News

Our news page provides you with a round up of UN news related to economic development, humanitarian aid, climate change, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You will find the summary of news articles together with a link to the news source.

News
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FROM THE FIELD: coping with COVID in refugee camps

05 Nov 2020

Physical distancing, handwashing with soap, wearing masks: these are some of the most basic, recommendations for slowing the spread of COVID-19, but for many refugees, and other displaced people, they can be very difficult to follow.

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Dozens displaced in largest demolition in years in the West Bank, reports UN relief office

05 Nov 2020

Seventy-three people, including 41 children have been displaced after Israeli authorities demolished their homes and other structures, and destroyed belongings in the Palestinian community of Humsa Al Bqai’a in the West Bank, the UN humanitarian wing has reported. 

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Effective disaster risk governance saves lives, UN highlights on World Tsunami Awareness Day

05 Nov 2020

Top UN officials have underscored the importance of continuous risk assessment and preparedness to safeguard coastal communities worldwide from the disastrous impact of tsunamis, marking World Tsunami Awareness Day on Thursday.

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UN and partners express regret over US departure from Paris climate accord

04 Nov 2020

The UN climate change secretariat, UNFCCC, has underlined its commitment to work with stakeholders in the United States and beyond, to accelerate climate action, in line with an historic treaty on limiting global warming and curbing greenhouse gas emissions. 

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Super typhoon Goni: Several towns cut off; response complicated by COVID-19

03 Nov 2020

Super typhoon Goni has left several towns inaccessible and destroyed thousands of homes in the Philippines, the UN humanitarian wing has said, adding that relief efforts have been complicated by the coronavirus pandemic. 

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Philippines: Humanitarians respond as millions caught in wake of devastating ‘super typhoon’

02 Nov 2020

UN agencies and humanitarian actors in the Philippines are mobilizing to support communities hit by super Typhoon Goni, which has barrelled across the country, leaving massive devastation in its wake.  

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UN ‘stands ready to assist’ in Aegean Sea earthquake tragedy – Guterres

31 Oct 2020

Secretary-General António Guterres is saddened by the loss of life and damage caused by the powerful earthquake in the Aegean Sea on Friday. 

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Sustainable urbanization critical to COVID-19 recovery, better quality of life

31 Oct 2020

Cities will be critical for the world to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst recession for decades, according to the latest report published by UN-Habitat, the UN agency working on urban issues. 

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FROM THE FIELD: Planning a route to green cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

31 Oct 2020

Bosnia and Herzegovina  is showing how even highly polluted cities can be transformed into well-planned, climate-resilient urban hubs.

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Kenya relief bid begins to avert ‘hunger crisis’ among poor workers hit by COVID 

30 Oct 2020

In Kenya, a major UN-led cash and nutrition relief project is underway for informal workers facing a hunger crisis brought on by COVID-19, amidst warnings on Friday that the situation is likely even worse in many poorer countries. 

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Caribbean vital to tackling COVID-19, climate change, UN chief tells regional leaders

29 Oct 2020

The twin crises of COVID-19 and climate change present a once in a generation opportunity for the Caribbean and its development partners to form a new alliance for inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery, the UN Secretary-General told regional Heads of Government on Thursday. 

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After nearly a decade away, La Niña weather system is back…

29 Oct 2020

Many will be familiar with El Nino – the ocean-warming phenomenon that affects global weather patterns – but how about La Niña, which is linked to cooler sea temperatures? 

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Reduce risk to avert ‘era of pandemics’, experts warn in new report

29 Oct 2020

Unless there is a “seismic shift” in how countries collectively deal with infectious diseases, future pandemics will emerge more often, spread more rapidly, cause greater damage to the global economy and kill more people than COVID-19, international experts warned in a UN-backed report published on Thursday. 

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Millions affected as devastating typhoon strikes Viet Nam

29 Oct 2020

A major typhoon has struck central Viet Nam, affecting millions of people – including about 2.5 million children – in a region already reeling under the effects of severe floods, according to UN agencies in the country. 

