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Airstrikes and missiles struck dwellings and public buildings on Tuesday including Al-Amal hospital in Khan Younis killing five, among them a five-day-old baby, reports indicate. “No child in the world should be killed, let alone one sheltering under the emblem of a humanitarian organisation; this has to end,” said Gemma Connell, a team leader from… Continue reading Gaza war: ‘Intense ground battles’ reported, hospital hit kills five

More than 170 people have also been wounded according to Iranian officials at the scene. News reports citing local officials said that there were two explosions as thousands were walking along the route to a cemetery in Kerman which is the final resting place of Qassim Suleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike… Continue reading Guterres strongly condemns attack in Iran; over 80 reportedly killed

Key points: UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari said “no cause or grievance” could justify continuing Houthi attacks against freedom of navigation in the Red Sea All incidents originating in Houthi controlled areas “must stop” He encouraged “all concerned parties” in the wider region to avoid any further escalation and de-escalate tensions and threats Called for… Continue reading Security Council meets over Red Sea attacks amid growing threat of spillover from Gaza war

The latest warnings from UN relief agency for Palestinians UNRWA and the UN World Food Programme, WFP, highlighted the threat of starvation and disease in heavily built-up areas, where tens of thousands of people have fled intense bombing campaigns in the enclave’s north and centre. Skipping meals “Everyone in Gaza is hungry! Skipping meals is… Continue reading UPDATED: Everyone is hungry in Gaza, warn UN humanitarians

The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was deployed to Mali in 2013 following a violent insurrection by separatist rebels attempting to take control of the north of the country and a subsequent military-led coup. Established by UN Security Council resolution 2100, the mission included more than 15,000 troops and personnel who served… Continue reading Last UN peacekeepers poised for complete withdrawal from Mali

At least 18 civilians were killed and more than 100 injured in an attack on Belgorod, said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General in the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA), briefing the Council on the latest developments. Russia had called for the emergency meeting following reported attacks on Belogorod. Located about 40 km… Continue reading Security Council holds emergency meeting on attacks in Belgorod, Russia

Highlights Video feed of the Security Council meeting. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) briefed the Security Council, expressing grave concern over Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank. He also reported increased tensions in the wider Middle East region, with continued… Continue reading Security Council discusses crisis in the Middle East; UN chief warns of conflict’s ‘further spillover’

“A traumatized and exhausted population” is being “crammed into a smaller and smaller sliver of land,” UN emergency relief chief Martin Griffiths warned on social platform X on Friday. But serious obstacles persist to bringing more aid to those in need amid relentless Israeli bombardment and intense fighting on the ground. UN humanitarian affairs coordination… Continue reading Gaza: UN calls for urgent aid scale-up amid new mass exodus to Rafah

Overnight, Russian armed forces reportedly launched 158 missiles and drones in several waves targeting locations across Ukraine, including in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Cherkasy, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia regions. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General António Guterres underscored that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure “violate international humanitarian law, are unacceptable and… Continue reading UN chief condemns Russian attacks against Ukrainian cities and towns

Commenting on a new report on the West Bank released by his office, OHCHR, Mr. Türk expressed concern at the use of military means and weapons by law enforcement, movement restrictions affecting Palestinians and a sharp rise in settler violence resulting in the displacement of herding communities. “The dehumanization of Palestinians that characterizes many of the… Continue reading UN rights chief warns of ‘dehumanization’ of Palestinians amid West Bank violence as Gaza crisis deepens

Global perspective Human stories UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 28 December 2023Peace and Security United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for global unity to make 2024 a year for “building trust and hope” following the immense suffering, violence, and climate chaos that characterized 2023. “Humanity is strongest when we stand together. 2024 must be a… Continue reading Rebuild trust and restore hope in 2024: UN chief’s call

28 December 2023Peace and Security The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday condemned an attack on one of its patrols, in which one peacekeeper was injured. The windows of a patrol vehicle were also smashed. The patrol was attacked on Wednesday night (local time) by a group of young men in Taybeh in… Continue reading Lebanon: UN Force condemns attack on peacekeepers

27 December 2023Peace and Security Aid missions to supply Gaza have become increasingly difficult amid reports of continued heavy bombing of the Strip overnight by the Israeli military and intense clashes “in most areas” with Hamas fighters, UN humanitarians warned on Wednesday. Locations in the north and south of the enclave were hit as Israeli… Continue reading Gaza crisis: southern areas ‘bursting at seams’ amid new wave of bombing and displacement

27 December 2023Peace and Security The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has denounced a deadly Christmas Day attack by an armed group on a family in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Four people, including two girls under the age of 10, were killed in the incident, which occured in the Croix de Bouquet district. Four other family members… Continue reading UNICEF deplores deadly Christmas Day attack on family in Haiti

Teams that undertook the high-risk missions witnessed intense hostilities in their vicinity, as well as high patient loads and overcrowding caused by people seeking refuge. They also reported that food needs remain dire across the enclave, which is impacting operations, with hungry people stopping convoys in hopes of finding something to eat. WHO Director-General Tedros… Continue reading WHO and partners deliver aid to two Gaza hospitals in high-risk missions

World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Medical Teams coordinator Sean Casey said that “100-plus patients” had been brought into Al-Aqsa Hospital on Monday in the space of 30 minutes, following reported blasts, including near Al-Maghazi refugee camp.  All of them needed urgent treatment for serious wounds, the WHO official told UN News, while “about 100” more… Continue reading Gaza health workers pushed to the limit amid airstrike ‘carnage’

Global perspective Human stories A child fetches clean water at a camp for displaced people in Dar Saad in Yemen. (file) 26 December 2023Peace and Security The UN Special Envoy for Yemen has welcomed steps towards a ceasefire in the war-torn country, where Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels have been… Continue reading UN envoy welcomes ‘significant step’ towards ceasefire in Yemen

Holland’s outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Sigrid Kaag will facilitate, coordinate, monitor and verify aid consignments to the embittered enclave, in line with a recent Security Council resolution. She will also establish a mechanism to accelerate humanitarian relief shipments through States that are not party to the conflict. She is expected to take up the assignment… Continue reading World News in Brief: Senior Humanitarian Coordinator for Gaza, cholera spreading in Sudan, aid for eastern Ukraine

Mr. Guterres was speaking at a press briefing at UN Headquarters shortly after the resolution was adopted. There has been no significant change in the way the war has been unfolding in Gaza, he said, with no effective protection of civilians. Israeli bombardment continues while Hamas and other factions continue to fire rockets into the… Continue reading Humanitarian ceasefire only way to end Gaza ‘nightmare’: Guterres

At least 14 people were killed and 25 injured after a gunman opened fire in what some media called the worst shooting in the country’s history. The gunman, reportedly a student at the university, also killed himself. UN chief António Guerres was shocked and saddened by the incident, his Spokesperson said in a statement issued later on… Continue reading World News in Brief: UN chief shocked by Czech mass shooting, UNICEF appeal for West and Central Africa, world leaders urged to heed climate science

Global perspective Human stories A displaced Palestinian family now living in a makeshift camp in southern Gaza without water, electricity, or enough food (file) 22 December 2023Humanitarian Aid As the Security Council prepared to meet once again in New York on Friday for a long-delayed vote on a pause in fighting to allow more aid… Continue reading Gaza crisis: Starvation must never be allowed to happen, says UN rights chief

21 December 2023Peace and Security The latest surge in fighting in Sudan has displaced up to 300,000 people as conflict spread to the country’s second largest city, Wad Madani, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Thursday.  Wad Madani is located some 140 kilometres southeast of the war-torn capital Khartoum and sits at the… Continue reading World News in Brief: Latest Sudan fighting displaces thousands, second malaria vaccine, Russian dissidents ‘disappeared’

Briefing ambassadors at the Security Council, Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria, noted that though there have been some diplomatic breakthroughs none led to tangible changes on the ground for civilians. He also raised the alarm over the impact on the region of the devastating Israel-Palestine crisis. On top of killings, injuries, displacement, abduction… Continue reading ‘Genuine progress’ towards political solution, essential to end war: UN envoy

21 December 2023Peace and Security After intense negotiations all week behind closed doors at the 15-member Security Council, ambassadors are still negotiating over a draft resolution penned by the United Arab Emirates which calls for an “urgent suspension” of the conflict to allow safe and unhindered delivery of aid to stricken civilians in the Gaza… Continue reading Security Council continues negotiations over Gaza resolution calling for ‘urgent suspension’ of fighting

The latest grave assessment from the World Health Organization (WHO) came after UN teams reached Al Ahli Arab hospital and Al Shifa hospital on Wednesday, amid reports of intensifying ground operations by Israeli Defense Forces and continuing airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, in response to Hamas’s 7 October terror attacks on southern Israel.  “Patients were… Continue reading Injured patients ‘waiting to die’ in northern Gaza as last hospital shuts down: WHO

The deaths of over 10,000 civilians have been verified by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) since the invasion began in February 2022, although the actual number of fatalities could be much higher.  Over 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including more than 6.3 million who have sought refuge outside Ukraine.… Continue reading INTERVIEW: Ukrainian children express ‘innocent hope for peace’

WFP described the decision taken on safety grounds as a major setback to humanitarian efforts in the country’s breadbasket, where staff had been regularly providing aid to over 800,000 people, including many who had escaped the fighting in Khartoum. The ongoing fighting makes it extremely challenging for humanitarian agencies to safely deliver assistance, especially with… Continue reading World News in Brief: WFP forced to halt some food aid in Sudan, DR Congo elections, peacekeeping chief visits CAR

Roza Otunbayeva, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), also underscored the need for greater engagement with the de facto Taliban authorities who seized power in August 2021. She told the Council that the human rights situation in Afghanistan is characterized by systemic discrimination against women and girls, repression of political dissent… Continue reading Afghanistan: Taliban’s return to ‘international norms’ is non-negotiable says UN mission chief

“Access to sufficient amounts of clean water is a matter of life and death…children in Gaza have barely a drop to drink,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Children and their families are having to use water from unsafe sources that are highly salinated or polluted. Without safe water, many more children will die from deprivation… Continue reading Barely a drop of safe water to drink in Gaza, UN aid agency warns

135 UNRWA staff members are known to have been killed in Gaza since the escalation of fighting since the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel. That’s the most ever in one incident but, despite the danger and extremely difficult working conditions, UNRWA is continuing to assist those caught up in the fighting through no fault… Continue reading INTERVIEW: Destruction, displacement, and grief. Senior UNRWA official reflects on ‘unprecedented’ conflict in Gaza

The Mission, known as MONUSCO, has been in the country for two decades and is in the process of drawing down. MONUSCO will remain there until 20 December 2024 with a core mandate that includes protecting civilians, supporting security sector reform, and assisting in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) processes. Elections and insecurity  The Council… Continue reading World News in Brief: DR Congo mission extended, Sudan displacement deepens, warzone death toll for journalists spikes

Since the onset of the invasion the UN human rights office (OHCHR) has meticulously monitored the situation. As of December 4, there have been over 10,000 civilian deaths, including 560 children, with an additional 18,500 civilians confirmed injured, with actual figures believed to be much higher due to the difficulties of verifying figures. “I feel… Continue reading Ukraine: Türk calls on Russia to silence the guns in appeal for ‘a just peace’

10:50AM The United States ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative Robert Wood, told the meeting that the attacks by Hamas of October 7 “must be condemned” and the extremist group must not be allowed to control Gaza in the future. Deputy Permanent Representative Robert A. Wood of the United States addresses the UN Security Council meeting… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council due to vote again on Gaza

Gaza is by far the most dangerous place in the world to be a child and deaths of youngsters from disease will likely surpass those from bombardment in the absence of a ceasefire, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday.

18 December 2023Peace and Security Despite appeals to all those involved in the stalled deal to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, “diplomatic efforts remain at a standstill”, the UN’s political affairs chief told the Security Council on Monday. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed in 2015 lays out the rules for… Continue reading Effort to restart Iran nuclear deal ‘at a standstill’ Security Council hears

Abdoulaye Bathily, UN Special Representative for Libya, told ambassadors on the Security Council that the mood in the country “is ripe for a new political deal, a new dispensation for a brighter future”. “One group of unwilling officials clinging to their seats must not be allowed to fail the people of Libya and put the… Continue reading UN envoy to Libyan leaders: Resolve impasse, do not fail the people

That’s according to UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director Regina De Dominicis who said in a statement on Monday that bombardment was “particularly unrelenting” in the east and south of the country. The UNICEF official said the past week provided a concerning trend with an increase in ballistic missiles and mass drone attacks, including widespread… Continue reading World News in Brief: Wave of ‘fear and dread’ in Ukraine, UN expert slams Navalny disappearance, youth leaders for nuclear disarmament meet

18 December 2023Peace and Security The head of the UN health agency Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has spoken out against the “effective destruction” of a hospital in northern Gaza by Israeli forces over the weekend, leading to the deaths of eight patients including a nine-year-old child. Kamal Adwan Hospital was raided by the Israeli military over… Continue reading Gaza hospital destroyed, WHO chief reiterates ceasefire call

17 December 2023Peace and Security The members of the Security Council have condemned Friday’s assault on a police station in southern Iran, in which 11 Iranian police officers were killed, and eight critically wounded. The attack on the Rasak police station in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province, which is prone to unrest, was claimed… Continue reading Security Council condemns deadly terror attack on Iran police station

16 December 2023Health UN workers delivering medical supplies to the Al-Shifa Hospital in north Gaza on 16 December have described the emergency department as a “bloodbath”, with hundreds of injured people inside, and a constant flow of new patients. According to the team, Patients with trauma injuries were being sutured on the floor, limited to no… Continue reading UN workers delivering aid to Gaza hospital describe ‘bloodbath’ in overflowing emergency department

15 December 2023Peace and Security Amidst a multitude of global crises and escalating of armed conflicts, small arms and light weapons remain a silent killer, having claimed over 260,000 lives during 2021, amounting to 45 per cent of all violent deaths. That’s according to Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, who briefed the Security… Continue reading Over 700 a day dying from small arms fire; main ‘weapons of choice’ for criminals and terrorists

Until the Hamas-led terror attacks of 7 October and Israel’s full-scale military response which has devastated much of the enclave, the crossing from Israel was the main route for commercial goods into Gaza. Until now, limited humanitarian aid has only been allowed to pass through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, which serves mainly as a… Continue reading Gaza: UN welcomes Kerem Shalom border crossing announcement

14 December 2023Peace and Security South Sudan is in no position to hold free, fair, or secure elections slated for December next year, the head of the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) said on Thursday, stressing that there’s still time to catch up. Briefing ambassadors at the UN Security Council, Nicholas Haysom outlined key… Continue reading South Sudan: No basis for free and fair 2024 elections, warns Haysom

14 December 2023Peace and Security Some Gazans are so desperate for food that they are now stopping aid trucks and immediately eating what they find, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned on Thursday. Briefing journalists in Geneva uon his return from Rafah governorate, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, explained that people… Continue reading ‘Desperate, hungry, terrified’: Gazans stopping aid trucks in search of food

14 December 2023Peace and Security Heavy rains created new misery in Gaza as UN humanitarians repeated deep concerns on Thursday over the deteriorating health situation in the Strip, amid ongoing Israeli bombardment and fighting with Palestinian armed groups. UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA said that many areas in the enclave have been flooded, “worsening… Continue reading Gaza flooding latest disaster to hit desperate Palestinians

Close to nine million people need humanitarian assistance and reports suggest that some 4000 people have been targeted and killed because of their ethnicity. There are now concerns that Darfur is returning to the years of brutal fighting and increasing atrocities last witnessed two decades ago that left some 300,000 people dead and millions of… Continue reading Explainer: How Darfur became a ‘humanitarian calamity and catastrophic human rights crisis’

Global perspective Human stories Famed primatologist and environmental activist, Jane Goodall kisses a tree just planted by Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Mrs. Annan, in Soweto, South Africa in 2002. (file) 14 December 2023Peace and Security A pioneer in the study of chimpanzees and a vocal environmental activist, Jane Goodall became a UN Messenger of Peace in… Continue reading Stories from the UN Archive: Kissing trees and protecting the natural world

That’s according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing reporters in New York who said critical infrastructure in at least four of the capital’s 10 districts have been damaged, including homes, a hospital and a kindergarten. “Water and electricity systems were also hit, but authorities managed to quickly restore these vital supplies”, he added, quoting UN humanitarians… Continue reading World News in Brief: Kyiv under attack, Sudan peace talks, progress on hunger in Europe

Lynn Hastings stressed that the intensifying hostilities have pushed almost half of the population of the Strip, or about a million people, into Rafah in the south, compounding the dire health and hunger crisis.   “The reason why Gaza is not safe is not just because of the airstrikes but also because of these conditions created by… Continue reading Gaza ceasefire ‘in everybody’s interest’: UN humanitarian coordinator

13 December 2023Climate and Environment With an unprecedented reference to fossil fuels, the UN climate conference in Dubai, COP28, in its final document called on countries to work towards “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems” but fell short of making the much-anticipated call for a “phaseout”. Reacting to the adoption of the outcome… Continue reading COP28 ends with call to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels; UN’s Guterres says the industry will phase out ‘whether they like it or not’

The 10-year-old mission in Mali, MINUSMA is currently winding down ahead of its end of December deadline to leave. In his speech to the UN General Assembly in September this year, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombohe, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, called for the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, to begin its withdrawal from the… Continue reading INTERVIEW: ‘Climate of division’ creating more challenging environment for UN peacekeeping

The Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly is scheduled to start at 3 PM (New York time). 1:40 PM So far there are 21 co-sponsors of the resolution and two amendments tabled. Some 79 speakers are scheduled to address the Assembly so far and the session is expected to continue beyond this evening. The… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: UN General Assembly resumes emergency session on Gaza crisis

Briefing reporters from Gaza, Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, described corridors overflowing with trauma patients at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, where doctors treat people on the floor and fuel, oxygen, food and water are scarce. In just 66 days of fighting, the Strip has been transformed from a “reasonably… Continue reading ‘Humanitarian disaster zone’: Gaza hospital capacity decimated – WHO

Briefing ambassadors at the UN Security Council, Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General noted steady progress in the electoral process despite significant logistical, financial, and security challenges.  However, the resurgence of the crises related to the M23 group in the east, and new pockets of insecurity in the Greater Katanga region, Mai-Ndombe and Tshopo… Continue reading DR Congo: Elections looming, amid worsening insecurity

Launching the Global Humanitarian Overview, Martin Griffiths, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, praised the heroic efforts of humanitarians but emphasized that international support is falling far short of the escalating needs.  “We thank all donors for their contributions, which amount to $20 billion so far this year – but that is just a third of what was… Continue reading UN launches $46 billion appeal to respond to worsening crises in 2024

Speaking in Doha at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview, Mr. Griffiths said that the situation was “getting worse”, while efforts to secure “moments of peace” remained of the “greatest importance”.   According to the latest update on the emergency from UN relief coordination office (OCHA), tens of thousands of people “in desperate need of food, water, shelter,… Continue reading Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens as fighting rages on across the Strip

As COP28 entered its final 48 hours, the UN chief delivered a clear message to government negotiators: “We must conclude the conference with an ambitious outcome that demonstrates decisive action and a credible plan to keep 1.5-degree goal alive, protecting those on the frontlines of the climate crisis.”  ‘The clock is ticking’ Negotiators are engaged… Continue reading Stop ‘kicking the can down the road,’ UN chief urges COP28 deal on phaseout of fossil fuels

This is the first time since 7 October that a resolution on this conflict has been adopted by consensus within the UN system, the UN health agency noted. It underscores the importance of health as a universal priority, in all circumstances, and the role of healthcare and humanitarianism in building bridges to peace, even in… Continue reading Gaza: WHO adopts resolution on access for lifesaving aid

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has identified 10 priority areas – such as livestock, soil and water, crops, diets and fisheries – where following the roadmap can help push the world closer to achieving ‘Zero Hunger’, the second of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  The aim: to transform agrifood systems – which… Continue reading COP28: The UN’s net-zero food plan to save the 1.5-degree goal, combat climate ‘doomisim’

“The preeminent forum for the peaceful resolution of international disputes is paralysed by geostrategic divisions”, António Guterres told the Doha Forum taking place in Qatar, following Friday’s meeting in New York during which the United States vetoed a resolution demanding that Israel and Palestinian militants end the intense fighting across the enclave which erupted on… Continue reading ‘I will not give up’ on push for Gaza humanitarian ceasefire: Guterres

Women and children are bearing the brunt in terms of deaths and injuries as Israeli troops battle Palestinian militants across the enclave, with nowhere safe to go, and aid distribution stymied by war, insufficient access and supplies crossing into the Strip. Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in… Continue reading World News in Brief: Nearly a million children displaced in Gaza, Guatemala ‘coup’ concerns, ‘enduring menace’ of genocide

The report from the UN’s environmental wing, UNEP, also revealed that despite decades of calls for ending finance flows towards sectors that harm some of humanity’s most valuable assets, those investments currently account for a whopping 7 percent of global GDP. Saturday’s report launch comes as negotiations on the conference’s outcome text are shifting into… Continue reading COP28: UN says staggering $7 trillion spent every year on investments that fuel climate change

8 December 2023Peace and Security Over half a million people have been displaced in Myanmar amid a surge in fighting between the military and armed groups that stated in late October and has spread to over two-thirds of the country, the UN humanitarian affairs office reported on Friday. Among those fighting the military are a… Continue reading Fighting engulfs over two-thirds of Myanmar, fuelling humanitarian needs

Ulrika Richardson, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti, who is also the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, told journalists in Geneva that 5.2 million Haitians need humanitarian assistance and over 4.3 million face acute food insecurity – that’s a staggering two out of five people in a country which used to be… Continue reading World News in Brief: Haiti’s humanitarian crisis, disease outbreaks in Sudan, UK sentencing reform

8 December 2023Peace and Security The UN Security Council is set to meet this morning at 10 AM New York time to discuss the catastrophic situation in Gaza. This follows Wednesday’s urgent letter by Secretary-General António Guterres – one of the most powerful tools at his disposal – urging the body to help end carnage… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council to meet on Gaza in wake of UN chief’s Article 99 letter

Mouhammed, the director of emergency and disaster management at the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), wakes up at 6:30 AM, catching only about three hours of sleep these days. He shares a room in the emergency operation centre in the north of Gaza Strip with 25 PRCS volunteers. Since 7 October, intensified hostilities in Gaza… Continue reading Stories of courage and dedication: Humanitarians on Gaza’s front line

8 December 2023Climate and Environment Young climate advocates at COP28 in Dubai on Friday said they will not sit idly by while climate change threatens their futures. They demanded that government policymakers put the needs of the world’s nearly 2 billion children first – their voices and ideas can help rescue the planet. With negotiations… Continue reading Our voices and needs must be put first in climate talks, young people tell COP28

The people of Gaza are being “forced into a horrible scenario” amid a “cruel campaign” by Israel against the population of the Strip in retaliation for Hamas’ terror attacks on 7 October, UN health agency WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said.   “The situation in Gaza is beyond belief” he stressed, insisting that the enclave “cannot afford… Continue reading Gaza humanitarian disaster heralds ‘breakdown’ of society

7 December 2023Climate and Environment After a break, COP28 continues its work on Friday, also the day talks on an outcome text kick into high gear. Negotiators are trying to agree on how to bolster emissions-cutting targets set by the Paris Agreement and what to do about the future of fossil fuels, like oil, gas… Continue reading COP28 in Dubai enters final week, negotiations ahead on emissions cuts, fossil fuels

António Guterres urged countries to strengthen cooperation, the rule of law and prevention efforts against this “vicious threat to peace, security, and sustainable development” that operates everywhere, including cyberspace – “a virtual El Dorado for criminals.” Different crimes, same outcomes Transnational organized crime is a multi-billion-dollar industry that encompasses illicit financial flows, the illicit trade… Continue reading Global cooperation critical to combat transnational organized crime

7 December 2023Peace and Security Two months to the day since Hamas’ terror attacks in Israel prompted a massive Israeli military retaliation in Gaza, the situation in the war-torn enclave is becoming “apocalyptic” with hostilities making meaningful humanitarian efforts “nearly impossible”, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday. In a joint statement 27 aid organisations including UN… Continue reading Gaza fighting further compromises aid amid near ‘apocalyptic’ conditions: UN humanitarians

The 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial also saw new pledges, including of personnel and training, to meet current and future challenges and needs. Peacekeepers serve in the world’s most volatile environments and the threats they face are greater than ever, with rising geopolitical tensions, more complex conflict, and the weaponization of digital tools against them… Continue reading Countries uphold commitment to UN Peacekeeping at 2023 Ministerial in Ghana

Briefing ambassadors at the Security Council, Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, said that like the previous year, the year 2023 has been devastating for the people of Ukraine. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has verified 10,065 civilians killed and a further 18,679 injured since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.… Continue reading Ukraine: Lasting toll of war, ‘beyond measure’, Security Council hears

In a letter to the Council, Mr. Guterres invoked Article 99, contained in Chapter XV of the Charter. This says that the UN chief “may bring to attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.” In a statement to journalists along with the… Continue reading Guterres urges Security Council to act over Israel-Palestine crisis as threat to international peace and security

The High Commissioner also rejected allegations of double standards regarding the UN’s position on the crisis in Gaza, noting that he had been made aware of allegations of sexual violence during the Hamas attack on communities in southern Israel.  It was “painfully clear” that the “atrocious” attacks should be fully investigated, independently “because that is… Continue reading UN’s Türk urges probe into alleged sexual violence during Hamas terror attacks

6 December 2023Climate and Environment UN climate chief Simon Stiell said on Wednesday that COP28 delegates are not in Dubai to “score points” and play at “lowest-denominator politics”; they must take ambitious action on curbing global warming and ending the climate crisis. Mr. Stiell’s strong message to government negotiators comes as the latest UN climate… Continue reading COP28 is about action, not politics, ‘posturing or point scoring,’ says UN climate chief

Global perspective Human stories Peacekeepers serving with the Indian military contingent of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) during a “stand to” drill in Pibor, Jonglei State (file). 5 December 2023Climate and Environment The transition to renewable energy at UN peacekeeping missions helps to ensure the safety and security of uniformed personnel serving in… Continue reading Renewable energy boosts safety of UN peacekeepers

5 December 2023Climate and Environment With rising temperatures leading to demand for more air conditioners and other cooling equipment, a new UN report launched Tuesday at COP28 climate talks in Dubai lays out a pathway to cut emissions across the cooling sector worldwide.  Over 60 countries signed up to a so called ‘cooling pledge’ with… Continue reading COP28: Over 60 countries pledge to slash cooling emissions amid rising temperatures

Speaking from the southern city of Rafah, Dr. Rick Peeperkorn, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, described further bloodshed after the resumption of Israeli bombing last Friday. “The situation is getting worse by the hour,” Dr. Peeperkorn told journalists in Geneva via video link. “I mean…there’s intensified bombing going on all… Continue reading Desperation intensifies in Gaza amid uncertainty of ‘safe zones’

5 December 2023Climate and Environment The UN climate conference will continue its work on Tuesday focusing on issues that include scaling up financing for the Paris Agreement, slashing emissions in the cooling sector, ensuring a climate resilient energy sector and a dialogue with indigenous peoples. Will COP28 go down in history as a turning point… Continue reading COP28: Tuesday’s climate action in Dubai

Marked by record breaking land and ocean temperatures, the decade between 2011-2020 saw continued rising concentrations of greenhouse gasses that “turbo charged” dramatic glacier loss and sea-level rise, according to a new report from the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO).  The report comes as the latest annual UN climate conference, COP28, reaches its midway point… Continue reading UN says climate change surged alarmingly over the past decade as COP28 pushes for global emissions cuts

This year’s UN climate conference, underway in the United Arab Emirates’ largest city, Dubai, opened its second full week hearing a diverse cross-section of women leaders and activists raise their voices to call for ending existing gender gaps and mitigating the worsening impacts of climate change on women and girls. Prevailing gender norms, existing inequalities… Continue reading COP28: Women and climate advocates driving forward change together

Rising waters caused by torrential downpours have affected more than 2.4 million in the east African nation, while UN aid teams are increasingly concerned about the spread of waterborne diseases, said aid coordination office, OCHA.  Suspected cases of cholera have already been reported and humanitarians have highlighted how much of a threat this poses to… Continue reading World News in Brief: Somalia floods, Sudan cholera update, genocide prevention

Mr. Guterres is extremely alarmed by the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas this past Friday, including rocket fire towards Israel from Gaza and Israel’s renewed ground operations and intensified airstrikes, increasingly in the south of the enclave. “The UN continues to appeal to Israeli Forces to avoid further action that would exacerbate the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza… Continue reading UN chief calls on Israel to ‘spare civilians from more suffering’ in Gaza

They are taking part in the 2023 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, which opens in the capital, Accra, on Tuesday. The two-day meeting aims to secure vital political support and concrete commitments to strengthen UN Peacekeeping efforts to meet current and future challenges and needs, in line with ongoing reform under the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) framework… Continue reading Ghana meeting seeks to boost political support to strengthen UN Peacekeeping

The latest update from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, confirmed rising casualties and devastation amid “heavy Israeli bombardment from air, land and sea”. “From the afternoon of (Saturday) 2 December to the afternoon of (Sunday) 3 December, at least 316 people were killed and at least another 664 injured in Gaza,” OCHA’s situation update… Continue reading Gaza: Aid access to north now entirely blocked amid escalating bombing raids in south

Among them is young Senegalese singer and rapper Oumy Gueye, who goes by OMG and was triggered to embrace climate action when her grandparents’ home in Bargny east of the Senegalese capital Dakar was destroyed by rising seas.  She has been collaborating with UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA to advocate for humanitarian causes in the Sahel… Continue reading COP28: Bring the vulnerable to ‘front of the line’ for climate funding

Our planet has logged higher mean temperatures each year, with 2023 set to be the hottest on record. Ice sheets are melting and an unprecedented rate. Wildfires have made the air hazardous in some regions, while in other floods regularly threaten to contaminate drinking water. Against this backdrop, more and more people are being affected… Continue reading COP28: The climate crisis is also a health crisis

