Africa

DR Congo: UN-backed health insurance plan provides coverage for refugees

28 December 2009
A $6,000-per-month United Nations investment in a pioneering health care scheme is paying significant dividends for nearly 1,500 refugees living in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who fled neighbouring countries.

DR Congo: blue helmets protect thousands daily, says top UN envoy

28 December 2009
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) upholds the human rights of thousands of people every day, the top UN envoy to the African nation said today, rejecting criticism from a non-governmental organization that blue helmets are “complicit” in abuses committed by the Congolese army.

Sudan’s troubled Darfur region to host national school competition with UN help

24 December 2009
The United Nations is providing logistics, security and equipment to the Sudanese Government for its annual National School Competition, bringing together over 7,000 secondary school students from all 25 states in the country’s war-torn Darfur region.

UN boosts peacekeeping force in troubled area of Central African Republic

23 December 2009
United Nations peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR) are stepping up their presence near a refugee camp in the country’s northeast where deadly clashes last week have increased tensions in an already unstable area.

DR Congo: UN peacekeepers to use ‘all necessary means’ to protect civilians

23 December 2009
Faced with widespread reports of massacres and other serious human rights abuses by Government soldiers and rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Security Council today again called on United Nations peacekeepers to “use all necessary means” to protect civilians from threats from any party.

UNICEF starts handing out relief supplies in quake-affected Malawi

23 December 2009
United Nations aid agencies have begun distributing relief supplies in northern Malawi, where a series of earthquakes this month have killed four people, injured more than 300 others and destroyed or damaged nearly 4,000 homes.

Security Council imposes sanctions on Eritrea

23 December 2009
The Security Council today imposed arms and travel sanctions on Eritrea for supporting insurgents trying to topple the nascent government in nearby Somalia.

UN humanitarian chief calls for stronger steps against Ugandan rebels in DR Congo

23 December 2009
On the eve of the anniversary of last year’s Christmas Day massacre of at least 477 civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by the rebel Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the top United Nations humanitarian official called for stronger measures to protect civilians still vulnerable to attacks.

Women’s political participation in North Africa enhanced under UN-backed project

22 December 2009
Women’s political participation in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia is to be enhanced under a new United Nations-backed project launched today for an innovative website to provide them access to information, the exchange of experiences, ideas and good practices.
Voxcom/IRIN

Ugandan rebels murder, rape, mutilate, displace thousands in DR Congo, Sudan – UN

21 December 2009
In a 10-month rampage of killings, rape and mutilation in neighbouring countries that may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, the rebel Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has killed some 1,300 civilians, abducted 1,400 more, including hundreds of children and women, and displaced nearly 300,000 others, the United Nations reported today.