15 May 2015 – The United Nations human rights chief has voiced concern over the developments in Burundi over the past two days following a reportedly failed coup d’état in the country’s capital and urged all armed forces and non-state actors to refrain from actions that may endanger civilians. “I am deeply worried by the extremely tense situation in Burundi. We are receiving alarming messages from human rights defenders and journalists fearing for their safety,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein declared in a press release issued this afternoon. “I urge the Burundian authorities to ensure…
Author: UN News
14 May 2015 – The security situation in South Sudan deteriorated further during late April and early May, the head of the United Nations mission in the country warned today as she briefed the Security Council on the “very worrying” developments that have had a devastating effect on civilians. “The untold suffering of the people of South Sudan must stop,” Ellen Margrethe Løj, head of the UN Mission (UNMISS) declared today, as she presented to the Council the latest report of the Secretary-General. “Every day without a political agreement contributes to a further deterioration of the situation on the ground,…
14 May 2015 – The complexities and complications surrounding the plight of civilians in Iraq remain “enormous” amid slow political progress and ongoing violence throughout the country, a senior United Nations official warned today as he urged the international community to support the Gulf State’s efforts towards stability and peace. “Iraq is temporarily unable to cope alone with the challenges of the security and humanitarian crisis and stabilisation and rehabilitation efforts,” UN Special Representative for Iraq Ján Kubiš told the Security Council in a briefing this morning. “Unfortunately, however critical is the urgency of continuous and massive support for Iraq,…
14 May 2015 – As the main planting season begins in South Sudan, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has announced today that it is accelerating its efforts to get vital seeds, tools and other materials to some of the country’s most vulnerable farmers. “We have a small window to provide farmers with the inputs they need to start planting,” Karim Bah, FAO’s Emergency Response Manager in South Sudan, said in a statement. “For many farmers, this is the only opportunity to plant cereals this year,” added Serge Tissot, FAO’s acting representative in South Sudan. “Without seeds now, they…
13 May 2015 – The top United Nations humanitarian official has welcomed the commencement of a ceasefire in Yemen aimed at allowing the delivery of “lifesaving” relief and aid to the country’s civilian populations. “I call on all parties to the conflict to respect this vital pause in hostilities,” Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA) Valerie Amos said in a statement issued late yesterday evening. “This pause will provide a respite for civilians and allow the delivery of food, medical supplies and other essential items to people who have been trapped in conflict zones.” Ms. Amos also…
13 May 2015 – A United Nations human rights report released today says that a Uganda-based rebel group has committed grave violations of international humanitarian law in crisis-riven north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The report says that the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) committed the violations, which were systematic and extremely brutal, and which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, over a three-month period at the end of 2014 in Beni territory, North Kivu province. “In light of the magnitude and the persistence of the attacks by ADF combatants, I call upon the Congolese authorities to…
12 May 2015 – The joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has strongly deplored “the rapid deterioration of tensions” between the Rezeigat and Ma’alia tribes as both parties continue to engage each other in a series of armed confrontations which have resulted in dozens of casualties. In a press release, the Mission said it remained “gravely concerned” about that apparent continued mobilization of both sides despite a temporary lull in the fighting, adding that UNAMID peacekeepers in East Darfur had “raised their levels of preparedness” and put in place “proactive response measures” to address any spike in requests…
9 May 2015 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Liberia free of Ebola virus transmission as forty-two days have passed since the last laboratory-confirmed case was buried on 28 March, a “monumental achievement” for a country that reported the highest number of deaths in the largest, longest, and most complex outbreak since Ebola first emerged in 1976. Liberia’s last case was a woman in the greater Monrovia area who developed symptoms on 20 March and died on 27 March, WHO confirmed in a statement today. Since then health officials have maintained a high level of vigilance for new…
10 May 2015 – The conflict in Yemen is taking a dreadful toll on civilians, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the country has warned, as he also expressed deep concern over yesterday’s airstrikes on the city of Sa’ada, where scores of civilians were reportedly killed. “Many civilians are effectively trapped in Sa’ada as they are unable to access transport because of the fuel shortage,” Johannes van der Klaauw said in a statement released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Mr. van der Klaauw said that thousands of more civilians were forced to flee their…
4 May 2015 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned yesterday’s shooting in Texas that injured a law enforcement officer, reiterating that such criminal acts have nothing to do with religion or belief. In response to a question asked during the daily briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, a note to reporters issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said the Secretary-General condemns the attack by two gunmen who opened fire and injured a security guard in Texas yesterday. According to news reports, the shooting incident took place in the Dallas suburb of Garland outside a venue hosting a controversial…