“Silence the guns and return to dialogue – the suffering inflicted on civilians is too much to bear. More violence is not the answer. It will bring neither peace nor security,” Volker Türk said in a statement, voicing deep concern that negotiations towards a continuation of last week’s pause had reportedly stalled. Fighting resumed on… Continue reading Gaza: UN rights chief appeals for end to violence and a return to dialogue

As the fourth day of this year’s UN climate conference got under way, the UN chief stated: “The fossil fuel industry is finally starting to wake up, but the promises made clearly fall short of what is required.” Reacting to the pledge announced on Saturday by several major oil and gas companies to reduce methane… Continue reading COP28: Methane pledge by the ‘giants behind the climate crisis’ falls short, says Guterres

Ahead of the first ever ‘Health Day’ at a UN climate conference, delegates signed onto a new declaration on climate and health and separately considered the role of digital technology can play in climate action.  The UN World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the new declaration, which aims to help accelerate actions to protect people from… Continue reading Tackling health impacts of climate change and scaling up digital climate action in the spotlight at COP28

On Friday, the Security Council adopted a resolution to close the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) following a request last month from the authorities. UNITAMS was established in June 2020 to provide support to Sudan for an initial 12-month period during its transition to democratic rule following the overthrow of President Omar… Continue reading World News in Brief: Engagement with Sudan, Red Sea vessel attacks, SDGs disabilities promise

The UN chief made this announcement in an address to a summit of developing country leaders taking place at the latest UN climate conference, COP28, now under way in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mr. Guterres, who has been a strong proponent of moving away from fossil fuels, told leaders of the Group of 77 Developing… Continue reading COP28: UN chief previews panel on management of minerals essential for green energy transition

Sudan’s military Government, whose forces have been battling the RSF militia for control of the country since April, has said that the UN mission was failing to meet expectations. The end of the UN Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) comes against the backdrop of the continuing war raging between rival militaries that has… Continue reading Security Council agrees to terminate UN mission in Sudan

The Global Drought Snapshot report, released by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Friday, coinciding with COP 28, paint a grim picture of the scale of lives and livelihoods lost to droughts. Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Unlike other disasters that attract media attention, droughts happen silently,… Continue reading Unprecedented drought emergency demands urgent action

1 December 2023Climate and Environment Agrifood systems and the communities that support and depend on them are on the front lines of loss and damage linked to climate change, a new report released on Friday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has revealed. The current climate crisis is affecting the world’s capacity to produce sufficient… Continue reading Global agrifood systems are the climate solution, new FAO report highlights 

The sound of shells exploding shortly after 7am Gaza time was clearly audible at Nasser hospital in the south, where terrified and traumatised youngsters immediately reacted by clinging to their mothers in fright, said James Elder from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). “The bombs started just a few seconds after the ceasefire (ended),” Mr. Elder… Continue reading Shock and terror in Gaza as bombardment of shattered enclave resumes

1 December 2023Climate and Environment Earth’s vital signs are failing and to prevent planetary crash and burn, “we need…cooperation and political will”, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said on Friday, challenging world leaders gathered in Dubai for COP28 to show real global climate leadership. The UN chief delivered his impassioned appeal at the high-level… Continue reading COP28: As ‘humanity’s fate hangs in the balance’, UN chief calls for urgent action to prevent planetary crash

Global perspective Human stories File photo from May 2023 when Beledweyne town was flooded after the Shabelle River burst its banks. 30 November 2023Climate and Environment Deadly torrential rains and floods have affected more than two million people in several areas of Somalia, with over 100 killed and 750,000 displaced from their homes, the authorities… Continue reading Needs rise as flooding spreads in Somalia

30 November 2023Peace and Security Civil society organizations are on the “frontlines” of peacebuilding, a senior UN official said on Thursday, as the Organization convened the inaugural dialogue with grassroots organizations aimed at building and nurturing peace initiatives on the ground. Elizabeth Spehar, UN Assistant-Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, emphasized the importance of civil society. “Civil… Continue reading Civil society an ‘unwavering force’ for peace: UN official

Releasing its 2023 World Malaria Report as nations gather at the UN climate change conference, COP28, the health agency warned that despite expanding access to malaria prevention, more people are getting sick with the disease. WHO documented 249 million cases in 2022, an increase of two million from 2021 and exceeding the pre-pandemic level of… Continue reading Climate change risks upending global fight against malaria

The latest update from UN aid coordination office OCHA indicated that two hospitals in Gaza City, Al Ahli and As Sahaba, had received a total of 10,500 litres of fuel, which is enough to operate their generators for about seven days. But humanitarians have warned that despite the pause in fighting, much more aid is… Continue reading World News in Brief: New relief window in Gaza, sexual violence in Sudan, new action against chemical weapons

30 November 2023Climate and Environment The latest round of UN-facilitated climate talks opened on Thursday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a warning that the world is taking “baby steps” in the face of a terrifying planetary crisis that requires bold action now. “We are taking baby steps and stepping far too slowly to work… Continue reading COP28 gets underway in Dubai with call for ‘terminal decline’ of the fossil fuel era

While 2023 is not yet over, a provisional report from the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that it is set to be the warmest on record, with global temperatures rising 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Mr. Guterres said that the race is on to keep alive the 1.5-degree limit agreed by world leaders… Continue reading Science points to ‘climate collapse’ as UN chief calls COP28 to action

Maria José Torres Macho travelled to Antarctica with the UN chief, Antonio Guterres, ahead of the global climate conference, COP28, which is getting underway in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates: “The sleeping continent hides under its beauty, its undeniable role as a key climate regulator for the planet. While we enjoyed the majestic and… Continue reading Impact of ‘failed promises’ on climate, evident in Antarctica: A UN Resident Coordinator blog

29 November 2023Peace and Security The UN Security Council is due to meet once again on Wednesday morning in New York on the Middle East crisis. This will be the first open meeting since the 15-member body passed a resolution in mid-November calling for the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas and extended humanitarian corridors… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council due to meet on Israel-Palestine crisis

29 November 2023Peace and Security Amid hopes of a deal to extend the pause in fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported that humanitarian assistance had reached its shelters in northern Gaza for first time since war erupted last month. “As we drove through Gaza… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis: Gaza City a ‘ghost town’, reports UN aid agency

Najat Rochdi, UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, told ambassadors at the Security Council that Israeli airstrikes hit Damascus airport this weekend, following several other airstrikes and artillery fire on locations across the country, reportedly killing one civilian airport worker. She added that the airstrikes coincided with reports of rocket and missile launches from southern… Continue reading Syria: ‘A dozen different powder kegs’

At the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat signed a framework agreement on human rights, which follows a previous accord on peace and security, and another on development.  Speaking afterwards to reporters, they underscored the need to reform the global financial architecture to reflect current realities. “What Africa needs… Continue reading UN and African Union sign new human rights agreement

Addressing the Assembly’s annual debate on the Question of Palestine, Dennis Francis urged UN Member States to find common ground, engage with each other in good faith, and increase collective resolve to end the crisis. “The longer the fear, distrust, appetite for revenge, hatred, and anxiety fester and deepen further – the more lethal the… Continue reading Francis calls for longer-term humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza

The report, published on Tuesday by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) and the UN political mission in Haiti (BINUH), calls for the urgent deployment of the multinational security support mission authorized by the UN Security Council in October. But alongside that, greater efforts will need to be made to strengthen the institutions of the… Continue reading Haiti: Gangs move into rural areas as Türk says new force ‘must be deployed’

Here’s what you need to know: The last COP was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022. What is a ‘COP’? UN climate conferences are government-level large-scale annual gatherings focused on climate action. They are also referred to as COPs – Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC… Continue reading Explainer: What’s COP28 and why is it important?

28 November 2023Humanitarian Aid As the pause in fighting in Gaza appeared to enter a fifth day on Tuesday, UN humanitarians warned that aid deliveries needed to multiply immediately to save the lives of the injured and stem the risk of a deadly disease outbreak that has left doctors “terrified”. Priorities include transporting fuel to… Continue reading Gaza doctors ‘terrified’ of deadly disease outbreak as aid teams race to deliver

Mr. Elder met with children and their families in Gaza, during the humanitarian pause in fighting, which was called after weeks of intense shelling and bombardment that killed and injured thousands and displaced 1.7 million Palestinians. The conflict erupted on 7 October, when Hamas attacked Israel, killed over 1,200 people and captured more than 200 hostages.… Continue reading First Person: Trauma, stress and sadness take root in Gaza

27 November 2023Peace and Security The recent launch of a reconnaissance satellite by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), presents a ‘serious risk’ to international civil aviation and shipping, the Security Council heard on Monday.  The UN’s Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Mohamed Khaled Khiari, told ambassadors the satellite had been loaded onto… Continue reading DPR Korea: Military satellites, ‘serious risk’ to civil aviation and shipping

27 November 2023Climate and Environment World leaders at this week’s climate conference, COP28, must break the deadly cycle of global warming before a “deadly tipping point” is reached, said the UN chief on Monday. UN Secretary-General António Guterres was briefing reporters in New York after seeing for himself over the weekend the “profoundly shocking” speed at… Continue reading Hopes for a sustainable planet must not ‘melt away’: Guterres

That’s the message from UN health agency WHO, which said on Monday that negotiators at the upcoming meeting must recognize their responsibility “for the health of populations worldwide”. “Leaders must deliver in Dubai, providing the strong health outcomes their peoples expect and their economies urgently need,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.  According to the… Continue reading World News in Brief: Delivering on health at COP28, aid for north Darfur, food standards watchdog turns 60

And as the UN emergency relief coordination office, OCHA, reported that people in the south were queuing for kilometres to obtain cooking gas and resorting to burning window frames and doors for cooking, it added that the four-day humanitarian pause agreed upon by Israel and Hamas has been “largely maintained”. Under the agreement, Hamas released 17… Continue reading Gaza: Vital aid reaches shattered north as halt to fighting enters fourth day

26 November 2023Climate and Environment There is an urgent need for a transformative shift towards more sustainable transport the UN chief said on Sunday, emphasizing the importance of cleaner energy to combat climate change. “This first World Sustainable Transport Day reminds us that the road to a better future depends on cleaner and greener transportation systems,”… Continue reading Hitching a ride to a better future: Sustainable Transport Day

25 November 2023Humanitarian Aid Sixty-one trucks hauled aid to northern Gaza on Saturday – the largest number since 7 October, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The freight included food, water and emergency medical supplies. Eleven ambulances, 3 coaches and a flatbed were delivered to Al Shifa hospital to be used… Continue reading UN confirms more aid entering Gaza as humanitarian pause holds for second day

24 November 2023Humanitarian Aid On a sunny day, Ivan, a burly retired welder in his fifties, stood in front of his ruined house in Posad-Pokrovske, in the Kherson region of Ukraine. A landmine warning sign behind a fence of a destroyed house in Posad-Pokrovske in the Kherson region of Ukraine. “Blackberries grew in front of… Continue reading From the Field: A destroyed Ukrainian village rebuilds

24 November 2023Climate and Environment Antarctica has been called the sleeping giant, but it is now being awoken by climate chaos, the UN Secretary-General has warned. António Guterres is in Antarctica this week, where he saw first-hand how climate change is impacting the world’s southernmost continent, which is mostly covered in ice. The heat is… Continue reading In visit to Antarctica, Guterres appeals for action to end ‘climate anarchy’

24 November 2023Humanitarian Aid Humanitarians are urgently scaling up aid in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where an escalating crisis is again unfolding, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said on Friday. Violent clashes between non-state armed groups and government forces have displaced more than 450,000 people… Continue reading Clashes in eastern DR Congo displace 450,000 in six weeks

They reiterated calls for access to all parts of the war-shattered enclave where the death toll inched towards 15,000 and many displaced people were sleeping in the streets. UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva that the hope regarding the agreement between Israel and Hamas announced earlier this week… Continue reading Gaza: start of truce feeds hopes for respite, access to people in need: UN humanitarians

According to media reports, ongoing negotiations over the Israel-Hamas agreement on a four-day humanitarian pause and the freeing of hostages held by the Palestinian armed group since its 7 October terror attacks indicated that the deal’s entry into force was believed to be unlikely before Friday. Amid rising hunger, UN World Food Programme (WFP) chief… Continue reading With Gaza truce on horizon, UN relief teams stand ready to ramp up aid

Briefing the Security Council, Sima Bahous, Catherine Russell and Natalia Kanem – heads of UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA), respectively – also welcomed the agreement on the release of some of the hostages taken during the Hamas attack on… Continue reading UN agency heads unite in urgent plea for women and children in Gaza

22 November 2023SDGs At a time when people are hurting and the planet is burning, the world’s advanced economies can take the lead in ensuring financial, structural and climate justice, the UN Secretary-General said in remarks to the virtual G20 Summit convened by India on Wednesday.  António Guterres said the world, particularly developing countries, is… Continue reading Guterres urges G20 to lead the way in financial and climate justice

The country, known colloquially as North Korea, claimed to have carried out a third attempt to launch a ballistic missile on Tuesday, according to media reports. Comply with obligations Any such launch is contrary to relevant Security Council resolutions, Mr. Guterres said in a statement issued later that day by his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.… Continue reading World News in Brief: DPR Korea missile launch, malaria vaccines in Cameroon, solidarity with Haiti

“This is an important step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done,” Mr. Guterres said via a statement from his spokesperson Farhan Haq.   The top UN official leading efforts to secure a lasting peace in the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, echoed those comments and also welcomed the announced 96-hour “humanitarian… Continue reading Gaza: UN welcomes deal for pause in fighting, hostage-release pact

The Monitoring Mission stated that the casualty figure represents deaths verified according to its methodology, cautioning that the actual figure may be significantly higher given the challenges and time required for verification. “Ten thousand civilian deaths is a grim milestone for Ukraine,” said Danielle Bell, head of the Monitoring Mission, adding that the war, now… Continue reading Ukraine: Civilian casualties mount, as war enters second winter

Global perspective Human stories The United Nations and the Olympic flags raised at UN Headquarters. (file) 21 November 2023Peace and Security Ahead of the Summer Olympics in Paris next year, the UN General Assembly has urged countries to maintain the ancient Greek tradition of observing peace worldwide before, during and after the Games. This follows… Continue reading General Assembly resolution upholds the Olympic Truce

21 November 2023Health UN agencies on Tuesday issued an urgent call for action, emphasizing the severe health risks faced by pregnant women, babies and children due to worsening climate catastrophes. In Protecting maternal, newborn and child health from the impacts of climate change, the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and UN Children’s… Continue reading UN agencies urge action to safeguard maternal, child health amidst climate crisis

Addressing an open debate of the Security Council on the link, António Guterres said that while development alone cannot guarantee peace, it is an essential component. “No peace is secure without inclusive and sustainable development that leaves no one behind,” he said, drawing parallels to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable… Continue reading Secure peace with inclusive, sustainable development, UN chief says

Catherine Russell made the appeal in a statement to mark World Children’s Day, which commemorates the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.  “At no time since the CRC was adopted 34 years ago have children’s rights been in greater… Continue reading Children’s rights in jeopardy 34 years after landmark UN treaty

20 November 2023Climate and Environment With global temperatures soaring and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reaching unprecedented levels, dramatic climate action is needed to steer the world away from runaway climate change and align it to the objectives of the Paris Agreement, a major UN report has found. The 2023 Emissions Gap Report, released on Monday… Continue reading UN urges dramatic climate action as records keep tumbling

20 November 2023Peace and Security In Gaza, where two UN-run schools received direct hits over the weekend amid intensified fighting, the plight of civilians continues to worsen as heavy rain falls across the enclave. A tweet by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA on Monday, described the situation in shelters as “unliveable”. It said… Continue reading Gazans have ‘no options’ for safety as offensive continues

“This war is having a staggering and unacceptable number of civilian casualties, including women and children, every day,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement on Sunday. “This must stop. I reiterate my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.” Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said in a statement on Sunday… Continue reading ‘This must stop,’ UN chief says as deaths, displacement ripple across Gaza

Fuel restrictions are curtailing aid efforts, the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said amid reports of fresh attacks on schools and other civilian infrastructure and rising needs among more than 1.5 million displaced Gazans. Fuel deliveries for aid operations have been largely prohibited since Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October left at least… Continue reading Restricted fuel deliveries curtail aid efforts in Gaza amid fresh attacks on schools

17 November 2023Human Rights The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has voiced alarm over reports of another ethnically motivated mass attack in the Darfur region of Sudan, amidst the ongoing conflict between the national army and a rival military known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).  Hundreds of ethnic Masalit civilians were reportedly killed earlier… Continue reading ‘Six days of terror’ in West Darfur: Ethnically-based attacks on the rise

More than 1.5 million Gazans are displaced, 18 hospitals have shut down, and hundreds of thousands are living in fear and under continuing Israeli bombardment. “Casualties continue to mount, with the dead reportedly exceeding 11,000 people – the majority of them children and women,” said Emergency Relief Coordinator and Humanitarian Affairs chief, Martin Griffiths. “The… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Humanitarian crisis in Gaza could get far worse, warns UN relief chief

In the fighting so far, about 70 civilians – and combatants who are out of action – have reportedly been killed and over 90 wounded, according to the UN human rights office (OHCHR). The fighting has also fuelled a fresh wave of displacement, driving over 200,000 people from their homes since 27 October. In all,… Continue reading Myanmar: Intense fighting spreads to cities, as civilians seek shelter

“What we do know is that the health system is on its knees,” said Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, World Health Organization Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in the wake of Hamas militants’ terror attack on Israel on 7 October that left 1,200 dead and the heavy bombardment of the enclave by the Israeli military in response.   ‘Endless need’  Speaking from Jerusalem… Continue reading Gaza: ‘Endless needs’ reflect spiralling situation as hospitals shut down, WHO warns

16 November 2023Peace and Security The war between rival militaries in Sudan, which has been raging for over seven months has further intensified in recent weeks, particularly in the volatile Darfur region, a senior UN official said on Thursday. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, informed ambassadors on the Security Council that the… Continue reading Sudan: Deadly spiral of violence continues between military rivals

First Sergeant Renita Rismayanti received the prestigious Woman Police Officer of the Year Award during a ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York. At 27, she is the youngest recipient in the Award’s 13-year history. Working for change  Ms. Rismayanti is deployed as a crime database officer at MINUSCA, which has a mandate that includes… Continue reading UN’s top Woman Police Officer ‘a young agent of change’

WFP food aid in the country, which was suspended in June, will aim to reach 3.2 million people after the relaunch. ‘Working around the clock’ WFP chief Cindy McCain said that the agency’s teams and partners “have been working around the clock to get to this point.” The UN agency’s new approach will rely on… Continue reading World News in Brief: Ethiopia food aid resumes, ‘Stop the Lies’ campaign against big tobacco, Syria ruling, climate action – key to peace

Speaking at the Assembly’s annual debate assessing the UN’s premier forum for peace and security, Dennis Francis said that without structural reform, the Council’s performance and legitimacy will inevitably continue to suffer. “Violence and war continue to spread in regions across the world, while the United Nations seems paralyzed due largely to the divisions in… Continue reading Security Council reform a must, to end ‘paralysis’

In a wide-ranging briefing to journalists in Geneva, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini reiterated calls for a ceasefire and addressed misinformation targeting the agency, including claims that aid is being diverted. He said he has also received reports of UN schools being used “for military purposes”. Commitment in crisis During the briefing, Mr. Lazzarini said he had received reports that Gaza was under… Continue reading Gaza: Lack of fuel threatening to shut down ‘entire’ humanitarian operation

Speaking in Geneva, the High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Hamas commanders and Israel to seize a “political path out of this horror”.  Mr. Türk condemned the widespread targeting of civilians in the past five weeks of hostilities and urged accountability for gross rights violations. He stressed that attacks directed at “hospitals, schools, markets and… Continue reading Gaza: UN’s Türk urges ‘political path out of horror’

Barricaded for two weeks at the outset of the conflict, the Rafah crossing re-opened on 21 October following an Israel-Egyptian deal for limited entry of humanitarian aid deliveries. Still, only a trickle is getting across the border. While media reports announce fresh efforts to get aid to Gaza, like French and Italian hospital ships and… Continue reading Explainer: How aid reaches Gaza

15 November 2023Peace and Security The Security Council is poised to meet again at 3:00 PM New York time on Wednesday to attempt to find unity in its response to the worsening Israel-Palestine crisis, which began on 7 October with terror attacks by Hamas fighters, and the retaliatory siege and offensive launched against their Gaza… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council due to meet again on Israel-Palestine crisis

15 November 2023Climate and Environment Greenhouse gas emissions reached a record high in 2022 with “no end in sight to the rising trend”, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a report published on Wednesday.  The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin comes ahead of the UN climate change conference COP28 which opens in Dubai in two weeks.… Continue reading ‘No end in sight’ to rising greenhouse gas emissions, UN weather agency warns

15 November 2023Peace and Security The UN’s top emergency relief official unveiled a 10-point plan “to rein in the carnage” in Gaza on Wednesday which focuses on a major expansion of aid into into the wartorn enclave, along with a new call for humanitarian ceasefires and the release of hostages taken during Hamas’s 7 October… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis: UN emergency relief chief unveils 10-point plan ‘to rein in the carnage’

14 November 2023Climate and Environment The COP28 climate conference held in Dubai later this month “must be the place to urgently close the climate ambition gap”, as emissions continue to rise and climate chaos intensifies, UN chief António Guterres insisted on Tuesday. Mr. Guterres was commenting on the latest report by UN climate change body… Continue reading ‘Close the climate ambition gap’ says UN chief ahead of COP28

Ambassadors met for their annual briefing with the heads of UN Police Components serving at field missions. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, opened the meeting by highlighting the importance of continuously enhancing and adapting peacekeeping to match changing conditions. Unique responses required “Many challenges to global peace, security and development today – such as,… Continue reading Security Council: Police need greater support amid ‘many challenges’

Diabetes is a chronic disease which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. WHO said that more than 460 million people worldwide live with diabetes and millions more are at risk. The UN health agency stressed that people with the condition require… Continue reading World News in Brief: Diabetes on the rise, UN prisoners in Yemen, Ukraine war fuels rise in landmine casualties

14 November 2023Health Cholera vaccines are expected to arrive in Sudan this month as the country continues to face a deadly outbreak of the disease amidst the ongoing war, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on Tuesday.  UN agencies and partners are scaling up response to the outbreak, which was first declared in Gedaref… Continue reading Humanitarians step up response to deadly cholera outbreak in Sudan

“Rain will just add further to the suffering” of people in the Strip, WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris told reporters in Geneva, at a time when disruptions in sewage pumping and water shortages have caused a spike in waterborne diseases and bacterial infections.  The World Health Organization warned last week that since mid-October, over 33,500 cases of… Continue reading Besieged Gaza hospital misery continues while rainfall prompts new health scare

13 November 2023Climate and Environment Negotiators from around the world gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday for fresh talks over a landmark international treaty to combat plastic pollution.  The urgency of this effort is underscored by the ongoing global plastic pollution crisis, where approximately 430 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually.  Around two-thirds of it… Continue reading New round of plastics pollution treaty talks underway in Nairobi

The situation is unfolding as “lives are hanging by a thread”, including those of babies in incubators at hospitals that depend on fuel for electricity, Andrea De Domenico, Head of OCHA’s office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, told journalists in New York on Monday. “Humanitarian ceasefire, fuel supplies – all of these should be happening now. We are running out… Continue reading Fuel shortage could put the brakes on trucks delivering aid to Gaza

The double burden of dwindling availability – and inadequate water for drinking and sanitation services – is compounding the challenge, putting children at even greater risk. The Climate Changed Child – released ahead of the COP28 UN climate change summit later this month in Dubai – throws a spotlight on the threat facing vulnerable children. It… Continue reading World News in Brief: Water crisis for children, hunger in East Africa, new Yazidi memorial

The fallen colleagues worked for the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, providing life-saving aid to Gaza’s 2.2 million people, amid constant bombardment and a complete siege of the enclave. They included school principals, teachers, doctors, engineers, guards, and support staff. Many were killed along with their family members. Minute of silence UN officials… Continue reading UN honours 101 staff killed in Gaza conflict

12 November 2023Peace and Security Police First Sergeant Renita Rismayanti of Indonesia, who serves with the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), has been named this year’s winner of the prestigious Woman Police Officer of the Year Award. She will receive the honour at a special ceremony at UN Headquarters in New… Continue reading Indonesian peacekeeper wins UN Woman Police Officer of the year award

The UN’s health agency WHO said on Sunday night that according to the Gaza health authorities, 37 premature babies at the hospital were relocated over the weekend to an operating room without their incubators, with health workers trying to heat the room. According to the latest media reports on Monday, six babies at Al-Shifa have… Continue reading Gaza City: Babies dying in hospital amid scenes of devastation

The regional directors of the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), children’s agency UNICEF and health agency WHO, said they were “horrified” at latest reports which indicate many have been killed – including children – in facilities across Gaza city and other northern areas of the Strip. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society is reporting… Continue reading Gaza: UN agencies make plea for international action to end hospital attacks

In a statement, the Israeli military denied that it had targeted Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which they claim is above a Hamas command post, but have acknowledged that fighting is happening “around” the facility. UN relief and humanitarian affairs chief, Martin Griffiths, tweeted that in light of “horrific reports of attacks”, there could be… Continue reading Attacks on or near Gaza hospitals ‘unconscionable, reprehensible and must stop’: Relief chief

Philippe Lazzarini was addressing an emergency summit convened by the League of Arab States and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation where he called for urgent support for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory on three fronts. He called on leaders at the Arab-Islamic summit to “act now to change the trajectory” of the crisis that began… Continue reading ‘Genuine prospect of Palestinian statehood is critical’, UNRWA chief tells emergency summit in Saudi Arabia

10 November 2023Peace and Security  The international community must act now to end the bloodshed and suffering in Gaza, scores of UN Ambassadors in Geneva said in a joint call on Friday.  More than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed in just one of month of conflict, they said, citing local health authorities. Children, women and… Continue reading 70 UN Ambassadors in Geneva urge international action on Gaza

10 November 2023Peace and Security The UN Security Council is due to meet at 3pm (New York time) on Friday to discuss the ongoing Israel-Palestine crisis as negotiations continue behind the scenes to reach some consensus position over the war raging in Gaza, within the 15 member body. Join us here for live updates. 2:20… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council due to meet again on Israel-Palestine crisis

The assessment by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) looks at preliminary socio-economic impacts, warning that poverty could spike while Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could plummet by 8.4 per cent, which translates into a loss of $1.7 billion. Lamenting the loss of life, suffering and ongoing… Continue reading Gaza conflict could spark rise in poverty, UN agencies warn

“Water is scarce and fear is pervasive” in Gaza, Mr. Türk told journalists in Amman, recounting a conversation he had minutes earlier with a colleague in Gaza who had to flee Israeli bombardments with his family. “His children, aged nine and seven, are asking him questions he does not know how to answer: ‘Why is… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis: Amid war crimes fears, UN rights chief renews calls to stop violence, free hostages 

Global perspective Human stories Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General (file). 9 November 2023Peace and Security Any plans for short-term pauses in the fighting in Gaza must be carried out in coordination with the UN and following agreement by all sides, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said on Thursday during his regular press briefing… Continue reading Gaza: ‘Humanitarian pauses’ will need coordination with the UN

The funding appeal – launched on Thursday in Geneva – will be used to implement a three-phase programme to provide immediate relief and support longer-term job and business recovery, as well as social protection. “The hostilities have resulted in – and continue to cause – both a tragic loss of human life, and an unprecedented… Continue reading $20 million appeal to support Palestine labour market

Echoing his remarks with French President Emmanuel Macron looking on, the head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, stressed the “heart-breaking” plight of children in the territory, whom he saw last week “pleading for a piece of bread and a sip of water”. Mass displacement has led to severe overcrowding in… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis: Silence the guns, UN relief chief tells Paris forum

8 November 2023Human Rights The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reiterated the call for an urgent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas during a visit to the Rafah crossing and El Arish Hospital in Egypt on Wednesday.  Volker Türk highlighted the dichotomy at the border crossing, describing it as a “lifeline” for the 2.3 million… Continue reading At Rafah crossing, Türk says both Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes

That’s the message from UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which said on Wednesday that for the calendar year to date, the global mean temperature is the highest ever recorded, 1.43 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and sea ice in the Antarctic remains at record low levels. WMO expects the warming El Niño climate pattern to last… Continue reading 2023 likely hottest year on record; further spike expected with El Niño

8 November 2023Climate and Environment Contrary to pledges to cut fossil fuel production, government policies worldwide will add up to a doubling of production in 2030, a new report from the UN environment agency (UNEP) revealed on Wednesday. “The 2023 Production Gap report is a startling indictment of runaway climate carelessness,” the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said… Continue reading Fossil fuel producers ‘literally doubling down’, new UNEP report warns

“The war that erupted without warning turned previously peaceful Sudanese homes into cemeteries,” said Dominique Hyde, Director of External Relations at UNHCR. She visited the country last week, and witnessed a surge in human suffering. “Away from the eyes of the world and the news headlines, the conflict in Sudan continues to rage. Across the… Continue reading Sudan war turning ‘homes into cemeteries’: UNHCR

“Every day, you think it is the worst day and then the next day is worse,” UN health agency spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said, quoting a colleague in Gaza, which remains under almost complete blockade. “Access, access, access is necessary.” 160 children killed daily The level of death and suffering is “hard to fathom”, Mr. Lindmeier… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis: UN humanitarians plead for ‘access, access, access’

“The nightmare in Gaza is more than a humanitarian crisis.  It is a crisis of humanity,” he said, speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York. He also voiced ongoing grave concern over rising violence and an expansion of the conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, stating that “the occupied West Bank, including… Continue reading Gaza: ‘Unfolding catastrophe’ makes humanitarian ceasefire more urgent

