Mideast

26.2.2013
Gaza

UN voices concern as rocket fire from Gaza hits southern Israel, breaking ceasefire

United Nations officials today voiced their concern after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in southern Israel, breaching the ceasefire reached last November, and called for urgently resuming negotiations aimed at breaking the impasse in the Middle East peace process.

25.2.2013
Emirates

UAE VP receives UN Secretary-General in Dubai

Ban Ki-moon was in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today where he held a series of meetings with senior officials on issues such as the ongoing crisis in Syria, the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and sustainable energy.

25.2.2013
Arafat Jaradat

Senior UN official calls for investigation into death of Palestinian in Israeli detention

A senior United Nations official today voiced concern about the death in Israeli detention of Arafat Jaradat and called for an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the Palestinian’s death.

19.2.2013
Freedom of assembly

OHCHR concerned over Egypt’s draft law on demonstrations

The United Nations human rights office today voiced concerns about the draft law on demonstrations approved by the Egyptian Cabinet last week, in particular regarding the type and scope of limitations imposed on the freedom of assembly.

18.2.2013
Iraq

Kobler strongly condemns terrorist attacks on civilians in Baghdad

The top United Nations envoy in Iraq has strongly condemned the series of bombings that struck several neighbourhoods in Baghdad on Sunday, killing and injuring dozens of people.

11.2.2013
Progress

Yemen needs UNSC support to continue political transition

Yemen needs the full support of the Security Council as it proceeds to the next phase of its nascent political transition, a United Nations envoy told the 15-member body, which recently visited the country.

11.2.2013
Camp Liberty

UN chief condemns attack on Iranian exile camp in Iraq

Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned a mortar attack on an Iranian exile camp near Iraq's capital, Baghdad, which reportedly killed six people and injured several others.

6.2.2013
Israeli-Palestinian crisis

‘We cannot afford a year without tangible results’

Ban Ki-moon today urged the swift resumption of negotiations toward a two-State solution to the Middle East conflict, citing Israeli settlements and delays in Palestinian reconciliation among obstacles to be overcome.

6.2.2013
Arrests

UN human rights experts urge Iran to release journalists and stop targeting media

A group of United Nations independent experts have called on Iran to immediately release journalists detained in recent weeks, as well as to stop what it says is a broader campaign to crack down on media ahead of the June 2013 presidential elections.

17.1.2013
Agencies

Kuwait donates USD 7 million to the United Nations

The State of Kuwait has donated to the United Nations an amount of USD 7 million as its financial contribution in supporting the United Nations Organization and its affiliated specialized agencies.