Africa

Displaced children seek safety with their families in a churchyard in Kaga Bandoro, Central African Republic.
UNICEF/Daniel Timme

UN fund allocates $6 million to help thousands in violence-hit parts of Central African Republic

31 January 2017
The top United Nations relief official today approved an allocation from the Organization’s humanitarian emergency response fund to assist the response to new emergencies triggered by a surge of violence in the Central African Republic’s Kaga Bandoro, Bambari and Bria areas.
Families displaced by ongoing fighting seek shelter in the UN Protection of Civilians site in Wau, South Sudan.
UNICEF/UN027532/Ohanesian

Clashes in north-eastern South Sudan halt UN migration agency's humanitarian work

31 January 2017
Thousands of people in need of aid in South Sudan's Upper Nile area will have to wait indefinitely, after fighting forced the United Nations migration agency to suspend humanitarian activities in the area.
Crowded living conditions at the UN Protection of Civilians site, Malakal, South Sudan.
IOM/Bannon

UN mission in South Sudan ‘deeply concerned’ by clashes between Government and opposition forces

30 January 2017
Amid an outbreak of violence in the South Sudanese city of Malakal, the United Nations mission in the country today called on the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the SPLA in Opposition to silence the guns.
Secretary-General António Guterres (3rd right, front row) poses for a group photo with African Union leaders at the opening of their Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
UN Photo/Antonio Fiorente

At African Union Summit, UN chief Guterres spotlights need to strengthen cooperation

30 January 2017
In his first address to the African Union since taking office, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today underscored the importance of a strategic AU-UN partnership for building sustainable development and advancing peace and security on the continent.
Farmers in the Horn of Africa need urgent support to recover from consecutive lost harvests and to keep their livestock healthy and productive.
FAO/Simon Maina

Warning of dire food shortages in Horn of Africa, UN agriculture agency calls for urgent action

30 January 2017
With only one-quarter of expected rainfall received in the Horn of Africa in the October-December period, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today called for an immediate response to prevent widespread drought conditions from becoming a catastrophe.
Families displaced by ongoing fighting seek shelter in the UN Protection of Civilians site in Wau, South Sudan.
UNICEF/UN027532/Ohanesian

South Sudan: UN and regional partners call for immediate cessation of hostilities

29 January 2017
The United Nations, the African Union (AU) and regional partners today reiterated their call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in South Sudan and urged the parties to ensure an inclusive political process, both in the proposed National Dialogue and in the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement.
In February 2016, villagers gather at the Ula Arba water point, in Ziway Dugda Woreda, Arsi zone Oromia region, Ethiopia.
OCHA/Charlotte Cans

As new drought hits Ethiopia, UN urges support for Government's 'remarkable' efforts

29 January 2017
Commending the Ethiopian Government and humanitarian partners on the response to last year's El Niño drought that left 10.2 million people needing food assistance, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres and UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien today said the international community must show “total solidarity” with country as it faces a new drought.
Ethiopian soldiers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on foot patrol in Halgan village, Hiran region, on 10 June 2016, a day after a battle with Al-Shabaab militants.
AMISOM/Ilyas Ahmed

Stage ‘gradually being set’ for Somalia to move to a new phase in sustaining peace – UN envoy

27 January 2017
Briefing the Security Council on the situation in Somalia, the United Nations envoy for the country noted today that the recently concluded election was a “mirror” to Somalis, showing them the good and the bad regarding how power is exercised, relations between elders, clan power brokers, politicians, business, ordinary citizens, women and men.
Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Ertharin Cousin (second left) at the Pompomari camp for the internally displaced in Damaturu, Nigeria.
WFP

UN food relief agency chief welcomes progress on anti-hunger programmes in north-east Nigeria

27 January 2017
The head of the United Nations food relief agency today welcomed the progress made by the humanitarian community and the Government of Nigeria in fighting hunger and malnutrition in the West African country’s north-east.
Special Representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan David Shearer (left) meets with President Salva Kiir in the capital Juba.
UNMISS/Isaac Billy

South Sudan: UN mission chief meets President Kiir, pledges commitment to regional force

26 January 2017
The newly arrived head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, David Shearer, has met with President Salva Kiir in the country’s capital of Juba, where he reiterated the Mission’s commitment to supporting peace efforts.