General News

The number of civilians killed or wounded in Afghanistan has risen by 25 per cent in the first six months of 2014, according to a report by the UN mission in the country UNAMA.

The report reveals that the increase was caused by intensified fighting near populated areas.

The rise in violence comes ahead of the planned withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year.

Patrick Maigua asked UNAMA’s Georgette Gagnon about the main findings of the report.

Duration: 4'38"

A simple rack for drying fish is changing the lives of women in Burundi for the better.

Before the introduction of the racks by the Food and Agriculture Organization in 2004, a large proportion of the fish caught in Lake Tanganyika along the shores of Burundi was wasted.

That impacted both the livelihoods of local people and the availability of nutritious food.

Ten years later the technology has been adopted across East Africa.

Refugee children in Africa are facing what has been described as a “catastrophic nutrition situation” following a cut in food rations.

The UN has warned that funding difficulties, compounded by security and logistical problems in some countries, have forced cuts in food rations for nearly 800,000 refugees in nine African countries.

It could worsen already unacceptable levels of acute malnutrition, stunting and anaemia, particularly in children.

Don Murray reports

Duration: 3’12”

Concern has been raised by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) over the increasing number of asylum seekers who are being deported from countries where they are hoping for refuge.

In the past week, there have been reports of asylum seekers being deported from Sudan, Australia and Thailand.

UNHCR says the trend is worrying as some of those sent back were not given the opportunity to have their claims assessed in accordance with the necessary procedural and legal safeguards.

As the football World Cup reaches its climax in Brazil, the value of sport in bringing people together is being recognised by the United Nations.

In Kosovo, the UN Mission, UNMIK, is highlighting the link between sport and peace with a number of activities.

The goal is to promote reconciliation, build confidence, and foster peace among communities.

Rrita Qena has this report.

Duration: 3’30”

The United Nations has released what it has described as “the most up-to-date global scorecard” on poverty eradication.

The 2014 Report on Millennium Development Goals (or MDGs) charts progress on the eight poverty reduction targets which were agreed by world leaders ahead of the year 2000.

The deadline for the attainment of the MDGs is 2015.

Sophie Outhwaite reports.

Duration: 2'31"

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A pledging conference to support global education has recently raised a record $ 28.5 billion from both donor and developing countries.

The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) held its second Replenishment Pledging Conference in Brussels, the capital of Belgium on 25 and 26 June.

The additional funds will help increase education resources for tens of millions of children from 60 developing countries.

The vulnerability of countries to the threat of nuclear terrorism is under the spotlight this week at the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Experts from around the world are discussing how nuclear forensic techniques can be used in the fight against illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material.

There are fears that this material can be smuggled or stolen by terrorists and used to make bombs.

Steve Thachet has been speaking to Khammar Mrabit, the Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security.

Ships operating in the North and South Poles will have to follow a mandatory international code of safety being developed by a UN agency.

The Polar Code is being drafted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

It covers all aspects of polar navigation for international shipping including design, construction, equipment, seafarer training, search and rescue protocols and environmental protection matters.

Lee Adamson is from the IMO.

Daniel Dickinson asked him why the Polar Code is necessary.

The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, says it’s “absolutely crucial” that funds are provided to support programmes for Syrian refugees.

As the conflict in Syria continues, it’s expected that the number of refugees in the region will reach 3.6 million by the end of the year.

UNHCR fears the consequences of not funding programmes would be dire.

It could mean an increase of violence against women and children, the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable people and increased malnutrition rates due to reduced food rations.