2.7 million S.Sudanese to need food aid in 2012-U.N.
Africa's newest nation struggles to build up state institutions, end violence and overcome an economic crisis
U.N. calls for protecting gay rights worldwide
Violence against LGBT people tends to be especially vicious, with "a high degree of cruelty", first official U.N. report on the issue finds
Closing gender gap seen key in food security fight
Given help, smallholder farmers - many of them women - can also be "very effective as custodians of the environment", says UN official
Poor losing out from large land deals - study
Rural poor, especially women, deprived of access to land and resources due to weak governance and land rights
UN warns conflict may worsen Somalia famine, needs $1.5bn
Somalia request is part of global humanitarian appeal for $7.7 billion to help 51 million people in 16 countries next year
Central African Republic's medical emergency out of control -MSF
Medical aid charity says mortality rates in some areas three times the emergency threshold
Sudan border fighting displaces over 400,000 people-U.N.
Aid agencies denied access as the humanitarian situation deteriorates