Page 48 - United Nations

Pacific Islands want a climate solution, but the US is not listening

That Vanuatu thought to take its dilemma to the highest court in the world demonstrates the severity of the issue

'Horrified' by blast outside Gaza hospital, says UN chief Guterres

While condoling the loss of lives in the attack outside the Gaza hospital, the UN chief also called for the immediate release of hostages by terror group Hamas

Average Gazan living on 2 pieces of bread a day, scarce water: UN official

The average Gazan is living on two pieces of Arabic bread made from flour the UN had stockpiled in the region, yet the main refrain now being heard in the street is Water, water, the Gaza director for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Friday. Thomas White, who said he travelled the length and breadth of Gaza in the last few weeks, described the place as a "scene of death and destruction. No place is safe now, he said, and people fear for their lives, their future and their ability to feed their families. The Palestinian refugee agency, known as UNRWA, is supporting about 89 bakeries across Gaza, aiming to get bread to 1.7 million people, White told diplomats from the UN's 193 member nations in a video briefing from Gaza. But, he said, now people are beyond looking for bread. It's looking for water. UN deputy Mideast coordinator Lynn Hastings, who is also the humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said only one of three water supply lines from Israel is

Funding deficit for climate adaptation puts some nations at high risk: UN

Despite clear signs of accelerating climate risks and impacts worldwide, the adaptation finance gap is widening and now stands at between USD 194 billion and USD 366 billion per year, according to a new report by the United Nations. Released ahead of the annual UN climate talks in Dubai, UAE, the "Adaptation Gap Report 2023: Underfinanced. Underprepared - Inadequate investment and planning on climate adaptation leaves the world exposed" finds that the adaptation finance needs of developing countries are 10-18 times as big as international public finance flows over 50 per cent higher than the previous range estimate. The adaptation finance gap is the difference between the estimated costs of adapting to climate change in developing countries and the amount of finance available to meet these costs. "Today's Adaptation Gap Report shows a growing divide between need and action when it comes to protecting people from climate extremes. Action to protect people and nature is more pressing

Executions in Iran up 30%, 419 killed in first 7 months of 2023: UN report

Iran is carrying out executions "at an alarming rate," putting to death at least 419 people in the first seven months of the year, the United Nations chief said in a new report. That's a 30 per cent increase from the same period in 2022. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the report to the U.N. General Assembly on the human rights situation in Iran that seven men were executed in relation to or for participating in nationwide protests, sparked by the September 2022 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was picked up by the morality police for her allegedly loose headscarf in violation of Iran's Islamic dress code. In all seven cases, information received by the U.N. human rights office consistently indicated that the judicial proceedings did not fulfil the requirements for due process and a fair trial under international human rights law, Guterres said. Access to adequate and timely legal representation was frequently denied, with reports of coerced confessions, which may hav

UN, int'l community urged to condemn, halt Pakistan deportation of Afghans

The United States, the United Nations and the international community have urged by an Indian diaspora body to condemn and halt deportation of over a million Afghans from Pakistan, and appealed to the IMF to stop its financial aid to Islamabad. Condemning Pakistan's decision in this regard, the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) said this is illegal and the international norms. "The Islamic Republic of Pakistan's planned forced deportation of Afghan refugees, who had fled under duress from the brutal Taliban rule, is not only illegal under international law but could also trigger a massive humanitarian crisis," said Khanderao Kand, chief of policy and strategy at FIIDS. "It was always known since the times of Osama Bin Laden that Pakistan worked very closely with the Taliban as it's proxy to have a grip over Afghanistan. Now Pakistan seems frustrated at its weakening control over the Taliban, he said. FIIDS said that Pak is trying to do the exact things to Afg

Over 40% of Ukrainians need humanitarian help under war conditions: UN

Russian strikes are inflicting unimaginable suffering on the people of Ukraine and more than 40 per cent of them need humanitarian assistance, a senior UN official told the UN Security Council. Ramesh Rajasingham, director of coordination in the UN humanitarian office, said thousands of civilians have been killed in strikes on homes, schools, fields and markets since Russia's invasion in February 20022. The UN human rights office has formally verified 9,900 civilians killed, but he said the actual number is certainly higher. Ukrainian civilians are suffering horrendous humanitarian consequences and unimaginable levels of suffering from the Russian strikes, Rajasingham said. About 18 million Ukrainians more than 40 per cent of the population need some form of humanitarian assistance, and as winter approaches needs will be magnified," he said. Rajasingham said significant damage and destruction of critical infrastructure continues to severely impact civilian access to electricity, .

Int'l humanitarian law no a la carte menu, can't be applied selectively: UN

He reiterated his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and humanitarian access to be granted consistently to meet the urgent needs created by the catastrophe unfolding in Gaza

Nations fear becoming collateral in competition between great powers: UN

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said as geopolitical tensions rise, global divisions are becoming deeper and more dangerous, and smaller countries fear becoming collateral damage in competition between great powers. Guterres made these remarks during his address to Nepal's parliament. The United Nations Secretary-General also spoke on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, acknowledging that despite being thousands of miles away, Nepali citizens were among the victims of Hamas' brutal attacks in Israel. He extended his condolences to the families of the 10 Nepalese students who lost their lives during an attack by Hamas militants in Israel and expressed his best wishes for the safe return of Bipin Joshi, a student who is currently missing. As geopolitical tensions rise, global divisions are becoming deeper and more dangerous. Smaller countries fear becoming collateral damage in competition between great powers, Guterres said. Emphasising Nepal's commitment to global peace a

