This is the first time a UN peacekeeping operation has been tasked with helping a state take control over territory held by terrorists

Vivien Lusted: ‘There is no hospital . . . no medicine – where do you start?’

Detainee says guards threaten to shoot if they try to bury corpses

About 1,500 disappeared and 1,000 dead remain unidentified after five-year war in east

Former Defence Forces member’s ambiguity on Isis adds to logistic challenge of extraction

Trump envoy says Unrwa a ‘bandaid’ and seeks shift to humanitarian bodies and hosts

Alleged Isis supporter is being held under armed guard in part of Al-Hawl camp

Alleged Isis supporter is being held under armed guard in part of Al-Hawl camp

Front Line Defenders dedicates award to human rights workers worldwide

Kabul suicide blast kills 48 people at educational centre as wave of violence continues

Attack on Thursday draws international condemnation and calls to end conflict

US-backed, Saudi-led coalition hits bus in rebel-held north of war-torn country

Red Sea port of Hodeidah, held by Houthi rebels, is aid lifeline for millions of Yemenis

Artillery and aerial bombardment kill 1,600 in eastern Ghouta over the past five weeks

Rebels say government using ‘scorched earth’ tactics as latest aid convoy postponed

Iraqi forces report capture of another district as fight against Isis pushes towards city centre

World in 2016 review: three distinct types of terror attack hit the West this year

Council overcomes long-held divisions to adopt resolution to oversee safety of civilians

UN Council to vote on UN monitoring of evacuations on Monday

People trapped in city face another night under siege despite government assurances that vehicles were on their way

Red Cross warns of humanitarian disaster as temperatures drop and winter bites

Irish push to eliminate last permitted WMD opposed by US, UK, Russia and others

Fighters capture strategic river crossing in Iraq backed by US-led coalition air strikes

Search for the missing and dead could last years and hamper any reconciliation efforts

UN concern for civilians as residents say they are trapped and snipers are ‘everywhere’

UN warns Syrian ceasefire ‘hangs by thread’ after heavy casualties in Aleppo attack

Limited supplies delivered last month already running out

Starving residents rejoice after vital aid delivery reaches Syrian town on Monday

Delivery of food packages follows international outcry over deaths from malnutrition

Project seen as shining example for Syria’s ‘reconciliation’ programme

Russia’s intervention in conflict has exacerbated suffering in some areas, residents say

Scarcity of medical facilities in additionto to food shortages reaching dangerous levels

Aid slowed by aftershocks as Nepalese sleep in open

Conflict in country has displaced 100,000 and resulted in deaths of at least 600 people

In part one of a series, Damascus is bursting with life, but there is neither peace nor safety

Nato states mull arms supplies to help Ukraine subdue Russian-backed rebels

Red Cross wants more details from Russia as top pro-Moscow rebel Strelkov quits

Nearly 500 homes have been destroyed by Israeli air strikes and 100,000 people have sought shelter in UN schools

Aid agencies are being hampered by lack of access, trust and funds

Experts warn former French colony faces Black Death epidemic unless it slows spread of rodent-borne disease