UN News - Global perspective Human stories

Humanitarian situation in Gaza ‘beyond the imagination’

October 11, 2023 21:07 - 5 seconds - 12.5 MB

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is “indescribable” and “unprecedented” as the battle between extremist Palestinian armed groups and Israeli forces escalates. That’s according to a senior UN official with humanitarian office OCHA inside the enclave, speaking to UN News on Wednesday. “Every hour that passes brings more fighting and devastation,” Hamada El Bayari told us. Mr. El Bayari described the latest situation on the ground to Khaled Mohamed, saying that there is currently no “safe ...

News in Brief 11 October 2023

October 11, 2023 13:14 - 56 seconds - 5.58 MB

Over one in 10 Gaza residents displaced: humanitarian update Invest in girls’ leadership: UN chief New plan to prevent tens of thousands of deaths in childbirth: WHO UN agencies supporting major push to eradicate polio

Gaza: UNRWA's 'unsung heroes' continue to serve despite immense risks

October 10, 2023 21:48 - 29 seconds - 10.3 MB

Families escaping the shelling and bombardment in Gaza have sought refuge in premises belonging to UNRWA, the UN agency that supports Palestine refugees across the Middle East. Some of the agency’s 13,000 staff members are among them, said Juliette Touma, UNRWA Director of Communications, who is based in Amman, Jordan. She told UN News's Ezzat El-Ferri that despite displacement and loss – of loved ones, neighbours and even colleagues – these “unsung heroes” continue to deliver, even while ...

Poverty a 'pull factor' for child recruitment, early marriage: UN expert

October 10, 2023 15:25 - 24 seconds - 11.5 MB

Poverty and lack of education are pushing boys into joining armed groups and forcing girls to marry way before they should, warns Virginia Gamba, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. Her latest report documents more than 27,000 instances of grave violations against children caught up in war, including use in conflict, killing and maiming, and rape and sexual violence. It also reveals a worrisome rise in attacks against schools, with nearly half carried out by gover...

News in Brief 10 October 2023

October 10, 2023 12:59 - 6 seconds - 4.42 MB

Mental health not a privilege but a ‘fundamental human right’: Guterres Israel/ Palestine: UN urges to spare civilian lives Afghanistan earthquake: humanitarian update

UN agency working round the clock to provide shelter for thousands of Gazans

October 09, 2023 17:27 - 36 seconds - 8.99 MB

Amid ongoing Israeli reprisals in the Occupied Palestinian Territory following Hamas’s massive attack against Israel at the weekend, more than 73,000 people in Gaza have now sought shelter in UN schools there. That’s the latest from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which expects the number of new arrivals to increase, while the violence continues to escalate. With more, here’s UNWRA’s chief of communications Tamara Alrifai, whose been speaki...

Afghanistan: WHO and partners responding to immense needs

October 09, 2023 16:27 - 51 seconds - 1.58 MB

Aftershocks continue to be felt from the deadly earthquake that pummeled parts of western Afghanistan on Saturday, a senior official with the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Monday. Roughly 1,300 people were killed in the disaster, which struck just west of the city of Herat, affecting eight villages. Those injured or otherwise impacted are estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Dr. Alaa Abouzeid, WHO Health Emergency Team Lead in Afghanistan, said some people who were treat...

News in Brief 9 October 2023

October 09, 2023 14:14 - 18 seconds - 6.08 MB

Top rights body observes minutes of silence for Israel/Gaza, Afghanistan Ukraine: “blatant and unabated” violations of human rights continue: UN deputy rights chief Humanitarian funding shortfall to get worse in 2024: UN refugee chief China: rights experts concerned over Hong Kong mass trial, arrests

UNFPA delivers support and dignity for women refugees in Armenia

October 06, 2023 19:16 - 7 seconds - 3.73 MB

Needs are immense among people who fled Karabakh for Armenia, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) reports. The UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency has rushed to support women and girls, helping them to maintain their dignity amidst the chaos of displacement. More than 2,000 pregnant women are among the refugees and UNFPA is also making sure that hospitals and health facilities can assist them, especially with some 230 women set to deliver next month. UN News’s Dianne Penn spoke to Emman...

