News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

NEW YORK - Environmental degradation could undermine local and international security by reinforcing and increasing grievances within and between societies, the United Nations Environment Protection Agency (UNEP) has said, marking the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the…

3 November 2011 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed that establishing peace in Afghanistan will strengthen stability in the entire region and lauded regional efforts to find ways to enhance security in the Asian country as it prepares for the transition with the pull out of foreign forces…

9 November 2011 (IRIN) - Resettlement challenges in Afghanistan have discouraged refugees living in neighbouring countries from going home, with 60,000 returning in the past 10 months against 100,000 during the same period last year, officials said. IRIN News "The most important [reasons] relate to…

KABUL - The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) chief today reiterated that the agency’s work in Afghanistan is purely humanitarian in a visit meant to honour staff killed in last week’s attack in the southern city of Kandahar. “We are strictly a humanitarian, non-political organization. Our…

KABUL - Commemorating World Diabetes Day, WHO and the Minister of Public Health (MoPH) of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, stressed the importance of informing Afghans about preventing diabetes symptoms and seeking help through the public health service sector. Recognizing the importance of the…

NEW YORK - An Afghan women’s rights campaigner and a Palestinian peace activist are the winners of a United Nations award recognizing their outstanding contributions to the promotion of tolerance and non-violence, the UN announced today. Anarkali Honaryar, defender of the rights of women and…

NEW YORK - Civilians are bearing the brunt of conflict in several countries, the United Nations top humanitarian official said today, reminding parties to such disputes of the their obligation under international humanitarian law to respect non-combatants and to protect them from harm. Valerie Amos…

NEW YORK - Increasing economic and social disparities pose a threat to children’s rights, Secretary-General Bank Ki-moon said today, stressing that much more needs to be done to safeguard millions of young people around the world. “There is great concern throughout the world about increasing…

NEW YORK - Innovative agricultural approaches will be crucial to respond to increasing competition for water and energy resources, said the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), calling for more integrated planning and policies that protect small farmers and promote sustainable…

18 November 2011 - From rooftops to railroad tracks, Asia's largest cities will need to maximize every bit of space to feed one of the world's fastest-growing populations, said experts at a UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) workshop in Bangkok on resilient food systems in Asia. IRIN "Food…

19 November 2011 - The United Nations independent expert on access to water and sanitation as a human right today urged States to allocate more resources to improving sanitation and promote efficient use of existing hygiene facilities, stressing that people are entitled to decent toilets. UN News…

21 November 2011 - The General Assembly called today on countries to reiterate and scale up their support for Afghanistan during its transition period, and outlined six major areas the country should focus on to ensure its long-term stability and progress. UN News Centre In a resolution adopted…