Japan: Safeguarding a mother tongue and mother nature
Even though both Nami and Tomoyuki were born on Okinoerabu Island (currently home to only 12,000 inhabitants), neither learned to speak Shimamuni – a local variety of the Kunigami language – fluently as children. Kunigami was added to UNESCO’s Atlas…
UN teams dispatch aid as deadly flash floods hit northern Afghanistan
Flash floods in the area have reportedly killed at least 300 people, including 51 children, with many more injured, with these figures expected to increase as additional reports come in, according to UN agencies. UN chief António Guterres expressed his…
Madagascar: Coordination, convergence and change from the grass roots up
Those are the questions that UN agencies on the ground in Madagascar are considering as the island nation struggles against climate change, huge humanitarian needs and persistent underdevelopment. UNICEF’s Deputy Representative, Head of Programmes Gilles Chevalier and Natasha van Rijn…
In Nairobi, Guterres reiterates appeal for end to Gaza war
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, he warned that “the fate of Palestinians and the entire region hangs in the balance.” More than a million Palestinians are crowded into Rafah Governorate in southern Gaza as Israeli military operations continue…
UN General Assembly presses Security Council to give ‘favourable consideration’ to full Palestinian membership
What does the resolution mean? Here’s a quick recap of what this means: by adopting this resolution the General Assembly will upgrade the rights of the State of Palestine within the world body, but not the right to vote or…
Gaza: As exodus from Rafah continues, UN urges reopening of aid lines
“As Israeli Forces bombardment intensifies in Rafah, forced displacement continues,” said the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in a post on X. “Around 110,000 people have now fled Rafah looking for safety. But, nowhere is safe in the Gaza…
UN expert raises alarm over unfair treatment of pro-Palestinian student protesters in US
“I am deeply troubled by the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, arrests, detentions, police violence, surveillance and disciplinary measures and sanctions against members of the educational community exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” UN Special Rapporteur…
UNRWA staff ‘not going anywhere’ despite forced closure of East Jerusalem compound
For roughly two months, demonstrations have been held outside the East Jerusalem compound, which is in an area where many Israeli settlements are located. The situation came to a head on Thursday evening when Israeli residents lit fires at two…
‘Outrageous’ arson attack forces UNRWA to temporarily shutter East Jerusalem compound
Posting on social media, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said “Israeli residents set fire twice to the perimeter” on Thursday evening. UNRWA personnel and staff from other UN agencies were inside the compound at the time. “Our director with the help of other staff had to put…
Somalia urged to take ‘concrete action’ against officials who violate citizens’ rights
Concluding an official visit to the Horn of Africa nation Isha Dyfan highlighted the impact on civilians, especially women and children, who continue to bear the brunt of deadly attacks carried out by Al-Shabaab terrorists. “I strongly condemn the continued…