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Navin Pato Patterson

Volcanic eruption leaves ‘entire population’ of Saint Vincent without clean water 

12 April 2021
Humanitarian Aid

Last week’s eruption of La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, has left the entire population of the main island without clean water and electricity, the UN Spokesperson said on Monday. 

© UNICEF/John Vink

COVID complicates efforts to shut down drug traffickers, boost development

12 April 2021
Law and Crime Prevention

The growing complexities of the world drug problem are hampering efforts to achieve sustainable development by the end of the decade: a situation which the COVID-19 pandemic has only compounded, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said on Monday. 

Photo: OPCW

‘Reasonable grounds’ to believe Syrian military helicopter deployed chemical weapon: OPCW

12 April 2021
Peace and Security

A report released on Monday by the body dedicated to freeing the world of chemical weapons, concludes that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that a Syrian military helicopter carried out a chemical attack on the town of Saraqib, in 2018.

© UNICEF/Chansereypich Seng

COVID ‘long way from over’ as cases and deaths surge – WHO

12 April 2021
Health

The COVID-19 pandemic is “a long way from over” but there are many reasons to be optimistic and it’s possible the pandemic can be brought under control “within months”, the head of the UN health agency said on Monday. 

MONUSCO/Alain Likota

Great Lakes Region ‘on the right track’ to tackling political and other challenges

12 April 2021
Peace and Security

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries in Africa’s Great Lakes region are “on the right track”, with leaders pushing forward on political, security and economic cooperation, UN Special Envoy Huang Xia told the Security Council on Monday.  

Unsplash/Roberto Catarinicchia

UK armed forces bill would limit war crimes accountability: UN rights chief

12 April 2021
Human Rights

Legislation under consideration in the UK regarding armed forces personnel could limit accountability for war crimes if it is passed in its current form, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Monday.

© FAO/ C. Marinheiro

Guterres calls for ‘paradigm shift’ to recover from COVID setbacks

12 April 2021
Economic Development

A “paradigm shift” aligning the private sector with the global goals is needed to address the challenges of the future, including those triggered by COVID-19, the UN chief said on Monday, addressing the Financing for Development (FfD) Forum. 

NASA/Johnson

First ever human space flight signalled 'new era for humanity'

12 April 2021
SDGs

The United Nations is marking the International Day of Human Space Flight on Monday, celebrating the achievements of astronauts who are “stretching the boundaries” of where civilization can go, beyond the stratosphere. 

Thiri Myat

Myanmar violence ‘must cease immediately’: UN agencies

12 April 2021
Peace and Security

The UN Country Team in Myanmar on Monday, reiterated its call for an end to violence against civilians, amid reports of dozens of deaths in the latest crackdown on protests against the military takeover. 

UN Photo/Stuart Price

Somalia: ‘Prioritize the national interest’ international partners urge, as political stalemate continues

11 April 2021
Peace and Security

The UN and international partners working to support a lasting peace and democratic election process across Somalia, said on Sunday that they were highly concerned by the current situation there, calling on Somali leaders to “prioritize the national interest” and resolve their political impasse.