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Affirming a vision of the Middle East as a region “where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders,” the Security Council has demanded an end to the violence while calling on the two sides to take steps towards resuming negotiations.

In anticipation of an imminent decision by an independent commission on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended extending for six months – until 15 September – the mandate of the United Nations Mission (UNMEE) to the two countries in order to support the implementation of that verdict.

The United Nations relief agency assisting Palestine refugees reported today that one of its schools in the Ramallah area had been occupied by Israeli troops and turned into an observation and detention point, trapping many UN staff who were unable to leave the premises, fearing for their lives.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, today hailed last night's adoption by the Security Council of a resolution that affirmed a vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, "live side by side within secure and recognized borders."

Next week's global conference in Mexico will be a unique opportunity for countries to tackle head-on the question of resources for financing such development goals as alleviating poverty and achieving education targets, according to Louise Fréchette, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General.

The United Nations food agency today warned that southern Afghanistan is poised to face more drought, which has already ravaged the war-shattered nation.

The value of contracts placed on hold under the United Nations' oil-for-food programme for Iraq dipped slightly last week, according to the office running the scheme, which allows Baghdad to use a portion of its oil revenues to purchase humanitarian relief.

Thanks to greater opportunities for couples to determine the size of their families, population growth rates in dozens of developing countries are expected to decrease in the coming years, a senior United Nations population official reported today.

More than 16,000 refugees from Burundi living in camps in western Tanzania have signed up for voluntary repatriation, part of the continuing interest in returning home since the installation last November of the Transitional Government in Bujumbura, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today.

Decrying the spiralling violence in the Middle East as "horrifying" carnage, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today used a speech before the Security Council to directly appeal to the people of Israel and Palestine to stop deadly attacks against each other and to the leaders of the two sides to take urgent steps towards a political settlement through negotiations.