Peace and Security

A young girl and a woman walk past destroyed buildings in the city of Maarat al-Numaan in Idlib, Syria.
© UNICEF/Giovanni Diffidenti

After 10 years of war in Syria, siege tactics still threaten civilians

14 September 2021
Middle East

The future for Syria’s people is “increasingly bleak”, UN-appointed rights experts said on Tuesday, highlighting escalating conflict in several areas of the war-ravaged country, a return to siege tactics and popular demonstrations linked to the plummeting economy.

Food is distributed by WFP in Herat in western Afghanistan in August 2021.
© WFP

First humanitarian flight to Kabul marks 'turning point' in crisis: WFP 

14 September 2021
Asia Pacific

The return of humanitarian flights to Kabul since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is a turning point in the crisis, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday. 

South Sudan remains one of the least developed countries in the world.
UNMISS

South Sudan: Cash shortage triggers food suspensions for 100,000 displaced

13 September 2021
Africa

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday that beginning next month, funding shortages will force it to suspend lifesaving food assistance for more than 100,000 displaced people in parts of South Sudan until the start of 2022.

The IAEA supports training to ensure the safety of nuclear power plants like this one in the Czech Republic.
IAEA/Dean Calma

IAEA strikes deal with Iran on monitoring of nuclear programme  

13 September 2021
Middle East

The UN atomic watchdog reached an agreement with Iran on Sunday allowing the Agency access to surveillance cameras inside its atomic facilities. 

The UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed (foreground right) meets women leaders in Mogadishu, Somalia.
UNSOM

In Somalia, Deputy UN chief encourages progress on women’s political participation, and peaceful elections

12 September 2021
Africa

The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, visited Somalia on Sunday, to express her solidarity with Somali women’s calls for full and equal participation in political life, and the support of the international community for timely, inclusive, peaceful and credible elections.

The Tribute in Light has become an iconic part of the 9/11 remembrance.
© Eric Ganz

Sacrifice of 9/11 first responders an example of humanity and compassion, UN chief

11 September 2021
Americas

Twenty years to the day since the terror attack that brought down the iconic Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has paid tribute to the first responders who ran into the buildings to save lives.

Vegetables are sold amidst the rubble of the old town of Benghazi in Libya.
UNOCHA/Giles Clarke

Elections represent an opportunity for stability and unity in Libya

10 September 2021
Africa

With just over 100 days until landmark elections in Libya, political leaders must join forces to ensure the vote is free, fair and inclusive, the UN envoy for the country told the Security Council on Friday. 

An elderly woman drags water back to her tent in a displacement camp in Abs, near the Saudi border in northern Yemen.
UNOCHA/Giles Clarke

Yemen: As conflict drags on, ‘no quick wins’ – UN envoy

10 September 2021
Asia Pacific

The complexities of the years-long war in Yemen “multiply as the conflict drags on”, the country’s new UN envoy told the Security Council on Friday, adding that he was “under no illusions about the difficulty of the task” at hand.

A screen in an interpreter's booth shows Malala Yousafzai addressing the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, on 9 September, 2021.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

Global community can still shape ‘new reality’ in Afghanistan

9 September 2021
Asia Pacific

While the choices available in Afghanistan are “not comfortable” ones, continued international engagement and unwavering commitment to the country’s people can help steer the situation to its best possible outcome, the UN’s senior official in Kabul told the Security Council on Thursday.

Children from the Central African Republic attend class in a protected space at a refugee camp in the Cameroon.
© UNICEF/Sebastian Rich

Protecting education, means ‘we protect the future’: UN chief 

9 September 2021
Global

The global community needs to say with one voice that “attacks on schools must stop”, the UN chief urged a virtual event on Thursday commemorating the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.