Middle East

IAEA/Dean Calma

Iran deal represents ‘significant verification gain’ – UN atomic energy chief

9 May 2018
Peace and Security

Speaking the day after the United States withdrew from an international agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, the head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency made it clear that Iran has consistently stuck to its commitments.

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Lebanon elections ‘vital step’ in democracy-building: UN chief

9 May 2018
Peace and Security

Congratulating Lebanon on holding parliamentary elections on Sunday , United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the country’s political leaders to work in "a spirit of unity".

IAEA/Paolo Contri

UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ by US decision to exit Iran nuclear deal

8 May 2018
Peace and Security

Following a decision on Tuesday by the United States to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, the United Nations chief said he was “deeply concerned” by the move, and called on all parties to preserve the deal.

IOM/Olivia Headon

Smugglers see thousands of migrants in Yemen as ‘a commodity’, UN agency warns

8 May 2018
Migrants and Refugees

With an estimated 7,000 migrants entering Yemen each month, most of them seeking to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, the United Nations migration agency on Tuesday called for greater efforts to protect them from smugglers and other criminals.

UNICEF/ El Baba

Children bear the brunt as violence escalates in Gaza – UNICEF

4 May 2018
Peace and Security

Highlighting the devastating impact of the humanitarian crisis and increasing violence on Gaza's children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on all parties with influence on the ground to prioritize their protection.

UNICEF/Giovanni Diffidenti

‘Marathon of suffering’ in Syria conflict, far from over: UN humanitarian adviser

3 May 2018
Humanitarian Aid

The fighting in Syria “is not over” and neither is the “marathon of suffering” for millions of people in the war-torn country, a senior aid official at the UN said on Thursday.

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Leaders obliged to confront anti-Semitism ‘everywhere and always’, stresses UN envoy

2 May 2018
Peace and Security

The United Nations’ top official for the Middle East Peace Process has said that spreading “deeply disturbing” conspiracy theories which fuel anti-Semitism are unacceptable, and serve neither the interests of Palestinians themselves, or the pursuit of peace in the region.

UNAMI PIO

Iraqi political candidates have ‘real appetite’ to work together – UN official

1 May 2018
Human Rights

Politicians in Iraq are working constructively with each other ahead of this month’s parliamentary elections, a senior United Nations official said.

UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Israel must address excessive use of force and deaths in Gaza protests – UN rights chief

27 April 2018
Human Rights

With over 40 Palestinians killed and more than 5,500 injured during protests in Gaza over the past month – many by live ammunition – the top United Nations human rights official on Friday called on Israel to ensure that its security forces do not resort to use of excessive force amid the ongoing demonstrations.

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

‘Gaza is about to explode,’ UN envoy warns Security Council

26 April 2018
Peace and Security

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is continuing with no prospects for a political resolution and “Gaza is about to explode,” a senior United Nations official said Thursday, urging both sides to avoid further clashes along the enclave’s border.