Haiti: $21 million appeal to help thousands displaced by gang violence

Haiti: $21 million appeal to help thousands displaced by gang violence

“Displacement severely risks the health, food and economic security of people, exposes them to gender-based violence, and puts pressure on local infrastructure and social cohesion within host communities,” Philippe Branchat, IOM Chief of Mission in Haiti said on Tuesday. Surging gang violence Surging gang violence in Carrefour-Feuilles and Savanes Pistaches neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince, have led…

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500 still missing following Afghanistan earthquake, say UN aid teams

500 still missing following Afghanistan earthquake, say UN aid teams

 At the epicentre of the earthquake in Zindajan district, the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) recorded nearly 1,300 deaths and 1,700 injuries. In some places, entire villages have been destroyed, according to teams on the ground.  Over 12,000 affected An estimated 12,110 people, or 1,730 families, have been affected in five districts of Herat. That number is expected…

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UN General Assembly elects 15 new members to Human Rights Council

UN General Assembly elects 15 new members to Human Rights Council

After the ballots were cast and counted, Assembly President Dennis Francis announced Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malawi, and the Netherlands were elected to serve for three years, beginning 1 January 2024. China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, France, and Malawi were re-elected for their second terms. …

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Convention’s 10-year birthday marks commitment to prevent new mercury scare

Convention’s 10-year birthday marks commitment to prevent new mercury scare

To help understand why this international treaty is important,  UN News has put together a quick guide on global efforts to eradicate exposure to quicksilver, as mercury is also known. Making waves The landmark Convention is named after the Japanese coastal city where residents suffered decades of mercury poisoning from industrial wastewater released by a…

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UN calls for closing internet connectivity and digital governance gap

UN calls for closing internet connectivity and digital governance gap

With the Internet holding a critical role in navigating these complexities, the 18th annual Internet Governance Forum hosted by the Government of Japan is under the overarching theme, ‘The Internet We Want – Empowering All People.” Mitigating the risks Considering the rapid tech advances, including in Artificial Intelligence (AI), risking exacerbating existing inequalities, the Forum…

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World News in Brief: Displacement in Gaza and Israel, Afghan earthquake response

World News in Brief: Displacement in Gaza and Israel, Afghan earthquake response

Over 120,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza due to concerns over their protection and the destruction of homes, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking in New York. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, is sheltering roughly 137,000 people in 83 of its schools across the Gaza Strip. Six health…

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