“With the conflict in Sudan, the conditions are not conducive for talks on the final status of Abyei. The progress that was made [earlier this year] unfortunately was not something that we could build upon,” Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Horn of Africa, told ambassadors. “Key Sudanese and South Sudanese leaders… Continue reading Sudan crisis has ‘effectively put on hold’ political dispute over Abyei

The figure represents nearly 10 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the 2023 edition of The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) – the agency’s flagship report – which covers 154 countries.  Acknowledgment and action It introduces the concept of the hidden costs and benefits of agrifood systems, offering a framework through which… Continue reading FAO report reveals hidden costs of agrifood systems

With the civil war between rival militaries now in its 200th day, children “continue to pay the highest price for a crisis not of their making – increasingly with their own lives”, said the agency in a statement. There are more children now displaced there than anywhere in the world, with three million fleeing the… Continue reading World News in Brief: Sudan and South Sudan updates, Ukraine heritage under fire in Odesa

Among those uniting behind the message that “enough is enough”, UN relief chief Martin Griffiths renewed earlier pleas for the immediate and unconditional release of the more than 240 hostages captured by Hamas and held in Gaza since 7 October. All parties should respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, the UN… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis: ‘Enough is enough’ say UN humanitarians

Global perspective Human stories WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. 5 November 2023Humanitarian Aid The head of UN’s emergency food relief agency on Sunday issued an urgent appeal from the Rafah border crossing for safe, expanded humanitarian access to Gaza as critical food supplies in the ravaged enclave reach dangerously low levels. “Right now, parents in… Continue reading WFP appeals for urgent expanded access to Gaza as food supplies ‘dangerously low’

4 November 2023Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “horrified” by a strike on an ambulance convoy outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip on Friday, reiterating his appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire. “I am horrified by the reported attack in Gaza on an ambulance convoy outside Al Shifa hospital. The images… Continue reading Guterres ‘horrified’ by strike on ambulance convoy in Gaza

The recent launch of the UN-led AI Advisory Body advanced a growing global trend to harness machine learning to find solutions to common challenges. AI is upping the data crunching game and a growing number of governments, businesses and civil society partners are working together to reap its many benefits. That includes speeding up and scaling efforts… Continue reading Explainer: How AI helps combat climate change

3 November 2023Peace and Security Myanmar witnessed a sharp escalation in fighting between the military and opposition groups this week fuelling a surge in new displacements, the UN humanitarian wing has said. Clashes intensified on Sunday and continued through the week, significantly impacting northeast and southeast Myanmar and forcing over 48,000 people from their homes,… Continue reading Sharp uptick in fighting in Myanmar, UN humanitarians report

3 November 2023Climate and Environment Spanning from city to savannah, and from mountaintops to mangroves, the world’s 748 biosphere reserves are being celebrated this Friday for their diversity and contribution to a green global future.  These sites promote biodiversity conservation with sustainable use and are located across 134 countries, with 21 new reserves added in… Continue reading World’s diverse biospheres ‘making peace with the natural world’

3 November 2023Peace and Security Russia has bombarded more than 100 Ukrainian towns across nearly half of its regions in the past two days according to the Ukrainian Government, many near the frontlines. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric strongly condemned “the latest wave of attacks against critical infrastructure in various parts of the country, which reportedly… Continue reading Ukraine: UN condemns latest wave of Russian attacks

Their humanitarian update opened with a moment of silence for all those who have lost their lives since the start of the conflict on 7 October, and for the 240 Israeli men, women and children still being held hostage by Hamas. “What we’ve seen unfold over the last 26 days in Israel and in the… Continue reading Humanitarian ceasefires critical to meet immense needs in Gaza

The stark report comes against the backdrop of a sharp uptick in fighting between the Government’s Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF and heightened intercommunal tensions in the restive region. The rival militaries plunged the country into a brutal civil war more than six months ago. Thousands have died and more than 5.7 million are… Continue reading Sudan: Women and girls abducted, held ‘in slave-like conditions’ in Darfur

Briefing reporters in Geneva on Friday UN health agency (WHO) spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said that in Israel, where 1,400 people have been killed so far, and in Gaza, where over 9,000 have been killed according to Hamas run authorities, 70 per cent of the victims are women and children. “It’s the innocent civilians that are… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis: ‘It’s the innocent civilians who are losing’

It opened for signatures in 1996 and has been ratified by 178 countries. Some major powers including the US and China have not done so, and it has yet to come into force, lacking the required support. According to the Kremlin, say media reports, the move levels the nuclear playing field given the failure of… Continue reading World News in Brief: Russia pulls out of nuclear test ban treaty, climate ‘health crisis’, pushback against bullying

Between January 2019 and June 2022, the agency documented 759 individual attacks against journalists, including five killings, during 89 elections in 70 countries. Most of these attacks – which included beating and arbitrary arrest – were committed by police and security forces. Attacked from all around  The findings come in a report published in tandem with the International Day to End… Continue reading Day highlighting journalists under fire focuses on protection during elections

The Adaptation Gap Report 2023 issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), says the world is underprepared, under invested and lacking the necessary planning, leaving us all exposed. It warns that instead of speeding up, progress on adapting to climate change is stalling. The slowdown extends to finance, planning and implementation, says UNEP, with massive… Continue reading Climate action: ‘Take steps to close the adaptation gap, now’

2 November 2023Peace and Security The number of people killed in Gaza is nearing the 9,000 mark amid mounting concerns over the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes on a densely-populated refugee camp near Gaza City, while a key hospital has stopped operations and UN humanitarians are unable to deliver aid to the north as the ground… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis: Gaza’s north cut off from aid; death toll rising

1 November 2023Peace and Security More than 820 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have been displaced amid settler violence and increased movement restrictions since the Hamas terror attacks of 7 October and the start of Israel’s assault on Gaza, the UN relief wing said on Wednesday. Israeli settler violence has increased significantly, from an… Continue reading Rise in intimidation, settler violence in the West Bank, warns OCHA

“We have been working with Egypt’s Health Ministry on planning for medical evacuations and will continue to support,” said the World Health Organization (WHO) head. His comments came amid reports that the Rafah passenger terminal between Egypt and Gaza had been allowed to opened on an exceptional basis Wednesday morning for the first time since… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis: UN welcomes first medical evacuations from Gaza

“It is an honor to be here in Lumbini – a site of spirituality, serenity, and peace,” Mr. Guterres began.   “I am deeply moved to have been invited to pay tribute to Lord Buddha.” A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lumbini in southern Nepal, is known as the birthplace of Lord Buddha. It holds immense… Continue reading On sacred ground in Nepal, UN chief calls for global action for peace

Secretary-General António Guterres also reiterated his call for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” between Israeli forces and militants from Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and other militant groups. Consistent flow of aid essential In a statement, Mr. Guterres said depriving Gaza’s people basic supplies was only “compounding the human tragedy” of the conflict, calling for… Continue reading Guterres blasts ‘completely inadequate’ levels of aid for Gaza civilians

31 October 2023Humanitarian Aid As the world’s attention focuses on the unfolding emergency in the Gaza Strip, a senior UN aid official on Tuesday urged the Security Council not to overlook the equally “brutal and far-reaching” crisis in Ukraine. Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Coordination Division at the UN relief wing OCHA, addressed ambassadors, highlighting… Continue reading Amid Middle East crisis, ‘brutal and far-reaching’ war continues in Ukraine

UN relief chief Martin Griffiths, who has been visiting Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, spoke to families in Gaza over the phone from east Jerusalem on Tuesday and said that what they have endured since the start of Israel’s retaliation for Hamas’ deadly 7 October attacks is “beyond devastating”. “When an eight-year-old tells you… Continue reading Toll of Israel-Palestine crisis on children ‘beyond devastating’

30 October 2023Climate and Environment Next month’s UN climate summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) must respond decisively to the gaps in the intranational community’s response climate crisis, Deputy-Secretary-General Amina Mohamed said on Monday. Ms. Mohammed, delivering opening remarks to a preparatory meeting, or Pre-Cop, being held in Abu Dahbi, underscored that the next… Continue reading Upcoming COP28 summit must ‘respond decisively’ to gaps in global climate action

Briefing the Security Council, Geir Pedersen said the country had been in a “strategic stalemate” since March 2020, with the brutal conflict now marked by static front lines, persistent violence, and sporadic escalation in fighting. De facto authorities are strengthening control, while foreign armies remain active, he told ambassadors. The lack of a meaningful political… Continue reading Immediate de-escalation ‘only antidote’ to conflict in Syria

30 October 2023Peace and Security Following four failed efforts to reach consensus on a Gaza resolution, the UN Security Council is set to meet on Monday afternoon (New York time) to discuss the ongoing crisis, amid continuing Israeli bombardment and reported ground incursions. We will have the live coverage of the meeting here as soon… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: UN Security Council to meet again on Gaza crisis

30 October 2023Climate and Environment UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called on the world to “stop the madness” of climate change as he visited the Everest region in Nepal where melting glaciers are putting entire communities at risk of extinction. Nepal has lost almost a third of its ice volume in 30 years, with… Continue reading ‘Stop the madness’ of climate change, UN chief declares

Scientists agree that climate change is real and is caused by unsustainable human activity such as the burning of fossil fuels, yet certain actors continue to spread mis- and disinformation, creating harmful misperceptions that can stifle effective climate action. Climate action is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In a discussion Tackling mis/dis-information: An urgent… Continue reading Tackling climate mis/disinformation: ‘An urgent frontier for action’

The vicinities of Shifa and Al Quds hospitals in Gaza city and of the Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza, have been bombarded over the weekend, UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA said. “This followed renewed calls by the Israeli military to evacuate these facilities immediately,” OCHA added. Evacuation remains ‘impossible’ According to OCHA, some 117,000… Continue reading Gaza hospitals hanging on by a thread: UN humanitarians

29 October 2023Peace and Security The United Nations has welcomed the resumption of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to end the months-long conflict between the Sudanese army and its rival paramilitary force which lefts scores dead and sent the northeast African country spiraling into humanitarian crisis. “The Jeddah talks cannot have started soon enough. More… Continue reading UN seeks end to ‘colossal’ humanitarian tragedy as Sudan’s military factions resume Saudi-hosted talks

The United Nations agency dealing with Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and the UN World Foord Programme (WFP) were among the humanitarian organizations reporting the incidents, which follow a harrowing 24-hour communication blackout and persistent access challenges. One of the warehouses that was stormed, in Deir al-Balah, is where UNRWA stores supplies from the humanitarian convoys coming… Continue reading Thousands in Gaza storm UN warehouses; a sign of desperation after weeks-long ‘siege’

In an interview with UN News, UN Human Rights Council-appointed expert Francesca Albanese, said it was “impossible to describe the pain and suffering that Israelis are going through because of what happened to them because there are not only those who were killed, those who were taken hostage, but there is an entire population that… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis has ‘reached an unprecedented level of dehumanisation’: Independent rights expert

28 October 2023Humanitarian Aid United Nations agencies and officials on Saturday reiterated calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza after another night of heavy bombing left hospitals and healthcare facilities without electricity and civilians across the enclave virtually “cut off from the outside world”.  Secretary-General António Guterres said on X, formerly Twitter: “I reiterate my… Continue reading Gaza Crisis: UN ramps up calls for humanitarian truce as Israeli bombardments cut communications, cripple healthcare

A UN inter-agency convoy reached the front-line community of Huliaipole, located in the Zaporizhzhia region, bringing medicine, shelter kits, hygiene items and other assistance to support some 2,000 people. The town has suffered large-scale destruction and remains without power, water and gas, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking from New York. “Today’s humanitarian convoy was… Continue reading World News in Brief: Ukraine aid convoy, attacks in South Sudan, radioactive discharge update

27 October 2023Peace and Security The United Nations General Assembly on Friday adopted a major resolution on the Gaza crisis, calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.” The resolution breaks the deadlock at the UN over a response to the Israel-Palestine crisis which erupted on 7 October,… Continue reading Gaza crisis: General Assembly adopts resolution calling for ‘humanitarian truce’, civilian protection

Harmful disinformation about the ongoing conflict in the wake of the 7 October attacks by Hamas against Israel continues to circulate online, with potentially dangerous consequences on the ground. While misinformation refers to the accidental spread of falsehoods, disinformation can be circulated intentionally by State or non-State actors, including during an armed conflict, to influence… Continue reading Explainer: Fighting for facts amid crisis in Israel and Gaza

What’s an emergency special session? When the UN Security Council is unable to shoulder its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security, as has thus far been the case following the 7 October outbreak of the latest Israel-Palestine crisis, the General Assembly can consider the matter immediately in an emergency special session. UN Member… Continue reading Explainer: What is a UN General Assembly emergency special session and why it matters

27 October 2023Human Rights The world cannot forget about Syria, the Head of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the country has said, while also highlighting how the war there is connected to the conflict raging in the Middle East.  Paulo Pinheiro spoke to UN News this week after presenting his latest report to… Continue reading Syrian war at ‘worst point’ in four years, says Commission of Inquiry head

27 October 2023Humanitarian Aid With the humanitarian system in Gaza on the verge of “total collapse”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday again appealed for greater aid access to the besieged enclave, where “misery is growing by the minute.”  “Life-saving humanitarian aid – food, water, medicine, fuel – must be allowed to reach all civilians… Continue reading ‘History is judging us all,’ Guterres says in fresh appeal for Gaza aid access

Volker Türk’s appeal came as UN humanitarians continued to issue dire warnings about the full scale of the humanitarian crisis in the enclave. ‘Crumbs’ of aid The head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), said that the “few (aid) trucks” which have come in from Egypt since 21 October are “nothing more than… Continue reading Gaza: Testimonies highlight grim plight of civilians expecting to die

These are the grim findings of an assessment published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on Thursday, which calls for both immediate and long-term remediation measures. Hundreds of square kilometres were flooded in the disaster, and thousands of square kilometres of reservoir and wetlands were desiccated. UNEP’s preliminary assessment carried out at the request of… Continue reading World News in Brief: Ukraine dam disaster update, childcare investment, healthcare under fire in Sudan

Ms. Rugwabiza, who also heads the UN Mission in the country, MINUSCA, presented its latest report covering developments in the wake of the 31 July constitutional referendum. She said MINUSCA continues to support Government efforts to “decentralize” the peace process with armed groups, including recent initiatives to extend state presence in areas that have been… Continue reading International support critical to forge lasting peace in Central African Republic

26 October 2023Peace and Security The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday morning, in New York, is convening an emergency special session on the Israel-Gaza conflict, amid a continuing deadlock at the Security Council, and the situation in the enclave getting more dire by the hour. 09:00 (New York) The tenth Emergency Special Session of… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: UN General Assembly convenes emergency meeting on Gaza

Reports of an overnight Israeli military incursion using tanks in northern Gaza followed another series of calls by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for civilians in Gaza City to evacuate – warnings which “make no difference” because “people have nowhere to go or are unable to move”, according to the UN’s top humanitarian official in… Continue reading Israel-Palestine: Gazans ‘left with nothing but impossible choices’

Addressing the Council’s annual debate on resolution 1325, he appealed for countries to “urgently bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality” through concrete action in the areas of participation, financing and leadership. “Of 18 peace agreements reached last year, only one was signed or witnessed by a representative of a women’s group or organization,” he… Continue reading More action needed to advance women’s role in global peace and security

Dr. Thieren spent almost two weeks travelling across the country to meet with survivors, authorities and families of more than 200 hostages held captive in Gaza. WHO offered humanitarian support to Israel’s health response immediately after the attacks. At the time, Israel’s Health Ministry replied that the system was coping, but that it would not… Continue reading First Person: Israel’s health system responds to October attacks

25 October 2023Peace and Security With the failure of two resolutions calling for a humanitarian pause in Gaza, the Security Council is expected to take up two new proposals, led by Russia and United States, aimed at bringing relief to civilians in the besieged enclave. Last Monday, a previous Russian-led draft resolution calling for an… Continue reading Israel-Palestine: Security Council to vote on new resolutions over Gaza crisis

25 October 2023Climate and Environment No ground water available? No access to satellite data because of where you live or home insurance due to recent natural disasters? A new UN report launched on Wednesday has some useful insights on the “risk tipping points” which are becoming an increasing challenge worldwide.  Tipping points are reached when… Continue reading ‘Tipping points’ of risk pose new threats, UN report warns

25 October 2023Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday firmly rebuked what he described as the “false” claim by top Israeli diplomats that he had sought to justify the terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas in a speech he delivered to the Security Council.  Addressing Tuesday’s debate in the Council on the worsening… Continue reading UN chief hits back at ‘false’ claim he justified Hamas terror attacks

An alert from Gaza’s main hospital in the south of the enclave that lifesaving operations would stop on Wednesday evening because of fuel shortages followed an appeal from UN chief António Guterres for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. A truce was needed, he told the Security Council on Tuesday, “to ease epic suffering, make the delivery… Continue reading Israel-Palestine: Blockade puts Gaza aid on the line, WHO spotlights soaring mental health needs in Israel

Members of the UN Security Council vote on a draft resolution draft resolution on the situation in the Middle East (file photo).. 24 October 2023Peace and Security 0945: The UN Security Council meets again within the next few minutes at UN Headquarters in New York for what was a scheduled quarterly meeting on the ongoing… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council meets on Israel-Palestine as Gaza crisis deepens

Doctors have been performing surgeries without anaesthesia or other basic surgical supplies, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said in an update, noting that fuel has become the “most vital commodity” in Gaza. Without it, “trucks can’t move and generators can’t produce electricity for hospitals, bakeries and water desalination plants,” said Tamara Alrifai, spokesperson for… Continue reading Israel-Palestine: Gaza buckles under fuel shortage, healthcare in crisis

The UN Flag flies at the Organization’s Headquarters, in New York. 23 October 2023UN Affairs Tuesday’s annual observance marking the official creation of the United Nations was overshadowed by the rising toll of suffering and sacrifice in Gaza, where 35 staff members with Palestine refugee agency UNRWA have now lost their lives. UN Day on… Continue reading UN marks poignant birthday as staff deaths mount in Gaza

23 October 2023Peace and Security Recent developments in Kosovo highlight ongoing security challenges and political tensions in the region, highlighting the need for effective dialogue and cooperation, the UN envoy for the country said on Monday. Briefing ambassadors, Caroline Ziadeh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General cited a “serious” incident on 24 September, that saw five… Continue reading Kosovo: Dialogue and building trust, key to defusing tensions

23 October 2023Peace and Security The security situation continues to deteriorate in Haiti as gang violence grows, and elections are crucial for the sustainable rule of law, the UN Special Representative in the country, María Isabel Salvador, told the Security Council on Monday.  “Elections are the only path and the only imperative to restore democratic… Continue reading Haiti: UN envoy upholds critical role of elections amid rising gang violence

23 October 2023Humanitarian Aid The number of people killed in Gaza has reached 4,651 according to latest reports, amid intensifying Israeli airstrikes, while humanitarians repeated urgent calls for a ceasefire and more aid convoys. Echoing that message, UN health agency (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a new appeal on Monday for “sustained safe passage”… Continue reading Gaza death toll rises with no ceasefire in sight

22 October 2023Peace and Security Mali must ensure that the UN Mission in the country, MINUSMA, can safely complete its drawdown by the end of the year, amid insecurity in the north and other restrictions.  “The UN underscores the responsibility of the Malian Transitional Government for the safety and security of peacekeepers and calls on… Continue reading Government urged to support safe withdrawal of UN Mission from Mali

22 October 2023Humanitarian Aid More aid arrived in Gaza on Sunday aboard 14 trucks that passed through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator said in a post on social media. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Martin Griffiths described the supplies provided by the Egyptian Red Cross and the UN… Continue reading Second aid convoy ‘another glimmer of hope’ for millions in Gaza: UN relief chief

22 October 2023Humanitarian Aid The UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, will run out of fuel in three days, putting humanitarian response in Gaza at risk, Director-General Philippe Lazzarini warned on Sunday. “Without fuel, there will be no water, no functioning hospitals and bakeries. Without fuel, aid will not reach those in desperate need.… Continue reading UNRWA fuel supply set to run out in three days

The 20 trucks carried food, water and medical supplies – items that are desperately needed, along with fuel – as stocks in Gaza dwindle, amid fears of increased deaths due to disease outbreaks and lack of healthcare.  While welcoming the development, agencies such as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have insisted that this cannot be… Continue reading INTERVIEW: UNICEF has ‘every hope’ for more Gaza convoys

The artwork – a ballerina balancing precariously on the rubble – solidified the town’s reputation as a beacon of resilience. Despite Borodianka’s sudden fame, the efforts of its local artists musicians and librarians to revive their beloved hometown remain largely unknown outside Ukraine. Now, cultural activities, one supported by the UN’s International Organization for Migration… Continue reading Banksy highlights cultural revival amid rubble strewn Kyiv suburb

“Gaza was a desperate humanitarian situation before the most recent hostilities. It is now catastrophic. The world must do more,” they said. The statement was issued by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).  ‘Far from… Continue reading ‘The world must do more’ for Gaza: UN agencies

21 October 2023Peace and Security The protection of civilians must be upheld at all times, the head of the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said on Saturday, appealing for an end to attacks on places such as schools, hospitals and the homes of his staff. “Let me be clear: protecting civilians in times… Continue reading Gaza: UNRWA chief underscores duty to protect civilians at all times

21 October 2023Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his call for sustained humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza in remarks to the Cairo Summit for Peace on Saturday.  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi convened leaders from the region and around the world in efforts to de-escalate hostilities following the Hamas incursion into… Continue reading At Cairo Peace Summit, Guterres stresses need for sustained humanitarian aid to Gaza

21 October 2023Humanitarian Aid UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator Martin Griffith welcomed the entry of an aid convoy into Gaza on Saturday, the first since the start of hostilities two weeks ago following deadly attacks by Hamas against Israel. The 20-truck convoy that passed through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt includes life-saving supplies provided by… Continue reading UN relief chief welcomes aid convoy’s entry into Gaza

20 October 2023Peace and Security As the possible transition to a new global order heightens security risks, more effective multilateral diplomacy is a vital tool to maintain peace, the Security Council heard on Friday.  “Today the stakes for preventive diplomacy and dialogue could not be higher,” said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East,… Continue reading Diplomatic stakes ‘could not be higher’ warns senior UN official

After viewing some of the shipments himself in Egypt close to Gaza, pallets of medical supplies, food, and water among them, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told reporters that right now, the trucks urgently need to move to the other side of the border, as a matter of “life and death”. The ongoing siege imposed shortly… Continue reading Explainer: A look inside the Gaza crossing convoy

In remarks to reporters at the Egypt-Gaza border tweeted by the UN Country Team in Egypt, the Secretary-General said the large convoy loaded with food and medicine was “the difference between life and death for the people”. In a passionate speech standing on the Egyptian side of the wall, he pointed behind him and spoke… Continue reading Gaza: UN chief at Rafah crossing says aid convoy ‘the difference between life and death’

The latest upsurge in violence between Israel and Hamas which began on 7 October swiftly reached the radar of the UN Security Council, tasked by the UN Charter with maintaining international peace and security. But, to date, the 15-member organ has rejected similarly worded draft resolutions aimed at, among other things, establishing a ceasefire and… Continue reading Explainer: What now, as Security Council deadlocks on Gaza?

19 October 2023Peace and Security Insecurity persists in Somalia, with extremist group Al-Shabaab and fighting in the Laascaanood region taking a heavy toll on civilians, the UN envoy for the country told the Security Council on Thursday. Briefing Ambassadors in New York, UN Special Representative for Somalia Catriona Laing, described the country as being at… Continue reading Somalia: Insecurity worsens, civilians pay the price

19 October 2023Humanitarian Aid With essential supplies running out in Gaza, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday appealed for humanitarian access to the besieged enclave.  “For nearly two weeks the people of Gaza have gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine, and other essentials. Disease is spreading. Supplies are dwindling. People are dying,”… Continue reading From Cairo, Guterres appeals for ‘sustained’ humanitarian access to Gaza

The UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a new report on Thursday that every year, around 2,000 million tonnes of dust enter the atmosphere, “darkening skies and harming air quality in regions that can be thousands of kilometres away”. WMO chief Petteri Taalas said this was partly due to poor water and land management.… Continue reading World News in Brief: Sandstorm alert, albinism and climate change, rights in Peru

Some 3,000 tonnes of supplies have been awaiting entry on the Egyptian side of the crossing since Saturday. On Wednesday, the UN Security Council failed to agree on a resolution that would have called for “humanitarian pauses” for aid delivery. UN chief expected in Cairo UN Secretary-General António Guterres was expected to arrive in Cairo… Continue reading Gaza aid ready to roll in once final deal reached

18 October 2023Peace and Security UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland on Wednesday called for an inquiry into the strike against a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds, including patients, staff and displaced people seeking shelter.  Mr. Wennesland told the Security Council that he “watched in horror and in real time” as reports of mass casualties… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Security Council meets over Israel-Gaza

18 October 2023Peace and Security The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have called for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza. The failure by the Council to make its first public intervention on the Israel-Gaza crisis followed the rejection of a Russian-backed draft on Monday… Continue reading UPDATING LIVE: Israel-Gaza crisis; US vetoes Security Council resolution

18 October 2023Peace and Security UN chief António Guterres called on Wednesday for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Middle East to ease the “epic human suffering” in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Speaking in Beijing, Mr. Guterres said that a ceasefire would “provide sufficient time and space” to realize two essential appeals which he made earlier… Continue reading Israel-Gaza: UN chief urges ceasefire, region ‘on the precipice’

17 October 2023Peace and Security The UN Special Envoy for Africa’s Great Lakes region, appealed to the international community on Tuesday for increased support in resolving the escalating hostilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the mounting tension in the wider Great Lakes region.  Speaking before the Security Council, Huang Xia expressed deep concern… Continue reading Africa: Great Lakes envoy urges international support amid rising hostilities

17 October 2023Peace and Security The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly condemned an apparent attack on a hospital in northern Gaza on Tuesday that has reportedly left many hundreds of people killed and injured.  An Israeli airstrike struck al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City, international media reported, citing the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled… Continue reading UN agencies condemn deadly attack on Gaza hospital

17 October 2023Peace and Security The UN Security Council’s first intervention in the Gaza crisis – a Russian-led draft resolution calling for humanitarian ceasefire – was voted down on Monday. Despite this setback, diplomatic efforts are in full swing as ambassadors prepare to consider another text on the unprecedented crisis. The 15-member body that oversees… Continue reading Israel-Gaza crisis: Competing Security Council resolutions reveal diplomatic fault lines

The visit comes on the heels of multiple back-to-back night-time phone calls between the UN chief and key actors, a meeting in the pipeline with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and possible contact with the de facto authorities in Gaza. The Gaza Strip prior to the current escalation. Indeed, the UN stands in a unique… Continue reading Explainer: How the UN works behind the scenes during crises

17 October 2023Humanitarian Aid The UN human rights office (OHCHR) issued a fresh alert on Tuesday for civilians left in northern Gaza, amid ongoing military operations in the enclave ahead of an anticipated full-scale Israeli response to Hamas’s 7 October attack. The past 10 days of conflict has claimed the lives of 4,200 people, forced… Continue reading Gaza-Israel conflict: deepening concern for civilians amid ongoing strikes

16 October 2023Peace and Security The UN Security Council on Monday evening failed to adopt a resolution proposed by Russia that would have called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, which has been ravaged by almost 10 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas militants. The Russian-led draft resolution received five votes in favour (China,… Continue reading Security Council rejects Russian resolution on Gaza

As humanitarians continued to echo the UN Secretary-General’s urgent calls on Israel to open a safe aid delivery corridor, Gaza will soon run out of basic supplies, according to UN agencies on the ground, who raised alarms about a looming unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. Shortly after the outbreak of violence on 7 October, Israel shut all borders with… Continue reading Explainer: What’s inside aid convoy at Gaza crossing

Abdoulaye Bathily (on screen), Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), briefs the Council meeting on the situation in the country. 16 October 2023Peace and Security Humanitarians delivering aid in the wake of Libya’s “unprecedented” flood disaster centred on the coastal city of Derna, have… Continue reading Libya: Mission chief updates Security Council on flood disaster ‘beyond imagination’

16 October 2023Humanitarian Aid Every effort continues to be made by the United Nations and partners to get aid supplies into Gaza following the Israeli order to evacuate the north of the enclave, the UN’s emergency relief chief said on Monday. “History is watching,” Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths told UN News in Geneva, highlighting… Continue reading Gaza: ‘History is watching’ warns UN relief chief, saying aid access is key priority

The UN chief’s appeal comes as clean water and other vital supplies are dwindling inside Gaza in the wake of Israel’s blockade.  UN and other humanitarian agencies have worked round the clock to preposition aid since the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out following the militant group’s 7 October attack on several locations… Continue reading Middle East on ‘verge of the abyss’, UN warns as Israel-Hamas conflict deepens Gaza crisis

Health conditions in Sudan are deteriorating as a result of the conflict in the country. 15 October 2023Humanitarian Aid Six months of war have plunged Sudan into one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said on Sunday, calling on the parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international… Continue reading UN relief chiefs urges end to ‘humanitarian nightmare’ in Sudan

The peacekeeping mission which for many years has been the deadliest place to serve as a UN ‘blue helmet’, is due to draw down fully by 31 December, in accordance with its Security Council mandate. At that point, MINUSMA’s 12 camps and one temporary operating base will be closed and handed over the transitional authorities… Continue reading UN voices concern over obstacles to Mali mission’s orderly withdrawal

The statement came as the Israeli-imposed deadline for some 1.1 million civilians to leave the northern part of the enclave, ahead of what is expected to be a major advance into Gaza by Israeli ground forces, expired. “UNRWA shelters in Gaza and northern Gaza are no longer safe. This is unprecedented,” said the statement.  The… Continue reading Gaza: UNRWA issues urgent call for civilians to be protected

