First Person: How youth and forests tackle Honduras’ water crisis

First Person: How youth and forests tackle Honduras’ water crisis

Montserrat Xilotl, a Regional Technical Advisor in Climate Change Adaptation for the UN Development Programme (UNDP), explains why. Montserrat Xilotl, Regional Technical Advisor in Climate Change Adaptation for the UN Development Programme (UNDP). “Forests are nature’s water filters and storage systems. When rain falls, the trees, and vegetation capture and absorb it, allowing it to…

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Nobel Peace Prize choice of Narges Mohammadi highlights 'courage and determination' of Iranian women: OHCHR

Nobel Peace Prize choice of Narges Mohammadi highlights ‘courage and determination’ of Iranian women: OHCHR

“I think what is absolutely clear is that the women of Iran have been a source of inspiration for the world. We’ve seen their courage and determination in the face of reprisals, intimidation, violence and detention,” Spokesperson Liz Throssell told journalists in Geneva.  “This courage, this determination, have been remarkable. They’ve been harassed for what…

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World News in Brief: West Bank violence, UN humanitarian visits Hroza, Advisory Group on local governments

World News in Brief: West Bank violence, UN humanitarian visits Hroza, Advisory Group on local governments

“I condemn today’s attack by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property in the town of Huwwara in occupied West Bank,” UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, said in a statement.   Huwara is located on the main road connecting the northern city of Nablus to Ramallah and Jerusalem and…

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Hottest September on record puts 2023 on track to be warmest year ever

Hottest September on record puts 2023 on track to be warmest year ever

Average surface temperature reached 16.38°C, or 0.5°C above the previous record in September 2020. Last month was roughly 1.75°C warmer compared to the pre-industrial period. It was also  0.93°C warmer than the 1991-2020 baseline which is used as a practical tool for climate sensitive sectors like agriculture. The heat is on WMO said this continues…

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Syria: Deadly military academy attack ‘horrific reminder’ of need to de-escalate

Syria: Deadly military academy attack ‘horrific reminder’ of need to de-escalate

More than 80 people were killed, according to media reports. The victims were both military personnel and civilians, including children. Hundreds more were wounded. UN chief concerned UN Secretary-General António Guterres was deeply concerned about the attack and “retaliatory shelling” across multiple locations in Syria, and underlined the need for a nationwide ceasefire. “He also…

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Weather-related disasters displace 43.1 million children in six years, UNICEF reports

Weather-related disasters displace 43.1 million children in six years, UNICEF reports

That figure translates to an alarming average of 20,000 children uprooted every day. The findings are contained in UNICEF’s latest report, Children Displaced in a Changing Climate, the first ever global analysis of child displacements caused by floods, storms, droughts and wildfires. It also projects future trends for the next three decades. Catherine Russell, UNICEF…

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Sudan conflict creates world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis: UN aid official

Sudan conflict creates world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis: UN aid official

“The past six months have caused untold suffering in Sudan” and forced more than 5.4 million people from their homes, said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, the UN official noted that approximately 30,000 a day have fled fighting, “some fleeing…

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