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The instruments used by the United Nations to support countries emerging from conflict to build lasting peace have proved invaluable since they were created over five years ago, Secretary-General said today, urging continued support and resources for this vital pillar of the world body’s work.

The head of the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) has called for a greater national response to the disease in Swaziland, which has the highest rate of HIV prevalence in the world, with more than one in every four people infected.

The ability to bring essential commodities into Gaza, already under an Israeli blockade that is undermining health care, the economy and rehabilitation after last year’s devastating Israeli offensive, was further cut in January by more crossing closures, according to the latest United Nations update.

A new United Nations report calls for greater efforts to advance environmentally sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean, which has witnessed the constant reduction of forest areas and the sustained increase of carbon dioxide emissions.

The focus of relief efforts in Haiti has shifted to post-operative care as the recovery process enters its second month, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported today.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today added its voice to UN plaudits for the news that the international convention banning the manufacture, use and stockpiling of cluster munitions will become law from the start of August.

The top United Nations peacekeeper is flying to Chad next week after the African country called for the withdrawal of the military component of the UN mission that was set up over two years ago after tensions increased along the border with Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region.

The head of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur today issued a call for maximum restraint by all parties following the eruption of deadly violence which has displaced thousands in the troubled Sudanese region in recent days.

The United Nations refugee agency today said that it is encouraged by the first – and so far holding – ceasefire between Government forces and rebels in northern Yemen, where 250,000 civilians have been uprooted since clashes erupted in the country in 2004.

The murderers of a Nepalese media operator and those issuing death threats against journalists covering his death must be brought to justice in the interests of the media pluralism essential for free and informed debate, the United Nations agency entrusted with defending press freedom said today.