News in Brief 6 October 2023

October 06, 2023 14:50 - 42 seconds - 6.63 MB

Nobel Peace Prize choice of Narges Mohammadi highlights “courage and determination” of Iranian women: OHCHR Ukraine: UN rights chief condemns deadly strike in Hroza Each day 20,000 children displaced by weather-related disasters: UNICEF Rights expert warns about child sexual abuse risks from “voluntourism”

UNICEF in Armenia creates safe spaces for children from Karabakh

October 05, 2023 22:32 - 29 seconds - 2.98 MB

In one week, more than 100,000 people arrived in Armenia from Karabakh, including around 30,000 children. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is among humanitarian agencies mobilized to help the refugees. UNICEF Representative in Armenia Christine Weigand said children arrive there very tired, hungry and in a state of shock. Their immediate needs are very much linked to health issues. Speaking to UN News’s Anton Uspensky, she explained that in the long run, assistance will be provided to supp...

News in Brief 5 October 2023

October 05, 2023 14:06 - 56 seconds - 6.94 MB

Ban autonomous weapons now, UN and Red Cross chiefs tell countries States ‘can and must do more’ to counter religious hatred: Türk Sudan: humanitarians call for ‘much more’ international solidarity, slam interference from warring parties South Sudan: rights probe calls out media censorship, civil society

‘Huge’ challenges facing sustainable development in Lebanon

October 04, 2023 20:27 - 36 seconds - 15.9 MB

Lebanon’s refugee population is especially vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation campaigns, making navigating the country’s multi-layered humanitarian crises increasingly challenging. That's according to Imran Riza, UN Resident Coordinator in Lebanon, who has overseen the UN humanitarian mission in Lebanon since September last year. He told UN News’ Khaled Mohamed that progress has “regressed incredibly” in the last four years, emphasising the need for increased international su...

News in Brief 4 October 2023

October 04, 2023 14:32 - 22 seconds - 6.17 MB

Global economy a mixed bag, high debt stifles development in poorer countries: UNCTAD World needs millions more teachers but profession deemed ‘unattractive’: UNESCO ‘Stop taking water for granted’: FAO chief India: Nipah virus outbreak latest: WHO

DR Congo: Combatting misinformation in the field

October 03, 2023 14:56 - 45 seconds - 12 MB

Misinformation poses a significant risk to UN peacekeeping. If left unchecked, it damages how the mission is perceived, creates confusion about its role, and puts lives of ‘blue helmets’ in danger. MONUSCO, the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was recently a target of fake news, according to Bintou Keita, head of the operation. She told UN News’ Jerome Bernard what motivates those spreading malicious information, and how the mission is combatting it. But she began...

News in Brief 3 October 2023

October 03, 2023 14:41 - 32 seconds - 6.39 MB

Armenia: urgent health assistance required for Karabakh refugees: WHO ‘We need to stop deaths of people on the move’: IOM, UNHCR chiefs Hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese fleeing Sudan face hunger emergency: WFP Libya: Storm Daniel’s heavy toll on health workers: WHO

Haiti: Multinational mission will reinforce police efforts to end gang violence

October 02, 2023 20:07 - 13 seconds - 12 MB

The UN Security Council took a historic step on Monday by authorizing the deployment of a multinational security mission to help the Haitian police combat rampant gang violence. Kenya has offered to lead the force, which is not a UN operation, and other countries have signalled their participation. Ahead of the Council vote, UN News’s Cristina Silveiro spoke to Ambassador Bob Rae of Canada, Chair of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti. He said the mi...

