Saudi Arabia a strategic partner in UN support for Palestine refugees, amid concern over escalating violence

Saudi Arabia a strategic partner in UN support for Palestine refugees, amid concern over escalating violence

In a first since 2020, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini visited Saudi Arabia on 28 and 29 January at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   Longtime Saudi solidarity with Palestine refugees topped the agenda of his talks with the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Waleed ElKhereji, and the Supervisor-General of the King Salman Humanitarian…

Read More
Deny legitimacy of Myanmar’s military junta, UN expert urges

Deny legitimacy of Myanmar’s military junta, UN expert urges

The State Administration Council (SAC) is illegal and illegitimate, Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews said at the launch, co-hosted by the democracy and electoral assistance body, International IDEA. He called on the international community to stand firm against military rule, create a coalition of Member States to enforce strong, coordinated sanctions, and support the democratic National…

Read More
Peace in South Sudan hinges on local accountability, landmark Peacebuilding Commission meeting hears

Peace in South Sudan hinges on local accountability, landmark Peacebuilding Commission meeting hears

“Our priority in 2023 is to take a ‘peace to people’ approach with the Government’s facilitation,” Stephen Par Kuol, Minister of Peacebuilding of South Sudan, told the Commission, via video link. Addressing the ambassadorial-level meeting on building peace in communities through local governance and community reconciliation in South Sudan, he said efforts included tackling such…

Read More
‘A great victory’: Odesa mayor reacts to UNESCO Heritage List inclusion

‘A great victory’: Odesa mayor reacts to UNESCO Heritage List inclusion

Mr. Trukhanov spoke to UN News shortly after the decision was announced, on Wednesday, and explained the laborious process that led to the inclusion. Odesa Mayor, Gennady Trukhanov Gennady Trukhanov We applied for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List back in 2009 and were accepted into the provisional list. But the procedure dragged on and,…

Read More
WHO calls for more action to end ‘cycles of poverty and stigma’ related to tropical diseases

WHO calls for more action to end ‘cycles of poverty and stigma’ related to tropical diseases

To mark World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, the UN agency has released a report highlighting progress and challenges in delivering care for these 20 conditions, which mainly affect the world’s poorest people.  NTDs are caused by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins, and can be deadly.  Other examples are Buruli…

Read More
Libya: human rights abuses must be addressed, says UN probe

Libya: human rights abuses must be addressed, says UN probe

The UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya was established by the Human Rights Council in June 2020, to investigate alleged abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed in Libya since 2016. The panel’s latest official visit to Libya which ended on Sunday heard testimony from victims’ relatives of extrajudicial killings, torture,…

Read More
Tedros: COVID-19 remains an international health threat

Tedros: COVID-19 remains an international health threat

Tedros’s decision follows the advice offered at the latest coronavirus Emergency Committee meeting last Friday, held at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva via videoconference. “There is little doubt that this virus will remain a permanently established pathogen in humans and animals for the foreseeable future,” the Committee said. It is three years to…

Read More
Israel-Palestine: UNICEF warns children are paying ‘the highest price’ as violence escalates

Israel-Palestine: UNICEF warns children are paying ‘the highest price’ as violence escalates

“Children continue to pay the highest price of violence,” the statement declared. “As the situation remains very volatile, UNICEF fears that an increasing number of children will suffer.” Just a few weeks into the new year, seven Palestinian children and one Israeli child had been killed and many more injured. Since 26 January alone, the terrorist attack outside…

Read More