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1,500 Africans drown crossing the Mediterranean in 2011

2011 has been the deadliest year for Africans crossing the Mediterranean to flee to Europe, according to the UN’s refugee agency.

UNHCR estimates that more than 1,500 people drowned or went missing while attempting to cross the sea.

The actual number of deaths at sea may be even higher, the agency adds.

Jocelyne Sambira reports.

Duration: 2'24"

Human Rights Office worried former Haiti leader will escape human rights charges

Former Haitian leader Jean-Claude Duvalier could only face trial for financial corruption charges during his regime and not human rights violations, a move which concerns the UN Human Rights Office.

Spokesman Rupert Colville said local and international human rights groups have well-documented evidence that torture, rape and extrajudicial killings occurred during Mr. Duvalier’s regime.

Charles Appel reports.

Duration:  1'48"

World food prices down, but Africa still a concern

World food prices fell in the last three months of 2011, but they’re still 24 per cent higher than they were in 2010.

That’s according to the World Bank which released its latest Food Price Watch report on Tuesday in Washington DC.

And while the trend in some parts of the world is positive, there are concerns about West and East Africa.

Daniel Dickinson reports.

Duration:  3'15"

Security Council to take up draft resolution on Syria

A major diplomatic effort is due to get underway at the UN Security Council on Tuesday to try to stop an ongoing conflict in Syria.

The UN estimates up to 5,000 people have been killed in a struggle to oust incumbent president Bashar al-Assad.

Senior government leaders from across the world are descending in New York in efforts to bring to an end months of bloodshed.  Dianne Penn reports.

Duration: 2'53"

Sustainable development planet’s best chance for survival

A group of global policy makers examining ways to combat challenges such as climate change, water scarcity and human consumption patterns, has presented its findings to the UN Secretary-General.

Ban Ki-moon received the report by the High Level Panel on Global Sustainability in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday.

The report—“Resilient People, Resilient Planet”—says that these are the best of times and the worst of times for Planet Earth.

Dianne Penn reports.

Duration: 2'21"

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North Korea, a “humanitarian basket case”

North Korea has been described as a humanitarian basket case by a senior UN official.

The isolated Asian country has recently undergone a change in leadership with the international community hoping that it will open up and address human rights issues.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the country, Marzuki Darusman has just finished a visit to nearby Japan…he wasn’t allowed into North Korea or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as it’s officially known.

Patrick Maigua asked Mr Darusman if change is underway.

Earthquakes claimed more lives in 2011 natural disasters

Earthquakes were the biggest killers in natural disasters last year, according to a report published on Wednesday.

According to statistics released by the UN, there were 302 major disasters in 2011.

The disasters last year claimed the lives of approximately 30,000 people, affected 206 million people and inflicted economic damages worth $366 billion.

Derrick Mbatha reports.

Duration: 3'34"

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$300 million needed to help Gaza and West Bank

Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the West Bank continue to depend on outside help to survive.

The UN Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has appealed for just over $300 million to continue its projects in the territories.

UNRWA says three years after the end of a sustained Israeli attack on Gaza, the humanitarian needs of the people there remain widespread and acute.

Derrick Mbatha reports.

Duration: 2'59"

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