UN/Martine Perret
UN chief and senior officials show solidarity with DR Congo during three-day visit
31 August 2019
Peace and Security
United Nations chief António Guterres and senior members of the UN, have embarked on a three-day visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where civilians are facing insecurity and ongoing health crises, including a year-long Ebola epidemic which has claimed more than 2,000 lives.
UN Photo/Manuel Elias
Activist Greta Thunberg gets preview of UNHQ ahead of climate summit
30 August 2019
Climate Change
Two days after disembarking from her carbon-free yacht in New York, teen climate activist Greta Thunberg paid a visit to UN Headquarters on Friday, after joining participants of her global climate strike movement, Fridays for Future, at the Organization’s gates.
UN Photo/Mark Garten
Friday's Daily Brief: Refugee children missing out on school, Ebola in Uganda, Fresh violence in Yemen, 20 years of Timor-Leste independence, Enforced disappearances
30 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
A recap of Friday's stories: Over half of refugee children missing an education; new Ebola case in Uganda; funding gap in Yemen leaves many at risk; Timor-Leste marks 20th anniversary of independence, enforced disappearances spread terror
UN Photo/Martine Perret
Alarming number of Ebola deaths in DRC a ‘rallying cry’ to scale up treatment
30 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Since the Ebola epidemic struck in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) one year ago, almost 600 of around 850 children who have caught the virus have now died, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Friday.
OCHA/Giles Clark
As Yemen relief operations face funding gap, timing of surge in violence ‘couldn't be worse’
30 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
The situation in Yemen is “very fragile”, the top United Nations humanitarian official there has warned, noting that as many as 13 people have been killed and at least 70 wounded over the past three days during clashes in two governorates.
© UNHCR/Farha Bhoyroo
More than half of world’s refugee children ‘do not get an education’, warns UNHCR
30 August 2019
Culture and Education
Refugee children in their millions are missing out on an education, the UN said on Friday, in an appeal to host countries to back more inclusive policies to prevent them from “languishing” in camps for years and losing hope.
Audio - 5'57" Playlist
© UNICEF/Santiago Arcos
Thursday’s Daily Brief: UN refugee agency on Venezuelan migrant crisis, dramatic resurgence' of measles in Europe, a UN News visit to former nuclear test site, Colombian law for disabled persons receives praise, Security Council on violence in Yemen
29 August 2019
Migrants and Refugees
A recap of Thursday's stories: 'No end in sight' to massive movement of Venezuelan migrants and refugees; 'Dramatic resurgence' of measles threatens Europe; Report from nuclear test site in Kazakhstan; UN expert welcomes new Colombian law for persons with disabilities; Security Council concerned over violent spams in Yemen.
©UNICEF/Kate Brooks
Millions in Idlib ‘counting on your support to make the violence stop’, UN relief chief tells Security Council
29 August 2019
Peace and Security
Despite an agreement signed nearly a year ago on a halt to further escalation in Syria’s war-battered Idlib, “the bombing and fighting go on in plain sight, day in and day out”, the UN humanitarian chief told the Security Council on Thursday.
©UNICEF/Arcos
Venezuela migrant crisis begs a ‘coherent, predictable and harmonized’ response: UNHCR
29 August 2019
Migrants and Refugees
There is “no end in sight” to the massive movement of Venezuelan migrants and refugees, now at around 4.3 million in number, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) shared on Thursday.
UN News/Nargiz Shekinskaya
‘Ground Zero’: Report from the former Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan
29 August 2019
Peace and Security
Every year on August 29, at the initiative of Kazakhstan, the UN and its Member States mark the International Day against Nuclear Tests. This year, the Day coincides with the 70th anniversary of the first atomic bomb test at the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan. UN News travelled to the remote, eerily beautiful region, for this report.
UN Japan/Ichiro Mae
Decades of progress ‘can be wiped out overnight,’ UN chief laments at climate session in Yokohama
29 August 2019
Climate Change
“Little undermines development like disaster,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told attendees at a thematic session on Africa and climate change, on day two of the Tokyo international Conference on African Development (TICAD), now in its seventh year.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Bringing nuclear test ban treaty into force a ‘central pillar’ of global disarmament push, says UN chief
29 August 2019
Peace and Security
The legacy of nuclear testing is “nothing but destruction,” and in a world of rising tensions, “our collective security depends” on bringing a global treaty into force that bans nuclear explosions, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has said.
© UNICEF/UN0201055/Krepkih
UN health experts warn ‘dramatic resurgence’ of measles continues to threaten the European region
28 August 2019
Health
Europe has lost ground in eliminating measles, as the number of countries having achieved or sustained elimination of the disease has declined, the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC) warned on Thursday.
UN Photo/Mark Garten
Teen activist Greta Thunberg arrives in New York by boat, putting ‘climate crisis’ in spotlight
28 August 2019
Climate Change
After a two-week sail across the Atlantic, youth climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in the Big Apple on Wednesday to take part in two major climate summits to be held at UN Headquarters next month.
UN News/Conor Lennon
Partnerships with civil society and youth ‘essential’ for a future that leaves no one behind: General Assembly President
28 August 2019
SDGs
Partnerships with civil society and youth are essential to achieving the goals of key UN-backed international agreements, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Agreement on climate change, María Fernanda Espinosa, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, told delegates at the UN Civil Society Conference on Wednesday.
UN Japan/Ichiro Mae
Wednesday's Daily Brief: Guterres talks technology for Africa’s development, ‘extinction crisis’ prompts stronger wildlife protection, Greta Thunberg reaches New York, funding shortfalls in Iraq, a positive step for Indigenous women
28 August 2019
Peace and Security
A recap of Wednesday’s stories: Secretary-General António Guterres says ‘winds of hope are blowing ever stronger’ for Africa’s development; Swedish climate youth activist Greta Thunberg reaches New York by boat; Chief of UN Mission for Iraq warns on funding shortfalls; and in Canada, a new bill recognizes the rights of indigenous women.
