In a joint statement, the heads of the UN’s aid agencies warned that “we are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life,” with Israeli displacement orders forcing hundreds of thousands to flee – with nowhere safe to go. “With the tightened Israeli blockade on Gaza now in its second […]
Córdoba in Argentina, Fortaleza in Brazil and Manchester in the UK picked up accolades at a healthy cities summit, co-hosted by the UN World Health Organization (WHO), Bloomberg Philanthropies and Vital Strategies. The Argentinian city won recognition for its policy to eliminate sugary and artificially sweetened drinks – along with ultra-processed foods – from all […]
Speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters, António Guterres also repeated his call for a renewed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and the release of all hostages still being held inside the shattered enclave. No food, fuel, medicine and commercial items have entered Gaza since 2 March following the Israeli blockade, and supplies are piling up […]
Melting glaciers, climate crises and access to clean water are some of the messages emerging ahead of World Water Day and on the first ever World Day for Glaciers. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
In Gaza, ongoing Israeli military operations and the aid blockade have continued to add to daily fears and hardships being faced by those about to give birth in the devastated enclave.
2025 marks a milestone: the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the deadline for countries to submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), designed to keep the global goal alive of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Addressing the 16th Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD) in Berlin – the first official gathering on climate […]
OCHA said dozens of people, including at least eight children, were killed in Gaza City on Wednesday after an Israeli strike hit a residential building. Many others are still missing under the rubble. The agency stressed that civilians must be protected and should never be a target. Medical evacuations and displacement orders Israel’s total blockade on […]
The race toward renewable energy is accelerating. And for all the looming challenges of the climate crisis, signs of progress are clear: Solar panels are beginning to blanket deserts, wind turbines dot coastlines, and hydropower dams are harnessing powerful rivers to generate electricity without the carbon pollution that has made fossil fuels the single largest […]
“Today, we have a new Syria, one that’s brimming with hope and opportunity,” David Carden told journalists at UN Headquarters in New York. He warned, however, that “while the levels of conflict have subsided in many parts of the country, the humanitarian crisis in Syria is far from over,” as 16 million people require assistance. […]
Speaking at an event commemorating Sunday’s International Day of Zero Waste, Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to curb the textile industry’s devastating impact on the planet. “Dressing to kill could kill the planet,” he stressed. The fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting sectors, responsible for up to eight per cent […]
“Syria’s opportunity to stabilise after 14 years of conflict must be supported and protected, for Syrians and for Israelis,” said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. “This is the only way regional peace and security can be realized.” Transition under threat Mr. Khiari and the head of UN Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, […]
The Second WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health co-hosted by the World Health Organization and Colombia, in the city of Cartagena, brought together over 700 participants from 100 countries – including heads of state, ministers, scientists, and civil society groups — to accelerate action to curb what’s increasingly described as a full-scale health […]
The estimates are from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, which on Friday called for increased funding to support Syrian returnees as needs intensify at a time when aid budgets globally are being slashed. “Since the fall of the Assad regime, returning home and starting anew has become a possibility for Syrians,” said UNHCR spokesperson Céline […]
The Emergency Relief Coordinator tweeted that UN teams are being “supported by expertise across our global network”. News reports quoting sources in the Burmese city of Mandalay, close to the epicentre of the quake, indicate that hundreds have died. In neighbouring Thailand more than 80 construction workers are missing, according to the Thai deputy prime […]
Hostilities in the Gaza Strip resumed mid-March following the collapse of the ceasefire and Israel’s border closure. As it enters its sixth week, the denial of aid into the enclave has left more than 2.1 million Gazans trapped without access to food, drinking water, and basic services. Israel in recent weeks has ramped up its […]
The study also highlights positive developments amid the bleak news, such as the growing role of renewable energy in the region and the power of early warning systems to save lives. “In 2024, weather and climate impacts cascaded from the Andes to the Amazon, from crowded cities to coastal communities, causing major economic and environmental […]
Every day, he drives his water truck through the Strip, filling up empty tanks and vessels. Our camera accompanied Alloush on a recent arduous mission to provide a little water to the residents of Jabalia. UN News’ correspondent met Alloush in Jabalia’s desalination plant, where he spends hours waiting for water. Like everywhere else in Gaza, […]
The earthquakes of 7.7 and 6.4 magnitude struck Myanmar in the centre of the country northwest of Sagaing. The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported on Saturday that hospitals in the area are overwhelmed with extensive damage to health infrastructure. The areas affected are Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Northeastern Shan and Sagaing. Internet […]
“Al Ahli Hospital is out of service,” WHO spokesperson Dr Margaret Harris told UN News, after the airstrike early on Sunday morning. “The pharmacy was destroyed, many of the different buildings and services were destroyed.” Some 40 patients whose condition is too critical to be moved from the health facility are continuing to receive care, while the […]
According to news reports citing Myanmar’s military leader, around 1,700 are confirmed dead from Friday’s 7.7 magnitude quake, with some 3,400 injured and hundreds still missing. In the Thai capital Bangkok which was also rocked by the seismic event, 76 construction workers are reportedly still missing following the collapse of an unfinished skyscraper. The death […]