Some 22 countries and one non-governmental organization (NGO) took the floor, turning the meeting into a mini urgent debate on the crisis sparked by Hamas attacks against Israel and the capture of more than 100 Israelis who are being held hostage by militants inside the Gaza Strip. The surprise incursion prompted intense aerial bombardment by… Continue reading Israel-Gaza crisis dominates close of Human Rights Council session

13 October 2023Climate and Environment Marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on Friday, UN chief António Guterres called on countries everywhere to boost resilience and adaptation, to build a safer and more just future for all. According to various estimates, up to 75 per cent of extreme weather events are currently connected to… Continue reading Cutting disaster risk will boost equality, improve resilience

Earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic activity and other natural disasters regularly cause destruction and the loss of life in parts of the Caribbean. On the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction marked annually on 13 October, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Didier Trebucq and Nahuel Arenas, regional chief of the UN Office for… Continue reading Tackling disasters means safer and fairer future for Caribbean: A UN Resident Coordinator blog

The independent rights investigators’ final report comes as their mandate ended on Friday, coinciding with the end of the UN Human Rights Council’s 54th session, leaving victims in limbo. Established by the Council in December 2021, their brief from the Council was to conduct through and impartial investigations into alleged human rights violations in Ethiopia,… Continue reading Ethiopia: Victims ‘left in limbo’ as rights probe mandate ends

The development follows an announcement by UN Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, just before midnight Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, that UN representatives in Gaza had been “informed by their liaison officers in the Israeli military” that everyone living north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within 24 hours. ‘Death sentence’ for many Some 1.1… Continue reading Gaza: Nowhere to go, as humanitarian situation reaches ‘lethal low’

Persons with disabilities face a “shocking lack of support” with no progress in the last decade, despite a huge increase in climate disasters worldwide, the new UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) report states, and that lack of progress could be a violation of international law. Persons with disabilities make up 16 per cent… Continue reading World News in Brief: Reducing disaster risk for persons with disabilities, Afghan quake latest, global aid funding off track

12 October 2023Humanitarian Aid Gaza is on the brink of running out of food, water, electricity and critical supplies, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.    No aid can come in from the outside for the 2.3 million residents of the sealed-off enclave, and some 220,000 displaced people are sheltering in schools run by the UN agency… Continue reading Humanitarians call for urgent aid access to Gaza   

Destructive droughts and heavy rains are causing harm, while melting snow and glaciers heighten flood risks and endanger long-term water security.  The UN weather agency’s State of Global Water Resources 2022 report emphasizes the need to better understand freshwater resources and urges a fundamental policy shift. It calls for enhanced monitoring, data sharing, cross-border cooperation,… Continue reading WMO: Stocktake of water resources needed as global hydrological cycle is in distress

Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, told ambassadors at the Security Council, that this weekend, in southern Colombia, land purchased by the Government was handed over to some 500 beneficiaries, among them former FARC-EP combatants, peasants and members of the indigenous communities. “Hopeful moments such as these are an increasingly common occurrence today,… Continue reading Colombia stepping up efforts achieve historic peace goals, UN envoy says

11 October 2023Climate and Environment Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has wrapped up a three-day visit to Iceland, where she stressed the UN’s dual objective for peace – for the world and with nature – and noted the country’s role enhancing global cooperation on peace as well as climate action. During her visit, which concluded on… Continue reading In Iceland, UN deputy chief says all conflict – across regions and with nature – must end

11 October 2023Peace and Security The death toll in Israel from attacks by Palestinian armed groups, and in Gaza due to Israeli bombardments, has continued to rise, with mass displacement soaring across the enclave, the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office, OCHA, said on Wednesday.  Over a tenth of the population in Gaza, more than 260,000 people,… Continue reading Israel-Palestine: Rising death and displacement, including among UN staff

Presenting the Mission’s latest report, UN Special Representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert updated ambassadors on key developments since her last briefing in May. She highlighted initiatives carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, including the recently adopted federal budget, the launch of long-awaited reforms in the banking and finance sectors, and a new… Continue reading UN envoy highlights promising initiatives in Iraq

“The incident reports that we see coming out of Ethiopia are deeply disturbing and constitute a call for action,” said Alice Wairimu Nderitu. “I want to particularly draw the attention of the global community to the continued presence of risk factors for genocide and related atrocity crimes in the country,” she warned on Tuesday. There… Continue reading UN warns of heightened risk of genocide and atrocity crimes in Ethiopia

To help understand why this international treaty is important, here at UN News we’ve put together a quick guide on global efforts to eradicate exposure to quicksilver, as mercury is also known. Making waves The landmark Convention is named after the Japanese coastal city where residents suffered decades of mercury poisoning from industrial wastewater released… Continue reading Convention’s 10-year birthday marks commitment to prevent new mercury scare

Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (file). 10 October 2023Humanitarian Aid The top UN humanitarian official on Tuesday called for an end to the escalating violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, warning that “the whole region is at a tipping point.”  In a statement, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator… Continue reading Israel-Palestine crisis has region ‘at a tipping point’: UN relief chief

As the conflict intensified amid escalating violence, a complete blockade of food, water, and vital services was put in place by Israel as reports emerged of Israeli ground operations in Gaza, which is home to more than two million people. While UN offices in Gaza sustained “significant damage” from nearby airstrikes on Monday night, agencies… Continue reading Israel-Palestine: UN on the ground

9 October 2023Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Monday said that he recognized the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people and the legitimate security concerns of Israel, but underlined his rejection of terrorist acts and upheld the need to protect civilians. António Guterres was speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York following… Continue reading Middle East crisis: Guterres appeals for end to ‘vicious cycle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization’

Over 120,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza due to concerns over their protection and the destruction of homes, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking in New York. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, is sheltering roughly 137,000 people in 83 of its schools across the Gaza Strip. Six health… Continue reading World News in Brief: Displacement in Gaza and Israel, Afghan earthquake response

Senior UN officials on Monday strongly condemned recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian towns and civilian infrastructure, emphasizing the need for accountability for those harming civilians during hostilities.

As the 15-member Council prepared to meet at 3 pm in New York, UN agencies were reporting that hundreds of people have been killed and thousands injured following the early Saturday morning rocket fire into Israel by Palestinian militants. The ensuing Israeli response to the Hamas attacks included airstrikes in Gaza, where the UN agency… Continue reading Middle East crisis: UN engages parties ahead of Security Council meeting

It’s estimated that 4.5 million more workers may be needed over the next decade in the labour force. UN News asked Michael Newson, Senior Programme Coordinator for Migration and Sustainable Development at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kyiv, Ukraine, about how people could be encouraged back home. Michael Newson: IOM has already observed an… Continue reading INTERVIEW: Planning the post-invasion return of citizens to Ukraine

7 October 2023Peace and Security UN officials are “in close contact with all concerned to urge maximum restraint” following “horrific scenes of violence” that have left dozens dead and hundreds wounded in Israeli cities near the Gaza Strip amid rocket attacks by armed Palestinian militants early Saturday morning. “I vehemently condemn this morning’s multi-front assault… Continue reading UN officials strongly condemn deadly attacks in Israel

That figure translates to an alarming average of 20,000 children uprooted every day. The findings are contained in UNICEF’s latest report, Children Displaced in a Changing Climate, the first ever global analysis of child displacements caused by floods, storms, droughts and wildfires. It also projects future trends for the next three decades. Catherine Russell, UNICEF… Continue reading Weather-related disasters displace 43.1 million children in six years, UNICEF reports

Geir O. Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria (file) 5 October 2023Peace and Security UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Thursday appealed for restraint following a deadly drone attack on a military graduation ceremony in Homs, and amid rising violence in the war-ravaged country. More than 80 people were killed, according… Continue reading Syria: Deadly military academy attack ‘horrific reminder’ of need to de-escalate

5 October 2023Climate and Environment This September was the hottest one ever and 2023 is firmly set to be the warmest year on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday, citing data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).  Average surface temperature reached 16.38°C, or 0.5°C above the previous record in… Continue reading Hottest September on record puts 2023 on track to be warmest year ever

“The images arriving from the locality, home to just above 300 people, are absolutely horrifying,” UN Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown said in a statement issued shortly after the attack. Speaking on behalf of the UN and the humanitarian community, she expressed condolences to the bereaved families. “Our thoughts are also with the people of Ukraine,… Continue reading World News in Brief: ‘Horrifying’ attack on Ukrainian village, autonomous weapons ban, Sudan crisis

“The past six months have caused untold suffering in Sudan” and forced more than 5.4 million people from their homes, said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, the UN official noted that approximately 30,000 a day have fled fighting, “some fleeing… Continue reading Sudan conflict creates world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis: UN aid official

It reveals the deadly toll of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Ukrainian civilians, with almost six people killed and 20 wounded on average every single day between February and July of this year. “In just six months covered by this report more than one thousand civilians died and nearly four thousand were injured,” said Danielle Bell,… Continue reading Ukraine: Report documents mounting deaths, rights violations

4 October 2023UN Affairs A senior UN human rights official on Wednesday called on authorities in Liberia to take all necessary measures to ensure that the upcoming elections can take place in a fully inclusive manner. “We are concerned by reported instances of election-related violence, use of language that could amount to hate speech, and… Continue reading UN rights office concerned over pre-election violence in Liberia

“We must stop taking water for granted,” FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said at the opening of the Rome Water Dialogue, focused on its critical role relating to soils, land, climate change, biodiversity and agriculture. With agriculture accounting for more than 70 per cent of the planet’s freshwater withdrawals, “by increasing efficiency, reducing negative impacts and… Continue reading World News in Brief: Water ‘being taken for granted’, global teacher crisis, Nipah in India update

3 October 2023Peace and Security UN engagement with Haiti will continue ahead of the deployment of an international support mission backing beleaguered police who are fighting rampant gang violence, the UN chief’s Spokesperson told journalists on Tuesday.  Stéphane Dujarric was speaking a day after the Security Council voted to send the non-UN mission to the… Continue reading Haiti: Guterres welcomes decision to deploy multinational mission

3 October 2023Humanitarian Aid A hunger emergency is looming for scores of South Sudanese families fleeing the war in Sudan, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday.  Nearly 300,000 people have arrived in South Sudan since the conflict began across the border in mid-April, most of whom are returnees.  Among them, one in five children… Continue reading Looming hunger emergency for South Sudanese families fleeing war

The humanitarian response to the Karabakh crisis continued apace on Tuesday as UN agencies and partners warned of urgent health needs among the more than 100,000 refugees who have entered Armenia.

2 October 2023Peace and Security In what is being hailed as an historic first, the UN Security Council on Monday authorized the deployment of an international security force to help Haiti’s national police quell surging gang violence and restore security across the strife-torn Caribbean nation. The mission was requested by the Haitian Government and civil… Continue reading Security Council authorizes ‘historic’ support mission in Haiti

This week, the Security Council will consider a draft resolution on a new non-UN multinational mission under the UN Charter’s Chapter VII provision allowing the use of force. “This is not a typical or old kind of peacekeeping mission,” Ambassador Robert Rae of Canada, Chair of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Ad Hoc Advisory Group… Continue reading INTERVIEW: How new mission could support gang-ravaged Haiti

Stephen Jackson, the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, reflects on the 2022 elections, which saw an effective partnership with the Government and private-sector rise to the occasion to take down fake news. “No one is born with hate. Hate is taught, and then hate spreads. Over recent years, social media and other digital platforms, amplified… Continue reading Tackling fake news in Kenya: A UN Resident Coordinator blog

1 October 2023Peace and Security Commemorating Monday’s International Day of Non-Violence, Secretary-General António Guterres urged all nations to “unite around our common humanity” to achieve a more peaceful future. The International Day is observed annually on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian freedom movement and pioneer of the philosophy… Continue reading ‘Magnificent diversity’ of humanity is a treasure, not a threat, Guterres says

30 September 2023Climate and Environment A new global framework to reduce environmental risks from chemicals and waste was adopted at a UN conference on Saturday, with countries committing to phase out the most harmful ones. Agreed at the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), in Bonn, Germany, the Global Framework on Chemicals sets concrete… Continue reading New UN framework to protect environment from harmful chemicals

30 September 2023Peace and Security At least 57 people were killed, including children in suicide bombings that targeted two religious ceremonies in Pakistan, as people gathered to celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. Secretary-General António Guterres described the attacks as “particularly abhorrent” and called for the perpetrators to be held accountable. A further 70 people were injured… Continue reading UN condemns ‘abhorrent’ terrorist attacks in Pakistan

OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva that out of 71 aid worker deaths recorded so far this year, 22 had been working in South Sudan and 19 in Sudan. The victims are overwhelmingly local humanitarians working on the front lines of the response, Mr. Laerke said. He stressed that attacks on aid workers… Continue reading World News in Brief: Aid workers under threat, DR Congo food crisis, Niger floods

The conflict in Sudan has displaced thousands of children and their families (file). 29 September 2023Health The World Health Organization (WHO) is scaling up support in Sudan, where authorities have declared a cholera outbreak in Gedaref state amid the ongoing brutal conflict between opposing militaries.  The UN agency said on Friday that 264 suspected cholera cases, four… Continue reading Sudan: WHO supports battle against cholera in the east

29 September 2023Humanitarian Aid Over 88,000 refugees from the Karabakh region have fled to Armenia in less than a week and humanitarian needs are surging, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday. Some 65,000 have already been registered at Government-run centres where long lines have formed. Anxiety and fear UNHCR is supporting the refugees… Continue reading Karabakh emergency escalates, thousands still pouring into Armenia: UN agencies

Attacks on local populations, roadblocks and denial of humanitarian access, continue to fuel suffering in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, Special Representative Bintou Keita told the Security Council in New York. “As I speak today, over six million people remain displaced in [these places],” she stated, urging continued support for underfunded relief operations.… Continue reading DR Congo: UN mission still disinformation target, as withdrawal speculation grows

“Every day the lives of Haitian people become even harder, but it is vital that we do not give up. Their situation is not hopeless. With international support and resolve, the Haitian people can tackle this grave insecurity, and find a way out of this chaos,” Mr. Türk said. The High Commissioner’s latest report on the… Continue reading Rights chief calls for international help to provide ‘way out of chaos’ in Haiti

Briefing the UN Security Council in New York, Geir Pedersen urged political leaders and the international community to act now to “arrest the downward slide in Syria” as suffering and the sense of hopelessness among the population deepens. Deliver hope “We cannot simply accept the status quo, because it will get worse and worse, it… Continue reading Confidence building critical to break Syria political deadlock

They also underscored the need to slash carbon emissions and bolster early warning systems to safeguard nations across the world which are becoming increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather. Speaking at the UN Headquarters, in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres said how the world responds now to Pakistan’s struggles is a “litmus test” for climate justice.… Continue reading Pakistan floods a ‘litmus test’ for climate justice says Guterres

27 September 2023Peace and Security The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the relentless expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. During the last three months, more than 10,000 housing units were advanced, Tor Wennesland told ambassadors at the UN Security… Continue reading Israeli settlements ‘systematically erode’ viability of Palestinian State

That’s the message from UN chief António Guterres on World Tourism Day observed on Wednesday. According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism employs one in every 10 people on Earth.  To protect tourism jobs, Mr. Guterres said that governments and businesses must invest in sustainable and resilient practices, embrace renewable energy, and better… Continue reading World News in Brief: Sustainable tourism boost, record Antarctic sea ice melt

27 September 2023Human Rights Anxiety, emotional distress and even child suicide are among the damaging consequences of cyberbullying, and better prevention strategies involving big tech must be developed, the UN Human Rights Council heard on Wednesday. According to findings from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 130 million students worldwide experience bullying, which has been exacerbated… Continue reading ‘You can’t even face your own parents’, cyberbullying victim tells Human Rights council

Malaysia is turning towards sustainable ‘green’ tourism. 26 September 2023Climate and Environment When done well, tourism can serve as a sustainable cornerstone of a country’s economy, simultaneously supporting ecosystems and livelihoods, according to the UN Development Programme (UNDP). In Malaysia, tourism is a major economic sector and generated over $18 billion in revenue in 2019.… Continue reading From the Field: Greening tourism in Malaysia

Roza Otunbayeva, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), called for a “reframed engagement strategy”, expressing concern over the “lack of positive direction” in current efforts. “The lack of trust on all sides is a serious impediment to building confidence but the doors to dialogue are still open,” she said. “This moment,… Continue reading Engagement key to reform of Taliban policies restricting women’s rights

“The Government must loosen tight restrictions on assemblies and associations to bring laws and practice into conformity with the national Constitution and international human rights law”, said Clément Voule, Special Rapporteur on the right to assembly, in a statement at the end of a 10-day official visit to Algeria. He was there as the country… Continue reading UN rights expert calls on Algeria to pardon convicted protesters

Secretary-General António Guterres issued his call in a statement marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on Tuesday. He warned that hard-won progress over many decades to prevent the use, spread and testing of nuclear weapons is being undone, and called for nuclear disarmament and a strengthened regime of non-proliferation. Resurgent threat… Continue reading Only way to end nuclear risk ‘is to eliminate nuclear weapons’: Guterres

Addressing the opening of the IAEA’s General Conference in Vienna on Monday, Mr. Grossi said that 53 missions mobilizing more than 100 agency staff have been deployed as part of a continued presence inside Ukraine’s five nuclear power plants. These include the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, or ZNPP, on the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine,… Continue reading World News in Brief: Ukraine nuclear plant update, Sudan health crisis, reproductive rights

24 September 2023Climate and Environment Despite pouring rain, around 60,000 advocates, artists, influencers and concerned citizens were in New York’s iconic Central Park on Saturday night, where they heard the deputy UN chief issue a clarion call to mobilize for change. “Come rain or shine, we’re here because we are committed to our planet”, said… Continue reading ‘It’s crunch time’ to reach the SDGs, Mohammed tells Global Citizen Festival

The Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace aims to address these complex challenges through multilateralism, rooted in the UN Charter and international law, centred on trust, solidarity, and universality. It comes amid criticism from some Member States that the UN is no longer playing an effective role in peacebuilding and peacekeeping, as calls for overall reform… Continue reading UN calls for ‘clear-eyed’ vision for peace and security, as peacebuilders meet in New York

The gathering of defence ministers and others committed to peacekeeping efforts will focus on civilian protection, addressing misinformation and disinformation, promoting safety and security, protecting mental health, and boosting the pivotal role of women in UN missions. Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs together with senior United Nations officials, said… Continue reading At critical moment for peacekeeping in Africa, Ghana steps up to host key summit

Children play in an area outside their home that has been turned into a large dumpsite of waste from leather industries in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 22 September 2023Climate and Environment The consequences of poor chemicals and waste management worldwide are fuelling an “unprecedented global toxic emergency”, independent UN human rights experts have warned, ahead of a… Continue reading Human rights experts: Humanity facing ‘unprecedented global toxic emergency’

The World Health Organization’s representative to the DRC, Dr Boureima Hama Sambo, warned that in six eastern provinces, health facilities have been set alight, health workers killed and others face constant physical and psychological threats, while supplies have been looted. Heavy rain, flooding and landslides have also compromised aid access. Dr Sambo said that the… Continue reading World News in Brief: Healthcare crisis in DRC, Türk slams Iran hijab law, welcomes new India bill boosting women

21 September 2023Humanitarian Aid The head of the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees across the Middle East, UNRWA, on Thursday appealed for consistent and sustainable financing to keep its operations running and avert chronic shortfalls.  UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini was speaking at UN Headquarters alongside the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of… Continue reading Funding woes continue to plague UN Palestine refugee agency

21 September 2023Climate and Environment Although small island States are the most vulnerable to rising sea levels, the scope of those impacted is much wider, the President of the UN General Assembly warned on Thursday. Addressing a special summit meeting, Dennis Francis – a veteran diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago – said he was determined… Continue reading ‘World’s breadbaskets’ are sinking, General Assembly chief warns

21 September 2023Peace and Security A senior UN official told the Security Council on Thursday that the wellbeing of civilians caught up in the long-running conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be the “overriding priority” following renewed fighting. Miroslav Jenča told ambassadors that Azerbaijan had announced, in their words, “local counter-terrorism activities in the Karabakh… Continue reading Armenia-Azerbaijan: UN calls for ‘credible and durable’ end to fighting in flashpoint region

“People and our planet are in crisis”, the UN chief said, highlighting how conflicts continue to drive the vulnerable from their homes, while heatwaves and floods claim lives and division prevails. ‘Leave no one behind’ This year’s Peace Day coincides with the halfway point on the road to the Sustainable Development Goals, and the UN’s… Continue reading World News in Brief: Peace day, high seas treaty, Palestinian displacement rises, polio in Ukraine

20 September 2023Law and Crime Prevention At the heart of global diplomacy within the iconic UN Headquarters in New York, another significant yet often less featured deliberation is unfolding this week: the Treaty Event. Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, and other top representatives are converging to endorse multilateral treaties which form the bedrock of international… Continue reading On UNGA margins, world leaders bolster bedrock of international law

20 September 2023Peace and Security Civilians continuing paying a heavy price as the “senseless violence” between rival militaries continues in Sudan, the UN’s political affairs chief said on Wednesday. Rosemary DiCarlo called on the national army and so-called Rapid Support Forces to lay down their arms, more than five months after they began facing off… Continue reading War in Sudan: ‘Brutal fight’ must end as civilian suffering intensifies

20 September 2023UN Affairs Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday called for expanding the UN Security Council and reforming the right of veto granted to its permanent members, in his first in-person address around the iconic horseshoe table.  “Regardless of who you are, the current UN system still makes you less influential than the veto… Continue reading ‘Humankind no longer pins its hopes on the UN,’ Zelenskyy tells Security Council

Front and centre was an urgent call to action, to prevent cascading climate disasters through a just and equitable energy transition – before it’s too late. In his impassioned address on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to politicians, business, activists and civil society leaders, Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning about the… Continue reading ‘Humanity has opened the gates to hell’ warns Guterres as climate coalition demands action

A new report by UNAMA’s Human Rights Service has documented over 1,600 cases of human rights violations including torture, committed by the de facto authorities across the country during the arrest and detention of individuals from 1 January 2022 to 31 July this year. Commenting on the findings, UN rights chief Volker Türk described as… Continue reading World News in Brief: Afghan rights, Armenia-Azerbaijan ceasefire, road safety campaign

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan began his passionate and wide-ranging speech by highlighting the humanitarian crises, political conflicts, and social tensions plaguing various regions worldwide, emphasizing the difficulty in addressing these issues amid global economic problems. He expressed grave concern about the use of terrorism as an instrument in proxy wars in regions like Syria, North Africa, and… Continue reading ‘Peace has no losers’, Erdogan says, vowing to step up efforts to end war in Ukraine

Almost all indicators are off-track or heading in the wrong direction. Extreme weather events are displacing millions of people, the world is heating up, and out-of-control wildfires continue to cause death and destruction, from Canada to the Greek islands. Coal, oil, and gas still account for 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which… Continue reading ‘No nonsense’ Climate Ambition Summit: What you need to know

Protests erupted throughout the country on Saturday marking the one-year anniversary of the 22-year-old Iranian woman’s death after she was detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Crackdown on protesters Iranian authorities briefly detained Ms. Amini’s father on Saturday and beefed-up security nationwide to deter protesters from taking to the… Continue reading UN rights experts condemn Iran’s protest crackdown

19 September 2023Humanitarian Aid In war-torn Sudan, more than 1,200 children under five have died in camps in the space of four months from a combination of measles and malnutrition, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday. According to the UN refugee agency (UNCHR) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the children were refugees living in nine… Continue reading Sudan: Children dying amid healthcare system collapse

That’s the message from UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who called for strong leadership and political will from States to heed the call of people of African descent for accountability and redress. His comments followed the release of a new UN report which sets out a series of concrete steps for governments to make reparations… Continue reading World News in Brief: Reparations for African diaspora, child deaths in Sudan, Libya update

15 September 2023Peace and Security The UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday joined with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to underline the critical importance of preserving the dignity of the dead in the wake of recent natural disasters in Libya and Morocco. The UN health agency together with the IFRC, and the… Continue reading Preserving dignity, public health: Managing deceased bodies during crises

The UN chief affirmed that democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights underpin freedom, promote sustainable development and safeguard the dignity of every person. “On the International Day of Democracy, we celebrate its promise to societies – and recognize the many threats it faces at this time of tension and turmoil,” he said.… Continue reading Empower youth to safeguard democracy: Guterres

With 15 months to the end of the transition period, “time is of the essence” for getting the election process settled, UN Special Representative for South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom told the Security Council. “Critical questions remain unanswered. Resolving them does not require material resources, only the political will to reach compromise and consensus,” he said.… Continue reading South Sudan: Key electoral questions ‘remain unanswered’

“I count on your Group, who have long been champions of multilateralism, to step up, to use your power, and fight,” he said. “Champion a system rooted in equality; champion a system ready to reverse the injustice and neglect of centuries; and champion a system that delivers for all humanity and not only for the privileged.” World… Continue reading Guterres urges G77 and China to champion multilateralism ‘rooted in equality’

The UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) official Patron of the Oceans, Mr. Pugh explained that he’d undertaken the marathon swim ending at the tip of Manhattan, to emphasise the urgent need to protect the world’s waterways ahead of the UN’s landmark High Seas Treaty and Climate Ambition Summit next week. Sporting his UNEP swim cap, Mr. Pugh… Continue reading Environmental champion hails rivers as ‘arteries of our planet’

Disaster struck on Sunday when torrential rains from Storm Daniel led two dams close to the now devastated port city of Derna to burst, pushing entire neighbourhoods into the sea. “The situation is quite terrible as you can imagine”, UN Children’s Fund UNICEF’s Libya Representative, Michele Servadei, told UN News. ‘Drop in the ocean’ “As… Continue reading UN launches flash appeal to aid 250,000 Libyans hit by devastating floods

UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed that message, warning that record temperatures and extreme weather were “causing havoc” around the world. The global response has fallen “far short”, Mr. Guterres insisted, just as latest UN data indicates that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are only 15 per cent on track at the midway point of the… Continue reading Climate inaction puts lives on the line: WMO

13 September 2023Peace and Security Both Sudanese Government forces (SAF) and their rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are responsible for abhorrent rights violations as they battle for supremacy, the UN envoy to the country said on Wednesday. But he stressed the UN “will never stay neutral” when it comes to demanding accountability for war crimes… Continue reading Sudan: UN ‘will never stay neutral’ amid war and human rights abuses

13 September 2023Culture and Education With tens of millions of children heading back to school in recent weeks, for some, the return to class has them fearing for their lives. Growing concern over safety and security prompted UN Secretary-General António Guterres to address the global phenomenon on Wednesday – during his remarks at an event… Continue reading UN marks International Day to Protect Education with call to action

“Action is what the world needs” he said defining the gathering of 193 Member States for the UN General Assembly High Level Week as a “one of a kind moment” to both assess the state of world affairs but also “act for the common good.” “This is not a time for indifference or indecision”, António… Continue reading UNGA78: ‘Action is what the world needs’ – UN chief

In his Annual Report on the work of the Organization, released on Wednesday, ahead of the gathering of world leaders at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Guterres highlighted how the UN has stepped up. “Nowhere are the needs greater than in the midst of emergencies,” he said. “In 2022, together with our partners on… Continue reading UN’s work and mission ‘more vital than ever’: Guterres

With a new area the size of Paris under development around the globe every week, the construction industry contributes heavily to climate change. However, the sector has received only a fraction of environmentalists’ attention and of the funds allocated to combat emissions compared with other industries.  Until now, most of the focus has been made on… Continue reading Building Paris every week: Urgent need to cut emissions in construction sector

Understanding Illegal Methamphetamine Manufacture in Afghanistan, highlights a drastic increase in seizures of the drug, from 2.5 tons in 2017 to 29.7 tons in 2021. In its street drug form, meth or “crystal meth” it is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant that impacts the central nervous system and can cause a rapid or irregular… Continue reading Meth trafficking surges in and around Afghanistan

“The frequency and intensity of war crimes and crimes against humanity has only increased in recent months,” said Nicholas Koumjian, head of the investigation team, formally known as the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM). ‘Brazen bombings’ Addressing the forum in Geneva, he described even “more brazen aerial bombings and indiscriminate shelling, resulting in the deaths… Continue reading War crimes intensifying: Myanmar human rights investigators

8 September 2023Climate and Environment The world is not on track to meet the long-term goals set out in the Paris Agreement for limiting global temperature rise, a major UN report warned on Friday, calling for a commitment to decisive action. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which… Continue reading Window to reach climate goals ‘rapidly closing’, UN report warns

8 September 2023Peace and Security The so-called elections held by Russia in occupied areas of Ukraine “have no legal grounds”, a senior political affairs official said on Friday, reiterating UN’s commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Briefing the Security Council, Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s position that… Continue reading No legal grounds for Russian ‘so-called elections’ in occupied Ukraine: UN official

UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in the country, Grant Leaity, issued the alert on Tuesday, revealing that youngsters in eastern DRC face daily atrocities, including rape, abduction and recruitment by armed groups. “I visited a centre in Beni and North Kivu for children released from armed groups where I met a couple of one-year-old twins.… Continue reading DR Congo: Few worse places to be a child warns UNICEF as twins found boobytrapped

Growing national divisions, combined with increasingly complex conflicts, pose a formidable challenge to peacekeeping and the maintenance of security, Jean-Pierre Lacroix told ambassadors in the Security Council chamber. No ‘magic wand’ “Peacekeeping is not a magic wand to help a country return to stability, but with the support of a unified international community, political processes… Continue reading Growing national divisions ‘a formidable challenge’ to UN peacekeeping

7 September 2023Women UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended law enforcement agencies around the world on Thursday stressing that more women in policing will “build a safer future for everyone.”   He delivered his message marking the first eve International Day of Police Cooperation, designated by the UN General Assembly during its 77th session.  “Women’s participation promotes access… Continue reading More women police means ‘safer future for everyone’: Guterres

