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MINUSTAH destroys boats seized in drug bust operation in the south of Haiti

UN mission in Haiti joins national police force in drug bust operation

30 December 2008
United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti and the country’s police force have seized 50 kilograms of cannabis in the first joint drugs bust of its kind in the impoverished Caribbean nation.
John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

UN emergency response fund this year reaches its $450 million target for first time

30 December 2008
The United Nations emergency relief fund, set up to speed response to those suffering from natural and man-made disasters, has reached its $450 million annual funding target for the first time, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced today.
MONUC is taking action to protect civilians following the LRA attacks

Ban denounces ‘appalling atrocities’ by Ugandan rebels in DR Congo

30 December 2008
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the “appalling atrocities” reportedly committed by the Ugandan rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and southern Sudan, and demanded that they respect all rules of international humanitarian law.
A Moment Passing, 2008, acrylic on canvas, painting by Lisa Ruyter

UN nuclear agency meetings inspire American artist

30 December 2008
Many artists draw inspiration in nature, but the latest works of American painter Lisa Ruyter have been impelled in an unlikely place: the meetings of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governor’s meetings.
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah

UN envoy lauds ‘courageous’ decision of Somali President to step down

29 December 2008
The top United Nations envoy to Somalia today called for unity and solidarity among all the people of the strife-torn nation in the wake of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed’s resignation from office, which he called a “patriotic and courageous” decision.
An Afghan returnee receives UNHCR winter supplies in Kabul.

Over 200,000 vulnerable Afghans to receive winter aid from UN agency

29 December 2008
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners have started to deliver supplies to help an estimated 200,000 Afghan returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) get through the country’s harsh winter.
Richard Bennett of the human rights office (OHCHR) in Nepal (file Photo)

Senior UN official in Nepal urges authorities to arrest killers of local businessman

29 December 2008
The top United Nations human rights official in Nepal pressed its Government today to bring justice for a local businessman murdered by members of the Maoist army earlier this year.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right), joined by USG John Holmes addresses press conference

Israel and Hamas must halt violence; humanitarian supplies must enter Gaza – Ban

29 December 2008
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today demanded that Israel and Hamas halt their acts of violence, take all necessary measures to avoid civilian casualties, and that Israel keep open all border crossings necessary for the continued provision of humanitarian supplies to Gaza.

UN de-mining programme in Cyprus threatened by lack of funds, endangering lives

29 December 2008
A United Nations-backed landmine clearing operation in Cyprus is in danger of folding next month before its work in de-mining the buffer zone on the island is complete, risking the lives of the local population.
UNAMID Forces in El Fasher, North Darfur

Military officer with UN-African Union force in Darfur dies after car-jacking

29 December 2008
A military officer serving with the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) died today, after being shot in the leg two days ago during a car-jacking in the strife-torn Sudanese region.