Latest News

To facilitate continuing investigations by Member States into the findings of the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) that examined the scandal-ridden Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme, the United Nations today released rules regarding the management, preservation and use of the myriad documents and files produced by the Committee.

Although some international crises continue to rage, many others have been peacefully resolved, show signs of ending or were prevented from even taking place thanks to the efforts of the Security Council, departing Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the 15-member body today.

The head of the United Nations refugee agency today visited strife-torn eastern Chad, calling for a stronger international presence to protect hundreds of thousands of Sudanese fleeing war in their homeland, Chadians displaced by the spreading violence, and aid workers trying to maintain a vital lifeline to the victims of the conflict.

The United Nations refugee agency today voiced growing concern for 15,000 Palestinians remaining in Iraq “living in a climate of constant fear,” after a group of 41 of them fleeing Baghdad to escape increasing violence, harassment and targeted killings was blocked at the border with Syria.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that it will no longer be able to provide full rations to more than 106,000 Bhutanese refugees living in camps in eastern Nepal as of January unless there is an immediate infusion of international donations.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has called on Libyan courts to review the death sentence imposed on five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor for the alleged intentional transmission of HIV to hundreds of children in light of evidence showing that the virus circulated before the health workers’ arrival.

In biblical days the injunction was to beat swords into ploughshares. Now the United Nations crime-fighting agency is calling on Colombia, with one of the highest homicide rates in the world, to do more to crack down on organized crime and arms trafficking, citing one initiative that turns guns into guitars.

Armed clashes between rival Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip are endangering United Nations humanitarian operations “and taking a population that has been living in abject misery for the entire year to breaking point,” the UN agency that tends to Palestinian refugees has warned.

Legendary Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani is toasting a better future for refugees this festive season with a limited edition of a sleek mug sporting the Chinese character for hope, which he has created to help support the work of the United Nations refugee agency.

The United Nations has opened registration for a conference to be held at its Vienna headquarters next June, the first time the world organization has hosted the event that will bring together national leaders, business executives and civil society representatives to discuss strategies for building trust in government.