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The United Nations mission in Sierra Leone has made “significant progress” in supporting the Government to consolidate peace in the country, by strengthening the security sector, by promoting human rights and the rule of law, and by helping prepare for upcoming elections, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report.

Shovels in hand and donning blue hard hats, members of the United Nations community, led by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, today broke ground for the construction of temporary conference venue at the world body’s New York Headquarters, marking the beginning of a five-year, $1.9 billion overhaul of the landmark complex.

In addition to its diplomatic work – which at times receives the bulk of the world’s attention – the United Nations also endeavours to improve the lives of people around the world, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Arab journalists today.

The top military official with the new United Nations-African Union (AU) hybrid mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID, has voiced his deep concern at the rising toll of civilian deaths as a result of the recent bombing of villages in the war-torn Sudanese region.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that he will get the international Task Force on the global food crisis “moving at full speed,” since an urgent response is required for the worldwide emergency.

On the heels of the recent London meeting of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the United Nations’ commitment to achieving peace in the region and highlighted the steps needed for progress towards that end.

The United Nations anti-narcotics agency today joined forces with the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) in a bid to rein in the spread of HIV among drug users.

Indigenous peoples have an important role to play in the global response to climate change, given their knowledge and experience with impacts of the phenomenon, and should be included in the international debate on the issue, a United Nations gathering on indigenous affairs concluded.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today commended the endeavours of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to assist Palestinian refugees, noting that without the agency, the threat to peace and security in the Middle East would be far greater.

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) kicked off a two-week meeting today, closely examining the issues underpinning the current food crisis.