hollingworth, UN World Food Programme (WFP) Palestine Country Director, speaking from a school in Deir Al-Balah, run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. “What they need is school, though what they need… Continue reading Gazans on tenterhooks awaiting news of ceasefire call

1 May 2024UN Affairs Palestine’s recent attempt to become a full member of the United Nations was the focus of discussion in the General Assembly on Wednesday.  A 2022 initiative, resolution 262, calls for the UN’s most representative body to meet within 10 days if the veto is used in the Security Council by one… Continue reading Palestine: General Assembly discusses failed UN membership bid

In a call for an immediate end to the war in Gaza which sparked intensifying exchanges of fire between armed militants Hezbollah and the Israeli military, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that airstrikes are hitting “deeper and deeper” into Lebanon, with 344 people killed to date, including eight youngsters. “Together with those killed and… Continue reading Gaza war spillover compounds misery for most vulnerable in Lebanon

“There is an extraordinary, deep anxiety prevailing right now in Gaza because the question everybody asks is whether, yes or no, there would be a military offensive,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told journalists in Geneva. Following several reports by the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, of “intensive strikes on Rafah” that caused dozens of fatalities, Mr.… Continue reading ‘Extraordinary, deep anxiety’ in Gaza over feared Rafah attack   

“For the sake of the people of Gaza, for the sake of the hostages and their families in Israel and for the sake of the region and the wider world, I strongly encourage the Government of Israel and the Hamas leadership to reach now an agreement,” he said, speaking to journalists in New York. Mr.… Continue reading Guterres calls on Israel and Hamas to end Gaza war

Miroslav Jenča, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas with the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, provided an update of recent developments since his office’s last Council briefing in July. The country continues to grapple with issues stemming from the brutal war that killed 100,000 people across the… Continue reading Security Council hears of progress in Bosnia despite ‘worrying’ trend of genocide denial

Global perspective Human stories Damage to Ukraine’s power infrastructure has lad to led to disruptions in essential services like electricity, heating, and water supplies (file). 29 April 2024Human Rights An increase in civilian casualties caused by intensifying attacks from the Russian armed forces against Ukraine’s electric power infrastructure and railway system calls for concern, the… Continue reading Ukraine: Civilians killed and injured as attacks on power and rail systems intensify

29 April 2024Peace and Security The UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, reached one of its now-abandoned schools in Khan Younis at the weekend, where thousands of people appeared to have left at a moment’s notice, fearing further intense Israeli bombardment. “They used to shelter inside the school yard here, inside the classrooms, using all… Continue reading Children’s shoes left behind illustrate chaos of fleeing Khan Younis: UN humanitarians

“This is the most dangerous period; once people start returning to the north, that’s when most accidents will occur because they won’t be familiar with where your unexploded ordnance is located,” said Mungo Birch, Chief of the UN Mine Action Programme (UNMAS) in the State of Palestine. “It’s important that once the returns start, we’re… Continue reading Gaza at ‘most dangerous’ stage amid huge unexploded weapons risk, warns demining expert

In the past month, WFP supported more than 300,000 people there with food, including 40,000 in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state. “We must be able to reach those who need us most in Sudan,” Executive Director Cindy McCain wrote in a post on social media.  Separately, UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator Martin Griffiths… Continue reading World News in Brief: Violence blocking Darfur aid, new Iraq law, Chad elections appeal

27 April 2024Peace and Security UN Security Council members on Saturday called on the warring parties in Sudan to immediately halt the military build-up and take steps to de-escalate the situation in El Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur. The call comes amid reports of an imminent offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)… Continue reading Sudan: Security Council members call for immediate halt to military escalation in El Fasher

From the room he and his family call home inside the school-turned-shelter, he felt a duty to let the world know what life is really like for them, through daily videos he shares on social media as the ongoing war approaches its eighth month. UN News’s correspondent in Gaza, Ziad Talib, spoke to Mr. Al-Habal… Continue reading Signing the war in Gaza: Overcoming deafness and displacement

Painting a grim landscape of the world’s war zones, Virginia Gamba, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, briefed ambassadors, citing grave concerns, from war-torn Gaza to gang-ravaged Haiti, where famine looms amid rampant violence and displacement. Denying aid access has long-lasting effects on children’s wellbeing and development, she said. Virginia Gamba, Special… Continue reading ‘Shocking’ increase in children denied aid in conflicts

