UNHCR launches global #HandinHand campaign

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, is intensifying its efforts to support the overwhelming number of families torn apart by war and violence and who are struggling to provide for their families. The agency today launched its global campaign #HandinHand to raise awareness around the pressing need of refugee families, particularly women and children, for vital support and cash assistance.

“What do you Become When you Shoot to Kill Someone who is Unarmed, & not an Immediate Threat to You?”

Appalling recent events in Gaza have called this Council into Special Session. Since the protests began on 30 March, 87 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli security forces in the context of the demonstrations, including 12 children; 29 others, including three children, were killed in other circumstances. And over 12,000 people have been injured, more than 3,500 of them by live ammunition.

ICBA scientists start growing halophytic vegetables in UAE

Scientists at the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, ICBA, have successfully started growing halophytic (salt-loving) vegetables in the UAE conditions, using reject brine from desalination units treated with fish effluents. It is the first time that halophytic vegetables are being grown in the UAE conditions, both in the open field conditions and a simple net-house structure, without using fresh water.

Growth in global economy exceeds expectations, but increased risks could threaten economic outlook, UN report says

Growth in the world economy is surpassing expectations and global GDP is now expected to expand by more than 3 per cent this year and in 2019, reflecting strong growth in developed countries and broadly favourable investment conditions, a new UN report finds.

White House Should State Opposition to Saudi Threat to Acquire Nuclear Weapons

We are deeply disappointed by the counterproductive response from the Trump administration to the statements from senior Saudi officials threatening to pursue nuclear weapons in violation of their nonproliferation commitments.

UAE leads region in renewable energy: APICORP report says

The UAE has done impressive work to stay on track with the renewable energy targets and with phases 3 and 4 of the Dubai Solar Park to begin commissioning by the end of 2020, and is placed at the forefront of renewable energy development in the region, according to a research published by the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation, APICORP, on the regional renewable energy sector.

United Arab Emirates: Entering into a Sustainable Future

 
 
The end of the oil age In the early 1970’s the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was an impoverished desert, with little access to food, water and well-paying jobs. Today, this country looks nothing like it was fifty years ago. Thanks to oil, the UAE has completely transformed and now is one of the most developed economies in the Middle East, if not the world: its per capita GDP is equal to those of highly developed European nations ($68,000 - 2017 est.).

“I Wake Up Screaming”: Gaza’s Children Bear the Brunt of Violence

Reham Qudaih wakes up nightly to the same nightmare: her father shot, lying on the ground in a pool of blood. “In my dreams he is on the ground shot. When I have that dream – which I’ve had more than once I wake up screaming,” she told the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

UAE heads 44th meeting of UNWTO Commission for the Middle East in Egypt

The UAE headed the 44th meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO, Commission for the Middle East, which began in the Egyptian city of Sharm el Sheikh, with the participation of tourism ministers and officials from Middle Eastern countries and a senior UNWTO delegation, headed by Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UNWTO.

Renewable energy jobs reach 10.3 million worldwide in 2017

The renewable energy industry has created more than 500,000 new jobs globally in 2017, a 5.3 percent increase from 2016, according to the latest figures released by the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA.

First Regional Biodiversity Forum kicks off in Abu Dhabi

The First Regional Biodiversity Forum kicked off in Abu Dhabi today with the attendance of more than 100 biodiversity experts and specialists from the region and around the world.

From the Syrian War to Argentina – Or How to Start a New Life

Fares al Badwan moved to Buenos Aires alone, from Syria, in 2011. He was 17 years old then and the armed conflict in his country had just broken out. Since then he has managed to bring over his whole family and today he cannot imagine living outside of Argentina. "I like the people here. No one makes you feel like a foreigner," he said.

To Sustain Peace: Heed the Warnings & Prevent the Next War

New York and Washington DC may be three hours apart geographically, but in global affairs, they are worlds apart. With the wars in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere unabating, at the UN in New York, terms like ‘conflict prevention’ and ‘sustaining peace’ are back in vogue, with world leaders attending a major summit. Meanwhile in Washington while the talks with North Korea took center stage behind the scenes the drum roll of war against Iran is revving up.

UNHCR, OIC join efforts in addressing a Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, yesterday concluded a two-day workshop on the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, CRRF. The workshop was hosted by Jordan with the attendance of representatives of more than 45 member states, specialised agencies and international institutions participated in the workshop.

Abu Dhabi hosts the First Regional Biodiversity Forum in the Gulf Region

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), in cooperation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA), will host the First Regional Biodiversity Forum from May 7-9 2018.

UAE rain enhancement programme to host top cloud seeding researchers

The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science is gearing up to conduct a series of field experiments and preparatory meetings for leading global researchers in cloud seeding with the aim of supporting their research projects.

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development finances USD150 million Quweira Solar Power Plant in Jordan

A delegation from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, ADFD, today attended the official commissioning of the ADFD-funded AED550 million (US$150 million) Quweira Solar Power Plant in the Kingdom of Jordan.

UN Agencies, MIT Solve partner with the Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity to revolutionise social innovation

The Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity has unveiled key partnerships with eight entities of the United Nations and Solve, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, during a private event hosted by the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, GMIS, at the Hannover Messe 2018 in Germany. This announcement reaffirms the importance of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, by enabling and inspiring a worldwide community of makers to create transformative solutions to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.

Egyptian Photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, aka Shawkan, to Receive 2018 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize

Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, known as Shawkan, has been selected by an independent international jury of media professionals as the laureate of the 2018 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize.

Sustainable Communities and Climate Change Summit tackles global sustainability challenges

The Sustainable Communities and Climate Change Summit, SCCCS, was held today, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, to provide a dedicated platform to discuss major regional and international issues in relation to climate change and other sustainability challenges facing the global community.

UAE calls for global efforts to combat impunity for sexual violence during conflict

The UAE has urged the international community to intensify efforts to combat impunity for sexual violence during conflict and reaffirmed its commitment to the UN’s ongoing efforts in addressing these heinous crimes.