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UN officials denounce bombings in northern Syria
Senior UN officials have strongly condemned two separate bombings, on Tuesday in northern Syria, which reportedly left at least seven civilians dead and many more wounded.
Afghanistan conference draws donor pledges and calls for lasting ceasefire
International donors pledged financial and political support for Afghanistan’s peace process at the 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva on Tuesday, anticipating a sustainable ceasefire that will help the country rebuild and heal after decades of
‘Foundational and necessary change’ needed to heal post-COVID world
With the COVID-19 pandemic precipitating one of the world’s worst health, socioeconomic and humanitarian crises in over a century, the UN chief told a high-level discussion on Tuesday to seize the opportunity “to make real, foundational, and neces
‘Foundational and necessary change’ needed to heal post-COVID world
With the COVID-19 pandemic precipitating one of the world’s worst health, socioeconomic and humanitarian crises in over a century, the UN chief told a high-level discussion on Tuesday to seize the opportunity “to make real, foundational, and neces
Desert Locust resurgence worries in Horn of Africa, reports UN agency
The Desert Locust crisis, which struck the greater Horn of Africa region earlier this year, could re-escalate as recent strong winds carried small mature yellow swarmlets from southern Somalia into eastern and northeastern Kenya, the UN Food and A
UN ‘extremely concerned’ for safety of Tigray civilians in regional capital, as refugee numbers grow
The UN on Monday said it was “extremely concerned” over the safety of civilians across Ethiopia’s Tigray region, as fighting between Government troops and those loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) reportedly continued, with the Et
Carbon dioxide levels hit new record; COVID impact ‘a tiny blip’, WMO says
Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere hit a new record of 410.5 parts per million in 2019, and are expected to keep rising this year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin on Monday.
No time to waste, as Yemen inches towards famine: UNICEF
Raising alarm over “an imminent catastrophe” in war-ravaged Yemen, the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reiterated the urgent need to stop fighting.
‘We see the sparks before they turn into fires’: training women to avoid conflict in Sierra Leone
In the West African country of Sierra Leone, the UN is supporting a government programme, training women and men to take on leadership roles in areas such as peacebuilding, with the aim of promoting peace and non-violence.
UN chief to press G20 for greater solidarity and support during pandemic
When he addresses leaders of the world’s richest countries at the G20 summit on Saturday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will deliver a simple message on the COVID-19 pandemic: “We need solidarity and cooperation.
Guterres pledges support for sustainable industrial development in Africa
The COVID-19 crisis was impacting Africa “well before the pandemic spread across the continent”, the UN chief said on Friday, marking Africa Industrialization Day, arriving at a point when many economies were expanding and “poverty was in decline”
‘Act urgently’ to stave off catastrophic famine in Yemen: Guterres
Yemen is in “imminent danger of the worst famine the world has seen for decades”, the UN chief warned in a statement released on Friday, calling for urgent action on the part of the international community to “stave off catastrophe”.
This World Children’s Day, ‘reimagine a better future’, for every child
The global community is marking World Children’s Day on Friday, calling for societies to “reimagine a better future” for every child, where each one has the opportunity to thrive.
FROM THE FIELD: From President to shepherd, the dreams of displaced children of the Sahel
Engineer, nurse, breakdancer, shepherd, human rights lawyer, journalist, musician and president are just some of the future dreams harboured by young displaced people in the Sahel region of Africa.
Climate crisis: ‘Nowhere near the finish line’ – UN chief
Pointing to its “pioneering legislation and policies”, on Thursday the UN chief hailed the 27-member European Union (EU) as a “a leader on climate action”, that had shown that it was possible to cut emissions while achieving economic growth.
Development funding and trade transparency needed, to stop COVID-19 dividing the world
The pandemic has redefined the world economy in ways that will deepen inequality and can only be reversed if a global transformation in attitudes towards trade and development allows the whole world to recover together, the UN trade body UNCTAD sa
Refugee resettlement numbers fall to lowest in two decades: UNHCR
Refugee resettlement numbers will be at a “record low” this year, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said on Wednesday, with only 15,425 people resettled in the first nine months of 2020, compared to more than 50,000 in 2019.
UN officials assess needs at camps for refugees from Ethiopia’s Tigray region
Senior UN officials have conducted a two-day mission to southeastern Sudan, where some 30,000 Ethiopians have found refuge after fleeing ongoing fighting between national and regional forces in Tigray province, the world body reported on Wednesday
Latest Ebola outbreak is declared over, with lessons for COVID-19
An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus disease in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is over, the government announced on Wednesday, after a five-month response supported by the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners.
Backed by space technology, Asia-Pacific countries power sustainable development
Asian and Pacific nations are increasingly leveraging space technology and geospatial information to respond to challenges on the ground, including in their efforts to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, accordi
Persons living with disabilities ‘have very special abilities’, UN deputy chief tells young Ghanaians
During her visit to Ghana on Monday, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed met with young people living with HIV and disabilities in the capital, Accra.
UN releases $100 million to guard against famine
The United Nations released $100 million of emergency funding on Tuesday to stave off the risk of famine in seven countries most at risk from a hunger epidemic fueled by conflict, economic decline, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.
UN warns of catastrophe as second hurricane in two weeks hits Central America
The United Nations warned on Tuesday of catastrophic consequences from Hurricane Iota, the second major tropical cyclone to hit Central America this month.
‘Full scale’ humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ethiopia’s Tigray: UNHCR
A “full-scale humanitarian crisis” is unfolding as thousands of refugees flee ongoing fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray region each day to seek safety in eastern Sudan, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported on Tuesday.
Rising hunger, ‘an outrage in a world of plenty’: Guterres
“Hunger is an outrage in a world of plenty”, the UN chief told the governing body of the Organization’s food agency on Monday, highlighting the important role of food security in cementing peace.
Climate change: UN chief calls for ‘great leap’ towards carbon neutrality
As countries work to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, they also have the chance to “get it right” on climate change, the UN Secretary-General told a virtual gathering of influential leaders on Monday.
New Asian trade bloc could play key role in driving investment
A new trade bloc covering a huge swathe of the Asia-Pacific region will play an important role in developing poorer economies and in post-pandemic stimulus, according to a report published on Monday by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (U
A deep dive into Zero Hunger: farming the seas
With the world population expected to rise to 9.7 billion by 2050, food production will need to keep pace, and experts believe the Ocean can provide much of the sustenance we need.
A deep dive into Zero Hunger: the seaweed revolution
If just two per cent of the Ocean were to be sustainably farmed, the world could easily be fed, according to experts.
Deputy UN chief looks to ‘new dawn for Mali’, promotes participation of women in country’s transition
The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed on Friday has been strongly advocating for the greater participation of women and youth in Mali’s ongoing transition towards a durable peace, and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as she continu