Renewable technologies like wind and solar power are, in most cases, cheaper than the fossil fuels that are driving climate change, but the world needs to prioritize the transformation of energy systems to renewable energy. The Climate Ambition Summit, scheduled for 20 September at UN Headquarters in New York, will consider how to accelerate this transformation.… Continue reading ‘Without renewables, there can be no future’: 5 ways to power the transition to renewable energy

Airborne contaminants are one of the most significant environmental health risks. According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), 99 per cent of the world’s population breathes polluted air, with the exposure significantly worse in low and middle-income countries.  The pervasive nature of air pollution requires global collaboration. This year’s theme, Together for Clean Air, addresses the urgent… Continue reading ‘Act together’ for clean air, Guterres urges

6 September 2023Peace and Security The top UN humanitarian official in Ukraine on Wednesday strongly condemned Russian attacks, including on a busy market in the town of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, that reportedly caused dozens of civilian deaths and injuries, including children. Other Russian strikes damaged schools and homes in the Zaporizhzhya region, and… Continue reading Ukraine: Latest Russian attack ‘another example’ of civilian suffering

The news came as the UN chief released a strongly worded statement on a record summer of global warming in the northern hemisphere. Dog days bite back “Our planet has just endured a season of simmering – the hottest summer on record,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, warning of “climate breakdown”. “The dog days of… Continue reading Air quality dips during heatwaves as pollution rises: UN weather agency

5 September 2023Climate and Environment Startling findings from a new UN data platform reveal that the marine dredging industry is extracting a staggering six billion tons of sand and sediment annually. This is equivalent to over one million dump trucks every day – placing immense pressure on marine biodiversity and the well-being of coastal communities.… Continue reading Coasts and sea life facing major threat due to massive sand removal

The CMC 2023 report indicates that 1,172 people were killed or injured in 2022, which is the highest number since regular reporting started in 2010.  Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Human Rights Arms Advocacy Director Mary Wareham, emphasised that 95 per cent of casualties reported were civilians. “It is unconscionable that civilians are still dying… Continue reading Record civilian cluster munitions victims as experts urge global ban

Speaking in Kyiv, Commission Chair Erik Møse pointed to continuing patterns of violations by Russian armed forces, including wilful killings, unlawful confinement, torture, rape, and illegal deportations, many of which qualify as war crimes. According to the Commission, the Ukrainian legal system faced “immense challenges” to provide accountability and justice to the victims and ensure… Continue reading ‘Immense challenges’ block justice for Ukrainian war victims, rights experts warn

Local tribal leader Jemuel Perino discussed the success of local initiatives, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Adaption Fund Climate Change Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA), in educating his community on effective prevention and mitigation techniques to deal with the growing impacts of climate change. “The indigenous cultural communities have their own centuries-old knowledge, systems, and… Continue reading Philippines: Indigenous knowledge takes on climate crisis

1 September 2023Climate and Environment A UN-appointed human rights expert on Friday urged the international community to increase assistance to The Bahamas and other small island States that face elevated threats from natural disasters resulting from climate change.  “The Bahamas needs long-term financial planning to address its climate vulnerability and economic dependence on tourism,” said… Continue reading UN expert urges international support for The Bahamas amid climate crisis

The desperate situation prompted a tweet on Friday from Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths for an immediate end to the fighting.   “This carnage needs to stop” said the UN relief chief. Major escalation In the past two weeks alone, 71 people have been killed and injured in capital Port-au-Prince, marking a major escalation, according… Continue reading Haiti violence: ‘Carnage needs to stop’ says UN relief chief

It was released as leaders prepare to meet for the African Climate Summit, taking place next week in Nairobi, Kenya. Children in 48 out of 49 African countries assessed were found to be at high or extremely high risk of the impacts of climate change, based on their exposure and vulnerability to cyclones, heatwaves and… Continue reading African children bearing the brunt of climate change impacts

31 August 2023Peace and Security Highlighting the “succession of military coups” unfolding across Africa, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday emphasized the need for durable democratic governance and the rule of law. Wednesday’s military takeover in Gabon came on the heels of Niger last month, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Chad, Guinea, Sudan and Mali… Continue reading Coups only make crises worse: Guterres

31 August 2023Climate and Environment Some of the world’s most iconic natural and cultural sites are also a haven for thousands of endangered species, the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Thursday.  Although properties protected under the World Heritage Convention make up less than one per cent of the Earth’s surface, they… Continue reading UNESCO World Heritage Sites often ‘last line of defence against extinction’

Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that UN chief António Guterres was following the evolving situation in the capital Libreville “very closely”. While condemning military action as “a means to resolve the post electoral crisis”, the Secretary-General said he had noted the announcement by the Central African nation’s electoral body of a win for incumbent president Ali… Continue reading UN chief ‘firmly condemns’ Gabon coup, notes reports of election abuses

Enforced disappearance has regularly been used as a tool for instilling fear and exert control over a population. The feeling of insecurity it generates is not limited to close relatives of the disappeared, but also their communities and society as a whole. In a post on social media platform X, The UN chief said enforced… Continue reading Guterres calls for end to ‘atrocious crime’ of enforced disappearances

29 August 2023Humanitarian Aid The United Nations on Tuesday announced that it has conducted 200 cross-border missions delivering aid into northwest Syria from Türkiye since the devastating earthquakes that struck the two countries in February.  The milestone mission took place on Sunday via the Bab al-Salam crossing, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking during his… Continue reading Syria-Türkiye: UN completes 200th cross-border aid mission since February quakes

In his message marking the International Day against Nuclear Tests, Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for key countries to ratify the international treaty that bans experiments for both peaceful and military purposes. ‘Recipe for annihilation’ “This year, we face an alarming rise in global mistrust and division,” he said. “At a time in which nearly 13,000… Continue reading UN appeals for nuclear test ban amid ‘alarming rise in global mistrust’

“Inside Ukraine, attacks on schools have continued unabated, leaving children deeply distressed and without safe spaces to learn”, declared Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, who recently returned from the country. “Not only has this left Ukraine’s children struggling to progress in their education, but they are also struggling to… Continue reading Ukraine: Widespread learning loss continues due to war, COVID-19

FSO Safer was abandoned off Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hudaydah after the civil war broke out in the country. 28 August 2023Climate and Environment The specialist team that safely stabilized and transferred over one million barrels of crude oil from a decaying supertanker off the cost of Yemen, left the site on Monday, marking… Continue reading Yemen oil tanker: ‘Pivotal chapter’ concludes but important work remains

28 August 2023Human Rights A group of UN-appointed human rights experts expressed grave concern on Monday over Russia’s decision to dismiss all legal challenges to the country’s criminalisation of “public actions aimed at discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces. The law was adopted shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Special Rapporteurs said they had already raised serious… Continue reading Russia hits ‘new low’ with ban against discrediting army: Rights experts

Briefing the Security Council, El-Ghassim Wane, who is also the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali, updated ambassadors on the Mission’s withdrawal process. Vital work “MINUSMA may be leaving Mali, but the United Nations, through its agencies, funds, and programs, remains. Their work has never been as vital as it is today,” he said,… Continue reading Mali: ‘MINUSMA is leaving, but the UN is staying’, Mission chief says

General Comment No. 26 marks the first time the Committee has affirmed children’s right to live in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. It provides a comprehensive interpretation of State obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been ratified by 196 countries. The 1989 treaty outlines children’s rights, including… Continue reading New UN guidance affirms children’s right to a clean, healthy environment

27 August 2023Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres is closely following developments in Zimbabwe’s elections, his spokesperson said on Sunday. Citizens went to the polls on Wednesday but voting had to be extended into Thursday in some areas, including the capital, Harare, due to a lack of ballot papers. President Emmerson Mnangagwa secured a… Continue reading Guterres calls for peaceful resolution of election disputes in Zimbabwe

“I used to transport sugar from Malawi,” said an anonymous driver, who was arrested for migrant trafficking. “In 2016, I had to wait for several days at a border crossing in Tanzania for customs checks. I was approached by a man who offered me a lot of money to transport goats.” His story is not… Continue reading Malawi: Truck drivers learn about risks of human trafficking

25 August 2023Peace and Security The recent launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) of a satellite posed a major risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic, a senior UN political affairs official said on Friday, underscoring the need for practical measures to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and create space… Continue reading DPR Korea: Dialogue ‘only way forward’, UN official says in wake of latest launch

Ambassadors were briefed by two senior UN counter-terrorism officials who presented the Secretary-General’s latest report on the group, also known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which showed that the threat in non-conflict areas remains low.  “This analytical distinction can obscure what is the complex, context- specific and dynamic nature of how these groups operate and evolve and their impact on international… Continue reading Da’esh and affiliates still a threat in conflict zones, UN counter-terrorism officials report

25 August 2023Climate and Environment A new global environmental fund marks a major step towards securing the wellbeing of biodiversity in developing countries and will help to ensure sustainable utilization of their natural resources, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday. The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, launched at the Global Environmental Facility… Continue reading New global fund ‘welcome boost’ to safeguarding biodiversity

25 August 2023Humanitarian Aid UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said on Friday that the spread of fighting and hunger in Sudan could destroy the country, as the future of a “lost generation” of children lies in the balance. Mr. Griffiths said that the conflict spelled trauma for Sudan’s youth and cited “deeply disturbing” reports that… Continue reading Sudan: ‘lost generation’ of children amid war, hunger, disease: UN humanitarians

Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, was briefing a meeting of the Security Council, which also coincided with the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. “I would like to congratulate the Ukrainian people today and take this occasion to stress, once again, that the UN’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity… Continue reading Security Council hears of ‘unimaginable suffering’ of Ukrainian people, 18 months into war

24 August 2023Climate and Environment Japan has begun discharging treated radioactive wastewater from the disabled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the Pacific Ocean, 12 years on from the major meltdown there, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Thursday.  Experts from the UN nuclear watchdog were present to monitor and assess that all… Continue reading Japan: IAEA monitoring treated water release from Fukushima nuclear plant

Addressing the BRICS Summit, taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, Secretary-General António Guterres commended the Rainbow Nation’s “extraordinary path to unity through action and justice.” “That’s what our world needs: unity for action and unity for justice; we are confronting existential challenges,” he said, drawing attention to worsening impacts of climate change and rising poverty,… Continue reading At BRICS Summit, Guterres global unity call in face of ‘existential’ challenges

“It is deeply troubling that, for over a year, the intra-Syrian political process has been in deep freeze,” he said, speaking via videoconference. “A political process is the right of the Syrian people they are entitled to chart their own destiny.” Mr. Pedersen said Syrians both inside and outside the country continue to suffer severely… Continue reading Syrians suffer as political stalemate persists: UN Special Envoy

Denise Brown issued a statement deploring this “new wave of massive Russian attacks”, and appealed for the violence to end. “Grain storage facilities, vital for the Ukrainian farmers and global food security, have been hit in the Danube area,” she said. “A school in the Sumy region was damaged, and teachers were killed and injured.”  International media… Continue reading Top UN aid official in Ukraine deplores latest wave of ‘massive Russian attacks’

23 August 2023Climate and Environment Wastewater, long seen as an environmental and health hazard, possesses untapped potential as an alternative energy and clean water source to offset fertilizer use, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said on Wednesday. In its new report, Wastewater: Turning problem to solution, UNEP warned that only 11 per cent of treated… Continue reading Don’t let wastewater opportunities flow down the drain

22 August 2023Peace and Security Recent deadly clashes between two largest armed groups in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, underscore the dire security situation there and are undermining preparations for elections slated for later this year, the top UN envoy for the country said on Tuesday. At least 55 people were reported killed and over 100… Continue reading Libya: Fierce clashes in Tripoli highlight ‘precarious’ situation

Speaking in Geneva, WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis said that a new altitude record for the freezing point had been set a day earlier, climbing to 5,298 metres (17,381 feet) – well above Europe’s very highest peaks including Mont Blanc, at 4,811 metres (15,784 feet).  WMO figures show that this is 115 metres above the previous record… Continue reading From Death Valley to the Swiss Alps, extreme weather records hit new heights

22 August 2023Human Rights In Afghanistan, hundreds of former government officials and members of the armed forces have allegedly been killed despite assurances from the Taliban of an amnesty, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday.  A new publication from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) presents “credible” reports that between 15 August… Continue reading Afghanistan’s Taliban responsible for revenge killings, torture of former officials

21 August 2023Human Rights Online hate is often a driver of violent physical attacks against religious minorities, said the UN chief on Tuesday, calling on governments, community and religious leaders, to “speak out against hate and incitement to violence.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres was delivering his message marking the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts… Continue reading Stamp out hate speech, persecution based on faith: Guterres

World Water Week is taking shape from Monday in Stockholm, Sweden. This is an annual gathering of thousands of organizations and individuals – Government experts, UN officials, scientists and academics – who come together to rethink how water is being managed. Serious challenges loom Among them is the President of the General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi,… Continue reading Water Action Agenda takes shape in Stockholm flowing on from landmark conference

Despite wide international condemnation of terrorism, victims and survivors of violence often struggle to have their voices heard, their needs supported, and their rights upheld.  Most need long-term support – physical, psychological, social and financial. However, few Member States have the resources or the capacity to help those affected by terrorism fully recover, rehabilitate and… Continue reading UN honours survivors of terrorism working for peace

It represents the highest number of fatalities since 2005 and reflects “concerning trends” seen in recent months throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory “Palestinians and Israelis are killed and injured in near daily violence – including just hours before this briefing when another fatal shooting attack killed an Israeli in the West Bank,” he said, speaking… Continue reading Israeli-Palestinian death toll highest since 2005: UN envoy

A global approach to tackle the ongoing water crisis is needed as vulnerable communities in the United States face historic deluge and drought – issues very much in the spotlight at the forthcoming UN-supported World Water Week. Traditional totems tower over the coastal village of Taholah in Washington state, home to the Quinault Indian Nation, an… Continue reading Bridging troubled waters amid deluge, drought in the US

19 August 2023Peace and Security The UN chief has condemned an assault on Friday by Turkish Cypriot security forces against ‘blue helmets’ serving with the peacekeeping force on the divided Mediterranean island. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement issued on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres that several members of the UN Peacekeeping Force in… Continue reading Guterres condemns assault against UN peacekeepers in Cyprus

The then New York-based Elpida Rouka had accompanied the Executive Director of the Office of the Iraq Programme on a mission to Baghdad and survived the deadly explosion which killed 22 of her UN colleagues. The 19 August attack is commemorated annually by World Humanitarian Day. “A young 25-year-old barely two years into the UN at… Continue reading First Person: Iraqis ‘not abandoned’ after 2003 attack on UN Baghdad

Designing ways to fight back against falsehoods that can trigger tensions, violence, or even death, the UN has been monitoring how mis- and disinformation and hate speech can attack health, security, stability as well as progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “It has become clear that business as usual is not an option,” UN… Continue reading Building a digital army: UN peacekeepers fight deadly disinformation

The UN rights chief expressed grave concerns for the people of Niger. “The people have already been through so much hardship over the years. Now, the very people who they elected to build a pathway to end their destitution have been removed by force,” he said. The message comes as the UN International Organization for… Continue reading UN rights chief calls for immediate restoration of constitutional order in Niger

Weather agency Spokesperson Clare Nullis said that heat warnings have been issued by many weather services across Europe this week, including in France, Germany, Poland and Switzerland. Meanwhile, parts of the Middle East were expected to see temperatures over 50 degrees Celsius in the coming days and Japan was experiencing a “prolonged” heatwave which shattered… Continue reading Scorching ‘new normal’ as world buckles under extreme heat: WMO

Khaled Mansour, now a writer and journalist, was the WFP spokesperson in Iraq at the time and narrowly missed the massive explosion which killed 22 of his UN colleagues. On World Humanitarian Day which was established to mark the 19 August attack, he reflects on his life since and what he has learnt. Former WFP staff… Continue reading First Person: ‘Immense psychological injuries’ following 2003 attack on UN Baghdad

“The influx of weapons and ammunition into any armed conflict can contribute to the escalation and presents significant risks of diversion and proliferation even after the conflict has ended,” Izumi Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, told the Council, briefing on the latest developments in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.… Continue reading Weapon transfers, including banned cluster munitions, spike in Ukraine

17 August 2023Peace and Security Sudan’s continuing military showdown has had “massive humanitarian consequences” including allegations that some fighters from the powerful and long-standing RSF militia have been using rape systematically to terrorise communities they control, said a group of independent human rights experts on Thursday. Sudan’s military leadership plunged into protracted conflict for control of… Continue reading Rape by Sudan’s RSF militia used to ‘punish and terrorise’ warn rights experts

Briefing the UN Security Council, Volker Türk ran through a long list of rights abuses, saying that many “stem directly from, or support, the increasing militarisation of the DPRK.” His argument was reinforced by the UN independent human rights expert Elizabeth Salmón who told ambassadors that leaders of the DPRK – more commonly known as… Continue reading ‘Increasing militarisation’ of DPR Korea fuelling rise in human rights violations

Speaking at the event on Thursday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underscored the “enormous” contributions of traditional medicine to human health and its understanding of the “intimate links” between health and the environment. Tedros stressed the importance of the gathering for “bringing together ancient wisdom and modern science for the health and well-being of people… Continue reading WHO summit aims to unlock power of traditional medicine through science

17 August 2023Peace and Security The widow of a UN staff member who died in the terrorist attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq has been describing how “a piece of me also died on that tragic day.” Laura Dolci’s husband, Jean-Selim Kanaan, had been deployed by the UN Office for Project Services to work as… Continue reading First Person: ‘A piece of me also died,’ in UN Canal Hotel bombing in 2003 in Baghdad

17 August 2023Humanitarian Aid Conflict and insecurity in countries such as South Sudan and its neighbour to the north are set to make 2023 another year of high death tolls and and injuries for aid workers in the field, the UN warned on Thursday.  The grim forecast comes ahead of World Humanitarian Day, commemorated annually on 19 August. Since… Continue reading World Humanitarian Day highlights commitment to serve #NoMatterWhat

16 August 2023Peace and Security There must be “rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for all civilians in need” via the Lachin Corridor, the UN Security Council heard on Wednesday.  Delivering a briefing on the latest situation there, the Director of Operations and Advocacy for humanitarian affairs coordination office, OCHA, made clear that the UN… Continue reading Armenia-Azerbaijan: Crucial to have ‘unimpeded passage’ of aid through Lachin Corridor, Security Council hears

UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg provided an update on his mediation efforts, both in the country and abroad, while Edem Wosornu of the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, reported on access impediments and funding gaps affecting aid delivery to millions. Yemen continues to face a protracted political, humanitarian and developmental crisis after more than eight… Continue reading Yemen: Warring parties must take concrete steps towards an inclusive peace

“After the civil war, which claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, a comprehensive peace agreement was signed in August 2003 in Accra, Ghana. Since then, Liberia has sustained a period of uninterrupted stability; transforming from one of the most volatile to one of the most peaceful nations in West Africa. Over the years, this… Continue reading What next for Liberia after 20 years of peace? A UN Resident Coordinator blog

In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that the “disastrous, senseless war in Sudan, born out of a wanton drive for power, has resulted in thousands of deaths, the destruction of family homes, schools, hospitals and other essential services, massive displacement, as well as sexual violence, in acts which may amount… Continue reading Four months of conflict in Sudan is “destroying people’s lives and violating their basic human rights”, UN humanitarians warn

The gap between promises and practices by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities has widened during this period, they said, denouncing the idea of a “reformed” Taliban.  They said Taliban policies imposed on the population “have resulted in a continuous, systematic and shocking rescinding of a multitude of human rights, including the rights to education, work, and… Continue reading Rights experts denounce idea of ‘reformed’ Taliban two years after return to power

The port city of Mykolaiv, in the south of Ukraine, is being targeted with renewed shelling. 14 August 2023Humanitarian Aid An escalation of Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine has brought more death and injuries to southern regions while hampering aid operations, the UN’s top humanitarian official in the country said on Monday. Denise Brown… Continue reading Top UN aid official in Ukraine condemns latest wave of indiscriminate attacks

Progress is already being made: a school building was saved from burning down; farmers are earning 50 per cent higher incomes; and a healthier peatland is reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Since its launch in 2019, the programme, which includes training for villagers and critical infrastructure upgrades, has dramatically reduced fire risk and equipped the residents… Continue reading From ashes to riches: Profiting from peatland in Indonesia

International Youth Day is marked annually on 12 August and the 2023 edition spotlights green skills and the major role young people will play in driving the much-needed shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly mindset. These include technical knowledge and skills that enable the effective use of green technologies and processes in occupational settings,… Continue reading As record warming puts climate targets at risk, young people’s ‘green skills’ may help save the planet

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the news of the successful transfer of oil aboard the FSO Safer to a replacement vessel, thus “avoiding what could have been a monumental environmental and humanitarian catastrophe.” The FSO Safer was built as a supertanker in 1976 and converted a decade later into what is in effect a floating… Continue reading Yemen: UN concludes removal of one million barrels of oil from decaying tanker

11 August 2023UN Affairs The United Nations on Friday welcomed the release of five of its security personnel in Yemen who had been held in captivity for more than a year. The men – four national staff and a Bangladeshi citizen – were abducted in the southern governorate of Abyan on 11 February 2022 after… Continue reading UN welcomes release of five staff abducted last year in Yemen

The purpose of placing reactor unit 4 in cold shutdown is to investigate the exact cause of the leak and carry out necessary maintenance to repair the affected steam generator, according to a statement by Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General. There was no radiological release to the environment, the statement noted, adding that over… Continue reading Ukraine: Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant initiates reactor shutdown following water leak, reports IAEA

10 August 2023Human Rights An international human rights body focused on Ethiopia has voiced deep concerns over the worsening security situation in the northwest of the country, particularly in the Amhara region. On 4 August, the Ethiopian Council of Ministers declared a state of emergency in the region after, according to media reports, the regional… Continue reading Ethiopia: Deescalate tensions in Amhara, international rights experts urge

10 August 2023Peace and Security The United Nations has strongly condemned the assassination of a presidential candidate in Ecuador, urging authorities to investigate the crime. Fernando Villavicencio, 59, was shot dead after leaving a campaign event in the capital, Quito, on Wednesday evening, according to news reports. The attack occurred just two weeks before the… Continue reading UN condemns killing of presidential candidate in Ecuador

The National Assembly building in Niamey, Niger. 10 August 2023Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has voiced concern about the reported “deplorable living conditions” of the President of Niger in arbitrary detention, his spokesperson said in a note to journalists published on Wednesday evening.  President Mohamed Bazoum and his family are believed to be… Continue reading Niger: Guterres concerned about health and safety of detained President

“There needs to be a negotiated solution to end this war as soon as possible.  There is no other alternative,” said Martha Pobee, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, whose portfolio covers both political and peacebuilding affairs. “The longer this war continues, the greater the risk of fragmentation, and foreign interference and erosion of sovereignty,… Continue reading Negotiated solution only way to end Sudan war: senior UN official

The 315-mile swim, roughly 507 kilometres, will take him from the river’s source in the Adirondack Mountains to where it meets the Atlantic Ocean in New York City, home to UN Headquarters. Mr. Pugh headed for the Hudson on Wednesday and expects to complete the journey shortly before 20 September, when nations will begin ratifying… Continue reading UNEP oceans advocate Lewis Pugh on epic Hudson swim to highlight importance of river health

For the next six months, the Bab al-Hawa border crossing will be accessible and allow much-needed assistance to reach millions of people in northwest Syria. Bab al-Hawa has been used since 2014, when the UN Security Council authorized cross-border relief deliveries “across conflict lines”. Around 85 per cent of aid deliveries have passed through Bab… Continue reading UN: Deal reached with Syria to reopen main border crossing from Türkiye

9 August 2023Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for countries to recommit to eliminating nuclear weapons in his message to the memorial event in observance of the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Nagasaki, held on Wednesday “We mourn those killed, whose memory will never fade. We remember… Continue reading Guterres warns against nuclear catastrophe risk in message to Nagasaki memorial

8 August 2023Climate and Environment The global average temperature for July 2023 was the highest on record and likely for at least 120,000 years, the UN weather agency WMO and partners said on Tuesday. “The global average temperature for July 2023 is confirmed to be the highest on record for any month,” said Samantha Burgess,… Continue reading It’s official: July 2023 was the warmest on record, says UN weather agency WMO

President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-seventh session in September 2022. 7 August 2023Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has underlined his support for ongoing mediation efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the wake of the 26 July attempted coup in Niger,… Continue reading Guterres concerned over continued detention of Niger’s President

7 August 2023Peace and Security Attacks against Ukrainian port infrastructure are not isolated and with Russia’s termination of the Black Sea Initiative, are impacting global food prices and affecting the most vulnerable people, a UN spokesperson said on Monday. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for Secretary-General António Guterres, was speaking at the regular press briefing at… Continue reading Russian attacks continue to affect world’s most vulnerable, UN spokesperson says

7 August 2023Climate and Environment Caribbean countries have been equipped to better prepare for hurricanes and other hazards following the conclusion of a three-and-a-year project to strengthen weather, water and climate services, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on Monday.  The $6.5 million projectshowcased practical tools and policy-making priorities in line with a UN plan to… Continue reading UN-backed project boosts early warning services in the Caribbean

According to UNICEF, nearly 300 confirmed cases were reported in the first six months of 2023, almost matching the total number documented over 2022 and close to three times the number in 2021. “The stories we are hearing from UNICEF staff and partners on the ground are shocking and unacceptable,” Gary Conille, UNICEF Regional Director… Continue reading Haiti: ‘Unimaginable violence’ against women, children, reports UNICEF

7 August 2023Climate and Environment Three-quarters of children in South Asia are already exposed to extreme high temperature compared to only one in three globally, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday, urging authorities to do more to help them beat the heat. UNICEF estimates that 76 per cent of children under 18 in… Continue reading Heatwaves and high temperatures threatening young lives in South Asia: UNICEF

5 August 2023Human Rights Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has said that the United Nations will support Brazil’s indigenous peoples and amplify their voices far and wide towards the full realizations of their rights. Ms. Mohammed on Friday wrapped up a week of development-focused meetings with Government officials in the vast South American country with a… Continue reading Land and basic services are ‘your rights, not favours’, UN deputy-chief

In a message to mark the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Mr. Guterres urged the international community to learn from the “nuclear cataclysm” that befell the Japanese city on 6 August 1945. “The drums of nuclear war are beating once again; mistrust and division are on the rise,” the UN chief said… Continue reading UN pushes disarmament talks amid fears that drums of nuclear war are beating again

5 August 2023Climate and Environment A man living in Viet Nam has been explaining how his community has learnt to adapt to and mitigate the effects of devastating flooding caused by tropical storms. Extreme weather between October and November of 2020, highlighted the vulnerability of the inhabitants of the city of Huế in central Viet… Continue reading First Person: Rising above floods in Viet Nam

Ted Chaiban of the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, and Edem Wosornu with the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, briefed journalists on their recent mission to the country and Chad, one of several neighbouring nations hosting some 900,000 people who fled the violence. Fighting between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) recently… Continue reading Nearly 14 million children in Sudan need humanitarian support: UNICEF

4 August 2023Law and Crime Prevention The new sentence imposed on jailed Russian politician Alexei Navalny on Friday raises renewed serious concerns about judicial harassment and instrumentalization of the country’s court system for political purposes, the UN Human Rights High Commissioner said in a statement. Volker Türk said the 19-year sentence was based on vague… Continue reading Russia: Latest Navalny sentencing raises serious concerns, UN rights chief says

3 August 2023Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General congratulated the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) on the start of their bilateral ceasefire which entered into force on Thursday, his spokesperson said in a statement.  The six-month truce between the authorities and the largest remaining rebel group in the country followed 10… Continue reading Colombia: Guterres welcomes start of ceasefire between Government and ELN

3 August 2023Migrants and Refugees Thirteen people have been killed and more than 60 injured in four days of deadly violence at the largest Palestine refugee camp in Lebanon, a senior UN official in the country said on Thursday.  The fighting between Palestinian armed groups at Ein El Helweh camp has also forced thousands to… Continue reading UNRWA appeals for end to deadly clashes at Palestine refugee camp in Lebanon

Globally, over 250 million people suffered acute hunger in 2022, the highest in recent years, with about 376,000 people facing famine-like conditions in seven countries – all affected by armed conflict or extreme levels of violence. Another 35 million people are on the edge, Reena Ghelani said. Hunger and conflict “feed off of each other,”… Continue reading The eerie silence of starvation ‘is deafening, it never leaves you’: UN official

Women, pregnant or with young children, wait for appointments at a maternity hospital in Port Sudan (file).. 3 August 2023Humanitarian Aid The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a grave warning regarding the deepening food crisis in Sudan, as the country grapples with conflict and economic decline.   FAO said 20.3 million individuals in… Continue reading FAO raises alarm on escalating food crisis in Sudan  

2 August 2023Peace and Security The Security Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to expand the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to monitor a ceasefire between the Government and the largest remaining rebel group in the country.  The truce with the ELN, the Spanish acronym for National Liberation Army, comes into effect on… Continue reading Colombia: UN Mission to monitor ceasefire with ELN rebel group

“With only 17 months remaining on the Roadmap timelines before elections in 2024, I repeat what I had said in an earlier press conference, that 2023 is a ‘make or break’ year,” Nicholas Haysom said. Mr. Haysom heads the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) which reported that “a race against time” is now underway in… Continue reading Time running out on election timeline for South Sudan, UN official warns

2 August 2023Human Rights Conflict in Sudan has forced nearly four million people to flee their homes in a little over 100 days, the UN Migration Agency (IOM) has warned.  Latest data from the IOM’s displacement matrix indicates that the clash between the Sudanese army and paramilitaries has uprooted a staggering number of people, with… Continue reading Sudan conflict displaces nearly four million: UN migration agency

1 August 2023SDGs UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed on Tuesday called for urgent efforts to boost climate action, protect biodiversity, promote sustainable food systems, and ensure decent jobs and social protection. In Brasília, Ms. Mohammed said that Brazil – as the next chair of the G20 – can inspire collective global action towards the… Continue reading In Brazil, UN deputy chief urges greater ambition for Global Goals

