‘Our worst held fears are being confirmed’: Dozens of bodies discovered in Libya mass graves

‘Our worst held fears are being confirmed’: Dozens of bodies discovered in Libya mass graves

“Our worst held fears are being confirmed: dozens of bodies have been discovered at these sites, along with the discovery of suspected instruments of torture and abuse, and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings,” Türk said. The sites where bodies were discovered are run by the Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA), an armed group tasked with increasing […]

Haiti: WFP concerned over humanitarian situation as hurricane season begins

Haiti: WFP concerned over humanitarian situation as hurricane season begins

With roughly half the population, 5.7 million people, facing some sort of emergency level of hunger, Haiti is one of five countries in the world with catastrophic levels of hunger.   “Despite all the violence, displacement and collapse”, WFP remains in Haiti, Lola Castro, Regional Director in Latin America and the Caribbean, said during a briefing […]

World News in Brief: Aid for Syria, children under attack in Mozambique, rights-based climate action

World News in Brief: Aid for Syria, children under attack in Mozambique, rights-based climate action

Despite limited resources, the UN and partners are reaching some 2.5 million people each month across the country. In May alone, more than one million people received assistance, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Cross-border aid has significantly increased this year. Since January, 1,185 humanitarian trucks have crossed from Türkiye […]

Five humanitarians killed in ‘horrendous’ attack on aid convoy in Sudan

Five humanitarians killed in ‘horrendous’ attack on aid convoy in Sudan

The World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemned the attack on the joint humanitarian convoy and reminded the international community that under humanitarian law, aid must be able to move securely.   “Aid convoys must be protected and parties have the obligation to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of […]

As displacement surges in South Sudan, regional humanitarian crisis deepens

As displacement surges in South Sudan, regional humanitarian crisis deepens

Violence between armed groups in Upper Nile state and other flashpoints has crippled essential services, triggered food insecurity and worsened disease outbreaks, including cholera – forcing some to be displaced repeatedly. Roughly 65,000 have been internally displaced in Upper Nile state alone.  Access to aid in conflict hotspots is limited, with fighting and movement restrictions […]

Sudan: Rise in people fleeing to Chad as violence surges

Sudan: Rise in people fleeing to Chad as violence surges

Overall, some 1.2 million Sudanese have found shelter in eastern Chad, mostly after fleeing intensifying violence in their country.  More than 844,000 crossed the border after war broke out in Sudan in April 2023. Prior to this, Chad was hosting roughly 409,000 Sudanese refugees who had fled earlier conflict in Darfur. ‘A crisis of humanity’ […]

Five countries elected to serve on UN Security Council

Five countries elected to serve on UN Security Council

They will serve through the end of 2027 on the UN body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. They will join the five non-permanent members elected last year – Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia – who will serve through 2026. The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent members – China, France, Russia, […]

Gaza: UN rights chief condemns new killings around private aid hub

Gaza: UN rights chief condemns new killings around private aid hub

“Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime,” the High Commissioner said in a statement, issued after Palestinians were reportedly killed seeking assistance for a third day running. Mr. Türk also urged Israel to respect “binding orders” issued by the International Court of Justice to fully cooperate with the […]

World News in Brief: Guterres condemns antisemitic attacks, ILO to debate pros and cons of working online, Sudan, Ukraine updates

World News in Brief: Guterres condemns antisemitic attacks, ILO to debate pros and cons of working online, Sudan, Ukraine updates

A man was arrested in Boulder after reportedly using a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to set people on fire at an event in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza on Sunday. The suspect reportedly yelled “Free Palestine” during the attack and now faces federal hate crime charges along with multiple felonies. The attack injured at […]

UN calls for ‘immediate and unconditional’ release of aid workers arbitrarily detained in Yemen

UN calls for ‘immediate and unconditional’ release of aid workers arbitrarily detained in Yemen

In a statement on Monday, António Guterres strongly condemned the death in detention of a World Food Programme (WFP) staff member earlier this year. The Houthis have yet to provide “an explanation for this deplorable tragedy,” António Guterres said, renewing his call for “an immediate, transparent and thorough investigation and accountability.” Profound injustice “The UN and its humanitarian […]

Deadly flooding in Nigeria displaces thousands

Deadly flooding in Nigeria displaces thousands

Nigerian officials estimate that over 500 people are still missing and presumed dead, according to news reports. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, a former Nigerian Government minister, said she was heartbroken at the extent of the loss and damage. “My deepest condolences to all those affected – especially the families who have lost loved ones. My prayers […]

Germany’s Annalena Baerbock elected President of the 80th General Assembly

Germany’s Annalena Baerbock elected President of the 80th General Assembly

She assumes the role at a challenging time, with ongoing conflicts, faltering development goals, mounting financial pressures, and the upcoming selection of the next Secretary-General. Ms. Baerbock received 167 votes following the secret ballot. Write-in candidate Helga Schmid (also from Germany) received seven. Fourteen delegations abstained. She becomes the first woman from the Western European […]

Gaza: Guterres urges probe into killings at food distribution sites

Gaza: Guterres urges probe into killings at food distribution sites

More than 30 people were killed and over 100 wounded while waiting in the early morning to get food from two sites in Rafah and Middle Gaza run by the newly established Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to media reports. The organization is backed by Israel and the United States and uses private US security […]

As AI evolves, pressure mounts to regulate ‘killer robots’

As AI evolves, pressure mounts to regulate ‘killer robots’

Every day, we voluntarily give up information about ourselves to machines. This happens when we accept an online cookie or use a search engine. We barely think about how our data is sold and used before clicking “agree” to get to the page we want, dimly aware that it will be used to target us […]

‘Justice is long overdue’: Guterres calls for reparations for enslavement and colonialism

‘Justice is long overdue’: Guterres calls for reparations for enslavement and colonialism

“Africa is a continent of boundless energy and possibility. But for too long, the colossal injustices inflicted by enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism have been left unacknowledged and unaddressed,” he said. The United Nations has repeatedly said that slavery and the transatlantic slave trade constituted crimes against humanity, and the Secretary-General has repeatedly […]