In a statement, Volker Türk urged authorities in Kampala to repeal it in its entirety, together with other discriminatory legislation passed into law by parliamentary majority. “Close to 600 people are reported to have been subjected to human rights violations and abuses based on their actual or imputed sexual orientation or gender identity” since being… Continue reading World News in Brief: Rights chief dismay over Uganda anti-LGBT law, Haiti update, aid for Sudan, executions alert in Egypt

The move will allow for further evaluation of the security issues that impact both personnel on the ground and the people they are trying to serve, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Tuesday during the noon briefing for reporters in New York. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reports that daytime operations are continuing, including… Continue reading Gaza: Aid worker killings prompt temporary halt to UN operations after dark

UNRWA on Tuesday launched a $414.4 million appeal for Palestine refugees in Syria and those who have fled the country for neighbouring Lebanon and Jordan due to the conflict. Continue the support  The funding will be used to keep cash and in-kind food assistance running, along with healthcare, education, and technical and vocational training.  “We… Continue reading $414 million appeal for Palestine refugees in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan

Charles Birch, known as Mungo, was working with his team in Gaza long before the 7 October conflict, clearing unexploded munitions from the occupied territory. He told Conor Lennon from UN News that all of their earlier work has been undone by the bombardments that have rained down on Gaza over the last six months.… Continue reading Millions of dollars needed to make Gaza safe from unexploded bombs

António Guterres was addressing a UN General Assembly meeting on the topic of “human security”, which he described as a useful framework that could promote “bold, decisive, collective action” amid growing turbulence worldwide. He said civilians in Gaza “have no security at all” in the face of relentless Israeli attacks, adding that Israelis themselves “feel… Continue reading World News in Brief: Aid worker deaths ‘inevitable result’ of Gaza war tactics, ‘waste trafficking’ update, Malawi drought

2 April 2024Peace and Security A senior UN official on Tuesday urged the Security Council to work to avert further escalation in the Middle East following the deadly airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria’s capital, Damascus.  Briefing ambassadors a day after the attack, Assistant-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari stressed the need for restraint.   “We appeal to… Continue reading UN calls for restraint following attack on Iranian consulate in Damascus

“The Haitian population cannot wait any longer,” Volker Türk said in a video statement to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, part of an interactive dialogue on his most recent report on the country.  State of emergency  Mr. Türk said the already alarming situation in Haiti has deteriorated in recent week as gangs launched… Continue reading Haitians ‘cannot wait’ for reign of terror by gangs to end: Rights chief

In a stark assessment of the closure of 750-bed facility Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the World Health Organization (WHO) maintained that aid teams had been waiting for “days and days” for Israeli permission to reach the stricken facility, where staff and patients endured “horrific levels of violence”. “We’ve had contact with the staff, the… Continue reading Gaza: UN aid teams still waiting for Israeli green light to relieve stricken northern hospital

30 March 2024Peace and Security The UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced that it is investigating an explosion that injured four unarmed peacekeepers on a foot patrol along the Blue Line, which divides Israel from Lebanon and the disputed Golan Heights. In a statement released on Saturday, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti, said that… Continue reading UN launches investigation into Lebanon explosion that injured peacekeepers

This in effect abolishes the monitoring of UN sanctions against the country, more commonly known as North Korea, blocking the extension of the panel for another year. Russia’s Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the sanctions regime adopted with the intention of preventing nuclear weapons proliferation, was losing its relevance and also “to a great extent, detached… Continue reading World News in Brief: Russia vetoes DPR Korea sanctions resolution, children under fire in Sudan, drought plagues Malawi

In a social media post, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that only 10 out of 36 hospitals are now partially functioning in the enclave. Al-Amal hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis closed on Tuesday, Tedros noted, after media reports indicated that Israeli troops forced medical teams and patients to evacuate. The development came as… Continue reading Health system ‘barely surviving’, as OCHA calls on Gaza aid restrictions to end

Corruption, impunity, and poor governance, compounded by increasing levels of gang violence, have eroded the rule of law in the Caribbean country and brought State institutions close to collapse. The impact of generalised insecurity on the population is dire and deteriorating, severely affecting human rights. Prevent further suffering  “Tackling insecurity must be a top priority… Continue reading Bold action needed now to address ‘cataclysmic’ situation in Haiti

27 March 2024Climate and Environment “What you do makes me cry at night,” 13-year-old Severn Cullis-Suzuki told the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil in a message that resonates today as the world grapples with climate change. Ahead of Zero Waste Day, marked annually on 30 March since 2022, we looked back at how that simple but… Continue reading Stories from the UN Archive: A seminal moment for youth climate action

