UN Principals call for solidarity with Rohingya refugees

After violence broke out in Myanmar’s Rakhine state on 25 August, more than 500,000 Rohingya refugees crossed into neighbouring Bangladesh in less than five weeks. Tens of thousands of refugees have arrived since, fleeing discrimination, violence and persecution, as well as isolation and fear.

Migration: Making the Move from Rural to Urban by Choice

For the first time in history, more people live in cities than rural areas. Every year millions of people leave their homes in the countryside and migrate towards urban centres both within their own countries and across borders. Some of these people move simply to seek new opportunities and improve their lives. Others are forced to flee due to conflict or sudden or slow onset disasters, such as drought, flooding or rising sea levels, which are often exacerbated by climate change and environmental stress.

Humanitarian Needs Spike as Rohingya Arrivals in Cox’s Bazar Top 536,000

An estimated 536,000 people have fled Myanmar and arrived in Cox’s Bazar, southern Bangladesh, over the past 47 days, according to the IOM-hosted Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) of aid agencies. Numbers spiked again this week when some 15,000 Rohingya crossed into Bangladesh between 9-11 October.

World Bank report shows signs of economic recovery in Middle East and North Africa

Despite a growth slowdown in 2017 at 2.1 percent, economic prospects in the Middle East and North Africa, MENA, region are projected to improve in 2018 and 2019 with growth exceeding 3 percent, according to the new World Bank MENA Economic Monitor, entitled "Refugee Crisis in MENA, Meeting the Development Challenge".

Statement by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the Withdrawal by the United States of America from UNESCO

After receiving official notification by the United States Secretary of State, Mr Rex Tillerson, as UNESCO Director-General, I wish to express profound regret at the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from UNESCO.

WB Cites PH System for Migrant Labor as Model for Southeast Asia

The World Bank has commended the Philippines’ support system for its overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as a model for other Southeast Asian countries, and as a vehicle for regional economic integration.

Wanted: Violent Muslim Women

It was only a couple of months ago that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) came out with its women’s magazine. Titled Sunnat-i-Khaula, the magazine attempted to appeal to Muslim women, offering first-person stories of a female doctor who gave it all up to travel to ‘Khorasan’, an interview with the wife of a commander (he did the dishes and helped around the house), and even a supposedly inspirational portrait of a child soldier.

The Rakhine — Avatars of Tony Blair?

Two parties are widely blamed for the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingyas: the Myanmar army and Aung San Suu Kyi. They stand amid the embers and ashes of torched Rohingya homes, objects of a furious global condemnation. Yet, the army, a feral beast from deep within a Mahabharat forest, keeps protesting its innocence, while Myanmar's Lady Macbeth sleepwalks through teak-roofed rooms feverishly repeating 'Out, damned spot!' But all to no avail. Prince Charles crossed out Myanmar from his highly symbolic Asia visit list; the frowning visage of Bishop Desmond Tutu looms across the oceans.

Rohingya Children Drown Fleeing Myanmar Violence

Tragedy struck more Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar last night. At least 13 people, mostly children, drowned when the fishing boat carrying them to safety in Bangladesh capsized in stormy weather.

Dubai Environment Outlook Traces Path to Sustainability

The Dubai Environment Outlook report, supervised by The General Secretariat for The Executive Council in cooperation with Dubai Municipality, has said that rising population demographics and economic growth are the main drivers of environmental change in Dubai.

Society’s Success Builds on the Legacy of Its Elders

On the occasion of the 2017 International Day of Older Persons, the Executive Director of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue Ambassador Idriss Jazairy urged the world society to facilitate the increased participation and involvement of elderly people in societies.

The world community must support the efforts of Bangladesh and the UN in offering temporary refuge and protection to the Rohingyans

The Chairman of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue H. E. Dr. Hanif Al Qassim appealed to the world community to provide financial, technical and material assistance to Bangladesh and the UN in providing adequate housing and shelter to the approximately 700,000 Rohingyan refugees - entrenched in Bangladesh - after fleeing persecution and oppression in Myanmar. Al Qassim’s appeal came in the wake of the deplorable humanitarian situation unfolding in the region and on the occasion of the 2017 World Habitat Day.

The Attack on the Rohingya Refugee Safe House: We Must Hang Our Collective Heads in Shame

The unseemly incident at the UNHCR safe house at Mt. Lavinia last week where the 30 Rohingya refugees had been located highlights the fact that the seeds of racism planted during the time of the previous regime have still not been uprooted.

Conservatives in America: Like Marranos in Medieval Spain

For those unfamiliar with the term, Marranos was the name given to Jews in medieval Spain and Portugal who secretly maintained their Judaism while living as Catholics in public, especially in the 15th century during the Spanish Inquisition.

Marriages of Desperation

War bleeds people; it spills over borders, rivers, deserts and forests, with people hiding and pleading and always, always running. Along with the Rohingya, the people of Syria have seen incredible devastation in the past few years. Even as other wars have waxed and waned, these conflicts have continued in full view of the world, with the feeble bureaucrats of the United Nations looking on and doing nothing.