Middle East

UN Photo/Manuel Elías

Syria: Security Council unites in support of Russia-Turkey efforts to end violence, jumpstart political process

31 December 2016
The United Nations Security Council today unanimously adopted a resolution welcoming and supporting the efforts by Russia and Turkey to end violence in Syria and jumpstart a political process for the war-torn Middle Eastern country.
OCHA

UN study reveals record number of demolitions in occupied Palestinian territory in 2016

29 December 2016
A recently completed United Nations study indicates that during 2016, Israeli authorities demolished or seized 1,089 Palestinian-owned structures throughout the West Bank – including East Jerusalem – thus displacing 1,593 Palestinians and impacting the livelihoods of another 7,101.
UNICEF/UNI178367/Tiku

Syria: UN envoy welcomes new ceasefire between Government and opposition groups

29 December 2016
The United Nations envoy for Syria has welcomed the announcement of a nationwide ceasefire between the Government and armed opposition groups that would come into effect at midnight tonight.
WFP/Alexandra Murdoch

Iraq: Nearly 115,000 people displaced, 50,000 children affected by Mosul military operation – UN

28 December 2016
Since operations began to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) two months ago, some 114,042 people have been displaced and as many as one million are out of reach of humanitarian assistance.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

After promising start, 2016 has been worst for civilians in Syria – UN expert

28 December 2016
After a promising start, the year 2016 has been the worst for civilian casualties so far in the war in Syria, according to the head of a United Nations-mandated human rights inquiry into the Middle Eastern country.
UNICEF/Wathiq Khuzaie

Iraq: UN-Habitat rehabilitates 123 conflict-damaged houses in Anbar Governorate

27 December 2016
As part of an urban recovery project in Iraq, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has renovated 123 damaged residential housing units in newly liberated areas so that their rightful owners can live in safety and with dignity.
UNICEF/Wathiq Khuzaie

EU commits additional 7 million euros to support UNICEF in Iraq

27 December 2016
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has received a new pledge of 7 million euros from the European Union to support the UN agency’s work in Iraq, where an estimated 11 million are in need of humanitarian assistance – half of them children.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

UN chief welcomes Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements as ‘significant step’

23 December 2016
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the adoption of a Security Council resolution which states that the establishment of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, have “no legal validity,” constitute a “flagrant violation” under international law and are a “major obstacle” to a two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
WFP/Hani Al-Homsh

At Security Council, UN humanitarian official flags 'catastrophic’ situation in Syria despite eastern Aleppo evacuations

23 December 2016
Briefing the Security Council on the situation in Syria, a senior United Nations humanitarian official underlined the enormity challenges of the continuing humanitarian operations in the region.
WFP/Hani Al Homsh

Thousands leave war-ravaged Aleppo as ‘dangerous, complex’ evacuation nears end – UN envoy

22 December 2016
A “very large, dangerous, difficult and complex evacuation” entered its final phase today –mainly from eastern Aleppo and from the two villages Foah and Kefraya – a senior United Nations humanitarian envoy announced, adding that it is “now a race against the clock and the winter to provide safety for the desperate people that have been trapped in the besieged city.