AYETORO, Nigeria, Jan 02 (IPS) - Ayetoro, a Nigerian town once known for its vibrant economy and cultural significance, now stands as a stark reminder of the destruction wrought by climate change. Key landmarks such as the market, football pitch, community library, a technical workshop and the community’s first church have been submerged or destroyed by the sea. Even the monarch’s palace, a symbol of the town’s rich cultural heritage, is now surrounded by swampy water.In 2021, Ojajuni Olufunsho, a 53-year-old resident of Ayetoro, a town along the Atlantic coast, southwestern Nigeria, saw her home swept away by the encroaching sea. What was once a spacious 10-room house, a sanctuary for Olufunsho and her five children, was swallowed by the relentless force of rising sea waters.

Read the full story, “Who Will Save Nigeria's Coastal City on the Brink of Extinction?”, on globalissues.org →

KATHMANDU, Nepal, Jan 02 (IPS) - Former American President Jimmy Carter was a man of peace and principles. He presided over a tumultuous period in American history from 1977 to 1981, working hard to restore trust in government after the Watergate scandal and the divisive era of the Vietnam War. He brokered a landmark peace deal between Israel and Egypt and negotiated a historic treaty to hand over the Panama Canal to Panama.

Read the full story, “Remembering Jimmy Carter: a UN Perspective”, on globalissues.org →

Since he began his mandate as UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale has seen for himself the devastating effects of the Russian invasion. In this account, written exclusively for UN News, Mr. Schmale shares his impressions of Ukraine, and the efforts of the UN System to support its citizens.

Read the full story, “RC blog: 'It will take years to help people deal with the invisible consequences of war'”, on globalissues.org →