Middle East

Palestinian flag raised at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France

Palestinian flag flies at UNESCO to mark admission as new member

13 December 2011
The Palestinian flag was raised for the first time at the Paris headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today as the UN agency marked Palestine’s admission as a full member.
Special Representative Martin Kobler.
UN Photo/Bikem Ekberzade

UN envoy encourages all Iraqis to continue promoting human rights

13 December 2011
The United Nations envoy for Iraq has encouraged the Government, the Council of Representatives and citizens to continue to promote and protect human rights, stressing that it is their responsibility to make the respect of human rights a reality in their country.
UNIFIL armoured vehicles pass through a Lebanese Armed Forces checkpoint near Ghanduriya.
UNIFIL

Lebanon: UN mission investigates rocket attack in south

12 December 2011
The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is investigating last night’s firing of a rocket that has damaged a home and seriously injured a woman in the country’s south.
Despite modest economic good news in the West Bank, the number of unemployed refugees grew by nearly one per cent in the first half of 2011.
UNRWA

Refugees bearing brunt of economic hardship in West Bank – UN report

12 December 2011
The unemployment rate among refugees in the West Bank has continued to grow this year, even though overall levels of joblessness there have fallen, according to a United Nations report released today.
Palestinian children playing in Khallet Zakariya beside the Israeli settlement of Alon Shvut. IRIN/Erica Silverman

Ban voices deep concern over settlement expansion in the West Bank

12 December 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern after reports emerged today that the Israeli Government has approved the construction of another 40 houses and a farm in the occupied Palestinian territories.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay

As Syrian death toll tops 5,000, UN human rights chief warns about key city

12 December 2011
More than 5,000 people have now died since the start of the public uprising in Syria, the United Nations human rights chief said today, sounding the alarm that a crackdown and fresh eruption of violence could be imminent in one of the country’s key cities.
Protesters in Sana'a, Yemen in April 2011

Secretary-General welcomes swearing in of Yemen's new government

10 December 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed today the swearing in of the Government of National Unity in Yemen, calling it an important milestone in implementing the transitional agreement in the country.
Peacekeepers from UNIFIL’s Italian Battalion patrol the streets of Tyre near the city’s market, 30 Sepetember 2010

In Lebanon, UN deplores targeted explosion that injures five peacekeepers

9 December 2011
Five United Nations peacekeepers serving in Lebanon have been injured after an explosion targeted at their vehicle in the country’s south earlier today – the third such attack this year.
OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
UN Multimedia

UN to dispatch human rights delegation to Bahrain

9 December 2011
The United Nations human rights office announced today it is dispatching a delegation to Bahrain, where serious rights violations are alleged to have occurred earlier this year, to discuss how to build a more open and democratic society in the Middle East country.

Ban appoints Hungarian diplomat as deputy UN envoy for Iraq

9 December 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed György Busztin of Hungary as his Deputy Special Representative for Iraq focusing on political, electoral and constitutional support.