Peace and Security

Mafa, a camp for internally displaced people in Borno State, north-east Nigeria, January 2018.
OCHA/Yasmina Guerda

UN chief urges action following execution, abduction of civilians in Nigeria

24 December 2019
Africa

Those responsible for the recent execution and abduction of civilians in northeastern Nigeria must be held accountable, the UN Secretary-General has said, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson. 

Children rest beneath a tree in the Syrian Arab Republic. Their families have set up makeshift camps in Aqrabat village, 45km north of Idlib City, near the Turkish border.
© UNICEF/Aaref Watad

Amidst uptick in violence and displacement, UN chief calls for ‘immediate cessation of hostilities’ in Syria

24 December 2019
Middle East

“Deeply concerned” over a recent military escalation in northwest Syria, Secretary-General António Guterres called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities”.

The UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock in a camp for displaced people in Sana’a, Yemen on 29 November 2018.
OCHA/Ammar Al-Hajj

UN relief chief condemns attacks against humanitarian premises in Yemen

23 December 2019
Middle East

The top UN humanitarian official has called for a thorough investigation into weekend attacks against the premises of three international aid organizations in Yemen that wounded one person, in addition to damaging property. 

Afghans gather to vote in the presidential election at polling stations in Paktya, the capital city of Gardez province in the southeastern region. (Septermber 2019)
UNAMA/Haqmal Masoodzai

Afghan President leads election; UN mission chief urges all to ‘safeguard’ final stage of process

22 December 2019
Middle East


Welcoming the preliminary results for Afghanistan’s presidential election on Sunday, the head of the United Nations mission in the country urged the authorities and all actors to “protect the integrity of the final stage of the process.” 

Secretary-General António Guterres (right) has an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome.
UN Photo/Rein Skullerud

Friday’s Daily Brief: Pope Francis, Lesotho, Iran, world corruption

20 December 2019
Global

Our top stories for Friday include: Pope Francis receives the UN chief in Rome, Lesotho famine threat, concern for jailed Iranian protestors, and strengthened global action to prevent corruption. 

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda. (file photo)
ICC

Top Criminal Court to conduct official probe into alleged war crimes in Palestine

20 December 2019
Middle East

Following a “thorough, independent and objective assessment”, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Friday that she plans to open a formal investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestine, but asked the Court for a further ruling over territorial jurisdiction.

On 11 October 2019 in the Syrian Arab Republic, a girl stares out from behind a metal grilled window where families displaced from Ras al-Ain have arrived in Tal Tamer, having fled escalating violence.
© UNICEF/Delil Souleiman

Syria: Lack of consensus following face-to-face talks, underscores need for broader process

20 December 2019

The second session of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, aiming to create a new post-war political road map for the country, failed to get off the ground due to lack of consensus over the agenda, the UN Special Envoy for the country told the Security Council on Friday. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres (left) has an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican City in Rome.
UN Photo/Rein Skullerud

Stand for peace and harmony says Guterres, following meeting with Pope Francis

20 December 2019
Global

In the midst of “turbulent and trying times”, all the world’s people must stand together in peace and harmony, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday. António Guterres was speaking following an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican, who he thanked for his strong support for the global Organization. 

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefs the members of the UN Security Council.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Iran and US both undermining nuclear deal says UN political affairs chief

19 December 2019
Asia Pacific

Both Iran and the United States have been putting strain on the groundbreaking 2015 deal to monitor Iran’s nuclear programme, which remains a “cornerstone of international peace and security”, said the UN’s political affairs chief on Thursday.

A child walks through the rubble of a building which was destroyed in an airstrike, during fighting between Iraqi security forces and ISIL in western Mosul. 11 March 2017.
UNICEF/Alessio Romenzi

Tolerance key to tackling violent extremism: UN counter-terrorism chief

19 December 2019
Middle East

The head of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office (UNOCT) has highlighted the importance of tolerance in combating the “corrosive spread” of violent extremism.