One in four people in Asia, Pacific will be above 60 by 2050: UNFPA

One in four people in Asia and the Pacific will be above the age of 60 by 2050 and more than half of them will be women, UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Director Pio Smith said on Tuesday. Asia and the Pacific refer to a vast and diverse region that encompasses Asia and the Pacific Islands, which are scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean. Addressing a press briefing, Smith said along with ageing populations, countries are also witnessing low fertility rates as women are having fewer babies. "This means that while people are living longer, the working population is also shrinking," Smith said. By 2050, it is estimated that one in four people in Asia and the Pacific will be about the age of 60 and more than half of them will be women, he said. Smith said it is easy to hear alarm bells ring if the focus is only on the numbers. "We really do have to understand that population ageing and low fertility are not problems to be solved. They are demographic transitions that the human populati

Hamas are modern-day Nazis, they are rulers of Gaza: Israeli envoy at UN

Erdan stressed that the world is "deafeningly silent" just like in the rise of Nazism

Israel-Hamas war spilling into Syria, which already has instability: Envoy

The Israel-Hamas war is spilling into Syria, fuelled by growing instability, violence and a lack of progress toward a political solution to its 12-year conflict, the United Nations special envoy for the country said Monday. Geir Pedersen told the Security Council that, on top of violence from the Syrian conflict, the Syrian people now face a terrifying prospect of a potential wider escalation following Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel and the ongoing retaliatory military action. Spillover into Syria is not just a risk; it has already begun, the U.N. envoy for Syria said. Pedersen pointed to air strikes attributed to Israel hitting Syria's airports in Aleppo and Damascus several times, and retaliation by the United States against what it said were multiple attacks on its forces "by groups that it claims are backed by Iran, including on Syrian territory." With the region at its most dangerous and tense, he said, fuel is being added to a tinderbox that was already beginning to ignit

UN agency in Gaza says urgent ceasefire matter of life and death for people

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees told a UN emergency meeting Monday an immediate humanitarian ceasefire has become a matter of life and death for millions, accusing Israel of collective punishment of Palestinians and the forced displacement of civilians. Philippe Lazzarini warned that a further breakdown of civil order following the looting of the agency's warehouses by Palestinians searching for food and other aid will make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the largest UN agency in Gaza to continue operating. Briefings to the Security Council by Lazzarini, the head of the UN children's agency UNICEF and a senior UN humanitarian official painted a dire picture of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza 23 days after Hamas' surprise Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, and its ongoing retaliatory military action aimed at obliterating the militant group, which controls Gaza. According to the latest figures from Gaza's Ministry of Health, more than 8,300 ...

Stop bombs, save lives: Palestine envoy tells UN amid war with Israel

"1,700 women were killed by Israel in the past two weeks," he said

United Nations creates 39-member advisory body to address AI governance

"The transformative potential of AI for good is difficult even to grasp," Guterres said in a statement

Israel accuses UN chief Guterres of justifying Hamas terror attack

Israeli officials were outraged Wednesday over UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' comment that the deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel did not happen in a vacuum, calling it justification for terrorism. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen cancelled a scheduled meeting with Guterres while Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial, said the UN chief failed the test. I will not meet with the UN secretary-general. After the October 7 massacre, there is no place for a balanced approach. Hamas must be erased off the face of the planet! Cohen posted Tuesday on social platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Israel's envoy to the UN Gilad Erdan called for his resignation, saying Israel must rethink its relations with the world body. We will refuse to grant visas to UN representatives. We have already refused to give one to Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, Erdan told Army Radio, accusing Guterres of justifying a slaughter. It's time to teach them a lesson. Israe

Why do Israel supporters want UN chief Antonio Guterres to resign

Why do Israel supporters want UN chief Antonio Guterres to resign? Watch the video to find out

UN warns Gaza blockade could force to cut relief ops as bombings rise

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees warned Wednesday that without immediate deliveries of fuel it will soon have to sharply cut back relief operations across the Gaza Strip, which has been blockaded and hit by devastating Israeli airstrikes since Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel more than two weeks ago. The warning came as hospitals in Gaza struggled to treat masses of wounded with dwindling resources, and health officials in the Hamas-ruled territory said the death toll was soaring as Israeli jets continued striking the territory overnight into Wednesday. The Israeli military said its strikes had killed militants and destroyed tunnels, command centres, weapons storehouses and other military targets, which it has accused Hamas of hiding among Gaza's civilian population. Gaza-based militants have been launching unrelenting rocket barrages into Israel since the conflict started. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said the airstrikes killed at least 704 people between

Aid agencies need unimpeded access to Gaza: UN Palestinian Refugee Agency

The UN agency that aids Palestinian refugees said 54 trucks have entered Gaza from Egypt over the past three days carrying food, water and medicine

Nearly two-thirds of Gaza's health facilities ceased functioning: UN

Nearly two-thirds of Gaza's health facilities have ceased functioning amid a massive and deadly increase in Israeli airstrikes in the territory, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. A total of 46 out of 72 health care facilities including 12 out of 35 hospitals have stopped functioning across Gaza, the WHO said. Palestinian health officials said the lack of electricity and fuel to power generators from an Israeli blockade, as well as damage from airstrikes, has forced many of the facilities to close. Gaza health officials said more than 700 people had died in Israeli airstrikes over the past day.