Photo stories: Year in review

Young girls pass by a vehicle belonging to the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), as they return from school in a camp for internally displaced persons, Zam Zam, Sudan. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged countries to speed up their peacekeeping deployments to the troubled region, saying, “The people of Darfur depend on us.” (January 2008) Credit: UN Photo/Stuart Price

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives at work at United Nations Headquarters, New York, in the “Solartaxi” – a fully solar-powered car. He said the ride was a “fantastic experience” and advocated a more creative approach to alternate sources of energy around the world. (September 2008) Credit: UN Photo/Mark Garten

A young Iraqi child in Syria after fleeing his home town of Mosul in northern Iraq, where a surge in violence has prompted an exodus of refugees. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is helping thousands of Iraqi refugees who have fled to neighbouring Syria, which is already hosting at least 1.4 million refugees from the strife-torn nation. (October 2008) Credit: UNHCR/B.Auger

Over 250,000 internally displaced persons fled fighting that broke out in August in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Following allegations of war crimes by armed groups on the Congolese civilian population, the UN Mission in the DR Congo (MONUC) sent an assessment team to collect civilian testimonials. (November 2008) Credit: MONUC/Marie Frechon

Octogenarian Ratna Maya Thapa shows her voter registration card after walking one-and-a-half hours to cast her ballot in the historic Nepalese Constituent Assembly elections. The UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), a special political mission in support of the country’s peace process, provided technical aid and advice to the country’s Election Commission. (April 2008) Credit: UN Photo/Nayan Tara

Members of the Jordanian battalion of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) carry children through flood waters after rescuing them from an orphanage in Port-au-Prince destroyed by Hurricane Ike, the fourth storm to strike the Caribbean in less than a month. (September 2008) Credit: UN Photo/Marco Dormino

Cereals are displayed for sale in the central market of Kabul, Afghanistan, where due to soaring food prices many people cannot afford regular daily meals. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates the global food crisis pushed the number of undernourished worldwide to nearly 1 billion in 2008. (June 2008) Credit: Manoocher Deghati/IRIN

A young child in Gaza observes damage caused by Israeli air strikes which began on 27 December. The UN estimates that over 300 people were killed by the end of the year, as hostilities escalated between Israel and supporters of Hamas. According to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the impact of the violence on 1.5 million Gazans was “nothing short of terrifying.” (December 2008)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits Ying Xiu Township at the epicenter of a massive earthquake that struck China on 12 May. Measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale, the quake claimed some 70,000 lives and left millions of others homeless. The UN system in China has mobilized nearly $40 million to help survivors rebuild their lives. ( May 2008) Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider

A survivor of Cyclone Nargis surveys his flooded farmland in the Ayeyarwady Delta region, Myanmar. The cyclone struck on 2 and 3 May, killing 140,000 and leaving 2.4 million in need of humanitarian assistance. After talks with the country’s leader, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced international aid workers would be allowed into the hardest-hit areas. (May 2008) Credit: UN/Evan Schneider