UNAMI PIO/Sarmad As-Safy
‘Perseverance is key’ to Iraq’s future, UN envoy tells Security Council
28 August 2019
Peace and Security
Although Iraq is “hard at work building on progress made to date”, a top United Nations official told the Security Council on Wednesday that decades of trouble continue to impact the present, but cautioned “we have not seen the end of it yet”.
Ryan Harvey
‘Extinction crisis’ pushes countries to agree stronger protection for global wildlife
28 August 2019
Economic Development
At-risk wildlife that is facing a “growing extinction crisis” received a boost on Wednesday, as countries wrapped up a marathon meeting in Geneva, by agreeing to increased protection measures and more sustainable trade in animals and plants across the globe.
UN Japan/Ichiro Mae
For Africa, ‘winds of hope are blowing ever stronger,’ Guterres declares at conference on development
28 August 2019
Economic Development
African nations have made ‘significant progress’ in developmental efforts in the last few years, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, kicking off the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), taking place in Yokohama.
UNICEF/Pirozzi
Corruption undermines democracy and contributes to instability, warns senior UN anti-crime official
28 August 2019
SDGs
Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to governmental instability, Mirella Dummar-Frahi, Civil Society Team Leader at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warned at the UN Civil Society Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.Decades of progress ‘can be wiped out overnight,’ UN chief laments at climate session in Yokohama
29 August 2019
Climate Change
“Little undermines development like disaster,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told attendees at a thematic session on Africa and climate change, on day two of the Tokyo international Conference on African Development (TICAD), now in its seventh year.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Bringing nuclear test ban treaty into force a ‘central pillar’ of global disarmament push, says UN chief
29 August 2019
Peace and Security
The legacy of nuclear testing is “nothing but destruction,” and in a world of rising tensions, “our collective security depends” on bringing a global treaty into force that bans nuclear explosions, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has said.
© UNICEF/UN0201055/Krepkih
UN health experts warn ‘dramatic resurgence’ of measles continues to threaten the European region
28 August 2019
Health
Europe has lost ground in eliminating measles, as the number of countries having achieved or sustained elimination of the disease has declined, the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC) warned on Thursday.
UN Photo/Mark Garten
Teen activist Greta Thunberg arrives in New York by boat, putting ‘climate crisis’ in spotlight
28 August 2019
Climate Change
After a two-week sail across the Atlantic, youth climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in the Big Apple on Wednesday to take part in two major climate summits to be held at UN Headquarters next month.
UN News/Conor Lennon
Partnerships with civil society and youth ‘essential’ for a future that leaves no one behind: General Assembly President
28 August 2019
SDGs
Partnerships with civil society and youth are essential to achieving the goals of key UN-backed international agreements, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Agreement on climate change, María Fernanda Espinosa, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, told delegates at the UN Civil Society Conference on Wednesday.
UN Japan/Ichiro Mae
Wednesday's Daily Brief: Guterres talks technology for Africa’s development, ‘extinction crisis’ prompts stronger wildlife protection, Greta Thunberg reaches New York, funding shortfalls in Iraq, a positive step for Indigenous women
28 August 2019
Peace and Security
A recap of Wednesday’s stories: Secretary-General António Guterres says ‘winds of hope are blowing ever stronger’ for Africa’s development; Swedish climate youth activist Greta Thunberg reaches New York by boat; Chief of UN Mission for Iraq warns on funding shortfalls; and in Canada, a new bill recognizes the rights of indigenous women.
UNAMI PIO/Sarmad As-Safy
‘Perseverance is key’ to Iraq’s future, UN envoy tells Security Council
28 August 2019
Peace and Security
Although Iraq is “hard at work building on progress made to date”, a top United Nations official told the Security Council on Wednesday that decades of trouble continue to impact the present, but cautioned “we have not seen the end of it yet”.
Ryan Harvey
‘Extinction crisis’ pushes countries to agree stronger protection for global wildlife
28 August 2019
Economic Development
At-risk wildlife that is facing a “growing extinction crisis” received a boost on Wednesday, as countries wrapped up a marathon meeting in Geneva, by agreeing to increased protection measures and more sustainable trade in animals and plants across the globe.
UN Japan/Ichiro Mae
For Africa, ‘winds of hope are blowing ever stronger,’ Guterres declares at conference on development
28 August 2019
Economic Development
African nations have made ‘significant progress’ in developmental efforts in the last few years, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, kicking off the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), taking place in Yokohama.
UNICEF/Pirozzi
Corruption undermines democracy and contributes to instability, warns senior UN anti-crime official
28 August 2019
SDGs
© UNICEF/Patrick Brown
‘There has never been a more urgent time,’ to safeguard children’s right to safe water and sanitation, says UNICEF
27 August 2019
Human Rights
Access to safe drinking water is a right critical to a child’s survival, yet protracted crises have left some 420 million children without basic sanitation, and 210 million lacking access to safe drinking water, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
Courtesy of VFarm
Technology brings positive change, but ‘collateral damage’ must be minimized: senior UN official
27 August 2019
Economic Development
Digital technology has the potential to bring about a sustainable future, but the “collateral damage” of this transition must be mitigated, says the head of the UN’s technology strategy team, Salem Avan.
© UNICEF/Gilbertson V
With ISIL down but not out, continued vigilance is key, UN Security Council told
27 August 2019
Peace and Security
Despite ISIL’s territorial defeat in Syria, the terrorist group, also known as Da’esh “continues to aspire to global relevance”, the United Nations top counter-terrorism officials told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Audio - 20'36" Playlist
UNifeed Video
Tuesday’s Daily Brief: UN envoy on Middle East peace process, child labour in Nepal, latest deadly Mediterranean shipwreck, DRC's Goma 21-days free of Ebola transmission, UN chief urges ban on nuclear testing
27 August 2019
Peace and Security
A recap of Tuesday's stories: UN envoy says tangible steps 'can, and must be taken' to reverse the 'negative trajectory' of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict; child labour case in Nepal highlights 'widespread and systematic' abuse; some 40 people drowned off the coast of Libya in Mediterranean shipwreck; DR Congo's Goma passes key 21-day period free of Ebola transmission; and UN chief calls for global support in putting an end to nuclear weapons testing.
