| |  | |  UN troops stand their ground in volatile Cote d'Ivoire The United Nations is defying calls for the ouster of its 7,500-member peacekeeping force from Cote d'Ivoire. Laurent Gbagbo, the country's intransigent incumbent president, ordered the UN troops to leave weeks after losing an election, and days after loyal security forces fired upon supporters of his victorious opponent, killing several. In a news conference today, UN Special Representative Choi Young-jin complained that UN personnel were being subjected to a campaign of intimidation. Google/The Associated Press (12/20) , The Washington Post/Financial Times (12/19)
|  |  | Armed men have been coming to the personal houses of United Nations employees, asking them to leave and searching their houses under the pretext of looking for arms." Choi Young-jin, UN Special Representative in Cote d'Ivoire. Click here for the full story. |
|  | "This outbreak is frightening for reasons beyond the current number of infections. South Sudan is going to start receiving returned refugees any day now, in preparation for the independence referendum on January." UN Dispatch | |
- Security Council stymied over Korean conflict
Members of the UN Security Council were unable to agree Sunday over the content of a statement that would have addressed the escalating tensions between North and South Korea. "We have a situation of very serious political tension and no game plan on the diplomatic side," said Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin. Reuters (12/19) , Bloomberg (12/19)      - Rich countries must do more to fight malaria
 Since 2008, global efforts to fight malaria have made "enormous progress" in fighting the disease, according to this New York Times editorial. The goal of virtually eliminating the disease by 2015 is within reach, thanks to efforts by the UN and private and public institutions, but rich countries need to step up funding. The World Health Organization sought $6 billion for anti-malaria efforts in 2010, but only received $1.8 billion in donations. The New York Times (free registration) (12/18) - Jimmy Carter vs. the Guinea worm
The efforts of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to champion the battle against Guinea worm have pushed the disease, a painful infection spread through contaminated water, to the cusp of eradication. Twenty-five years ago Guinea worm affected 3 million people across Asia and Africa every year. This year there have been only 1,700 confirmed cases. Der Spiegel (Germany) (English online version) (12/17) Top five news stories selected by UN Wire readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
- Climate change creates a new refugee class
Millions of climate refugees are already on the move as changing weather patterns bring an end to traditional farming, fishing and herding lifestyles. In Africa's Sahel region, the increasing inability to coax food from the soil has left 50% of the population grappling with chronic malnutrition and led thousands of families to pack their meager belongings and move elsewhere. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (12/19) - UNHCR speaks out on Cote d'Ivoire
Violence, marked by pro-government militias abducting civilians from their homes, is a major cause for concern in Cote d'Ivoire, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says. More than 50 people have died since disputed presidential elections that resulted in both candidates declaring victory. ForeignPolicy.com/Turtle Bay blog (12/19) - Iran ends food and fuel subsidies under strain of sanctions
Cuts in food and energy subsidies by the Iranian government have led to sharp increases in prices for consumers. The government pledged to offset the increases with cash payments. Prices are only expected to climb, stoking fears of even higher inflation and protests as the country struggles under the effects of sanctions. Bloomberg (12/19) , BBC (12/19) - Coming Sudan vote stokes fears of intolerance, migration
A vote next month by southern Sudan to secede from the north will result in an overhaul of the constitution in the heavily Muslim north that would make Islam the only religion, Shariah the only law, and Arabic the only language, President Omar al-Bashir has said. The United Nations fears that hundreds of thousands could flee the country if fighting, ceased in 2005, begins anew. BBC (12/19) , Reuters (12/20)  | |  | | | | |  |  Director | International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) | New York, NY | | Executive Director, Business Council for the United Nations / Director of Corporate Relations | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | Communications Director, Strategic Energy and Climate Initiatives | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | Executive Assistant | Arcus Foundation | New York, NY | | Director, Girl Up (The UN Foundations girl campaign) | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | Program Associate - NYC Office | Arcus Foundation | New York, NY | | | |  | |  |
- Which of these findings from the WHO 2010 World Malaria Report do you find most surprising?
 | Global funding for malaria has steeply increased in the past decade | | By the end of this year, 289 million malaria-preventing bed nets will have been delivered to Sub-Saharan Africa since 2008 | | 23 countries in Africa have adopted the WHO recommendation to provide nets to everyone at risk of malaria | | None of the above surprises me |
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