The UN chief has expressed his sadness at the loss of life and displacement across Zimbabwe, as a result of the deadly Tropical Cyclone Idai, which has pounded Southern Africa in recent days, leaving at least 150 dead in Malawi alone, according to latest news reports. “The Secretary-General is saddened by the loss of life, destruction of property and […]
Category: Natural Disasters
Heatwaves, hurricanes, floods: 2017 costliest year ever for extreme weather and climate events, says UN
Hurricanes, monsoon floods and continuing severe drought made 2017 the costliest year ever for severe weather and climate events, according to a new report by the United Nations weather agency launched on the eve of World Meteorological Day. “The start of 2018 has continued where 2017 left off – with extreme weather claiming lives and […]
UN chief urges world to implement Paris climate accord ‘with greater ambition’
Pointing to scientific evidence warning of increased extreme weather events, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, ahead of a trip to the storm-ravaged Caribbean, urged all countries to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change “with greater ambition.” “We know that the world has the tools, the technologies and the wealth to address climate change, but we must show more determination […]
‘To deny climate change is to deny a truth we have just lived’ says Prime Minister of storm-hit Dominica
Pleading with all countries in the United Nations General Assembly – large and small, rich and poor – to come together to save our planet, the Prime Minister of Dominica, where the landscape, ravaged by back-to-back hurricanes “resembles a warzone,” said his and other islands in the Caribbean need help now to build their […]
Continued risk of catastrophic damage as Irma traverses path of destruction, warns UN
Hurricane Irma continues to wreak havoc in the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, the United Nations humanitarian wing said today, warning that areas along its path continue to remain at risk of significant damage. “There is continued risk of catastrophic damage from hurricane-force winds, storm surge and flooding in areas on Irma’s trajectory,” […]
UN supporting national relief efforts as Hurricane Irma threatens nearly 50 million people
United Nations agencies are supporting relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which has already wreaked havoc on Antigua and Barbuda and other Caribbean islands and is en route towards the United States. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Irma, a Category 5 storm, made landfall on northeast Caribbean islands […]