© World Bank/Natalia Cieslik
‘Complete political deadlock’ over Middle East peace risks more violence, regional escalation, warns UN envoy
27 August 2019
Peace and Security
Tangible steps “can, and must, be taken” to urgently reverse the “negative trajectory” of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and revive the peace process, a senior United Nations envoy told the Security Council on Tuesday.
IOM Peru/Karla Cervantes
Football is ‘refuge for those who have left everything’; UN initiative aims to bolster well-being of refugee, migrant children in Peru
27 August 2019
Migrants and Refugees
Sport brings people together “regardless of conditions or flags”, a senior United Nations official in Perú said on Tuesday referring to a new initiative launched over this past weekend to promote the well-being of children and youth in Lima’s refugee and migrant communities through football.
World Bank/Dominic Chavez
Marginalized groups hit hardest by inequality and stigma in cities
26 August 2019
Economic Development
Millicent Auma Otieno, a Kenya-based human rights and community activist, campaigns on behalf of women and persons with disabilities who face stigmatization, as a result of cultural and religious beliefs. In an interview with UN News, Ms. Otieno reinforced the message that inequality is prevalent in Africa where, she said, political power often remains in the hands of wealthy elites, adding that many people in cities are forced to live in informal settlements, which have proven to be hotbeds of unemployment, violence, drug abuse and early pregnancies.
Audio - 6'31" Playlist
WMO/Olga Khoroshunova
Monday’s Daily Brief: UN chief talks climate action at G7, WFP official visits camp in Central African Republic, Deadly violence at Lesvos migrant centre, Security Council meets on AU-UN Darfur mission
26 August 2019
Climate Change
A recap of Monday’s stories: UN chief urges more action from G7 leaders to tackle ‘climate emergency’; WFP official visits camp for displaced in Central African Republic, UN refugee agency calls on Greece to keep young migrants safe after deadly incident at Lesvos reception centre; and Security Council considers work of AU-UN Mission in Sudan’s Darfur region.
UNAMID/Mohamad Almahady
Sudan: New political transition, bolstered by peacebuilding, could bring long-term stability to Darfur, Security Council told
26 August 2019
Peace and Security
“Important developments” under way in Sudan since midsummer, including a pledge to end the country’s outstanding conflicts, and the establishment of a new transitional government, could serve to edge the country’s people closer to stability, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said, briefing the UN Security Council on Monday.
UNCSC
UN civil society conference to focus on sustainable solutions for challenges of urban life
26 August 2019
SDGs
“Well-planned and managed cities can steer us towards inclusive growth and serve as models of harmony among diverse people”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres declared in a video message on Monday to delegates at the 68th UN Civil Society Conference, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
UNDP Malawi
FROM THE FIELD: Malawi farmers diversify to fight climate change
26 August 2019
Climate Change
Farmers in Malawi are diversifying their crops and adopting sustainable technologies as they look at ways to adapt to a changing climate.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré
Sri Lankan authorities must work ‘vigorously’ to ease simmering ethno-religious tensions, urges UN rights expert
26 August 2019
Human Rights
A United Nations human rights expert warned on Monday that Sri Lankan authorities must take urgent action to strengthen respect for freedom of religion or belief and address simmering ethno-religious tensions.
White House/Andrea Hanks
UN chief appeals to G7 leaders for ‘strong commitment’ and political will to tackle climate emergency
26 August 2019
Climate Change
People all over the world are calling for a shift towards a greener, cleaner future, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday, stressing that “we have the tools to address the climate emergency, but we need more political will.”
© UNHCR/Omotola Akindipe
With security improving in DR Congo’s Kasai, thousands of refugees head home from Angola
23 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
As security has improved in the restive Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), some 8,500 refugees have left the Lóvua settlement in Angola’s north-east Lunda Norte province in the past week, hoping to cross the border and return home, according to the UN refugee agency.
© UNICEF/Marko Kokic
Friday’s Daily Brief: Education in Africa, Sudan flash-floods, WHO on Ebola, spike in South Sudan violence, Rwanda, Uganda move to normalize relations
23 August 2019
Peace and Security
A recap of Friday’s stories: Education under fire in Central and Western Africa; Sudan flash-floods wreak havoc; Ebola outbreak spreads, albeit with fewer transmissions; UN rights experts on South Sudan; and UN chief welcomes understanding between Rwanda and Uganda
UNMISS\Nektarios Markogiannis
South Sudan: UN rights experts see little headway on peace deal amid spike in local-level violence
23 August 2019
Human Rights
A United Nations expert group looking at human rights in South Sudan said on Friday that it is “deeply concerned” that, although the overall armed conflict has waned, there has been little progress in adhering to the peace agreement that guided the country thus far.
©UNICEF
School closures triple in Central and Western Africa as education comes under fire
23 August 2019
Culture and Education
A surge in “deliberate” attacks against students, teachers and schools in West and Central Africa has led to a tripling in school closures in the last year and left almost two million youngsters “robbed of an education”, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
OCHA / Vincent Tremeau
Myanmar military committed ‘routine, systematic’ sexual violence against ethnic minorities, UN experts find
22 August 2019
Human Rights
Myanmar’s military must stop using sexual and gender-based violence to terrorize and punish ethnic minorities, according to a new report released on Thursday by the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission.
UN Sri Lanka
A recap of Thursday’s top stories: International Day honours victims of religious-based violence, UN experts on Kashmir, environmental disasters in Asia-Pacific, animal protections, and UN chief on Burkina Faso
22 August 2019
Peace and Security
Thursday’s Daily Brief: New international day honouring victims of religious-based violence; Kashmir shutdown must be reversed; Relentless sequence of disasters in Asia-Pacific; Giraffes fare well for protection, elephants not so much; UN chief condemns Burkina Faso violence
© Fucundo Luque
FROM THE FIELD: Argentina Preserving Pristine Forests
22 August 2019
Climate Change
Thousands of species of animals and plants which are indigenous to a vast forest in Argentina could be saved thanks to a partnership between the United Nations and the South American country.