Karabakh: After the exodus, ‘hidden humanitarian emergency’ unfolds

October 02, 2023 17:13 - 59 seconds - 3.15 MB

After around 100,000 refugees left the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the past few days, there is now a “hidden humanitarian emergency” unfolding across Armenia. That’s according to Joe Lowry a Spokesperson with the UN migration agency IOM based in Vienna, who has been on the ground in Armenia as part of the UN relief operation. He told UN News's Vibhu Mishra that many have lived through a “nightmare” and UN humanitarians are already focusing on the need to support the Armenian Governmen...

We need to think about migrants, not just when they’re stranded at sea: New IOM chief

October 02, 2023 14:22 - 23 seconds - 8.8 MB

Amy Pope took office as the chief of UN migration agency IOM on 1 October, becoming the first woman to lead the organisation. In her very first week on the job, she sat down with UN News’s Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer to talk about a comprehensive view of migration and its causes. She insisted on the urgent need for more regular pathways for people whose lives are uprooted because of poverty, gang violence or climate change. She’s also advocating for a new narrative around the issue, argu...

News in Brief 2 October 2023

October 02, 2023 13:15 - 43 seconds - 5.26 MB

Cities can be key players on the road to sustainability: UN chief New IOM chief pledges to help world ‘harness benefits and promise of migration’ Myanmar: humanitarian needs, landmine threats surge: OCHA

News in Brief 29 September 2023

September 29, 2023 14:32 - 14 seconds - 5.97 MB

Karabakh emergency escalates with tens of thousands pouring into Armenia: UNHCR, UNICEF Sharp rise in number of unaccompanied children crossing Mediterranean: UNICEF South Sudan and Sudan ‘most dangerous’ for aid workers, amid dire needs and underfunding: OCHA Vietnam: UN rights office calls for jailed environmental rights defenders to be set free

Karabakh crisis: ‘People have questions about what will happen to them’

September 29, 2023 13:59 - 10 seconds - 7.13 MB

The refugee emergency in Armenia is escalating as tens of thousands have poured into the country from the Karabakh region in less than a week. UN refugee agency (UNHCR) representative in the country, Kavita Belani, has been on the ground since day one of the crisis. She told UN News’s Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer about the vulnerable people arriving in registration centres, massive accommodation and humanitarian needs, and how UN agencies and partners are working with the Armenian Govern...

News in Brief 28 September 2023

September 28, 2023 16:28 - 34 seconds - 6.44 MB

Karabakh displacement increasing ‘by the hour’: UNHCR chief Indigenous Peoples’ rights must be central to green investments Independent rights experts slam ‘systemic racism’ in US police and justice systems Collective efforts needed to stop wasting food while millions go hungry

News in Brief 27 September 2023

September 27, 2023 15:47 - 31 seconds - 6.36 MB

UN chief calls for investments in sustainable tourism Maritime transport needs to decarbonize ‘as soon as possible’: UNCTAD Cyberbullying can be deadly, requires holistic approach, Human Rights Council hears Regional action needed to address record numbers of people on the move in Central America and Mexico: IOM

News in Brief 26 September 2023

September 26, 2023 14:57 - 21 seconds - 6.14 MB

Peaceful future depends on ending nuclear threat: UN chief Mali’s children in danger: UNICEF Brazil: UN rights office hails ‘encouraging’ ruling on Indigenous Peoples’ land claims Ban smoking and vaping in school, urges WHO

‘Victim-centred approach’ needed in Ukraine when war ends: Top UN rights investigator

September 25, 2023 20:29 - 48 seconds - 5.17 MB

A lot of work is required now on the part of UN and other humanitarians to ease suffering in Ukraine during the on-going Russian invasion, but even more will be needed to help heal trauma once the fighting stops, said the Chair of the UN Human Rights Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry on Monday. Erik Møse said in an interview with UN News, a victim-centred approach was crucial and psychosocial support should be prioritized. The independent investigator was speaking just hours after br...

