Middle East

Video screenshot

Yemen war: UN chief urges good faith as ‘milestone’ talks get underway in Sweden

6 December 2018
Peace and Security

The Yemeni Government and the Houthi opposition have gathered at United Nations-sponsored political talks, close to the Swedish capital, Stockholm, aimed at ending nearly four years of brutal war in the country.

© UNICEF/Eyad El Baba

Gaza: deadly violence continues to escalate, top UN officials work to restore calm

13 November 2018
Peace and Security

As violence in the Gaza Strip is once again flaring up reportedly following a raid and bombings by Israeli forces and multiple rocket launches from inside the Palestinian enclave, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, said on Tuesday that he was following developments closely, while his Special Coordinator for the region, Nickolay Mladenov, works with all sides to try and restore calm.

UNRWA/Khalil Adwan

Despite funding crisis, Palestine refugee classrooms set to stay open, says UNRWA

8 November 2018
Humanitarian Aid

The Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) looks set to keep its classrooms open for the rest of the school year, despite earlier fears that they would have to close within the next few weeks, due to steep funding cuts, the agency told UN News in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

WFP/Photolibrary

Aid convoy for north-east Syria postponed over security concerns – UN relief chief

29 October 2018
Humanitarian Aid

A humanitarian convoy carrying relief aid for tens of thousands of “desperate” civilians in north-eastern Syria who have not received aid since January this year, has been postponed owing to security concerns along its route, the United Nations top humanitarian official said on Monday.

OCHA/Mustafa El Halabi

Dramatic funding shortages a ‘severe catastrophe’ for people of Gaza: UN Coordinator

23 October 2018
Humanitarian Aid

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, Jamie McGoldrick, has been describing how ordinary Gazans are scraping by on just four hours of electricity per day due to fuel shortages, putting many in “a terrible situation” as the winter months approach.

UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Restoring prospect of peace in Middle East is ‘our shared responsibility’ UN envoy tells Security Council

18 October 2018
Peace and Security

Violence is on the rise in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israeli authorities are continuing to demolish and confiscate Palestinian-owned homes and property, in contravention of international law, the United Nations envoy for the Middle East Peace Process said on Thursday.

UN Photo/Kim Haughton

Restore hope that peace will come to the Middle East, UN negotiator urges Security Council

20 September 2018
Peace and Security

Negative humanitarian, security and political developments in Gaza outweigh any positive news concerning the search for peace in the Middle East, the United Nations negotiator for the process has said, urging the international community to help restore hope that a solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict can be found.

UNICEF

Idlib deal could save three million ‘from catastrophe’ says UN chief, as militants are urged to lay down arms

20 September 2018
Peace and Security

A deal reached between Russia and Turkey to create a demilitarized buffer zone protecting citizens “from catastrophe” in Syria’s Idlib region is a welcome development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday, before urging all parties to make a “strong commitment” to it.

Ahmed Dalloul/IRIN

Economy and living standards of Gaza ‘eviscerated’ by crippling blockade – UN trade and development report

12 September 2018
Economic Development

The Occupied Palestinian Territory now suffers the highest unemployment rate in the world, with incomes and agricultural production going down, the United Nations trade and development agency said on Wednesday, noting that women and young people were worst affected, as the Israeli occupation continues.

UNHCR/Antwan Chnkdji

A record one million Syrians displaced over six months, during six key battles: UN investigators

12 September 2018
Peace and Security

All parties to the seven-year Syria conflict and the States that support them should do “everything in their power” to prevent a full-scale military assault on Idlib, a high-level United Nations-appointed panel of investigators said on Wednesday.