File photo from IRIN/Sumaira Jajja (http://bit.ly/1E3CcSY)
Kashmir communications shutdown a ‘collective punishment’ that must be reversed, say UN experts
22 August 2019
Peace and Security
End the crackdown on freedom of expression, was the strong call to the Government by India from five United Nations independent rights expert on Thursday.
UN Photo/Mark Garten
World must stamp out persecution of religious groups, Guterres declares on new UN Day
22 August 2019
Peace and Security
UN chief António Guterres called for an end to the persecution of religious groups on Thursday, the first ever International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion and Belief.
Audio - 5'38" Playlist
UNICEF/Thomas Nybo
Relentless sequence of disasters in Asia-Pacific ‘sign of things to come’, cautions UN regional body
22 August 2019
Economic Development
Changing patterns and worsening impacts of natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific, coupled with environmental degradation and climate change, are not only making efforts to predict such catastrophes more difficult, but are also a “sign of things to come”, the United Nations development arm in the region has warned.
UNDP Pakistan
Microplastic pollution is everywhere, but not necessarily a risk to human health
21 August 2019
Health
Tiny plastic particles known as microplastics are “everywhere – including in our drinking-water”, but they are not necessarily a risk to human health, UN experts said on Thursday.
WFP/Saleh Baholis
Wednesday’s Daily Brief: Yemen aid programmes closing, Guterres Idlib concern, Somalia insecurity, honouring terror victims
21 August 2019
Peace and Security
Today’s stories: aid money promised for Yemen fails to materialize, prospects of new Idlib conflict put millions at risk, new Sudanese transitional government welcomed by UN chief, insecurity threatens Somalia progress.
OCHA/Giles Clarke
Lack of funds forces UN to close down life-saving aid programmes in Yemen
21 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
The United Nations announced on Wednesday that it is being forced to close down several humanitarian programmes in Yemen because money pledged by Member States to pay for them has “failed to materialize”.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Scars of terrorism ‘run deep’, UN chief says, paying tribute to victims
21 August 2019
Peace and Security
The scars of terrorism “run deep”, and while they may fade with time, “they never disappear”, the United Nations chief said on Wednesday, in his message for the second International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
Audio - 20'36" Playlist
UN Photo/Manuel Elias
Somalia security remains a concern, head of UN Mission warns Security Council
21 August 2019
Peace and Security
Despite “encouraging” developments, insecurity across Somalia remains a serious concern, James Swan, head of the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), warned the Security Council, in his first briefing to the world body since taking office.
Audio - 11'37" Playlist
UN Photo/Manuel Elias
Urgent need for ‘restraint and genuine dialogue’ in Middle East to avoid major confrontation
20 August 2019
Peace and Security
Briefing the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General, Maria Luiza Viotti, said on Tuesday that “restraint and genuine dialogue are urgently needed”, in order to avoid a major confrontation, which would have disastrous consequences, even well beyond the region.
UN Environment Programme
Tuesday’s Daily Brief: water quality crisis, Yemen and Libya updates, Venezuelan children appeal, ocean protection
20 August 2019
Peace and Security
This Tuesday, we cover: new report on water quality worldwide; Yemen envoy briefs the Security Council on Aden; intensifying clashes in southern Libya; UNICEF appeals for increased aid for Venezuela youngsters; and UN negotiations continue over a new ocean protection agreement.
John Hogg / World Bank
‘Invisible’ crisis of water quality threatens human and environmental well-being: World Bank report
20 August 2019
Economic Development
Deteriorating water quality worldwide is slashing the economic potential of heavily polluted areas, according to a new World Bank report, released on Tuesday. It also warns that the “invisible crisis of water quality” is threatening human and environmental well-being.
UNEP/NOOR/Kadir van Lohuizen
Negotiating legally-binding agreement to provide future generations with a ‘healthy, resilient and productive ocean’
20 August 2019
SDGs
While the world’s oceans contain some 200,000 identified living species, the actual numbers could reach the millions – all exposed to the dangers of climate change, pollution and over-exploitation. To stem these threats, the United Nations is meeting to negotiate a treaty that would protect three-quarters of the earth’s surface by 2030.
Audio - 5'18" Playlist
© UNHCR/Saleh Bahulais
‘No time to lose’ UN envoy tells Security Council, ‘Yemen cannot wait’
20 August 2019
Peace and Security
One month ago, the United Nations top Yemen envoy told the Security Council the country was facing “a crucial moment” in the course of its long and bloody conflict, and on Tuesday, he again urged members to acknowledge that recent infighting around the Government stronghold of Aden were “a clear sign” that the conflict must be brought to a swift, peaceful end.
UN OCHA/Giles Clarke
Deadly airstrikes and drone hits displace thousands of civilians in Libya oasis town
20 August 2019
Peace and Security
Intensifying clashes in the southern Libyan town of Murzuq involving air and drone strikes in recent days have left at least 90 people dead and displaced thousands of “terrified” civilians, the UN said on Tuesday.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Terrorism survivor in Cameroon takes road to recovery: UN News special report
19 August 2019
Human Rights
“If I ever come face-to-face with a Boko Haram fighter and if I have strength and a knife in my hand, I will cut his throat and spill his blood! Because, it makes me sick whenever I remember the suffering I went through.”
Audio - 20'36" Playlist
© UNICEF/Patrick Brown
Monday’s Daily Brief: World Humanitarian Day, Afghan massacre aftermath, Venezuelans in Brazil, Yemen war update, and reconciliation in Mali
19 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Our main stories today: Women celebrated on World Humanitarian Day; Afghanistan bloodshed mars 100 years of independence; Brazil’s ‘exemplary’ response to Venezuelans; UN urges Yemen’s warring parties to down weapons; and UN expert calls for Mali reconciliation efforts.
