Armed groups install ‘parallel administration’ in DR Congo, Security Council hears
That’s according to the head of the UN stabilization mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita, who briefed the Security Council in New York on Thursday over escalating violence and displacement in the country since M23 overran the key cities of Goma…
UN calls for immediate ceasefire as South Sudan edges closer to renewed civil war
“To prevent a relapse into civil war, the Parties must recommit to the Revitalized Peace Agreement by ceasing all hostilities and strictly adhering to the ceasefire, resolving grievances through dialogue, and reconvening as a truly unified government,” said Nicholas Haysom,…
UN welcomes Black Sea talks, warns of worsening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine
In a statement, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres, said the UN chief’s good offices remain available to support all efforts towards a lasting peace in Ukraine. “Reaching an agreement on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea to…
Yemen: Ten Years of War, a Lifetime of Loss
Ten years. That’s how long Yemenis have been putting their lives on hold – through airstrikes, through hunger, through loss. A decade of war has left Yemen’s infrastructure in ruins and its people exhausted. And yet, as the eleventh year…
Gaza: No aid has reached war-torn enclave for more than three weeks
And as supplies of food, medicine and other supplies run low, aid teams are increasingly concerned about growing anxiety in bread lines outside the enclave’s remaining bakeries. “Most attempts by humanitarian organizations to coordinate access with Israeli authorities within #Gaza result in #AccessDenied,” the…
Sudan: Rights chief deplores deadly army strikes on North Darfur market
Volker Türk issued a statement on Wednesday saying he was deeply shocked by reports that hundreds of civilians were killed, and scores injured, in the 24 March strikes on a busy market in Tora Village. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)…
Migrant deaths in Asia hit record high in 2024, UN data reveals
This represents a staggering 59 per cent increase from the 1,584 deaths recorded in 2023, highlighting the worsening dangers faced by people on the move. “No one should lose their life in pursuit of safety or a better future,” said…
Niger: Mosque attack which killed 44 should be ‘wake-up call’, says rights chief
On 21 March, assailants from the so-called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) – an ISIL affiliate – surrounded Fambita Mosque and randomly shot at worshippers, according to a statement from Niger’s defence ministry. They then reportedly set a…
Aid operations stretched to the limit in Burundi by ongoing DR Congo crisis
The UN agency has swiftly mobilized additional resources to address but the sharp rise in refugee numbers has put immense pressure on all assistance operations in the region. Since the beginning of the year nearly 70,000 individuals – primarily women,…
‘Fragility and hope’ mark new era in Syria amid ongoing violence and aid struggles
On 6 March, armed groups linked to the deposed Assad regime ambushed forces of the caretaker administration led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, targeting military and internal security forces as well as several hospitals. Mr. Pedersen described the violence as “sectarian and…