United Nations

The United Nations (UN) says the global food and energy crises and climate change, and coupled with the financial and economic crises, have eroded economic and social gains made in Africa over the past decade.

UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, who called for a stronger partnership for Africa's development, points out that the adverse of social consequences of these crises are likely to remain for much longer in Africa, even after the recovery gathers pace in advanced countries.

South African charity, Gift of the Givers, has stepped up its drive to bring humanitarian aid directly to desperate, starving Haitians as red tape hampers international relief efforts.

The organisation’s Imtiaz Sooliman, points out that the charity is negotiating the passage of 100 tons of high-nutrition food parcels and medical supplies to be distributed independently.

The move could speed up delivery to areas poorly serviced by United Nations (UN)-led agencies.

The United Nations (UN) says the failure of the December 2009 summit in Copenhagen to agree on ambitious and immediate global action to combat climate change means that the task has become more, not less urgent.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) executive secretary, Yvo de Boer, points out that, "The window of opportunity to tackle the climate problem closes more rapidly the longer nations delay to act together."

The United Nations mission chief in Haiti, Hedi Annabi of Tunisia, has died in last week’s earthquake that devastated the country's capital.

In a press statement, UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, also confirmed the death of Annabi's deputy, Brazilian Luiz Carlos da Costa, and of the acting UN police commissioner in Haiti, Doug Coates of Canada.

Ban further says that Annabi, da Costa and Coates gave their lives for peace.

The United Nations General Assembly has declared July 18 Nelson Mandela International Day, to mark the South African anti-apartheid leader's contribution to peace.

By adopting the resolution, General Assembly president, Ali Treki, pointed out that the international community is expressing its appreciation for ‘a great man’ who suffered for the sake of people everywhere.

United Nations human rights expert, Manfred Nowak, has been deported from Zimbabwe on 29 November 2009 after being detained by security officials on arrival overnight.

Nowak says he had been invited to that country by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai whose power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe is under severe strain.

Nowak points out that, “I had not anticipated this. This is a serious diplomatic incident."

The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has welcomed the power-sharing deal that Madagascar's bitter political rivals agreed to and urged them to quickly agree to build a transitional government.

UN deputy spokesperson, Marie Okabe, says that the UN is ready to support the implementation of the agreements signed on Sunday, along with the African Union, southern African nations and other regional and international organisations.

The United Nations is warning of a US$4.8 billion shortfall in funding to tackle humanitarian crises in the world's poorest countries, as the credit crunch leaves developed world governments with little cash to spare.

John Holmes, of the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, says that while the UN's emergency appeals had received more funds than at the same time last year, the economic crisis is exacerbating poverty and increasing need.

The United Nations has appealed for US$35 million to "save lives" in Madagascar, where over three million people need help following political instability and natural disasters.

In a press statement, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), points out that, “To prevent the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, the Madagascar Humanitarian Country Team is seeking US$35.7 million to save lives."