Middle East

UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

Afghanistan: UN condemns latest school bombings as ‘repulsive acts of terrorism’

11 September 2018
Peace and Security

Amidst mounting concern over what appears to be a pattern of attacks targeting civilians and schools, a series of bombs on Tuesday morning in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province left more than 21 dead and some 60 others injured, drawing  condemnation from the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA).

UN Photo/Manuel Elias

Yemen consultations have started, insists top UN negotiator

8 September 2018
Peace and Security

A positive environment exists for building trust between the opposing parties involved in discussions for a political solution to the Yemen conflict, despite the absence of one of the delegations in Geneva and insecurity on the ground, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths said on Saturday.

UNICEF/UNI150195/Diffidenti

‘Sanctity of human civilian life’ in Idlib must win out, urges UN Syria Envoy

7 September 2018
Peace and Security

With the ingredients for a “perfect storm” brewing in the Syrian province of Idlib, the international community cannot allow civilians there to succumb to such a fate, the UN Envoy for the country told the Security Council on Friday.

UNICEF

WFP and UNICEF prepare for the worst in Syria’s Idlib, as insecurity mars start of another school year

7 September 2018
Peace and Security

Emergency food supplies for hundreds of thousands of people in Syria’s Idlib are “ready for distribution” in the event of mass displacement caused by a full-scale military offensive on the last opposition-held region, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Security Council must work towards ‘common approach’ as investigations continue into alleged Syria chemical attack

6 September 2018
Peace and Security

Experts continue to gather information related to an alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma, Syria, earlier this year, the UN’s nuclear disarmament chief told the Security Council on Thursday. 

UN Geneva/Violaine Martin

UN Envoy working to ‘overcome obstacles’ barring resumption of Yemen peace talks

6 September 2018
Peace and Security

The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen met Government representatives on Thursday at the start of what were due to be the first peace talks involving both warring parties to be held in two years, vowing to “overcome obstacles” which have so far prevented the Houthi rebel delegation from showing up.

UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

UN condemns deadly twin bombings in Kabul, killing first-responders, sportsmen, journalists

6 September 2018
Peace and Security

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned an attack on a Kabul sports centre on Wednesday, which killed at least 22 people, including first-responders, sportsmen, and two journalists who were covering the initial bombing for a local news agency. Around 75 others were wounded.

UN News/Shymaa El-Ansary

UN media seminar on peace in the Middle East, highlights ‘power of words over weapons’

5 September 2018
Peace and Security

Engaging in debate over how best to advance peace in the Middle East and resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “a welcome reminder of the power of words over weapons,” said United Nations chief António Guterres on Wednesday.

IOM Iraq/Sarah Ali Abed

Iraq milestone: Some four million people return home, displacement drops to four-year low

4 September 2018
Peace and Security

For the first time in nearly four years, the number of displaced Iraqis has fallen below two million, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the United Nations migration agency.

UNRWA/Tamer Hamam

UN urges countries to step up assistance for Palestine refugees

1 September 2018
Humanitarian Aid

The United Nations said it regrets the decision of the United States to stop funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and called on other countries to help fill the remaining financial gap.