Pledges for Humanitarian Aid to Syria Fall Short of Target by Billions

More than 12 million people inside Syria are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Credit: European Commission DG ECHO/CC-BY-ND-2.0 KUWAIT CITY, Mar 31 2015 (IPS) – When United…

Humanitarian Crisis in South Sudan Continues to Worsen

Oxfam estimates that 800,000 people in South Sudan have reached “emergency levels” of hunger. Credit: Ann-Kathrin Pohlers/IPS MUNICH, Germany, May 28 2015 (IPS) – After peace talks failed…

Opinion: Uneven MDG Progress Must Inspire Resolve to Do Much Better

Hunger is constant in India’s refugee camps, with meagre rations of rice, lentils, cooking oil and salt falling short of most families’ basic needs. Women are forced to…

Opinion: “Sanitation, Water & Hygiene For All” Cannot Wait for 2030

Dr Geeta Rao Gupta, Deputy Executive Director (Programmes), joined UNICEF in June, 2011, and brings over 20 years of experience in international development programming, advocacy and research to…

UN Seeks Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 9 2016 (IPS) – The United Nations says it is determined to end female genital mutilation (FGM) – a ritual practiced mostly in Africa, the…

Many Cities Don’t Know How Dangerous Their Air Pollution Is

Motorbikes are one of the reasons that air pollution in developing countries is different to air pollution in developed countries. Credit: Neeta Lal / IPS. UNITED NATIONS, May…

Rethinking Fiscal Policy for Global Recovery

Anis Chowdhury was Professor of Economics, University of Western Sydney, and held various senior United Nations positions in New York and Bangkok. Jomo Kwame Sundaram was UN Assistant…

Climate-Smart Agriculture for Drought-Stricken Madagascar

As a result of farmers embracing Climate Smart Agriculture, some fields are still green and alive even as drought rages in the south of Madagascar. Credit: Miriam Gathigah/IPS…

Kenyans Turn to Wild Fruits and Insects as Drought Looms

Once fertile agricultural land in Kenya is being degraded by encroachment and the effects of climate change. Credit: Miriam Gathigah/IPS NAIROBI, Jan 31 2017 (IPS) – Too hungry…

Indigenous Women: The Frontline Protectors of the Environment

The Bhumia tribal community practices sustainable forestry: these women returning from the forest carry baskets of painstakingly gathered tree bark and dried cow dung for manure. Credit: Manipadma…