UN News/Daniel Johnson
Appointment of alleged war criminal to head of Sri Lanka army ‘deeply troubling’, says UN human rights chief
19 August 2019
Peace and Security
The appointment of Sri Lankan Lieutenant-General Shavendra Silva as Commander of the country’s army is deeply troubling, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement released on Monday, adding that the military leader had been given the role despite “serious allegations of gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law against him and his troops during the war”.
MINUSMA/Gema Cortes
Support Mali reconciliation efforts ‘in whatever way possible’, urges UN expert
19 August 2019
Peace and Security
Reconciliation initiatives in central Mali, to bring together local leaders and end ongoing violence, have been welcomed by the UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali, Alioune Tine, who said on Monday that they should be supported “in whatever way possible.”
UNAMA/Fardin Waezi
Afghanistan bloodshed mars 100 years of independence
19 August 2019
Peace and Security
Afghanistan is at a “crucial moment” in its history as it marks 100 years of independence, the head of the UN Mission there said on Monday, following a series of terror attacks in recent days.
© UNHCR/Santiago Escobar-Jarami
UN refugee chief impressed with Brazil’s ‘exemplary’ response to plight of fleeing Venezuelans
19 August 2019
Migrants and Refugees
While praising the “efficient, coordinated, humane and innovative response” by Brazil on behalf of fleeing Venezuelans, the UN refugee chief has said that the sheer number of those on the run is proving to be a major challenge, calling for greater international support.
LATEST NEWS
© UNDP/Imen Meliane
FROM THE FIELD: Green wall of opportunities grows in the Sahel
19 August 2019
Climate Change
An ambitious plan has got underway to plant a band of trees across the Sahel region of Africa, to hold back desertification and combat climate change, thanks to the support of the United Nations.
©UNICEF/Brown
Paying tribute and strengthening the role of #WomenHumanitarians on World Humanitarian Day
18 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
The work of women humanitarians makes a “huge difference” to the lives of millions of women, men and children in urgent need, the United Nations chief said in his message for World Humanitarian Day.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Terrorism survivors: ‘I lived in fear that I would be killed’
17 August 2019
Peace and Security
To mark the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism this coming Wednesday, UN News travelled to Chad and the Far North region of Cameroon in West Africa to interview people who have personal stories to tell about how terrorism has shattered their lives.
Nimisha Jaiswal/IRIN
UN Security Council discusses Kashmir, China urges India and Pakistan to ease tensions
16 August 2019
Peace and Security
The Security Council considered the volatile situation surrounding Kashmir on Friday, addressing the issue in a meeting focused solely on the dispute, within the UN body dedicated to resolving matters of international peace and security, for the first time since 1965.
© UNICEF Patrick Brown
Friday’s Daily Brief: Education key for Rohingya, DR Congo violence continues, Zimbabwe protest latest, women’s rights in Iran, environmental protection
16 August 2019
Human Rights
Our main stories today: Two years in, Myanmar’s Rohingya youth need more education; DR Congo testimonies highlight armed brutality; appeals for Zimbabwe to ‘stop cracking down’ on protesters; Iran urged to release women jailed for protesting veiling laws; and new human rights agreement on environmental protection.
UNICEF/Aslan Arfa
‘Quash’ convictions and release women jailed for protesting against wearing veils in Iran, urge UN rights experts
16 August 2019
Human Rights
Decades-long prison sentences handed down to three women protesting the strictly enforced wearing of veils in Iran, have drawn alarm and condemnation from six United Nations independent human rights experts.
UN Colombia
Environmental protection moves ‘closer to the people’ through new human rights agreement
16 August 2019
Human Rights
The UN environment agency and human rights office (OHCHR) signed a landmark new agreement on Friday aimed at better protecting vulnerable human and environmental rights defenders and their families, while increasing protection for people and the places where they live, across the world.
UNICEF/Madjiangar
Displaced by DR Congo violence, survivors’ testimonies highlight brutality of armed militia
16 August 2019
Peace and Security
Two months since hundreds of thousands of people fled violence in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN humanitarians warned on Friday that armed militia continue to make their safe return impossible.
© UNICEF Patrick Brown
Two years after exodus, Myanmar’s ‘desperate’ Rohingya youth need education, skills: UNICEF
16 August 2019
Migrants and Refugees
The daily struggle to survive for Myanmar’s Rohingya people in one of the world’s largest refugee settlements, has caused “overwhelming” despair and jeopardized the hopes of an entire generation, the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Henrietta Fore, said on Friday.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Thursday’s Daily Brief: Harrowing terrorist survivors’ stories, children first in Mediterranean rescues, Yemen and Switzerland updates, new SDG Advocates speak out
15 August 2019
SDGs
Our main stories today: Boko Haram terrorist survivors tell their stories; UNICEF speaks out for children adrift on the Mediterranean; UN health agency pushes to stem dengue fever in Yemen; Switzerland declines sponsorship deal with tobacco firm; new SDG Advocates on the job.
© UNICEF/Ashley Gilbertson
Children’s lives in Mediterranean Sea must take priority over politics, says UNICEF
15 August 2019
Migrants and Refugees
The fate of 130 children on board two rescue ships in the Mediterranean Sea should not be put at risk by political point-scoring, the UN said on Thursday, amid ongoing uncertainty about whether the vessels will be allowed to dock in Italy.
LATEST NEWS
© UNICEF/Watad
Three more humanitarian workers killed in Syria, with civilian death toll ‘rising every day’
15 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
An attack in the south of Syria’s restive Idlib province that led to the deaths of a paramedic, an ambulance driver and a rescue worker, were added to the grim total on Thursday of more than 500 civilian fatalities documented in the country by the United Nations, over the past three and a half months alone.
Audio - 7'33" Playlist
UN News/Daniel Dickinson
Terrorism survivors: Forced to farm, fish, fight, ‘they slaughtered three of my friends’
15 August 2019
Peace and Security
To mark next week’s International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, UN News travelled to Chad and the Far North region of Cameroon in West Africa earlier in the year, to interview people who have personal stories to tell about how terrorism has shattered their lives.
