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The effort towards forming a unity government in Libya will continue, the United Nations envoy for the country said today, emphasizing that while a position had been announced that some parties had not voted for the UN-backed political agreement, “there is no chance for small groups or personalities to hijack this process.”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres today convened with the European Union a pledging conference to rally support for Somalia by creating conditions for the voluntary return of refugees to the east African nation faced with “one of the most complex crisis in recent history.”

In the light of upcoming elections in Myanmar and amid reports of rising religious intolerance, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today welcomed a joint statement by the leaders of four main religious groups in the country calling for tolerance and respect of religious freedom as essential conditions for every child to grow and develop to their full potential.

On the second day of his visit to Israel and Palestine to ease the current tensions in the region, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate end to violence, which “will only push back the day…both sides will live in peace and security,” and pledged the support of the United Nations to all efforts to create the conditions to make meaningful negotiations possible.

The humanitarian situation in Iraq is deteriorating and growing more complex, as conflict protracts, coping capacities diminish, and funding falls short, according to a report issued today by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the holding of reunions of separated families of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), and stressed that humanitarian measures such as this should be regularized and not subject to political security and considerations.

During a debate on the working methods of the Security Council, the President of the General Assembly, as well as the Deputy Secretary-General and the Vice President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) emphasized the need for continued and improved interaction between the main bodies of the United Nations.

A new joint United Nations agency-Myanmar Government report paints a grim picture of the destruction caused by flooding in the country, where more than half a million hectares of rice paddy were affected and almost a quarter of a million livestock were killed, including poultry, cattle, pigs and goats, when Cyclone Komen struck in late July and early August this year.

As the approaching winter has left a small time window for aid workers to reach earthquake-hit, high-altitude areas in Nepal, the United Nations humanitarian wing and its partners are racing against the clock to ensure timely delivery of food and shelter supplies to the isolated communities.

The United Nations Security Council today expressed its deep concern about the recent upsurge of violence and instability in the Central African Republic (CAR), and reiterated its decision to apply an asset freeze and travel ban to those engaging in or providing support for acts that undermine the peace, stability or security of the country.