The United Nations will lead a third round of talks on Western Sahara, bringing together representatives from Morocco and the Frente Polisario, next week outside of New York City.
United Nations agencies have been rushing aid to Indonesians on the southern island of Java, which was recently struck by severe floods and landslides.
After chairing his first Security Council meeting today, Libya’s Ambassador said that being both a new member and president of the 15-member body at once is not an easy task, but is nonetheless very important for the North African nation, which was shunned by the international community for many years.
For the first time in its history, the United Nations holds a certified copy of its own Charter, signed on 26 June 1945 by the Organization’s original 51 members, after it was presented to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by the head of the United States National Archives.
Over the past five yeas, the United Nations refugee agency has assisted 58,000 Burundians returning to the small Central African country – which is emerging from decades of ethnic conflict – by helping them build their own homes, improve living conditions and ensure a sustainable return.
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has released its latest report on sexual exploitation and abuse which reveals a decrease in the number of allegations against its own staff in the last half of 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has welcomed the start of the International Year of Sanitation 2008 which draws attention to the plight of over 40 per cent of the world’s population living without proper sanitation.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced his shock at the deadly outburst of violence that has gripped Kenya following the announcement of election results last week and has reportedly claimed the lives of 300 civilians, including dozens who were burned to death inside a church.
At least 42 United Nations staff members – including 17 who died in the 11 December 2007 attack in Algiers – were killed on duty last year, making it one of the deadliest years for the Organization, according to its Staff Union.