UN chief welcomes continued Gaza ceasefire and hostage release
A note to media correspondents was released by the UN on Sunday, a day after the release of three Israeli hostages from Gaza, in exchange for 369 Palestinians held in Israel’s jails. The exchange forms part of the first phase…
Africa ‘brimming with hope and possibility’: Guterres
“The partnership between the United Nations and the African Union has never been stronger,” said the UN chief, striking a positive tone from the outset. “Together, we see an Africa brimming with hope and possibility.” The Secretary-General noted the “booming,…
World must not turn its back on Sudan’s deepening crisis: Guterres
Speaking at a high-level humanitarian conference in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, António Guterres described the situation in Sudan as a catastrophe of “staggering scale and brutality”. He warned that it is increasing spilling into the wider region. “It is…
Belarus: Violations remain ‘widespread and systematic’, says independent expert group
The Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus established in 2024, was tasked with investigating alleged violations since 2020 – when a disputed election saw President Alexander Lukashenko returned to power for a sixth term –…
Sudan, ‘the most devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world’
1) The war: 2023 Khartoum clashes herald end of peace process By the end of 2022, there were hopes that a UN- backed peace process would finally lead to a civilian administration in Sudan, after a tumultuous period which saw…
DR Congo displacement, health crisis worsens amid dwindling aid access
“The crisis is worsening as people flee to areas where humanitarian aid cannot reach due to insecurity,” UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Eujin Byun told reporters in Geneva. The development comes a day after the top UN aid official in…
UN rights office condemns continuing Israeli military operation in West Bank
Since the start of the offensive on 21 January, Israeli forces have killed at least 44 Palestinians, including five children and two women, in Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas governorates, and four refugee camps in those areas, according to OHCHR. Many…
Strike on Chernobyl: ‘No room for complacency’ says atomic energy watchdog
Russia has denied any responsibility for the attack. The head of the UN-backed international atomic energy watchdog, IAEA – which has a team based at the former Soviet nuclear site in Ukraine – issued a statement confirming that the strike had…
Airing climate justice in Costa Rica on World Radio Day
In a crucial year for climate action which, in accordance with the Paris Agreement, seeks to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, World Radio Day is dedicated in 2025 to highlighting the power of broadcasting to bring climate…
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,…