Europe

An Afghan child showing all his family’s belongings in front of their tent near Röszke, Hungary.
UNHCR/Zsolt Balla

UN agencies welcome EU policy to protect migrant and refugee children

12 April 2017
New policy guidance from the European Commission aimed at improving the protection of migrant and refugee children has been welcomed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN refugee agency.
Wide view of the Security Council.
UN Photo/JC McIlwaine (file)

Security Council condemns ‘barbaric and cowardly’ terrorist attack in Stockholm

10 April 2017
The United Nations Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the “barbaric and cowardly” terrorist attack which took place in Stockholm on 7 April, and during which at least four people, including a child, were killed and over a dozen injured.
Asylum seekers rest in their room in the Debrecen Reception Centre, Hungary. (file)
UNHCR/Béla Szandelszky

UN refugee agency urges EU States to suspend transfers of asylum-seekers to Hungary

10 April 2017
The United Nations refugee agency today called on European Union (EU) members to temporarily suspend returns of asylum-seekers to Hungary, concerned about the country’s new policy of detaining migrants at the border or expelling those not holding the proper papers.
On 13 February 2017, first-grade students in eastern Ukraine, including 6-year-old Sasha (in red sweater), participate in a drill to practice their response to a shelling.
© UNICEF/UN053119/Zmey

Children in east Ukraine need urgent care to overcome trauma of conflict – UNICEF

7 April 2017
More than 200,000 children, or one in four, in the two regions most severely affected by the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine require urgent and sustained psychosocial support to address their traumatic experiences, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today.
Secretary-General António Guterres.
UN Photo/Mark Garten (file)

UN condemns deadly Stockholm attack; wants those responsible to face justice

7 April 2017
The United Nations today condemned the attack in Stockholm, Sweden, and expressed hope that those responsible for the violence will be swiftly brought to justice.
Scene from St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.

Those responsible for St. Petersburg metro attack must be held accountable – UN chief Guterres

3 April 2017
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned today’s explosion on the metro in Russia’s second largest city of St. Petersburg and underlined need to bring those responsible to justice.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré (file)

UN chief Guterres welcomes announcement of adherence to ceasefire in eastern Ukraine

31 March 2017
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed yesterday's announcement of an agreement on adherence to a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, by 1 April, and on the disengagement of forces and hardware in Stanytsia Luhanska by 6 April.
An overloaded boat of refugees and migrants trying to reach Europe as seen from the deck of the Italian Coastguard ship, the San Giorgio, during a Mediterranean patrol in 2014. Photo UNHCR/Alfredo D’Amato

UN refugee agency stresses importance of search missions after latest shipwreck in Europe

30 March 2017
With nearly 150 people dead or missing in another shipwreck off the Mediterranean coast, the United Nations refugee agency today stressed the importance of saving lives at sea.
Photo: WHO (file)
WHO (file)

UN health agency highlights importance of measles vaccine amid Europe outbreak

29 March 2017
Hundreds of measles cases have been reported in Europe – where the disease was believed to be nearing elimination – leading the United Nations health agency to urge families to vaccinate their children and for national authorities to take urgent measures to stop transmission at the borders.
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus Miklós Haraszti.
OSCE/Ilgar Hasanov

Belarus: UN expert decries Government’s return to mass violence against peaceful protestors

28 March 2017
Human Rights

A United Nations-appointed independent expert on the human rights situation in Belarus has expressed dismay over the Government’s return to the policy of violent mass repression against peaceful demonstrators, non-governmental organizations, journalists and political opponents, and is calling on the authorities there to stop harassment and violence.