UN relief official calls for sustained aid and livelihood support in Somalia
12 May 2012
A senior United Nations relief official today urged the international community to build on the effective delivery of aid that helped roll back last year's famine in Somalia, noting that about 2.5 million people in the Horn of Africa country remain in need of humanitarian support.
Global jobs crisis expected to continue for some time, warns UN report
30 April 2012
The global employment situation is alarming, says a new United Nations report released today, which also warns that recovery is not expected any time soon.
WFP resumes airlifts of emergency food in Mali
20 April 2012
The World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that the airlift of emergency food had resumed in Mali, where an estimated 1.2 million people are in need of assistance.
UN trade meeting to focus on ‘development-centred globalization’
20 April 2012
On the eve of a major United Nations ministerial conference on international trade and development, a senior UN official today said the event is taking place at a turning point during which leaders of the global community must step forward to lead the world out of “round after round of financial crisis.”
UN food agency warns of looming health threats in Europe and Central Asia
18 April 2012
On the eve of a regional conference set to begin in Azerbaijan, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is warning that obesity and diet-related illnesses could emerge as major challenges for Europe and Central Asia, while hunger will only be a minor problem.
Urgent action needed to address ‘cascading crisis’ in Africa’s Sahel region – Ban
17 April 2012
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the global community to act quickly to address what he described as a “cascading crisis” sweeping the Sahel region of West Africa, where 15 million people have been affected by the drought and conflict-related crisis in the area.
Ban welcomes European Union’s energy access initiative for developing countries
16 April 2012
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed a new European Union (EU) initiative designed to assist developing countries in providing access to sustainable energy to their populations.
Africa and Asia to lead urban population growth in next 40 years – UN report
05 April 2012
Africa and Asia together will account for 86 per cent of all growth in the world’s urban population over the next four decades, the United Nations said today, adding that this unprecedented increase will pose new challenges in terms of jobs, housing and infrastructure.
United Kingdom to give $25 million to UN-led programme to help empower farmers
04 April 2012
The United Kingdom today signed an agreement with the United Nations food agency to donate $25 million to support a partnership programme that will improve agricultural data available to governments and farmers in developing countries.
New mandate will strengthen engagement in Afghanistan – UN envoy
28 March 2012
The United Nations envoy in Afghanistan said today that the recently renewed mandate of the world body’s mission in the country lends itself to stronger engagement with the Government and society at large to advance peace, development and a host of other goals.
New UN partnership seeks to advance HIV/AIDS response across Africa
28 March 2012
The United Nations has teamed up with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency to advance sustainable responses to HIV/AIDS, health and development across the continent.
UN official: ‘race against time’ to avert disaster in Africa’s drought-stricken Sahel
28 March 2012
The food and nutrition crisis facing countries in West Africa’s drought-prone Sahel region has continued to deteriorate at an alarming rate despite commendable early response efforts by governments and international aid agencies, a senior United Nations official said today.
Investing in agriculture most effective way to eradicate poverty in Africa – UN
26 March 2012
With the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) just three years away, a senior United Nations official today emphasized that spending on agriculture is the most effective type of investment for halting poverty in Africa.
Sustainable development efforts of 25 grassroots groups win UN-backed prize
23 March 2012
Twenty-five local community projects – ranging from a wildlife sanctuary in Bangladesh to a medicinal plants farm in Brazil, a land and water conservation group in Morocco to a reforestation and farming initiative in Ethiopia – are the winners of a United Nations-backed partnership prize for promoting local sustainable development solutions.
Looking to Rio+20, world must act on sustainable development, says UN forum
23 March 2012
The international community must “reset the global development agenda” and strengthen its commitment to sustainable development, a United Nations-backed conference in Istanbul heard today.
UN agency outlines steps to boost support to young Palestinian refugees
20 March 2012
The United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees today unveiled 10 commitments through which it will strengthen support to and better engage young refugees, as it wrapped up a two-day conference held in Brussels.
UN refugee agency steps up assistance to thousands uprooted by Mali conflict
20 March 2012
The United Nations refugee agency is increasing its assistance to the tens of thousands of Malians who have been uprooted by the fighting between the army and Tuareg rebels, including providing shelter, clean water, and healthcare to camps in neighbouring countries.
UN-led initiative harnesses partnerships to tackle water and sanitation challenges
16 March 2012
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has facilitated the formation of a global platform to unite local actors to solve water and sanitation challenges, including encouraging water authorities in developed countries to support the improvement of services in poorer regions through donations.
Annual UN population prize awarded to US advocate and Malaysian NGO
16 March 2012
A reproductive health advocate from the United States and a Malaysian non-governmental organization (NGO) specializing in family planning and sexual health will be this year’s recipients of the annual United Nations Population Award, it was announced today.
Disaster stalking children in Africa’s drought-prone Sahel region, warns UNICEF
16 March 2012
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is warning that more than a million children below the age of five in the Sahel are facing a disaster amid the ongoing food crisis in the drought-prone region of Africa.