Sept 21, 2015 International Day of Peace Celebration at Lyceum University Cavite, Philippines

Sept 21, 2015 International Day of Peace Celebration at Lyceum University Cavite, Philippines
Ambassador Zara Bayla Juan, Sailing for Peace #PeaceDay

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Saturday, July 12, 2014

UPDATE: SYRIA: UN agency urges Europe to shoulder more of refugee challenge

United Nations News Centre - Syria: UN agency urges Europe to shoulder more of refugee challenge: "11 July 2014 – With Syria heading into its fourth year of conflict, a United Nations agency today called on Europe to do more to help Syrian refugees, after a new report found that some nations in the region are turning back asylum seekers and ‘shouldering only a small part’ of the challenges.

“In fact, they are minuscule and represent only four per cent of Syrian refugees,” UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Melissa Fleming told journalists in Geneva in reference to the Syrian refugee figure in Europe.

Until now, just 123,600 Syrian refugees have sought asylum in Europe, according to a new report, Syrian Refugees in Europe: What Europe can do to Ensure Protection and Solidarity. This figure stands in sharp conflict to the nearly 3 million refugees who have sought safety in countries neighbouring Syria since the conflict began in March 2011.

“An increasing number of Syrians are now seeking safety in countries beyond the immediate region,” UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming told journalists in Geneva. “Many are embarking on long and dangerous journeys to reach safety and in some cases to reunite with family members already in Europe.”

In the European Union, Syrian asylum-seekers are mostly concentrated in Sweden, Germany, Bulgaria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, with Sweden and Germany receiving 56 per cent of the new Syrian asylum applications."



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UPDATE: GAZA: UN Security Council calls for Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire, protection of civilians

United Nations News Centre - Security Council calls for Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire, protection of civilians: "12 July 2014 – Concerned about the ongoing crisis in Gaza, the United Nations Security Council on Saturday called for a ceasefire between the Israelis and Palestinians and for the protection of civilians.

In a statement read out to the press by Ambassador Eugene Richard Gasana of Rwanda, which holds the Council's rotating presidency for July, the 15-member body expressed serious concern regarding the crisis and the protection and welfare of civilians on both sides.

“The Security Council members called for de-escalation of the situation, restoration of calm, and reinstitution of the November 2012 ceasefire,” Mr. Gasana said, referring to the Egyptian-brokered agreement that ended eight days of violence in Gaza and Israel nearly two years ago.

“The Security Council members further called for respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.”

The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, according to today's update from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which reported that communities in the enclave “continue to suffer as heavy airstrikes, death, injuries and damage to infrastructure continues to take its toll on everyday life.”

In today's statement, Council members expressed their support for the resumption of direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians with the aim of achieving a comprehensive peace agreement based on the two-State solution."



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