Previously, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva had resigned, according to UN Watch Now, the seasoned diplomat has confirmed the news, stating he resigned before writing a blistering letter to his overseas counterparts. Boris Bondarev complained in his letter about Vladimir Putin’s “aggressive war.” A diplomatic official forwarded his English-language statement to The … Read more
Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy, has hailed a broad amnesty aimed at releasing thousands of Syrians imprisoned on terrorism-related offenses. During the country’s tragic 11-year war, President Bashar Assad has issued multiple amnesties, but the most recent in April was the most extensive connected to terrorist allegations since the conflict began, according to rights groups. … Read more
Awatef Massud longs to see her Iraqi family after years spent in Syria, but first she must spend time in a vetting camp to ensure she has no ties to jihadists. The 35-year-old mother of five fled to neighboring Syria in 2014 to escape domestic violence as the Islamic State group swept across large swaths of … Read more
UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen on Sunday welcomed a general amnesty aimed at freeing thousands of Syrians accused of terrorism. Several amnesties have been issued by President Bashar al-Assad during the country’s devastating 11-year war, but the most recent in April was the most comprehensive related to terrorism charges since the conflict began, according to … Read more
On Sunday, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said he spoke with Syrians about “the extremely profound social, economic, and humanitarian issues” they face. Pedersen informed reporters following his meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad that the Syrian Constitutional Committee meeting scheduled for May 28 in Geneva was also discussed during the visit. … Read more
Some 40 former peacekeepers hailing from Ethiopia’s war-wracked Tigray region arrived Sunday in eastern Sudan after seeking asylum, according to an AFP correspondent. Last month, more than 500 UN peacekeepers who were deployed in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan asked Khartoum for asylum, citing fears for their safety if they were … Read more
According to the Interfax news agency, Russia’s foreign ministry has stated that it will only open access to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports if sanctions against the Kremlin are lifted. Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain producers, used to export the majority of its goods via seaports, but since Russia’s invasion, it has been obliged … Read more
The United Nations urged Haiti to take immediate action against “unimaginable” gang violence on Tuesday, citing a deteriorating security situation in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed “deep concern” about the severe human rights impact that a surge in violence involving heavily armed gangs in the city was having … Read more
A humanitarian corridor has been arranged to transport wounded Ukrainian soldiers from the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol to the Russian-controlled town of Novoazovsk, Russia’s defense ministry stated. “An agreement has been reached on the removal of the wounded,” the ministry stated. “A humanitarian corridor has been opened through which wounded Ukrainian servicemen are being … Read more
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Oman on Wednesday, a fellow member of the OPEC+ oil producing alliance, and met with the Gulf Arab state’s governing sultan, according to Omani official media. While advocating moderation and diplomacy to settle the situation, US-allied Gulf governments have not taken sides in the Russia-Ukraine war. Gulf oil companies … Read more
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States’ ambassador to the United Nations, has asked for a “transparent probe” into the assassination of Abu Akleh. She said: “It was really, really horrifying. She was well respected. She was doing her job, the jobs that you all do every single day and I just want to express my condolences to her … Read more
On May 21, Australia, long regarded as a climate policy laggard, will go to the polls, and the results could be crucial for the planet’s future. It is still dependent on coal for the majority of its electricity and is one of the worst countries per capita,. It accounts for just over 1% of worldwide … Read more
Hans Grundberg, the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, arrived in Yemen’s southern port city of Aden on Tuesday for a two-day mission aimed at salvaging a weak truce between warring groups and pushing for the opening of highways in Taiz and the resumption of flights from Houthi-held Sanaa. Grundberg’s visit to Aden came as … Read more
The Czech Republic was chosen to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly to replace Russia. It was suspended last month for its invasion of Ukraine and then abruptly left the 47-member organization. Russia was in the second year of a three-year presidency. The Czech Republic will serve out the remainder … Read more
Kyiv said more than 1,000 Ukrainian forces remained at the massive Azovstal steelworks in the Russian-controlled coastal city of Mariupol on Tuesday. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told AFP that “more than a thousand” Ukrainian military remain in the plant. “Hundreds are injured. There are people with serious injuries who require urgent evacuation. The situation … Read more
The UN human rights director expressed concern Saturday over recent violent conflicts in Ethiopia between Muslims and Orthodox Christians, urging authorities to investigate and bring offenders to justice. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said she was “very disturbed” by the violence that erupted late last month in northern Ethiopia, killing at … Read more
Clashes between two rival gangs on the outskirts of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince have claimed the lives of at least 75 people In less than two weeks, including women and children, according to the UN. The United Nations expressed its “grave worry” about the city’s “rapid deterioration of the security situation.” “According to multiple sources, at … Read more
A panel of UN experts has recommended that the arms embargo on South Sudan be maintained due to ongoing ceasefire violations According to a report released on Saturday. The embargo was set to expire at the end of the month, and the UN Security Council will meet on May 26 to assess the situation. Because … Read more
The UN human rights director expressed concern on Saturday over recent violent conflicts in Ethiopia between Muslims and Orthodox Christians, calling on authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said she was “very disturbed” by the violence that erupted in northern Ethiopia late last month, killing … Read more
50 people were evacuated from the Azovstal steel facility in Mariupol on Saturday. The Ukrainian government and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, “The evacuation of people from the Azovstal steel plant was very difficult. The Russians constantly provoked, did not stop firing, … Read more
15 eyewitness accounts say that the bodies of hundreds of individuals are being purposefully incinerated in an organized attempt to dispose of evidence of ethnic cleansing in Ethiopia’s Tigray area. The charges come after repeated accounts of the Tigrayan population being targeted during the civil war. They also come ahead of the likely deployment of … Read more
Switzerland continues to protect banking secrecy laws; refuses to loosen it for the press Swiss government officials have cast a ballot against slackening the nation’s financial mystery regulations, drawing analysis from the UN and mission bunches who said the regulations will keep on hurting press opportunity. An infamous regulation known as article 47 makes it … Read more
Afghanistan has been dealing with an extreme food crisis, with over 22 million people, or more than half of the country’s population, suffering from severe hunger and the majority unable to predict when their next meal would arrive, the United Nations said. According to a report in Khaama Press, more than 97 percent of Afghans … Read more
About 500 civilians have been evacuated since the start of a UN-led rescue mission in Mariupol and its besieged Azovstal steel complex on Friday, according to the director of Ukraine’s presidential office. “We have managed to evacuate almost 500 civilians,” said Andriy Yermak on Telegram. He stated that Kyiv will “do everything to save all … Read more
A fresh UN convoy was due in Mariupol on Friday to rescue inhabitants from the “bleak hell” of a besieged steel mill, which has become the city’s final pocket of resistance against invading Russian soldiers. The Russian military declared a three-day cease-fire at the location on Thursday, but a Ukrainian general claimed there was still … Read more
President Volodymyr Zelensky requested UN assistance in rescuing the remaining wounded buried beneath the massive Azovstal steel complex. Over 300 Ukrainians were evacuated from the damaged city of Mariupol on Wednesday. In his traditional evening speech to the country, Zelensky claimed 344 people were evacuated from Mariupol and surrounding areas and were heading northwest to … Read more
On Wednesday, UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) demanded that the Houthis free two of its employees. “As families across Yemen gather to mark Eid Al-Fitr this year, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urge the immediate release of two of their staff members who have … Read more
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed on Tuesday for the safe and “dignified” repatriation of individuals displaced by Nigeria’s terrorist insurgency, as local authorities dismantle camps and urge people to return to their towns. Over a decade of conflict in the country’s northeast between the military and Boko Haram and its spinoff Islamic State West Africa … Read more