Sudan, and Darfur in particular, are facing a humanitarian and security crisis after a war broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), although ethnic conflicts in Darfur date back more than two decades. Fatima*, a resident of the city of El Geneina in West Darfur state, where… Continue reading First Person: ‘We had to avoid stepping on the bodies in the streets’ in Darfur

Ms. Keita, who also heads the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, MONUSCO, sounded the alarm over the humanitarian disaster “unfolding before our very eyes”. More than seven million people in the country are displaced, particularly due to the operations of armed groups such as the M23 and the Allied Defense Forces (ADF) across the… Continue reading DR Congo mission chief says humanitarian disaster ‘unfolding before our very eyes’

News reports said that residential buildings in the northern city of Kharkiv had been hit, killing one and injuring 16, quoting the city’s mayor.  Four children were wounded, with images posted to social media showing extensive damage and a body visible lying on the floor. The UN’s Denise Brown said that international law must be… Continue reading World News in Brief: Civilian deaths in Ukraine, refugees in Cameroon at risk, older women facing abuse, cholera in Somalia

The UN Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index Report 2024 highlights that latest data from 2022 shows 1.05 billion tonnes of food went to waste. Some 19 per cent of food available to consumers was lost overall at retail, food service, and household levels. That is in addition to around 13 per cent of food lost in the… Continue reading With 783 million people going hungry, a fifth of all food goes to waste

27 March 2024Peace and Security The intense Israeli bombardment of Gaza in response to Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel has included “direct hits” on 212 schools in the enclave, UN-partnered analysis indicated on Wednesday. Satellite imagery pointed to at least 53 schools “totally destroyed” since conflict erupted on 7 October 2023 and a near nine per… Continue reading Gaza war: ‘Direct hits’ on more than 200 schools since Israeli bombing began   

26 March 2024Human Rights The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) issued a new report on Tuesday, revealing a surge in credible allegations of torture and executions of captured Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) at the hands of Russian forces. According to the Monitoring Mission, interviews conducted with 60 recently released Ukrainian POWs… Continue reading UN report: Credible allegations Ukrainian POWs have been tortured by Russian forces

This was a reminder of the ongoing impact of a conflict which has now dragged on for more than 12 years and rarely makes headlines, even though it continues to have a devastating effect on the civilian population.  In early March, the United Nations Syria Commission of Inquiry released a report which detailed an escalation… Continue reading ISIL growing stronger in Syria, as war enters its thirteenth year

Findings from the recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis indicate an alarming 19 per cent increase in the number of children estimated to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in Haiti this year. Around 1.64 million people are facing emergency levels of acute food insecurity, (IPC Phase 4), which increases the risk of child wasting… Continue reading World News in Brief: Malnutrition crisis risk grows in Haiti, clashes in DR Congo, peacebuilding in Colombia

The call by Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland followed Monday’s adoption by the Security Council of a resolution “demanding” an immediate ceasefire in the enclave for the remainder of Ramadan, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. However, intense hostilities have continued between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, with reports of many killed overnight,… Continue reading UN envoy backs demand for immediate Gaza ceasefire amid ‘cataclysmic suffering’

The continuing violence came despite an immediate ceasefire call for the remainder of Ramadan from the Security Council on Monday, prompting urgent appeals from UN aid agencies for the resolution to be respected immediately, to prevent more people dying. Speaking from Rafah in southern Gaza, UN Children’s Fund spokesperson James Elder said that 13,750 children… Continue reading Gaza: ‘Double-digit’ number of children reported killed overnight

This was the Council’s first explicit call for an immediate ceasefire since Israel began a military offensive in the Gaza Strip following last October’s brutal attack by Hamas and other Palestinian groups against settlements in southern Israel, in which over 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage. Israel’s military operation has since… Continue reading UN Security Council demands ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza, ending months-long deadlock

According to the UN health agency (WHO), almost 18 million people need medical assistance and half of that number are children. Nearly one in two under-fives also suffer from moderate to severe stunting, said WHO, pointing out that this adds up to nearly 2.4 million children. “It’s important to step back and remember that hungry… Continue reading World News in Brief: 17 million Yemenis need health support, cholera in Somalia, OCHA chief stepping down, Haiti crisis update

09:30 AM – Disagreement in the Council has seen several rounds of drafts quashed by one or more of its five veto-wielding permanent members (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States) since the war began in October following the Hamas-led terror attacks on southern Israel. The current draft that ambassadors will consider around the iconic… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council due to hold emergency vote demanding Gaza ceasefire

