This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme, launched in 2003 to prevent the use of diamonds to finance conflicts in Africa.
UN Radio’s Derrick Mbatha (I) sat down with Ambassador Welile Nhlapho of South Africa, the outgoing Chairperson of the Kimberly process who recently presented his final report to the General Assembly.
Tens of thousands are still living in schools, churches and other public buildings since Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines a little over a month ago.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was recently in the country on a 3-day visit to increase support for a massive recovery plan in the works.
The UN estimates that over 15 million people have been affected by the disaster. Tacloban City in central Philippines is one of the worst-hit areas.
Jocelyne Sambira reports.
Duration: 3'30"
The United Nations remains concerned about the situation in South Sudan where fighting has broken out between government and rebel forces.
The situation is reported to be tense as government forces prepare to retake the town of Bor in Jonglei State which was seized by rebellious troops last week.
Thousands of people have been displaced by the fighting between the Dinka and Nuer communities in the new nation.
South Sudan’s capital city Juba is increasingly becoming deserted as tensions escalate between rival factions in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA).
An estimated 40,000 civilians are being sheltered at UN bases across the country as fighting spreads.
Upper Nile and Upper Unity States –which both border Ethiopia -are the latest to be affected by the unrest.
Joseph Contreras, Acting Spokesperson for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) briefed UN Radio’s Jocelyne Sambira on the extent of the crisis.
Duration: 4’17’’
As fighting between rival members of the army continues in South Sudan, the United Nations is deeply concerned about this situation.
On Friday, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has strongly condemned the unprovoked attack on its base in the town of Akobo in Jonglei State on Thursday in which at least 11 people were killed.
UNMISS has also confirmed that two of its Indian Battalion soldiers were killed and one wounded in the attack.
Derrick Mbatha reports
Duration: 4'54"
Improving hygiene through use of latrines and hand washing with soap and water, protecting water sources from contamination remain key challenges for Cambodia.
Patrick Maigua reports.
According to the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF), less than one in three Cambodians have access to latrines and hand washing facilities, one of the lowest rates in Southeast Asia.
Nearly 70 per cent of Cambodia's rural population-roughly 6.4 million people still practice open defecation as their principle sanitation option.
The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday held a special meeting to honour Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who passed away on 5 December.
Dignitaries, personalities, and staff of the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN attended the event.
Derrick Mbatha reports.
Duration: 4'28"
Fighting in Bangui has stopped and the situation is improving, according to the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in the Central African Republic (CAR).
Driving on the streets of capital city on Thursday, Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye described the scene before him over the phone to UN Radio.
CAR has been thrown into turmoil since Séléka rebels launched attacks a year ago and forced President François Bozizé to flee in March.
Although things were returning to normal in Bangui, he told Jocelyne Sambira, the situation was not “irreversible”.
The Security Council met on Wednesday to discuss combating drug trafficking in West Africa and the Sahel.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Council that around the world, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime threaten security, undermine respect for the rule of law and jeopardizes peace and stability.
He said that in a growing number of countries, organized criminal networks also fuel the activities of terrorist and extremist groups.
Derrick Mbatha reports.
Duration: 3'28"
The international community is being asked to take decisive action and save lives of migrants caught in crisis, as the world observes International Migrants Day on 18 December.
The United Nations estimates that there are 232 million migrants globally who have left their homes in search of a better life.
In his message for the International Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said migration is a powerful tool for reducing poverty and urged people and Governments to reject xenophobia and embrace migration.