News in Brief 25 September 2023

September 25, 2023 14:13 - 49 seconds - 6.78 MB

Ukraine: Continued use of torture, rape by Russian troops: rights experts Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant situation still ‘very fragile’: Grossi Chad: Sudan refugee health crisis escalates: WHO Reproductive rights must be respected in crises, say experts

News in Brief 22 September 2023

September 22, 2023 14:10 - 59 seconds - 5.63 MB

Russia rights expert says her mandate is ‘bridge to the Russian people’ India: UN rights chief welcomes new bill to boost women’s representation in parliament Iran: new hijab bill must be shelved: Türk Health care under threat in eastern DRC: WHO

UNGA78: 65% of jobs are going to change by 2030 – LinkedIn executive

September 21, 2023 15:27 - 16 seconds - 5.75 MB

Global business is rethinking the world of work and by 2030 well over half of the jobs we do, will have undergone fundamental change. That’s according to Sarah Steinberg, the Head of Global Public Policy Partnerships at social media platform LinkedIn, who was here at UN Headquarters this week to talk about trends in the job market and gender disparities in science and technology. She told UN News’s Maoqi Li that while change in the workplace has major implications for us all, it doesn't re...

News in Brief 21 September 2023

September 21, 2023 14:50 - 28 seconds - 6.29 MB

Peace is a ‘call to action’: Guterres High seas treaty open for signatures at General Assembly More and more Palestinians displaced by settler violence in occupied West Bank: OCHA Polio outbreak in Ukraine ends: WHO

Iran using UN nuclear watchdog to ‘retaliate’ against criticism: Grossi

September 20, 2023 19:06 - 5 seconds - 8.39 MB

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday that Iran is “restricting” cooperation with his inspection teams over its nuclear programme as a way of retaliating to criticism. Director-General Mariano Grossi spoke to UN News’s Cristina Silveiro about the “complex logic” behind the move to bar multiple inspectors there, the safety of nuclear power plants in Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, and the latest on the Fukushima nuclear wastewater issue.

News in Brief 20 September 2023

September 20, 2023 14:52 - 17 seconds - 6.04 MB

Climate Ambition Summit: UN chief urges governments to ‘hit fast forward’ Armenia/ Azerbaijan: UN reiterates calls for humanitarian access Afghanistan must stop torture of detainees: UNAMA, Türk UN launches star-studded road safety campaign

UNFPA chief envisages world where all pregnancies are wanted, ‘every childbirth is safe’

September 19, 2023 21:26 - 45 seconds - 6.55 MB

As Executive Director of UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, Dr. Natalia Kanem oversees its life-saving policy, development, and humanitarian work in over 120 countries. Speaking as High Level Week got underway, she told UN News’s Pauline Batista that ending gender-based violence means having “full respect for women” which will improve the lives of all.

News in Brief 19 September 2023

September 19, 2023 14:33 - 26 seconds - 4.87 MB

Derna, Libya a ‘sad snapshot’ of the state of our world: UN chief Sudan: Children dying amid health care system collapse ‘Reparatory justice’ for people of African descent must be a priority: Türk

UNGA78: ‘None of us are free until all of us are free’: Ashley Judd

September 18, 2023 19:48 - 36 seconds - 9.09 MB

Acclaimed UN Goodwill Ambassador with reproductive health agency UNFPA, the writer and actor Ashley Judd, is fiercely committed to social justice. She believes that the sexual and reproductive health of girls and women needs to be at the heart of poverty eradication and sustainable development. Just ahead of High Level Week, she told UN News’s Pauline Batista that amidst so much suffering around the world, young people must find their voice, access it, and use it.

