News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

Farming near the ceasefire lines inside the UN buffer zone is strictly prohibited and risks provoking tensions. No farmer is ever granted permission to work near the ceasefire lines, such actions jeopardise the safety and security of both civilians and UN peacekeepers. Earlier today a farmer damaged…

New York, 31 December 2024 Throughout 2024, hope has been hard to find. Wars are causing enormous pain, suffering and displacement. Inequalities and divisions are rife — fueling tensions and mistrust. And today I can officially report that we have just endured a decade of deadly heat. The top ten 10…

On 4 March, young women and men from across the divide gathered in Ledra Palace Hotel to engage in a dialogue on gender bias and explore innovative ideas to advance women's rights across the island. The workshop, held just days ahead of International Women’s Day, served as a platform for discussing…

In a world where youth voices are often sidelined, the UN Youth Champions for Environment and Peace program shines as a powerful example of what happens when young people are given the opportunity to lead, connect, and act. For Ioanna Phanaris, based in Nicosia, Cyprus, the program has been nothing…

In the heart of Nicosia, where the city is shaped by both history and hope, Metça Kemancıoğlu has been quietly weaving threads of environmental awareness and peacebuilding into the fabric of his community. As a participant in the UN Youth Champions for Environment and Peace programme, Metça’s…

Young Cypriot activist, Eleftherios Charalambous is making waves through his passionate commitment to environmental protection and peacebuilding. As a participant in the UN Youth Champions for Environment and Peace program, Eleftherios has found both a community of like-minded individuals and a…

Halef Kurt, a Cypriot peace activist, is helping shape a vision for a more peaceful and sustainable Cyprus. As one of the UN Youth Champions, Halef represents a generation committed to dismantling barriers—both environmental and societal—through meaningful, interdisciplinary action. Halef first…

On 27 May, just before International Day of Peacekeepers this week, UNFICYP held a skills competition organized to ensure that peacekeepers remain agile and ready to deploy at short notice. Despite the soaring temperature, the first competition of 2025 was successfully concluded, showcasing the…

This morning, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus, Colin Stewart, accompanied by UNFICYP’s senior leadership and peacekeepers from its military, police, and civilian components, held a solemn event at the Ledra Palace Hotel to pay tribute to the work of peacekeepers in…

On June 2, 50 participants gathered in Ledra Palace Hotel inside the UN buffer zone, to join a conversation facilitated by UNFICYP and environment experts on water scarcity affecting the island. This event, held as part of several activities organized to mark World Environment Day, brought together…

On 16 June, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), in collaboration with the Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Centre, successfully hosted an insightful event on bicommunal economic cooperation and joint investments at the Ledra Palace Hotel. The event featured the presentation of the…

Are you 18 to 30 years old and want to learn about environmental peacebuilding? Do you want to develop and implement an action to address environmental issues in an intercommunal team? Then this is your opportunity to become part of the inspiring network of the UN Youth Champions for Environment and…