18 March 2015 – Nigeria has made “noteworthy” progress in the preparations for the upcoming elections, the top United Nations political official said today, as he wrapped up a visit to the country, whose citizens will head to the polls beginning on 28 March. Speaking at a press conference in the capital, Abuja, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman lauded the efforts of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards and the testing of card readers, despite a tight schedule and logistical challenges. “We believe that that these efforts should help to build confidence…
Author: UN News
The Bardo Museum in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, undergoing restoration and renovation in June 2010. Photo: World Bank/Dana Smillie 18 March 2015 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned in the strongest terms today’s attack against the Bardo Museum in the Tunisian capital and deplored the loss of life. “He conveys his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this deplorable act,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement. According to media reports, 19 people, including 17 foreign tourists, have been killed in the gun attack on the museum, located in central Tunis. Mr. Ban expressed his solidarity with…
14 March 2015 – As the Syrian conflict enters its fifth year, it is shameful that even the basic demand for full humanitarian access has not been met, Oscar-winning actress and United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) Special Envoy, Angelina Jolie said today. “It is deeply alarming that the international response so clearly falls short of what is needed to end the conflict in Syria,” Ms. Jolie emphasised in a statement. According to the UN, over 220,000 Syrians have been killed, and almost half of the country’s men, women and children have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict…
13 March 2015 – The United Nations mission in Haiti welcomed today the formal proposal of a calendar for elections that have been delayed since 2011 and are scheduled to take place this year and looked forward to its prompt publication. The mission, known as MINUSTAH, commended the Electoral Council for its extensive and all-inclusive consultations with political actors and its transparent approach. “These elections are of fundamental importance for Haiti and include all local and municipal seats that have been delayed since 2011,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York. The UN and Haiti’s international partners are…
13 March 2015 – Meetings in Morocco arranged by the United Nations that brought together participants in the Libyan political dialogue have concluded today, having covered substantive and procedural issues on the way forward. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has proposed resuming the political dialogue next Thursday, 19 March, in Morocco, with the time between to allow for more consultations and further work on the draft documents that were presented in the earlier discussions. “This is a dialogue, whose purpose is to reach a solution and to reach a solution because Libya cannot wait anymore,” the Special Representative…
12 March 2015 – The effects of Ebola, which has infected nearly 24,000 people and killed nearly 10,000, mainly in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, extend beyond the people who suffer from the virus and even beyond the borders of the worst-affected countries, says a new United Nations report released today. Even in West African nations that experienced low or zero incidence of Ebola, the effects of the outbreak have been powerful because of the strong ties between the countries of the region, according to the report, which was produced by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). “The consequences of Ebola…
11 March 2015 – Wrapping up a three-day visit to Syria, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations agency mandated to assist Palestinian refugees across the Middle East requested more support for work being carried out across the country, stressing that in Yarmouk “safe, uninterrupted, substantial humanitarian distributions must become the norm.” As well as advocating for expanded humanitarian access, Pierre Krähenbühl, who heads the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), used the visit to stress solidarity with Palestine refugees and the Agency’s staff, who have endured extreme suffering during four years of conflict.…
11 March 2015 – Several Libyan political parties and personalities concluded a two-day meeting today in Algiers, during which United Nations envoy Bernardino León reiterated the resolve of the world body to continue the dialogue until it reaches positive outcomes. Participants were briefed by Mr. León, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), who provided an overview of the progress and the challenges facing the Libyan political dialogue process. Mr. Leon noted the wide support among the different Libyan stakeholders and the public, together with neighbouring States and the international community at large.…
11 March 2015 – The United Nations human rights chief today urged the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to ensure justice for victims of serious human rights abuses that occurred prior to and during the 2011 conflict in the country. The call by High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein comes in the wake of the guilty verdicts against numerous supporters of former President Laurent Gbagbo charged with offences against the state and its institutions. “Victims of gross human rights violations, some of which may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, have yet to see justice almost four…
10 March 2015 – Condemning the “reprehensible” attacks on civilians and United Nations peacekeepers and facilities in Mali, UN independent expert Suliman Baldo today expressed deep concern that massive violations of the most basic rights continue to plague populations in areas affected by fighting. In a press release at the end of is his fourth visit to the country – from 1 to 10 March and including stops in Gao and Kidal – Mr. Baldo, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali, noted the fragility of the cessation of hostility agreement signed in Algiers on February 19,…