“The target is to get between 500 and 600 trucks in per day over the coming weeks,” said Dr Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT). This would represent “a huge increase” from the 40 to 50 lorries reaching Gaza in recent months and be similar to...
icardo Pires, UNICEF Communication Manager for Emergencies, told journalists from Damascus that in the last nine years, at least 422,000 incidents involving unexploded ordnance – or UXO – were reported in 14 governorates across Syria, “with half estimated to have ended in tragic child casualties”. “Girls and boys in the...
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stressed that no place and no one in Gaza has been safe since the war began in October 2023. “As the year begins, we got reports of yet another attack on Al Mawasi with dozens of people killed and injured,” he said, calling this “another reminder that...
Tragically, the year also saw the highest death toll of migrants in transit. “These challenges are made worse by the rising tide of mis- and disinformation and hate speech which sows division and distorts the valuable contributions migrants are making each and every day,” said Secretary-General António Guterres. The potential...
Human Rights Day, marked annually on 10 December, will focus on the theme Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now. UN News app users can follow our live coverage here. ...
Observed annually on 1 December, the World AIDS Day serves as a reminder of the global fight against the pandemic while commemorating lives lost and celebrating progress. “Every 25 seconds, someone in the world is infected with HIV,” Mr. Guterres said. “One-quarter of people living with HIV – more than...
Commemorated on Saturday, the Day of Remembrance pays tribute to those killed or injured by chemical weapons and urges nations to ensure such horrors are never repeated. In his message, the Secretary-General highlighted a major milestone achieved last year: the complete destruction of declared stockpiles under the Chemical Weapons Convention....
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami – one of the deadliest disasters in recent history. More than 230,000 people lost their lives,” Mr. Guterres said in his message for the day. The Secretary General highlighted that approximately 700 million people worldwide remain at risk from tsunamis,...
These pressing issues necessitate urgent action and World Cities Day, celebrated on October 31, offers a platform to reflect on the unprecedented challenges that they face. Designated by the United Nations General Assembly through resolution 68/239, it aims to elevate the international community’s focus to promote sustainable development and tackle the...
Everyone has a right to food. World Food Day, marked annually on 16 October, is being celebrated in more than 150 countries and over 50 languages. Stay tuned throughout the day as we take you to Rome for the main event at 10am local time at the headquarters of the...
In a message marking Sunday’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, António Guterres highlighted the severe impact of disasters on children. “When disasters strike, they unleash enormous devastation on individuals, societies and economies. The ripple effects of death, destruction and displacement are unimaginable. Today, disasters are often supercharged by the...
In a new alert, UNRWA highlighted how Gazans’ shelters have become a target for insects and rodents after more than 11 months of war – echoing deep concerns among humanitarians about the lack of basic hygiene items that have left families unprotected from communicable diseases. Echoing those warnings, top independent...