Syria: Thousands of displaced head home, but many refugees still wary
The development comes as a recent survey of Syrian refugees in the region reveals that some 75 per cent of respondents have no plans to go back anytime soon. OCHA said movements out of displacement camps in Syria remain limited,…
Aid surge into Gaza continues, UN teams prioritize immediate needs
Amid reports that a return to full-scale war at the weekend may have been averted with the announcement by Hamas that it would comply with the agreed release of Israeli hostages, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs…
‘No time to lose’ in Gaza, as ceasefire offers fragile respite
“There is no time to lose,” said the head of the office responsible for UN reconstruction efforts (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva, during a briefing in New York via videolink from the Middle East, following his visit to Gaza this…
Political solution to end war in Yemen is achievable, UN envoy says
Hans Grundberg briefed on latest political developments in the country, where Houthi rebels, also known as Ansar Allah, and Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, have been battling for power for more than a decade. He spoke alongside UN…
DR Congo: Shortage of humanitarian routes threatens aid operation, top UN official warns
“The frontline is getting closer to Kavumu Airport,” warned Bruno Lemarquis on Wednesday. Following the fall of regional capital Goma, in North Kivu, at the end of January, the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group is now making headway against Congelese Government…
UNICEF sounds alarm over child crisis in eastern DR Congo
Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, expressed deep concern over the devastating impact on children and families. “In North and South Kivu provinces, we are receiving horrific reports of grave violations against children by parties to the conflict, including rape and…
Bangladesh protests probe reveals top leaders led brutal repression
In addition to those killed by the former government’s security and intelligence services alongside Awami League party associates, a report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) into the alleged crimes indicated that thousands were…
13 children killed in the West Bank since year began: UNICEF
In a statement issued by Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, the agency called for “the immediate cessation of armed activity across the occupied West Bank”. A 10-year-old Palestinian boy died from gunshot wounds…
Security Council: Syrian leaders urged to prioritise inclusive transition
Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council, Geir Pedersen acknowledged commitments made by interim leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa but stressed that Syrians across the country expect tangible actions. “All Syrians I met…stressed to me how much they want institutional appointments, the transitional…
Guterres calls for probe into death of WFP staff member detained in Yemen
“Heartbroken and outraged by the tragic loss of WFP team member, Ahmed, who lost his life while arbitrarily detained in Yemen,” Executive Director Cindy McCain said on Tuesday in a post on the social media platform X. She described him…