UN News stories

44 stories found over the past 45 days
Syria: UN agencies assist thousands displaced by recent deadly violence in Baniyas area

10 May 2013 – United Nations agencies today said they have begun distribution of emergency assistance to thousands of Syrians who were recently displaced by alleged massacres in Baniyas and its surrounding areas.

International community must not become 'numb' to atrocities in Syria – UN rights chief

10 May 2013 – The international community must act to stop the conflict in Syria and ensure those responsible for human rights violations are held accountable, the United Nations human rights chief said today following reports of massacres in Baniyas, as well as displacement of civilians due to military build-up in Qusayr.

Syria: Ban and Special Representative welcome US-Russia accord to spur political solution

08 May 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, today welcomed the statements by Russia and the United States that they would work together to achieve a political solution to end a conflict that has claimed more than 70,000 lives over the past two years.

Secretary-General calls for immediate release of UN peacekeepers held in Golan Heights

07 May 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called today for the immediate release of four peacekeepers being held by “armed elements” in the Golan Heights.

Increasing number of displaced Syrians concentrated near Aleppo, Damascus – UN reports

07 May 2013 – Syrians forced by the ongoing violence to leave their homes are often displaced more than once and are concentrated around Aleppo and rural Damascus, the United Nations emergency relief arm today said, as aid agencies faced bureaucratic hurdles and insecurity trying to reach hard-to-access areas.

Syria: UN human rights Inquiry has ‘no conclusive findings’ on use of chemical weapons

06 May 2013 – With its investigation continuing into violations of human rights in Syria, an independent United Nations panel today said it has “no conclusive findings” regarding the use of chemical weapons by any of the parties to the conflict in the country.

UN chief calls for maximum calm and restraint after reported Israeli air strikes in Syria

05 May 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is gravely concerned about reports of air strikes in Syria by the Israeli Air Force, according to a statement from his spokesperson, which stressed that the United Nations does not have details of the reported incidents nor is in a position to independently verify that they took place.

Palestinian refugees displaced in ever greater numbers by Syrian violence, says UN agency

30 April 2013 – Increasing numbers of Palestinian refugees in Syria are being killed, injured or displaced amid the intensifying violence in the Middle Eastern country, a United Nations agency warned today as it appealed to all sides to resolve the conflict through dialogue and political negotiations.

UN steps up vaccination campaigns amid measles outbreaks among uprooted Syrians

30 April 2013 – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners have stepped up vaccination campaigns in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey amid measles outbreaks in a region already struggling to provide humanitarian assistance to millions of people affected by ongoing conflict in Syria.

UN chief: Member States must strengthen democracy, preserve fundamental freedoms

29 April 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed efforts by the world’s democratic nations in working to strengthen their foundations, while calling on all global leaders to guarantee fundamental freedoms and listen to their people.