News
Severe cash crunch threatens WFP operations in Ethiopia
Millions of people in Ethiopia could be pushed deeper into hunger as the World Food Programme (WFP) faces a major funding shortfall that threatens its operations there over the coming six months, the UN agency warned on Monday.
From the Field: ‘climate-smart’ development in an uncertain world
Today, when the UN plans initiatives to help vulnerable communities become more resilient, the climate crisis has to be part of the equation.
Excess salt in soils puts food security at risk: FAO
Improper water management, including insufficient supply and poor quality drainage systems, are contributing to excessive soil salinization – a problem that threatens global food security, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (F
Avoid starvation: ‘Immediate priority’ for 3.5 million Afghans
Amidst “truly unprecedented levels” of hunger in Afghanistan, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday that as winter arrives, avoiding widespread starvation “is an immediate priority”.
COP26: Convert climate ‘promises to action’, urge UN rights experts
Marking the 35th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, independent UN human rights experts on Friday issued an urgent call to “move from promises to action” on the outcomes of the UN’s landmark COP26 climate conference.
Omicron: Don't panic but prepare for likely spread, says WHO
As scientists continue to investigate the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday urged countries not to panic but to prepare for its likely spread.
Emergency aid needs set to rise by 17% to 274 million, UN humanitarians warn
A total of 274 million people worldwide will need emergency aid and protection in 2022, a 17 per cent increase compared to last year, UN humanitarians said on Thursday.
WFP appeals for greater support for Afghanistan as hunger increases
With millions in Afghanistan facing starvation as winter arrives, the World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday urged countries to put politics aside and step up support to avert a potential catastrophe.
Burkina Faso facing ‘multitude of challenges’ – human rights chief Bachelet
Concluding a four-day to visit Burkina Faso, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Wednesday that the country faces “a multitude of challenges with severe impacts on a wide range of human rights of its people”.
Despite COVID-19 connectivity boost, world’s poorest left far behind
Some 2.9 billion people still have never used the internet, and 96 per cent live in developing countries, a new UN report has found.
Despite COVID-19 connectivity boost, world’s poorest left far behind
Some 2.9 billion people still have never used the internet, and 96 per cent live in developing countries, a new UN report has found.
World trade reaches all-time high, but 2022 outlook ‘uncertain’: UNCTAD
Global trade is expected to be worth about $28 trillion this year - an increase of 23 per cent on pre-pandemic levels - but the outlook for 2022 remains very uncertain, UN economists said on Tuesday.
Series of appalling deadly attacks on displaced people in DR Congo
The UN refugee Agency, UNHCR, is “appalled by a series of deadly attacks” on displaced people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the agency’s spokesperson told journalists on Tuesday in Geneva.
Financing sustainable development needed more than ever, says UN deputy chief Mohammed
Securing the funding needed for sustainable development by involving as many actors from different sectors as possible, is more urgent than ever, amid a widening “trust deficit” between the haves and the have-nots, the UN Deputy Secretary-General
Coronavirus pandemic could cost global tourism $2 trillion this year
The coronavirus pandemic will likely cost the global tourism sector $2 trillion in lost revenue in 2021, the UN's tourism body said Monday, calling the sector's recovery "fragile" and "slow."
9.4 million people are ‘living their worst nightmare’ in northern Ethiopia due to ongoing conflict
The number of people in need of humanitarian food assistance across northern Ethiopia has spiked as a direct result of ongoing conflict, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.
Feature: Mobile health teams save lives in Afghanistan’s most remote areas
At just one year old, Shahpirai’s son was suffering from severe malnutrition. Yet without the means or available facilities for him to receive proper health care, his mother could only hope he would improve at home.
From the Field: Pioneer brings farming jobs to marginalized Bangladesh communities
Farzeen Alam, a Bangladeshi entrepreneur, was laughed off when he approached banks for a loan to start his farming business: today, Oggro Dairy is helping to lower unemployment, particularly amongst marginalized youth.
Arrested development and poverty take a $57 billion economic toll in Palestine
Following Israeli closures, restrictions and military operations, the West Bank has suffered two decades of arrested development and poverty, according to a report published on Wednesday by the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD.
Ethiopia: Humanitarian aid needed as situation deteriorates in Tigray
With the dire humanitarian situation in Tigray, Ethiopia, continuing to deteriorate, it is critical to establish a regular flow of humanitarian aid into the region, the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said on Wednesday.
Yemen recovery possible if war stops now: UNDP report
War-torn Yemen is among the poorest countries in the world, but recovery is possible if the conflict ends now, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report published on Tuesday.
Three billion people cannot afford a healthy diet
Approximately three billion people, almost 40 per cent of the world’s population, cannot afford a healthy diet and another one billion people would join their ranks should further unpredictable events reduce incomes by one-third, the UN food agenc
Interview: The most impactful actions at COP26 point to progress on climate change
Of the many agreements and initiatives announced at the 26th UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the UN Climate Communications Lead at the Department of Global Communications narrowed down the three that she deemed most impactful.
Interview: The most impactful actions at COP26 point to progress on climate change
Of the many agreements and initiatives announced at the 26th UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the UN Climate Communications Lead at the Department of Global Communications narrowed down the three that she deemed most impactful.
From the Field: Saving the Mongolian musk
The number of musk deer in Mongolia has plummeted by some 83 per cent since the 1970s, landing them on the country’s red list of critically endangered species.
Hot meals helping Haiti’s children recover from the earthquake
The children of families who were affected by the massive earthquake which devastated large parts of south-west Haiti in August this year are receiving free hot meals at school as part of an initiative by the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) to sup
First Person: 'Bridge the gap between indigenous youth and the world'
Nadya Zafira, an international relations student at Indonesia’s Gadjah Mada University, won a writing competition for her letter to UN chief António Guterres, in which she addressed the inequalities laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how indi
Worsening drought affects 2.3 million people in Somalia
With about 2.3 million people already suffering with serious water, food and pasture shortages in Somalia, a rapidly worsening drought could lead to an “extreme situation” by April next year.
Afghanistan’s farmers, herders desperate for seed, food and cash
“Catastrophic and famine-like conditions” hang over Afghanistan’s farmers and herders, whose needs continue to worsen with the onset of winter, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
Safe sanitation for all benefits people and the planet: UN chief
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged countries to keep their promise to leave no one behind and deliver health and sanitation to all.