Briefing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York, Léonardo Santos Simão reiterated condemnation of the attempted overthrow of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July. He also underscored support for efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aimed at restoring constitutional order and consolidating democratic gains in the country. People deserve peace “The… Continue reading Niger crisis could worsen insecurity throughout West Africa, UN envoy warns

31 July 2023Migrants and Refugees More than two days of armed violence at the Ein El Hilweh Palestine Refugee camp in southern Lebanon continues to impact civilians, including children, a senior UN official in the country said on Monday. Eleven people were killed and another 40 were injured, including a staff member with the UN agency… Continue reading Violence at refugee camp in Lebanon leaves 11 dead, forces thousands to flee: UNRWA

31 July 2023Peace and Security The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa has underlined the UN’s strong condemnation of the attempted coup in Niger, the global body said on Monday. Léonardo Santos Simão was in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday to participate in the extraordinary summit on the crisis, organized by regional bloc ECOWAS. “He will… Continue reading UN envoy to continue efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger

Denise Brown, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, spoke remotely at a press briefing at the UN Headquarters, in New York, and said that funds are needed particularly to prepare for the approaching winter. “It is almost August, and it gets cold very early in Ukraine,” she said. She said that humanitarians are preparing for winterization,… Continue reading Ukraine: War intensifies and so do the needs, says UN relief official

31 July 2023Climate and Environment A summer of extreme weather in the northern hemisphere is causing major damage to people’s health and the environment, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on Monday, as countries from the United States to China battle intense heat.  Record temperatures have been reported on land and in the sea, while… Continue reading Northern hemisphere summer marked by heatwaves and wildfires: WMO

31 July 2023Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the deadly suicide bombing at a political rally in northwest Pakistan on Sunday. At least 54 people were killed, and 83 injured, in the attack, which occurred in Bajaur district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. International media reported on Monday that the Islamic State… Continue reading Guterres strongly condemns suicide bombing in Pakistan

29 July 2023Peace and Security In a press statement published on Friday, the Security Council members called for the immediate and unconditional release of Niger’s democratically elected President Mohammed Bazoum and underscored the need to protect him, his family and members of his government. The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the efforts to… Continue reading Niger: Security Council strongly condemns ‘efforts to unconstitutionally change’ the government

Data from the UN’s World Meteorological Organization reveals this July is set to be the hottest month ever recorded.  Heatwaves not only threaten the environment but create additional obstacles for countries attempting to achieve sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all, the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 8, according to the ILO’s… Continue reading INTERVIEW: Heatwaves endanger workers and reduce productivity

Climate change and conflict Briefing the Security Council, Lt. Gen. Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) recalled when dykes collapsed in Unity State in October 2022, leading to flash floods not seen in nearly six decades, displacing over 170,000 people to the provincial capital Bentiu. If left unaddressed the… Continue reading UN missions battle old and emerging threats, to protect civilians

At a press briefing in New York, Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme, said that the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative after Russia ended its engagement was “regrettable, to say the least.” Under the initiative, WFP shipped more than 725,000 tons of grain, relieving hunger in some of the… Continue reading World entering a ‘humanitarian doom loop’, warns UN food aid official

Nicole Kouassi, UN Acting Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, was speaking from the capital, Niamey, just hours after the general whose troops seized the democratically elected president, declared that he was assuming control of the country. On behalf of UN agencies on the ground, she echoed the Secretary-General’s condemnation of Wednesday’s coup against President Mohamed… Continue reading UN pledges to ‘remain engaged and committed’ amid Niger coup

28 July 2023Migrants and Refugees Civilians fleeing attacks by extremist groups in Burkina Faso must be allowed to shelter in neighbouring countries and not sent back, amid a spike in violence and horrifying rights abuses, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday. “We’re urgently appealing for all States to refrain from forcibly returning any… Continue reading UNHCR urges solidarity with Burkina Faso’s victims of extremist violence

The trend indicates that climate litigation is becoming an integral part of the international push for greater climate action and justice.  The Global Climate Litigation Report: 2023 Status Review, is based on a review of cases up to the end of 2022, compiled by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, which partnered… Continue reading Climate Litigation Report reveals spike in cases demanding action

“This deterioration is taking place alongside ongoing unilateral steps that undermine a two-State solution, the absence of a peace process and the continuing economic challenges facing Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority (PA),” said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, briefing ambassadors. “It is critical that all parties take urgent steps to stop the downward… Continue reading ‘Urgent steps’ needed to end surge in violence across West Bank

Cases of infectious diseases and other illness have been reported among the displaced population who have sought shelter in hard-to-reach locations, where health services are limited. “The scale of the health crisis is enormous. We are working hard to step up our response, delivering critical medical and other emergency health supplies,” said Dr. Nima Saeed… Continue reading Sudan health crisis reaches ‘gravely serious levels’: WHO

Echoing that warning in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that “short of a mini-Ice Age” in coming days, July 2023 would likely “shatter records across the board”.   The UN chief added that the consequences were as clear as they were tragic: “children swept away by monsoon rains, families running from the flames… Continue reading UN weather agency warns July likely warmest month on record

27 July 2023Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday highlighted the need for a “surge in diplomacy” in the Korean Peninsula, urging the two nations to resume talks towards a lasting peace. His message marked the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement that ended the hostilities and established a demilitarized zone,… Continue reading On 70th anniversary of Korean armistice, Guterres calls for renewed dialogue

27 July 2023Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Thursday demanded the release of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum “immediately and unconditionally”, as military officers continue to hold the democratically-elected leader captive after declaring a coup. A group of officers from all branches of the military made the television announcement late on Wednesday, after members of… Continue reading Niger: UN chief demands president’s immediate and unconditional release

27 July 2023Climate and Environment Climate change impacts are increasing in Asia, which is warming faster than the global average, the World Meteorological Office (WMO) said in a new report published on Thursday.  Melting ice and glaciers and rising sea levels threaten more socio-economic disruption in future, according to the agency’s latest State of the… Continue reading Warming trend in Asia set to cause more disruption: UN weather agency

26 July 2023Climate and Environment Half of all children in Europe and Central Asia, 92 million, are exposed to high heatwave frequency, or double the global average, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday in a new policy brief. Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director Europe and Central Asia, said countries in these parts… Continue reading Heatwave threat impacts half of all children in Europe and Central Asia

The Council meeting was convened following the missile strikes on Sunday which damaged the centuries-old Transfiguration Cathedral, the first and foremost Orthodox church in the historic city. Other landmarks in the city centre, a protected World Heritage Site, were also damaged in the attack, which killed one person and injured several others. Culture under fire… Continue reading Ukraine: ‘Latest attacks signal a calamitous turn’, Security Council hears

26 July 2023Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned an attempted power grab in the West African nation of Niger, following reports that the democratically elected president is being held by some of his own guards inside his official residence. According to news reports, the officers seized President Mohamed Bazoum and… Continue reading Guterres condemns apparent coup attempt in Niger

The task of transferring a million barrels of oil from the stricken supertanker Yemen, will take some 19 days – preventing what would be the fifth largest spill in history, were the rusting tanker to break apart.  But this process will not end with the oil transfer, because the FSO Safer will continue to pose… Continue reading The UN’s milestone operation to salvage Yemen’s stricken oil tanker: Key questions answered

25 July 2023Peace and Security While national elections in West Africa and the Sahel provide an important opportunity for voters to effect change, they also expose “real challenges” which must be addressed moving forward, the UN’s top envoy for the region said on Tuesday.  In his first briefing to the Security Council since being appointed… Continue reading ‘Real challenges’ must be addressed beyond polling day, urges UN West Africa envoy

25 July 2023Climate and Environment Asia and the Pacific has a “narrow window” to protect its hard-won gains, as climate change supercharges disasters and impacts billions there, the UN’s development body spanning the vast region said on Tuesday. According to a new report from the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific… Continue reading ‘Disaster emergency’ underway in Asia-Pacific, warns ESCAP

25 July 2023Climate and Environment The UN has started a complex operation to transfer crude oil from a decaying supertanker stranded off the coast of Yemen since 2015. The 19-day operation will pump more than one million barrels out of the rusting vessel, the Safer, which was abandoned over eight years ago, to a nearby… Continue reading Yemen: High stakes UN operation underway to avert catastrophic oil spill

“I hope they will soon, because if not, it will be another missed opportunity to help the Syrian conflict to come to a negotiated end, at a time when the impact of the crisis is deepening,” Geir Pedersen said, briefing the Security Council. While there had been positive humanitarian gestures following the devastating earthquakes in… Continue reading Syria still mired in division, top UN envoy tells Security Council

23 July 2023Culture and Education Senior UN officials have strongly condemned the deadly Russian missile strikes in the Ukrainian city of Odesa on Sunday which damaged several historic buildings. The attacks resulted in civilian casualties and damaged significant cultural sites, including the Transfiguration Cathedral, the first and foremost Orthodox church in Odesa, founded in 1794.… Continue reading UN strongly condemns Russian strikes in Odesa, Ukraine

Lisa Singh, who is the UN Resident Coordinator in Mauritius and Seychelles, was speaking ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit +2 which is taking place in Italy from 24 to 26 July. “This is a particularly compelling time to be the Resident Coordinator for a small island state like Mauritius. Since my arrival here in… Continue reading Transformative power of food production in Mauritius: A UN Resident Coordinator blog

22 July 2023Humanitarian Aid The top UN humanitarian official in Yemen on Saturday called for justice in the wake of the recent attack against World Food Programme (WFP) staff that left one person dead and another injured.  In a statement, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, said he was “shocked and deeply… Continue reading Yemen: Killing of veteran WFP staff member ‘an unacceptable tragedy’

Moayad Hameidi, a Jordanian national, was working in Turbah, in the country’s southwest. He came under fire on Friday afternoon, and the identify of the assailants is not yet known. Head of Taiz office WFP released a statement expressing deep sadness at the news, noting that he had only recently arrived in Yemen to assume… Continue reading WFP staffer shot and killed in Yemen

Ms. DiCarlo strongly condemned the aerial strikes this week on the ports in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv, which destroyed critical infrastructure and killed or injured civilians. The attacks followed Russia’s decision on Monday effectively end the UN-brokered accord that facilitated Ukrainian grain and foodstuffs to be shipped to international markets, at a time of spiralling… Continue reading Russian strikes on Ukraine ports ‘further blow to global food security’

“About half of the world’s population is at risk of dengue, and dengue affects approximately 129 countries,” said Dr Raman Velayudhan, WHO’s Head of the Global Programme on control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. “We estimate that about 100 to 400 million cases are reported every year. This is basically an estimate and the American region alone… Continue reading Spike in dengue cases due to global warming, warns WHO

Information on the projects and the positive impact they are having on the lives of victims, and children born as a result of sexual exploitation, are contained within the fund’s fifth annual report released earlier this week, covering 2022.  Contributions to the Trust Fund can be made by governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, private institutions,… Continue reading Trust Fund helps victims and children born of sexual abuse, appeals for continued support

For millennia, civilisations have looked up to the sky pondering the origin and mysteries of the Moon. Ground-based observations enabled by the invention of the first telescopes opened a new chapter in understanding Earth’s celestial companion, and for humankind itself. ‘One small step’ Following the birth of space exploration nearly 70 years ago, the Moon… Continue reading International Moon Day gives boost to peaceful cooperation in space

“The post-Cold War period is over, and we are moving towards a new global order and a multipolar world,” António Guterres said. He highlighted geopolitical tensions, grave human rights violations, distrust in public institutions, new conflicts, terrorism, and the weaponization of emerging technologies. Insecurity is being stoked by a rising threat of nuclear war and… Continue reading UN chief unveils new vision for peace across a ‘multipolar world’

20 July 2023Peace and Security Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday strongly condemned Russian attacks on Odesa and other Ukrainian ports in recent days, following Moscow’s decision to withdraw from the UN-brokered Black Sea Initiative earlier this week.  In making its decision, Russia also withdrew safe passage guarantees for ships carrying grain and other foodstuffs navigating in… Continue reading Ukraine: Guterres ‘strongly condemns’ Russian attacks on Odesa and other ports

Alexander Senkevich, the Mayor of Mykolaiv, spoke to UN News about reconstruction efforts and the role of the United Nations amidst the threat of ongoing shelling. “We were bombed for 230 days, 159 people died, and 750 were injured. A lot of the city was destroyed because there was shelling everywhere. Alexander Senkevich, Mayor of… Continue reading First Person: Ukrainian ‘city of heroes’ plans post-invasion future

19 July 2023UN Affairs The United Nations family came together on Wednesday to pay tribute to the 77 members of staff who died in the line of duty in 2022.  “We are here to mourn together, to remember together, and to pay our respects together,” Secretary-General António Guterres said at the solemn ceremony, held in… Continue reading UN remembers 77 personnel who died in the line of duty last year

19 July 2023Peace and Security Life-saving relief programmes should not be held hostage by political interests, the President of the General Assembly said on Wednesday, as Member States gathered to debate the use of the veto by a permanent member of the Security Council, that halted vital cross-border aid last week into northern Syria.  “The… Continue reading Don’t play ‘geopolitical games’ with vulnerable lives, urges UN Assembly President

18 July 2023Humanitarian Aid Nearly 200,000 people were displaced by fighting inside Sudan over the past week, the UN reported on Tuesday, citing new figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).  Overall, more than 2.6 million people have been internally displaced since the start of the conflict on 15 April. Meanwhile, more than… Continue reading Sudan: Conflict displaces nearly 200,000 alone in the past week

Since the outbreak of the conflict, tens of thousands have lost their lives, many more have been wounded, and millions displaced within Ukraine and outside its borders. “We must remember that behind every number lies a mother, a father, a child, a grandparent. To turn a blind eye would be an affront to the memory… Continue reading Do not play with nuclear Armageddon, warns UN Assembly President

António Guterres said that if AI became primarily a weapon to launch cyberattacks, generate deepfakes, or for spreading disinformation and hate speech, it would have very serious consequences for global peace and security. “Look no further than social media. Tools and platforms that were designed to enhance human connection are now used to undermine elections,… Continue reading Guterres calls for AI ‘that bridges divides’, rather than pushing us apart

18 July 2023Climate and Environment The dangers associated with the heatwave that’s engulfing the northern hemisphere aren’t over yet, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Tuesday. In an alert, the agency emphasized that heatwaves are amongst the deadliest natural hazards and WMO Senior Heat Advisor, John Nairn, told reporters that extreme temperatures are… Continue reading Health risks on the rise as heatwave intensifies across Europe: WMO

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Security Council in the wake of the collapse earlier in the day of the Black Sea Initiative to bring grain and fertilizer from the region to the world. “The longer this war continues, the more dangerous its consequences, including the possibility of a wider conflict,” she warned. “For the sake… Continue reading ‘Senseless, unjustified war’ in Ukraine must stop: UN political affairs chief

Following weeks of negotiations, the UN-brokered accord that facilitated the export of more than 30 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to global markets via three Black Sea ports expired on 17 July.   “Today’s decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to people in need everywhere,” said Mr. Guterres, speaking to journalists at… Continue reading UN chief regrets Russia’s decision to withdraw from grain deal

The trial of Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka was the most emblematic, complex case the court in North Kivu province had ever handled, and its proceedings and final judgement in 2020 provide a compelling example of how to bring a war criminal to justice. Ahead of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Day of International Criminal Justice, which marks the… Continue reading Bringing a war criminal to justice

15 July 2023Humanitarian Aid Warring factions in Sudan must respect international law, protect civilians, and stop targeting relief and aid workers, the United Nations top humanitarian official urged on Saturday, as the conflict reached its three-month mark. “For three months now, the people of Sudan have endured unspeakable suffering amid violence that is tearing their… Continue reading Sudan: ‘We cannot work under the barrel of a gun,’ UN relief chief says

14 July 2023Human Rights The UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Friday said it was very concerned over reports of police in Kenya using excessive force to quell protests this week which have left dozens dead and injured. The demonstrations began over what many Kenyans view as unfair tax hikes and rising inflation in the country, according… Continue reading Kenya: OHCHR ‘very concerned’ over disproportionate use of force against protesters

“Every new wave of warfare brings with it a rising tide of human tragedy, including new waves of war’s oldest, most silenced and least condemned crime,” she said. The Council meeting to examine implementation of its resolutions on conflict-related sexual violence was convened by the United Kingdom, which holds the rotating presidency this month. Meetings survivors in… Continue reading Security Council urged to address ‘most silenced and least condemned crime’

According to the UN weather agency, June witnessed the warmest global average temperature on record, and heatwaves have persisted into early July. Torrential rains and floods have resulted in dozens of fatalities and affected millions in the United States, Japan, China and India. ‘New normal’ “The extreme weather – an increasingly frequent occurrence in our… Continue reading Extreme weather highlights need for greater climate action: WMO

Briefing the Security Council, Prosecutor Karim Khan, said that the mandate of his office, pursuant to resolution 1593 referring the situation in Darfur to the Court in 2005, was clear. “[Our mandate is] ongoing with respect to crimes within our jurisdiction, the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes; and any individual who… Continue reading Darfur: International Criminal Court launches investigation into surging violence

Khaled Khiari was briefing the Council just a day after DPRK conducted the second launch of its Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a system which he said can now “reach most points on Earth.” It represented “potentially” Pyongyang’s longest ever ballistic missile flight, lasting around 74 minutes and travelling over 1,000 kilometres before crashing into… Continue reading Status quo on Korean Peninsula ‘alarming and unsustainable’, Security Council hears

Cities and towns have become the drivers of economic growth and now account for more than 80 per cent of global GDP.  Yet, in 2020, over one billion inhabitants of urban areas were still living in slums or informal settlements, predominantly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. As urban populations grow, slums expand even faster, UN… Continue reading Urban planning must factor in needs of migrants, sustainable development forum hears

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is in the Belgian capital to participate in the second high-level dialogue between the global body and the European Union (EU). The two days of talks will centre around issues that include Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its ripple effects worldwide, climate change, and the promise and perils of the digital… Continue reading UN needed ‘now more than ever’: European Commission President

13 July 2023Humanitarian Aid The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday launched an emergency seed distribution campaign in Sudan, ensuring farmers and their families have the necessary resources to meet food production needs amid the on-going conflict between rival military forces. The agency plans to reach and assist over one million vulnerable farmers… Continue reading Sudan: Emergency seed distribution campaign underway as fighting continues

The victims, who included members of the Masalit ethnic community, were allegedly killed last month by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militia, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said, citing credible information. Local people were forced to dispose of the bodies in a mass grave outside the regional capital, El-Geneina , denying those… Continue reading Sudan: UN rights chief calls for probe after 87 bodies found in mass grave

“Colombia is at a critical juncture, a crossroads at which the decisive will of parties and the support of the international community can come together to buttress embryonic peace processes,” said Carlos Ruiz Massieu, presenting his latest report. It shows that progress is being made across several sections of the 2016 Peace Agreement signed by… Continue reading UN envoy points to progress towards peace in Colombia

Eye of the storm SDS are defined as storms caused by intense winds over areas of arid soil that pick up large amounts of ground material in the atmosphere. Approximately two tonnes of sand and dust enter the atmosphere each year, according to the UN Coalition to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). These particles can travel for… Continue reading UN issues global alert to combat severe sand and dust storms

11 July 2023SDGs Despite some progress, billions worldwide still lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene; a situation exacerbated by water scarcity caused by conflicts and climate change. On Tuesday, the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) discussed the key role of water in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Water pollution poses a significant challenge… Continue reading Major boost needed to reach 2030 water, sanitation and hygiene goals

11 July 2023Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General has strongly condemned an attack on a UN peacekeeping patrol in the northeast Central African Republic (CAR) on Monday which left one Rwandan ‘blue helmet’ dead.  The attack by unknown assailants on the patrol from the MINUSCA mission occurred just a few kilometres from the town of Sam Ouandia.… Continue reading UN chief condemns deadly attack on peacekeepers in Central African Republic

11 July 2023Human Rights UN-appointed independent human rights experts on Tuesday called for the Government of Bangladesh to end all harassment against representatives of the human rights organisation, Odhikar, and to ensure respect for due process in legal proceedings.  ‘Chilling effect’ Odhikar has “documented enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings and cooperated with UN human rights… Continue reading Bangladesh using enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings to silence rights defenders: Experts

11 July 2023Humanitarian Aid Life-saving assistance to millions in northwest Syria is at risk after the UN Security Council on Tuesday failed to adopt either of two competing resolutions to extend cross-border aid delivery from Türkiye.  The disruption comes as humanitarian needs are at an all-time high after more than 12 years of war and… Continue reading Security Council fails to reach consensus on Syria aid lifeline

From the World Food Programme (WFP), Chad Country Director Pierre Honnorat, said that 20,000 people crossed into Chad just last week. Speaking to journalists via Zoom from Zabout refugee camp in Goz Beida, Mr. Honnorat described desperate scenes: “We can see that they have suffered, many lost family members and we don’t even dare ask… Continue reading Sudan crisis: You don’t dare ask refugees where the men have gone, say UN aid teams

Carrying over 1.1 million barrels of oil, the supertanker FSO Safer was abandoned off Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hudaydah after the civil war broke out in the country in 2015. Since then, the vessel has deteriorated significantly in absence of any servicing or maintenance, prompting fears of a major environmental disaster. According to David… Continue reading Yemen: Transfer of oil from decaying ship expected to start next week

Alarm bells have been rung at the UN agency in particular because of an “unprecedented peak” in sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic. “The first week of July…could be considered as the warmest period or the warmest week ever recorded”, with a global average temperature close to 17.24 degrees Celsius on 7 July, said… Continue reading Temperatures off the charts, but more records imminent: WMO

The two-day military operation was the fiercest in over 20 years, according to the UN agency that supports Palestine refugees, UNRWA. At least 12 people were killed, including four children, and another 140 were injured. Around 900 houses were damaged, with many now uninhabitable.   “We went to Jenin Camp with our partners to show… Continue reading UN and partners visit severely damaged Jenin Refugee Camp

9 July 2023Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the air strike in the Sudanese city of Omdurman on Saturday which reportedly killed at least 22 people. Mr. Guterres offered his condolences to the families of the victims and expressed hopes for a speedy recovery to the dozens who were injured, UN Deputy… Continue reading UN chief condemns air strike that killed at least 22 people in Sudan

“People are suffering greatly due to landmines,” Mr. Lobov told UN News, adding that experts have reported that almost one third of the country is contaminated with unexploded ordnance. “Many adults and children have died,” he said. “We have the highest rate of such losses in the world. No one knows what will happen in… Continue reading Demining Ukraine: Bringing lifesaving expertise back home

7 July 2023Peace and Security The food and fertilizer export deals brokered by the UN last year with Ukraine and Russia have played an “indispensable role” in supporting global food security and must continue, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday. In a statement issued by his Deputy Spokesperson, António Guterres reiterated “the importance of full… Continue reading UN-brokered grain and fertilizer deals ‘indispensable’ to global food security

7 July 2023Human Rights The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has urged authorities in Honduras to reinforce the “internal and external oversight of military operations” in the country, following the extending of a national state of emergency.  OHCHR Spokesperson Marta Hurtado told journalists in Geneva that the Government had issued a 45-day extension on Wednesday.  “The… Continue reading OHCHR ‘very concerned’ over militarization of public security in Honduras

7 July 2023Human Rights The UN deplored the horrendous civilian cost of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which reached the 500-day mark on Friday.  The war began on 24 February 2022, and the UN’s Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has confirmed that more than 9,000 civilians, including over 500 children, have been killed… Continue reading ‘Grim milestone’ as Ukraine war reaches 500-day mark

Briefing the Security Council on the state of the JCPOA, Ms. DiCarlo set the tone for the discussion by stating, “diplomacy is the only way to effectively address the Iranian nuclear issue.” The 2015 deal sets out rules for monitoring Iran’s nuclear programme and paves the way for the lifting of UN sanctions. It was agreed… Continue reading Iran nuclear deal: Despite differences, still ‘best available option’, Security Council hears

“Israel’s airstrikes and ground operations in a crowded refugee camp were the worst violence in the West Bank in many years,” said António Guterres, referring to the two day long military assault in Jenin which began on Monday morning, involving the use of airstrikes, and missiles fired from drones. According to the Palestinian health ministry… Continue reading Israel-Palestine: UN chief strongly condemns mounting violence, acts of terror

He said citizens of the Caribbean nation are “trapped in a living nightmare” as armed gangs encircle the capital, Port-au-Prince, blocking roads, controlling access to food and healthcare, and undermining humanitarian support. Mr. Guterres was speaking at UN Headquarters fresh from a visit to the country and a summit of regional leaders, held in Trinidad… Continue reading Guterres appeals for humanitarian, security and political action to end Haiti’s ‘living nightmare’

Maw Pray Myar holds her one-year-old daughter as she flees to safety towards the border with Thailand during a one week journey by foot in January 2022, in Kayah (Karenni) state, eastern Myanmar. 6 July 2023Human Rights The Myanmar regime’s brutal violence against civilians and its denial of life-saving humanitarian aid, reflect “utter contempt for… Continue reading Myanmar atrocities and impunity must end: Türk

The violations include conflict-related sexual violence against internally displaced and refugee women and girls forced to flee for their lives. Agency chiefs from humanitarian coordination office OCHA, the human rights office (OHCHR), the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), UN Women and the World… Continue reading UN voices ‘shock and condemnation’ as gender-based violence soars across Sudan

5 July 2023Human Rights The UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect launched a new policy paper on Wednesday aimed at countering and addressing hate speech online.  The policy paper, Countering and Addressing Online Hate Speech: A Guide for Policy Makers and Practitioners, was developed jointly by the UN Office with the Economic… Continue reading New UN policy paper launched to counter and address online hate

Presenting her latest annual report, Virginia Gamba, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, appealed for “bold and resolute action” to protect boys and girls at risk of death, recruitment, rape and other horrors.   The report covers 26 situations in five regions worldwide, representing another high.   Countries include Ethiopia, Mozambique and… Continue reading ‘Bold and resolute’ action needed to protect children affected by war

According to a new UNCTAD report, developing countries actually face a staggering $4 trillion gap in sustainable development investments. UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan said that a “significant increase” in material support for renewable energy in developing countries is “crucial” for the world to reach its climate goals by 2030. Poorer countries left behind in renewables boom… Continue reading Developing countries face $4 trillion investment gap in SDGs

António Guterres was addressing the Council of The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the world’s largest regional security body in terms of landmass and population which currently includes China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and new member Iran. The UN has had a cooperation agreement with the Asia-focused SCO since 2010, which also partners… Continue reading Cooperation key to weathering climate crisis, growing inequality, new tech challenge: Guterres

In a statement from his spokesperson on Monday, Mr. Guterres affirmed that all military operations must be conducted with full respect for international humanitarian law.  The incursion follows another operation in the camp on 19 June, which left four Palestinians killed and 91 others injured. Rising death toll The UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Tuesday that… Continue reading Jenin: UN concerned over ongoing Israeli military operation

Since then, as international funding has stalled amid skepticism about the Taliban’s return, the UN has been acting as the world’s “eyes and ears” in Afghanistan. After shifting mainly to humanitarian work, UN agencies and partners are finding ways to help the long-suffering population meet basic needs and preserve hard-won development gains.  UN News was recently… Continue reading INTERVIEW: Building bridges between Afghanistan and the world because ‘isolation is not an option’

Haiti The security situation in Haiti “is appalling,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, recalling his recent visit to the fragile nation. He called for swift action at a time when the humanitarian needs are “soaring”. And although “there is not yet a full political solution in sight”, the UN chief expressed hope and optimism. “It… Continue reading At Caribbean Summit, UN chief calls for climate action, debt relief, and urgent aid for Haiti

3 July 2023Climate and Environment A new strategy is expected to set global shipping on an ambitious path towards phasing out greenhouse gas emissions, top UN officials said at the opening of the latest session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in London on Monday. “Humanity is in dangerous waters on climate,” UN Secretary-General… Continue reading Global shipping poised to get new emissions-fighting strategy

3 July 2023Peace and Security The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine is now reconnected to its only back-up power line after four months, but the power situation at the site remains “highly vulnerable”, warned Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday. “While the reconnection of the back-up… Continue reading IAEA: Europe’s largest nuclear power plant regains back-up electricity feed

3 July 2023Climate and Environment Global heating is a burning human rights issue, as extreme weather and climate disasters threaten humanity’s universal right to food, UN rights chief Volker Türk said on Monday. “We must not leave this for our children to fix – no matter how inspiring their activism,” he told the Human Rights… Continue reading UN rights chief: ‘Don’t leave the climate crisis for our children to fix’

The UN chief expressed deep concern at the extreme vulnerability faced by the Haitian people – especially women and girls – because of brutally violent and “predatory” armed gangs, like those encircling the capital, blocking main roads and controlling access to water, food, health care.  “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the widespread sexual violence… Continue reading ‘Generations of Haitians’ at risk, warns Guterres, calling for international force to help quell gang violence

“The challenges are many and they are serious”, Amina Mohammed said, highlighting the plight of the planet. “Almost all our indicators on the climate and ecological crises are pointing in the wrong direction.” She praised China’s role in being an innovator and believer in the power of multilateralism to overcome challenges through collection action, pointing… Continue reading UN deputy chief praises China’s investment in tackling climate change, forging ‘new development pathway’

30 June 2023Peace and Security Myanmar’s military is killing civilians, destroying food and homes, and keeping the most vulnerable from receiving lifesaving aid, according to a new report from the UN human rights office (OHCHR). The chief of OHCHR’s Myanmar team, James Rodehaver, explained that since their February 2021 coup, the country’s military rulers have… Continue reading Myanmar: Military’s obstruction of humanitarian aid could be international crime

Security Council members reiterated strong support for the full withdrawal of the decade-old UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and the transfer of security responsibilities to the country’s transitional Government, which has been in power since a coup in 2021. Commending the peacekeeping operation and its staff, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for the… Continue reading UN Security Council terminates Mali peacekeeping mission

