Ukraine grain shipments slow in Russian bid to export ammonia
Moscow wants the transit of ammonia, a key ingredient in nitrogen-based fertilizers, to resume in Ukrainian territory.
Human Rights & Humanitarians
News and insights from international organizations about human rights and humanitarian affairs.
More than 100 armed conflicts, most lasting for more than 30 years
A Swiss-led U.N. Security Council session called on all countries and armed groups to fulfill their obligations for protecting civilians under international humanitarian law.
Russia sticks to Ukraine grain deal after U.N.-brokered negotiations
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a U.N.-brokered agreement signed between the world body, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey on July 22, 2022, will now continue at least until mid-July.
UN appeal seeks US$2.56B for humanitarian needs in Sudan
The fighting that broke out last month caused the ranks of those who need humanitarian aid and protection to swell to 24.6 million, or slightly more than half of Sudan's 49 million.
New U.N. estimate shows the Syrian civil war's deadly toll on civilians
More than half of the deaths were never documented due to the difficulty of collecting reliable data on death tolls in conflict zones, made still harder by the brutality of Syria's war.
Almost a quarter of all of WFP's food supplies in Sudan have been looted
The U.N. confirmed at least 17,000 metric tons of food – enough to feed more than half a million people – were taken.
U.N. panel on racism and law enforcement ends first U.S. tour
Panel members said they heard countless painful stories from victims and their families but also learned of some promising initiatives against racial discrimination.
Faking content is getting easier. Digging for truth is getting harder.
There's a growing industry and more tools for producing and distributing disinformation. Meanwhile, authorities are getting more aggressive and hostile toward journalists.
Human rights and aid concerns spike as waves of Sudanese flee
Most of Khartoum, Darfur and North Kordofan are too dangerous to operate in, the U.N. refugee agency said.
U.N. vote opposes Taliban constraints against females
A U.N. Security Council resolution calls on Afghanistan's de factor rulers to quickly restore the rights of women and girls to 'full, equal, meaningful and safe' participation in society.
Aid flows constrict and civilians in danger as Sudan descends into chaos
Sudan's unraveling forced humanitarian aid organizations, including those with staff killed by fighting, to suspend operations, despite millions of civilians in great need.
WFP Sudan staff killed and injured as operations temporarily stopped
An estimated 15 million people among Sudan's 46.7 million population are facing acute food insecurity, according to WFP.
Humanitarians arrange multi-day prisoner swap in Yemen's long war
The deal brokered by U.N. and Red Cross officials between Yemen's Saudi-backed government and Iran-backed Houthi rebels is the first major prisoner swap in almost three years.
U.N. staff and appeal for aid in limbo from Taliban ban on Afghan women
Most of the employees who work for the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan are Afghan nationals, women and men, who have been told to stay home because of the ban.
Wanted on war crimes charges, Russian official appears before U.N.
Diplomats from other nations objected to the Russian-led U.N. Security Council session as an exercise in disinformation and cynical misuse of its mandate to maintain peace and security.
Red Cross finds around half of all armed groups are state-supported
New ICRC guidelines on the obligations of international humanitarian law are meant to protect innocent civilians and detainees against violence by non-state armed groups.