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World Cities Day: Value communities, today and for the future

29 Oct 2020

Top UN officials have highlighted the “extraordinary” contributions of grassroots communities in towns and cities across the world in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, and urged that their unique efforts be built on, during recovery.

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UN chief hails Republic of Korea’s vow to achieve carbon neutrality

28 Oct 2020

The Republic of Korea’s pledge towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 has been hailed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as “a very positive step in the right direction”. 

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Yemeni children suffer record rates of acute malnutrition, putting ‘entire generation’ at risk 

27 Oct 2020

Yemeni children are suffering acute malnutrition at unprecedented rates as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis grinds on and funding falls far short of what is needed to offset the effects of conflict and  economic collapse, UN agencies said in a statement on Tuesday.  

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Equality, sustainability should guide COVID-19 recovery, say governments at regional forum

27 Oct 2020

Countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean region have called for COVID-19 recovery to be guided by the principles of inclusive development, equality and sustainability. 

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Global foreign direct investment halved amid pandemic, but China remained resilient

27 Oct 2020

Foreign direct investment (FDI), a bellwether of globalisation and economic confidence, fell by 49 per cent to $399 billion in the first half of 2020, amid the upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a new report from the UN trade and development organization UNCTAD showed on Tuesday.  

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Exported used cars ‘dumped’ on developing nations, driving up pollution, UN warns

26 Oct 2020

Used vehicles exported from richer countries are contributing to increased air pollution in developing nations and hindering efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, according to a report published on Monday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). 

Climate action: UN chief encouraged by Japan’s 2050 net zero pledge 

26 Oct 2020

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed Japan’s announcement on Monday that it would reduce carbon emissions to zero, by 2050, as part of the global effort to slow the worldwide rise in temperatures, and prevent the most damaging effects of human-made climate change. 

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UN expresses hope ‘new opportunities’ will arise from Sudan’s recognition of Israel

24 Oct 2020

The UN chief on Saturday said he was taking note of the announcement that Sudan has agreed to normalize relations with Israel, expressing hope that further cooperation will advance international peace and prosperity.

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Step up action to achieve COVID-19 ceasefire, Guterres says in UN Day message

23 Oct 2020

The UN’s 75th anniversary this Saturday, which falls as countries continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, is an opportunity to accelerate action to achieve a global ceasefire during the crisis, Secretary-General António Guterres has said. 

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Rohingya conference pledges to ‘remain steadfast’ in finding solutions to crisis

22 Oct 2020

A joint UN-hosted donor conference to rally international support behind Myanmar’s displaced Rohingya minority, ended on Thursday with a promise to continue engaging with concerned countries towards finding a long-term solution to their plight.

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Classroom crisis: Avert a ‘generational catastrophe’, urges UN chief

22 Oct 2020

The world is at risk of suffering “a generational catastrophe” as COVID-19 wreaks havoc on the education of students globally, the UN chief said on Thursday. 

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FROM THE FIELD: Women guardians of the environment

21 Oct 2020

Women from around the world are being given a more prominent role in the fight against climate change, thanks to the efforts of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

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A few ‘green shoots’, but future of global trade remains deeply uncertain

21 Oct 2020

Although global trade is making a frail recovery, the outlook remains uncertain, UN trade and development body UNCTAD said on Wednesday, in announcing its latest COVID-era update. 

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Environmental factors behind 15 per cent of deaths across Mediterranean, new UN report reveals

21 Oct 2020

Around 15 per cent of deaths in the Mediterranean are attributable to preventable environmental factors, a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report released on Wednesday has revealed.

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Collapsing consumer demand amid lockdowns cripple Asia-Pacific garment industry

21 Oct 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered government lockdowns, collapsed consumer demand, and disrupted imports of raw materials, battering the Asia Pacific garment industry especially hard, according to a new report released on Wednesday by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

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Trusted data helps us all ‘understand the changing world’ – UN chief

20 Oct 2020

Current, reliable and trusted data help us to “understand the changing world” in which we live, the UN chief said on Tuesday in his message for World Statistics Day.