Audio - 4'27" Playlist
©UNICEF/Velasquez
Wednesday’s Daily Brief: Help for Venezuelans, Burundi Ebola vaccine drive, Paraguay poison probe urged, talking disarmament in Geneva, Libya violence down
14 August 2019
Peace and Security
Our main stories today cover: Scaled-up assistance for Venezuelans; Ebola vaccinations for Burundi health workers; reports of civilian deaths following an Afghan-sponsored security operation; agrochemical spray probe urged in Paraguay; Libya violence abates during truce, and disarmament conference’s first woman chief urges Governments to “overcome their differences”.
UN Photo/Amanda Voisard
Winnie Byanyima ‘honoured to be joining UNAIDS’ as next Executive Director
14 August 2019
Health
The UN programme dedicated to the elimination of AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, has warmly welcomed the appointment of Winnie Byanyima as its new Executive Director.
Audio - 9’10” Playlist
NRC/Ingebjørg Kårstad
Humanitarian assistance to be scaled-up for millions of Venezuelans in need
14 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
The United Nations humanitarian wing launched a new Response Plan (HRP) on Wednesday, that aims to help around 2.6 million people in Venezuela through to the end of the year, almost half of whom are youth.
Audio - 4'54" Playlist
OCHA/D.Palanivelu
‘Palpable reduction’ in violence following Eid truce says Libya Mission, as UN investigates deadly bombing which left 3 staff dead
14 August 2019
Peace and Security
A UN call for a humanitarian truce over this week’s Eid al-Adha religious holiday led to a “palpable reduction” of violence around the embattled capital of Tripoli, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said in a statement released on Wednesday.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Terrorism survivors: ‘The terrorists killed many people in front of us’
14 August 2019
Human Rights
To mark the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, on 21 August, UN News travelled to Chad and the Far North region of Cameroon in West Africa earlier this year, to interview people who have personal stories to tell, about how terrorism has shattered their lives.
UN Photo/Manuel Elias
Gender equality, education and the environment at the forefront of new SDG Advocate campaigns
14 August 2019
SDGs
Back in May, six innovative public figures joined the battle to push the world towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Each of the new official SDG Advocates committed themselves to pursue the 17 goals on behalf of “peace, prosperity, people, planet, and partnerships.”
As we inch closer to the SDG Summit in September, UN News caught up with some of them.
Audio - 3'39" Playlist
©UNICEF/Saleh Baholis
Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Hong Kong airport disruption, Geneva Conventions at 70, new Ebola drug, French fighters in Iraq, Mediterranean migrant and Aden updates
13 August 2019
Peace and Security
Our main stories today cover: Human rights chief on chaos at Hong Kong airport; Geneva Conventions have been ‘limiting brutality’ for 70 years; breakthrough drug in DR Congo Ebola fight; France pushed to repatriate nationals on death row in Iraq; ‘Race against time” for migrants in Mediterranean
UN Photo
Amidst new challenges, Geneva Conventions mark 70 years of ‘limiting brutality’ during war
13 August 2019
Peace and Security
In commemorating the 70th anniversary of the landmark Geneva Conventions, the president of the United Nations Security Council hailed the “significant body of law”, describing it as playing “a vital role in limiting brutality of armed conflicts”.
LATEST NEWS
©UNICEF/Patrick Rose
UN warns of spike in grave violations against children in Mali as ‘the new normal’
13 August 2019
Peace and Security
Voicing great concern over a sharp increase in the killing and maiming of children in Mali due to ongoing fighting and instability, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners on Tuesday, called on all warring parties to stop attacks and “keep them out of harm’s way”.
Audio - 7'25" Playlist
UN News
‘Act with restraint’ UN human rights chief urges Hong Kong authorities and protestors, following airport disruption
13 August 2019
Peace and Security
After two consecutive days of chaos at Hong Kong International Airport, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Michelle Bachelet expressed her concern and condemned “any form” of violence or destruction of property and urged the demonstrators to “express their views in a peaceful way”.
Sarah Farhat/World Bank
‘We are facing a learning crisis’, UN chief warns on International Youth Day
11 August 2019
Culture and Education
Schools are “not equipping young people with the skills they need to navigate the technological revolution”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned, in a message released to mark the UN’s International Youth Day.
© SGP South Africa and Future Leaders of Change
FROM THE FIELD: ‘Eco-warriors’ fight climate change in South Africa
11 August 2019
Climate Change
Schools in South Africa have been designating students as “eco-warriors” as part of an initiative supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), to drive environmental and climate change awareness amongst the young and old in their communities.
Photo: UNSMIL/Iason Athanasiadis
Three UN workers killed following Benghazi car bomb attack, as Security Council meets in emergency session, honours their ‘ultimate sacrifice’
10 August 2019
Peace and Security
Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned a car bomb attack in front of a shopping mall in the Libyan city of Benghazi, which left three UN workers dead, and three others injured, with dozens of civilians also wounded.
UN Women/Ryan Brown
Friday’s Daily Brief: Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Yemen food aid, IDs for Rohingya, protect fleeing Malians, Nagasaki Peace Ceremony
9 August 2019
Human Rights
Our main stories: ‘Promote’ indigenous peoples’ languages urges Guterres; WFP resumes Yemen food aid; 500,000 Rohingya ID cards issued; Malians fleeing violence need protection; Nagasaki Peace Ceremony message
Photo: Dmitry Kharakka-Zaitsev
‘Preserve, revitalize and promote’ indigenous languages, or lose a ‘wealth of traditional knowledge’, UN chief says
9 August 2019
Culture and Education
Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the urgency to “preserve, revitalize and promote indigenous languages” in his message for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, celebrated on Friday.
Audio - 6'15" Playlist
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders ready for talks with UN chief on improved relations
9 August 2019
Peace and Security
Leaders of the Greek and Turkish parts of the divided island of Cyprus have agreed to meet with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in order to “plan the way forward”, and improve the daily lives of all Cypriots, a statement from the UN Mission in Cyprus, declared on Friday.