30 June 2023Peace and Security With over 18,000 near-Earth objects (NEOs) lurking beyond the stratosphere, 2,000 of which are classified as potentially hazardous, the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is using Friday’s International Asteroid Day to raise awareness across the planet. NEOs are asteroids or comets that come relatively close to the Sun,… Continue reading UN space agency vigilant over threat posed by ‘near-Earth objects’

Since her last briefing in May, said Izumi Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, reports from open sources indicate an influx in the transfer of heavy conventional weapons, including battle tanks, combat aircraft, artillery and missile systems. “There are reports that the supply of arms and ammunition has accelerated and expanded ahead of the… Continue reading Ukraine: Concerns mount over influx of weapons and growing civilian casualties

Briefing correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York just a few days after visiting Haiti along with the head of the World Food Programme (WFP), Catherine Russell said “the current situation of insecurity is unacceptable. “Women and children are dying. Schools and public spaces should always be safe. Collectively the world is failing the Haitian… Continue reading ‘The world is failing the Haitian people’ warns UNICEF chief

29 June 2023Climate and Environment The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and four partner agencies have been tasked with leading a new push to help countries curb the land-based pollution of coastal areas and shorelines. FAO will co-lead the Clean and Healthy Oceans initiative together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank… Continue reading UN agencies head up new $115 million push for cleaner, healthier oceans

“The violence and suffering of the Syrian people remind us of what is at stake as diplomatic efforts continue on Syria,” said Najat Rochdi, UN Deputy Special Envoy for the country. “Ultimately, we need a nationwide ceasefire in line with Security Council resolution 2254.” Worsening crisis Briefing on current conditions, she said recent reports have tracked deadly… Continue reading Syrians facing ‘ever worsening’ conditions, top UN officials warn

28 June 2023Peace and Security The Secretary-General condemned on Wednesday Israel’s recent advancement of plans for over 5,500 housing units in settlements in the occupied West Bank. He also denounced the retroactive regularization of three outposts adjacent to the settlement of Eli. A strongly worded statement by the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General reiterates that settlements… Continue reading Guterres condemns Israel’s recent advancement of plans to build in occupied West Bank

28 June 2023Humanitarian Aid Millions are facing hunger and children’s lives are on the line in north-eastern Nigeria amid a protracted conflict and climate change. UN’s humanitarian response in the region is underfunded, humanitarians told the press in Geneva on Wednesday.  The UN’s top humanitarian official in the country Matthias Schmale informed that severe hunger… Continue reading North-eastern Nigeria: malnourished children fighting for their lives

27 June 2023Health While no longer a global emergency, COVID-19’s long-term effects alongside such other threats as mpox and seasonal heat waves may challenge Europe through the summer months, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) regional office warned on Tuesday. This summer will be “the first in more than three years that many of… Continue reading WHO: ‘Long COVID’ may obstruct return to normal life for 36 million Europeans

“We’ve already seen over 560,000 people crossing into neighbouring countries…[and] nearly two million people displaced internally,” said Raouf Mazou, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, following a visit to Sudan. Since conflict erupted there on 15 April when rival militaries clashed, more than half a million people have reached neighbouring countries in a bid to escape… Continue reading Sudan: Displacement soars amid shrinking humanitarian access

“The choice is clear,” said Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO). “Either continue along the downward spiral of violence and provocations leading to a political vacuum or turn towards constructive dialogue linked to concrete actions that can create hope and a political horizon.” ‘Alarming spike’ Urging Israeli and Palestinian… Continue reading Top UN official urges Israeli, Palestinian leaders to ‘put on the brakes’

Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba unveiled the Secretary-General’s latest annual report, for 2022, which showed there were 27,180 grave violations overall, an increase from the previous year. The recorded violations only refer to verified information, with the likely toll much higher, and cover four categories: recruitment and use of children into… Continue reading ‘Dire year’ for children caught in conflict, as hospital and school attacks double

Today, more than 100 armed conflicts are raging worldwide, devastating communities, winding back development, and leading to grave violations of human rights.  Ranging from severe beatings to sexual humiliation and rape, torture is widely used as a means of war. And often, torture involves the use of tools or instruments, mock executions, and forcing victims… Continue reading Torture as a weapon of war must cease, rights experts demand

“So far, the ceasefire between the M23 and the FARDC has held up relatively well and has contributed to some security gains”, said UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobee. “The relative calm in Rutshuru territory, for example, allowed more than 45,000 people from the Bishusha group to return home”, she said.  She noted, however, that… Continue reading Security in eastern DR Congo continues to worsen, Security Council hears

“The lives of millions depend on that responsibility being given meaning,” Special Adviser on responsibility to protect (R2P) issues George Okoth-Obbo said, introducing the Secretary-General’s latest report and speaking on his behalf.  “This annual debate is a reminder to us not to drift from our commitment, our duty, our responsibility to protect.” Preventing ‘contagion of mass… Continue reading Preventing ‘contagion of atrocities’ hinges on responsibility to protect

“About five million children under the age of five are estimated to be facing acute malnutrition in 2023 in the Horn region, in the Greater Horn. That is about 10.4 million, that is just a staggering figure,” said Liesbeth Aelbrecht, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) incident manager for the greater Horn of Africa emergency. Three… Continue reading Horn of Africa: Around 60 million in urgent humanitarian need

24 June 2023Peace and Security The UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Saturday said it was gravely concerned at reports of “wanton killings” by “Arab” militia in Sudan’s West Darfur backed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), primarily targeting men from the Masalit community. The explosion of ethnic violence in Darfur largely by nomadic “Arab”… Continue reading Sudan: OHCHR calls for ‘urgent action’ to end militia attacks on people fleeing El Geneina

The PBC, an intergovernmental advisory body launched in 2006, plays a crucial role in supporting peace efforts in conflict-affected countries. Consisting of 31 Member States elected from the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Economic and Social Council, it brings together top donors and troop-contributing countries. Ambassador Ivan Šimonović of Croatia, Commission Chair, cited the… Continue reading On Peacebuilding Day, ambassadors discuss response to organized crime in the Sahel

“The war in Ukraine has created a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe, traumatized a generation of children, and accelerated the global food and energy crises,” said Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. “We cannot discount further dangerous knock-on effects,” she cautioned, citing urgent concerns, from rising death tolls to nuclear threats. Worsening conditions The impact… Continue reading Ukraine: War ‘weakening’ international security, political affairs chief warns

“Whilst many challenges and risks lie ahead, there are also many opportunities, and I urge all international partners to lean in and provide additional support to the people,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia Catriona Laing. Regarding current security conditions, Ms. Laing, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), raised concerns… Continue reading Somalia in danger of losing hard-won gains, Security Council hears

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have designed a new joint programme for smallholder farmers and rural families most affected by the conflict. The goal is to clear farmland impacted by the fighting of mines and other explosive remnants of war, safely allowing it to produce crops once again. … Continue reading Agencies join forces with deminers to reclaim agricultural land in Ukraine

“Our religion is a true, honest religion that treats women with justice and fairness,” she said, leaning forward for emphasis.  She knows of what she speaks. She is the daughter of Baba Ould Maata, a highly respected Mauritanian scholar. Inspired by her father, Ms. Maata has embarked on her own journey of studying the Quran… Continue reading UN Counter-Terrorism Week: Preventing violent extremism

Despite gains made in tackling sea-faring criminal groups, “piracy incidents continue to threaten the safety of maritime traffic in the region,” said Martha Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. Effective deterrents Since her last briefing on maritime security in November, she said a steady decrease in… Continue reading Top UN official for Africa calls for added action to stop piracy’s spread

Achim Steiner, head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Vice-Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group told delegates he had just returned from the war-torn country, noting civilians’ “extraordinary determination to adapt, to recover and to rebuild.” “The UN had developed a clear picture to inform a targeted recovery through a Rapid Damage and… Continue reading UN remains focused on ‘critical needs’ of Ukraine’s people

UN Special Representative Roza Otunbayeva was briefing the Security Council on the dire situation facing the country and the international aid effort, with UN women workers among those now prevented by Taliban edicts from working. “We will not put our national staff in danger and therefore we are asking them not to report to the office”… Continue reading Afghanistan mission chief to Taliban: Bans on women and girls cost you legitimacy at home and abroad

Valentine Rugwabiza head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MINUSCA) briefed ambassadors on important progress which has been made in the implementation of a key 2019 peace agreement between the Government and armed groups. She emphasized the significance of the dissolution following “active engagements” by the Government in April, of two armed groups… Continue reading MINUSCA chief to Security Council: Decade-long cycle of conflict can be broken

“Now is not the time to take our eyes off the ball in South Sudan,” said Nicholas Haysom, who also heads the UN mission in the country (UNMISS). “What we can learn from Sudan is how quickly hard-won peace gains can unravel.” On the political front, the Sudan crisis is reducing “much-needed bandwidth” to focus on… Continue reading Sudan crisis threatens to hobble South Sudan’s transition, UN official says

20 June 2023Peace and Security UN humanitarians issued an urgent appeal on Tuesday to help millions of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where chronic violence and displacement continue to fuel a dramatic hunger crisis. According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), since March 2022 alone, 5.7 million people have been… Continue reading DRC: Lives shattered by violence, displacement and hunger in ‘forgotten crisis’: WFP

19 June 2023Peace and Security Libyan political leaders who are being encouraged to set aside their differences for the sake of a new democratic future, must put the interests of the people “above all else”, said the UN’s Special Representative for the country on Monday. Abdoulaye Bathily, briefed the Security Council and acknowledged the recent efforts… Continue reading Libya: ‘Persistent disagreements’ must be overcome, Security Council hears

The day also marked the start of the UN’s Third Counter-Terrorism week.  Addressing the delegates “at the forefront of a great global effort”, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that terrorism affects every region of the world, while preying on local and national vulnerabilities. “Poverty, inequalities and social exclusion give terrorism fuel. Prejudice and discrimination targeting specific… Continue reading Poverty, inequality and exclusion fuelling terrorism, warns UN chief

Mr. Kőrösi was speaking at an event to commemorate the 2nd International Day for Countering Hate Speech, which is officially observed on 18 June.  “It would be my wish that we would not have to observe this day. It would be my wish that hate speech were a thing of the past,” he said.  Rising violence  Hate speech is most often… Continue reading Combatting hate speech is a shared responsibility: UN General Assembly President

In his message marking the day, the Secretary-General condemned the use of sexual violence as a tactic of ‘war, torture, and repression’ in the conflicts that affect hundreds of millions of people around the world. “Harrowing reports from across the globe are a terrible reminder that this despicable crime persists despite international commitments to stamp… Continue reading End ‘digital divide’ to support victims of sexual violence: Guterres

According to a report issued by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, during 2022, multiple nations in the region had their warmest year on record but the expanded use of renewable energy provides a silver lining. Extreme heat, drought and wildfire, marine heatwaves, unprecedented glacier melt – the… Continue reading Europe warming twice as fast as other continents, warns WMO

Addressing donors at a pledging event in Geneva convened by the UN with Egypt, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the African Union and the European Union, Mr. Guterres said that some $3 billion was needed to assist people in Sudan and those who have fled to neighbouring countries. “The scale and speed of Sudan’s descent into death… Continue reading Sudan: Guterres urges donors to boost aid response to halt death, destruction

1. Fresh protection beyond borders While countries are responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of waterways under their national jurisdiction, the high seas now have added protection from such destructive trends as pollution and unsustainable fishing activities. Adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), the “high seas”… Continue reading Beyond borders: Why new ‘high seas’ treaty is critical for the world

The unpaved road to the village is bumpy and sandy. For people living here, however, the path and the intense heat are part of daily life. High temperatures have not stopped Foureyratou Saidou, a single mother of four and recent widow, from tending to the community garden next to the village. The payoffs are worth… Continue reading Combating drought, one garden at a time

“This is obviously an important time for the mission, coinciding with discussions on the renewal of its mandate, and also for Mali, which continues to face complex security and other forms of challenges,” Special Representative El-Ghassim Wane told ambassadors. The long-awaited vote on Sunday marks the first phase towards presidential elections next year following a… Continue reading UN Mission backs constitutional referendum in Mali

16 June 2023Climate and Environment Sea ice is reducing at an unprecedented rate, prompting polar scientists to call for an urgent increase in research and observation, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday.  The rapid changes in the Artic and Antarctic have serious implications for these regions, and for global weather and climate.  The alert… Continue reading Polar scientists call for more research and observation into rapid sea ice reduction

Displaced people in Darfur are receiving Sorghum provided by the World Food Programme. 16 June 2023Peace and Security With the conflict between rival militaries in Sudan entering its third month, the people of Darfur are “trapped in a living nightmare”, the UN’s top aid official has said. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths warned in… Continue reading Sudan’s Darfur spiralling into ‘humanitarian calamity’: UN aid chief

“We are hurtling towards disaster, eyes wide open”, he said.  “It’s time to wake up and step up.”  Mr. Guterres was speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters following a meeting with civil society climate leaders from across the world.  ‘Catastrophe’ looms  He said limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is still possible but will… Continue reading Guterres calls for phasing out fossil fuels to avoid climate ‘catastrophe’

A child carries water through the Kanyaruchinya site for displaced people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo… 15 June 2023Migrants and Refugees Escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has displaced nearly one million people since January, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Thursday.  An estimated 6.1 million… Continue reading DR Congo: Armed group attacks displace nearly 1 million since January

15 June 2023Peace and Security The UN Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) said on Thursday it was “appalled and deeply shocked” at the killing of the Governor of West Darfur, calling for a halt to the spiralling violence and for those responsible to be brought to justice. In a statement, UNITAMS strongly condemned the killing of… Continue reading UN in Sudan condemns killing of West Darfur governor, raises alarm over ‘vortex of hate speech’

The Council met specifically to discuss “the values of human fraternity in promoting and sustaining peace”, building on a 2019 declaration co-authored by Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al Sharif, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and also considered the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought.  The declaration urges religious… Continue reading Faith leaders critical to combating ‘groundswell’ of hatred globally

Climate shocks are triggering worsening security environments, from Afghanistan to Mali, and UN peacekeeping missions are taking steps to adapt, from reducing their carbon footprint to addressing myriad related consequences. “Given the growing linkages of climate change, peace, and security as well as the broader changes to the conflict dynamics in the areas in which… Continue reading Climate shocks set to worsen already fragile hotspots, Security Council hears

WHO’s representative in Ukraine Dr. Jarno Habicht told reporters that after the collapse of the dam caused severe flooding and massive displacement, the agency’s primary concern was the potential outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, as well as rodent-borne diseases. The agency’s teams were monitoring the situation on the ground and were… Continue reading Kakhovka dam disaster a health crisis in the making: WHO

Two senior officials with the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), briefed ambassadors on recent developments, including the arrest of a top fugitive from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and the final verdict related to atrocities committed in the Balkan wars.  Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, Mechanism President, reported that in-court proceedings… Continue reading UN Mechanism reaches ‘watershed moment’ in prosecuting crimes in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia

12 June 2023Peace and Security Greater efforts are needed to protect civilians in Somalia from unexploded weapons of war, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) said on Monday in the wake of a recent deadly incident in the south of the country.  UNMAS issued a statement saying it was “deeply saddened and profoundly alarmed” by… Continue reading ‘Immense tragedy’ underscores need to address unexploded ordnance danger in Somalia

11 June 2023Peace and Security The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday condemned in the strongest possible terms the deadly attack on the Pearl Beach Hotel and Restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia, that left 16 dead, including a staff member. The attack occurred on Friday and left more than 10 people injured at the beachside hotel… Continue reading WHO strongly condemns deadly attack in Somalia

11 June 2023Human Rights Fleeing armed conflict is frightening, forcing people to escape violent clashes and leave behind their homes, schools, and daily lives in a desperate search for safety. Every day, UN human rights officers are on the frontlines to support them. They are part of the UN’s field work, talking to those most… Continue reading From the Field: UN human rights officers on the frontline in Somalia

In this feature, part of a series exploring the fight against trafficking in the Sahel, UN News focuses on the illegal arms trade that is fuelling conflict and terrorism. In the Sahel, home to 300 million people, it’s a buyer’s market for guns. Insurgency and banditry plague the region, rooted in, among other things, endemic… Continue reading Trafficking in the Sahel: Muzzling the illicit arms trade

9 June 2023Peace and Security The UN has strongly condemned an attack on a peacekeeping patrol in Mali which left one ‘blue helmet’ from Burkina Faso dead and eight others with serious injuries. In a statement, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MINUSMA), El-Ghassim WANE, described the attack on the security… Continue reading UN strongly condemns attack on peacekeepers in Mali, which leaves one dead

9 June 2023Human Rights The UN on Friday announced that following serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, an entire unit of 60 peacekeepers from Tanzania formerly based in the western part of the Central African Republic (CAR), is to be repatriated. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told correspondents that the decision to send the unit… Continue reading Central African Republic: Tanzanian peacekeepers to be repatriated following abuse allegations

Speaking to journalists from Bilozerka, a town on the Dnipro River about 20 kilometres west of Kherson and five kilometres from the frontline, Ms. Brown, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, said that on Friday, the UN brought in a five-truck convoy to the affected areas, with desperately needed drinking water, food and equipment to help… Continue reading Ukraine flood disaster: needs grow as long-term impacts loom

Senior officials with the UN Investigative Team promoting accountability for ISIL crimes, UNITAD, presented some of their findings to Member States meeting at UN Headquarters in New York.  For the past five years, UNITAD has been gathering evidence of crimes committed during ISIL’s self-proclaimed caliphate from June 2014 to December 2017, which could be used… Continue reading UN investigative team outlines findings around ISIL chemical weapons use

Denise Brown, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, offered reassurance to Dmytro Kuleba that UN agencies and other humanitarian partners have been delivering water, food and cash to those displaced or suffering the impact of the dam breach, and collapse of the crucial hydroelectric plant in the southeast region near the city of Kherson. Expanding support “Plans are now… Continue reading Dam disaster: UN ‘committed to reaching all Ukrainians in need’, says top aid official

“Together we can achieve what neither organization can achieve on its own,” she said, presenting the UN Secretary-General’s latest report on the important collaboration. Recent strains on multilateralism have seen trust in institutions and processes sorely tested, most recently by the uneven response to the COVID-19 crisis, she said. “Defiance of international law and the… Continue reading ‘Robust’ cooperation with Arab League can quell conflict in the region

8 June 2023Human Rights Bangladesh must “immediately suspend” a pilot repatriation project for Rohingya refugees to return to Myanmar, where they face “serious risks” to their lives and freedom, a UN-appointed independent rights expert said on Thursday. Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, insisted that current conditions… Continue reading Bangladesh must suspend plans to return Rohingya refugees to Myanmar: Rights expert

A man fishes with seine nets in Quang Ngai province, Viet Nam. The goal is to improve “ocean literacy”, according to the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs (DOALOS), who organized the event. Coupled with information on ocean health and the Sustainable Development Goals… Continue reading From the Field: Boosting ocean literacy

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for greater action to protect oceans in his message to mark World Oceans Day on Thursday. “The ocean is the foundation of life. It supplies the air we breathe and food we eat. It regulates our climate and weather. The ocean is our planet’s greatest reservoir of biodiversity,” he… Continue reading World Oceans Day underscores need to protect ‘the foundation of life’

Ambassadors were briefed by Christian Ritscher, Special Adviser and Head of the UN Investigative Team to promote accountability for these crimes, UNITAD, established five years ago.  The Islamist group declared a self-styled caliphate across parts of Iraq and northern Syria in 2014, before being militarily defeated and driven from Iraq in December 2017.  Commitment stronger… Continue reading Admissible evidence, competent courts, critical to ensuring justice for ISIL victims in Iraq

7 June 2023Peace and Security The magnitude of the humanitarian catastrophe following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, is becoming clearer as UN humanitarians redoubled efforts to reach affected civilians with aid on Wednesday. Homes have been flooded, forcing many to leave, and access to water, specifically clean water, is emerging as… Continue reading Ukraine dam disaster: Lack of clean water, spread of disease, major risks

6 June 2023Human Rights The UN expressed deep sadness as another deadly earthquake claimed the lives of at least three people near the Haitian city of Jerémie in the early hours of Tuesday, compounding an already life-threatening situation in recent days caused by flooding and landslides. The 5.5 magnitude quake struck in the department of… Continue reading Haiti: UN deeply saddened as latest earthquake kills three, in wake of floods

6 June 2023UN Affairs Five countries have been elected as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council following a vote in the General Assembly on Tuesday.  Algeria, Guyana, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia will join the premier body for maintaining international peace and security, starting in January, serving for a two-year period.  They… Continue reading UN Security Council to welcome five new non-permanent members

6 June 2023Peace and Security Thousands of civilians in Ukraine are in danger on the frontline, after the apparent destruction of a huge dam whose reservoir is used to cool the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP), UN humanitarians said on Tuesday. The UN Office in Ukraine tweeted that “thousands of people in Ukraine are in… Continue reading Ukraine: Dam destruction sparks nuclear safety, humanitarian concerns

Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report, from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the UN Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO), warns that current efforts are not enough to achieve the SDG 7 on time. There has been some progress on specific elements… Continue reading World off track for reaching key goal on sustainable energy by 2030

“Central Africa is richer in opportunities and resources than it is in challenges”, but, the coming months will mark “an important turning point” for the region, where crucial political and electoral processes must take place by the end of the year, said Abdou Abarry, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Central Africa. “We will ensure,… Continue reading Central Africa faces ‘turning point’ amid multiple crises

The Assembly runs through Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya. It is hosted by the government of Kenya in collaboration with UN-Habitat, the UN Human Settlements Programme. More than 80 Ministers and Vice Ministers are due to attend, together with 5,000 delegates from around the world, said the UN urban affairs agency. In his message, António Guterres… Continue reading Cities ‘critical battlegrounds’ for a sustainable future: Guterres

The UN-verified figures were reported by the agency as States, donors and the humanitarian community meet in Norway, for the Oslo Conference on Protecting Children in Armed Conflict. The 315,000 incidents were recorded in more than 30 conflict situations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. They include more than 120,000 children killed or maimed;… Continue reading 315,000 grave violations against children in conflict over 18 years: UNICEF

4 June 2023Climate and Environment As international negotiators committed to hammering out a draft treaty by November on ending plastic pollution, the UN chief stressed in his message for World Environment Day on Monday, the importance of curbing the “catastrophic” consequences of waste plastics. “Every year, over 400 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide… Continue reading World must ‘work as one’ to end plastic pollution: Guterres

In this feature, part of a series exploring the fight against trafficking in the Sahel, UN News focuses on the illegal fuel trade in the region. Transported by criminal networks and taxed by terrorist groups, illegal fuel flows along four major routes snaking across the Sahel towards ready buyers, siphoning millions from nations on the… Continue reading Trafficking in the Sahel: Gas lighting

“Key peace and security issues, such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula, must be an area for cooperation,” she cautioned in a briefing to the 15-member Council on recent developments. “Diplomacy – not isolation – is the only way forward.” During the Council’s emergency debate on the issue, members expressed divergent views, with many… Continue reading Korean Peninsula: Security Council must find unity to calm rising tensions

The appeal comes as countries continue negotiations towards an international treaty on plastic pollution, and ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June. “Plastic production has increased exponentially over recent decades and today the world is generating 400 million tonnes of plastic waste yearly,” said David R. Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and… Continue reading ‘Toxic tidal wave’ of plastic pollution putting human rights at risk

Russian attacks overnight, killed three people – including the girl’s mother – and wounded 11 others, according to news reports. It followed a reported 17 strikes on the capital during May, and the fourth this week. More than 1,500 killed, injured Ms. Brown expressed her sympathy to the families of “over 1,500 children killed and… Continue reading Ukraine: Over 1,500 children killed or injured, concern rises over forced transfers

“Our common interest in preserving the domain of outer space, a province of humankind that benefits us all, requires agile and multi-stakeholder governance responses,” he wrote in the introduction.  The policy brief examines some of the “unprecedented” changes underway in outer space, including the sheer volume of satellites being launched into orbit, the participation of the… Continue reading Oversight’s key to ensure sustainability in outer space: Guterres

31 May 2023Human Rights UN chief António Guterres is “deeply concerned” after Uganda’s president signed into law a punitive so-called “Anti-Homosexuality Act”, the UN Spokesperson said in a statement released late on Tuesday. The draconian law foresees the application of the death penalty and long prison sentences for consensual sex between adults. Non-discrimination principle Mr.… Continue reading Uganda: Guterres voices deep concern as Anti-Homosexuality Act signed into law

In its new Monitor on the World of Work report, ILO shows that while in high-income countries, only 8.2 per cent of people willing to work are jobless, that number rises to over 21 per cent in low-income countries – or one in every five people. Low-income countries in debt distress are worst affected, with… Continue reading Economic woes dash job prospects in low income countries: ILO

The country, commonly known as North Korea, attempted to fire off its first military reconnaissance satellite earlier that day but it crashed into the sea, according to media reports.  The DPRK has reportedly pledged to conduct another launch after it learns what went wrong.  The UN chief noted that any launch using ballistic missile technology… Continue reading UN chief strongly condemns DPRK spy satellite launch 

30 May 2023Human Rights A large group of UN-appointed independent human rights experts on Tuesday called on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release all those being held on “spurious charges”, simply for exercising their fundamental rights to peaceful assembly, association and expression, to be released without delay. “The practice of incommunicado detention of members of the political opposition and… Continue reading Belarus: ‘Unprecedented level of repression’ must end, say UN rights experts

Delivering his latest update, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reported that the situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) – the largest in Europe – remains extremely fragile and dangerous. Military operations continue in the region “and may well increase very considerably in the near future,” he warned. Rolling the dice The Zaporizhzhya plant… Continue reading IAEA chief outlines five principles to avert nuclear ‘catastrophe’ in Ukraine

“Racism and xenophobia continue to spoil our communities, like scars that spoil the fabric of society. The hatred and violence they engender persist, demanding our collective efforts to eradicate racial violence in all its forms,” he told the second session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.  Transforming injustice  Mr. Kőrösi said overcoming… Continue reading Racism which scars societies, must be stamped out, forum for people of African descent hears

“It is vital that the recent diplomatic moves are matched with real action,” said Geir Pedersen, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, briefing the Security Council on recent political and humanitarian developments. A range of diplomatic initiatives have quickened the pace towards finding solutions on, among other things, continuing a direct dialogue with the… Continue reading Fresh diplomatic gains must match action on the ground in Syria to end war

30 May 2023Climate and Environment Global warming’s devastating effects on the world’s sea ice, icebergs and glaciers – part of what is known as the cryosphere – need to be better understood and mitigated, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). WMO warned on Tuesday that glaciers and ice sheet melt in Greenland and Antarctica accounts for some… Continue reading WMO makes urgent call to action over melting cryosphere

30 May 2023Humanitarian Aid A total of 4.9 million people in Haiti – nearly half of the country’s population – are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to a new UN-supported report. The latest integrated food security phase classification (IPC) analysis, reported on Sunday that of the total number of affected people, 1.8… Continue reading Nearly half of Haiti going hungry, new food security report warns

WFP’s Country Director in Sudan, Eddie Rowe, told reporters in Geneva that in a major breakthrough, the agency distributed food assistance to 15,000 people in both Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) controlled areas of Omdurman, part of the Khartoum metropolitan area, beginning on Saturday. Speaking from Port Sudan, Mr. Rowe highlighted other recent… Continue reading UN humanitarians complete first food distribution in Khartoum as hunger, threats to children intensify

Sudan, Burkina Faso, Haiti and Mali have been elevated to the highest alert level, joining Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. Additionally, a likely El Niño – a naturally occurring climatic phenomenon that has a warming effect on ocean surface temperatures in the central and east Pacific – is also raising fears of climate extremes… Continue reading UN agencies warn of rising hunger risk in 18 ‘hotspots’

“United Nations peacekeepers are the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world,” Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for the Day. He called for continued support for these men and women, who help countries to transition from war to peace. Hope and help “They are also critical to the protection of… Continue reading International Day of UN Peacekeepers honours 75 years of service and sacrifice

“I can’t think of a better way than using food to bring everyone to the table,” said Elroi Yee, an investigative reporter and producer of the Dari Dapur campaign. “We need shared stories that show migrants and refugees have a place in the Malaysian narratives.” Tales and tastes of Tamil puttu, Cambodia’s nom banh chok,… Continue reading Malaysia: ‘Everyone has a migration story’, now let’s eat

28 May 2023Women Fatoumatta Fatty’s commute on an old, malfunctioning wheelchair takes up to two hours during rainy season in The Gambia, but she is happy joining her co-workers at a sanitary pad production centre, where she takes pride in making products that help women overcome “period poverty” across the country. Period poverty, or the… Continue reading Menstrual Hygiene Day: Putting an end to period poverty

This feature, which focuses on the illegal trade in substandard and fake medicines, is part of a UN News series exploring the fight against trafficking in the Sahel. From ineffective hand sanitizer to fake antimalarial pills, an illicit trade that grew during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 is being meticulously dismantled by the UN and… Continue reading Trafficking in the Sahel: Killer cough syrup and fake medicine

Less than 10 per cent of schools and universities follow formal guidance on using wildly popular artificial intelligence (AI) tools, like the chatbot software ChatGPT, according to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which hosted more than 40 ministers at an groundbreaking online meeting on Thursday. The ministers exchanged policy approaches and plans… Continue reading UNESCO unveils new AI roadmap for classrooms

The US National Hurricane Center acts as WMO’s Regional Specialized Meteorological hub, based in Miami, Florida. There is a 40 per cent chance of a near-normal season, 30 per cent possibility of an “above-normal season”, and also 30 per cent of a below-normal season, according to forecasters with the Climate Prediction Center. The hurricane season… Continue reading Weather experts predict ‘near normal’ season, with 5 to 9 potential hurricanes

26 May 2023Humanitarian Aid Humanitarians reached 5.4 million people in Ukraine with desperately needed aid by April this year, including cash assistance, food, health services, and medicines, the UN said on Friday. “The escalating war is taking a heavy toll on civilians who live close to the front lines, people who cannot go back to… Continue reading Ukraine: UN delivers aid to millions, as civilian suffering continues

