Eight countries bordering the Indian Ocean were directly affected by the 2004 tsunami, destroying entire communities and killing 230,000 people, mainly women and children.

The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, is encouraging Spain to safeguard the rights of people seeking protection on the continent, as it takes up the European Union Presidency on January 1st, 2010.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday agreed to partner with the Iraqi Ministry of Trade to strengthen the country’s food distribution capacity.

The International Organization for Migration is urgently appealing for funds to help as many as seven hundred migrants in Iraq to return home in the next two years.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on world leaders to redouble their efforts to seal a deal at the climate change talks in Copenhagen.

In 2009, the number of Afghans returning to their homeland has dropped to 54,000, a significant decrease since last year.

After a brief walkout on Monday, African nations attending UN talks on climate change in Copenhagen agreed to return to the negotiations.