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21 August 2014
Expressing its ‘gravest concern’ that parts of Iraq and Syria are now under the control of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusra Front, the UN Security Council placed six individuals affiliated with the terrorist groups on its Al-Qaida sanctions list and threatened measures against those who finance, recruit or supply weapons to them. (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | Adopting resolution, Security Council approves sanctions against militants in Iraq, Syria
Source: UN News Centre | UNSC | SC/11520 | Security Council Adopts Resolution 2170 (2014) Condemning Gross, Widespread Abuse Of Human Rights by Extremist Groups in Iraq, Syria | 15 August 2014
21 August 2014
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the destruction of Syria’s declared chemical weapons material on board the US vessel Cape Ray, saying: ‘This marks a significant achievement in the international community’s efforts to eliminate the chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic following the framework agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States of America.’ (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | UN chief welcomes destruction of Syria's declared chemical weapons material
15 August 2014
This is our News Items Overview of 16 July 2014-15 August 2014, a summary of recent news relating to shared responsibility. (more…)
15 August 2014
On 8 August, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) declared the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa an international public health emergency, saying: ‘our collective health security’ depends on urgent support for containment in the affected countries. WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan declared ‘the current outbreak of the Ebola a public health emergency of international concern’. Although the disease is only affecting a small part of the African continent, there is ‘a clear call for international solidarity’ to boost the capacity of the countries currently affected. According to the WHO, between 10 and 11 August, 128 new cases of Ebola virus disease, as well as 56 deaths, were reported from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, bringing the total number of cases to 1,975 and deaths to 1,069. (more…)
Source: AlJazeera| Canada sends trial Ebola vaccine to W Africa
Source: UN News Centre | UN declares Ebola outbreak global ‘international public health emergency’
Source: UN News Centre | Ebola: UN health agency says more than 1 million people affected by outbreak
Source: UN News Centre | Ebola: WHO-convened ethics panel endorses use of experimental drugs
15 August 2014
The UN has designated its highest level emergency for the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, citing the scale and complexity of the situation, which is impacting tens of thousands of people that have been forcefully displaced by the armed group, Islamic State (IS). The ‘Level 3 Emergency’ designation will ‘facilitate mobilization of additional resources in goods, funds and assets to ensure a more effective response to the humanitarian needs of populations affected by forced displacements’. UN officials are particularly concerned about the situation on Sinjar Mountain, where are at least several thousand people remain trapped and the health conditions are quickly deteriorating. (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | UN declares Iraq ‘Level 3 Emergency’ to trigger more resources, speed up aid delivery
Source: UN News Centre | Amid spread of ‘hatred and brutality,’ Ban urges countries to do more to help Iraqi civilians