Africa

Nearly 3 dozen countries face food emergencies, UN agency reports

31 May 2004
Thirty-five countries now face serious food shortages, including two dozen in Africa, according to a report released today by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
Families seek safety in towns before night falls

UNICEF chief urges aid to children threatened by kidnapping in north Uganda

28 May 2004
The head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today called for urgent action to alleviate the plight of a million children affected by conflict in northern Uganda, tens of thousands of whom are sent away from their homes every night to avoid kidnapping by rebels.
Map of Somalia

Drought-hit northern Somalia faces looming disaster, UN warns

28 May 2004
Without substantial rains in the next two weeks, northern Somalia could suffer worsening drought conditions that would overtake the current capacity of aid agencies to provide relief, a United Nations official warned today.
Sudanese refugees

Rains in Chad interrupt refugee transfers from Darfur, Sudan, UN agency says

28 May 2004
The United Nations refugee agency got the first indication of how the rainy season could block the transfer of thousands of Sudanese refugees from the insecure Chadian border when two of its teams had to stop driving their vehicles for safety's sake after downpours lasting less than an hour.

Liberian refugees stranded at sea return home by air, UN says

28 May 2004
More than 300 Liberian refugees who were stranded at sea during attempts to repatriate have arrived in Monrovia aboard a plane chartered by the United Nations and a partner agency.

DR of Congo: UN mission tries to calm strife in eastern city

28 May 2004
United Nations peacekeeping patrols in Bukavu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) eastern area, have been reinforced with units drawn from Goma and Kindu as battles rock the city centre for the third day running, the UN mission said today.

UN health agency continues efforts to control Ebola outbreak in Sudan

27 May 2004
The United Nations health agency is working to control an outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease in southern Sudan and is helping authorities in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to alert the local population, increase surveillance and actively search for possible cases.
Hina Jilani

UN expert deeply concerned about human rights situation in Darfur, Sudan

27 May 2004
A United Nations expert today voiced deep concern about the situation of human rights defenders working in the Darfur region of Sudan and urged the country's Government to ensure their protection.
Kofi Annan

Concerned at situation in Darfur, Sudan, Annan stands ready to support mediation

27 May 2004
Concerned over the grave humanitarian and human rights crisis in the Darfur region of western Sudan, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan plans to support efforts to mediate a settlement, a UN spokesperson said today.

UN aid agencies ready to assist Sudan as peace process moves forward

27 May 2004
Following the signing of protocols aimed at ending over two decades of war between the Sudanese Government and rebels in the south, United Nations agencies today pledged assistance to the country's beleaguered people.