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IMF

More wealthy people seeking residency in “desirable” countries

More and more people are using their wealth to acquire residency or citizenship in countries that are considered more “desirable”.

That’s according to two experts from the International Monetary Fund who have written about the trend in which people buy properties or make investments that allow them to gain legal status in more developed countries.

Bruce Edwards spoke to Judith Gold and Ahmed El-Ashram from the IMF about the phenomenon.

Duration: 4’38"

UNICEF/Shehzad Noorani

Cost of keeping HIV-sufferers alive putting countries in debt

The cost of keeping those suffering from HIV alive is putting some countries, most notably in Africa, in insurmountable debt.

Far more people with HIV are now living longer, thanks to new antiretroviral drug treatments.

But experts warn that the cost of treating those people is putting many countries in sub-Saharan Africa at risk of unsustainable debt levels.

Mark Betancourt spoke with Sir Paul Collier, a Professor at the University of Oxford and asked him to explain how the funding for antiretroviral treatment works.

Duration: 4’39”

UNICEF/Tomislav Georgiev

Refugee crisis unlikely to recede in early 2016: UNHCR spokesperson

The refugee crisis which has seen nearly 4.4 million Syrians flee their homes is unlikely to recede in the New Year.

That’s according to Melissa Fleming, the senior spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency.

With thousands of refugees and migrants still crossing the Mediterranean each day looking for a safe haven in Europe, she said that only an end to conflict would stem the flow.

Matthew Wells spoke to Ms Fleming, and began by asking her to describe the risks refugees are continuing to take.

UN Photo/Stuart Price

“Responsive” UN force helps keep the peace in Darfur

The security situation in Darfur has stabilized over the past two years, according to the Force Commander at the joint African Union/United Nations operation there, known as UNAMID.

However, Lieutenant General Paul Mella says peacekeepers continue to face numerous challenges including armed attacks as they carry out their core mandate of protecting millions of internally displaced people (IDPs).

Joshua Mmali caught up with the Tanzanian official who leaves the mission this month.

Duration: 4’16”

UNMEER/Martine Perret

Guinea marks “important milestone” with end of Ebola transmission

The Ebola outbreak in Guinea has ended, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday.

This is an “important milestone,” according to the UN agency, as the first infection of the disease started in the West African country two years ago this month.

Guinea was one of three countries in the region hardest hit by Ebola, which has killed more than 11,000 people.

The others were Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Mamadou Alpha Diallo has been speaking with WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević .

WHO/Yemen

Rising global humanitarian needs require “tremendous” funding

The amount of money required to meet global humanitarian needs in 2016 is “tremendous,” according to the man heading up the World Humanitarian Summit to be held in Turkey next May.

The UN and other partners recently launched its annual humanitarian appeal, asking for nearly US$20 billion.

Antoine Gérard is Chief of the World Humanitarian Summit, which he says will focus not only on resource mobilization, but also on how to most effectively use humanitarian aid.

Veronica Reeves has been speaking with Mr Gérard about the increasing needs worldwide.

UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Risk of conflict high without “free and fair” elections in central Africa

With several countries in central Africa due to hold elections in 2016, the need for “free and fair” electoral processes is being emphasized.

UN officials in the region have warned about the possibility of conflict if planned elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and Burundi do not go well.

Veronica Reeves spoke with Abdoulaye Bathily, the head of the UN’s regional office for Central Africa about his priorities for the next year.

Duration: 2’47”

Global temperature rise bound to affect human health

Human health is bound to suffer if global warming goes beyond the limits agreed in December at the Paris climate change conference.

That’s the view of Jörg Hacker, a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board.

At the climate summit, Mr Hacker spoke to Cristina Silveiro, who asked him to forecast how human health would be affected by extra carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

Duration: 4’03”