Africa

Somali refugee children at Dadaab, Kenya, where WFP is providing emergency food aid.
WFP/Rose Ogola

Funding shortage forces UN to reduce food rations for refugees in northern Kenya

31 October 2013
Two United Nations humanitarian agencies announced today that they will be forced to reduce food rations for more than half a million refugees in the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in northern Kenya beginning tomorrow due to lack of resources.
Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson (2nd left) chats with medical staff from the Ugandan contingent serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) during a visit on 27 October 2013.
AU/UN IST/Stuart Price

Security Council urged to support ‘temporary boost’ to African forces in Somalia

30 October 2013
Without adequate security, the efforts of the Somali Government and people, and those of their partners, could be in vain, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations said today, calling on the Security Council to support a temporary boost to national and international forces aiming to maintain basic security in the Horn of Africa nation.
Christopher Ross, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara.
UN Photo

UN envoy for Western Sahara dispute launches ‘new phase’ in negotiations

30 October 2013
The United Nations envoy dealing with Western Sahara today told the Security Council that he plans to return to the region in the coming weeks to pursue a new approach to ending the dispute over the territory.
A UNICEF child friendly space at the Bossangoa catholic mission, Central African Republic (CAR).
OCHA/Laura Fultang

Central African Republic: as needs rise, UNICEF running low on life-saving supplies

29 October 2013
With increasing displacement in the Central African Republic (CAR) and waning funding, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today warned that the growing needs will exceed emergency supplies in the coming weeks.
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

UNESCO chief deplores murder of Somali journalist

29 October 2013
The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today denounced the murder of Somali television journalist Mohamed Mohamud, who was gunned down in the capital, Mogadishu.
After fighting began between Nigerian forces and Boko Haram, a family from Borno state fled to Niger.
UNHCR/C. Arnaud

Amid rising violence, UN agency advises against forced returns to north-east Nigeria

29 October 2013
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is calling on States to keep their borders open for Nigerians fleeing the escalating violence in their country and who may be in need of international protection.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner and with Yaya Touré during the designation ceremony.
UNEP

Football star Yaya Touré to spotlight illegal wildlife trade as UN Goodwill Ambassador

29 October 2013
International football star Yaya Touré today joined the roster of Goodwill Ambassadors for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), pledging to combat the illegal ivory trade that sees thousands of African elephants slaughtered each year.
In Zimbabwe, WFP is working to combat food insecurity by providing general food distributions to the at-risk populations.
WFP/R. Lee

Over 2 million people in Zimbabwe will require food assistance by early next year – UN

29 October 2013
Some 2.2 million Zimbabweans will need food assistance in the pre-harvest period from January to March next year, a United Nations agency said today, warning that food security in the southern African country continue to deteriorate.
Chinese engineers with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) opened up a road that had been closed for two weeks following heavy rains and flooding.
UNMISS

UN and partners reach 100,000 flood-affected people in South Sudan with vital aid

28 October 2013
Humanitarian agencies and their partners have reached nearly 100,000 of the 156,000 people affected by flooding across South Sudan over the past couple of months, according to a senior United Nations relief official in the country.
Sankore mosque in Mali’s fabled city of Timbuktu.
UNESCO/F. Bandarin

UNESCO approves emergency funds to evaluate state of Mali’s intangible heritage

28 October 2013
A United Nations committee has approved an emergency assistance package of $307,307 for a two-year project to evaluate the state of intangible heritage throughout Mali, beginning with the northern regions that suffered the most from recent armed conflict and occupation.