News in Brief 18 September 2023

September 18, 2023 14:58 - 16 seconds - 4.64 MB

Transcend divisions, Guterres urges world leaders gathering in New York. Ethiopia: Mass killings and rape continue, risk of further atrocities: rights experts Lampedusa: ‘Real solutions’ needed to refugees’ and migrants’ tragedy: Grandi

News in Brief 15 September 2023

September 15, 2023 16:43 - 2 seconds - 4.33 MB

‘We need a system that delivers for all humanity’: UN chief to G-77 and China Morocco and Libya: UN scales up support in tale of two disasters Saudi Arabia: revoke death penalty for social media activity: rights experts

Libya flood disaster: ‘Massive devastation’ for Derna as UN launches emergency $70m appeal

September 14, 2023 20:47 - 55 seconds - 4.76 MB

UNICEF’s top official in Libya said on Thursday the aid distributed so far following the flood disaster is just a ‘drop in the ocean’ compared to what will be needed in the weeks ahead. Michele Servadei, Libya Representative for the UN Children’s Fund, told UN News’s Khaled Mohamed that the damage caused by that “terrible night” which has left thousands dead and missing, means psychosocial support will be needed as much as other lifesaving supplies. The UN has launched a flash appeal for $...

News in Brief 14 September 2023

September 14, 2023 15:26 - 54 seconds - 4.14 MB

Climate inaction puts lives and sustainable development on the line: WMO Halt sanctions that threaten people's lives and health: Türk New charter on patient safety rights: WHO

Syria crisis is as bad as it’s ever been, warn human rights probe investigators

September 13, 2023 18:59 - 56 seconds - 4.04 MB

The situation for ordinary Syrians is as bad as it’s ever been in the 12-plus years since war erupted there, top UN-appointed human rights investigators have said.A new report from the UN Commission of Inquiry for Syria has highlighted some of the causes: escalating violence along multiple front lines, severe economic woes and persistent human rights violations and abuse. With more, here’s Commissioner Lynn Welchman, talking to UN News’s Daniel Johnson in Geneva.

News in Brief 13 September 2023

September 13, 2023 15:11 - 18 seconds - 4.68 MB

Libya: UN scales up support to victims of deadly floods Over 330 million children worldwide living in extreme poverty: UNICEF, World Bank Uganda: restored royal burial site no longer under threat: UNESCO

News in Brief 12 September 2023

September 12, 2023 15:32 - 7 seconds - 4.42 MB

‘What next for Afghanistan’ with half the population excluded, asks Türk 24 million more could face emergency levels of hunger in 2023: WFP US-Mexico border world’s deadliest migration land route: IOM

Health ‘both an outcome and a driver of sustainable development’

September 12, 2023 15:10 - 40 seconds - 20.2 MB

As global health systems rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic, more must be done to ensure access to adequate and equitable healthcare for all. That’s the message from Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) HIV and Health Group, highlighting the central role that health policy will play at the upcoming UN General Assembly High Level Week. In an interview with UN News’s Jordan Larrabee, she discussed the need to hold international partners accountable, to le...

News in Brief 11 September 2023

September 11, 2023 15:20 - 1 second - 4.28 MB

Türk blasts ‘politics of repression and division’, insists on link between freedom and development Morocco earthquake: UN offers support Sudan: $123 million needed to save rural livelihoods: FAO

Helping Ukrainians stay, critical ahead of winter: IOM deputy chief

September 11, 2023 14:30 - 46 seconds - 14.8 MB

UN migration agency IOM, is working to identify and address what forces people to move when it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General for Operations has told UN News. Returning recently from Moldova and Ukraine, Ms. Daniels shared her reflections with UN News’s Caitlin Kelly on the situation and movement of people across the war-scarred region.

Morocco quake: UN offers support to search and rescue effort

September 09, 2023 18:49 - 14 seconds - 2.57 MB

Nathalie Fustier, UN Resident Coordinator in Morocco, says the UN is ready to assist the Government in any way needed as the huge search and rescue effort continues following Friday night's deadly earthquake. Ms. Fustier spoke to UN News's Reem Abaza from the capital, Rabat.

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