3 March 2014 – After the intensification of United Nations support to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in joint operations against an armed group known as the Allied Democratic Forces, the world body’s envoy to the vast African nation today called on the rebels to lay down their weapons. On Saturday two UN attack helicopters fired on an ADF base in the Mbau region of the eastern province of North Kivu as part of operations with the DRC defence forces against the group, said Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN peacekeeping mission…
Author: UN News
3 March 2014 – Ensuring food security is one of the most pressing challenges in Africa, which is increasingly losing ground as a result of challenges from climate change to land degradation, the top United Nations environment official today said, urging a stronger emphasis on the continent’s transition to a ‘green economy.’ “From plugging into solar power in Algeria and Tunisia to investing in green funds in South Africa, diverse pathways to greener and more-inclusive economies are being pursued across the continent,” the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, said in his message for Africa Environment…
4 March 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bomb attack on Monday in the village of Daih, Bahrain, which led to the death of three policemen. Mr. Ban, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, conveyed his sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and the Government of Bahrain. “Such acts of violence cannot be justified by any cause,” said the statement. “The Secretary-General strongly believes that a genuine and all-inclusive political dialogue is the only way forward,” it added. “He urges all Bahrainis to come together to create a conducive environment for promoting reconciliation.” Source: UN…
26 February 2014 – The United Nations Security Council today adopted a resolution expressing its strong support for the next steps in the political transition in Yemen, and establishing sanctions to be imposed on individuals or entities that seek to obstruct or undermine this process. Yemen has been undergoing a democratic transition, with a Government of National Unity, which came to power in an election in February 2012 following the resignation of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Recognizing that Yemen’s transition process requires “turning the page” from the Saleh presidency, the resolution unanimously adopted by the 15-member body sets up…
26 February 2014 – The Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations confirmed today that a shipment of Syria’s stockpile of sulphur mustard, commonly known as “mustard gas,” has left its territory. Sigrid Kaag, the Special Coordinator of the Joint Mission, welcomed the shipment as an “important step” in the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme. “The Joint Mission looks forward to the Syrian Arab Republic continuing its efforts to complete the removal of the remaining chemical materials in a safe, secure and timely manner, through systematic, predictable and high-volume movements,”…
26 February 2014 – Amid “unbelievable devastation,” the United Nations agency charged with ensuring the well-being of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East has today been able to deliver life-saving supplies to families in a camp on the outskirts of Damascus, where nearly every building is an empty shell and the war-weary, desperate people have suffered unparalleled deprivation. As massive crowds lined up with “row upon row of gaunt faces,” the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) distributed 450 food parcels in the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk today, bringing to 7,493 the…
28 February 2014 – The United Nations human rights chief today condemned the recent violence in Venezuela, and urged the Government to ensure respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. “The inflammatory rhetoric from all sides is utterly unhelpful and risks escalating the tense situation in the country,” High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stressed. “It is time for all sides to move beyond verbal aggression and towards meaningful dialogue. This crisis will only be resolved if the human rights of all Venezuelans are respected.” In a news release issued by her office (OHCHR), Ms. Pillay also voiced…
26 February 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his sadness at continuing reports of violence and loss of life amid protests in Venezuela, and urged that all efforts be urgently made to lower the tensions and prevent further violence. Mr. Ban has taken note of the calls for dialogue made by President Nicolas Maduro and other Venezuelans, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson said in a statement. “He hopes for concrete gestures by all parties to reduce polarization and create the necessary conditions to engage in a meaningful dialogue so that calm can be fully restored in the country as soon as…
25 February 2014 – An independent United Nations human rights expert today applauded the decision by a Haitian court to order further investigations into alleged abuses committed by former President Jean-Claude Duvalier during his 15-year rule. On 20 February, the Court of Appeals reversed a January 2012 decision that stated that the former leader could not be charged with crimes against humanity during his reign because the time for the prosecution of those offences had elapsed. Haitian and international human rights groups have extensively documented serious human rights violations, including torture, rape and extrajudicial killings, said to have occurred while…
3 March 2014 – The United Nations envoy in Somalia is closely monitoring developments in Baidoa, including the outcome of today’s federal state-building conference, and urged maximum restraint by all parties and a commitment to political dialogue. “This year is critical for consolidating a united and stable federal Somalia. The country has overcome many recent challenges through compromise and dialogue,” Nicholas Kay, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), noted in a press statement. Amid the ongoing process to form a federal state in the region, Mr. Kay urged all parties to observe…
