Syria’s new ‘flame of hope’ must not be extinguished: Guterres
That’s the warning from UN Secretary-General António Guterres speaking to reporters in New York on Thursday morning. He said there is “a real risk that...
Winter rains and aid convoy obstacles worsen ordeal for one million Gazans
In an update, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, stressed that attacks on civilian infrastructure have not stopped, “particularly in North Gaza, where the...
In Damascus, top UN envoy stresses need for credible, inclusive, ‘Syrian owned’ transition
The UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria also called for all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians as the country grapples with...
Lime-flavoured memories drive innovation on Saudi farm
Mohamed Alnwairan stands in front of a verdant citrus tree which four months hence will bear his first harvest of limes.A former businessman turned...
Forging Peace in Syria: Great opportunities, grave risks
As the fighting intensified, the UN never stopped working behind the scenes to bring about a political solution that would deliver dignity, freedom and...
Syria crisis: UN delivering life-saving assistance; relocates non-critical staff
“The UN is strategically reducing its footprint by relocating non-critical staff outside the country... amid the evolving circumstances,” Adam Abdelmoula said in a statement...
Iraq: Security Council briefed on major milestones and ongoing challenges
“As you have heard many times by now, today’s Iraq is not the same as the Iraq of 20 years ago, or even five...
Middle East crisis: Live updates for 4 December
The Middle East crisis continues to deepen, with families in Gaza struggling to secure basic food amid constant displacement, plummeting temperatures, and relentless conflict....
Syria risks grave division and destruction, Security Council hears
Geir Pedersen told the Security Council the country faced grave risk of further division that was in no Syrian’s interest.“As I brief you today,...
Force will not secure Middle East peace: UN General Assembly President
Addressing the 193-member Assembly, President Philémon Yang reiterated the importance of the two-State solution, calling it the only path to lasting peace. “After more...
Middle East crisis: Live updates for 26 November
With all eyes on a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, UN humanitarians condemned unrelenting violence there, in Gaza and...
Middle East crisis: Live updates for 22 November
The crisis in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel continues unabated as people struggle to live in the midst of conflict. Follow this live blog for...
Gaza aid delivery ‘grinding to a halt’ alongside rampant insecurity
The delivery of life-saving aid across Gaza “is grinding to a halt” amid a surge in armed looting targeting humanitarian convoys, the senior aid...
Lebanon: Increased violence is the ‘horrific new normal’ for children, warns UNICEF
Peacekeepers have witnessed the “shocking” destruction of villages in southern Lebanon along the UN-patrolled Blue Line that separates the country from Israel, along with...
Middle East: Gaza markets ‘in decay’ as starvation looms
In an alert, the World Food Programme (WFP) described markets “in decay” across the enclave. “Fresh foods, eggs, and meat barely exist and the...
Middle East crisis: Live updates from Gaza, Lebanon and the Security Council, as famine...
Amid the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues efforts to keep hospitals up and running and to evacuate...
WHO ‘working tirelessly’ to help save lives as Middle East crisis grinds on
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, was speaking during a press briefing on emergencies in the occupied Palestinian territory and...
Middle East crisis: Latest updates for 8 November
The UN human rights office released a scathing report on the ongoing war in Gaza as deadly Israeli military operations continue to pound the...
Suffering continues for civilians in Gaza and Lebanon
Aid workers are being forced to work in unsafe conditions, as insecurity and restrictions by Israeli forces prevent them from reaching people in need,...
Lebanon: UN condemns increasing loss of life and civilian suffering
“All actors must adhere to international law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure,” he said, adding that the UN mission which remains in place...
Middle East crisis: Live updates from the Security Council and UN across the region
We will be following the latest breaking news over the day, including from UN staff on the ground in the Middle East, dispatches from...
UN chief urges halt to escalation after Israeli strikes on Iran
Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN chief, said in a statement that António Guterres is “deeply alarmed” by the continued escalation across the region.“All...
Raid on North Gaza hospital ‘deeply disturbing’: WHO chief
“Since this morning’s reports of a raid of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, we have lost touch with the personnel there,” WHO chief...
Gaza: Palestinians are dying amid lethal evacuation delays
“This is not a logistical problem,” James Elder, spokesperson for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), told reporters in Geneva. “We have the ability to...
