UN - Top Stories

1. Land models sprout as degradation threatens billions of livelihoods

   Promising efforts to restore degraded land are now in the spotlight at a time when 40 per cent of the world’s land currently faces degradation and drought, threatening the livelihoods of over three billion people, the head of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) said Wednesday, announcing three winners of its World Restoration Flagships awards.

2. Red Sea nations step up maritime cooperation as regional threats grow

   From piracy and migrant smuggling to disruptions affecting global shipping routes, countries bordering one of the world’s busiest waterways are seeking closer cooperation to stay ahead of fast-evolving maritime threats.

3. Explainer: UN peace operations work to create, preserve peace

   Supporting the first democratic elections after brutal civil wars in Mozambique and Cambodia. Disarming thousands of child soldiers in Sierra Leone. Helping to secure Namibia’s independence from South Africa. These are some of the contributions of UN operations around the world to help countries transition from conflict to lasting peace.

4. Deadly floods cause widespread destruction in China, Nepal

   Severe flooding in China and Nepal caused widespread destruction and mounting death tolls, UN agencies reported on Wednesday as aid efforts deployed to help provide emergency assistance.

5. More health workers, stronger systems: Africa’s new ambitious goal

   Facing a projected shortage of more than six million health professionals by 2035, African countries are stepping up efforts to strengthen their workforce, with a new decade-long plan announced on Wednesday during a meeting of health ministers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.