Audio - 9'30" Playlist
© UNHCR/Caroline Gluck
More than half a million Rohingya in Bangladesh get ID cards for first time: UN refugee agency
9 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
More than 500,000 Rohingya refugees who fled a brutal crackdown in Myanmar two years ago, have received identification cards that the UN insisted on Friday were critical to safeguarding their right to return home.
Audio - 5'1" Playlist
UNDP Philippines/Orange Omengan
FROM THE FIELD: Conversations about Conservation
9 August 2019
Climate Change
Indigenous peoples in the Philippines are increasingly involved in the national conversation about protecting and conserving the South East Asian country’skey biodiversity areas, thanks to support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
LATEST NEWS
WFP/Saleh Baholis
UN food aid to Yemen will fully resume after two-month break, as Houthis ‘guarantee’ delivery
9 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Life-saving food aid distribution is set to resume to 850,000 people in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, following guarantees by Houthi opposition forces that the supplies will reach those who need them most, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.
Audio - 26'57" Playlist
WFP/Francisco Fion
Thursday's Daily Brief: Climate crisis and food risks, fresh violence threat for millions of Syrians, calls for calm in Kashmir
8 August 2019
Climate Change
Thursday’s top stories: food security risk from climate crisis, fresh violence threat for millions of Syrians, UN chief urges “maximum restraint” in Jammu and Kashmir, calls for investigations into “brutal abduction” of Libyan politician.
Audio - 2'34" Playlist
© UNICEF/Santiago Arcos
UN rights chief bemoans unilateral sanctions on Venezuela, fearing ‘far-reaching implications’
8 August 2019
Human Rights
A new set of unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuela this week prompted the concern of the United Nations’ top rights official on Thursday, who said in a statement that she feared they would have a “potentially severe impact” on the human rights of the South American nation’s “long-suffering” people.
Audio - 4'54" Playlist
UNICEF/Syed Altaf Ahmad
Guterres appeals for ‘maximum restraint’ over Jammu and Kashmir, as tensions rise
8 August 2019
Peace and Security
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for ‘maximum restraint’ over the territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, which has been disputed by India and Pakistan, since the end of British rule in the late 1940s.
UNICEF/Aaref Watad
In wake of ‘collapsed’ agreement, new wave of violence threatens millions in Syria’s Idlib
8 August 2019
Peace and Security
Following the collapse of the latest truce in Idlib at the start of this week, the Senior Humanitarian Adviser to the UN’s Syria Envoy urged Member States on Thursday to increase their support for “critical humanitarian needs” in the country’s last opposition-held enclave.
©FAO/Alessandra Benedetti
Steps taken to end Saudi ‘guardianship’ system for women, ‘encouraging’ start
8 August 2019
Women
Allowing Saudi women to apply for passports and travel without their guardians’ permission is “an encouraging move” towards the “complete abolition of the ‘guardianship’ system,” independent United Nations rights experts said on Thursday, but more action is needed to fully dismantle these restrictions.
UNDP Chad/Jean Damascene Hakuzim
World food security increasingly at risk due to 'unprecedented' climate change impact, new UN report warns
8 August 2019
Climate Change
More than 500 million people today live in areas affected by erosion linked to climate change, the UN warned on Thursday, before urging all countries to commit to sustainable land use to help limit greenhouse gas emissions before it is too late.
Audio - 10'41" Playlist
UN Photo
Bigotry makes politicians ‘complicit in the violence that follows’ : UN independent experts
7 August 2019
Peace and Security
Responding to the mass shootings in Texas and Ohio on Saturday, a group of independent UN experts has called out the “increased use of divisive language”, as well as attempts to marginalise racial, ethnic and religious minorities”, by some politicians and leaders.
© UNICEF/Antoine Raab
Wednesday’s Daily Brief: Syrian detainees, Zimbabwe hunger crisis, Kabul attack, Mexico disappearances, new tech to feed the world
7 August 2019
Peace and Security
Wednesday’s top stories: Syrian detainees “failed by Security Council”; Zimbabwe experiencing “worst-ever hunger crisis”; Guterres welcomes new Mozambique peace accord; deadly Kabul attack; Mexico “responsible for enforced disappearances”; indigenous languages at risk; and how innovation should be used to feed the world.
Audio - 2'56" Playlist
© UNHCR/Christopher Reardon
UN Security Council ‘utterly failed’ Syrian detainees; a victim voices her plea to ‘end impunity and stop this horror’
7 August 2019
Peace and Security
The Security Council has “utterly failed Syrian detainees and their families”, Amina Khoulani, Co-founder of Families for Freedom, told the Security Council on Wednesday, during a meeting focussed on those who have been jailed or gone missing across Syria, during years of brutal conflict.
LATEST NEWS
UNICEF/UNI10236/Estey
Four in 10 indigenous languages at risk of disappearing, warn UN human rights experts
7 August 2019
Human Rights
Of 7,000 indigenous languages spoken today, four in 10 are in danger of disappearing, rights experts said on Wednesday, in a call for a decade of action to reverse the “historic destruction” of age-old dialects.
Audio - 19'40" Playlist
WFP/Tatenda Macheka
UN boosts humanitarian appeal to help tackle Zimbabwe’s ‘worst-ever’ hunger crisis
7 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
With Zimbabwe now experiencing its “worst-ever hunger crisis”, the UN food relief agency has revised its humanitarian appeal to step up food assistance to people most affected by drought, flooding, and economic stagnation.
Photo UNAMA/Fardin Waezi
UN Afghan Mission ‘outraged’ by deadly Taliban attack in Kabul, as hardline group threatens election violence
7 August 2019
Peace and Security
The UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed outrage at a Taliban attack in Kabul, that led to “scores” of civilians casualties on Wednesday. In a Tweet, the Mission said that such “indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks in heavily populated civilian areas must stop”.