26 May 2023Human Rights Allowing space for everyone to speak up, is critical for a free and fully functioning society said the UN human rights chief on Friday, warning that a safe environment online has never been more essential. Volker Türk was issuing a clarion call to protect and expand civic space, arguing that it’s… Continue reading ‘Safe digital public square’ never more important, says Türk

Stéphane Dujarric told correspondents at the regular noon briefing that the opportunity to provide services and support to the millions of Sudanese who are suffering due to the six weeks of fighting between national army forces and their powerful rival militia, the RSF, was only feasible in areas where the ceasefire holds. Relative calm has… Continue reading Sudan: UN and partners scramble to supply aid as fragile ceasefire holds

25 May 2023Human Rights UN Special Representative, Pramila Patten, expressed her ‘deep concern’ on Thursday over increasing allegations of sexual violence against women and girls being carried out in camps for the internally displaced (IDPs) around Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). “Allegations of grave cases of sexual violence against civilians, including… Continue reading UN representative alarmed by sexual violence against women and girls in DRC

Briefing ambassadors on Africa Day, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo presented the latest UN report on securing predictable, sustainable and flexible resources for AU-led peace support operations mandated by the Council. The changing nature of conflict in Africa has forced the partners to adapt their operations in response to new and evolving challenges. Secure funding stream “The… Continue reading Security Council urged to step up on financing for AU peace operations

He said the men and women that serve, from 125 countries, across 12 operations, were working to support security, stability and the rule of law. “They represent the beating heart of the United Nations’ commitment to peace”, said Secretary-General António Guterres. “By bringing peacekeepers together from around the world, peacekeeping has also become an inspiring symbol of multilateralism in… Continue reading UN peacekeepers ‘a beacon of hope and protection’: Guterres

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk appealed to the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and of the Rapid Support Forces, locked in conflict since 15 April, to “issue clear instructions” to those under their command that sexual violence will not be tolerated, and to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable. Mr.… Continue reading Türk appeals to Sudan’s warring generals; calls out ‘dangerous anti-rights tendencies’ worldwide

24 May 2023UN Affairs New ideas must open fresh pathways towards finally ending the era of colonialism and to help advance sustainable development in the world’s 17 remaining colonies, the UN chief said in a video message to the Organization’s decolonization seminar in Bali, Indonesia “Our shared goal is to give greater priority to the… Continue reading Guterres: ‘We can turn the tide’ towards ending colonialism

In Myanmar, the UN appealed on Tuesday for $333 million to assist 1.6 million of the most vulnerable people, many of whom have lost their homes as the cyclone hit the west of the country over a week ago. The UN’s top aid official in the country, Ramanathan Balakrishnan, told reporters in Geneva that the… Continue reading Cyclone Mocha: urgent funding needed as hunger, diseases loom

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was delivering his report to the 76th World Health Assembly, the UN agency’s decision-making body, which is meeting this week.  Threat still remains  “The end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency is not the end of COVID-19 as a global health threat,” Tedros told Member States.  “The threat of… Continue reading World must be ready to respond to next pandemic: WHO chief

Secretary-General António Guterres was addressing the annual opening of the World Health Assembly, the decision making body of the WHO, and said that the agency was born out of a spirit of cooperation, leading to dramatic improvements in human health. “Global life expectancy – up over 50 percent; Infant mortality – down sixty percent in… Continue reading Progress on human health ‘in peril’, warns UN chief

24 May 2023Peace and Security The UN’s top advocate on ending violence against children, joined UN agencies on Wednesday in highlighting the urgent need to protect the rights of young people on the move, amid spiralling crises worldwide. With more than 42 million children displaced worldwide and increasing exposure to multiple forms of violence, the… Continue reading Unprecedented joint call to shield children on the move from violence

“There is no time to spare,” said Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. “We must take action, not only to ensure Palestinian well-being and governance, but as an integral part of ending the occupation and restoring a political horizon toward a viable two-State solution, based on UN resolutions, international… Continue reading ‘No time to spare’: Israel-Palestine ceasefire holds, but hunger, tensions mount

24 May 2023Humanitarian Aid With “crisis atop of crisis” threatening millions in the Horn of Africa, the international community cannot afford to stand idly by, Secretary-General António Guterres said at a pledging event to raise $7 billion for the region, held at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday.  More than 43 million people across… Continue reading UN and partners seek $7 billion to prevent catastrophe in the Horn of Africa

The landmark decision comes as heat-trapping greenhouse gas concentrations are at record levels – “higher than at any time over the last 800,000 years”, WMO warned. Data from Earth and space The new Global Greenhouse Gas Watch will combine observations from Earth and from space with modelling, to fill critical information gaps. It will build… Continue reading Green light for global greenhouse gas tracking network

In 2022, the UN recorded a 53 per cent increase in the number of civilians killed across 12 armed conflicts, from Sudan to Ukraine. Here are five reasons why strengthening the protection of civilians is imperative. 1. Minimize civilian harm Armed conflicts result in civilian deaths, injuries, and psychological wounds. In 2022, nearly 94 per… Continue reading Protecting civilians in times of crisis

The UN chief was speaking during a debate on ensuring the security and dignity of people caught in the crossfire and addressing the related issue of access to food and essential services.  Suffering and ‘outrage’  “Civilians have suffered the deadly effects of armed conflict for too long.  It is time we live up to our… Continue reading Uphold promise to protect civilians caught in conflict: Guterres

The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine. 22 May 2023Peace and Security The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine lost all external power for several hours on Monday morning, highlighting the urgent need to protect the facility and prevent an accident, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a… Continue reading Ukraine: Power loss at nuclear plant underscores ‘highly vulnerable’ safety situation

More than seven million children under the age of five remain malnourished and in need of urgent nutrition aid, and over 1.9 million boys and girls* are at risk of dying from severe malnutrition. As the region comes out of one of the worst droughts in 40 years, vulnerable communities have lost cattle, crops, and entire livelihoods over the past three years of failed rains.  “The crisis… Continue reading Horn of Africa: Over 7 million children under the age of 5 remain malnourished

“Lives and infrastructure are being destroyed, and the security situation is impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid,” said Volker Perthes, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan, briefing the Security Council on Monday about recent developments. Five weeks since the eruption of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)… Continue reading Ceasefire in Sudan could ‘pave the way’ to peace talks

Captain Cecilia Erzuah, 32, who has served in Abyei since March last year, as the Commander of the Ghana Engagement Platoon, will receive the award from Secretary-General António Guterres during a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers this Thursday, said the Department of Peace Operations in a press release. Abyei is a disputed and resource-rich area between Sudan and… Continue reading Ghana peacekeeper named UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year

According to WMO, weather, climate and water-related hazards caused close to 12,000 disasters between 1970 and 2021. Developing countries were hit hardest, seeing nine in 10 deaths and 60 per cent of economic losses from climate shocks and extreme weather.   WMO said that Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States suffered a “disproportionately” high… Continue reading Extreme weather caused two million deaths, cost $4 trillion over last 50 years

That was the message from the President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, on an official visit to Salt Lake City in Utah, where he met with top state officials, students and academics, and local community members. “There are commonalities because the entire world is in a water crisis, which is ignited by climate… Continue reading Advocating for sustainable water ‘gamechangers’, Kőrösi goes West

The G7, which consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with the European Union, is meeting in the city where the first atomic bomb was dropped in 1945, a place which Secretary-General António Guterres described, as a “testament to the human spirit”. “Whenever I visit, I am inspired by… Continue reading G7 nations, ‘central to climate action’ says Guterres, calling for global reset

From Hurricane Ivan in Jamaica in 2004 to earthquakes in Peru in 2007 and Haiti in 2010, Raul – chief of the regional office for disaster risk reduction – has developed an acute understanding of what the impact of disasters are, and what can be done to avoid or prevent them. “We continuously face a… Continue reading First Person: Rising from disaster

Adedeji Ebo was briefing the Security Council on the issue of Western weapons supplies to Ukraine, called by permanent member Russia – the fourth time it has been presented for discussion in light of the ongoing conflict. The Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs said the transfers of weapons systems and ammunition from… Continue reading Ukrainian civilians subject to ‘unbearable routine’ of Russian attack

“Now is not the time to be complacent, or to take for granted that Iraq has turned a corner,” said the UN Special Representative for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. Achievements range from fighting corruption to advancing energy independence, said Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), briefing on recent developments. But… Continue reading Despite gains, Iraq has not yet ‘turned the corner’, Security Council hears

Reports of gender-based violence (GBV) against girls and women there have increased by 37 per cent during the first three months of the year, compared to the same period a year ago, according to the GBV coordination group for North Kivu. More than 38,000 cases of GBV were reported for all of 2022 in North… Continue reading UNICEF alert over ‘sickening’ levels of sexual violence in eastern DR Congo

The report states that some “UN Member States are enabling this trade” through a combination of outright complicity, lax enforcement of existing bans, and easily circumvented sanctions, according to a news release from the UN rights office OHCHR. Access to advanced weaponry  “Despite overwhelming evidence of the Myanmar military’s atrocity crimes against the people of… Continue reading UN rights expert exposes $1 billion ‘death trade’ in arms for Myanmar military

Ambassadors were briefed by UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, who reported on his ongoing engagement with representatives from the internationally-recognized Government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and opposing Houthi rebels, as well as regional and international actors. Mr. Grundberg said he was encouraged by the positive and detailed discussions, noting that all interlocutors… Continue reading UN envoy reports on progress towards Yemen peace agreement

17 May 2023Climate and Environment Global temperatures are likely to surge to record levels in the next five years, fuelled by heat-trapping greenhouse gases and a naturally occurring El Niño weather pattern, according to a new update issued by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Wednesday. There is a 66 per cent likelihood that the… Continue reading Global temperatures set to break records during next 5 years: WMO

Amid claims and counter claims, the army has been reportedly attempting to cut the supply lines of the Rapid Support Forces and defend its bases from continued attack. The RSF claimed to have captured hundreds of soldiers, following an attack on an army base. Airstrikes and heavy fighting have left hundreds of thousands of city… Continue reading Sudan crisis: UN continues to scale up aid, as security allows

“Non-State armed groups continue to carry out large-scale attacks against civilian and military targets and engage in clashes over access to resources, territorial control and influence,” said Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, part of the political and peacebuilding affairs department, and UN Peace Operations. The Council was meeting to assess the… Continue reading Security situation in Sahel remains very worrying, Security Council warned

“The way we produce, use, and dispose of plastics is polluting ecosystems, creating risks for human health and destabilizing the climate,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. ‘Roadmap’ to slash plastic pollution “This UNEP report lays out a roadmap to dramatically reduce these risks through adopting a circular approach that keeps plastics out of ecosystems,… Continue reading New UN ‘roadmap’ shows how to drastically slash plastic pollution

15 May 2023Peace and Security The world must make every effort to eliminate chemical weapons, the UN chief said on Monday, raising grave concerns about their continued use. “We cannot go backwards,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a video message addressing the fifth Special Session of the States parties to review the operation of… Continue reading Guterres: Eliminate ‘weapons of terror’ to avert future chemical warfare

Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said that it was “imperative that we explore all options to reach civilians”, stressing that all parties to the fighting must allow and facilitate the “rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief”. “I urge the parties to strengthen facilitation efforts so we can reach all civilians in need”, he said. Cut… Continue reading Ukraine: Imperative to ‘explore all options’ to reach civilians – UN relief chief

These buildings were destroyed during an Israeli air strike, amid a flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian violence in Gaza City. (file) 14 May 2023Peace and Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed last night’s ceasefire agreement in Israel and Gaza and reiterated that only a negotiated political solution will lead to lasting peace and end the devastating… Continue reading Guterres welcomes ceasefire in Israel and Gaza

12 May 2023Human Rights A declaration by Sudan’s warring parties committing to protect civilians is an “important first step”, after more than three weeks of heavy fighting, the UN’s top official in the African nation said on Friday. Volker Perthes – Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan and Head of the UN Integrated Transition… Continue reading Sudan’s warring generals take ‘important first step’ on humanitarian protection

To date, four warrants have been issued and two others are in the application process, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said, highlighting this key step as recognizing the rights of victims to justice. “If this Council’s referrals are to be vindicated, it requires everyone to step up,” he said. “Partnerships are key to justice.” The Council… Continue reading New arrest warrants seek justice for victims in Libya, ICC prosecutor says

Unless donors meet the gap, 60 per cent of the people the agency assists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories will no longer be receiving food assistance in June, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced, adding that by August, the agency will be forced to completely suspend operations in the West Bank and Gaza. “Desperate times… Continue reading Severe funding shortfalls could leave 200,000 Palestinians hungry

10 May 2023Peace and Security The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday, called for an end to the violence that has continued across parts of Pakistan, following the arrest a day earlier of former Prime Minister, Imran Khan. Mr. Khan pleaded not guilty to corruption charges on Wednesday, appearing before a judge at a police guest house,… Continue reading Pakistan: Guterres calls for end to violence following arrest of Imran Khan

In an alert on the situation, the World Food Programme (WFP) said that it expected between two and 2.5 million more people to face acute hunger in the coming months, because of conflict that erupted on 15 April between forces loyal to rival Generals Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. This development would… Continue reading Violence in Sudan likely to spark record levels of hunger

In the month of April alone, more than 600 people were killed in violence in the country’s capital, according to information gathered by the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). This follows the killing of at least 846 people in the first three months of 2023. BINUH said that overall, the number of victims of… Continue reading Haiti: International support needed now to stop spiralling gang violence

“The outbreak of violence in the Sudan may deeply impact the chance for political progress on Abyei and border issues,” Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, told the Council. Security in Abyei, a disputed oil-rich border region straddling both African nations, had… Continue reading Sudan violence threatens fragile cross-border progress with Juba

In response to the assault on the principles behind the United Nations, António Guterres said that the international community needed to raise the alarm, and “reaffirm those values.” ‘Elusive and fragile’ Above all, “we need peace” he told the audience gathered for the prestigious award championing multilateralism in Europe, at the Royal Monastery of Yuste,… Continue reading Values of UN Charter under threat like never before, warns Guterres

9 May 2023Peace and Security The top UN official involved in the Middle East peace process raised the alarm on Tuesday following an Israeli military operation which reportedly killed more than a dozen Palestinians, including three commanders from the militant group, Islamic Jihad. “I am deeply alarmed by developments in Gaza after Israel launched a… Continue reading UN Middle East envoy condemns deadly Israeli airstrikes in Gaza

In a statement issued by his Spokesperson, António Guterres noted that “most, if not all, United Nations agencies and our humanitarian partners, have been impacted by large-scale looting”, since the military power struggle between the national army and rival RSF militia began, which fighting now entering a fourth week. Speaking to journalists at the daily UN briefing on Monday,… Continue reading Sudan crisis: Guterres condemns looting of main WFP compound in Khartoum

8 May 2023Climate and Environment The sustainable management of the world’s forests takes centre stage at the UN Forum on Forests, which opened on Monday at UN Headquarters in New York. Stakeholders from across the world, from Member States to civil society partners, will gather to discuss this critical planetary resource. Here are 5 key… Continue reading UN Forum on Forests: 5 things you need to know

That’s according to the UN Trade and Development body UNCTAD’s Trade and Environment Review 2023, published on Monday, which analyses the world’s $3-6 billion ocean economy, and assesses how human activity and multiple global crises have significantly impacted sectors like fishing, seafood, shipping and coastal tourism. The report, presented at the 3rd UN Trade Forum in Geneva, calls for… Continue reading Countries must forge ‘Global Blue Deal’ to protect the ocean: UNCTAD

6 May 2023Peace and Security At a time when more than 100 armed groups are plaguing communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with grave human rights violations and sexual violence, the UN chief said on Saturday that swift, bolstered efforts must end the chronic cycle of conflict in the natural resources-rich Great… Continue reading UN chief calls for bolstered efforts to end violence in Great Lakes region

“Everyone must put an end to hate speech, work to restore trust, and refrain from any action that could undermine the progress made for peace” in DRC, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, on the eve of the high-level meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for DR Congo and… Continue reading In Burundi, Guterres outlines challenges facing the region

“We are alarmed about widespread mental health issues and accounts of escalating suicides among women and girls,” they said in a joint statement. “This extreme situation of institutionalized gender-based discrimination in Afghanistan is unparalleled anywhere in the world.” ‘Extreme’ discrimination Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, de facto authorities have issued a… Continue reading Afghanistan: Women tell UN rights experts ‘we’re alive, but not living’

5 May 2023Humanitarian Aid Recurring attacks by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to drive forced displacement and extreme hardship for millions of Congolese, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday. The country has 6.2 million internally displaced people, while more than 1.3 million have become refugees. UNHCR said that… Continue reading DR Congo: Desperate situation facing millions displaced by armed violence

Emergencies tend to exacerbate the vulnerabilities people who work in the arts already experience, as they face multiple threats such as online and offline harassment, loss of income, legal prosecution, violence, censorship, and silencing.  Creatives also often lack minimal safety nets due to their precarious legal status, according to the report.  Artists under assault  In… Continue reading UNESCO calls for more protection for artists under attack

According to news reports, Russian airstrikes targeted the capital Kyiv for the third time in four days, following on from what Russian authorities said was an assassination attempt by drone strike, on President Vladimir Putin, earlier on Wednesday. Ukrainian authorities, who deny any involvement in the drone incident in Moscow, said Thursday morning’s large-scale attack… Continue reading UN in Ukraine ‘appalled and saddened’ at deadly airstrikes and attacks

“Despite being charged with terrorism, they were reportedly arrested for resisting forced evictions in the name of the NEOM project and the construction of a 170km linear city called The Line,” the UN experts said. ‘Smart city’ project NEOM is a futuristic urban development project backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Shadly Ahmad Mahmoud… Continue reading Human rights experts alarmed over ‘imminent executions’ in Saudi Arabia

Ambassadors met to examine the Council’s efforts towards building trust that leads to sustainable peace, in light of current and emerging threats.  “Full compliance with human rights is the best antidote to the inequalities, unaddressed grievances and exclusion which are often at the root of instability and conflict,” said Mr. Türk, speaking via videolink from… Continue reading Human rights ‘best antidote’ to advance peace, Security Council hears

El Niño and La Niña are natural phenomena which WMO describes as “major drivers of the Earth’s climate system”. After a three-year La Niña spell, which is associated with ocean cooling, the world faces an 80 per cent chance of an El Niño event developing between July and September. Tell-tale signs are a warming of… Continue reading New temperature records, food security threats likely as El Niño looms

António Guterres was speaking to journalists in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where he will be chairing a meeting of chief executives from across the whole UN system. Since violence erupted in Sudan on 15 April, more than 334,000 have likely been uprooted and more 100,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries, according to UN aid… Continue reading Sudan: ‘Secure and immediate access’ needed for lifesaving aid, urges Guterres

The first so-called blue helmets were deployed as military observers to the Middle East in 1948 and since then more than two million uniformed and civilian personnel have served in 71 peacekeeping operations around the world. The exhibition shows how, over three quarters of a century, peacekeepers have supported nations in the often-difficult journey from conflict… Continue reading From the Field: ‘Ordinary people’ pursuing ‘extraordinary outcomes’ – UN peacekeeping at 75

1 May 2023Climate and Environment Over 2,000 delegates from around the world gathered at the UN in Geneva on Monday to discuss how best to curb chemical pollution, which has had increasingly dire consequences for health and the environment. Over the course of two weeks of meetings, countries are expected to make progress on adding… Continue reading Countries urged to take more action against chemical pollution

1 May 2023Peace and Security A new photo exhibit on UN Peacekeeping opened at Headquarters on Monday, honouring the service and sacrifice of uniformed and civilian peacekeepers as it marks its 75th anniversary. “For 75 years, UN Peacekeeping has helped to end conflict, protect civilians, advance political solutions, and secure sustainable peace,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix,… Continue reading UN Peacekeeping turns 75: Photo exhibit opens at UN Headquarters

1 May 2023Humanitarian Aid The World Food Programme (WFP) has lifted a temporary suspension of operations in Sudan as fighting between rival military groups pushes millions into hunger, Executive Director Cindy McCain announced on Monday.  WFP had paused its life-saving activities after three staff were killed in North Darfur on 15 April, the first day… Continue reading WFP resumes operations in Sudan, as fighting continues

“The scale and speed of what is unfolding is unprecedented in Sudan. We are extremely concerned by the immediate as well as long-term impact on all people in Sudan, and the broader region,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement. The UN again urged the warring sides to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, allow safe… Continue reading Guterres dispatches UN ‘relief chief’ to Sudan as humanitarian crisis deepens

“There is no doubting the importance of the current foundations for the sustainability, from environmental protection to the fight against climate change, and green lifestyles. In the foreseeable future, upholding all these principles will be fundamental if humanity is to thrive. To continue to grow, one must get out of the cradle, and it’s the… Continue reading First Person: ‘Humanity must get out of the cradle’

28 April 2023Peace and Security The acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthew Hollingworth, has condemned a wave of deadly strikes that hit several cities early on Friday, reportedly the most intense aerial bombardment in weeks.  Dozens of civilians across the country were killed and injured, and homes and other vital infrastructure, destroyed.  More than… Continue reading UN condemns ‘inexcusable’ deadly airstrikes in Ukraine

“A society can only succeed on its path towards sustainable peace and development when all its constituencies can participate on an equal footing,” Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, said ahead of progress reports delivered by high-level representatives of Colombia, The Gambia, and Timor-Leste. The preventive potential of transitional justice can only be… Continue reading Transitional justice hinges on ‘equal footing’, say UN peacebuilders

“The international community’s response to the crisis in Myanmar is failing, and that failure has contributed to a lethal downward spiral that is devastating the lives of millions of people,” Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said at the end of a 10-day official visit to Japan. Referring to… Continue reading UN expert urges Japan to ‘step up pressure’ on Myanmar junta

28 April 2023Peace and Security A turbulent transition to civilian rule has been underway in Sudan since the ouster of former President Omar Hassan El-Bashir in April 2019. The civilian-led transitional Government put in place later that year, through a power-sharing agreement between military and civilian leaders, was toppled by a military coup in October… Continue reading In Sudan, the stakes are high for the whole of Africa 

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said that tens of thousands of refugees from South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea living in the country have fled the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Khartoum area. The newly displaced have found shelter in existing refugee camps further east and south, creating new humanitarian… Continue reading Sudan latest: Tens of thousands on the move; spectre of ethnic clashes, hunger draws closer

“We are at a potentially important juncture, with renewed attention on Syria – particularly from the region – that could assist our efforts in advancing a political solution to this conflict”, he said.  “But for this renewed attention to help unlock progress, many actors will need to take concrete steps – not just one set… Continue reading Syria: UN envoy points to ‘important juncture’ in efforts towards peace

27 April 2023Peace and Security Leaders in Albanian-majority Kosovo and the Serb minority there backed by Belgrade, need to take “courageous” action towards normalizing relations, or risk growing regional instability, the head of the UN mission there (UNMIK) told the Security Council on Thursday. UN Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission,… Continue reading Regional stability still at risk without ‘increased commitment’ to negotiations: UN Kosovo mission chief

27 April 2023Human Rights A new UK law affecting people’s rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, is “incompatible” with the country’s international obligations, the UN rights chief said on Thursday. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called the Public Order Bill “deeply troubling legislation”, after it completed its passage through… Continue reading New UK law curtails key civil and political rights: UN rights chief

26 April 2023UN Affairs One year after the General Assembly adopted its so-called “veto initiative”, Member States met on Wednesday to discuss how it could contribute to a more efficient and impact-oriented UN.  The landmark resolution, adopted by consensus, calls for the General Assembly to automatically meet within 10 days if any of the five… Continue reading Security Council veto should be ‘very last resort’: General Assembly President

Gang violence is expanding at an alarming rate in areas previously considered relatively safe in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and outside the city, with a shocking increase in criminality and abuses, and a police force that is unable to handle the situation.  At the same time, almost half the population, 5.2 million people, needs humanitarian aid,… Continue reading ‘Unprecedented insecurity’ in Haiti requires urgent action: new UN envoy

António Guterres was addressing an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York, and again demanded an end to the fighting between troops loyal to Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) leader Fatttah al-Burhan, and his deputy on the so-called Transitional Sovereign Council, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemedti”. “It is incumbent… Continue reading Power struggle imperils Sudan’s future, ‘lights fuse that could detonate across borders’

Launching a special edition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) progress report, he warned that their collective promise made in 2015 of a more green, just and equitable global future, is in peril.  “Unless we act now, the 2030 Agenda will become an epitaph for a world that might have been,” he said.  Rising poverty… Continue reading Guterres urges countries to recommit to achieving SDGs by 2030 deadline

Mr. Wennesland expressed deep concern over recent violence and inflammatory actions, particularly the violent confrontations inside al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem earlier this month.  He urged the sides, regional States and the international community, to show leadership, re-engage and work towards peace and the vision of a two-State solution.  “There must be an end to the… Continue reading Israel-Palestine: UN envoy calls for greater effort towards peace amid mounting violence

Ten days of fighting between rival military forces have had a devastating impact on the country’s population. The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) warned that people are lacking food, water, medicines and fuel, power is limited, and the prices of essential items as well as transport have skyrocketed. OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporter in… Continue reading Sudan: UN aid operation continues amid dire humanitarian conditions

25 April 2023Human Rights Authorities in Burkina Faso must conduct a full and independent investigation into the recent killing of scores of civilians in a village near the border with Mali, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.  The incident occurred on Thursday when armed men in uniform encircled Karma village, located in… Continue reading Burkina Faso: UN rights office calls for probe into latest deadly attack on civilians

This is particularly vital during key life stages such as pregnancy and lactation, childhood, adolescence and older age, says the study, entitled  Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes. Comprehensive analysis It’s the most comprehensive analysis yet of the benefits and risks of consuming animal source foods and is based on data and evidence… Continue reading FAO makes case for meat, eggs and milk as ‘essential source of nutrients’

“We face unprecedented and interlocking crises,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his briefing at the Council’s ministerial-level open debate on effective multilateralism through the defence of the principles of the UN Charter. “Tensions between major powers are at an historic high, so are the risks of conflict, through misadventure or miscalculation. It is time… Continue reading Guterres: Urgency of global challenges demands bold, swift action

Dr. Calvin advises NASA leadership on its science programmes and related strategic planning and investments. Also serving as its senior climate advisor, she provides insights and recommendations for related science, technology, and infrastructure projects for climate action, from developing a new instrument to track pollution hourly to launching a water-tracking satellite. NASA Chief Scientist and… Continue reading First Person: Saving the Earth from space

“I am horrified by the toll the clashes are having on civilians”, said Abdou Dieng. “At least 331 people have been killed nationwide, including five aid workers, and nearly 3,200 have been injured.” The fighting between troops from the national army and a powerful rival militia known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted six days ago, and… Continue reading UN coordinator calls for urgent ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Sudan, as death toll mounts

WMO latest State of the Global Climate report shows that the last eight years were the eight warmest on record, and that sea level rise and ocean warming hit new highs. Record levels of greenhouse gases caused “planetary scale changes on land, in the ocean and in the atmosphere”. The organization says its report, released… Continue reading Human, economic, environmental toll of climate change on the rise: WMO

Antonio Guterres was addressing via videolink, the fourth meeting of the Major Economies Forum, convened by the United States President Joe Biden, which is designed to galvanize efforts to keep the global temperature rise of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, within reach – in line with the Paris Agreement. Biggest coffers, biggest emitters “You are the… Continue reading Current climate polices ‘a death sentence’ for the world, warns Guterres

The meeting took place amid reports that a 24-hour ceasefire between rival forces, which began on Wednesday evening, appeared to be holding in the capital, Khartoum, according to media reports.  Clashes between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – who are at odds over the return to civilian… Continue reading UN reiterates appeal for end to Sudan crisis

The UN chief spoke earlier in the day to President William Ruto of Kenya and with the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki.  Mr. Guterres will attend a virtual meeting on Sudan on Thursday, bringing together the AU Chairperson, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, the Executive Secretary of the East African… Continue reading UN, African and Arab leaders to hold virtual talks on Sudan crisis

19 April 2023Humanitarian Aid UN humanitarians have reached nearly two million Ukrainians whose lives have been impacted by Russia’s ongoing invasion with multi-purpose cash assistance in just the first three months of 2023, the UN Spokesperson said on Wednesday. Stéphane Dujarric described the direct transfer of money, mostly to those who have been displaced and… Continue reading Nearly 2 million Ukrainians provided with crucial cash assistance

The region is plagued by violence emanating largely from multiple armed groups, including the rebel M23 force, which has been fighting a major campaign against Government troops, who are backed by the UN mission there known by its French acronym, MONUSCO, as part if its vital protection-of-civilians mandate. Hundreds of civilians have been killed at… Continue reading ‘Fragile ceasefire’ holds in eastern DR Congo, Security Council hears

For the first time in the Sahel, 45,000 people are at risk of experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger, or one step away from famine, they said.  The majority, 42,000, are in Burkina Faso and Mali, where violent unrest in some areas has hampered the delivery of humanitarian aid.   The combined effects of conflict, climate… Continue reading West Africa and Sahel: Food insecurity, malnutrition, set to reach 10-year high

“There has been a new dynamic in Libya,” Abdoulaye Bathily said, urging authorities to meet the people’s expectation that they will be able to choose new leaders via the ballot box, and deliver on all their commitments. “All international partners should support the current momentum and speak with one voice on Libyan matters.” “Intensive consultations… Continue reading Libya’s ‘new dynamic’: Bathily calls on partners to support momentum

18 April 2023Human Rights The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Tuesday called for an immediate end to the hostilities in Sudan and pleaded for the opposing sides in the military power struggle to return to the negotiating table, as reports emerged of a proposed 24-hour pause in the fighting.  “Sudan has… Continue reading Sudan: UN rights chief calls for a return to talks, amid reports of 24-hour pause