News from the United Nations

• Full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has sown ‘psychological terror’, warns top aid coordinator February 21, 2025
  In the nearly three years since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country’s people have endured continuous attacks, “psychological terror…displacement and hardship”, top UN aid coordinator Matthias Schmale said on Friday.
• Urgent appeal launched as DR Congo crisis fuels mass displacement to Burundi February 21, 2025
  The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has launched a $40.4 million appeal to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its impact on neighbouring countries, particularly Burundi, where thousands are arriving daily in desperate conditions. 
• DR Congo violence has pushed 35,000 to Burundi, says UN refugee agency February 20, 2025
  Escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has continued to uproot thousands more people to neighbouring countries where they face dire conditions without many basic necessities, UN humanitarians said on Thursday.
• Central African Republic faces ongoing challenges ahead of elections February 20, 2025
  The recent attack on a UN patrol in the Central African Republic (CAR) which resulted in the death of a Tunisian peacekeeper, underlines the constant dangers facing peacekeepers from armed groups there, the head of the UN mission (MINUSCA) told the Security Council on Thursday.
• From suits to social justice: World’s top human rights forum turns stage over February 20, 2025
  The iconic multi-hue ceilinged UN Human Rights Council chamber in Geneva got a generational make-over when it turned the venue over to young artists and changemakers in a lively celebration of social justice.
• UN chief condemns ‘abhorrent and appalling’ treatment of hostages’ remains by Hamas February 20, 2025
  The UN Secretary-General on Thursday condemned the “parading” of coffins earlier in the day containing the bodies of dead Israeli hostages by their Hamas captors, describing the manner of the handover in Gaza as abhorrent.
• UNDP calls for long-term investment to support recovery in Syria February 20, 2025
  Accelerating economic recovery is critical to reverse Syria’s decline and restore stability, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report published on Thursday. 
• Post-war order facing ‘greatest test since its creation’: UN relief chief February 20, 2025
  The international system set up among the ashes of the Second World War which established the United Nations and other multilateral institutions is now facing the “greatest test since its creation,” the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said on Thursday.
• New children’s book promotes the value of all languages February 20, 2025
  Language is one of the distinctive features that makes us human, and a new book supported by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aims to encourage children to reflect on its importance. 
• UN to continue Gaza vaccination campaign against polio February 19, 2025
  The UN World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday that the mass polio vaccination campaign in Gaza which began successfully last year, will continue in the coming days.