Health

UN Response Teams Underfunded as Costs Hit Staggering $23.5 Billion

By Roshni Majumdar
UN response teams that help the most vulnerable people in the world are still largely underfunded, a new status report has revealed.The funding available to the teams is no match for the record number of people—141 million—who need assistance today.

“Big Reflection” Needed on Opioid Crisis

By Tharanga Yakupitiyage
Opioids are among the most devastating drugs and are creating a crisis of epidemic proportions, said the UN drug agency.

The World Society Needs to Express Greater Solidarity for Refugees Worldwide

By Dr. Hanif Hassan Al Qassim
The world is heading into troubled waters as we are witnessing an unprecedented movement of people – refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons (IDPs) alike – fleeing from misery, poverty and conflicts. The refugee crisis that has swept across Europe and the Middle East is becoming the 21st century’s most protracted crisis with no immediate solution in sight. The world has not witnessed a more complex movement of people since the end of the Second World War; thousands of human beings undertake perilous and treacherous journeys in hope for a better and a safer future. Many of them perish during these hazardous journeys.

Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya through Innovative Financing

By Siddharth Chatterjee
Every year, one million Kenyans are driven below the poverty line by healthcare-related expenditures. Poverty predisposes them to disease and slows all aspects of growth in the economy.

Housing Refugees of the Middle East Conflicts: Where Will They Go?

By Roshni Majumdar
Prolonged conflicts in the Middle East have led to a deadly humanitarian crisis, with as many as 17.5 million people displaced in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Migrant Workers Pour Trillions into World Economy

By Roshni Majumdar
A new report by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) says the flow of money from migrants—commonly located in developed countries—to their families in lower income countries has doubled over the last decade.

New Alert: Refugee Numbers Outpace Resettlement Spots

By IPS World Desk
Against the backdrop of increasing refugee numbers around the globe, fuelled by crisis and insecurity, and an ever-widening gap in places to resettle them, the top United Nations official dealing with refugee issues has called on governments to “step up” and deliver places for refugees in line with the commitments they have made.

Child Labor in the Arab Region Does Not Belong to the 21st Century

By Dr. Hanif Hassan Al Qassim
Today marks the 2017 World Day against Child Labor to reaffirm the goal to eliminate all forms of child labor. This year’s annual theme highlights a subject that is often neglected, namely the importance of addressing child labor in conflict areas and in disaster settings.

Overfed and Underfed: Global Food Extremes

By Joseph Chamie
Global food extremes of chronic undernourishment and obesity have brought about a bipolar world of hundreds of millions of underfed and overfed people. Of the world’s population of 7.5 billion the proportions suffering from chronic undernourishment and those afflicted by obesity are similar, approximately 11 percent or together about 1.6 billion people. However, as with most global averages, the levels of both chronic undernourishment and obesity vary enormously among regions and across and within countries.

This Is the Nation of 170 Million Enslaved Children

By IPS World Desk
Globally over 1.5 billion people live in countries that are affected by conflict, violence and fragility. Meantime, around 200 million people are affected by disasters every year—a third of them are children. And a significant proportion of the 168 million children engaged in child labour live in areas affected by conflict and disaster. These are the facts. Up to you to reflect on the immediate future of humankind.

The “Shocking” Reality of Child Marriage in the U.S.

By Tharanga Yakupitiyage
While stories of child marriage are commonly associated with the Global South, lesser known are the cases closer to home: in the United States.

Renewing Commitment to SDGs: Private Sector Gets Active

By Paloma Duran
Just last month business representatives from around the world joined the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund commemorate their work as part of the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG).

Asia – Indigenous Women Fight for Justice, Influence and Equity

By Julie Koch
Indigenous women in Asia are setting examples in their efforts for a more peaceful, fair and equal world. But discrimination, poverty and lack of recognition still hinder indigenous women from fully participating in developing their societies.

Re-Connect with Nature Now… Before It Is Too Late!

By Baher Kamal
Now that president Donald Trump has announced the withdrawal of the world’s largest polluter in history—the United States, from the Paris Accord, perhaps one of the most specific warnings is what a United Nations independent expert on rights and the environment has just said: “We should be fully aware that we cannot enjoy our basic human rights without a healthy environment.”

Aggression against children in the Arab region needs to come to an end

By Dr. Hanif Hassan Al Qassim
On 20 February 1997, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 51/77 to promote the rights of children. This Resolution was considered a milestone in promoting and advancing the right of children in conflict and wars.

AIDS Pandemic Far From Over: 37 Million Living with HIV Globally

By Amina J. Mohammed
During the process of developing the Sustainable Development Goals it was clear to me how relevant and innovative the approach to ending AIDS had been and how important it would continue to be.

A UN of the Future to Effectively Serve all Member States

By Secretary-General António Guterres
Through a series of recent global agreements on sustainable development, climate change, sustaining peace, disaster risk reduction, and financing for development, Member States have provided a broad vision of the future they want. I am committed to advancing meaningful reforms to adapt the United Nations to this complex world, so that it can effectively serve all of its Member States in achieving that future and managing shared challenges and opportunities along the way.

The Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Syria

By Stephen O’Brien*
The cruel conflict in Syria continues to tear families apart, inflicts brutal suffering on the innocent, and leaves them pleading for protection and justice. I readily acknowledge that there have been reports of a significant drop in violence in some areas of the country, but such steps forward continue to be counter-weighted by the reality of a conflict that continues to devastate the civilian population.

Africa Drives Global Action Against Mercury Use

By Miriam Gathigah
With a new international treaty, an increasing number of African countries are committing to phasing out mercury, a significant health and environmental hazard.

Alert Over Lethal Virus Affecting Popular Tilapia Fish

By IPS World Desk
A highly contagious disease is spreading among farmed and wild tilapia, one of the world's most important fish for human consumption, the United Nations warns, adding that though not a human health risk, Tilapia Lake Virus has large potential impact on global food security and nutrition.

Asia: 260 Million Indigenous Peoples Marginalised, Discriminated

By Baher Kamal
Asia is home to the largest number of indigenous peoples on Earth, with an estimated 260 million of a total of 370 million original inhabitants worldwide. In spite of their huge number-equaling half of the combined population of Europe-- they are often victims of discrimination and denial of their rights.
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