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In Yemen’s man-made catastrophe, women and girls pay the price
Midwife Lena Al-Shurmani, remembers meeting Abia at Al Mawa Camp in Yemen’s Ibb Governorate. Abia was 15 years old and eight months pregnant. “I was very worried,” Ms. Al-Shurmani recalled.
Relief programmes hit by ongoing crisis in Myanmar, UN humanitarian office says
The political unrest in Myanmar has impacted the ability of humanitarians to respond to the needs of vulnerable communities, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country’s conflict-affected areas, the UN Office for Coordination of
‘Transparency, sound governance and accountability’ essential to reach Global Goals
Financial integrity is “paramount to the success of the 2030 Agenda”, the President of the UN General Assembly said on Thursday, launching a new report that offers a blueprint to address a range of obstacles, particularly surrounding illicit finan
Syria: Economic decline, rising hunger and surging humanitarian needs
Syria’s fragile economy has “suffered multiple shocks” over the past 18 months, with its currency plummeting and joblessness swelling as people struggle to cover their basic needs, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator told the Security Council on T
‘Industry 4.0’ tech for post-COVID world, is driving inequality: UNCTAD
Developing countries must embrace ground-breaking technologies that have been a critical tool in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, or else face even greater inequalities than before, UN economic development experts at UNCTAD said on Thursday.
FROM THE FIELD: Millions of Yemenis facing ‘death sentence’
Yemen remains the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and the situation for the millions of affected people is deteriorating, says the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
UN to review deadly convoy attack in DR Congo which led to Italian Ambassador’s death
The World Food Programme (WFP) has provided further information on the deadly convoy attack in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday in which Italy’s Ambassador to the country, his bodyguard, and a WFP driver were killed.
Climate crisis and economic shocks leave millions food insecure across Central America
Reporting that hunger has increased almost fourfold in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in the past two years, the World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday warned that 1.7 million people are in the ‘emergency’ category of food insecurit
Climate crisis and economic shocks leave millions food insecure across Central America
Reporting that hunger has increased almost fourfold in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in the past two years, the World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday warned that 1.7 million people are in the ‘emergency’ category of food insecurit
World risks ‘collapse of everything’ without strong climate action, Attenborough warns Security Council
More collective action is needed to address the risks climate change poses to global peace and security, the UN Secretary-General told a high-level Security Council debate on Tuesday, as renowned natural historian David Attenborough warned ambassa
ILO urges better policies to protect workers, businesses, as digital platforms proliferate
The UN International Labour Organization (ILO) on Tuesday highlighted the need for enhanced international policy cooperation to provide decent work opportunities and foster sustainable business growth in the digital economy.
FROM THE FIELD: Poor and vulnerable bear brunt of climate change
People living in low-income countries are at least four times more likely to be displaced by extreme weather compared to people in rich countries, despite being the least responsible for climate change, that’s according to the UN’s humanitarian of
2021: Critical year to ‘reset our relationship with nature’ – UN chief
During this time of “crisis and fragility”, the UN chief told the United Nations Environment Assembly on Monday that human well-being and prosperity can be vastly improved by prioritizing nature-based solutions.
FROM THE FIELD: The Indian women weaving a digital web
Hundreds of thousands of Indian women are learning to market themselves and sell products online, with the support of a digital literacy project managed by the World Bank.
Lifeline for vulnerable Cambodians as poverty doubles during COVID-19 pandemic
In Cambodia, the shrinking economy, hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, has affected all population groups, but particularly the most vulnerable.
First Person: The Colombian youth fighting for digital education for all
Tania Rosas, a Colombian education advocate from an afro-indigenous background, is hoping to improve learning outcomes for disadvantaged communities in her country, with a digital application tailored to their specific needs.
FROM THE FIELD: The goats helping Zambians to reach economic independence
In Zambia, where the climate crisis is making it increasingly difficult to earn a living, goat-rearing is being seen as a possible route to a better livelihood, and economic resilience.
UN chief lauds ‘day of hope’ as US officially rejoins Paris Agreement on Climate Change
The official return of the United States to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change represents good news for the country and the world, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday during a virtual event to mark the occasion.
UN chief to security meeting: ‘2021 must be the year to get back on track’
By exposing deep fissures and fragilities, “COVID-19 has x-rayed the world”, the UN chief told the Munich Security Conference on Friday, while acknowledging that today’s vulnerabilities go “well beyond” pandemics and public health.
DR Congo: Lives and futures of 3 million children at risk, UNICEF warns
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Friday, highlighted the dire situation of some 3 million displaced children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), facing brutal militia violence and extreme hunger.
Five million Yemenis ‘one step away from famine’– UN relief coordinator tells Security Council
Malnutrition rates in Yemen are at “record highs” as the country is “speeding towards the worst famine the world has seen in decades”, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator told the Security Council on Thursday, citing newly released data.
UN chief calls for ‘new social contract’ as part of post-pandemic recovery
With the COVID-19 pandemic exposing social and economic inequalities rooted in racism, discrimination and xenophobia, recovery must lead to more inclusive societies, the UN Secretary-General told Member States on Thursday.
UN offers science-based blueprint to tackle climate crisis, biodiversity loss and pollution
Without nature’s help, “we will not thrive or even survive”, the UN chief said on Thursday, launching a major report on the environment.
First Person: ‘The world is in your hands and begins at your door’.
British celebrity gardener Monty Don, a UN advocate for plant health, is raising awareness of the links between human health, plant health and the well-being of the planet.
Food insecurity in Syria reaches record levels: WFP
The number of Syrians who lack access to sufficient food has reached a record 12.4 million, or nearly 60 per cent of the population, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Wednesday, citing “alarming” new national data.
‘Triple threat’ adds to long-standing crises menacing food security in Somalia – FAO
Poor rainfall, flooding and desert locusts are contributing to extreme food insecurity in Somalia, threating 2.6 million people, the UN agriculture agency said in a new analysis released on Wednesday.
New guidelines put youth at the forefront of humanitarian response
New guidelines published on Tuesday by the UN and partners aim to put young people at the forefront of humanitarian action.
Burundi: UN refugee agency appeals for over $220 million in ‘crucial’ support
An urgent appeal for $222.6 million was made on Tuesday by the UN refugee agency and partners to assist more than 315K Burundian refugees this year.
We had to run for our lives’, the pregnant women fleeing Tigray
Pregnant women are amongst the tens of thousands of people in need of assistance in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, where fighting between the Government and regional forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have been ongoing since Nov
Yemen: ‘Toxic mix’ imperils lives of under-fives with acute malnutrition
Since the escalation of conflict in 2015, severe acute malnutrition is among its highest levels in Yemen, threating the lives of half of the country’s children under the age of five, four UN agencies warned on Friday.