“The need is urgent,” Mr. Guterres said in Amman, alongside Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safady, as he pledged to keep pushing “for the removal of all obstacles to life-saving aid, for more access and more entry points” into Gaza. The UN chief’s appeal came amid increasingly dire scenes reported by UN humanitarians and other aid… Continue reading We must push for lasting peace in Gaza, UN chief insists, as starvation threat nears

23 March 2024Climate and Environment The largest global environment movement is happening on Saturday, when the UN invites people around the world to shut the lights to remember the planetary crisis during Earth Hour as young partners find new ways to drive climate action. “Turn off the lights, and move the world towards a better… Continue reading Earth Hour: Lights off, climate action on

22 March 2024Peace and Security The UN chief condemned in the strongest possible terms Friday’s deadly terrorist attack at a concert hall outside Moscow. Gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, killing at least 40 people and injuring more than 100 others ahead of a sold-out rock concert. The media is reporting that a terrorist… Continue reading UN condemns deadly attacks in Moscow

This is being compounded by an increase in child and forced marriage, and the recruitment of boys by combatants in the continuing war between rival generals that erupted nearly a year ago. All this is happening against the backdrop of the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the country that has caused an unprecedented mass displacement of over… Continue reading World News in Brief: Sex trafficking and child recruitment in Sudan, new mass grave in Libya, children at risk in DR Congo

22 March 2024Peace and Security Top UN officials and agencies on the ground in Ukraine on Friday condemned overnight large-scale coordinated Russian strikes on energy plants across the country that killed at least five people and left 1.5 million without electricity. “The targeting of energy infrastructure providing essential public services is a black-and-white issue – it… Continue reading UN officials outraged at Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy plants

22 March 2024Peace and Security A draft resolution from the United States is due to be voted on in the UN Security Council on Friday which says it is “imperative” to have “an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides”, facilitate “essential” aid delivery and support ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council to vote on US resolution stating imperative of an ‘immediate and sustained ceasefire’ in Gaza

The UN’s top aid official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jamie McGoldrick, reached Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia on Thursday, where children with the most severe and life-threatening hunger are being treated at a new World Health Organization (WHO)-supported specialised feeding facility. “Without swift treatment, these children are at imminent risk of death,” UN… Continue reading Gaza: UN aid team reaches stricken north, confirms ‘shocking’ disease and hunger

Global perspective Human stories A woman fetches water by bicycle in near Boromo in Burkina Faso. 21 March 2024Human Rights Large parts of Burkina Faso are being terrorized by armed groups and the rampant insecurity is “beyond alarming”, said the UN human rights chief on Thursday following a brief visit to the country. High Commissioner… Continue reading Armed groups continue terror campaign across Burkina Faso

Last year saw a three per cent contraction, equalling roughly $1 trillion, compared to the record high of $32 trillion in 2022. Despite this decline, the services sector showed resilience with a $500 billion (eight per cent) increase from the previous year, while trade in goods experienced a $1.3 trillion, or five per cent, decline compared… Continue reading World News in Brief: Global trade rebound forecast, e-waste mountain grows, 7,000 preventable TB deaths in Europe during COVID-19

“When we live in a chaotic world it’s very important to stick to principles and the principles are clear: the UN Charter, international law, the territorial integrity of countries and international humanitarian law,” the UN chief said, speaking at the opening of the European Council in Brussels.  “That is the reason why we believe it… Continue reading Amid ongoing strife in Gaza and Ukraine, UN chief reiterates peace call

When volunteer firefighter Marlizar noticed smoke billowing over a quarter-hectare of peatland while on a routine patrol in 2019, he dispatched his colleague to their base in Riau province’s Teluk Maranti village, seven kilometres away, and faced the fire alone. As Marlizar’s colleague sped off to retrieve a clunky hose unit, the 42-year-old attempted to beat back… Continue reading Indonesia leads the way in taming forest fires

The international day on Thursday highlights that theme, as well as the importance of recognition, justice and development opportunities for those of African descent, said Secretary-General António Guterres. He said the results of entrenched racism continue to be devasting: “opportunities stolen; dignity denied; rights violated; lives taken and lives destroyed.” The African diaspora faces a… Continue reading World News in Brief: Dignity and justice key to end evil of racial discrimination, methane emissions update, Mpox latest, peacebuilding boost

