Agricultural assistance is key to feed hungry people in war zones: FAO

Despite the setback of a further two-year delay in holding elections that were promised for next month, the “silver lining” is that the UN can help South Sudan build capacity and become the “democratic, stable society” that its people deserve.That’s the view of UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, who told UN News on Thursday that he is “confident” the country can progress in spite of a slew of major challenges including climate shocks and war over the border in Sudan – as long as the political will is there on the part of the country’s leaders.The veteran Special Representative from South Africa – who served as chief legal adviser to Nelson Mandela – sat down with Ben Malor shortly after briefing the Security Council. 

Although the use of mercenaries in conflict has increased in recent years, little is known about how they are funded and paid.The issue is the focus of the latest report by the Working Group on the use of mercenaries, which was presented to the UN General Assembly this week.Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito is the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group, which receives its mandate from the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.She spoke to UN News’s Dianne Penn about the difficulties in tracking financing for foreign fighters and how bankrolling them negatively impacts human rights, sustainable development and the environment. 

In Afghanistan under Taliban rule, it is now even more important to ensure that women have access to public spaces and adequate housing, creating places that are “accepted culturally in the current environment, but also provide a space where women can meet”.That’s the view of Stephanie Loose, Program Manager at the UN-Habitat Afghanistan Country Office, who is in Cairo to discuss the opportunities and challenges women are facing in urban areas.She spoke to UN News’s Khaled Mohammed who’s at the UN World Urban Forum in Cairo.

On August 1, the United States and Russia conducted a landmark prisoner exchange involving 16 people – the first of its kind since 1986 – which resulted in the release of several leading Russian dissidents. Among those freed was opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who recently visited UN Headquarters in New York with Mariana Katzarova, the UN Human Rights Council-appointed independent expert – or Special Rapporteur – who monitors the Russian Federation, to introduce her new report to the General Assembly.In an interview with UN News’s Nargiz Shekinskaya, Mr. Kara-Murza reflected on his recent release, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the ongoing human rights crisis in his homeland.He underscored the "horrendous" scale of political imprisonment in Russia, where over 1,300 political prisoners are currently held, and countless others remain invisible.

Stressing that housing is a human right which gives meaning and dignity to people’s lives, the independent UN rights expert – or Special Rapporteur – who monitors the issue has issued an alert over the impact of war, with many civilians simply “losing their houses” as battlefields shift and expand.Balakrishnan Rajagopal is at the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, where he spoke to UN News’s Khaled Mohamed on the challenges of ensuring affordable and safe housing for all.

Close to 70 per cent of the world population lives in cities, which brings opportunities but also major challenges, many of which have featured high on the agenda at this week’s World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo.Successful urban development must include the perspectives of women and young people, according to the World Bank’s Global Director for urban resilience, who said it was vital to include their voice in decision making and how public space is used.Ming Zhang spoke to Khaled Mohamed, who’s in Cairo covering the forum for UN News. 

Youth-led initiatives have the potential to significantly impact local urban development, according to the deputy chief of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).Haoliang Xu spoke to UN News ahead of the World Urban Forum which begins in Cairo, Egypt, on 4 November and which brings together people from across the world to discuss the challenges faced by cities.It’s estimated that by 2050, some 70 percent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas, which will put pressure on health services, housing, as well as education, transport infrastructure and the police.Pia Blondel asked Mr. Xu how cities will cope with the increase in people.

The resumption of the mass polio campaign in northern Gaza this weekend is crucially important to protect children from disease, but they are “absolutely not safe” from daily bombardment.That’s the message from UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees; along with the UN health agency (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund. Humanitarians must now reach 119,000 children under 10 in northern communities in the coming days to keep them safe from polio, which is highly infectious.With more, here’s UNRWA Senior Emergency Officer Louise Wateridge who’s been speaking to UN News’s Daniel Johnson from central Gaza.

Pregnant women and girls in Lebanon’s shelters face trauma, harassment and disease, UN humanitarians have warned.With war still raging in Lebanon, 1.2 million people have been forced to seek safety in hundreds of shelters across the country.And although 60 per cent of the country’s public schools have been converted into places of refuge for those who’ve fled displacement orders and bombing, there just aren’t enough shelters for everyone.This problem affects women and girls the most as they are at risk of disease and sexual assault, warned UNFPA, the UN agency for sexual and reproductive health services.With more, here’s Pamela Di Camillo, UNFPA’s Representative ad interim for Lebanon, who’s been telling UN News’s Nancy Sarkis about the harsh conditions that women – especially those who are pregnant – are facing.

In a time of global crisis, it’s essential not to forget the steady erosion of rights across Afghanistan.That’s the view of Richard Bennett, the UN’s independent human rights expert – or Special Rapporteur – who monitors the country. He was in New York to present his report to the General Assembly.Mr. Bennet told UN News’s Vibhu Mishra that members of the international community who’ve pledged support must stay the course “because nowhere else in the world are women treated as appallingly as they are [there] these days”. Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council. They serve in their individual capacity, independent of the UN system and national governments. They are not UN staff and draw no salary.