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As Somalia approaches the anniversary of two war-torn decades without a functioning national government, the United Nations today called on the international community to step up its aid to build on humanitarian gains eked out amidst the country’s struggles.

Countries from around the globe have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York for the start of a forum on strategies to help the world’s forests promote social development, improve livelihoods and contribute towards global poverty eradication.

The head of the new United Nations agency promoting women’s rights and full participation in global affairs laid out a 100-day action plan today, embracing a full spectrum of issues from supporting national partners to promoting coherence within the UN system.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today appointed Spanish football goalkeeper Iker Casillas as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with a focus on promoting poverty reduction, education and health, and issues affecting young people in developing countries.

The number of people dying from cholera in Haiti has been on a downward trend or has stabilized in all ten of the country’s departments affected by the outbreak, the United Nations humanitarian office reported today, adding that the number of hospitalized people has also been decreasing.

The joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission has stepped up its presence in a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North Darfur, after Government forces carried out an extensive search operation early Sunday without notifying or consulting the mission first.

The fifth round of United Nations-backed informal talks on the dispute over Western Sahara ended on Sunday with Morocco and the Frente Polisario agreeing to continue their discussions in March.

The United Nations, which was created in the aftermath of the Second World War, has a duty to stand up and speak out for human rights and offer a voice to the voiceless, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today at an event to remember the victims of the Holocaust.

The United Nations human rights chief today voiced deep concern over the fate of a group of about 40 migrants who have been missing since they were abducted in Mexico last month, and death threats to a prominent human rights defender assisting other migrants who escaped the kidnapping ordeal.

Senior United Nations relief official Catherine Bragg today stressed the world body’s continued commitment to helping Sri Lanka tackle its growing humanitarian needs, as she wrapped up her three-day visit to the South Asian nation.