The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) announced plans yesterday to send a second group of staff officers to Darfur.
"The new batch, set to leave on Monday, comes in addition to the 17 UN military staff officers and 19 UN police advisers who are already in Darfur as part of a light support package for the thinly stretched AMIS, which has been struggling to monitor the vast region - roughly the size of France - where over 200,000 people have been killed since 2003 and more than ten times that amount displaced by conflict." More
The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) announced plans yesterday to send a second group of staff officers to Darfur.
"The new batch, set to leave on Monday, comes in addition to the 17 UN military staff officers and 19 UN police advisers who are already in Darfur as part of a light support package for the thinly stretched AMIS, which has been struggling to monitor the vast region - roughly the size of France - where over 200,000 people have been killed since 2003 and more than ten times that amount displaced by conflict." More
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke yesterday about the recent US military operations in Somalia, noting that diplomatic efforts should be redoubled "to have some political process for the realization of a peaceful resolution of this issue."
"While I fully understand the necessity behind this [U.S.] attack [on Somalia], we should be cautious enough [that this kind of situation will not] lead to unwanted directions." More
As part of the Nothing But Nets campaign, some "netraisers" are sharing their stories of getting informed and being involved. Here's Benita's story:
"The Malaria Boot Camp was a God-send for me. I have family in Senegal and have witnessed deaths due to malaria first hand. In the summer 2005, a friend took her newborn daughter to Senegal to show her off to the family. When she returned to the US, she felt weak and thought that she had a flu or something. After a few days, she went to our local hospital emergency room. They took blood and could not find anything, so they sent her home. She returned a second time, and was sent home again. After her third visit, the hospital had realized that she had deteriorated significantly, so they sent her blood work to a NYC hospital which helped them diagnose her malaria." More
To find out how you can get involved, click here.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the "Group of 77" yesterday that working closely with the caucus of developing nations will help him to build a stronger UN.
"I am confident that the new Chair of the G-77 will work with me - a new Secretary-General - to implement existing initiatives, and to push for further reform and strengthening of the UN system." More
The UN refugee agency launched a $60 million appeal yesterday to aid hundreds of thousands of displaced Iraqis. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that one in eight Iraqis have already left their homes, and 50,000 are now leaving each month.
"The funds will cover UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) protection and assistance programmes for Iraqi refugees in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey, as well as non-Iraqi refugees and IDPs, in what the agency says is the largest long-term population movement in the Middle East since the displacement of Palestinians following the creation of Israel in 1948." More 
On Friday, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro became the second woman appointed to be the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General. Her appointment is being touted as an exciting step forward by the UN community and as a promise fulfilled by women's rights organizations.