All articles tagged with #un
Overnight, armed gangs swept through Kenscoff overlooking Port-au-Prince, killing at least 47 and wounding more than 22, the UN said; the hillside enclave has faced repeated attacks as gangs widen their grip, prompting anger at authorities and calls for accountability as UN-backed security forces push to bolster protection.
In the UN Security Council’s second informal straw poll for secretary-general, Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett of Guyana rose to first place with eight encouraging votes, while Uganda’s Olara Otunnu posted the largest gain; however, no candidate secured the nine affirmative votes needed to command a lead, and the race remains open with ongoing polling and no announced date for the next ballot.
The UN warns the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading exponentially, with the death toll surpassing 2,500 as conflict, funding shortages, and attacks on health workers hinder containment; more than 260 attacks on health staff, 43 worker deaths, and no vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, fuel urgent calls for more funding and personnel to curb regional spread.
Palestinian families in Qusra, West Bank, have been besieged by settlers since Sunday, with water and electricity cut and food running low; Israeli forces briefly withdrew from the outpost, and a Palestinian ambulance later delivered aid after a child was treated. The UN warns the West Bank is at breaking point amid rising settler violence and displacement, as rights groups call for protection and accountability.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis struck displacement camps in Marib with missiles and drones, killing two and wounding 14, after deadly strikes in Marib and Hadramawt; the group claimed targeting Saudi-backed forces at the Sahn al-Jinn camp, though Reuters could not independently verify those claims. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg warned the renewed violence—along with attacks on Red Sea shipping—puts Yemen at the greatest risk of a wider conflict since the 2022 truce and urged restraint and UN-facilitated negotiations.
At a UN Security Council session on Ukraine, the United States walked out as France condemned Washington for opposing a four‑year extension for UN rights chief Volker Turk, amid a broader clash over human rights votes. The General Assembly later approved Turk’s extension 144‑10‑13 despite opposition from Russia and others, with the United States warning it may reassess UN funding and engagement; a UN spokesperson declined to comment on the walkout.
The death toll from back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela has surpassed 4,000 (at least 4,118 killed) with thousands injured and many missing, as rescue teams pause and families continue searching amid widespread destruction in La Guaira; a 7.5-magnitude quake struck 39 seconds after a 7.2-magnitude event on June 24. The UN is appealing for about $300 million to aid 1.3 million people, and direct damage to housing and infrastructure is estimated at $37 billion, highlighting a massive recovery effort hampered by weakened state services and political tensions over the government’s response.
Hamas will dissolve its civilian administration in Gaza and transfer governance to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a UN-backed technocratic body formed under a US-mediated ceasefire. NCAG would oversee civilian services and a unified security apparatus, with the Palestinian Authority potentially taking over later. Israel has not yet allowed NCAG members entry, and disarmament is not explicitly promised. The move occurs as the US-backed peace process stalls and Gaza remains under bombardment, with ongoing casualties and humanitarian concerns.
UN rights chief Volker Türk warned of a looming human rights catastrophe in El-Obeid, calling it a red alert and urging world leaders to act to prevent atrocities as fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF continues around the city. Civilians face siege-like conditions with drone strikes damaging the power station and fuel depots, causing outages and shortages; at least 45 people were killed and 41 injured between June 6 and 28. The UNHRC held an urgent debate and a draft resolution is expected amid ongoing battles in North Kordofan.
A United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israeli military actions in Gaza amount to genocide, citing deliberate targeting of Palestinian children as a key indicator of genocidal intent, and detailing how ongoing attacks and blockade have caused widespread death and trauma; more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed (including over 250 children) since the ceasefire, amid West Bank violence and mass arrests, with calls for Israel to halt operations and for states to sanction officials.
A UN commission finds there are reasonable grounds to determine that Israel deliberately targets Palestinian children in Gaza, meeting genocide criteria, with about 30% of war deaths being children and a blockade that worsened starvation and disease; UNICEF reports over 50,000 children affected, and the report calls for accountability and an end to violence.
Palau has asked the United Nations to review nicotine as a substance warranting narcotics-like controls, potentially banning non-medicinal nicotine products such as vapes; Palau has already banned vapes domestically, highlighting global gaps in nicotine regulation. Experts note nicotine is highly addictive and regulatory schemes vary worldwide, making such an action likely to face strong industry opposition.
The United Nations is raising alarm over the detention of Afghan women in Herat, suggesting a crackdown on women’s rights and urging accountability from authorities.
The UN food agency warns that the Iran-related war is pushing millions of people into hunger by disrupting food supplies and driving up prices, intensifying humanitarian needs and prompting calls for urgent aid and peace to stabilize global food systems.
A United Nations report warns that by 2030 AI could consume up to 3% of global electricity and require more cooling water than the world’s drinking-water supply, potentially offsetting efficiency gains through the Jevons paradox. It also highlights data-center growth, notes the carbon and water costs, and calls for responsible AI governance across the full lifecycle, including transparency, efficiency by design, equity, and global cooperation, while pointing to a widening digital divide where AI infrastructure is concentrated in a few nations.