February 23, 2020 No comments
Climate change takes toll on Zimbabwe’s natural habitat, UN deputy chief observes
INTERNATIONAL, 23 February 2020, Climate Change - Alongside the human population, Africa’s animals are suffering greatly from the effects of climate change, United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina Mahommed saw first-hand on Sunday in Zimbabwe. As global temperatures continue to rise and the world seeks solutions to stem the tide, the deputy UN chief visited Hwange National Park, which, at 14,651square kilometres, is almost half the size of Belgium. "We have seen what climate change is doing to our environment and livelihoods”, she said. “We saw how the park is hounded by climate change; the way in which Hwange is hot, the water, and even animal migration and people”. A privilege to visit #Zimbabwe’s largest national park—its rich population of mammals & bird species are...
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February 22, 2020 No comments
Ten new migratory species protected under global wildlife agreement
INTERNATIONAL, 22 February 2020, SDGs - Asian elephants, jaguars and great Indian bustards were among 10 new species added to a global wildlife agreement on Saturday. The Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP13) concluded in Gandhinagar, India, with resolutions and decisions adopted to help conserve migratory species globally. “With COP13, the important role of CMS in protecting nature around the world has been strongly embraced”, affirmed CMS Executive Secretary Amy. In addition to Asian elephants, jaguars and great Indian bustards, all slated to receive the strictest protection under Appendix I, Bengal floricans, little bustards, antipodean albatrosses and oceanic white-tip sharks also made the cut. Meanwhile urials along with smooth hammerhead...
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February 22, 2020 No comments
Afghanistan: Civilian casualties exceed 10,000 for sixth straight year
INTERNATIONAL, 22 February 2020, Peace and Security - More than 10,000 civilians in Afghanistan were killed and injured last year, according to a new United Nations report that details record-high levels of civilian harm in the ongoing conflict. "Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence,” Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said on Saturday. UN: Anti-Government Elements (Taliban, ISKP & other) responsible for 62% of civilian casualties in 2019. Pro-Government Forces (Afghan security, international military & other) responsible for 29%. More: http://bit.ly/37TXVwJ. #ZeroCivilianCasualtiesNow #Afghanistan The report, entitled Afghanistan Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict: 2019, documents 3,403 civilians killed and 6,989 injured –...
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February 22, 2020 No comments
UN chief welcomes South Sudan’s Unity government, lauds parties for ‘significant achievement’
INTERNATIONAL, 22 February 2020, Peace and Security - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed on Saturday the establishment of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in South Sudan. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the UN chief commended the parties for the “significant achievement in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan”. “The Secretary-General applauds regional and international efforts that contributed to this result”, the statement continued. Radio Miraya@RadioMiraya "This [swearing-in] action signifies the official end of the war and we can now declare a new dawn in South Sudan. Peace has come to stay, not to be shaken ever again in this nation" - Pres Kiir #SSOT #SouthSudan @unmissmedia Mr. Guterres also called on the TGoNU members to “fully...
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February 21, 2020 No comments
Escalating Burkina Faso violence brings wider Sahel displacement emergency into focus
INTERNATIONAL, 21 February 2020, Migrants and Refugees - Deadly attacks on villages in Burkina Faso have forced 150,000 people to flee in just the last three weeks, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday, warning of a displacement emergency in the wider Sahel region. Amid a devastating surge in terrorist attacks against civilian and military targets which the UN says have risen five-fold in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger since 2016, UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic said that survivors needed safety, shelter, food and water “everywhere”. Help is particularly needed in northern Burkina Faso, where displaced families are staying with host communities who have little in the way of resources themselves. Some 4,000 people a day flee violence The new arrivals are “occupying whatever space is available”, the UNHCR official explained,...
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