Europe 

UN refugee chief praises Moldova for opening the country to Ukrainians fleeing war

“The Moldovan people and Government have shown remarkable solidarity with refugees since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began nearly one year ago”, Filippo Grandi told the media during his visit to the country. “This support was visible from the first days and weeks of the war, when tens of thousands of refugees – mainly women and children – fled Ukraine… Read More
Europe 

Ukraine: UN aid reaches Soledar as IAEA boosts safety measures at nuclear sites

Jens Laerke from UN aid coordinating office, OCHA, said that three trucks had been granted access to areas under Ukrainian Government control just a few kilometres from the heavily disputed city in the Donbas region, which has been an intense battleground, as Russian forces seek to advance on the strategically important town of Bakhmut. He told journalists at Friday’s briefing… Read More
Europe 

Northern Ireland: UK ‘immunity’ legislation could hamper victims’ rights, warns Türk

The High Commissioner for Human Rights acknowledged on Thursday that addressing the violent legacy of intercommunal relations in Northern Ireland from the 1960s to the 1990s was “hugely complex and sensitive”. ‘Conditional immunity’ But he warned against plans to give conditional immunity from investigation and prosecution to those accused of serious human rights violations and other international crimes, other than sexual offences.… Read More
Europe 

UN aims to boost aid to frontline areas of Ukraine; Black Sea grain exports near 18 million tonnes

The UN humanitarian coordination office, OCHA, said in a press release that a seven-truck convoy had reached Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region – just five kilometres from the Russian border. “This community has been heavily impacted by months of hostilities and the 4,500 people who remain there depend on humanitarian aid to meet their needs.” The convoy supplied hygiene kits,… Read More
Europe 

Security Council: UN rights official raises concerns over Ukraine religious freedoms

The theme of the Council meeting briefing on Ukraine came under the “Threats to International Peace and Security” agenda item. It was requested by Russia’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia, during an earlier Council meeting on 13 January, during which Mr. Nebenzia alleged that Ukraine is attempting to “destroy” the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is canonically linked to the Moscow… Read More
Europe 

Ukraine: Civilian attacks ‘must end immediately’ says UN, as search for Dnipro survivors continues

Associate Spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay told Monday’s regular briefing for correspondents in New York that António Guterres had condemned Saturday evening’s missile strike adding that it was “another example of a suspected violation of the laws of war.” Violation of international law In a statement issued later in the day, the Spokesperson reiterated that “attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, violate… Read More
Europe 

Ukraine: ‘Humanitarian and human rights catastrophe’ continues, Security Council hears

Rosemary DiCarlo reiterated the view of the Secretary-General, in reminding that Russia’s invasion of 24 February, was a violation of the UN Charter and international law. “It has created a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe, traumatized a generation of children, and accelerated the global food and energy crises”, she told ambassadors. “And yet, this grave damage could pale in comparison… Read More
Europe 

COVID in Europe: China’s surge not a cause for concern ‘at this time’ says WHO, as XBB.1.5 virus spreads

Dr. Hans Kluge, head of the World Health Organization for Europe, explained that this is because the two variants circulating in China are already present in European countries, according to data provided by the Chinese authorities. “We share the current view of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) that the ongoing surge in China is not anticipated to… Read More
Europe 

Belarus: Trial of Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski ‘politically motivated’

Mr. Bialiatski, a veteran rights campaigner and founder of Viasna (or “spring”) civil society group, was arrested in July 2021 on tax evasion charges, along with two other activists, and reportedly held in dreadful conditions in a prison in Minsk. Their trial began on Thursday. “We are gravely concerned by the trial of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski which… Read More
Europe 

Europe: Warm start to 2023 breaks records, and skiers’ hearts says WMO

And as a growing number of European ski resorts at lower altitudes struggle to provide adequate snow cover for their early-season visitors, the WMO pointed to widely accepted peer-reviewed scientific data from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicating that the frequency of cold spells and frost days “will decrease”. “Strong declines in glaciers, permafrost, snow cover extent,… Read More
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