When Home Is No Longer Safe: A Family’s Return in Sudan In many parts of Sudan, families returning home after conflict face a hidden danger: explosive hazards. During fighting, explosive items can fall into residential areas without detonating. Long after the violence stops, these items remain a serious threat to civilians. For families trying to rebuild their lives, these hidden hazards can turn homes, parks, and neighborhoods into dangerous…
As we enter April, we commemorate the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (IMAD). Since its inception in 1997, UNMAS has responded to conflicts across the world, working to mitigate the impact of explosive ordnance on communities. Since establishing a programme in the OPT in 2009, UNMAS has worked with partners and local communities to minimize explosive risks and support peace. Throughout this period UNMAS has…
The world marks the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April, reaffirming the essential role mine action plays in securing peace, enabling recovery, and driving sustainable development. This year’s global theme, “Invest in Peace, Invest in Mine Action,” highlights a fundamental truth: peace cannot be sustained where landmines, cluster munition remnants, and other explosive ordnance continue to endanger…
New York, 1 April 2026 – The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has published a digital exhibition titled Signs of Safety. The exhibition aims to highlight the universal and indiscriminate risks posed by explosive ordnance, how these threats are perceived by children across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, and Syriat, and the key role that affected communities play in championing safety messaging. With the International Day for…
Dear Colleagues, As part of UNTSO’s continued commitment to climate action and sustainable development, and in recognition of the importance of leading by example, UNTSO joined the Secretary-General in observing Earth Hour 2026, as in previous years. Accordingly, non-essential lights at UNTSO Headquarters in Jerusalem were switched off in observance of Earth Hour on Saturday, 28 March 2026, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. This collective effort highlights…
Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari Remarks to the Security Council on the situation in Lebanon New York, 31 March 2026 Mister President, Amid the wider escalation across the Middle East, the situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate drastically. Since the last emergency meeting of this Council on Lebanon on 11 March, and the closed consultations held on 17 March, Hizbullah and Israel have both expanded the scale and scope of their…
The killing of three UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon in the past two days has highlighted the grave dangers for the 10,000 military personnel who make up the bulk of UNIFIL, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon – and for the communities caught up in intense clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah fighters. “It's extremely volatile, extremely dangerous, and you know, we see the situation for us as peacekeepers, also for the civilians who…
Invest in Peace; Invest in Mine Action The world marks the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April, reaffirming the essential role mine action plays in securing peace, enabling recovery, and driving sustainable development. This year’s global theme, “Invest in Peace, Invest in Mine Action,” highlights a fundamental truth: peace cannot be sustained where landmines, cluster munition remnants, and other…
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has called on all parties to exercise restraint and uphold the peace agreement as violence escalates and reports emerge of the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar. “Tonight…
EASTERN EQUATORIA - Radio Miraya, the broadcaster run by the United Nations Mission in #SouthSudan (UNMISS) has devoted, listening fans across the country. When a crew from the station spent a few days in Torit and Magwi…
UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) yesterday, renewing the UN peacekeeping mission’s support for humanitarian and operational demining in the UNIFIL area of operations in…
Good to see you again. (Inaudible) Syria, how concerned are you? Mr. Pedersen: Listen, what happened, of course, on the coast is not only extremely alarming, it's disturbing, you know, unacceptable. Then, we are also, as you…
Plenty of girls and boys in Torit were keen to talk to Radio Miraya when the UNMISS broadcaster was in town. Photos: Matiisetso Mosala/UNMISS EASTERN EQUATORIA - Radio Miraya, the broadcaster run by the United Nations Mission…
UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) yesterday, renewing the UN peacekeeping mission’s support for humanitarian and operational demining in the UNIFIL area of operations in…
South Sudan is teetering on the brink of a return to full-scale civil war as violence escalates and political tensions deepen, the head of the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) warned on Monday. Briefing journalists at UN…
In the past week, Israel carried out devastating strikes on Gaza, claiming the lives of hundreds of civilians, including United Nations personnel, with no humanitarian aid being allowed to enter the Strip since early March…
United Nations peace operations are facing mounting challenges as conflicts become more protracted, geopolitical divisions widen and transnational threats multiply, Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Monday…
WARRAP - In the aftermath of recent intercommunal unrest, communities in Kuajok have taken steps to mend damaged relations and reconcile. On 17 January, following reports of South Sudanese civilians being killed in…
In January, intercommunal tensions in Kuajok boiled over due to events in neighbouring Sudan. Representatives from the different communities have now met in a bid to reconcile. Photos: Zejin Yin/UNMISS WARRAP - In the…
A brief roundup of United Nations-related political and peacebuilding events and developments globally. "A renewed ceasefire" in Middle East is best way of protecting civilians, ASG Khiari tells Security Council On 20 March…