Listen to a bulletin of news and features from United Nations Radio, with Jocelyne Sambira and Matthew Wells. In today's programme: ongoing clashes in Syria obstruct aid deliveries – a possible catastrophe for civilians on the "brink of starvation";  and, a "huge growth" in private military contractors sparks human rights concerns.

The impact of the war in Syria is becoming more "brutal and monstrous" on children, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said. More than 20 children reportedly died in air strikes in the north of the country in Manbij, 80 kilometres to the east of Aleppo. The agency estimates that 35,000 children are trapped in [...]

Warring parties in Syria risk causing what's being described as a "catastrophe" for civilians who "are on the brink of starvation", the UN warned Thursday. In an update on the war-torn country, the organisation's aid coordinator, Jan Egeland, blamed ongoing clashes for obstructing aid deliveries. A quarter of a million people in Eastern Aleppo have [...]

The eradication of female genital cutting requires a "grassroots approach" according to a rights activist who attended a recent UN meeting on the issue. The practice affects 200 million women and girls and is considered a 'social norm' in many parts of the world, but the UN has condemned it as a human rights violation. [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from United Nations Radio, with Jocelyne Sambira and Matthew Wells. In today's programme: An emergency food relief operation has kicked off in Malawi to help the millions of people facing hunger. And, a youth envoy says governments and the private sector are not listening to their concerns.

  US$284m needed in humanitarian relief ahead of Mosul campaign An appeal for US$284 million in humanitarian funding has been launched ahead of the anticipated Iraqi government-led military campaign to re-take the city of Mosul. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, said that as many as 1.5 million civilians could be impacted, and [...]

With half of the world's population under 25 years old, it is crucial that young people have a say in global trade and development issues. That message comes from the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth. Ahmad Alhendawi is in Nairobi, Kenya, where he participated in the first-ever youth forum being held alongside the latest conference [...]

The largest ever emergency food relief operation in Malawi's history has kicked off on Wednesday, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). More than 6.5 million people are facing hunger because of a drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon. The food crisis in the southern African country is also due to the impact of [...]

"Heinous culture of impunity" revealed by repeat rape case in India A "heinous culture of impunity" exists when it comes to violence against women and girls, as highlighted by a case in India where a woman was reportedly raped twice by the same group of men. That's according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), commenting [...]

Lives of millions "turned upside down" by El Niño says UN chief The "lives and livelihoods" of millions around the world have been "turned upside down" by the extreme weather events linked to the current El Niño phemomenon. That's the view of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in remarks at an event focusing on El Niño [...]