YAMBIO - Esther John Hayat is hard to miss on the Yambio airstrip. Driving a candy-red fire truck across the tarmac, dressed in a hard hat and a fireproof suit, she cuts a striking figure. But it’s not just the uniform and vehicle that draws attention, it’s the fact she’s the only woman in the entire state of Western Equatoria doing this job. Her day begins at 6:00 am with meticulous equipment checks of the hoses, water cannons, fire…
A brief roundup of United Nations political and peacebuilding events and developments globally. ASG Khiari warns of escalating fighting and rising civilian toll in Ukraine On 20 April, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, briefed the Security Council on developments in Ukraine. He noted that a temporary Easter truce announced from 11 to 12 April was not respected, with…
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of MONUSCO, Mr. James Swan, arrived in Goma on Friday, April 24, 2026, as part of his first field visit to the eastern part of the country since taking office and which started on 20 April with Beni. This visit comes amid persistent security challenges and ceasefire monitoring responsibilities for MONUSCO. Upon his arrival at Goma…
United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert held a round of meetings this week with Lebanese political, security and religious representatives. In exercising her good offices role, the Special Coordinator discussed with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam ongoing efforts to consolidate the cessation of hostilities and advance stability in Lebanon. Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert also met with the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces…
New analysis underscores urgent need for coordinated responses to protect civilians. Bogotá, Colombia – 15 April 2026. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Colombia has launched a new technical paper titled “Uncrewed Aircraft Systems with Explosive Payloads: Emerging Threats and Challenges for Colombia”, highlighting the growing humanitarian risks associated with the use of weaponized drones by non-state armed groups. Presented…
WAU – In 2016, clashes between armed forces caused almost 40,000 people to flee Wau town in search of a safe haven. By 2020, many had resettled in other parts of the country while about 10,000 former residents remained in the Naivasha protection site, established by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and partners. Since then, the site has undergone various changes regarding protection mandates and different partner organizations providing…
YAMBIO – Victoria* gazes lovingly at the upturned face of the four-month-old infant lying on her lap. She brushes her palm gently across his forehead and giggles as the baby coos and gurgles and kicks his tiny legs in the air. She leans back and smiles, her eyes glinting with pride, revelling in the newfound joy of motherhood. Just shy of 19, her smile and calm demeanour conceal the many horrors that she’s battled. And survived. Abducted by an…
À Obo, dans le Haut-Mbomou, 80 représentants de partis politiques ont bénéficié, le 21 avril, d’une formation organisée par la Délégation sous-préfectorale des élections (DSPE) avec l’appui de la MINUSCA, afin de renforcer leurs compétences dans les bureaux de vote le jour des scrutins. Les modules développés ont porté notamment sur les droits et devoirs des représentants des partis politiques dans les bureaux de vote, ainsi que sur le code de…
As Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory prepare to go to the polls on 25 April, the United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, welcomes the efforts of the Central Elections Commission to organize local elections in the West Bank and the municipality of Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. “Saturday’s elections represent an important opportunity for Palestinians to exercise their…
Laduma Patricia Egan from Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan knows how to transform the cards dealt to her into a winning hand. This disability and women's rights advocate has been on crutches ever since she can remember but that…
WESTERN EQUATORIA - Being born with a disability does make life harder, but it doesn’t stop anybody from being a caregiver, a provider, and an inspiration. That’s an important lesson that one can take away from Stephen…
Mogadishu – Marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), the United Nations in Somalia today commended the Somali authorities for their progress in recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities and…
EASTERN EQUATORIA – Living with a disability in South Sudan or anywhere in the world isn’t easy, but Laduma Patricia Egan makes it appear so. This single mother has taken the hand given to her by fate, if you will, and made…
This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world. USG DiCarlo travels to Ethiopia Under-Secretary-General (USG) Rosemary DiCarlo accompanied Secretary…
KABUL - UN Secretary-General’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, carried out a two-day mission this week to the country’s north, including a brief visit to the Uzbek border town of Termez, discussing UN support…
Kinshasa, 2 December 2022 - Due to ongoing conflicts in Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), contamination with Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) is increasing, along with a surge in refugees and…
Military officers having their awareness on human rights principles raised. Photos: Moses Yakudu/UNMISS Human rights violations are common in Eastern Equatoria State and in the rest of the country. Sometimes, they are…
Ten enterprising women from Upper Nile, South Sudan, took loans to gather seed money and launch a food business with a little help and encouragement from UNMISS. Photo by Samson Liberty/UNMISS UPPER NILE – As intercommunal…
Juba, 2 December 2022: UNMISS, AUMISS, IGAD, R-JMEC, some members of the African Diplomatic Corps and some members of the international community (TROIKA, EU, Switzerland, India) in South Sudan convened a meeting to discuss…
Human rights violations are common in Eastern Equatoria State and in the rest of the country. Sometimes, they are committed by members of armed forces. The Human Rights Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan…
UPPER NILE – As intercommunal conflict spreads in troubled Upper Nile, a state in the world’s youngest nation, there are still silver linings amid these dark times. One such ray of sunshine is a collective of women who call…