Full and Fair Financing for Africa’s future

Olukemi Ibikunle, a corrections officer from Nigeria serving with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) is the winner of the third United Nations Trailblazer Award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers. She spoke to UN News's Fabrice Robinet, who started by asking her about her role in Peacekeeping. 

Photo: Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed (right) presents the Trailblazer Award to the 2025 winner Olukemi Ibikunle, a correctional officer from Nigeria deployed to MONUSCO.

CLIP - Nigerian Peacekeeper Wins 2025 UN Trailblazer Award

UN aid worker Olga Cherevko who is in Gaza describes the scenes there overnight into Thursday after news broke of a potential ceasefire agreement. Here she is now talking to UN News.

Gaza jubilant at news of initial peace agreement

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Gaza ceasefire deal. 

CLIP - UN Secretary-General's remarks to media stakeout on Gaza, 09 October 2025

UNICEF’s spokesperson, Ricardo Pires, tells UN News that the hope is that this moment is the "beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza, of the reconstruction of children's lives". 

Audio Credit: Felipe De Carvalho, UN News 

CLIP - UNICEF’s spokesperson, Ricardo Pires, on Gaza

• Gaza: Aid supplies are on standby, we are ready to deliver, says UN chief
• Condemnation for deadly Myanmar airstrike on civilians
• Despite war in Sudan, relief teams get vaccines to vulnerable populations: UNICEF

Audio credit: Daniel Johnson, UN News

UN News Today 09 October 2025 - Gaza ceasefire, Myanmar, Sudan

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday welcomed the Nobel Peace Prize committee’s decision to name Maria Machado as this year’s laureate, in recognition of her work promoting the Venezuelan people’s democratic hopes.

“We congratulate Maria Corina Machado on being announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize,” said OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan. “This recognition reflects the clear aspirations of the people of Venezuela for free and fair elections, for civil and political rights and for the rule of law. The High Commissioner has consistently spoken out in support of these values.”

The 58-year-old activist who was barred from running in last year’s presidential elections, lives in hiding inside Venezuela and was briefly detained after attending an opposition rally in January. She was rapidly released reportedly following international pressure.



Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Machado’s values represent best hopes of Venezuelans: OHCHR

About four million people are now displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and neighbouring countries — two-thirds more than five years ago. Conflict, insecurity, limited access to services and the effects of climate change are driving families from their homes and straining already fragile host communities, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warned.

“Women and children represent 80 per cent of the forcibly displaced population in the region, and gender-based violence remains a pervasive concern,” said Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, UNHCR’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “People face violence, forced recruitment, movement restrictions and arbitrary detention, and many are taking increasingly dangerous journeys.”

The displacement crisis has shuttered 14,800 schools and more than 900 health facilities, leaving three million children without access to education and millions without critical care. Food insecurity has become a growing trigger for flight as climate shocks intensify competition over scarce land and water.
UNHCR stressed that Sahel countries cannot face these challenges alone. The agency is urging renewed international commitment and solidarity to support protection, stability and self-reliance for displaced families, warning that humanitarian access and funding shortfalls are severely undermining life-saving assistance.

CLIP – Four million displaced across the Sahel amid rising violence and climate shocks: UNHCR

• Ukraine’s front-line communities among millions enduring a global mental health crisis
• Gazans on the move after ceasefire deal, aid teams appeal for open access
• UN rights office hails new Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado from Venezuela

Audio credit: Daniel Johnson, UN News

UN News Today 10 October 2025 - Gaza, Ukraine, Nobel Peace Prize

Gazans returning northwards shared their joy and relief on Monday at the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel that entered into force last Friday. Life remains extremely challenging for most, including one family living in a worn-out tent in Gaza City who spoke to UN aid worker Olga Cherevko, from the aid coordination office, OCHA.
"They invited me for a lunch with them of some stewed tomatoes; they said that this is the first time that they have been one able to find something fresh to eat and to cook it themselves," explained Ms. Cherevko, speaking to UN News. 
"These are very difficult steps that people will have to go through to obviously grieve, to start their lives again and to build the future," the veteran aid worker continued. "But this is finally something that they can look forward to and the future of their families is being discussed for the first time in months."

Gaza City update from UN's Olga Cherevko

• Gaza: Hostages released, aid is beginning to flow, say aid agencies
• South Sudan’s escalating political crisis is driving violence, Human Rights Council investigators warn
• WHO: Maldives is first country to stop mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B

Audio credit: Daniel Johnson, UN News

UN News Today 13 October 2025 - Gaza, South Sudan, health

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Full and Fair Financing for Africa’s future

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