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.

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Climate crisis ‘affecting quality of life and fuelling discontent’

16 Jan 2020

The climate crisis, as well as persistently high inequalities, and rising levels of food insecurity and undernourishment, is affecting the quality of life in many societies and fuelling discontent, the UN warned on Thursday, on the publication of the 2020 World Economic Situation Report (WESP).

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UN peacekeepers protecting hundreds displaced by Central African Republic fighting

15 Jan 2020

Fresh clashes in the Central African Republic’s southeast have driven some 400 people to seek shelter at a UN base there, the United Nations Spokesperson said on Wednesday.

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2019 second hottest year on record, UN confirms

15 Jan 2020

Last year was the second warmest year on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed on Wednesday. 

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Philippines volcano: UN aid operation in place as thousands told to flee

15 Jan 2020

The UN is concerned over warnings issued by Philippines’ authorities that volcanic eruptions on the country’s most populous island could last “days, months or even years”. 

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Global Goals top General Assembly President’s priority list

13 Jan 2020

The President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on Monday set out his 2020 priorities, which aim to make the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality by the start of the next decade.

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UN committed to helping Haiti build better future, says Guterres, marking 10-year anniversary of devastating earthquake

12 Jan 2020

On 12 January 2010, a 7.0 magnitude quake struck the Haiti, devastating its capital, Port-au-Prince. About 220,00 people were reportedly killed, among them, 102 UN staff who lost their lives when the stabilization mission there, known as MINUSTAH, collapsed. Some 300,000 people were injured and 1.5 million become homeless during the 35-second-long tremor. 

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Security Council, beats midnight deadline, approves Syria cross-border aid in contentious vote

10 Jan 2020

The Security Council on Friday evening renewed a UN operation delivering humanitarian aid across the Syrian border to millions of civilians, but some of the body’s members expressed disappointment that the ‘watered down’ measure cut in half the number of crossing points and duration of the authorization.

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Killings and violence targeting ethnic group in DR Congo ‘may amount to crimes against humanity’

10 Jan 2020

The targeting of the Hema community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with violence, including killings and rape, may amount to crimes against humanity, said the UN on Friday. 

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Protecting refugees in Europe: UNHCR calls for a ‘year of change’

09 Jan 2020

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is calling on the European Union (EU) to make 2020 “the year of change for robust refugee protection”. On Thursday, the agency issued a set of new recommendations, as Croatia and German preside over the EU Council during the next 12 months.

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FIRST PERSON: An artist’s ‘obsession’ with New Orleans tradition

09 Jan 2020

The International Labour Organization (ILO) marked its centenary in 2019 and as part of the commemoration has launched a photography project called “Dignity at Work: The American Experience”, to document the working life of people across the United States. UN News joined the ILO on a visit to the southern US state of Louisiana.

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Sudan: Intercommunal clashes displace tens of thousands in volatile Darfur region

07 Jan 2020

Around 40,000 have been displaced in Sudan’s West Darfur State in recent days, following intercommunal clashes, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday, citing Sudanese Government data.

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Syria: Civilians face ‘daily nightmare’ in Idlib, says top UN official

07 Jan 2020

Following a sharp escalation of hostilities in southern Idlib, “at least 300,000 civilians have fled their homes” since mid-December, the UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria crisis said on Tuesday, voicing concern for their well-being.

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UN envoy appeals for other nations to ‘keep out of Libya’

06 Jan 2020

The top UN official in Libya has delivered a stern message urging other nations to stop intervening in the country’s ongoing crisis. 

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Australia bushfire crisis: UNICEF offers help and support

06 Jan 2020

Raging bushfires wreaking havoc across Australia have prompted the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, to offer its support to the Australian Government and its partners which are battling the “unprecedented disaster”.

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Stop escalation, urges UN chief, as geopolitical tensions reach ‘highest level this century’

06 Jan 2020

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on world leaders to de-escalate geopolitical tensions on Monday, which he described as being “at their highest level this century” as the new decade dawns.

