Ban hails US Secretary of State Clinton for her work towards female empowerment

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid tribute today to the long-running efforts of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to advocate for the rights of women, saying her leadership on the issue should serve as an inspiration to others.

Ban to visit Haiti on Sunday as post-quake relief efforts reach two-month mark

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will make a one-day visit to Haiti on Sunday, his second to the Caribbean country since the 12 January earthquake, his spokesperson announced today.

Chile: UNICEF to reach out to 1 million quake victims

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is providing emergency education and water services for 1 million Chilean children and their families in the wake of the powerful earthquake that struck the South American nation on 27 February.

Haiti: UN scaling up efforts to ensure shelter needs ahead of rainy season

The main priority for post-quake Haiti remains emergency shelter, the top United Nations relief official said today, adding that the world body is scaling up efforts to ensure that everyone has a roof over their heads by the time the rainy season begins in May.

Ban urges Member States to rally behind Chilean quake relief efforts

United Nations Member States must play their part to help Chile rebuild after last month’s deadly earthquake and tsunami, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today as he announced he has tasked senior UN officials with ensuring coordinated support for the emergency and recovery phases in the wake of the disaster.

UNESCO chief reaffirms commitment to protect Haiti’s cultural heritage

Kicking off a visit to Haiti today, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today reiterated the agency’s support to help the nation protect its cultural heritage - including works of art and libraries - in the wake of January’s catastrophic earthquake.

Head of UN mission in Haiti says humanitarian aid will be needed until 2011

Nearly two months after Haiti was struck by a catastrophic earthquake, the top United Nations official there says the country is moving towards recovery and reconstruction but will need continued urgent humanitarian relief for at least the next 12 months.

Secretary-General leads UN tribute to colleagues killed in Haitian quake

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today led United Nations staff and the family and friends of personnel who perished in the Haitian earthquake in honouring the memory of the 101 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the Organization.

Shelter critical need for post-quake Haiti and Chile, says Ban

Returning from seeing first-hand the destruction wrought by the earthquake that struck Chile last month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the urgent need for shelter, which is also a priority for millions of quake survivors in Haiti.

UN stands with Chilean people, Ban says on visit to quake-damaged city

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday expressed the solidarity of the United Nations with the people of Chile as they seek to recover from last week's devastating earthquake, as he visited one of the areas hit hardest by the disaster.