The UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, launched a $1.2 billion appeal on Wednesday to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip and to respond to needs in the West Bank as violence there increases. Read the full story, “UNRWA seeks $1.2 billion to meet urgent needs in Gaza and the West Bank”, on globalissues.org ..read more

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is offering medical care, food, shelter and psychosocial support to 33 migrants who survived a shipwreck off the coast of Djibouti on Monday, as local authorities continue search and rescue operations. Read the full story, “UN migration agency assists survivors of deadly shipwreck off Djibouti”, on globalissues.org ..read more

Two UN agencies alongside the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the global vaccine alliance Gavi launched on Wednesday a campaign to scale up programmes to save lives, marking the start of World Immunisation Week, celebrated annually during the last week of April. Read the full story, “New global campaign boosts lifesaving vaccines”, on globalissues.org ..read more

Russia used its veto to quash a draft resolution aimed at keeping weapons out of outer space. Read the full story, “Russia vetoes Security Council draft resolution on a weapon-free outer space”, on globalissues.org ..read more

ABU DHABI, Apr 24 (IPS) - Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a distinct group of 39 states and 18 associate members, are making efforts to promote the blue economy as they possess enormous potential for renewable energy relying on the sea. Read the full story, “Small Island States Fostering Effective Energy Transition To Achieve a Blue Economy”, on globalissues.org ..read more

NEW YORK, Apr 24 (IPS) - The UN Palestinian refugee agency welcomed the recommendations made in the report from the independent investigation led by Catherine Colonna, and warned of new and continuing concerns that threaten the agency’s operations. Read the full story, “Attacks on UNRWA Not about Its Neutrality, Says UNRWA Chief”, on globalissues.org ..read more

SEATTLE, Washington, Apr 24 (IPS) - The vote and the American veto at the United Nations Security Council on April 18 was predictable. Though European countries are increasingly supportive of a Palestinian state, the US is not yet ready for that eventuality, for these reasons: Read the full story, “US Foreign Policy in Middle East Still Governed by Israeli Priorities”, on globalissues.org ..read more

Dangerous levels of acute hunger affected a staggering 281.6 million people last year – the fifth year in a row that food insecurity has worsened – heightening growing fears of famine and “widespread death” from Gaza to Sudan and beyond, UN agencies warned on Wednesday. Read the full story, “Latest hunger data spotlights extent of famine risk in Gaza, Sudan and beyond”, on globalissues.org ..read more

APEX, North Carolina / DUBLIN, Ireland, Apr 23 (IPS) - What makes an effective UN Secretary-General? In our previous posts, we highlighted six possible candidates: Michelle Bachelet (Chile), Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica), Maria Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador), Alicia Bárcena (Mexico), Mia Mottley (Barbados), and Amina J. Mohammed (Nigeria). Read the full story, “Who Should be the Next UN Leader? - PART 7 FINAL”, on globalissues.org ..read more

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Apr 24 (IPS) - Rich nations’ climate hypocrisy is accelerating global heating, pushing the planet closer to irreversible catastrophe, with its worst consequences borne by the poorest, both countries and peoples. Read the full story, “Rich Nation Hypocrisy Accelerating Global Heating”, on globalissues.org ..read more