“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the conflict, we cannot make clearer the desperation that civilians are facing in Sudan,” said Edem Wosornu of the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA – one of three senior officials who briefed ambassadors. The meeting was convened following OCHA’s submission of a white paper on food insecurity in… Continue reading Conflict driving hunger crisis in Sudan, UN officials tell Security Council

20 March 2024Peace and Security Less than half of the UN aid convoys planned for Gaza’s hunger-ravaged north have made it so far this month, despite repeated appeals from the international community to ramp up relief to more than one million people on the brink of starvation, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday. In its latest update,… Continue reading Gaza: Less than 1 in 2 UN aid convoys allowed into northern zones this month

19 March 2024Humanitarian Aid Humanitarians continue to deliver aid in Haiti, where the situation in the capital, Port-au-Prince, remains tense and volatile in the face of escalating gang violence and political instability.  The UN said on Tuesday that its children’s agency UNICEF and partners have delivered over 242,000 gallons of water since early March, while… Continue reading Haiti: Aid efforts continue amid violence and volatility

Heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones caused misery and mayhem, upending everyday life for millions and inflicting many billions of dollars in economic losses, according to the WMO State of the Global Climate 2023 report. “Sirens are blaring across all major indicators… Some records aren’t just chart-topping, they’re chart-busting. And changes are… Continue reading Records smashed – new WMO climate report confirms 2023 hottest so far

“What doctors and medical staff are telling us is more and more they are seeing the effects of starvation; they’re seeing newborn babies simply dying because they (are) too low birth weight,” said Dr Margaret Harris from the UN World Health Organization (WHO).  “Increasingly, we’re seeing children that are at the point, brink of death… Continue reading Gaza: Increasing numbers of newborns on brink of death, agencies warn

Rampant gang violence has created a humanitarian crisis in the Caribbean country, whose Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, resigned last week. UN children’s agency UNICEF reported that on Saturday, one of its containers was looted at the main port in the capital city.  The container held essential items for maternal, neonatal and child survival, including resuscitators,… Continue reading World News in Brief: Haiti aid delivery continues, South Sudan violence, pandemic treaty talks near end, Guterres on Myanmar crisis

18 March 2024Human Rights As the war in Sudan marks its one-year anniversary next month, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on Monday warned of a staggering toll of the crisis on children, with an estimated 24 million teetering on the brink of a “generational catastrophe”. Since the conflict erupted in… Continue reading 24 million Sudanese children facing ‘generational catastrophe’

Calling for disarmament now, he urged States with nuclear arsenals to lead the way across six areas for action that include dialogue and accountability. “Nuclear weapons are the most destructive weapons ever invented, capable of eliminating all life on earth. Today, these weapons are growing in power, range and stealth.  An accidental launch is one… Continue reading Guterres urges disarmament now as nuclear risk reaches ‘highest point in decades’

“Famine is projected to occur anytime between now and May 2024 in the northern governorates,” the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said, upon publication of a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report on Gaza. Meanwhile, in response to the unfolding situation at Al-Shifa, UN World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,… Continue reading Famine could happen ‘anytime’ in Gaza’s northern governorates, warn UN humanitarians

Global perspective Human stories MONUSCO peacekeepers on a trip to North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. (file) 17 March 2024Peace and Security The UN chief on Saturday condemned an attack which saw eight peacekeepers from the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, wounded during clashes… Continue reading UN chief condemns attack on peacekeepers in DR Congo

“Russia’s intention to conduct presidential elections from today, 15 March, until 17 March in areas of Ukraine under its control are unacceptable,” said Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, said. Under international humanitarian law, the occupying power – in this case, Russia – must uphold the laws of Ukraine in the occupied territories, she… Continue reading Top UN official slams Russia’s illegal elections in occupied Ukraine

“I am appalled by the recurrent mass abductions of men, women and children in northern Nigeria. Children have been abducted from schools and women taken while searching for firewood. Such horrors must not become normalised,” he said. News reports indicate at least 564 people have been abducted since 7 March. More than 280 pupils were… Continue reading World News in Brief: Rights chief appalled at Nigeria mass abductions, ‘pervasive’ hunger in streets of Sudan, Syria child crisis

Global perspective Human stories Children stand in front of a house demolished by a bombardment in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip… 15 March 2024Peace and Security The war in Gaza has left a staggering almost 23 millions tonnes of rubble and unexploded weapons scattered across the enclave, UN humanitarians said on… Continue reading Gaza: Nearly 23 million tonnes of debris ‘will take years to clear’

