Tag: UN Africa News

Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk has deplored the deadly use of force against demonstrators, including killings by live ammunition, the Office said in a statement.  Thousands took to the streets in the capital, N’Djamena, and other cities on Thursday, to protest the 24-month extension of the transition to civilian rule.  ‘Lethal repression’  Some 50 people were killed, including a… Read More

Infrastructure and farmland have also been damaged, said the statement issued on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, worsening the cost of living across the country.   He extended his deepest condolences to the Government of Nigeria and to the affected families, reiterating the UN’s continuing “commitment to supporting the Government of Nigeria in this challenging time.” © UNICEF/Esiebo/Abraham Achirga More than 1.5 million… Read More

The ability of education systems to ensure even rudimentary literacy skills for their students has declined in four out of 10 African countries over the last three decades.  The findings are published in the first of a three-part series of Spotlight reports on foundational learning in Africa, called Born to Learn, published by the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report at UNESCO, the Association… Read More

Valentine Rugwabiza, who also heads up the UN Stabilization Mission in CAR, said ‘blue helmets’ had paid a key role in civilian protection as the threat from armed groups and other violent actors continues, as well as in delivering lifesaving humanitarian aid. Robust action The mission has taken a “robust, preventive, and proactive posture in response to alerts received from… Read More

The appeal by the members of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan follows a visit to Ethiopia where they urged African countries, and other stakeholders, to renew support for the deal’s implementation.  They said the conflict in South Sudan has become increasingly complex but the level of suffering for millions of civilians remains intolerable.  Time and lives… Read More

El-Ghassim Wane, head of the UN mission in Mali, MINUSMA, presented the latest UN Secretary-General’s report on the peacekeeping operation. He briefed ambassadors on progress in the transition and peace process, while also addressing ongoing insecurity and rising humanitarian needs.  Mr. Wane was speaking a day after a MINUSMA vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in the Kidal region, located… Read More

He warned that the latest alarming airstrikes risk seriously worsening the already devastating impact the fighting is having on civilians.    “Since 31 August we have received numerous reports of civilian casualties and destruction of civilian objects due to airstrikes and artillery strikes in Tigray – disruptions to communication make it particularly difficult to verify reports, but it is clear… Read More

“Without greater action and investment, we are facing the death of children on a scale not seen in half a century,” Spokesperson James Elder told journalists in Geneva.  A child is admitted to a health facility for treatment of severe acute malnutrition “every single minute of every single day”, he said.  A looming tragedy  Latest rates reveal some 44,000 admissions… Read More

That’s according to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres who briefed correspondents on Monday morning outside the Security Council, stating that the violence and destruction “have reached alarming levels.” It was the second intervention from the UN chief in as many days, as reports emerged of heavy bombing of Shire and other Tigrayan cities, and food supplies running out in the… Read More

Teresa Gala is a 44-year-old mother of five. She was married at 14, and had to leave school because of her new circumstances. For more than three decades, her days were filled with domestic chores and taking care of her children. During the agricultural season, Ms. Gala added to her daily routine by working on her family farm. However, her… Read More