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Marking the World Science Day for Peace and Development, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today called for a greater global focus on scientific development, noting that only through science would humanity find the answers to its seemingly “insurmountable” challenges.

The head of the United Nations food relief agency today said the world body and its partners are intensifying their efforts to assist Syrian refugees who continue to grow in numbers due to the violence in the Middle Eastern country.

The United Nations refugee agency today warned that efforts to contain a Hepatitis E outbreak in South Sudan is being threatened due to lack of funding, and concern is growing with thousands more refugees expected to arrive in the country in the coming weeks.

In a briefing to the General Assembly, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today highlighted the world body’s challenges, responses and lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy, while also reiterating his call for more action in regard to climate change.

The United Nations today welcomed the decision by the Brazilian Government to grant permanent residency to almost 2,000 former Angolan and Liberian refugees, a majority of whom fled their countries during the 1990s due to violence.

The United Nations human rights chief today urged South Sudan to reverse the expulsion of a human rights officer in the country, noting that the action is in breach of international agreements and that the authorities have not yet provided any satisfactory evidence for it.

On her first visit to a peacekeeping mission since taking up her post, the UN official charged with providing support to such field operations today highlighted that, in an era of financial austerity and amidst growing expectations, the world body and its peace operations must find ways to do more with less.

The practice of enforced disappearances perseveres in many countries, a group of independent United Nations experts warned today, following their review of more than 400 cases spanning 31 nations.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed Australia’s announcement that it will sign up for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, his spokesperson said, referring to the legally binding treaty to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and for which the first period for emission reduction commitments is due to expire at the end of this year.

With no end in sight for the conflict in Syria, United Nations officials today warned that over four million people may be in need of humanitarian relief by the start of next year and appealed for urgent funds for aid operations, particularly as temperatures begin to drop in the region.