3 March 2014 – The joint African Union-United Nations mission in Sudan’s Darfur region said today it is deeply concerned over an escalation in violence that has led to the reported burning of villages and the displacement of large numbers of civilians, and called for unhindered access to the affected area. The mission, known as UNAMID, has received reports of looting, arson and civilian casualties as a result of the violence over the past several days in the vicinity of Um Gunya, located approximately 50 kilometres south-east of the South Darfur capital of Nyala. The violence has also led to…
3 March 2014 – The United Nations mission in Libya has strongly condemned the attack that took place on Sunday against the country’s parliament and its members, and stressed the need for respecting state institutions and rejecting violence. Libya’s parliament, known as the General National Congress, has reportedly moved into a hotel in the capital, Tripoli, after rioters armed with knives and guns stormed the legislature building, torching furniture, killing a guard and wounding six lawmakers. In a statement issued today, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) stressed “the importance of respecting the legitimate institutions, rejecting violence in politics…
2 March 2014 – The Security Council on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist attack that took place on 1 March at the train station in Kunming, China, and underlined the need to bring those responsible to justice. In a statement issued to the press, the 15-member body extended its deepest sympathy and condolence to the victims and their families suffering as a result of this “most heinous” terrorist attack, as well as to the people and the Government of China. According to media reports, some 29 people were killed and at least 130 wounded after a group of attackers, dressed…
1 March 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned an attack that took place on Saturday at the railway station in Kunming, China, and hoped that those responsible will be brought to justice. According to media reports, the attack by knife-wielding men left at least 28 people dead and over 100 injured. Mr. Ban condemned the “terrible” attack in the strongest terms, his spokesperson said in a statement. “He expresses condolences to the bereaved families and wishes those wounded a speedy recovery,” the spokesperson added. “The Secretary-General notes that there is no justification for the killing of innocent civilians and…
28 February 2014 – Calling on the United Nations and the wider international community to help the Government of mali strengthen its judicial system, the UN independent expert on human rights in the country expressed concern today at the difficulties facing Malian justice in the prosecution of serious crimes committed in during the violence that engulfed the north in 2012. Wrapping up a recent visit to Mali, Suliman Baldo said that despite the authorities’ laudable efforts in the fight against impunity for the crimes alleged against former military junta in the south, the justice system faced enormous difficulties in prosecuting…
28 February 2014 – Amid reports of retaliatory killings between armed Christian and Muslim factions the Central African Republic (CAR), a senior United Nations official today warned that “ethno-religious cleansing” is being carried out in the country, and now it is “most important” for mediation among the communities, and for more international forces to be deployed to protect civilians. “It is still possible for communities to continue to live together, but intensive mediation is necessary for that to happen,” said Philip Leclerc, who is in charge of the protection cluster in Car for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). “What is…
28 February 2014 – Good governance is essential for Nigeria – with its rich ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity – to ensure minority rights, equality and peaceful coexistence for all its citizens, an independent United Nations human rights expert stressed today. “I found evidence that in states where inclusive governance prevails and communities placed trust in their leadership, there are fewer communal fractures and concerns about minority rights,” said Rita Izsák, the Independent Expert on minority issues. “However, the exclusion of some groups, partisan politics, corruption, and the reality or the perception of bias and favouritism along ethnic or religious…
28 February 2014 – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that a major funding gap is forcing the agency to scale back geographical coverage of its work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to instead focus on what it describes as “acutely-insecure, conflict-affected areas” in the vast country. Speaking to the press in Geneva, WFP spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs warned that the agency’s work in the DRC is being hindered by “severe funding constraints” and as a result it will begin to cut rations to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country’s eastern North Kivu…
1 March 2014 – Top United Nations officials on Saturday called for direct dialogue between all concerned amid the growing tensions in the Crimea region of Ukraine, as the Security Council held urgent talks for the second day in a row on the crisis. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is “gravely concerned” about the deterioration of the situation, spoke by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin today. “It is crucial to restore calm and proceed to an immediate de-escalation of the situation. Cool heads must prevail and dialogue must be the only tool in ending this crisis,” Mr. Ban said afterwards,…
28 February 2014 – The United Nations Security Council held this afternoon what its President described as an “urgent” meeting on the situation in Ukraine, with the body’s members noting that it is important for all political actors in the strife-torn country to exercise maximum restraint and pursue inclusive dialogue. “The Security Council…reviewed with concern the recent developments in Ukraine,” said Raimonda Murmokaité, Permanent Representative of Lithuania, which holds the rotating presidency of the 15-nation body for February. The Council held closed-door consultations at the request of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN, which appealed in a letter…