General News

Dozens of life-saving clinics in Iraq are set to close within days unless US$60 million is found to keep them open, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.

A total of 77 health facilities which provide the majority of medical care in conflict-affected areas are at risk as the month-end deadline approaches, the UN agency’s Christian Lindmeier warned.

The WHO spokesperson told Daniel Johnson that the more than three million displaced people in Iraq desperately need medical help amid soaring summer temperatures as high as 50C and a rise in disease.

The decision by warring parties to sign a peace deal in Mali in which there’s to be accountability for serious rights violations is the best chance of restoring the country’s fortunes, the UN said Tuesday.

Ravina Shamdasani from the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it was satisfied that a “blanket amnesty” had not been offered as part of the deal.

The Syrian conflict shows no signs of stopping while terrible human rights abuses continue unabated, UN investigators said Tuesday.

Paulo Pinheiro, who’s heading a UN probe into the war, accused government and rebel forces of what he called “seemingly deliberate” decision to put civilians in harm’s way.

More than five years into the conflict, the investigator told the UN Human Rights Council that the situation is a “profound failure” for the international community.

Widows in Nepal continue to be rejected by their communities as they are seen as bad luck, according to the founder of a non-profit organization called “Women for Human Rights” which addresses single women’s issues.

Lily Thapa has been advocating for their rights for 20 years.

Her organization is a partner of UN Women, the United Nations agency for gender equality.

The people of Afghanistan are expected to remain resilient and hopeful for the future in the face of increased terrorist attacks, according to the UN’s most senior official in the country.

Fighting in the northern city of Kunduz and an attack on the Afghan Parliament are the most recent examples of the deterioration in the security situation there.

As cross border trading in the Asia and the Pacific region grows, laws need to be put into place to give businesses in developing countries better access to justice, for services such as international commercial arbitration.

That’s according to the Head of the Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific of the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

João Ribeiro made the comments during a visit to Canberra, the capital of Australia.

It is absolutely clear that Afghanistan continues to need the support of the international community, according to the Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA).

Nicholas Haysom was briefing the UN Security Council on Monday on the situation in Afghanistan, which is working to restore stability after years of foreign military occupation and civil wars.

Refugees from South Sudan are pouring into Sudan at a rate of 300 a day according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Around 30,000 people have fled fighting in areas of Upper Nile State close to the border since mid-May.

The conflict in South Sudan is continuing as government forces battle with rebels loyal to the former Vice-President of the country.

Sebit William has been speaking to UNHCR’s Nicolas Brass, who’s based in Khartoum.

Women have too little influence in the big decisions that affect them despite a landmark pledge at the Beijing summit two decades ago, according to veteran activist Shirin Akhter.

It’s why the Bangladeshi campaigner supports a UN twitter campaign using the #reflect2protect hashtag.

Yoga has an important role to play in the “overall well-being” of people according to the UN’s World Health Organization.

The first ever International Day of Yoga is being celebrated at the United Nations on Sunday.

It’s an ancient technique which originated in India and which is now practiced across the world by millions of people.

Dr Nata Menabde is the Executive Director of the World Health Organization office to the United Nations.