Latest graphic findings from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine – created by the Human Rights Council two years ago – highlight the ongoing grave impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. “I lost any hope and the will to live,” one Ukrainian soldier and former prisoner of war… Continue reading I lost hope and will to live in Russian jail, says Ukraine prisoner of war

The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said on Wednesday that the air corridor will enable the transport of aid and ensure the safe relocation of staff both in and out of the country. Speaking to reporters in New York on Thursday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that it was already in operation. On the… Continue reading Haiti crisis: UN mission announces airbridge to facilitate aid relief

Six Palestinians are believed to have died in the Gaza City incident and 83 more were wounded as they waited for aid trucks to arrive at Kuwait Roundabout, according to news reports. The development came after relief chief Martin Griffiths condemned the bombardment on Wednesday of a warehouse and food distribution centre in southern Rafah… Continue reading Gaza: Aid missions risk being halted without security guarantees

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told ambassadors at the Security Council that conflict prevention is a cornerstone of the UN’s mission. “Prevention saves lives and safeguards development gains. It is cost effective,” she said. Recalling the Secretary-General’s policy brief on A New Agenda for Peace, Ms. DiCarlo said prevention needed to be… Continue reading Diplomacy and national leadership crucial in preventing war, Security Council hears

The 2024 Joint Response Plan backed by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and migration agency, IOM, is led by the Government of Bangladesh. It seeks to alleviate the plight of around one million Rohingya refugees living in densely-populated camps in Cox’s Bazar and on the island of Bhasan Char after they fled ethnic violence in… Continue reading World News in Brief: $850 million plan to support Rohingya refugees, child rights, Haiti aid update

13 March 2024Peace and Security Amid reports of fresh Israeli airstrikes in Gaza overnight into Wednesday, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said that more children have been killed there in recent months than in four years of conflict worldwide.  “This war is a war on children. It is a war on their childhood… Continue reading Gaza: Number of children killed higher than from four years of world conflict

“The UN remains a landmark in the turmoil, a lantern in the thick fog through which we search our way every day, trying to look for a solution – it is a ray of light, a sign of hope,” Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, told ambassadors at the Security… Continue reading UN an ‘unsinkable compass’ for humanity, says top EU official

The World Food Programme announced the operation on Tuesday and warned that lifesaving programmes in Chad will stop because of a funding crunch “in a matter of weeks”. Thousands of Sudan refugees continue to stream over the border into Chad to escape heavy fighting between warring generals that began last April.   Around one million… Continue reading World News in Brief: WFP boosts aid in Chad amid Sudan crisis, Ukraine education boost, counter-terrorism, the right to privacy

“Any food and other emergency aid that comes into Gaza, as we all know, is desperately needed; there is no question about it,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for UN aid coordination office, OCHA.  “So it’s highly appreciated…But it’s not a substitute for the overland transport of food and other emergency aid into Gaza and particularly… Continue reading Gazans on verge of famine need ‘exponential’ aid boost, says UN

The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry, which reports to the Human Rights Council, warned that fighting escalated on 5 October last year, when consecutive explosions at a military academy graduation ceremony in government-controlled Homs killed at least 63 people, including 37 civilians. The Syrian Government and Russian forces “responded with bombardments” that struck at least… Continue reading World News in Brief: Syria violence intensifying, heavy weapons threat in Myanmar, justice call for Thai lawyer

11 March 2024Peace and Security Amid worsening humanitarian conditions in the war in Gaza, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, is due to brief the Security Council this afternoon at 3:00 PM (New York time) on her sexual violence report relating to the 7 October attacks, and incidents in… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council briefing on sexual violence in Israel, Gaza and West Bank

Council members urged the armed gangs to “immediately cease their destabilizing actions” and reiterated the call for the “perpetrators of these abhorrent acts to be brought to justice”, according to a statement issued following a closed-door briefing last week by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). In… Continue reading Waves of violence hit Haiti hard, as Security Council condemns gang attacks

“Even though Ramadan has begun, the killing, bombing and bloodshed continue in Gaza…My strongest appeal today is to honour the spirit of Ramadan by silencing the guns and removing all obstacles to ensure the delivery of lifesaving aid at the speed and massive scale required.”  All remaining hostages taken during Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel… Continue reading Ceasefire in Gaza, urges UN chief on first day of Ramadan

