News
Digital economy can put citizens in control of finance, says UN taskforce
A UN taskforce set up to look into the risks and benefits of the digital economy, has concluded that it could have a transformational impact on sustainable development, and empower citizens, both as taxpayers and investors.
Refugees at risk of hunger and malnutrition, as relief hit in Eastern Africa
UN World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to reduce its food and cash assistance for refugees in Eastern Africa by up to 30 per cent, the agency has said, voicing fears that the reductions could worsen in the coming months unless urgent additi
UNICEF works to ease suffering of children whose lives have been ‘turned upside-down’ after Beirut blast
Following a deadly explosion earlier this month, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered some 67 tons of critical humanitarian supplies to affected children and families in Beirut.
Devastated by pandemic, tourism sector must be rebuilt in a safe, equitable and climate friendly way – UN chief
Tourism is much more than visiting cultural landmarks or swimming in tropical beaches; it is “one of the world’s most important economic sectors”, the UN chief said on Tuesday.
First Person: tourism in Hawaii grounded during pandemic
Tourism is Hawaii’s biggest industry, with some 10 million visitors to the lslands ever year.
FROM THE FIELD: Ugly veggies in Kenya destined for lunch not landfills
Hundreds of tons of fresh and edible vegetables which are typically dumped because they do not meet the aesthetic requirements for export are ending up on the plates of hungry Kenyan students thanks to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP).
Protecting people from conflict, cyclones and COVID-19 in Mozambique: a UN Resident Coordinator blog
By the UN Resident Coordinator Myrta Kaulard, Laura Tomm-Bonde, IOM Chief of Mission and Samuel Chakwera, UNHCR Resident Representative, all based in Mozambique.
As Burkina Faso grapples with COVID-19, new UN data reveals ‘alarming deterioration’ in food security
An estimated 3.3 million people in Burkina Faso are facing acute food insecurity, two United Nations agencies warned on Friday.
Rohingya crisis needs lasting solutions, renewed commitment amid COVID-19 pandemic, UN refugee agency
Three years after violence in Myanmar forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas to seek refuge in Bangladesh, the international community must adapt its assistance to the critical needs of those displaced and the host communities supporting them,
UN refugee chief underlines continued support to Lebanon
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees on Friday urged the international community to continue to stand by the people of Lebanon as they recover from the blast that devastated the capital, Beirut, earlier this month.
Mauritius oil spill highlights importance of maritime laws: UN trade body
The devastating oil spill off the east coast of Mauritius has highlighted the need for global adoption of international legislation that govern the seas and protect small island states and their vulnerable marine ecosystems against ship pollution,
Use COVID lessons to ‘do things right’ for the future, urges UN chief
Lessons learnt from efforts to address the global pandemic must be used to “do things right for the future”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, addressing a gathering of leading parliamentarians.
How can the UN help prevent another Beirut disaster?
The devastation caused by the Beirut explosions on 4 August has focused attention on the risks involved in the transportation and storage of dangerous goods around the worldwide.
UN salutes real-life heroes doing ‘extraordinary things, in extraordinary times’, commemorating World Humanitarian Day
Marking the World Humanitarian Day, top UN officials are honouring humanitarian workers who are overcoming “huge challenges” to save and improve the lives of millions of women, men and children, hit hard by crises and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bridging Asia-Pacific ‘digital divide’ vital to realize tech benefits
Countries across Asia and the Pacific are using new technologies to contain the global pandemic and mitigate its impact, the UN’s regional socio-economic development arm has said, as governments and experts work together to identify ways to innova
Supporting communities and refugees in Lebanon a ‘top priority’: UNHCR chief
The head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is in Lebanon to drive home the message of solidarity with all those affected by the devastating blast a fortnight ago, reaching out to both Lebanese and the many refugees and migrants sheltering in the co
Death Valley temperature, likely highest since 1931: UN weather agency
“All indications” suggest that the extreme temperature reading of 54.4 degrees Celsius recorded in California’s Death Valley on Sunday, is legitimate, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday.
FROM THE FIELD: Protection among the mangroves
The rehabilitation and replanting of mangrove forests in Cuba’s coastal regions is helping to protect the lives of people living on the Caribbean island, and reduce the effects of climate change, thanks to a UN Development Programme project.
Real Life Heroes: building trust, and saving lives
Marie-Roseline Bélizaire, a doctor and epidemiologist with the World Health Organization (WHO), is using her passion for community medicine to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the Central African Republic (CAR).
Real Life Heroes: delivering aid under fire
Working from a field office in Yemen, Sonia Almassad ensures that UN relief aid reaches those who need it, in the war-torn country.
Virtual Concert unites Pacific with the world in battling COVID-19
The first-of-its-kind televised and digitally streamed Pacific Unite: Saving Lives Together concert called on regional leaders and citizens to unite in the global fight against COVID-19, the United Nations said on Saturday.
Uganda looks online for answers to COVID economic crisis
From banking, to food delivery, and taxi bookings, Uganda is rapidly becoming accustomed to many of the online tools that are commonplace in developed economies, and which don’t rely on face-to-face interactions. The UN is supporting this shift, a
Real Life Heroes: the Syrian film-maker cleaning COVID wards or in the UK
Hassan Akkad, an award-winning Syrian film-maker, fled the war in his country four years ago and now lives as a refugee in the United Kingdom.
UN and partners launch $565 million appeal for Lebanon
The UN and aid partners are seeking $565 million to address the overwhelming needs in Lebanon following the deadly explosions that flattened large areas of the capital, Beirut, nearly two weeks ago.
Millions ‘on the edge’ in DR Congo, now in even greater danger of tipping over: WFP
Millions of lives could be lost to hunger in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), amid escalating conflict and worsening COVID-19 transmission, the UN emergency food relief agency has warned, urging the international community to step up su
Interception, no solution to address migrants crossing English Channel
Intercepting boats full of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel, is not the solution to deter them from attempting to reach the United Kingdom, UN agencies have stressed, warning that deployment of large naval vessels to block small, f
Real Life Heroes: ‘a simple word can mean a lot to a refugee’
After leaving Gaza as a refugee, Shadi Mohammedali decided to dedicate himself to helping others in a similar situation.
Deaths of children in northeast Syria ‘could have been averted’: UNICEF
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed “deep alarm” over reports that eight children – all under the age of five – have died in Syria’s Al Hol camp, where several thousand children are languishing in dire conditions.
Real Life Heroes: on a journey towards quality healthcare
In the remote Lamu region, on the northeast coast of Kenya, quality healthcare is hard to come by.
Lebanon: WFP racing to help vulnerable, prevent food shortages
The World Food Programme (WFP) is racing to prevent food shortages in Lebanon as the country continues to reel from the triple shock of the devastating blast in Beirut, economic meltdown and the COVID-19 pandemic