General News

More than one million people in conflict-affected areas of northeast Nigeria have received food aid or cash since the beginning of the month, the World Food Programme (WFP) reports.

The UN agency describes this achievement as a “milestone,” but warns that it still lacks necessary funding to assist more people in need.

Northeast Nigeria has been devastated by years of insecurity due to the operations of the terrorist group Boko Haram, and WFP has ramped up efforts in the region.

Two UN human rights experts have welcomed the decision by the United States to dismantle what they viewed as a “discriminatory” counter-terrorism measure.

The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) was adopted following the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001.

Under the system, non-citizens from 25 countries were required to register with the US authorities.

More than 300 attacks against humanitarians occurred in the Central African Republic this year, with five aid workers losing their lives in the line of duty.

That information comes from the UN humanitarian affairs office in the country which reports that there has been a resurgence in attacks in the final months of 2016.

Isabelle Dupuis has been speaking to bureau chief Joseph Inganji.

Duration: 2’39

A filmmaker has been speaking at the UN about the “untold story” of 850,000 Jewish refugees who fled from Arab countries in the late 1940s.

Vivienne Roumani is the creator of “The Last Jews of Libya”, a documentary about one Jewish family forced to leave the North African country, due to persecution.

Andita Listyarini spoke to Ms Roumani about her work and what inspired her to make the film.

Duration: 4'02"

The key to Africa’s future development lies in outer space, according to the head of a UN-affiliated space science institute on the continent.

Dr Ganiyu Agbajea said space technology such as satellite imagery can provide a clearer picture of Africa’s natural resources which can then be used, for example, in environmental protection efforts.

Dr Agbajea is Executive Director of the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education which is based in Nigeria.

Students from 24 English-speaking African countries are enrolled there.

More than 50,000 children have been displaced by the ongoing operation to liberate the Iraqi city of Mosul from the terrorist group, ISIL, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported.

The agency and its partners are supporting children who have escaped the area by ensuring that their basic needs are met and that they are protected.

The Iraqi military and its allies launched the Mosul offensive in mid-October.

The city had been in the hands of the extremists since 2014.

Global leaders are being urged to stop dividing the world into “us” and “them.”

That is the message from outgoing UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson who says farewell to the organization at the end of this year.

Mr Eliasson has held the UN’s second highest post for nearly five years and his accomplishments include contributing to the negotiations for the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by world leaders in 2015.

Syrian refugees in Lebanon are at their most vulnerable and need the most assistance during the winter months, according to a representative from the UN’s Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in the region.

Many of them have settled in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, where the heavy rain and cold temperatures during winter, makes it difficult just to stay warm.

In 2015, a UNHCR survey found that 70 percent of refugee households are now living below the poverty line.

Priyanka Shankar has more.

Duration:4’56”

Lack of education and poverty pushes people into forced labour and slavery according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Almost 21 million people are victims of forced labour, the UN agency says.

They are either trafficked or are forced to take jobs in order to repay their debts.

Priyanka Shankar spoke to ILO’s Houtan Homayounpour about modern day slavery.

Duration: 4’58”

The international community has expressed grave concern over Somalia’s electoral process, the first in more than four decades.

This follows a recent decision by national and regional leaders to expand the number of seats in the Upper House of parliament beyond 54, as stipulated under the provisional constitution.

Furthermore, the UN and its partners are also worried that the number of seats in parliament reserved exclusively for women candidates is below the agreed level of 30 per cent.