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After heavy rains in southwestern Algeria last week resulted in devastating floods, the United Nations refugee agency has airlifted emergency aid to 11,000 families living in five camps in the region.

The head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) today condemned the actions of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLM/A) in Opposition for holding UN personnel hostage, and refuted allegations that the Mission was transporting weapons and fuel for the South Sudanese group.

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the people, Government and political parties of Tanzania for the peaceful and orderly manner in which the country held its elections on 25 October 2015.

The United Nations welcomes the intention expressed by both the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to establish a bilateral ceasefire by the end of the year, a spokesperson for the world body said today.

“A very significant number” of Eritreans are fleeing a country “that is not in a situation of conflict or unrest” to seek a life free from fear, the head of a UN-appointed commission of inquiry on human rights in the east African nation told the UN General Assembly today.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) hosted the fifth session of the International Convention against Doping in Sport at its headquarters in Paris today, with the theme of educating young sportspersons about the danger of using prohibited substances.

Warning of worsening violence and humanitarian crises across areas of East and Central Africa, the Head of Operations for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), John Ging, today called for additional support to “people and communities who have faced years of crisis in Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia.”

A United Nations independent expert today called on all those in positions of authority in Myanmar to ensure that respect for the human rights of all must be at the core of the historic elections due to take place in 10 days’ time.

At least 15 people have died and some 38 others are missing in five incidents involving smuggler boats carrying hundreds of refugees and migrants by sea between Turkey and the Greek islands, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

Disaster response specialists, including from the United Nations and other organizations, gathered in Suva, Fiji this week for the annual Pacific Humanitarian Partnership meeting, where the focus has been on high rates of preventable mortality and morbidity among women and children in the disaster-prone region.