9 March 2024Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Saturday highlighted the urgent need for a negotiated political solution in Syria, emphasizing the protection of civilians and the dire humanitarian situation. March marks the thirteenth anniversary of the conflict in Syria, with systematic atrocities and untold suffering of civilians. According to UN estimates, 16.7 million… Continue reading UN chief urges ‘genuine, credible’ political solution in Syria, as conflict approaches thirteenth anniversary

“We condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure,” said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General at the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. “They are prohibited under international law; they are unacceptable and must stop now.” “Regrettably, our repeated calls for protection of civilians appear to fall on deaf ears,” he said,… Continue reading Ukraine war: Alarm raised in Security Council over civilian attacks

8 March 2024Peace and Security The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a key resolution on Sudan, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the wartorn country during the month of Ramadan, which begins on Sunday. In resolution 2724 (2024), adopted with 14 votes in favour and one abstention (Russia), the Council also called… Continue reading Security Council calls for immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan

8 March 2024Humanitarian Aid An international maritime aid corridor to Gaza could be in operation as early as Sunday according to the head of the European Commission, working closely with the UN’s Senior Humanitarian Coordinator and other international partners. In a joint statement released on Friday, the Commission, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, the United… Continue reading Gaza: Kaag working closely with partners on new maritime aid lifeline

Spokesperson for Volker Türk in Geneva, Jeremy Laurence, told journalists that an already catastrophic situation could “slide deeper into the abyss” in the coming days if Israeli forces make their move on the southern border city, carrying through with their threat to invade, unless Hamas militants hand over remaining hostages by the start of Ramadan.… Continue reading Gaza: Rafah ground assault would increase risk of atrocity crimes

In a statement, Tor Wennesland reminded that all Israeli settlements the Occupied Palestinian Territory are illegal under international law. Permits for the new dwellings were approved by Israeli authorities on Wednesday, the first since the war in Gaza erupted on 7 October. According to news reports, the permits mean that more than 20,000 housing units… Continue reading World News in Brief: Israeli settlement plan condemned, abductions in northern Nigeria, alarm over reported pre-election attacks in India

The war between rival militaries Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now in its eleventh month, has not only claimed thousands of lives but has created a massive internal displacement crisis. More than six million are seeking refuge within Sudan and 1.7 million have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries.… Continue reading UN chief appeals for Sudan ceasefire, now: ‘Values of Ramadan must prevail’

7 March 2024Peace and Security Days from the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan and with no ceasefire agreement in sight for Gaza, UN humanitarians reiterated deep concerns on Thursday that a growing number of children are dying of starvation.  “The situation is appalling. Every minute, every hour, it is getting worse,” the UN… Continue reading Gaza: Starvation claiming a growing number of young lives, warns UN

For months, the UN has been warning of a looming famine, particularly in northern Gaza as everything needed to sustain life has either been destroyed or simply run out. This is now being translated into , not as a result of shells and bullets, but for lack of proper nutrition – or any nutrition at… Continue reading ‘They destroyed us’: North Gazans flee homes in search of food and shelter

Ahead of an expected closed-door Security Council meeting, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for the urgent deployment, with no further delay, of the Council-mandated multinational security support mission in Haiti. “The reality is that, in the current context, there is no realistic alternative available to protect lives,” the High Commissioner… Continue reading Haiti: UN officials say ‘we are running out of time’ amid escalating crises

6 March 2024Peace and Security The UN envoy for Afghanistan on Wednesday repeated her call for the Taliban to reverse its numerous restrictions on the lives of women and girls in violation of their human rights, warning that the longer they remain in place, the more damage will be done. Briefing ambassadors in the Security… Continue reading UN envoy calls again for removal of restrictions on Afghan women

These are “children who survived bombardment but may not survive a famine,” the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros said on X, formerly Twitter.  Accompanying the WHO chief’s warning, video testimony from Kamal Adwan Hospital paediatric unit highlighted the massive scale of needs which UN humanitarians and partners have been unable to relieve, citing aid… Continue reading Allow more aid into Gaza now, pleads UN health agency chief

“Not many architects think that climate change is something that they need to think about, but we’re trying to change that,” says Rosie Paul, co-founder of Bangalore-based architecture firm Masons Ink.  “For us, it’s obvious that climate change directly affects the shelter that you’re going to live in, and you need to start building resilient… Continue reading Path to low-carbon construction is clear as mud

The northeast African country is already in the grip of the world’s largest displacement crisis, the UN World Food Programme, WFP, noted.  Fighting between the Sudanese Army and a rival group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left thousands dead and eight million displaced. A staggering 14 million children are in desperate need… Continue reading 11 months into Sudan war, ‘world’s worst hunger crisis’ looms

