News
Locust outbreak in Afghanistan threatens wheat harvest
10 May 2023
A “large-scale” outbreak of the Moroccan Locust, one of the world’s most damaging plant pests, across eight provinces in Afghanistan’s wheat basket, could cause massive crop losses and “dramatically” worsen food insecurity.
Countries must forge ‘Global Blue Deal’ to protect the ocean: UNCTAD
8 May 2023
The ocean can provide vast opportunities for developing countries to build more innovative and resilient economies, but climate change, pollution and overfishing threaten the livelihoods of some three billion people who rely on it for food and inc
Countries must forge ‘Global Blue Deal’ to protect the ocean: UNCTAD
8 May 2023
The ocean can provide vast opportunities for developing countries to build more innovative and resilient economies, but climate change, pollution and overfishing threaten the livelihoods of some three billion people who rely on it for food and inc
UN Forum on Forests: 5 things you need to know
8 May 2023
The sustainable management of the world’s forests takes centre stage at the UN Forum on Forests, which opened on Monday at UN Headquarters in New York.
UN Forum on Forests: 5 things you need to know
8 May 2023
The sustainable management of the world’s forests takes centre stage at the UN Forum on Forests, which opened on Monday at UN Headquarters in New York.
Sudan crisis: Guterres condemns looting of main WFP compound in Khartoum
8 May 2023
The UN Secretary-General has strongly condemned the looting of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) main offices in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, over the weekend, describing it as “violation” of humanitarian facilities.
Almost $15 billion needed for earthquake recovery in Syria
8 May 2023
Syria needs almost $15 billion to recover following the devastating February earthquakes, according to a new UN assessment report launched on Monday in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
First person: Surviving abuse to help Eswatini’s neglected children
7 May 2023
Siphiwe Nxumalo, a World Food Programme (WFP) volunteer in Eswatini returned to her home country after completing her studies in neighbouring South Africa to help orphans and vulnerable children, struggling with poverty and neglect.
First Person: The young leader bringing clean power to Tanzanian villages
6 May 2023
Born in a Tanzanian village with no electricity, Gibson Kawago, decided to start a business producing off-grid clean electricity for communities like his own.
Midwives scramble to ensure safe deliveries amid violence in Sudan
6 May 2023
As catastrophe grips Sudan, the UN agency for reproductive health is stepping up support, with midwives playing a key role in helping provide safe deliveries amid growing violence.
DR Congo: Desperate situation facing millions displaced by armed violence
5 May 2023
Recurring attacks by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to drive forced displacement and extreme hardship for millions of Congolese, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.
WFP pauses food distribution in Ethiopia following ‘significant diversion’ of aid
4 May 2023
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Ethiopia has said it’s “deeply concerned” over reports that significant amounts of food aid has been diverted away from those in desperate need in the post-conflict region of Tigray.
UN in Ukraine ‘appalled and saddened’ at deadly airstrikes and attacks
4 May 2023
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine issued a statement on Thursday saying he and colleagues were “appalled and saddened” at the series of airstrikes and attacks, which have killed and injured dozens of civilians there.
Escaping Sudan: Home alone, with warplanes overhead
4 May 2023
When fighting erupted in Sudan’s capital Khartoum, 25-year-old Arafa was at home alone with her two young children.
Sudan: ‘Secure and immediate access’ needed for lifesaving aid, urges Guterres
3 May 2023
Fighting in Sudan must stop now before the conflict and the spreading humanitarian catastrophe further ravage the country, and the region, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday.
New temperature records, food security threats likely as El Niño looms
3 May 2023
The development of an El Niño climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean this year is more and more likely, with dangerously high temperatures and extreme weather events expected, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday.
Around 258 million need emergency food aid: UN-backed report
3 May 2023
The number of people who need urgent food, nutrition and livelihood assistance rose for the fourth consecutive year in 2022, due to conflict, climatic change, and COVID-19 impacts, the UN and partners said in a report published on Wednesday.
Afghanistan: Guterres says women worker ban ‘unacceptable and puts lives in jeopardy’
2 May 2023
The UN chief has pledged that the Organization “will never be silent” when women and girls’ rights are under attack, as they are today in Afghanistan, and declared that the Taliban ban on Afghan women doing lifesaving humanitarian work is putting
Health systems show first major signs of post-COVID-19 recovery
2 May 2023
Health systems in most countries have started showing the first major signs of recovery three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left millions dead and hundreds of millions infected, according to a new UN report launched on Tuesday.
Stamping out corruption can give SDGs $3 trillion boost
2 May 2023
Corruption and its staggering costs have hobbled sustainable development in all countries, but fresh efforts are making inroads, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) said on Tuesday at a special meeting to tackle the scourge a
Stamping out corruption can give SDGs $3 trillion boost
2 May 2023
Corruption and its staggering costs have hobbled sustainable development in all countries, but fresh efforts are making inroads, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) said on Tuesday at a special meeting to tackle the scourge a
Sudan latest: Over 100,000 have now fled says UNHCR
2 May 2023
More than 100,000 people have now fled Sudan to neighbouring countries in search of safety, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday.
WFP resumes operations in Sudan, as fighting continues
1 May 2023
The World Food Programme (WFP) has lifted a temporary suspension of operations in Sudan as fighting between rival military groups pushes millions into hunger, Executive Director Cindy McCain announced on Monday.
Countries urged to take more action against chemical pollution
1 May 2023
Over 2,000 delegates from around the world gathered at the UN in Geneva on Monday to discuss how best to curb chemical pollution, which has had increasingly dire consequences for health and the environment.
Guterres dispatches UN 'relief chief' to Sudan as humanitarian crisis deepens
30 April 2023
In light of the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, Secretary-General António Guterres is sending UN Humanitarian Affairs chief Martin Griffiths to the region immediately, the global body announced on Sunday.
First Person: ‘Humanity must get out of the cradle’
29 April 2023
Chinese writer Cixin Liu is one of the world’s most highly respected science-fiction authors, known for epics such as “The Three Body Problem,” soon to be adapted as a major TV series. He shared his thoughts on the future of the planet, at an even
Sudan latest: Tens of thousands on the move; spectre of ethnic clashes, hunger draws closer
28 April 2023
Civilians in Sudan, including scores of internally displaced people and refugees, are scrambling for safety and suffering the disastrous consequences of the violence there, as many aid operations have been forced to pause, UN humanitarians said on
UN condemns ‘inexcusable’ deadly airstrikes in Ukraine
28 April 2023
The acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthew Hollingworth, has condemned a wave of deadly strikes that hit several cities early on Friday, reportedly the most intense aerial bombardment in weeks.
‘Transformative change’ needed to get Global Goals back on track, says UN deputy chief
27 April 2023
In a visit to Chile, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed met with Chilean Government officials and other key actors and stressed in her other activities that we need transformative change – now, and from all countries – to achieve the UN 2030
Activists encouraged to apply for UN SDG Action Awards
27 April 2023
Activists striving to achieve a more just and equitable future for all people and the planet, are being encouraged to apply for a UN award that celebrates initiatives and individuals working to make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reali