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UN Libya Mission strongly condemns bombing of military academy, at least 30 dead

05 Jan 2020

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), on Sunday strongly condemned the bombing of a military academy in the capital Tripoli, which according to news reports left at least 30 dead and more than 30 others wounded.

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FIRST PERSON: Cajun cuisine feeds expanding business

04 Jan 2020

The International Labour Organization (ILO) marked its centenary in 2019 and as part of the commemoration has launched a photography project called “Dignity at Work: The American Experience” to document the working life of people across the United States. UN News joined the ILO on a visit to the southern US state of Louisiana.

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Nearly 300,000 Syrians displaced from Idlib since mid-December, Security Council hears

03 Jan 2020

Amidst concern for the safety and protection of more than three million civilians in Syria’s last rebel-held enclave, the UN’s most senior humanitarian and political affairs officials briefed the Security Council on Syria behind closed doors on Friday.

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Sudan urged to step up protection, restore peace, following Darfur violence

03 Jan 2020

Authorities in Sudan are being urged to restore peace and order in the wake of intercommunal clashes in West Darfur state which erupted on Sunday and left 65 people dead, 54 injured, and thousands displaced.   

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Son of slain UN aid worker in South Sudan, freed and reunited with father

03 Jan 2020

The abducted four-year-old son of a UN migration agency worker who was killed in South Sudan in October has been released and reunited with his father during an emotional reunion in the capital Juba on Friday.

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FROM THE FIELD: Crisis in Kassala

03 Jan 2020

An economic crisis in Sudan which has driven up food prices in the African country has contributed to an increase in the number of people needing aid; that’s according to the UN’s humanitarian affairs agency, OCHA. 

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Finding common ground in East Africa, a UN Resident Coordinator blog

01 Jan 2020

Together, Kenya and Uganda kick-start a Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by partnering with the UN to address challenges that transcend country borders.  By Siddharth Chatterjee (Kenya RC) and Rosa Malango (Uganda RC)  

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Sub-Saharan Africa faces grave hunger challenges in 2020: UN food relief agency

31 Dec 2019

At the dawn of the next decade, a new World Food Programme (WFP) forecast of global hunger hotspots has revealed that escalating hunger will challenge sub-Saharan Africa in the first half of 2020.

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2019: The UN News year in photos

31 Dec 2019

From sustainable development to economic development, and human rights to humanitarian aid, UN News provides daily coverage across all of the Organization's  key issues – health, migration, climate change and so much more.

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FIRST PERSON: ‘You can’t get paid for staring out of the window’ - How I proved my teacher wrong

31 Dec 2019

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is marking its centenary in 2019 and as part of the commemoration has launched a photography project called “Dignity at Work: The American Experience” to document the working life of people across the United States. UN News joined the ILO on a visit to the southern US state of Louisiana.  

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WFP calls for increased support as eight million in Zimbabwe face hunger

30 Dec 2019

The World Food Programme (WFP) is calling on countries to step up support to Zimbabwe, where millions of people are facing hunger brought on by prolonged drought and economic meltdown. 

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FROM THE FIELD: Nepal’s magic mushrooms

30 Dec 2019

The traditional cultivation of oyster mushrooms in Nepal, which has required burning large quantities of wood, has been replaced by the environmentally friendly use of solar power, thanks to a project supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). 

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FIRST PERSON: Louisiana alligator whisperer’s ‘dream job’

29 Dec 2019

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is marking its centenary in 2019 and as part of the commemoration has launched a photography project called “Dignity at Work: The American Experience” to document the working life of people across the United States. UN News joined the ILO on a visit to the southern US state of Louisiana. 

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FIRST PERSON: Accordion maker has ‘never had so much fun’

28 Dec 2019

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is marking its centenary in 2019 and as part of the commemoration has launched a photography project called “Dignity at Work: The American Experience” to document the working life of people across the United States. UN News joined the ILO on a visit to the southern US state of Louisiana. 

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Haiti: Food insecurity expected to rise next year, UN humanitarian agency reports

27 Dec 2019

The number of Haitians who do not have sufficient food to eat is expected to surpass four million next year, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on Friday.