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A high proportion of persons with disabilities die or suffer injuries during disasters because they are rarely consulted about their needs and Governments lack adequate measures to address them, according to a United Nations survey released today ahead of the International Day for Disaster Reduction.

Seriously concerned by the deteriorating security situation and widespread human rights abuses in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Security Council today “reinforced and updated” the United Nations peacebuilding office in the country, while also calling for a political resolution to the conflict.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced relief at the release of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan of Libya, who was abducted earlier today, and noted that acts of violence are increasing and security is worsening in the North African nation.

Ten young people from around the world will be honoured with a United Nations award recognizing their work as entrepreneurs and use of technology to change the world.

The head of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has stressed that the agency’s strong focus on inclusive and sustainable industrialization can help bolster the continent’s efforts to achieve long-term growth and development.

Top-level events during the opening of this year’s General Assembly highlighted the centrality of the United Nations, with a breakthrough Security Council resolution on Syria, and Iran and the United States using the world forum for overtures aimed at reversing decades of tension, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, summing up the week-long part of the session.

A United Nations independent expert today appealed to authorities in Belarus to start an immediate moratorium on executions, following recent court rulings upholding several death sentences.

The United Nations labour agency said it was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in a fire at a garment factory in Bangladesh, adding that the incident highlights the need to do more to address the safety of workers.

Some four million people in rural Madagascar are food insecure after rice and maize production took a bad hit this year from erratic weather and a locust invasion, two United Nations agencies said today.

The United Nations health agency has approved a new vaccine against Japanese encephalitis (JE), stressing that access to the vaccine will help save the lives of children in developing countries.