Sudan: UN-hosted talks on aid relief and civilian protection to continue in Geneva
Heavy conflict erupted last April between rival militaries over a proposed transition to civilian rule, following a military coup in 2021 and the 2019 ousting of long-time President Omar Al-Bashir. UN Geneva spokesperson Alessandra Vellucci confirmed that only one of…
DR Congo: Conflict escalation linked to deadly Mpox threat
For decades, conflict in the mineral-rich eastern DRC has triggered alarming levels of violence, mass displacement, widespread disease, gender-based violence and severe mental trauma, explained Dr Adelheid Marschang, Senior Emergency Officer at the World Health Organization (WHO). ‘Chronic and acute…
Top official warns of weakened regional security following withdrawal from West African economic bloc by Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger
Leonardo Santos Simão, who heads the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), told the Security Council that by “renouncing ECOWAS”, the three military-led governments would be “relinquishing key benefits” including regional integration, freedom of movement, security cooperation…
Gaza: There is no alternative to UNRWA, Guterres declares
Speaking at a pledging conference for the agency, the UN chief outlined the countless challenges facing Palestinian civilians in Gaza who are “forced to move like human pinballs across a landscape of destruction and death”. “Hopelessness is the greatest ally…
UN humanitarians report severe displacement and critical needs in Gaza City
He said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and other partners were present on the trip. “The team said those displaced urgently need food, water, healthcare and protection,” Mr. Dujarric said during his daily…
Eswatini-Belarus ties spark health care advances
MBABANE, ESWATINI — Eswatini, in an ambitious bid to overhaul its health care system, is partnering with Belarus, paving the way for what officials in the southern African nation hope will be increased access to critical medicines, and the sharing…
Hungary’s Orban, a NATO outlier on Ukraine, talks ‘peace mission’ with Trump
WASHINGTON — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Donald Trump on Thursday and the pair discussed the “possibilities of peace,” a spokesperson for the prime minister said as he pushes for a cease-fire in Ukraine. Trump and Orban met…
Biden announces new $225 million military aid package for Ukraine
President Joe Biden announced a significant new military aid package for Ukraine Thursday at the NATO summit in Washington. The president made the announcement about the $225 million package during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Presidential Drawdown…
‘Putin shall not prevail’ in Ukraine, Norway’s foreign minister tells VOA
This week’s NATO summit in Washington marks 75 years of alliance among countries all over the world. Among the founding members is Norway. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide spoke with VOA regarding the possibility of Ukraine joining…
WHO: Limited surveillance hampers bird flu risk assessment
The World Health Organization said its ability to assess and manage the risk posed by H5N1 avian influenza — bird flu — cases around the world is hampered by limited surveillance of animal and human cases of the disease. At…