© UNICEF/UN0247683/Arcos
Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Venezuela-Colombia baby breakthrough, Italy piles on rescue boat pressure, States must combat hate, Kashmir rights latest and a musical plea to combat CAR hunger
6 August 2019
Migrants and Refugees
Tuesday’s main stories: Colombia offers nationality to born of Venezuelan parents; ‘€1 million’ fines for rescue boats; States must do more to stop hate attacks; Egypt terror attack condemned by Security Council, UN chief; Kashmir developments risk people’s rights; and striking a chord for 1.8 million hungry Central Africans.
OCHA/Eman
Intensified Al Qaeda and ISIL activity in Yemen ‘deeply worrying’, says UN Human Rights Office
6 August 2019
Human Rights
Armed groups affiliated with the Al Qaeda and ISIL terror groups, appear to have intensified their activities in Yemen, Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) declared on Tuesday, describing the situation as an example of “deeply worrying developments” that have seriously impacted civilians over the past ten days.
OCHA/Yaye Nabo Sène
All States have ‘primary responsibility’ to protect against hate attacks
6 August 2019
Human Rights
The UN’s top rights official has added her voice to condemnation of the weekend mass-shootings in the cities of El Paso and Dayton, insisting on Tuesday that “not just the US, but all States” should do more to stop discrimination.
UN Photo/Yoshito Matsushige
‘Cataclysmic events’ in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, began ‘global push’ against nuclear weapons says Guterres, honouring victims
6 August 2019
Peace and Security
Paying homage to those who perished as the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, as well as the many others whose lives were devastated in the years that followed, UN chief António Guterres on Tuesday underscored their “courage and moral leadership” in reminding the world of “the human cost of nuclear war”.
UNICEF/Arcos
Colombia offers nationality rights to Venezuelan children born there: UN hails ‘very important step’
6 August 2019
Migrants and Refugees
The UN migration agency, IOM, has welcomed Colombia’s decision on Monday to grant nationality status to more than 24,000 Venezuelan babies born inside the country after their parents fled across the border.
Audio - 4'54" Playlist
World Bank/Peter Kapuscinski
Help African farmers cope with climate change threats, UN food agency urges
6 August 2019
Climate Change
African farmers need help to cope with the threats of climate change, with national policies that protect them and make them resilient, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, has declared, following a major conference on food security in the continent.
© UNHCR/Alessio Mamo
‘€1 million’ fines for rescue boats prompts UN concern for future sea operations
6 August 2019
Migrants and Refugees
A move by Italian lawmakers to impose fines of up to €1 million on vessels and organizations carrying out search and rescue operations off the country’s coastline, sparked a new warning on Tuesday from the UN that the measure risks deterring future lifesaving efforts in the Mediterranean.
LATEST NEWS
World Bank/Markus Kostner
Monday’s Daily Brief: Independent experts on Myanmar, Guterres denounces US mass shootings, Libyan airport violence, UN Spokesperson on Kashmir
5 August 2019
Peace and Security
Our main stories today: Myanmar companies bankroll ‘brutal operations’ of military; UN chief renounces shootings in the United States; ‘Repeated indiscriminate’ shelling of Libyan airport raises concern; UN voices ‘concern’ over Kashmir; and new UN agriculture chief reaffirms commitment with Italy on development
IRIN/Steve Sandford
Myanmar companies bankroll ‘brutal operations’ of military, independent UN experts claim in new report
5 August 2019
Human Rights
Money earned by the Myanmar military from international and domestic business deals, “substantially enhances its ability to carry out gross violations of human rights with impunity” according to a report released on Monday by an independent United Nations group looking into military-business ties in the South East Asian country.
Vincent Tremeau presented by UNOCHA
FROM THE FIELD: What do you want to be when you grow up? One day I will...
4 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
One person in every 70 is caught up in a humanitarian crisis right now, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), with women and girls among the most impacted.
UN Photo/Manuel Elias
UN chief laments ending of Cold War-era disarmament treaty
2 August 2019
Peace and Security
Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his “deep regret” on Friday that the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty betweein the United States and Russia came to an end.
© UNICEF/Kamal Ayyashi
Security Council must ‘come together’ to address the plight of children trapped in armed conflict, says UN envoy
2 August 2019
Peace and Security
It is “vitally important” that the Security Council “come together” on the current plight of children affected by armed conflict across the globe”, Virginia Gamba, the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict said on Friday.
UNICEF/Naftalin
Friday's Daily Brief: Security Council Ebola response, UNICEF chief on 'devastating week' for children in Middle East and North Africa, climate and migration links
2 August 2019
Health
Our main stories today: Security Council concern over DRC Ebola outbreak, head of UNICEF deplores ‘devastating week’ for children in MENA region, climate crisis to have ‘extensive’ effect on human settlement
WHO/Lindsay Mackenzie
Security Council gravely concerned by Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, demands immediate end to violence hampering response
2 August 2019
Peace and Security
The UN Security Council on Friday expressed grave concern about the current Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and stressed the urgency of broad cooperation in the response, as “the disease could spread rapidly, including to neighbouring countries, possibly having serious humanitarian consequences and impacting regional stability.”
UNDP Chad/Jean Damascene Hakuzim
Thursday’s Daily Brief: Climate emergency, call to support breastfeeding, rising political heat and new investigation board for Syria
1 August 2019
Climate Change
Today, our main stories include: UN chief’s warning on climate and global politics; UNICEF’s call to bolster breastfeeding and new Board of Inquiry in Syria
UNICEF/Jiro Ose
A dangerously hot climate, simmering political tensions: ‘This is not the summer of our youth,’ UN chief warns
1 August 2019
Climate Change
Global warming and rising political tensions are dangerous and avoidable, Secretary-General António Guterres told reporters on Thursday, previewing the UN’s upcoming Climate Action Summit, and spotlighting geopolitical hotspots.
OCHA/Otto Bakano
Ten years on, crisis in Nigeria ‘far from over’; UN and humanitarian partners urge support for millions still affected
1 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Ten years after the start of a violent insurgency in north-east Nigeria plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis that is “still far from over”, the United Nations and its aid partners have underscored the need to “collectively redouble efforts” to help the most vulnerable.
