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It was 2 a.m. at the United Nations Geneva headquarters when the news broke on 26 December, 2004 – a massive earthquake had rocked the floor bed of the Indian Ocean. Veteran official Arjun Katoch, duty officer that night, had seen it all before – at almost the same time exactly a year earlier a quake had devastated the Iranian city of Bam.

An independent United Nations human rights expert today voiced her concerns at the mass evictions planned by the River State Government in Nigeria which could leave hundreds of thousands of people homeless over the coming year.

Global interest in introducing nuclear power is on the rise, with ground being broken for the largest number of reactors in decades last year, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported.

A group of independent United Nations human rights experts voiced serious concern today over accusations of torture and rough interrogation tactics in connection with trials of protesters of Iran’s disputed presidential elections.

The head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has mourned the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics, paying tribute to her dedication to giving hope and opportunities to children around the world living with disabilities.

The Security Council today added its voice to those calling for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar, while expressing concern over this week’s verdict against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Hostility towards relief organizations has caused the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to postpone the distribution of life-saving supplies to prevent and treat acute malnutrition in over 85,000 children in central and south Somalia, the agency announced today.

For Asia to play its role in promoting a “new multilateralism” to face 21st century challenges, it must adopt a three-pronged strategy to allow the region’s nations to come together as partners, and not competitors, to tackle global threats, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the commitment to renewed United States engagement with the United Nations as stressed by US Ambassador Susan Rice, as well as the Government’s recent contributions to the world body’s budget.

Spiralling inter-tribal conflict, a massive food shortage and a budget crisis have converged to create a humanitarian emergency in southern Sudan, putting at least 40 per cent of the local population at risk, a senior United Nations official warned today.