"Mass starvation" for millions across Yemen is likely without a massive emergency aid package totalling US$2.1 billion, according to the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country. Speaking on the day that the UN emergency relief agency OCHA and partners launched their biggest ever aid appeal for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick said nearly 19 million people were [...]

The UN has congratulated Somalia's new president who was elected by parliamentarians in the capital, Mogadishu, on Wednesday. Mohamed Abdullahi, known by the nickname “Farmajo,” is a former Somalian prime minister. He emerged the victor from a field of more than 20 candidates, including the incumbent. The presidential vote closes out an electoral season which [...]

  Over 100,000 children released from armed forces and groups: UN More than 100,000 children have been released from the ranks of state forces and armed groups thanks to the efforts of Governments, the UN and civil society partners. That's what Maria Luiza Viotti, the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General, told delegates at a [...]

The UN Secretary-General has welcomed the launch of formal peace talks between the Government of Colombia and the ELN rebel group, also known as the National Liberation Army. Antรณnio Guterres issued a statement through his spokesperson on Wednesday after the two parties met in Ecuador's capital, Quito. The left-wing ELN rebel group is the second [...]

Alarm at "failed" humanitarian access in Syria Humanitarian aid deliveries to desperate Syrians last month largely "failed", top UN negotiator Staffan de Mistura said on Tuesday. The announcement from the Special Envoy for Syria was made in Geneva by his spokesperson, Yara Sharif: "January marked the worst month since March 2016 and there is an [...]

Efforts to counter ISIL extremists must include stepped up efforts to "prevent and resolve" the conflicts that "drive and are made worse" by terrorism. That was the message delivered to the Security Council from UN Political Affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman on Tuesday. He was outlining the Secretary-General's latest report on the threat posed by ISIL, [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from the United Nations, with Matthew Wells and Jocelyne Sambira. In today's programme: Conflict that drives and fuels terrorism must be addressed more, the UN Political Affairs chief tells the Security Council. And extreme poverty affects 125 million disabled people worldwide. We'll hear from the UN's disability [...]

There is "a huge sense of anticipation" in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, ahead of presidential elections on Wednesday, according to UN Special Representative in the country, Michael Keating. Twenty-three men, including incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, are vying to lead the Horn of Africa country which has not had a central government for decades. The UN and [...]

Surge in fighting in eastern Ukraine forces children out of school Thousands of children have been forced out of schools in eastern Ukraine following last week's surge in fighting, humanitarian organisations in the country have confirmed. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its partners have strongly condemned the indiscriminate shelling of schools and are calling [...]

Although five of the 10 cases currently being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) involve African countries, this doesn't mean that the court is targeting the continent. That's the opinion of the UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, addressing the announcement that some countries plan to pull out of the [...]