Safety "critical" in any measures to help Aleppo Any measures to assist people in eastern Aleppo in Syria must bear the safety of civilians in mind, the head of the UN Humanitarian Affairs office, OCHA, has said. In a statement on Thursday, Stephen O'Brien said he was aware of a Russian proposal to set up "humanitarian [...]

Hepatitis claims approximately 1.5 million lives each year more than the number of people who die from AIDS, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Hepatitis is a viral disease which is curable, but is deadly unless detected early WHO will be marking World Hepatitis Day on July 28th to spread global awareness about the [...]

This week we have an exclusive in-depth interview focusing on sexual exploitation and abuse. The UN has described abuse allegations made against people serving the organization and others as "sickening" and has pledged thorough investigations while also offering support to victims. In February this year, the UN Secretary-General appointed Jane Holl Lute as Special Coordinator [...]

Ongoing conflict in Mali is threatening one of the oldest towns in sub-Saharan Africa, the UN cultural agency, UNESCO, has warned. The old towns of DjennĂŠ have been placed on the list of World Heritage in Danger. The four archaeological sites, which include a mosque, are almost entirely made of earth. Edmond Moukala is chief [...]

Anti-cholera campaign in underway in South Sudan Efforts to contain a cholera outbreak in South Sudan are being ramped up, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports. The world's youngest nation has recorded more than 270 cases of the disease, including 14 deaths, since 12 July. Together with the Ministry of Health, WHO and its partners [...]

Fourteen people reportedly face imminent execution in Indonesia, the majority for drug crimes, the UN's top human rights official said Wednesday. In an appeal to the Indonesian authorities, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein has called for a moratorium on the death penalty to be reinstated immediately. UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence outlined the High [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from United Nations Radio, with Matthew Wells and Dianne Penn. In today's programme: the "boundless insecurity" caused by Boko Haram across Africa's Lake Chad region is "devastating" local economies. We've a full report from the Security Council. And, the pilot of the world record-breaking "Solar Impulse" talks [...]

The inspiring journey of the first fuel-free plane to circumnavigate the globe leads the way to a more "energy efficient" and sustainable world. That's the view of Captain Bertrand Piccard, co-pilot of the record-breaking plane, Solar Impulse. The team behind the solar-powered flight, took 505 days to complete their extraordinary journey, landing in Abu Dhabi [...]

There's "tentative agreement" between the warring parties fighting in the Yemeni province of Taiz, to agree to a "humanitarian pause." That's according to UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, speaking after holding talks with all sides on Wednesday. Yemen's civil war has left more than 14 million food insecure and displaced 2.8 million. Mr [...]

The security and humanitarian crisis brought on by the Boko Haram terrorist group across Africa's Lake Chad Basin has "devastated" the region's economy. That's according to Jeffrey Feltman, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefing the UN Security Council on Wednesday. Matthew Wells reports. Duration: 2’33″