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Food insecurity and drought in Kenya

With the failure of four consecutive rainy seasons, the impact of drought, hunger and disease is felt throughout the Horn of Africa, where over 18.5 million people are in dire need of relief. A Unicef video from Kenya.

Welcome to the Security Council

 The General Assembly held Security Council elections yesterday.  As is the case with many procedures at the UN, a certain number of seats are set aside for specific regional blocs.  And, as is often the case, the blocs decide amongst themselves who will stand for election.  This is what happened yesterday in which five countries ran un-opposed for five seats on the council.  The results are as follows: 

Africa & Asia: Gabon, Lebanon & Nigeria

UNAMA and the Afghan elections

A lot of ink has been spilled so far about the dispute in the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) between the mission's former deputy Peter W. Galbraith and his boss, Kai Eide. What has been lost in the discussion, though, is the basic point that the disagreement over how to handle fraud in the Afghan elections is an honest one between two people who both believe that they have the best interests of Afghans at heart.

Parting thoughts on Turkey-Armenia

I'm leaving Turkey this evening.  As I mentioned last week, this was a very politically significant time to be in Turkey.   On Saturday, the foreign ministers of Turkey and Armenia (beneath the helpful gaze of Hillary Clinton) signed the Turkey-Armenia Protocols which pave the way for the opening of the Turkey-Armenia border and the restoration of full diplomatic relations between the two countries.  

Interpol and Peacekeeping, together at last

Talk about a match made in international institution heaven: Interpol and United Nations Peacekeeping entered into a partnership  this week that gives UN Police access to Interpol's vast database of international criminal activity.

WFP still at work

The World Food Program suffered a devastating loss last week in Pakistan. But their work continues elsewhere. Via the UN News Center, the WFP is still hard at work in one of the world's most dangerous places:  Somalia. 

 

The UN aspect of Obama’s Prize

The Secretary General made the following statement on Obama's Nobel Peace Prize:

The Secretary-General wholeheartedly congratulates U.S. President Barack Obama on winning the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.