Global perspective Human stories Humanitarians warn that hunger has reached catastrophic levels in northern Gaza. 5 March 2024Peace and Security Efforts by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver desperately needed food supplies to northern Gaza resumed on Tuesday but were largely unsuccessful, the agency reported. The emergency relief agency said that a 14-truck… Continue reading Gaza: Efforts to deliver food aid to stricken north ‘largely unsuccessful’

5 March 2024Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General reiterated his deep concern on Tuesday over the “rapidly deteriorating” security situation in Haiti as violent gangs tighten their grip on the country in the wake of a jailbreak at the weekend which saw nearly 4,000 criminals return to the streets. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters… Continue reading Haiti crisis: UN chief calls for ‘urgent action’ to end rampant insecurity

5 March 2024Peace and Security With only nine months remaining before the polls in December, South Sudan is not ready to hold elections and a lot more needs to be done, the head of UN peace operations said on Tuesday. Briefing ambassadors at the Security Council, Jean-Pierre Lacroix said that if the parties display greater… Continue reading South Sudan: Top UN official calls for greater political investment as polls loom

The Unjust Climate report highlights the reality that every year in low and middle-income countries, female heads of households in rural areas suffer significantly greater financial losses than men. On average, female-headed households lose eight per cent more of their income due to heat stress and three per cent more due to floods compared with male-headed households.… Continue reading World News in Brief: Climate change in the countryside, Yemen polio drive success, development and peace

“WHO and partners managed to access (Al) Shifa (hospital) in the north and deliver fuel, some lifesaving supplies for 150 patients and treatment of 50 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and also bring it vaccines,” said Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, UN World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  For the first time… Continue reading North Gaza aid mission reveals more infants may die from hunger

On a mission to the Horn of Africa nation, Executive Director Waly underscored on Friday that “Somalia faces daunting challenges that range from terrorism to resurgent piracy, poverty and the consequences of climate change.” A complicated crisis Speaking to UN News in Mogadishu, Ms. Waly said interlinked threats included piracy, illegal fishing, different types of… Continue reading UN crime prevention chief pledges enhanced cooperation in Somalia

Pramila Patten added in a press release issued along with the report, that there are also reasonable grounds to believe that such violence, which includes other “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment”, may be continuing against those still being held by Hamas and other extremists in the Gaza Strip. The report from her Office, arose from… Continue reading ‘Clear and convincing information’ that hostages held in Gaza subjected to sexual violence says UN Special Representative

4 March 2024Human Rights Dozens of elections taking place this year around the world will likely be “free from hatred” and respect the will of the people, but there are warning signs that several polls may not – from Bangladesh to Chad, Hungary, Russia and Senegal, UN rights chief Volker Türk warned on Monday. In… Continue reading ‘Mega election’ 2024 could be a landmark for democracy: UN rights chief

10:51 AM Israel: Ceasefire must have pre-conditions Gilad Menashe Erdan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN, said that it has been 150 days since Hamas committed “the most brutal and barbaric massacre since the Holocaust”. “Once again, this body [General Assembly] has convened not to condemn Hamas, no. Not to condemn their… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: General Assembly meets to examine US veto of Gaza draft resolution

Negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza continued in Egypt for a second day on Monday as the UN’s top rights official warned that the war there risked morphing into a much “wider conflagration” enveloping every country in the Middle East and beyond. 

3 March 2024Climate and Environment UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for action now to protect nature in his message to mark World Wildlife Day on Sunday. Human activities have devastated our wildlife. Human ingenuity can help to save it,” he said. This year’s theme focuses on how digital technologies can drive wildlife conservation at a… Continue reading Human ingenuity can help to save nature, Guterres says on World Wildlife Day

2 March 2024Climate and Environment More funding is needed to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the frontlines of climate change, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Saturday in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Mr. Guterres visited a project that is helping the Caribbean nation to combat the effects of coastal erosion and rising… Continue reading UN chief appeals for greater support for small islands fighting climate change

2 March 2024Humanitarian Aid The UN Security Council has underscored the need to protect civilians in Gaza after more than 100 Palestinians were killed on Thursday, and several hundred others injured, while waiting for food at an aid convoy. Council members issued a statement on Saturday expressing their deep concern, noting that an Israeli investigation… Continue reading Security Council reiterates call for immediate and safe aid delivery to Gaza