Press releases and statements

"The destruction I saw was devastating both in human and material terms. The magnitude of loss of life and injury to the civilian population is bound to have a lasting impact on the mental and...

Humanitarian Action Plan to help vulnerable people in Afghanistan. United Nations agencies and their partners are seeking a total of $603. 9 million to meet the immediate needs of those made most...

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to all of you gathered here today for the launch of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Action Plan for 2009. I'd like to extend a particularly warm welcome to my...

(New York, 2 February 2009): The United Nations and its partners today launched an appeal for $613 million to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of 1.4m people in Gaza affected by the recent 23-day...

Excellencies, distinguished delegates and colleagues, Welcome to all of you gathered here today for the launch of the Gaza Flash Appeal. I'd like to welcome my fellow speakers, Dr. Fathi Abu Moghli,...

(New York, 30 January 2009): The number of cholera cases in Zimbabwe has surpassed the World Health Organization's (WHO) worst-case scenario figure of 60,000, an indication that the epidemic is still...

Mr. President, Excellencies, On behalf of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to address the Council during this debate on respect...

Thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to brief the Council. Let me take advantage of the presence of the Security Council and straightaway express my profound admiration for what Karen...

(New York, 24 January 2009): Yesterday, on the third day of his visit to the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel , Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief...

(Bishkek/Dubai/New York/Geneva, 23 January 2008): Despite the best efforts of the government and a relatively mild winter, vulnerable individuals and critical social infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan...