Syria refugee numbers hit 5 million: UNHCR The number of Syrian refugees is now more than five million and their situation is getting worse, the UN said on Thursday. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, wants more countries to fulfil their pledges on resettling those fleeing the conflict in Syria, which is now in its seventh [...]

FAO deal promotes sustainable rice production A partnership between the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) aims to support the sustainable production of a staple food enjoyed by millions each day. The agreement, signed on Thursday, will enhance rice farming, including by helping governments to implement policies that [...]

With atrocity crimes on the rise around the world, countries have an increasing responsibility to protect their citizens, according to the UN Special Adviser on the issue. Ivan Šimonović reports to the UN Secretary-General on what's known as the Responsibility to Protect – R2P for short – which the General Assembly adopted in 2005, outlining [...]

WHO initiative seeks to halve medication-related errors A global initiative to improve the way medicines are prescribed, distributed and consumed was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday. It seeks to reduce medication-related errors by half over the next five years. Medication errors can result from several factors such as health worker fatigue, [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from the United Nations, with Matthew Wells and Dianne Penn. In today's programme: the scars of rape in war, last long after the guns have fallen silent, the UN's special representative on the issue tells us. And, as an international conference gets underway to stop the Red [...]

Latest Mediterranean tragedy shows value of search-and-rescue: UNHCR Saving lives at sea must remain a top priority, according to a senior official with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The comments by Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Volker Türk follow reports of a shipwreck in the Mediterranean which may have left up to 146 people dead [...]

A small red beetle that destroys palm trees is spreading rapidly, created "serious concern" for the global production of dates and coconuts, said the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Wednesday. Over the past three decades, the so-called Red Palm Weevil has advanced throughout the Middle East and North Africa and into southern Europe, causing [...]

Addressing sexual violence in conflict is the "great moral challenge of our time," the outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict has said. Zainab Hawa Bangura was speaking at a panel discussion at UN Headquarters about preventing sexual violence in conflict, when she made the statement. Following the discussion, Ms Bangura [...]

Women need better opportunities and resources to help improve "under-performing" smallholder food production, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. That's according to Libor Stloukal of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); who specializes in Gender, Equity and Rural Employment issues. He was at UN Headquarters for the Commission on the Status of Women, discussing [...]

In order to create a "lasting peace" in Syria, women need to have a seat at the policy-making table, a Syrian peace activist has said. Mariam Jalabi is Director of the Syrian National Coalition's office at UN Headquarters in New York. She took part in a recent UN panel discussion on the role of women [...]